Wandering Eyes

Champion Good Magic and his caretakers were in good order April 8, one day after his vindicating, 1 1/2-length victory in the $1 million Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) at Keeneland. View the full article

Trainer Jason Servis notched his 1000th career win Sunday at Gulfstream Park, reaching the milestone with Meant Tobe Mine in the ninth race. View the full article

A 1 1/2-length victory in the $150,000 Beaumont Stakes Presented by Keeneland Select (G3) for 3-year-old fillies at Keeneland April 8 marked the return to racing and stakes debut of Gas Station Sushi. View the full article

Vino Rosso will carry momentum into the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) following his breakthrough victory April 7 in the $1 million Wood Memorial Stakes presented by NYRA Bets (G2) at Aqueduct Racetrack. View the full article

Even though he only took command of the race officially as he entered the third and final turn of the 1 1/2-mile dirt test, the 7-year-old son of Any Given Saturday never looked in danger of losing April 8 at Santa Anita Park. View the full article

Trainer Jason Servis notched the 1,000th win of his career April 8 at Gulfstream Park with a victory from Meant Tobe Mine in the ninth race. View the full article

Horses' test results April 7 View the full article

Zawari and Shafrizal suspended View the full article

In her first start since she captured the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T) in November, Rushing Fall showed who she was in the $200,000 Appalachian Stakes presented by Japan Racing Association (G2T) when she drew clear to win by a length. View the full article

A 1 1/2-length victory in the $150,000 Beaumont Stakes Presented by Keeneland Select (G3) for 3-year-old fillies at Keeneland April 8 marked the return to racing and stakes debut of Gas Station Sushi, in just her second start. View the full article

In her final work for the April 13 Apple Blossom Handicap (G1), Don Alberto Stable's Unique Bella breezed with power and grace and covered four furlongs in :46 4/5 Sunday under the watchful eye of Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. View the full article

Last year’s GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Filles champion Rushing Fall (More Than Ready) stays undefeated in her sophomore debut in the GII Appalachian S. Sunday at Keeneland. The 1-2 favorite settled into mid pack and stayed on the rail entering the first turn. She began to move up three wide around the far turn and was met with challenge from Daddy Is a Legend (Scat Daddy) at the quarter pole, but quickly repelled her inside the final furlong. Rushing Fall had plenty left in the tank to hold off Thewayiam (Thewayyouare) to make it four straight victories to start her career. The $320,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga earned her ‘TDN Rising Star’ tag when rallying to graduate at Belmont Sept. 16 before capturing the GIII Jessamine S. at Keeneland in similar fashion Oct. 11. The bay hails from the same family as GISW Albert the Great (Go for Gin) and MGSW James Street (El Prado {Ire}). She is a half to Milam (Street Sense), SW & MGSP, $239,651. Lifetime Record: 4-4-0-0. O-e Five Racing. B-Fred W. Hertrich III & John D. Fielding. T- Chad Brown View the full article

A day after impressive performances in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) and Santa Anita Oaks (G1), the West Coast contingent once again appears to be a top player for the action on the first week of May at Churchill Downs. View the full article

Gas Station Sushi (Into Mischief) bided her time and stormed home late to remain unbeaten in the GIII Beaumont S at Keeneland Sunday. She lived up to the hype in her debut, romping home by 3 1/2-lengths when favored at Del Mar Aug. 6. Riley Racing Stables bought into the filly after that score. The slight 2-1 favorite broke in mid pack and was tucked in behind the leaders through a :22.50 first quarter. She saved all the ground while still in hand around the far turn before shifting out four wide entering the stretch. The bay rallied down the center of the track, took command inside the sixteenth pole and held on for the length score. Gas Station Sushi was a $90,000 yearling purchase at Keeneland September before breezing a furlong in :10 flat and selling for $240,000 at OBS March. She hails from the same family as GISW Taste of Paradise (Conquistador Cielo). Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0. O-Riley Racing Stables LLC & Megan J. & Jason Tackitt. B-Spendthrift Farm Llc (KY). T-Richard Baltas. View the full article

