Wandering Eyes

Allen Racing and Bloom Racing Stable’s Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute), who shipped east for a third-place effort in Friday’s GI Kentucky Oaks, will remain on the East Coast and join trainer Steve Asmussen’s barn, co-owner Jeff Bloom said Monday, confirming a story which was first reported in Daily Racing Form. “Looking at the rest of the year, we realized all of the important races for 3-year-old fillies are on the East Coast,” Bloom said. “We really didn’t have too many options out west. And since she was already back that way and the fact that the end of the year finishes with the Breeders’ Cup at Churchill Downs, it just made so much sense to do that for the filly.” The Southern California-based Bill Spawr trained the filly to wins in the GII Santa Ynez S., GIII Santa Ysabel S. and GI Santa Anita Oaks, before saddling her to her third-place finish as the favorite in the Kentucky Oaks. “Bill and his team did a fabulous job getting us to this point,” Bloom said. “It was purely a business decision to afford the filly as many options as possible to enhance the rest of the year.” Asmussen already trains Bloom Racing’s multiple graded stakes placed Snapper Sinclair (City Zip), as well as multiple stakes-placed Sal the Turtle (Caleb’s Posse). “We already have a really good working relationship with Steve and his crew, so it was an obvious place to leave her,” Bloom said. Bloom said connections are keeping all options open for Midnight Bisou’s next start. “The [June 9 GI] Acorn S. is one of many options,” he said. “We are going to take a few days to let the filly settle and give Steve an opportunity to gauge things before we make any kind of firm plans. So anything is open right now. But she did come out of the Oaks in excellent shape.” View the full article

Two days after capturing the GI Kentucky Derby with undefeated ‘TDN Rising Star’ Justify (Scat Daddy), Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert said the colt developed minor irritation on his left hind leg Sunday and already showed significant improvement as of Monday morning during an appearance on Steve Byk’s “At the Races” radio program. Baffert told Byk that a skin condition on the leg became agitated when walking on uneven gravel outside his barn at Churchill Downs during an appearance in front of the media. “He stepped on one of those [gravel] things, and when he turned on it, you could tell he flinched,” Baffert told Byk. “[Monday], he’s so much better. He’s walking great on it now.” A number of video clips emerged on social media outlets throughout the day showing Justify apparently favoring his other leg while walking on the gravel–something Baffert downplayed as an isolated incident. “It’s a hind foot,” Baffert said. “Today, he looked normal. He came out and was fine…It’s one of those things that we’re not worried about.” With the condition likely arising from his run over a sloppy/sealed track in the Derby, Baffert said he expects to walk Justify for four days before resuming training ahead of the GI Preakness S. May 19. The five-time Derby-winning trainer added that he was very pleased with Justify’s energy level in the days following his victory. View the full article

Triple Group 1 winner Shoals (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) will stay in Australia with an eye toward competing in the second edition of the A$13-million The Everest on Oct. 13, Racing.com reported. Part-owners Jonathan Munz and John Messara opted to table a trip to England to compete at Royal Ascot and instead, will have their filly go up against males after beating her own sex in the G1 Myer Classic last November, the G1 Surround S. on Mar. 3, and the May 5 G1 Ubet Classic Sangster S. However, connections did not rule out a Royal Ascot sojourn for the Anthony Freedman trainee in 2019. View the full article

Redzel (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}), successful in the inaugural 1200-metre The Everest at Royal Randwick last October, will defend his title in the A$13-million event representing Yulong Investments. In 2017, the dual Group 1 winner represented James Harron Bloodstock. The Triple Crown Syndications colourbearer is the third horse in possession of an Everest slot after In Her Time (Aus) (Time Thief {Aus}) and Trapeze Artist (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}). The Peter and Paul Snowden trainee is eyeing a start in Saturday’s G1 Doomben 10,000. “Redzel obviously won it last year, but he is so adaptable in all conditions,” Yulong Chief Operating Officer Sam Fairgray told Racing NSW. “It’s exciting to have a good, tough, honest horse. He creates his own luck and that’s a great asset to have. Mr. [Yuesheng] Zhang [of Yulong Investments] also has horses in work with the Snowdens and as far as a trainer who can target a race and get it spot on, their record with that is fantastic.” “We’ve got the proven formula that worked last year and we’ll follow a similar path,” Triple Crown Syndications Director Michael Ward told Racenet.com.au. “We’ve got the right horse at the right time and we feeel blessed to have him. We look forward to trying to climb Everest again with Yulong.” View the full article

