Wandering Eyes

The G1 Ubet Classic for fillies and mares over 1200m at Morphettville looked an open and deep affair but the Anthony Freedman trained Shoals (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) absolutely tore the field apart and romped home almost two lengths clear under Tim Clark. Although she broke smartly from her wide draw Clark elected to allow Shoals drift back through the pack as Missrock (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) and Its Been A Battle (Aus) (Nicconi {Aus}) matched strides up front. As they prepared to hit the straight the field fanned out and no one was wider than Shoals who began a sweeping run just as they turned. The 3-year-old showed a great burst of acceleration to hit the front 200 metres from home and she continued to extend all the way to the line. Secret Agenda (Aus) (Not A Single Doubt {Aus}) won the battle for second from Mica Lil (Aus) (Testa Rossa {Aus}) but in truth the winner was different class on the day. It was a third top level win for the filly and one that opened up the distinct possibility of a trip to Royal Ascot next month. “She’s an outstanding filly,” Anthony Freedman told Racing.com. “Three Group 1s out of 10 runs, not many do that. She was dominant today and it was a very good race, so she’s gone up a couple of levels and we’ll give Royal Ascot a lot of thought. We have to talk to [owners] John Messara and Jonathon Munz and if that is the decision then she’d fly out probably the end of May.” Having enjoyed a four race winning streak from debut that included a victory in the G2 Percy Sykes S. at Randwick last April, Shoals then met with defeat when second in both the G2 Schweppes Thousand Guineas Prelude and the G1 Schweppes Thousand Guineas. She proved her class when taking the G1 Myer Classic at Flemington last November before a rare lapse saw her finish in rear in the G3 Kevin Hayes S. on her reappearance at Caulfield in February. Shoals then bounced back in style to win the G1 James Boag’s Premium Surround S. at Randwick in March and she will prove a tough nut for the European sprinters to crack should she make her way north next month. Pedigree notes… Coolmore’s Fastnet Rock (Aus) needs no introduction and The Broken Shore (Aus) (Hussonet), Shoals’ dam is another whose fantastic lineage has been well documented. Although she recorded just the solitary win, it was entirely likely that The Broken Shore would produce a top level winner given she is a half-sister to the highly influential Group 1 winners and champions Platinum Scissors (Aus) (Danehill), Redoute’s Choice (Aus) (Danehill) and Manhattan Rain (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}) not to mention the GSW Sliding Cube (Aus) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}). The last named is proving an elite producer with her two runners Rubick (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}) and Echoes Of Heaven (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}) both stakes winners who have been placed at the highest level. With Arrowfield Stud bred Shoals being her first produce, The Broken Shore has some exciting stock waiting in the wings. Tides (Aus), a 2015 born full-sister to Shoals has yet to race and she delivered a full-brother in 2016 who was purchased by Anthony Freedman for A$2.3-million at Inglis last month. Her 2017 produce is also a colt, by Medaglia D’Oro. Click for the free arion.co.nz catalogue-style pedigree. UBET Classic (Robert Sangster S.)-G1, A$1,002,120, SAJC, 5-05, f/m Open, 1200mT, 1:09.19, Soft. 1--SHOALS (AUS), 55.0, f, 3, by Fastnet Rock (Aus) 1st Dam: The Broken Shore (Aus), by Hussonet 2nd Dam : Shantha’s Choice (Aus), by Canny Lad (Aus) 3rd Dam: Dancing Show, by Nijinsky (CAN) O-Pinecliff Racing (Mgr: J B Munz) & Arrowfield Pastoral Pty Ltd (Mgr: J M Messara); B-Arrowfield Pastoral Pty Ltd NSW; T-Anthony Freedman; J-Tim Clark; A$642,120. Lifetime Record: 10-7-2-0, A$2,004,270. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Secret Agenda (Aus), 56.5, m, 5, Not a Single Doubt (Aus)–Negotiate (Aus), by Red Ransom. (A$120,000 Ylg ’14 MMLJAN) O-Blueblood Thoroughbreds, Mrs L Lewis, S Misra, Ms K L Yorston, Dynasty No 11, J A Wilson, M P Heaney, W Winterburn, D A Marshall, S J Cosson, Mrs P A Cosson, Island Sands, T D Parr; B-Arrowfield Pastoral Pty Ltd & Planette Thoroughbred NSW; T-M G Price; J-D Oliver; A$170,000. 3–Mica Lil (Aus), 56.5, m, 4, Testa Rossa (Aus)–Gemstone (NZ), by Pentire (GB). (A$55,000 Ylg ’15 MMLJAN) O-N J House, S N Jones, Mrs J V Short, J M & P J Gray, J A Smith, Mrs M B Gibb, Mrs E E Taylor, I N Dally, J W Ray, D W Trott, M & P Bock, S Bosley, B Cefai, S Johns, R Searle, J Doy; B-Mr A Galbraith NSW; T-M S Minervini; J-S Cahill; A$80,000. Margins: 1.8, 2.8, 2.9. Odds: 11/1, 17/2, 90/1. Also Ran: True Excelsior (NZ), Whispering Brook (Aus), Mystified (Aus), Catchy (Aus), Missrock (Aus), Quilista (Aus), Legless Veuve (NZ), Super Cash (Aus), Pedrena (Aus), Dainty Tess (Aus), Formality (Aus), Tulip (Aus), Miss Gunpowder (Aus), It’s Been a Battle (Aus). Click for the Racing Post result View the full article

