Wandering Eyes

Roger James and Robert Wellwood have played starring roles on many of Ellerslie’s biggest racedays over the last 13 months, and the Cambridge trainers are hoping to continue that trend on Saturday and again on Champions Day on March 8. Ellerslie staged four races last season with a stake of $1 million or more, and there have been three so far in 2024-25. James and Wellwood have won three of those seven-figure prizes with their stable star Orchestral. The high-class daughter of Savabeel headlines the Kingsclere contingent again at Ellerslie this Saturday, lining up in the Gr.1 Sport Nation Otaki-Maori WFA Classic (1600m) ahead of a tilt at the $1 million Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) two weeks later. She will be backed up by three promising stablemates who will use their Saturday assignments as auditions for lucrative three-year-old prizes on Champions Day. That includes exciting talent Dealt With, who has a slot in the inaugural $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) and will have his final dress rehearsal in the Listed Trevor & Corallie Eagle Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m). James and Wellwood will also saddle a pair of potential $1.25 million Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby contenders, with the unbeaten Oceana Dream lining up in the Gr.2 Eagle Technology Avondale Guineas (2100m) while last-start winner Grey Area takes on Rating 65 opposition in the Eagle Charters (2100m). Orchestral was the standout three-year-old of the summer last season, producing dazzling performances to roar home from off the pace and win the Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) by three and a half lengths, the Avondale Guineas by four lengths and the New Zealand Derby by 3-3/4 lengths. She later ventured across to Sydney and added the Gr.1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) and a placing in the Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m). Unplaced in her first four appearances as a four-year-old this season, Orchestral turned her form around with a commanding last-start victory in the Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m) on January 25. “You had to be pretty impressed with what she did last start,” James said. “She won with ease in the end. It was very pleasing to see her produce a performance like that. “Everything’s gone really well with her since then. She’s had a nice break between runs to keep her as fresh as we can for another mile on Saturday, and she’s going into this race in very good order. It’s very much the idea to step her up to 2000m for the New Zealand Stakes next, and then hopefully we might take her back to Australia after that.” Things have happened quickly for Dealt With, who burst on to the scene with a smart win on debut at Te Aroha on January 4. He won again at Pukekohe on January 19, then was thrown in at the deep end and ran a close third behind Damask Rose and Tuxedo in the Karaka Millions 3YO. “He came a long way in quite a short period of time,” James said. “He’s improved with every run. He’s a big, burly boy and we’ve had to really stay on top of him, but his campaign is geared around that 1500m race in a couple of weeks’ time. We think we’re right on target.” Dealt With will represent the Kerri Spence Bloodstock & Clotworthy Racing slot in the NZB Kiwi, and the TAB rates him a $10 chance in a market headed by Evaporate ($4), Checkmate ($6), Damask Rose ($6) and Perfumist ($7). James is also enthusiastic about his chances of yet another victory in the New Zealand Derby, which he has previously won with Tidal Light (1986), Roysyn (1995), Zonda (1997), Hades (1999), Silent Achiever (2012) and Orchestral. Oceana Dream, who brings a perfect two-from-two record into the Avondale Guineas on Saturday, is rated a $12 chance for this year’s Ellerslie classic. The lightly raced Grey Area is at $31. “I really like Oceana Dream,” James said. “He’s a lovely type of three-year-old who I’m very confident will stay. My only worry with him on Saturday is that he’s drawn awkwardly in gate 14 against quite a good field where there doesn’t seem to be a lot of pace. So I hope there will be a reasonable pace on, because that usually ensures that the best horse wins. “Grey Area is a horse we’ve got a lot of time for as well. He’d run 2400m tomorrow if there was a race we could run him in over that distance. He’s got a fantastic constitution and a great attitude. I think he’s got a lot in front of him.” James and Wellwood also have seven entries at Pukekohe on Sunday, including first-starter Hephaestus in the TAB (1600m). The colt by The Autumn Sun was bought for $160,000 as a yearling at Karaka and scored a seven-length win in a small trial field at Ellerslie on February 11. “He’s a nice horse in the making,” James said. “He’s a big horse who has taken a while, which can sometimes be the case with The Autumn Sun’s progeny. That trial win was only a three-horse field, so you probably can’t read a lot into it, but he’s certainly gone the right way since then.” View the full article