1st-NAA, €19,000, Mdn, 5-7, 2yo, f, 6fT, 1:15.30, gd/yl. FAIRYLAND (IRE), f, 2, by Kodiac (GB) 1st Dam: Queenofthefairies (GB), by Pivotal (GB) 2nd Dam: Land of Dreams (GB), by Cadeaux Genereux (GB) 3rd Dam: Sahara Star (GB), by Green Desert Fairyland was hammered down for a whopping 925,000gns at Book 1 of last year’s Tattersalls October sale and chipped away at that lofty price tag by winning this unveiling, racing in the famed Stockwell silks, with a degree of panache. Recovering from a near stumble exiting the gates to race on the front end after the initial strides, the 7-2 chance was nudged along passing the quarter-mile marker and kept on strongly for two flicks of Ryan Moore’s persuader to account for Mintd (Ire) (Olympic Glory {Ire}) by an impressive 1 3/4 lengths. “She is a lovely, straightforward filly at home and I couldn’t be happier,” said trainer Aidan O’Brien. “She hadn’t been away and wasn’t on grass before, but some are very quick learners and some of them take a run. Ryan [Moore] was delighted with her and she’ll have another run before the [June 20 G2] Queen Mary [S. at Royal Ascot].” She becomes the third winner from as many runners produced by Queenofthefairies (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) and the bay is a half-sister to MGSW G1 Irish 1000 Guineas third Now Or Never (Ire) (Bushranger {Ire}) and a yearling filly by Muhaarar (GB). Queenofthefairies is an unraced daughter of G2 Flying Childers S. and G3 King George S. victress Land of Dreams (GB) (Cadeaux Genereux {GB}), herself the leading performer for G3 Molecomb S. winner Sahara Star (GB) (Green Desert), and is thus a half-sister to dual European champion and MG1SW sire Dream Ahead (Diktat {GB}) and stakes-winning G3 Arc Trial runner-up Into The Dark (GB) (Rainbow Quest). Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $14,003. 1ST-TIME STARTER. O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Tally-Ho Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. View the full article

Intellogent (Ire) (Intello {Ger})’s three prior starts had been when “soft” appeared in the going description, and he stepped forward tackling sounder surface to punch his ticket to the G1 Prix du Jockey Club back here June 3. The bay posted an Oct. 25 debut tally going one mile in a Saint-Cloud firsters’ test, running second in Fontainebleau’s Mar. 22 Listed Prix Omnium II on seasonal bow and went postward for this first trip beyond one mile returning off an Apr. 19 conditions third at Longchamp. Recovering from a tentative start to race off the pace along the fence in sixth, he was angled outside approaching the two pole and kept on relentlessly under a drive once delivering his challenge at the eighth pole to claim a career high in game fashion. “He has always shown quality, but has needed time to mature,” explained winning trainer Fabrice Chappet. “His two runs this year have done him the world of good and today he proved he can go on any ground and has the heart for a fight. I don’t think an extra 300 metres here will be a problem for him and he has booked his ticket to the [June 3 G1] Prix du Jockey Club.” Intellogent, who is also engaged in the July 14 G1 Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris, is the leading performer out of Nuit Polaire (Ire) (Kheleyf) and is a half-brother to Listed Prix Amandine third Lightupthenight (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}). He is also kin to the year-younger colt Light Heart (Ire) (Excelebration {Ire}) and a yearling filly by Gleneagles (Ire). Nuit Polaire is a winning half-sister to three black-type performers including G3 Fahrhofer Stutenpreis runner-up Neele (Ire) (Peintre Celebre)–who produced four stakes winners including G1 Deutsches Derby hero Nutan (Ire) (Duke of Marmalade {Ire}) and G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin victress Nymphea (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire})–and G2 Oaks d’Italia victress Night of Magic (Ire), who in turn is the dam of dual G1 Preis von Europa heroine Nightflower (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}). Monday, Chantilly, France PRIX DE GUICHE-G3, €80,000, CHY, 5-7, 3yo, c/g, 9fT, 1:50.70, gd. 1–INTELLOGENT (IRE), 128, c, 3, by Intello (Ger) 1st Dam: Nuit Polaire (Ire), by Kheleyf 2nd Dam: Night Teeny (GB), by Platini (Ger) 3rd Dam: Nightrockette (Ger), by Rocket (GB) 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (€320,000 Ylg ’16 ARAUG). O-Fiona Jean Carmichael; B-Ecurie des Monceaux (IRE); T-Fabrice Chappet; J-Pierre-Charles Boudot. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 4-2-1-1, €69,400. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Patascoy (Fr), 128, c, 3, Wootton Bassett (GB)–Noble World (Ger), by Winged Love (Ire). (€40,000 Ylg ’16 ARAU2). O-Roberto Cocheteux Tierno; B-Mme Barbara Moser (FR); T-Xavier Thomas-Demeaulte. €16,000. 3–Glorious Journey (GB), 128, c, 3, Dubawi (Ire)–Fallen For You (GB), by Dansili (GB). (2,600,000gns Ylg ’16 TATOCT). O-HH Sheikha Al Jalila Racing; B-Normandie Stud Ltd (GB); T-Charlie Appleby. €12,000. Margins: HD, HF, 5. Odds: 6.30, 9.00, 1.90. Also Ran: Efraan (Fr), Zucchini (GB), Alternative Fact (GB), Julian Rock (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. View the full article