A wide post, brutal stretch duel, and post-race objection could not change the result. Monomoy Girl scored the $1 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) May 4 at Churchill Downs. View the full article

What started as a 14-horse race for talented filly Monomoy Girl turned into a one-on-one brawl in the stretch of the $1 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1). View the full article

What started as a 14-horse race for talented filly Monomoy Girl turned into one-on-one brawl in the stretch of the $1 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1). View the full article

A wide post, a brutal stretch duel, and a post-race objection could not change the result—Monomoy Girl scored the $1 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) May 4 at Churchill Downs. View the full article

Despite a strong effort from headliner Rushing Fall, there was no stopping the determination of Toinette as she flew past her competitors to win the $200,000 Edgewood Stakes presented by Forcht Bank (G3T). View the full article

Nurshahril suspended for two days View the full article

Injured Curatolo out for four to five weeks, misses HK rides View the full article

A wide post, a brutal stretch duel, and a post-race objection could not change the result—Monomoy Girl scored the $1 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) May 4 at Churchill Downs. View the full article

Monomoy Girl (f, 3, Tapizar–Drumette, by Henny Hughes) outbattled Wonder Gadot (Medaglia d’Oro) to earn a gritty 3/4-length victory in the GI Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs. The 5-2 shot, breaking from the far outside in the 14-horse field, angled inside and worked her way to the three path going into the first turn. She pressed the pace as Take Charge Paula (Take Charge Indy) set fractions of :23.48 and :47.70. Monomoy Girl surged to the lead early on the far turn, but was soon joined by Wonder Gadot. The chestnut filly inched out slightly towards Wonder Gadot, but battled bravely on and was inching clear at the wire. John Velazquez, aboard the runner-up, claimed foul but the stewards made no change to the order of finish. Slight favorite Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) rallied some seven wide at the top of the stretch to chase the top two home in third. The time for the 1 1/16 miles was 1:49.13. Monomoy Girl, who won the Rags to Riches S. under the Twin Spires last October, opened her sophomore campaign with a win in the Feb. 17 GII Rachel Alexandra S. and was coming off a dominant 5 1/2-length tally in the Apr. 7 GI Ashland S. Lifetime Record: 7-6-1-0, $1,156,550. O-Dubb, M., Monomoy Stables, The Elkstone Group and Bethlehem Stables LLC; B-FPF LLC & Highfield Ranch (Ky). T-Brad Cox. View the full article

