Wandering Eyes

Mr Luck bounces back to winning form after break View the full article

Drone gets right on radar on debut View the full article

Horses' body weights April 27 View the full article

Track conditions and course scratchings April 27 View the full article

Early scratchings April 27 View the full article

Sunny Brook Stables' Plein Air (IRE) will aim to build upon her stakes-winning U.S. debut with her second try in a Southern California marathon race April 28 in the Santa Barbara Stakes (G3T) at Santa Anita Park. View the full article

Officials at the New York Racing Association announced Thursday that the long-distance racing bonus program would be continued for the 2018 Belmont Spring/Summer meeting that opens Friday at the Long Island oval. All open-company maiden special weight races as well as first- and second-level allowance heats at 10 furlongs and beyond will offer purse money of $90,000 once the bonuses are factored in. Maiden allowance races receive a bump of $15,000 from its $75,000 base, while one-other-than allowances receive a $13,000 enhancement and N2X allowances see their purses raised by $10,000. “Owners and trainers are clearly interested in these races, and we’re pleased that the program has gained momentum over the last year,” said Martin Panza, senior director of racing operations for NYRA. “We continue to be one of the only circuits offering these races and we look forward to building the program even further.” During the first year of the bonus in 2017, a total of 17 turf races were eligible for the higher prize money and attracted an average of 8.65 horses per race, nearly one horse higher than in the previous season when the bonus was not in place. NYRA will also card eight races for 2-year-olds with purse money of $100,000 as part of its ongoing program leading up to the $150,000 Astoria S. for juvenile fillies June 7 and the male counterpart, the $150,000 Tremont S. June 8. Those two events are part of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival. Bonuses worth a total of $25,000 will be offered to the owners and trainers of New York-breds who finish first, second or third in any state-bred or open maiden juvenile race held during the spring/summer meet. The bonus program, supported in partnership with the New York Breeding Fund, calls for owners to receive $9,000 for a first-place finish, $4,500 for second and $2,500 for third. Trainers would get a bonus of $4,000 for first, $3,000 for second and $2,000 for third. View the full article

Freshman sire Mucho Macho Man was represented by his first runner, Mucho Amor, who grabbed the lead early and never looked back to win an April 26 maiden special weight at Keeneland. View the full article

Keeneland, William S. Farish’s Lane’s End and Churchill Downs Racetrack have teamed to sponsor the Bluegrass Breakfast, an enhanced breakfast experience for horsemen in the Churchill Downs stable area during Kentucky Derby Week. The Bluegrass Breakfast will be open 6-10:30 a.m. from Saturday, Apr. 28, through Thursday, May 3, in the Stable Suites located near the gap by the clockers’ stand. “Keeneland is excited to partner with Lane’s End and Churchill Downs to further elevate the hospitality experience for horsemen,” Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason said. “Keeneland shares a rich connection to the Kentucky Derby in that 21 winners have been sold at Keeneland sales, most recently Nyquist and Always Dreaming. We are proud to have a presence at Churchill Downs during this important week in racing.” The Bluegrass Breakfast will feature Southern-style “grab and go” offerings, a coffee bar and both climate-controlled and rooftop views of morning works on the track. Horsemen will enjoy locally sourced daily breakfast options from Lexington’s DaRae & Friends Catering and Tincan Coffee Roasters. “To be able to partner with our friends at Keeneland and bring a bit of Bluegrass hospitality to our partners at Churchill during Derby week is a great opportunity for us,” said Will Farish. “Lane’s End is always honored to be a part of the biggest race in the sport, whether that’s through the Bluegrass Breakfast or on the racetrack watching our connections compete on Derby Day.” View the full article

The three trainers who accounted for the six winners of the 170-point Road to the Kentucky Derby races contested in the United States sounded confident April 26 when they gathered for an NTRA teleconference call with media members. View the full article