It’s hard to remember a more pleasurable Guineas weekend than the one we’ve just enjoyed in Newmarket. Not only did the sun beat down throughout, in stark contrast to the soggy scenes beamed across the Atlantic from Churchill Downs, but both British Classics provided very satisfying results in different ways. That the Kentucky Derby winner will go on to attempt the Triple Crown is usually a foregone conclusion, but the same can rarely be said of a 2,000 Guineas winner these days. The victory of the strapping Saxon Warrior (JPN) (Deep Impact {JPN}) delivers the tantalising prospect of a Triple Crown challenge in England by the operation that has done most to keep the Derby going in recent years and routinely supports the good old St Leger while so many eschew it as an unfashionable option. After the narrow defeat of Camelot (GB) in 2012, let’s hope we will witness the first Triple Crown winner in this part of the world for almost half a century. As evens-favourite for the Investec Derby on June 2, Saxon Warrior—from the family of fellow Epsom Classic winners Dancing Rain (Ire) and Dr Devious (Ire)—is no betting proposition but he is a thrilling prospect, particularly as he still looks as though he has plenty of physical improvement to come. A New Champ For Champs In rather different circumstances, Billesdon Brook (GB) enhanced the golden glow at the Rowley Mile on Sunday with her 66-1 romp in the 1,000 Guineas. Racing partnerships are very much in vogue but the Pall Mall Partners and Partners, which own the filly, bears little resemblance to the link-ups between several powerful operations involved in both the Kentucky Oaks and Derby winners. The 20-strong group of friends of breeder Jeanette McCreery and her husband Bob, who died just as Billesdon Brook and fellow Guineas runner and Stowell Hill graduate Anna Nerium (GB) were about to turn two, also had the excitement of watching her year-older half-sister Billesdon Bess (GB) race earlier on the card in the G2 Dahlia S., in which she finished sixth. The pair had each won their first stakes race last year within ten days of each other. “It’s nothing to do with me, it’s all my husband,” said McCreery as she was engulfed by well-wishers in the winner’s enclosure. “It’s amazing to come here today with three homebred fillies—two half-sisters and an aunt. We’ve had a lot of fun and we’re all friends—no-one is fighting! There are 20 of us in the group, they haven’t had to put much in but they’ve had a lot out of it. We meet up and watch the horses work and it’s been terrific. Until Anna Nerium ran so well at the Craven meeting, I thought this was the winner but I was told the other one was stronger. I was so busy watching Anna Nerium that I didn’t even really notice what Billesdon Brook was doing.” The winner of the G3 Nell Gwyn S. three weeks ago, Anna Nerium races in McCreery’s own silks and finished seventh of the 15 runners. While Anna Nerium is by Dubawi, the sire by which the Billesdons’ dam Coplow (GB) (Manduro {GB}) was covered earlier this season, Bob McCreery was never afraid to use less fashionable stallions, as is indicated by the Guineas heroine being by Champs Elysees (GB) and her half-sister by Dick Turpin (Ire). With the recent pensioning of Dansili (GB), who follows his brother Cacique (GB) into retirement at Banstead Manor Stud, it is rather a shame that their other brother left the Juddmonte ranks for Coolmore’s National Hunt division at Castle Hyde Stud in 2017. There was some muttering on Sunday about a ‘jumps stallion’ siring the 1,000 Guineas winner but Champs Elysees is still the same horse he was when he sired the Listed-winning juvenile Avenue Gabriel (GB) in his first crop, not to mention umpteen other good Flat horses. Where a horse stands makes no difference to his genetic composition, and while Champs Elysees will doubtless get some good jumpers in time, he hasn’t made a bad fist of things so far this year on the level, as Andrew Caufield illustrates in his detailed look at Billesdon Brook’s family in today’s Pedigree Insights. Let’s hope that some Flat breeders have kept faith with him among the many who sent mares to him since his move to Ireland. More International Glory For Pococks On a weekend heavily supported by his owners, Havana Gold (Ire) was well represented by his first crop at Newmarket with Raid (GB) and Headway (GB) in the QIPCO 2,000 Guineas, Worship (GB) in the fillies’ version, and Havana Grey (GB) making a reappearance in the G3 Longholes Palace House S. Though none of that quartet ended up in the placings, the Simon Callaghan-trained Treasuring (GB), who runs in the Qatar Racing silks, added the GIII Senorita Stakes at Santa Anita to her list of victories following success in the G3 Curragh S. last year for Ger Lyons. The American stakes win is another international strike for Somerset breeders Robert and Nick Pocock, who bred and raised the Melbourne Cup winner Rekindling (GB) at their Stringston Farm. The Pococks also bred Treasuring’s dam You Look So Good (GB) (Excellent Art {GB}) and, after selling her to Roger Varian as a yearling for 125,000gns, bought her back at the end of her 3-year-old season for 18,000gns after she had won a seven-furlong maiden. That looks to have been a shrewd move as Treasuring, bought by David Redvers for 32,000gns, is her first foal. May Day Master May Day transpired to be a red-letter day for Haras du Logis resident Masterstroke (Monsun {Ger}), who sired his first two winners in France within 70 minutes of each other. The G2 Grand Prix de Deauville winner out of Urban Sea’s daughter Melikah (Ire) (Lammtarra), and thus a half-brother to last week’s Great Metropolitan H. winner Royal Line (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), is not only therefore related to Galileo (Ire) and Sea The Stars (Ire) but also to 2,000 Guineas third Masar (GB) (New Approach {GB}), who is out of Melikah’s grand-daughter Khawlah (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}). On his retirement to Darley’s French wing in 2014, Masterstroke aroused the interest of jumps breeders in France and beyond, largely thanks to the increasing success of his sire Monsun in this field, but his dual-purpose appeal is exemplified by the fact that his two first-crop winners came under each code—Donna Leon (Fr) on the Flat at Wissembourg over 2,100m and Gin Tonik (FR) in a two-mile hurdle race at Tours. Roux Has A Taste For Racing Jockey Club Racecourses have raised the stakes when it comes to on-course catering. Newmarket’s Champions Gallery became temporarily known during Guineas weekend as ‘Chez Roux’ and enjoyed the presence, not to mention the culinary skills, of Albert Roux, his son Michel Jr and grand-daughter Emily. Albert, founder of the treble Michelin-starred Le Gavroche, is no stranger to racing circles. His first job as an 18-year-old was for the Astors at Cliveden before he became the private chef for eight years to former jockey and royal trainer Peter Cazalet, whose most infamous charge was the Queen Mother’s steeplechaser Devon Loch. Chez Roux also featured at the Cheltenham Festival and moves next to Epsom for the Investec Derby meeting. View the full article