‘TDN Rising Star’ Justify (Scat Daddy) has done everything right in his brief career, winning all three of his races in style, including a victory over highly regarded MGISW Bolt d’Oro (Medaglia d’Oro) in the GI Santa Anita Derby Apr. 7. The hulking chestnut has continued to impress the racing world since with dazzling workouts and strong gallops at Churchill Downs. While many have Justify fever, there are plenty of people making the argument against the favorite based on Apollo’s curse, lack of travel, limited experience and good trips. All of the questions will be answered Saturday as Justify lines up as the morning-line favorite for the GI Kentucky Derby. The Bob Baffert trainee won’t have it easy as he faces what is arguably one of the saltiest fields in Derby history. In addition to his past foe Bolt d’Oro, who has all the right qualities to take this 10-furlong test, Justify will take on a strong candidate that he shares ownership with in GI Florida Derby hero Audible (Into Mischief). The rapidly improving colt enters on a four-race win streak, capped off by powerful victories in the GII Holy Bull S. Feb. 3 and the Mar. 31 Florida Derby, a race which fellow Todd Pletcher pupil Always Dreaming (Bodemeister) used as a springboard to taking home the roses last year, as did 2013 Derby hero Orb (Malibu Moon) and 2016 victor Nyquist (Uncle Mo). Florida Derby runner-up Hofburg (Tapit) has been one of the talking horses in Louisville this week and clearly has the confidence of his Hall of Fame conditioner Bill Mott, who is known for his patient tactics. The Juddmonte homebred last effort makes him one to watch for the exotics. Drawn in between Audible and Justify in post six is champion Good Magic (Curlin). Looking like a short horse when third in the GII Fountain of Youth S., the chestnut rebounded with a decisive score in the GII Toyota Blue Grass S. and comes from a barn known for having horses ready to roll on the big days. Runner-up Flameaway (Scat Daddy) may be one of the most consistent horses in the field and should be considered for a minor award. Another horse who has been the talk of the town since his last race and his arrival in Louisville is the regally bred Mendelssohn (Scat Daddy). Winner of the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf last term, the $3 million KEESEP topper is two-for-two this term with a win on synthetic in the Patton S. at Dundalk Mar. 9 and an 18 1/2-length tour de force when trying dirt for the first time in the G2 UAE Derby Mar. 31. The knocks against this runner are the weak field he faced in Dubai and the failures of past European/Dubai invaders on the First Saturday in May, but he is bred for this being a half-brother to four-time champion Beholder (Henny Hughes) and trainer Aidan O’Brien can never be counted out. The other unbeaten contender looking to defy Apollo’s curse is ‘TDN Rising Star’ Magnum Moon (Malibu Moon). His record stands at a perfect four-for-four, including dominant scores in the GII Rebel S. Mar. 17 and GI Arkansas Derby Apr. 14, in which he bore out in the stretch. Pletcher also sends out two more Derby hopefuls in GII Wood Memorial S. victor Vino Rosso (Curlin) and GII Louisiana Derby winner and ‘TDN Rising Star’ Noble Indy (Take Charge Indy). View the full article

Toinette (f, 3, Scat Daddy–I Bet Toni Knows, by Sunriver) upset previously unbeaten Rushing Fall (More Than Ready) with a dramatic late-flying rally in the GIII Edgewood S. at Churchill Downs Friday. Heavily favored Rushing Fall raced keenly from her outside post and after refusing to settle off the pace into the first turn, pulled her way to vie for the early lead. She took over after a half-mile in :48.21, but was quickly joined by Daddy Is a Legend (Scat Daddy). Those two powered clear of the field in a ding-dong battle down the lane, only to have Toinette close furiously down the center of the course to just get a neck in front on the wire. Rushing Fall was second and Daddy Is a Legend was third. Toinette, fourth on debut over the main track at Del Mar Nov. 26, moved to the turf to graduate by the length of her nose Jan. 28 down the hill at Santa Anita and added a 1 1/16-mile allowance over the Keeneland lawn Apr. 11. The filly was a $110,000 KEESEP graduate. Lifetime Record: 4-3-0-0, $201,120. O-Ken Baca, Lisa and Nicholas Hawkins, et al. B-J D Stuart, P C Bance & A R Enterprises (Ky). T-Neil Drysdale. View the full article

Pleasant Acres Stallions' Handsome Mike was represented by his first winner from his first starter when Monarch Stables' Saint Michael took a May 4 maiden claiming race at Gulfstream Park. View the full article