So an undefeated colt roared to an impressive open-length victory in a difficult graded stakes test over the weekend, running his ‘TDN Rising Star’ record to three-for-three and establishing a commandeering spot atop the divisional totem pole. You know who I’m talking about, right? Not so fast before you leap to the obvious horse. This week only, that’s a multiple choice question with three possible correct answers. Despite the headline-snaring dismantling of the GI Santa Anita Derby orchestrated by new GI Kentucky Derby favorite Justify (Scat Daddy) on Saturday, he’s not the only up-and-coming ‘Rising Star’ who fits that description. Thanks to a bevy of solid Triple Crown prep undercard action from coast to coast, racing enthusiasts were also treated to satisfying thrashings by Army Mule (Friesan Fire) in the GI Carter H. and Analyze It (Point of Entry) in the GIII Transylvania S. at Keeneland. Their dominant victories both represented stylish unveilings off seasonal layoffs that resonated with raw power and a left a hint that each has plenty left in reserve as the lucrative spring stakes schedule unfolds. Like Justify, each of those colts is now three-for-three and has firmly wrested control of his respective division: Army Mule now rates as the come-and-get-me kingpin of the older male middle-distance tier, while Analyze It has a stronghold as far as sophomore turfers are concerned. And when you attempt to assess each colt’s prowess in terms of cumulative margins of victory, the numbers are even more eye-opening: Army Mule has won his three races by a combined 22 1/4 lengths; Justify by 18 3/4; Analyze It by 15 3/4. Justify got plenty of well-deserved ink over the weekend (here and here), and I’ll scrutinize his performance further in the forthcoming TDN Derby Top 20 rankings published Monday afternoon. So let’s instead focus on Army Mule and Analyze It, who in almost any other week would have been the headline-grabbers themselves. 4-year-old Army Mule was attempting to leap the chasm from an entry-level Gulfstream Park allowance victory to Grade I company off a 66-day layoff on Saturday at Aqueduct, but the bettors had no problem installing the Todd Pletcher trainee as the 2-1 second favorite in the 11-horse field. He broke midpack and settled comfortably toward the inside, then made incremental, almost metronomic, progress while whittling down the pacemakers’ margins behind lively splits of :22.09 and :44.93. Five-sixteenths out, the in-hand Army Mule willingly rated on hold for a brief beat as jockey Joe Bravo picked their path, and once committed to an inside bid along the fence the colt charged through with gusto and kicked on enthusiastically when prompted for another gear. Army Mule was not asked for a full extension in the run to the wire despite the apparent pouring-it-on gap back to favorite Awesome Slew (Awesome Again) and the rest of the field, and his 1:20.94 clocking for seven furlongs (.90 off Artax’s track record set in the 1999 version of the Carter H.) translated to a lofty 114 Beyer Speed Figure. Pletcher mentioned the one-turn mile Grade I Metropolitan H. on the Belmont Stakes Day undercard as a likely next race for Army Mule, who broke his maiden at Belmont Park last Apr. 30. Analyze It, too, was also a Belmont Park maiden-breaker last year. He debuted on the turf as a juvenile Oct. 28 when let go at an amazing 13-1 in the betting for his 6 1/4-length sizzler of a wire job, and his mile score signaled something special because the clocking came back nearly a full second faster than the running of the Awad S. for slightly more seasoned 2-year-old males five races later on that card. His debut came too late in the season to attempt the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, but trainer Chad Brown shipped Analyze It to Del Mar for the Nov. 26 GIII Cecil B. DeMille S., where he got pounded to 1-2 favoritism and completely dominated a group of 10 other turf milers. The robustness of that bunch was an open question at the time because the better juvenile turfers had all competed in the Breeders’ Cup three weeks previously, so Analyze It entered a winter freshening without anyone knowing where he really stood against the best in the American grass division for his age group. Friday’s Transylvania at Keeneland went a long way to asserting where Analyze It now rates in the pecking order. The outside post in a field of 11 going 1 1/16 miles for the first time? No problem. The yielding course condition? Again, not an issue. Concerns that Analyze It wouldn’t be able to attain his preferred spot on the lead were also brushed aside when the colt broke with interest but reacted responsively to being asked to rate by jockey Jose Ortiz. And yes, Analyze It (and every other horse in the race) did have the benefit of a 117-1, soon-to-fade-to-last pacemaker gapping out by his lonesome on the lead to set the race up for a closing kick. But the internal fractions were hardly fast (1:15.21 for six furlongs), and Analyze It lost a decent amount of ground while three wide on both turns before relishing being roused and tourquing into an impressive overdrive that whet the appetite for the type of determined run he might produce in a subsequent start when he’s more tightly wound and the distances stretch longer. Brown has the July 7 GI Belmont Derby Invitational at 10 furlongs sized up as the long-range target for Analyze It. View the full article