The Richard Gibson-trained Victory Power caught the eye on debut and gets the chance to notch his maiden victory in the Class Four Kam Tin River Handicap (1,200m) at Happy Valley on Wednesday night. After dropping back from a wide barrier at his first race start three weeks ago, jockey Matthew Chadwick stuck to the rail on the three-year-old and he attacked the line to get himself into a photo for third. A better draw this time around should see him settle a bit closer in transit, while he will... View the full article

The next generation of talent was on show at Sha Tin on Sunday with four three-year-olds saluting and all of them are worth following, but Happy Sebring is the one who can provide a quick return. Having his second start, the Francis Lui Kin-wai-trained gelding relished the addition of blinkers and the step up to 1,400m in the Class Four Wong Handicap, but after settling midfield on the rail, Douglas Whyte was left with a lapful of horse and nowhere to go as they entered the straight. The South... View the full article

Trainer Richard Hannon's Billesdon Brook was the shock winner of the QIPCO One Thousand Guineas (G1) at Newmarket May 6, coming home 1 3/4 lengths clear of 14 rival 3-year-old fillies and returning the biggest price in the race's history. View the full article

Chuck Fipke's homebred Bee Jersey earned his first stakes win and third straight victory in the $200,000 Steve Sexton Mile (G3) May 6 at Lone Star Park. View the full article