Gary Barber, Baccari Racing Stable, and Chester Prince's Salty made a final surge to the front along the inside rail to win the La Troienne Stakes presented by Twinspires.com (G1) in a final time of 1:43.78. View the full article

The 4-year-old son of Tizway won in his first start in stakes company. View the full article

Fager Stable’s Surging Tide (f, 3, Medaglia d’Oro–Alienation, by Rock Hard Ten), a $310,000 Keeneland September graduate, stormed home a seven-length winner of her debut at Belmont Park Friday to become the second ‘TDN Rising Star’ of the day. Sent off at 8-1, the dark bay filly was well off the early pace and still had plenty to do after a half in :46.77. She rallied four wide into the lane and sailed effortlessly to the lead before drawing away to the wire. Presumptuous (Midnight Lute) was second and Hot Cash (Ghostzapper) was third. The time for the mile was 1:36.97. Surging Tide is out of 2010 GI Spinaway S. runner-up and 2011 GI Prioress S. third-place finisher Alienation and is a half-sister to stakes placed Alien Giant (Giant’s Causeway). Alienation is a half-sister to stakes winner and Grade I placed Rally Cry (Uncle Mo). Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $45,000. O-Fager Stable. B-Mercedes Stables LLC (Ky). T-Charlton Baker. View the full article