German highweight sophomore colt Karpino (Ger) (Cape Cross {Ire}–Kahara {GB}, by Sadler’s Wells), died at Glenview Stud in Ireland at the end of March, Rathbarry and Glenview Studs announced via Twitter on Sunday morning. The 6-year-old was highweight in Germany at three and succumbed to an aggressive malignant tumour, after covering a few mares in his first season at stud. The Qatar Racing colourbearer was bred by Gestut Fahrhof in Germany out of the SP Kahara, a full-sister to English/Irish highweight and G1 St. Leger victor Milan (GB). A winner of three of his four starts for trainer Andreas Wohler, among them the G3 Rennen Dr. Busch Memorial and the G2 Mehl-Mulhens-Rennan (German 2000 Guineas), Karpino stood for a private fee. View the full article

Champion Good Magic joined his caretakers in being in good order April 8, one day after his vindicating, 1 1/2-length victory in the $1 million Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) at Keeneland. View the full article

Undefeated ‘TDN Rising Star’ Justify (Scat Daddy) and Bolt d’Oro (Medaglia d’Oro) emerged from their respective 1-2 finish in Saturday’s GI Santa Anita Derby in fine condition and will be pointed toward a rematch in the GI Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs May 5, their connections said Sunday morning. “He looks good,” Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert said of Justify after his wire-to-wire tally, in which he crossed the wire three lengths clear of Bolt d’Oro. “The track was really deep and loose yesterday and I was worried about that because he could have gotten really tired, but he acted like he wasn’t, and he handled it well. He’s still learning how to run, still a little green. He was out there [on the lead] by himself, looking at everything, taking it all in, but I like the way he responded when Bolt made that run at him [in mid-stretch]. Those two beat the rest of that field by a wide margin, so they’re serious horses. Justify and Bolt are the two best horses, and you have to give credit to Bolt. He doesn’t quit. He’s right there every time.” Two-time Grade I winner Bolt d’Oro also came out of the race well, aside from a minor cut, and will head to Churchill Downs for a rematch with Justify in the Run for the Roses, trainer Mick Ruis confirmed. “After the race, there was a little blood by his front quarter on the right side,” owner/trainer Mick Ruis said. “We washed it off and checked it out. It was like getting a splinter. No flesh came off, nothing like that. It just opened up a bit and in three days you won’t even know it’s there.” Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) also punched her ticket to Churchill Downs with a late-running win in the GI Santa Anita Oaks. The filly was doing well Sunday morning, co-owner Jeff Bloom reported. “She’s bright-eyed, cheery, happy and ate up all her food, so we’re happy,” said Bloom. “It’s on to Kentucky. The flight is booked. Actually, the flight’s been booked, but now it’s really booked.” View the full article