The margin was slim, but Fault's victory in the $100,000 Adoration Stakes (G3) May 6 at Santa Anita Park may have been one of her best. View the full article

Dellorto off the mark for new master View the full article

Southern Legend, Horse Of Fortune, Here Comes When and Ocean Emperor make up overseas armada in Kranji Mile View the full article

Daniel Moor set for Singapore adventure View the full article

Horses' test results May 5 View the full article

Woodworth, WS Chan suspended View the full article

Pacific Wind drove through the Belmont Park stretch for her second straight win this year, taking the $250,000 Ruffian Stakes (G2) by one length May 6. View the full article

It’s getting tougher to be a contrarian in the GI Kentucky Derby. Prior to Justify (Scat Daddy)’s real-deal smackdown score, I was firmly of the “too much, too soon, at too short a price” mindset. I respected the horse and what he might be able to do over the course of the coming year, but not his irrationally exuberant 2.9-1 price in the betting on the first Saturday in May. But when this ‘TDN Rising Star’ flashed under the finish wire 2 1/2 lengths the best without looking the least bit fazed from his emphatic Classic accomplishment, it marked the sixth consecutive year that the favorite had won the Derby. That’s an amazing–and unprecedented–historical feat. In recent decades, so-called sharpies have advocated that betting against the favorite in the Derby represents tremendous value because of the large field, the traditional chaotic charge into the first turn, the unknowns surrounding 10-furlong stamina ability, the 150,000+ screaming fans, and all the “casual” money in the pools fueled by mainstream media story lines. Over the past several seasons, we’ve also seen a marked increase in the number of lightly raced horses attempting the Derby, which adds another layer of volatility to an already challenging task. If anything, it should be getting more difficult to pick the Derby winner. Yet John Q. Public has now nailed the Derby every year since 2013, starting with Orb (Malibu Moon) and followed in succession by California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit), American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile), Nyquist (Uncle Mo), Always Dreaming (Bodemeister) and now Justify. Only twice before in Derby history there has been a run of at least four straight winning favorites. In the era before pari-mutuels, Lookout, Chant, Halma and Ben Brush did it between 1893 and 1896 (when the field sizes were six, five, four and eight, respectively). More recently, the imposing quartet of Riva Ridge, Secretariat, Cannonade and Foolish Pleasure swept Derbies between 1972 and 1975 (field sizes 16, 13, 23, 15). The 1970s “glory decade” also gave us chalky Derby winners Seattle Slew and Spectacular Bid. But the well ran dry between 1980 and 1999, representing the longest winless gulf for Derby faves in the history of the race. Partners? Spoilers? Both? Now, with Justify on his way to Baltimore for the second leg of the Triple Crown and few confirmed challengers at this early date, the question turns to whether he’ll be one of the shortest-priced favorites in the history of the GI Preakness S. And although trainer Bob Baffert claimed on Sunday morning that he’s “not [yet] thinking about [a Triple Crown sweep] at all” with Justify, that doesn’t preclude the rest of us from chiming in with opinions. One down-the-road scenario to ponder (and not just this year, but in subsequent seasons) involves the increased role that multi-owner partnerships will play in the Triple Crown series. In recent years when a Triple Crown was on the line, a tactical subplot has always been the “fresh face” angle in the GI Belmont S. In some years there have even been insinuations that horses who did not race in the Derby and/or Preakness were being entered to gang up on the would-be Triple Crown winner. In this year’s Derby, four of the top five finishers were owned in partnership by multiple entities. Justify, in fact, shares common ties with third-place finisher Audible (Into Mischief), with both colts owned by China Horse Club International, Head of Plains Partners