Few sires in the world, standing for the same kind of money, are as upwardly mobile as Tamayuz (GB) (Nayef), whose stock has been building on his own excellent pedigree and racing career both on the track and in the ring. And the Derrinstown stallion, standing at only €12,500 despite two elite winners in 2017 in Blond Me (Ire) and Precieuse (Ire), yesterday gained another feather in his cap with the top lot at the Tattersalls Guineas Breeze Up Sale. The breeders of lot 189 had persevered with her after she stalled at €140,000 at the Goffs Orby Sale. Again consigned by Lynn Lodge Stud, this time she brought 200,000gns for Alastair Donald. Like Blond Me, she will be trained by Andrew Balding. “She’s a lovely filly with a great attitude,” the agent said. “She breezed great, put her head down and showed a lovely action. But it’s also a lovely pedigree for the sale, and she’ll make a very nice broodmare down the line.” Her dam Ziria (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) won two Group 3 races in France and has already bred four stakes winners. Her sale contributed to an aggregate turnover of 4,697,300gns, down 15% from 5,502,200gns last year despite a larger catalogue. That duly produced a decline of 8% in the average to 32,848gns, from 35,729gns, but the median held firm at 24,000gns (narrowly down from 25,000gns last year). The big issue for the sector this spring has been clearance rates, which have declined in tandem with a series of inflated catalogues. Here the 143 lots sold of 194 offered inevitably shrank, at 74%, from the exceptional rate of 86% achieved last year. On the face of it, that represents another significant dip. But it should be kept in mind that last year’s clearance rate represented a real spike, following record-breaking spending both at Doncaster and at the Craven Sale. In terms of clearance rate, this sale had actually outperformed the sector in the two previous years as well, at just over 78% in both. And the same actually holds true this time round, the four previous sales on the European circuit having achieved an overall clearance rate of just 64.4% (down from 74.5% last year). The purchaser of the top lot reiterated the message from the previous sales. “It’s all about the top 10 lots,” Donald said. “The rest are struggling. I think an extra 400 horses this year [in the sector overall] means we need a bit more UK demand.” Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony acknowledged the prevailing trends. “The recurring theme running through the 2018 European Breeze Up season has been the increased selectivity, especially in comparison with last year’s record-breaking sales, and it would be fair to say that today’s Guineas Breeze Up has not been immune,” he said. “This year’s Guineas Breeze Up catalogue is the largest ever by some margin and the greater numbers have without doubt had an impact. While there has been healthy demand for the most coveted lots, the clearance rate, in line with all the other 2018 British breeze-up sales, has failed to match last year’s record levels.” “The turnover for the Guineas Breeze Up has only been bettered once by last year’s extraordinary sale and the average and median have both held up well, with a diverse crowd of overseas buyers contributing at all levels of the market for the breeze up 2-year-olds and for the horses in training. Nevertheless, the balance between supply and demand is a delicate one and it is apparent that, looking ahead, this is an area we must all concentrate on.” The last embers of the sale were stoked into life when lot 331, the third last through the ring, was secured by Matt Coleman for 155,000gns. The Shamardal filly, bought in for 70,000gns here in Book 1 last October, is out of listed winner Mount Elbrus (GB) (Barathea {Ire})-who has already produced seven winners including Group 1-placed Strobilus (GB) (Mark Of Esteem {Ire}). More significantly her dam is a half-sister to the mighty Rafha. “Obviously there aren’t many Shamardal fillies left to buy,” said Coleman, who was representing a longstanding client. “And not only has he been a great sire, but he’s a wonderful broodmare sire. This filly will obviously have great paddock value when she has finished racing. She breezed well and was well recommended by the vendor [Houghton Bloodstock].” The respective records of Brendan Holland as consignor and Stephen Hillen as buyer must augur well for the prospects of lot 161, a Lope De Vega (Ire) (Shamardal) half-brother to G3 Sceptre S. winner Nargys (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}). Bought for €66,000 at the Goffs Orby Sale, here he raised 140,000gns from the partnership of Hillen and Kevin Ryan, who have previously found Group 1 winners Brando (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), Astaire (Ire) (Intense Focus) and The Grey Gatsby (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) at the breeze-ups. The latter pair were also graduates of Holland’s Grove Stud. “I thought he was the best horse here,” Hillen explained. “I’ve seen him a couple of times this spring and he’s a lovely horse with a good pedigree and did a stylish breeze. He’ll need a bit of time, you won’t see him for two or three months, but he could be one for York in August.” That meeting already figures resonantly on his page: the third dam is Relatively Special (GB) (Alzao), a Classic-placed half-sister to Meon Valley Stud’s Juddmonte International winner One So Wonderful (GB) (Nashwan). Church Farm & Horse Park Stud had a profitable few minutes towards