SHANG SHANG SHANG (f, 2, Shanghai Bobby–Yankee Victoria {SP, $193,510}, by Yankee Victor) kept the remarkable streak of baby winners at Keeneland for Wesley Ward alive with a sharp frontrunning score. Attracting a winning bid of $200,000 off a :9 4/5 breeze at OBS March, the dark bay was made a 17-5 third choice in this debut and showed big speed to dictate terms through a :22.13 quarter. Chased by stablemate Moonlight Romance (Liaison) on the turn, Shang Shang Shang never gave that one a chance and hit the wire two lengths to the good of her partner in a sharp final time of :51.03. The victress has a yearling half-sister by Take Charge Indy and her dam was bred to Paynter last season. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $36,000. O-Breeze Easy LLC; B-Kris R. Del Giudice (FL); T-Wesley A. Ward. View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Friday’s Insights features a colt from the family of Goldikova (Ire). 1.25 Chantilly, Cond, €35,000, 3yo, 10fT NEAR GOLD (GB) (Dansili {GB}) makes his seasonal debut for Jean-Louis Bouchard and trainer Freddy Head, having looked one of France’s more exciting prospects as he broke his maiden in style here in October. The relative of Goldikova (Ire) (Anabaa) who is entered in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club and G1 Epsom Derby encounters seven rivals including the unbeaten ex-Polish filly Glamorous Thingie (Fr) (Redoute’s Choice {Aus}) who now represents Viktor Timoshenko and Nicolas Clement. 1.50 Sandown, Hcp, £25,000, 3yo, 8fT KINGS SHIELD (Scat Daddy) cost 675,000gns as a Tattersalls Craven breezer, is unbeaten for Qatar Racing and John Gosden and now tries turf for the first time in this prestigious Esher Cup which can play host to some potential pattern-race performers. The half-brother to the smart Great White Eagle (Elusive Quality) and Quarrel (Maria’s Mon) comes into this test on the back of smooth wins on the all-weather at Newcastle and Kempton and holds and entry in the G1 St James’s Palace S. 4.35 Sandown, Cond, £10,000, 3yo, f, 9f 209yT HIGHGARDEN (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) is another notable John Gosden representative on a card in which he has historically enjoyed testing his better 3-year-olds. The Lofts Hall Stud homebred created a deep impression when winning on her sole start at Newbury in October and the descendant from the top-class Rebelline (Ire) (Robellino) is entered in the G1 Epsom Oaks. View the full article

MUCHO AMOR (f, 2, Mucho Macho Man–Raucous Lady, by Rock Hard Ten) showed speed and plenty of grit down the lane to hold on for the victory, the ninth straight in a Keeneland baby race for trainer Wesley Ward and the first overall for her sire. Showing a trio of modest local works, capped by a half-mile in :49 flat (31/77) Apr. 21, the $280,000 OBS March buy broke well from her inside stall and showed the way past a :22.66 quarter. Challenged by sneakily-bet Ben Colebrook firster Blame the Frog (Blame) at the furlong grounds, Mucho Amor dug in resolutely to stave that one off by a neck on the wire in :52 flat. The winner’s dam dropped a filly by Sky Mesa last term before visiting Street Boss. Sales History: $135,000 Ylg ’17 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $36,000. O-Ten Broeck Farm Inc.; B-Ed Few (KY); T-Wesley A. Ward. View the full article

Sandown’s G3 bet365 Gordon Richards S. is one of those races that Sir Michael Stoute likes to target with his returning stable stars and the leading trainer with eight wins could be extending that sequence on Friday as ‘TDN Rising Star’ Crystal Ocean (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) comes back to the fray. Sir Evelyn De Rothschild’s homebred took the 12-furlong G3 Gordon S. at Glorious Goodwood in August before finishing second in the G1 St Leger at Doncaster in September, with his trainer always keen to stress that he was a work in progress. He faces a race-fit rival in The Queen’s Fabricate (GB) (Makfi {GB}), who is unbeaten in three starts at this trip and looked a revelation when beating another Stoute trainee in Autocratic (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) with authority in Kempton’s Listed Magnolia S. on Mar. 31. View the full article

Godolphin Racing’s Enticed (Medaglia d’Oro) worked five furlongs in 1:00.20 at Palm Meadows for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin Thursday morning. Breezing under exercise rider Jason Eracia, Enticed worked in company as he prepares for a start in the GI Kentucky Derby next Saturday. “He worked great,” said trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. “I am very happy with him and he has done well [since his runner-up finish in the Apr. 7 GII Wood Memorial S.].” Enticed is scheduled to leave Florida Sunday and arrive at Churchill Downs Monday. Five workouts by Derby contenders are slated for Friday morning at Churchill Downs, headed by the Todd Pletcher-trained quartet of Audible (Into Mischief), Magnum Moon (Malibu Moon), Noble Indy (Take Charge Indy) and Vino Rosso (Curlin). View the full article