LLC, Starlight Racing, and WinStar Farm. So what would be the call for those connections if Justify is on the brink of entering the Belmont S. undefeated with a Triple Crown on the line and Audible looms as one of the top threats? Would Audible, if deemed fit and ready to race, be entered to play spoiler? WinStar and China Horse Club might have to make this sort of decision even sooner, for the Preakness. They are two of the owners in a three-way partnership on ‘TDN Rising Star’ Quip (Distorted Humor), who had been withdrawn from Derby consideration several weeks ago with the intent of instead aiming for the second leg of the Triple Crown. Asked on Sunday by Daily Racing Form if Justify’s win precludes Quip from forging ahead in the Preakness, Elliott Walden, the president and chief executive of WinStar, said “I hesitate to say right now. I think we’ll see how the week plays out. My first inclination is to go ahead and run him, but I need to talk to our partners and see. We had set the horse up to run in the Preakness, and he worked very well on Thursday. If Justify is supposed to win the Triple Crown, he’ll beat Quip. I just think you try to manage your horses the best you can. I think [the Preakness] is the right thing for Quip. Not making a final decision today, but the horse is doing really well.” Record rain—and betting For the second consecutive year, wet weather was a factor on Derby day. The reported 2.98 inches of rain leading up to post time caused Churchill Downs Inc. (CDI) to dub the 144th Run for the Roses the “wettest Kentucky Derby ever” in a post-race press release. Two weeks ago I interviewed new CDI chairman R. Alex Rankin, who has a background as an insurance executive, and asked him as an aside to our published Q&A if Churchill Downs ever hedged against Mother Nature by purchasing Derby day weather insurance to guard against a severe downturn in business. Rankin replied that the corporation did not, although this type of insurance has become common in other industries where the elements play an outsized role. Ski resorts, for example, are increasingly buying insurance in case there’s no snow over peak holiday periods, and farmers have long insured against bad weather wiping out an entire seasonal crop. Despite the sloppy conditions, Churchill’s announced crowd of 157,813 was the eighth-highest attendance figure in track history, and wagering from all sources was the highest all-time on both the Kentucky Derby entire program ($225.7 million) and on the Derby itself ($149.9 million). Both handles represent 8% bumps in business. Online and mobile betting for the Derby itself was up 18% through the TwinSpires wagering system, which is noteworthy because the platform seized up for about 15 minutes in the hour before the Derby went off. Social media was flooded with complaints from irate fans who had trouble getting bets in. Some posters reported receiving “tote is down” messages during this crucial pre-race window while others reported repeated system slowdowns throughout the day. While it’s commendable that TwinSpires did post several status updates on Twitter while the issues were being worked on, it’s inexcusable from a risk management standpoint that problems with the betting infrastructure even occurred at all on the biggest betting day of the year. And yes, other account wagering providers have also had embarrassing betting glitches on big days in the past. But we’re no longer in an era when online wagering is in its infancy, and the sport’s bet-processing systems should be robust and redundant enough to handle high-volume days without bogging down. Beyond irritating and exasperating good customers who are looking to bet serious money on racing’s most highly anticipated horse race, the industry’s advance-deposit wagering providers are also trying to position themselves as viable candidates for licenses if and when the Supreme Court of the United States rules favorable on sports betting. But that won’t happen without an industry-wide upgrade in bet-taking infrastructure, because Saturday’s TwinSpires difficulties were akin to a major online sports book crashing in the hour prior to kickoff for the Super Bowl. View the full article