the end of the sale. First a Dutch Art colt, bought in for €75,000 at Arqana last August, raised 130,000gns from Charlie Gordon-Watson on behalf of Dr Johnny Hon as lot 305. He will be trained by Gay Kelleway, who enthused: “The owner has three big trainers but I’ve known him for a long time and he’s backing me: he wants me to dine at the top table. And this horse was a stand-out.” The colt is out of G1 Fillies’ Mile runner-up Lady Darshaan (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}), herself a half-sister to G1 Prix de l’Abbaye winner Total Gallery (Ire) (Namid GB}) and already responsible for a stakes winner from her only starter. A few minutes later lot 317, a colt from the last crop of the great Scat Daddy unsold for $75,000 at Keeneland last September, raised 120,000gns from Michael Donohoe on behalf of Yulong Investments. The perspicacity of the breeze-up consignors is such that anybody surprised to find a €7,000 son of Derby winner Ruler Of The World out of a half-sister to St Leger winner Harbour Law (GB) (Lawman {Fr}) in this catalogue should not be surprised to see him turned round to 90,000gns as lot 152. “Very simple,” said consignor Ger Kennedy of Sherbourne Lodge, when asked what had qualified the Fairyhouse yearling as a breeze-up candidate. “He was a very good racehorse, and this is out of an Exceed And Excel mare out of a Pivotal mare. He’s so quick, so natural, it’s unbelievable. It was my sister Yvonne who picked him out, and the horse has been a gent throughout.” The colt was signed for by Federico Barberini and Appletree Stud, whose representative Robert Thornton explained: “We loved everything about him, except he had to spend a little more than we wanted! He did a real sharp breeze, and looks ready to go-which is what we wanted. He’ll be joining Archie Watson.” Another impressive pinhook was achieved by Thomond O’Mara’s Knockanglass Stables with lot 177, a Raven’s Pass (Elusive Quality) colt bought out of Book 3 here last autumn by Howson & Houldsworth for just 8,000gns. He was reputed to have clocked a very brisk time in the under-tack show the previous morning, and duly graduated to 85,000gns to Mouse O’Ryan for Middleham Park Racing. With Bobby O’Ryan also in the vicinity, you could be sure that the colt had more in his favour than a quick time. Be that as it may, Tim Palin of Middleham Park was stressing that angle. “We sent the fastest breezer at this sale last year to Richard Fahey, and he’s running at Thirsk on Monday,” Palin said. “This one will also go to Richard. We were impressed watching his breeze on television and when we pulled him out we liked him the second we saw him.” The colt is backed up by an interesting page. By an under-rated sire, he has a bedrock of Aga Khan blood: his dam is out of a half-sister to dual Grade 1 winner Manndar (Ire) (Doyoun {GB}) and the dam of triple Group 1 winner Mandesha (Fr) (Desert Style {Ire}). All in all, a smart pinhook. Others in that category included lot 254, a colt by the great-and now, sadly, late-Giant’s Causeway who was exported from Keeneland last Septemberby Justin Rea of Fairgreen Stables for just $15,000. Ultimately from the family of those exceptional juveniles, Flanders (Seeking The Gold) and Air Force Blue (War Front), here he realised 90,000gns from Rabbah Bloodstock. And Matt Whyte of Bushypark Stables likewise excelled in turning round lot 249, a Farhh (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) colt picked out of Book 2 here for 18,000gns, at 105,000gns to Blandford Bloodstock. The first six-figure transaction of the day concerned lot 137, a Havana Gold (Ire) (Teofilo (Ire) colt whose third dam is a half-sister to Coup De Folie (Halo), the blue hen who gave us-among others-those magnificent Mr Prospector siblings Machiavellian and Coup de Genie. Found here for 42,000gns last autumn out of Book 3 by Mags O’Toole, he was upgraded to 105,000gns by Norman Williamson of Oak Tree Farm. The docket was signed by Ross Doyle, who said the colt will proceed to Jim Boyle. “We thought him a bit of a standout, physically,” the agent said. “I have known the horse for a time because I help the breeder [Denis Barry of Glebe Farm Stud] with the matings so it’s nice it’s worked out like this. He did a very good breeze and he’s from a very good producer. He’s a gorgeous horse by a very good stallion with a nice pedigree on the dam side. So fingers crossed!” Two that made exactly 100,000gns, five minutes apart, were lot 223-a Slade Power (Ire) (Dutch Art {GB}) filly bought in here for 37,000gns last autumn, consigned by Charnwood Stables, and purchased by Anthony Stroud for Simon Crisford’s patron Sheikh Duaji Al Khalifa-and lot 228, a Kyllachy (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) colt from Mocklershill. His dam is out of a full sister to none other than Danehill and he was bought in for 85,000gns here in Book 2 last October. He was signed for by Robert Moss, sitting with his trainer Simon Dow. “Hopefully he’ll get to Royal Ascot,” the Epsom trainer said. “He looks a very forward, imposing and precocious colt.” The morning had been devoted to a low-key catalogue of older Horses In Training, topped by the solitary wild card Ventura Dragon (Ire) (Dragon Pulse {Ire}), a winner at the Lincoln meeting for Richard Fahey. The Malton trainer himself signed for the gelding at 62,000gns, explaining: “The horse has been bought for a different owner. He’s a jumping man, but the horse will come back to me before going on to Oliver Sherwood.” View the full article