Around 4,000 horseracing fans and horsemen gathered at ParisLongchamp for the Parisian racecourse’s reopening. A total of 917 days had passed since the major rebuilding was initiated to transform the white elephant that had become too big for its daily routine into a more versatile, modular and green site for horse racing in Paris. On Sunday morning, the activity on social media showed a real excitement ahead of the day, as many trainers, owners, breeders, riders and fans were anxious to experience the new ParisLongchamp. A sunny day helped to clear the clouds that could have piled up as the building site was just about ready to welcome the public. The main paddock restaurant isn’t open for business yet–it will be inaugurated on the eve of the Grand Opening on Apr. 29– and the organization in some areas still has room for improvement, especially in the way people move around the new site as they become used to the new surroundings, but generally speaking, it was a position start. People seemed happy to be here on an historic day. Olivier Delloye, France Galop’s managing director, has been pretty much hands-on with the project for the last two years, and he more than anybody could have been worried about the public’s reception, but he seemed authentically relieved on Sunday evening. “Four thousand people was a perfect crowd to check out what was working and what was still to be worked on,” he said. “My feeling is that positive vibes were dominant and although people will need time to adjust, and so will we, for everybody to find one’s whereabouts, it has been a mostly positive day. Many things can and will be made better, but I am pretty happy with the way things went today.” As for the racing at ParisLongchamp, it hasn’t changed that much since the course itself has not been affected. The only major change is the open stretch in the early straight. Fourteen riders tested it on Mar. 27 and they seemed to like it, but Christophe Soumillon didn’t and he doesn’t seem to care much about the new buildings. Even though he won the G2 Prix d’Harcourt aboard Lady Cobham’s Air Pilot (GB) (Zamindar), the Belgian star wasn’t such a happy bunny. ‘Soumi’ plans to travel more to Britain to ride better horses this year, and the lesson we have learned so far this season on the turf is just supporting that idea. Air Pilot had previously won the G3 Prix Exbury in a snowstorm just before the races were cancelled that day, beating Way To Paris (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}) and Star Victory (Fr) (Tot Ou Tard {Ire}) in the very same order as on Sunday in the Harcourt, which could make one think that the Prix Exbury, run in extreme conditions, was actually an accurate result. Okay, the ground on Sunday at ParisLongchamp was deemed heavy, but it was brand new, lush with fresh grass, and that helped the horses to overcome it. Chilean(GB) (Iffraaj {GB}) , also trained in Britain, won the G3 Prix La Force, while a Cagnes-sur-mer Listed graduate, Barkaa (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) more or less ridiculed a field of six rivals, mostly G1 Longines Prix de Diane pretenders. Although he wasn’t spotted at ParisLongchamp on Sunday, John Gosden can sit back and relax. As far as it goes, his Cracksman (GB) (Frankel {GB}) hasn’t much to fear from France in the G1 Prix Ganay. By the look of it, French trainers are happy to let their British and Irish rivals win on French turf, just as long as they let us win on Britain’s all-weather tracks. View the full article

Trainer Todd Pletcher sent out his own graded stakes-winning pick three at Aqueduct Saturday, with a dazzling romp in the GI Carter H. by ‘TDN Rising Star’ Army Mule (Friesan Fire) and a breakthrough victory in the GII Wood Memorial by Vino Rosso (Curlin) sandwiching a rallying score in the GIII Bay Shore S. by National Flag (Speightstown). As of Sunday morning, Pletcher said he had not determined where Vino Rosso will train in the lead up to the Kentucky Derby but is considering taking the colt back to Palm Beach Downs, where he has trained since November. “We’ll make a final decision [Monday],” said Pletcher, who added that Vino Rosso will likely work twice prior to his next start in the Derby. Army Mule, who captured the Carter to remain undefeated in just three career starts, will be pointed to the GI Met Mile at Belmont June 9, according to Pletcher. The Carter also marked the 4-year-old’s stakes debut. “I had the chance to talk to Mr. [Vinnie] Viola [of co-owner St. Elias Stables] and it seems like the Met Mile will be the most likely target,” Pletcher said. Pletcher added that National Flag could make his next appearance in the GIII Pat Day Mile S. at Churchill Downs on the GI Kentucky Derby undercard. Wood Memorial runner-up Enticed (Medaglia d’Oro), meanwhile, is scheduled to return to Palm Meadows in South Florida to continue his preparations for the Derby, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said Sunday. View the full article