Keiai Nautique (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) became the 34th Group 1 winner for his Shadai Stallion Station-based sire, after winning the G1 NHK Mile Cup over 1600 metres at Tokyo on Sunday. Sent off at 12-1 as the six choice in the field of 18, the Osamu Hiratu trainee rated near the rear of the strung out field, last bar one for the backstretch run. Making inroads toward the front with a half mile to travel, the bay began picking off horses widest of all in the centre of the course, but still had the majority of the field to pass with 400-metres remaining. Letting down with a furious late run, he pipped rail-runner Gibeoni (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) on the line to win by a neck. The latter, who had enjoyed a stalking trip, was a head to the good of a closing Red Veyron (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) who was in between the top two at the wire. U.S.-bred Mr Melody (Scat), whose paternal half-brother Justify won the GI Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Saturday, ran fourth another 3/4 of a length behind. Godolphin’s Tower of London (Jpn) (Raven’s Pass), favoured on Sunday, stumbled at the start before encountering traffic trouble at the top of the lane and running 12th. “He was a bit slow to pick up speed, so we had to race from behind, but he more than made up with his speed and sheer determination,” said winning jockey Yusuke Fujioka, who was winning his first Japanese Group 1 race. “His potential is so great and I think he can handle longer distances.” Campaigned exclusively over a mile so far, Keiai Nautique was a winner at first asking at Hanshin last June. He went missing for just over five months and ran third in Kyoto’s G2 Daily Hai Nisai S. going a mile on Nov. 11 and dropped a spot in the G1 Asahi Hai Futurity S. returned to Hanshin on Dec. 17. The colt filled the frame when second in the Feb. 10 Kobushi Sho in his sophomore bow and was back to the winner’s circle in an allowance at Hanshin on Mar. 11. He was second in Kasuji (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn})’s G2 New Zealand Trophy at Nakayama on Apr. 7. Pedigree Notes… Keiai Gerbera was purchased in utero for $300,000 by Yushun Company out of the 2005 Keeneland November Sale. The bay, who struck at the Group 3 level at both four and five in Japan, was barren in her first year at stud, but followed up with English listed-placed colt Fierce Impact (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in 2014. Keiai Nautique (Jpn) is her last reported foal, born a year later. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Sunday, Tokyo, Japan NHK MILE CUP-G1, ¥204,960,000 (US$1,878,403/£1,388,335/€1,388,335), Tokyo, 5-6, 3yo, c/f, 1600mT, 1:32.80, fm. 1–KEIAI NAUTIQUE (JPN), 126, c, 3, Deep Impact (Jpn) 1st Dam: Keiai Gerbera (Jpn) (MGSW-Jpn, $2,459,189), by Smarty Jones 2nd Dam: Anna Sterz, by Danzig 3rd Dam: Edge, by Damascus 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. 1ST GROUP WIN. 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Kazuhiro Kameda; B-Takae Farm (Jpn); T-Osamu Hirata; J-Yusuke Fujioka; ¥108,822,000. Lifetime Record: 7-3-2-1. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: B+. 2–Gibeon (Jpn), 126, c, 3, Deep Impact (Jpn)–Contested, by Ghostzapper. O-Shadai Race Horse; B-Shadai Farm (Jpn); ¥43,092,000. 3–Red Veyron (Jpn), 126, c, 3, King Kamehameha (Jpn)–Erimo Pixy (Jpn), by Dancing Brave. O-Tokyo Horse Racing; ¥26,546,000. Margins: NK, HD, 3/4; Odds: 11.80, 4.20, 24.90. Also Ran: Mr Melody, Primo Scene (Jpn), Pax Americana (Jpn), Danon Smash (Jpn), Katsuji (Jpn), Delta Barows, Cassius (Jpn), Ryono Tesoro, Tower of London (Jpn), Frontier (Jpn), Tetradrachm (Jpn), Fast Approach (Jpn), Lucas (Jpn), Encore Plus (Jpn), Roxk This Town (Jpn). Click for the Racing Post chart. JRA Video. View the full article