Will Call, a Klein Racing homebred son of Country Day, stormed home from off the pace to win the Twin Spires Turf Sprint presented by TwinSpires.com (G3T) by 1 1/4 lengths over Kid Perfect. View the full article

LOUISVILLE, Ky – Well-respected private clocker and bloodstock agent Gary Young sat down for a Q&A session with TDN Senior Editor Steve Sherack to discuss all things GI Kentucky Derby. The Southern California-based native of Chicago has selected standouts such as two-time GI Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Midnight Lute (Real Quiet) and GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Brocco (Kris S.). Other GISWs on his resume include: Capo Bastone (Street Boss), Gabriel Charles (Street Hero), Life At Ten (Malibu Moon) and Tom’s Tribute (Lion Heart). Q: Who has impressed you the most in the mornings this week at Churchill Downs? GY: It’s hard to get a better, more imposing looking horse than Justify (Scat Daddy). He may or may not win this race for a multitude of reasons-inexperience, trouble coming out of the gate, etc. But if he doesn’t get eliminated at the start, I think this horse is going to take a whole lot of beating. He’s the biggest dog in the kennel, let’s put it that way. Q: Last year’s champion 2-year-old colt Good Magic has been receiving plenty of attention in the a.m. here, too. Thoughts on him? GY: Good Magic (Curlin)’s last work [five furlongs in 1:01.20 8/55 at Churchill Apr. 28] was good. He’s a medium-sized horse that has a medium stride. But he doesn’t have any wasted action or energy and he’s in the barn of a guy who knows how to win these big races. To label Chad Brown a turf trainer is very foolish because he wins a lot of races on dirt and he’s going to win some Derbies, too. Good Magic is very accomplished, but he doesn’t catch your eye like a Justify or Magnum Moon (Malibu Moon) or like [American] Pharoah did. There’s nothing overly flashy about him, but look, he’s won a Grade I and an Eclipse Award. Q: Any Derby longshot catching your eye during training hours? GY: I think as a longshot, Hofburg (Tapit) is going to run pretty good. I as a gambler–I’ve gambled my whole life-have always tried to beat the favorite. I don’t like the idea of coming out here and just telling everybody that the favorite [Justify] is my pick to be the sixth favorite in a row to win the Derby. But I like betting against weak favorites and I don’t think he’s a weak favorite. I think Hofburg has a chance to hit the board or maybe even get in the exacta. I think he’s coming forward very fast. It speaks volumes that a conservative guy like Billy Mott is running him in the Kentucky Derby. Q: Anybody that you didn’t really like on paper that has impressed you enough from the clocker stand to make you think twice now? GY: Hofburg would be that horse and maybe Vino Rosso (Curlin), too. They definitely went up in my rankings since I arrived in Louisville. Q: How do you see the Derby setting up? GY: If this race goes the way I think and Justify runs these horses into the ground and opens up four at the quarter pole, there’s going to be a lot of horses with their tongues hanging out. It could set up a horse like Hofburg or Vino Rosso, who will definitely get the distance, to pick up the pieces for second and third. That is a very plausible scenario for me being a huge Justify fan. If Justify breaks and everything goes right, I can see him laying second outside the Dale Romans horse Promises Fulfilled (Shackleford), and at about the 3 1/2 pole, him opening up. It could become a vicious game of catch up for the rest of the field from there. Q: You’re clearly very high on Justify. Does his inexperience/ the ‘Curse of Apollo’ worry you at all? GY: The fact that he’s only got three career races worries me more than the ‘Curse of Apollo.’ Right after he came over from Los Alamitos and worked at Santa Anita for the first time, I said to Bob Baffert, ‘Who the hell is that?’ When you look at a horse like Justify, you would expect him to take a little while to get going–he’s just such a big, massive long-bodied horse. If he was a mid-pack horse or a come-from-behind horse, having only three races so far would concern me a lot more than it does with him being an up-close runner. I know Bolt d’Oro (Medaglia d’Oro) is a good horse, and for Justify to handle him in only his third race of his life like he did [in the GI Santa Anita Derby], was pretty impressive. Q: Observing these horses in the morning, what signs do you look for leading up to the Derby? GY: You want to see a horse that’s galloping freely. Most of them jog before they turn around and gallop-you need to warm up first. Any baseball player or basketball player, they just don’t walk onto the diamond or hardwood and say, ‘Come on, let’s go.’ There are certain horses that don’t warm up that great and this is where knowing the horses on a daily basis can really help. And on cool mornings like we had earlier this week, you’d rather not see horses getting perspired or wet. Q: Favorite Derby memory? GY: I kind of put my neck out on the line before ‘Pharoah’ ran and said that he might be the best horse I timed in 35 years of clocking. He went out and won the Triple Crown, so that obviously was very nice and has to be right up there. Winning Colors would be another, I made a pretty good lick on her. The one thing that will always stick in my mind is the ’94 Derby when I came here with Brocco and Mr. and Mrs. Broccoli, who produced the James Bond movies. They were with the Winick family and they were the people that mentored me in my early years on the racetrack and they hired me to help assist them in picking horses. I loved Brocco from the day he worked at the sale and we were all convinced that he was going to win the Derby. But when they opened the doors, he got left five lengths behind the field on a muddy racetrack. He made it all the way up to second at the eighth pole and he wound up running fourth. Q: Closing thoughts? GY: California, in a rare instance, got blanked in the Triple Crown last year. I don’t see that happening again this year. View the full article