A day after impressive winning performances in both the Santa Anita Derby (G1) and Santa Anita Oaks (G1), the West Coast contingent once again appears to be a top player for the action on the first week of May at Churchill Downs. View the full article

Champion Good Magic joined his caretakers in being in good order April 8, one day after his vindicating, 1 1/2-length victory in the $1 million Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) at Keeneland. View the full article

The once-beaten Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) burst past favourite Lucky Lilac (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) in late stretch to win Hanshin’s G1 Oka Sho, the Japanese 1000 Guineas, in fine style on Sunday. Sent off at 5-2 behind the previously unbeaten 4-5 crowd’s pick Lucky Lilac, she settled last but one as the gates sprung and Cordierite (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}) showed the way with Lucky Lilac sitting third. Cordierite was tackled by Tsuzumimon (Jpn) (Strong Return {Jpn}) at the halfway point, with Almond Eye still second last as the field approached the bend. Tsuzumimon went on with it from there, but Lucky Lilac had dead aim in upper stretch, as Almond Eye unleashed a withering finishing burst under Christophe Lemaire. Almond Eye swept past new leader Lucky Lilac and finished 1 3/4 lengths to the good of that rival, who was a half-length in front of fellow Sunday Racing colourbearer Lily Noble (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}) in third. “Her response and speed at the stretch was unbelievable and felt great,” said winning hoop Lemaire. “Her strides kept getting bigger and all I had to do was keep her straight. A step up in distance shouldn’t be a problem for this talented filly, who has a great potential to win the Triple [Tiara].” Almond Eye has done little wrong in her young career, completing the exacta at first asking at Niigata in August, before landing a 1600-metre Tokyo affair on Oct. 8. She won the G3 Nikkan Sports Sho Shinzan Kinen at Kyoto going this trip in her 3-year-old bow on Jan. 8, and in the process gave her sire his first black-type and group winner. Pedigree Notes… The sophomore filly, is the first Group 1 victress for her sire, Lord Kanaloa (Jpn), a Japanese Horse of the Year and two-time champion sprinter/miler. The Shadai Stallion Station resident has since been represented by Group 2 winner Stelvio (Jpn), who was second in the G1 Asahi Hai Futurity S. Arrowfield Stud will offer a colt (lot 35) by him out of a Deep Impact (Jpn) daughter of Argentinean champion Potrizaris (Arg) (Potrillazo {Arg}) during the first session of the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale on Monday. The sixth winner of six foals to race out of the Japanese MSW and Group 1 bridesmaid Fusaichi Pandora (Jpn), Almond Eye is followed by a yearling colt by Rulership (Jpn). Her second dam, the unraced Lotta Lace (Nureyev), is a half-sister to English and Irish champion juveniles El Gran Senor (Northern Dancer) and Try My Best (Northern Dancer) being out of the blue hen Sex Appeal (Buckpasser), who also produced GSW Solar (Halo). Numerous SWs trace to her, including GISWs Bahamian Pirate (Housebuster) and GI United Nations S. victor Chinchon (Ire) (Marju {Ire}). (Click here to read an Alan Carasso feature on Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Sunday, Hanshin, Japan OKA SHO (JAPANESE 1000 GUINEAS)-G1, ¥234,790,000 (US$2,196,693/£1,559,074/€1,788,040), Hanshin, 4-8, 3yo, f, 1600mT, 1:33.10, fm. 1–ALMOND EYE (JPN), 121, f, 3, by Lord Kanaloa (Jpn) 1st Dam: Fusaichi Pandora (Jpn) (MSW & G1SP-Jpn, $3,264,457), by Sunday Silence 2nd Dam: Lotta Lace, by Nureyev 3rd Dam: Sex Appeal, by Buckpasser 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Silk Racing; B-Northern Farm (Jpn); T-Sakae Kunieda; J-Christophe Lemaire; ¥129,703,000. Lifetime Record: 4-3-1-0. *1st Group 1 winner for her sire (by King Kamehameha {Jpn}). Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Lucky Lilac (Jpn), 121, f, 3, by Orfevre (Jpn) 1st Dam: Lilacs and Lace, by Flower Alley 2nd Dam: Refinement, by Seattle Slew 3rd Dam: Stella Madrid, by Alydar O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm (Jpn); ¥49,058,000. 3–Lily Noble (Jpn), 121, f, 3, by Rulership (Jpn). 1st Dam: Pure Chaplet (Jpn), by Kurofune 2nd Dam: Baptista (Jpn), by Sunday Silence 3rd Dam: Bebop (Jpn), by Amber Shadai (Jpn) O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm (Jpn); ¥29,529,000. Margins: 1 3/4, HF, 1 3/4; Odds: 2.90, 0.80, 6.40. Also Ran: Tosen Bless (Jpn), Mau Lea (Jpn), Liberty Heights (Jpn), Red Sakuya (Jpn), Scarlet Color (Jpn), Tsuzumimon (Jpn), Primo Scene (Jpn), Encore Plus (Jpn), Finift (Jpn), Dernier Or (Jpn), Harlem Line (Jpn), Red Regnant (Jpn), Cordierite (Jpn), Aonbharr (Jpn). Scratched: Amalfi Coast (Jpn). Click for the Racing Post chart. JRA Video. View the full article