Derby pretenders stick their heads above the parapet at Sandown on Friday, with Manton Estate Racing’s Chilean (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}) looking to further his claims in the G3 bet365 Classic Trial. Still in the 2000 Guineas, he beat the well-regarded Niarchos colt Study of Man (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in Longchamp’s G3 Prix la Force over nine furlongs on heavy ground last time Apr. 8 and sets the standard. John Gosden has won this a record eight times and relies on Gestut Ammerland’s homebred Sevenna Star (Ire) (Redoute’s Choice {Aus}), who opened his account by 14 lengths over this trip also on a heavy surface at Windsor on Apr. 16. “He is in good form and he took that race at Windsor very well the other day,” he explained. “He had been pleasing us at home, but it is not normal to go and win by 14 lengths. We will see what the ground is, but if there is cut in it he will handle it.” View the full article

One of the most impressive winners of the prestigious Lincoln H. in recent times, Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) looked every inch a pattern-race performer there and he gets the chance to prove it in Friday’s G2 bet365 Mile at Sandown. Having beaten the smart Lord Glitters (Fr) (Whipper) with an ease rarely seen in such a competitive handicap in testing ground at Doncaster on Mar. 24, the progressive 4-year-old has trainer William Haggas hoping he can take high rank among the milers this term. “He seems very well. It is a big step up in class, but we think he is ready to try something like this,” he said. “I was impressed at the time when he won the Lincoln. I’ve seen it again and I was impressed again. He did it very well.” This renewal features the usual stalwarts of the division, with Fitri Hay’s surprise G1 Sussex S. winner Here Comes When (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) returning along with last year’s Sandown Mile hero Sovereign Debt (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). Here Comes When’s trainer Andrew Balding said of the veteran, “He is in great form. Any more rain that falls will be to his advantage. He doesn’t seem to know that he is getting older.” View the full article

Overlooked for a slot in the inaugural The Everest last October, Group 1 winner In Her Time (Aus) (Time Thief {Aus}) will represent Tabcorp in the 2018 edition of the A$13-million 1200-metre feature. Tabcorp Media Manager Glenn Munsie tweeted on Thursday, “Happy to announce that In Her Time will represent @tabcomau in this year’s #Everest2018.” The Mar. 24 G1 The Galaxy heroine, who is trained by Ben Smith, most recently ran a good third in the G1 T.J. Smith S. at Royal Randwick during the first weekend of The Championships on Apr. 7 and is pointing toward a start in the G1 Doomben 10,000 on May 12. The 5-year-old mare won a Beaumont barrier trial over 1000 metres on Apr. 24. Trapeze Artist (Aus) became the first horse with a 2018 The Everest slot on Monday, and he will represent Aquis Farm. View the full article