Will Call, a Klein Racing homebred son of Country Day, storms from off the pace to win the Twin Spires Turf Sprint presented by TwinSpires.com (G3T) by 1 1/4 lengths over Kid Perfect. View the full article

Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Backyard Heaven (c, 4, Tizway–Cappagh Strand, by Grand Slam) bound passed GI Kentucky Derby hero Always Dreaming (Bodemeister) at the top of the stretch and sailed home a five-length winner of the GII Alysheba S. at Churchill Downs Friday. Sent off at 2-1, the dark bay colt kept the Derby winner company on the lead through fractions of :23.86 and :46.79 with the rest of the field well back. Backyard Heaven turned back the tiring Always Dreaming after three-quarters in 1:10.85 and was unchallenged to the wire. Hawaakom (Jazil) was second and Good Samaritan (Harlan’s Holiday) was third. The time for the 1 1/16 miles was 1:41.73. A $160,000 KEESEP graduate, Backyard Heaven was second behind Copper Town (Speightstown) in his debut at Belmont last September before airing by five lengths at Aqueduct Dec. 10. He returned with a one-mile Aqueduct allowance victory Mar. 17. Lifetime Record: 4-3-1-0, $331,200. O-Kenneth & Sarah Ramsey. B-Waymore LLC (Ky). T-Chad Brown. View the full article

That a reigning divisional champion, a fellow Breeders' Cup victor, a quartet from Todd Pletcher, and a multiple grade 1 winner have all taken turns in the shadows says volumes about the quality of this year's Kentucky Derby. View the full article

Front-running Mia Mischief held off a stretch challenge from Talk Veuve to Me and powered home to a 1 3/4-length victory in the $200,000 Eight Belles Stakes (G2) May 4 at Churchill Downs, the first of six graded stakes on the Kentucky Oaks card. View the full article

Mark Webster will step down as managing director of Inglis in December after 11 years in the role. A press release from Inglis on Friday stated Webster’s intention to take on more non-executive board roles and consulting work, and he will transition to a non-executive director of Inglis. One of Webster’s legacies as managing director of Inglis will be his role in the sale of the company’s Newmarket property and the construction of the new Riverside Stables complex. View the full article

1st-CD, $71K, Alw/Opt. Clm., 3yo, 7f, post time: 10:30 a.m. ET Pegram, Watson and Weitman’s ONCE ON WHISKEY (Bodemeister) looks to build on a 2 3/4-length maiden victory at Santa Anita Mar. 24 for which he was accorded ‘TDN Rising Star’ status. The $150K KEESEP graduate is a son of SP Crespano (Mineshaft), who in turn is a daughter of SW Code of Ethics (Honour and Glory). Drayden Van Dyke, who was in the irons for the maiden win and is in town to pilot Instilled Regard (Arch) in Saturday’s GI Kentucky Derby, has the call. TJCIS PPs 3rd-SA, $54K, Msw, 3yo, f, 6f, post time: 4:00 p.m. ET AMADA RAFAELA (Distorted Humor) is a homebred daughter of Dust and Diamonds (Vindication), a dual GSW and second to Groupie Doll (Bowman’s Band) in the 2012 GI Breeders’ Cup Sprint who was then snapped up by Three Chimneys’ Borges Torrealba for $900K at FTKNOV a few days later. The filly’s now 2-year-old half-brother Much Better (Pioneerof the Nile) fetched $600K as a KEENOV weanling and Dust and Diamonds was sold at the same event for $1m back in foal to the WinStar inmate. TJCIS PPs View the full article