e Five Racing and Stonestreet Stables’s champion Good Magic (Curlin) will remain at Keeneland to train up to the GI Kentucky Derby following his victory in Saturday’s GII Toyota Blue Grass S., trainer Chad Brown said Sunday. Brown said the colt came out of his effort well and would workout at the Lexington oval before ultimately shipping to Louisville. “Right now that’s my plan,” Brown confirmed. “He’ll have his first breeze back here in a couple weeks then [ship] over to Churchill.” With his Blue Grass win, Good Magic rebounded from a somewhat disappointing 2018 debut when third in the GII Fountain of Youth S. at Gulfstream Park Mar. 4. Trainer Mark Casse said Blue Grass runner-up Flameaway (Scat Daddy) also emerged from his effort well and will return to Casse’s Churchill base Monday to resume training for the Kentucky Derby. A Monday return to Churchill Downs was also in the cards for Saturday’s GI Ashland S. heroine Monomoy Girl (Tapizar), who likely stamped herself as the GI Kentucky Oaks favorite with a romping 5 1/2-length score. According to conditioner Brad Cox, the chestnut will van back to Louisville Monday or Tuesday. “Her work is done here and it is time to move on to the next town,” said Cox. “She ran the way we thought she would, with the way she had been training. It all worked out well.” View the full article

1st-KEE, $56,838, Msw, 4-8, 2yo, f, 4 1/2f, :53.03, ft. STILLWATER COVE (f, 2, Quality Road–Celibataire, by Broken Vow) broke quickest from the gate as the heavy 1/5 favorite and sprinted off to a five-length advantage through an opening quarter in :22.17. She still had a four-length cushion passing the eighth pole, but had to hold off a late-charging and very green Giro Kate (Girolamo) in the final strides to score by a nose. Stillwater Cove’s fourth dam was undefeated champion Personal Ensign (Private Account) and she hails from the family of MGISWs My Flag (Easy Goer) and Storm Flag Flying (Storm Cat) as well as MGSW Divine Oath (Broken Vow). She is the first foal out of maiden Celibataire, who is a full-sister to MGSW Interactif. She has recently produced a yearling filly by War Front and visited Union Rags last season. Sales history: $45,000 RNA Ylg ’17 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $36,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. O-Marcus Stables, LLC; B-Lofts Hall Stud & Ben Sangster (KY); T-Wesley A. Ward. View the full article