PACIFIC WIND (f, 4, Curlin–Shag, by Dixieland Band), a ‘TDN Rising Star’, scored her first graded victory in the GII Ruffian S. Sunday at Belmont. Debuting with a romping win on turf last March, the $200,000 Keeneland September graduate was third in both the GIII Senorita S. and GII Honeymoon S. in her next two starts. Annexing her dirt bow Oct. 21, she was fifth in the GII Bayakoa S. and was transferred from Peter Eurton to this barn over the winter before airing in a Keeneland allowance last out Apr. 13. Backed down to 3-2 favoritism in this spot, the chestnut tracked from fourth at the inside behind fractions of :23.04 and :46.39. Angling four deep nearing the stretch, she sidled up to Highway Star (Girolamo) a furlong from home and gradually wore that one down to score by a little less than a length in 1:36.22. Lifetime Record: 9-4-1-2, $312,545. O-Sharon Alesia, Ciaglia Racing LLC, Peter M. Brant & Dominic Savides; B-Sarah S. Farish (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. View the full article

Jeff Fager, longtime executive producer of the news program 60 Minutes, first got bitten by the racing bug as a 10-year-old when the legendary John Nerud named a horse after his father, the neurosurgeon who saved his life. The equine Dr. Fager, 1968 Horse of the Year, went on to a storied racing career and the younger Fager was hooked. Fager now has an exciting racing prospect of his own in Surging Tide (Medaglia d’Oro), who was tabbed a ‘TDN Rising Star’ after her effortless 6 1/2-length debut win at Belmont Park Friday. “We are so excited about her,” Fager said Sunday afternoon. “She had trained well and she is a great-looking horse. We were nervous, as you always are, but she came to run and she ran beautifully. [Trainer] Charlie Baker has been excited about her since the day he got her.” Bloodstock agent Dan Hayden, a partner in Fager Stable, purchased Surging Tide for $310,000 at the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. “Dan Hayden is just a brilliant horseman,” Fager said. “When he saw her, he really loved her. He thought she was a really well-balanced filly. And something that John Nerud had taught him, which was that when you are picking a filly, look for femininity. He saw that. She didn’t have a big walk, but he felt she had a gentle nature and was just a very imposing filly. All of those combined and we got on the phone right away and he said, ‘I think this is one we should really go for, Jeff.'” Fager Stable had to stretch to acquire the filly, who is a daughter of MGISP Alienation (Rock Hard Ten). “It was a little high, but that year was crazy,” Fager said of the filly’s price tag. “The prices are starting to get crazy, so we try to find a balance–maybe we will spend a little more on fewer horses. But she was too good to resist. And Dan was so excited about her.” Surging Tide is one of six horses currently in training for Fager Stable. In addition to Baker, the operation has the privately acquired Shalailah (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}), a maiden winner at Dundalk last October, in training with Chad Brown. Kiaran McLaughlin trains Into the Breach (Creative Cause), a half-brother to Cairo Prince, who returned from 11 months on the sidelines to be fifth in the fifth race at Belmont Sunday. Expanding its presence onto the international scene, Fager Stable also has Medal of Honour (GB) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), a Dundalk maiden winner last December, in training in Ireland with Joseph O’Brien. “He shows a lot of promise,” Fager said of Medal of Honour. “We’re very excited about him. It is a different sport over there. It’s a fun change of pace from the way it’s done here.” Fager credits Nerud for much of his passion for racing and his six-horse stable includes the 6-year-old gelding Final Chapter (Thunder Gulch), the final horse owned by the legendary horseman. “I asked Johnnie when he came to the house once if I could work on the farm and he said, ‘Sure, why not?,” Fager recalled. “I went to work at Tartan Farms in Florida when I was 15 and I spent my summers there. It was amazing. Then when I was 17, I graduated to the track. I actually lived in the shedrow at Belmont and was a groom and a hotwalker there.” When Fager was ready to start owning horses, Nerud teamed him with Hayden. “I always thought I’d like to get into it somehow and when I went to John and asked him, he said, ‘Come on, I’ve got Dan Hayden,” Fager said. “He’ll help you pick horses. You can start right now and have your own collection of horses. “John Nerud is an inspiration,” Fager continued. “He was such an amazing man in so many ways. He was a life inspiration and obviously as good as it gets in terms of a horseman. And Dan Hayden, who is our partner in this endeavor, was so close to him and learned so much from him. I think that combination has been important to us and is part of the legacy of Fager Stable.” Surging Tide could provide the next chapter in that legacy, but connections will take their time with the promising filly. “We’ve been talking about it,” Fager said of potential next starts for Surging Tide. “We’re going to take it slowly. We’re not going to overreach too quickly. We want her to come along at a reasonable pace. So we’ll probably find an allowance for her second race.” 6th-BEL, $75,000, Msw, 5-4, 3yo/up, f/m, 1m, 1:36.97, ft. SURGING TIDE, f, 3, by Medaglia d’Oro 1st Dam: Alienation (MGISP, $160,800), by Rock Hard Ten 2nd Dam: Alienated, by Gone West 3rd Dam: Extraterrestral, by Storm Bird $310,000 Ylg ’16 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $45,000. O-Fager Stable; B-Mercedes Stables LLC (KY); T-Charlton Baker. Click for the Equibase.com chart or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. View the full article

Trainer Richard Hannon's Billesdon Brook was the shock winner of the Qipco One Thousand Guineas (G1) at Newmarket May 6, coming home 1 3/4 lengths clear of 14 rival 3-year-old fillies and returning the biggest price in the race's history. View the full article

Wagering from all sources was the highest all-time on both the Kentucky Derby Day program and on the GI Kentucky Derby itself, Churchill Downs reported in the aftermath of its cornerstone event. Wagering on the program totaled $225.7 million, an 8% increase over the 2017 total and previous record of $209.2 million. Wagering on the race also increased 8% to $149.9 million from the previous record of $139.2 million set last year. “Congratulations to the connections of Justify (Scat Daddy) on a very impressive performance to win the 144th Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve,” said Kevin Flanery, President of Churchill Downs Racetrack. “We were excited to introduce our latest round of renovations and our investments in the facility continue to pay off as we strive to improve the guest experience every year. A special thanks to the Louisville Metro Police Department for their efforts to deliver our new transportation improvement plan. Thanks and congratulations to our horsemen, employees and volunteers that made this an amazing Derby and a phenomenal opening to our 2018 Spring Meet.” View the full article

Keiai Nautique rallied from next to last with a furious stretch run to post a narrow upset May 6 in the NHK Mile Cup (G1) for 3-year-olds at Tokyo Racecourse. View the full article