If you were to Google the meaning of the phrase “makes your toes curl,” you would probably feel some tingling in your own tootsies when it comes time to interpret the definition. There are literally dozens of links that will be very definitive about this, but we have decided that the one which pertains to our study is the simplest: to “bring about an extreme reaction in someone, either of pleasure or of disgust.” That seems a fair description the unleashed emotions could generate after a son or daughter of Curlin gets up in time to win a graded race, viz., Good Magic in the GII Toyota Blue Grass S. and Vino Rosso in the GII Wood Memorial Apr. 7, after both came up embarrassingly short in their previous starts. Then again there is the roller coaster ride that is under the girth of Solomini, whose career has taken a couple of bounces to date, some not his fault. There’s an interesting cross-current of expectations by the connections of the Curlins and the underestimation of the public, or the competition–and it might have its roots in both the racing record and early breeding career of the son of Smart Strike. On one hand you could not be more impressed with the looks of this smartly built chestnut. Trainer Ken McPeek thought so when he purchased him for his own account at Keeneland September in 2005 for a modest $57,000 and subsequently sold him privately and turned him over to his assistant Helen Pitts when he took a sabbatical. Ms. Pitts took her time with the big colt, and he didn’t come out until February of his sophomore year where he destroyed a maiden field at Gulfstream by a dozen lengths–which everyone seemed to expect given his 2-1 odds. Paying particular attention were Jess Jackson and Satish Sanan, who came together to purchase a third of Curlin apiece and sent him over to Steve Asmussen’s care. From there, things went happy-toes for a couple of races. Blessed with excellent power through his quarters and a slightly downhill body set, which is advantageous for horses who need to gather themselves and then roll on momentum, Curlin smashed his foes in the GIII Rebel S. and GII Arkansas Derby and went into the GI Kentucky Derby at a very warm 5-1. Toes were not happy as he was shuffled back at the start and had to come through a wall of horses to eventually get up for third to Street Sense and Hard Spun, beaten eight lengths. Next came the fulfillment of expectations as Curlin overcame a stumbling start in the GI Preakness S. and went on to turn the tables on his Derby conquerors, getting up late to beat Street Sense by a head with Hard Spun four lengths behind. However, when met with the challenge of 12 furlongs in the GI Belmont S., Curlin stalked the pace and split the field at the head of the stretch to appear to be able to wrap it up, but was caught in the last strides by the filly Rags to Riches. Ouch! (A hangnail?) From that point on, Curlin continued to prove he was an extraordinary racehorse but with a few hiccups. He started his fall campaign with a one-paced third in the GI Haskell Invitational to Any Given Saturday and Hard Spun, but then solidified his Eclipse Awards as Champion 3-year-old colt and Horse of the Year with victories in the GI Jockey Club Gold Gup and GI Breeders’ Cup Classic. Sent to Dubai when he turned four to prep for the G1 Dubai World Cup, he toyed with field in the Jaguar Trophy and then pummeled his foes in the Cup. Three months later, he underscored that class with an easy win in the GI Stephen Foster H. at Churchill, and then the next four races split the toes. Sent on the turf for the first time he ran creditably but was beaten two lengths in the GI Man o’ War S., then won both the GI Woodward S. and GI Jockey Club Gold Cup to go into the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic as a strong 9-10 favorite. Taken back as always, Curlin made a monster move around the turn and took a clear lead at the furlong grounds but unaccountably slowed down to finish fourth to Raven’s Pass, Henrythenavigator, two turf horses, and Tiago. He was still good enough to earn his second Horse of the Year title, as well as one for older male. So, there you have it–an exceptionally talented horse with an aggressive ownership who witnessed sometimes head-scratching performances heading to stud with a superior race record but a somewhat suspect pedigree, to wit: Smart Strike had established himself as a very good sire but much in his own mold–later developing and favoring turf, like his Eclipse winner English Channel who’d just started getting decent runners. (The more versatile Lookin at Lucky came along three years after Curlin.) Then there was the bottom line. His dam, Sheriff’s Deputy (Deputy Minister) was unraced and produced from Barbarika, who emulated her sire Bates Motel by wanting two turns, winning a listed stakes at Turfway. The next dam, War Exchange, was a very tough Mid-Atlantic stakes winner who also emulated her sire, Wise Exchange, in toughness, winning 10 of 48 starts. That was about it until the fifth dam, Jota Jota (Double Jay), who won the Ashland S. at Keeneland in a continuation of excellence since Arthur Hancock Sr. imported the Sir Martin mare Martha Snow, a major producer for Claiborne. However. Curlin’s biomechanical profile was through the roof, both as a racing machine and a potential progenitor. With a bit more scope than his sire, whom he resembles in some functional respects, Curlin is the kind of “average-sized” stallion that makes up for shortcomings in a wide variety of mares because he is so balanced. He also brings more power to the shed than did his sire. He hit the mark from the get-go with multiple Grade I winner Palace Malice in his first crop and subsequently threw out top-quality horses Stellar Wind, Exaggerator, Keen Ice, Curalina and Irish War Cry among his 50 stakes winners to date. What we find most interesting among Curlin’s sons who have retired to stud is that several of them are about the same Phenotype, as well as similar to him in size and scope. Some look like they have other biomechanical assets that will help them succeed. So, it could very well be that Curlin could have the kind of good magic to solidify this branch of the Mr. Prospector line. If that happens, you could choose vino rosso or vino bianco to toast his success, and your toes will no doubt be thankful and relax. Bob Fierro is a partner with Jay Kilgore and Frank Mitchell in DataTrack International, biomechanical consultants and developers of BreezeFigs. He can be reached at bbfq@earthlink.net. View the full article

Bloodstock South Africa’s three-day National Yearling Sale came to a close in Johannesburg on Thursday. Session 1 of the sale, which comprised Tuesday’s session and part of Wednesday’s, returned an aggregate of R99,480,000, with average and median prices of R585,176 and R332,500, respectively. Last year’s sale, which comprised just one session, returned an average of R303,726 and a median of R175,000 for 369 sold. Session 1 saw a new record set when Varsfontein Stud’s son of champion sire Dynasty (SAf) (lot 191) was knocked down to Jehan Malherbe of Form Bloodstock for R5.2-million. That sum for the half-brother to champion Yorker (SAf) (Jet Master {SAf}) topped the previous record of R5-million set last year by a daughter of Var. Dynasty was the sale’s leading sire by average, his 13 lots sold averaging R1,445,000, and he was trailed by Captain Al (SAf) (15 sold for an average of R1,444,333), and Silvano (Ger) (15 sold, R772,333). Session 2 of the National Yearling Sale, which comprised part of Wednesday’s session and Thursday, returned an aggregate of R40,210,000 for 208 sold, with an average of R193,317 and a median of R140,000. Two yearlings made R1-million: a son of Ideal World (lot 340) bought by trainer Dennis Drier on Wednesday and a colt by Twice Over (lot 418) picked up by agent John Freeman on Thursday. Both those sires are former Juddmonte representatives, Ideal World being a stakes-winning son of Breeders’ Cup winner Banks Hill (GB) (Danehill) and Twice Over being the celebrated four-time Group 1 winner. Ideal World is best known now as the sire of the three-time Group 1-winning mare Smart Call (SAf). There was likely some concern heading into the country’s largest yearling sale, with the fallout of Mayfair Speculators causing uncertainty within the industry and the recent announcement by Team Valor’s Barry Irwin that he was withdrawing from the South African industry, but Bloodstock South Africa’s Gary Grant said, “This sale has seriously endorsed the [Bloodstock South Africa] product. In my opinion, this has been the best local sale in years, with a happy and positive atmosphere translating into exceptional all-round results. It was pleasing to note that the fireworks enjoyed on day one continued well into the morning of Wednesday’s session. The sale has certainly over-performed expectations.” View the full article

Tom Pedulla is interviewing prominent owners, trainers and jockeys for America's Best Racing as they travel the Road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve on May 5 at Churchill Downs. View the full article

Four finalists have been selected for the 2018 Equine Industry Vision Award, which recognizes ingenuity and service benefiting the equine industry, Zoetis and American Horse Publications (AHP) announced Thursday. The four finalists are: Roxane Durant, co-founder and executive director of the Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA); David Jones, DVM, chairman for Brooke USA; Monty Roberts, founder of Join-Up International; and Jay Winborn, executive director of the National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA). The finalists will be judged on their performance in relation to their respective achievements and various qualifying attributes. The official presentation of the award will be made at the Equine Industry Vision Award Breakfast Friday June 15 during the AHP Equine Media Conference in Hunt Valley, Maryland. View the full article

Prominent owner John Oxley has pledged to donate 1% of the GI Kentucky Derby’s winning purse to the foundation should his entrant, Flameaway (Scat Daddy), win this year’s race, it was announced Thursday. Oxley made a similar pledge to Grayson after his Monarchos won the 2001 Kentucky Derby. The pledge extends to the other two Triple Crown races, the GI Preakness S. and the GI Belmont S., should Flameaway compete in either event. “Mr. Oxley has been a bulwark of important financial support for the benefit of all horses through his repeated generosity to Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation,” said Edward L. Bowen, the foundation’s president. “In addition to donating 1% of Monarchos’ winning purse in the Derby, the Oxley Foundation established a $1 million challenge match over four years, which resulted in combined donations of more than $2 million for Grayson. We are so appreciative of owners who use their racing successes to give back and contribute to the health and soundness of equines.” View the full article

The newly structured "Champions Day" at Sha Tin Racecourse April 29 shapes up largely as a defense by the talented home team against a team of raiders from Japan, and one from Dubai, in three group 1 races. View the full article

Newtown Anner Stud's Beckford (GB) heads a field of 10 3-year-olds entered April 28 for the fourth running of the $100,000 William Walker Stakes going five furlongs on the turf, the highlight of Churchill Downs' Opening Night presented by Budweiser. View the full article