Stakes performer Lombardi has rarely ventured out of Canterbury, but over the next month he is set to hit the road, with trainer Bruce Smith keen to broaden his horizons. “He has never travelled further than Oamaru, but it is time to man up,” Smith said. The $170,000 Listed Positive Signs + Print Dunedin Gold Cup (2400m) at Wingatui next Saturday is set to be his first major target of the autumn before he ventures across the Cook Strait for the first time to tackle the $110,000 NZ St Leger (2600m) at Trentham. The Dunedin Gold Cup is part of Otago Racing Club’s Property Brokers Otago Classics Day, and Smith is looking forward to being a part of the big day before heading north. “The big money is up, there is a bit of dosh to be won this year, and it is great to see for South Island racing,” he said. “The northern boys will come down for it because of the money, and if things go to plan after that he will go up to Wellington for the St Leger.” To ready for his looming feature targets, Smith will head to Ashburton on Sunday with Lombardi to contest the Gallagher Insurance (2200m). The six-year-old son of Verdi heads into the race off the back of a first-up victory over a mile at Riccarton earlier this month, and Smith is hoping for a repeat performance. Lombardi has drawn the ace barrier and will be ridden by Leah Hemi, with Smith’s only concern being his 60kg impost, giving the rest of the field a 6kg advantage. “He goes well fresh-up, he has come through it well and I couldn’t be happier with him,” Smith said. “He has drawn a good gate and if he is as good as I think he is, it shouldn’t be that hard. “He is starting to get up there in the weights now, but he is big and strong and it won’t worry him too much. He is the highest rated horse in the field, so he deserves it.” Lombardi has won five and placed in seven of his 28 starts to date, including running third in the Listed Spring Classic (2000m) at Riccarton last October, and Smith believes the best is yet to come from the gelding. “I think next year he will be a better horse,” he said. “He would be one of the better horses I have trained. I have trained a couple of nice horses, but this fella has a bit of x factor about him. “He doesn’t stress about too much, even in his races and his work. He can handle good ground and bad ground, and I couldn’t be happier with the horse.” View the full article

Hinekaha will have an opportunity to stamp her Derby credentials against the boys at Ellerslie on Saturday when taking on the Gr.2 Eagle Technology Avondale Guineas (2100m). The classy three-year-old has been lightly-tried, with just four starts returning two wins and two minor placings, including a victory at her most recent start in the Listed Oaks Prelude (1800m) at New Plymouth. Andrew Forsman, who trains Hinekaha at Cambridge, couldn’t have been happier with her effort in the Central Districts. “It wasn’t a big margin, but I thought it was a very dominant performance,” he said. “It was nice to see her be able to use a good draw and put herself in the race, so we know she’s versatile. “It was a strong effort with improvement to come out of it. “She had a pretty quiet week after that, the timing between with the three weeks was good and it’s worked in her favour. She’s had a good couple of gallops this week to have her ready.” Forsman indicated from an early stage that the filly’s ultimate goal would be the $1.25 million Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) in favour of her own sex in the $1 million Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m). Saturday’s contest against Derby favourite Willydoit, and a number of other contenders, will determine whether she takes on the iconic feature on Champions Day or heads to Trentham later in March. “Depending on how she performs on Saturday, that will dictate our path forward,” he said. “We would clearly love to be running in a Derby, but from an awkward draw, I hope she gets her chance to prove she’s up to these boys.” Hinekaha’s stablemates Prochester and Mustang Morgan are among those on their way to the Derby, with the latter taking out the Listed Gingernuts Salver (2100m) two starts back at the course. “He’s performed at the track which is always a bonus,” Forsman said. “We gave him a freshen-up after that and back to a mile, he was just a little unlucky that day too and the mile was probably a tad sharp. “He’s a horse that will run a solid race on Saturday, but I’m really looking forward to getting him out to the 2400m of the Derby.” Forsman shares a similar opinion of Prochester, who had no favours when running into fifth in the Gr.2 Waikato Guineas (2400m), won by Tuxedo. “He was very unlucky, a couple of horses basically stopped in front of him when he was building momentum otherwise I think he would’ve been right in the finish,” he said. “Again, it’s a tricky race for him and we probably would’ve preferred to be in the 65, but he didn’t make the field. He’ll really come into his own over the 2400m of the Derby.” Group One performer Moonlight Magic will represent the stable in the Gr.3 Eagle Technology Avondale Cup (2400m) after strong performances in the Remutaka Classic (2100m) and behind About Time last-start at Ellerslie. “I thought her last start was very good in a slowly run race, she got back and her sectionals were as good as anything in the race,” Forsman said. “It’s a shame about the barrier draw (15) for her, she typically does get back and it would’ve been nicer to be a couple of lengths closer in the running. She’ll be up against it, but I think she’s going well enough if she gets the right run.” The daughter of Almanzor holds a nomination for the Gr.2 Barfoot and Thompson Auckland Cup (3200m) in a fortnight. “That’s the plan, her better performances have come on rain-affected tracks so on quicker ground, she probably needs further,” Forsman said. “It does depend on her run on Saturday, that will determine whether we try her at the two miles.” Stable stalwart Aegon was the hard-luck story of the Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) last month, being held up to the dying moments before flashing into fourth. The gelding will aim to go one better on last year’s result in the Gr.1 Sport Nation Otaki-Maori WFA Classic (1600m), where he will be ridden by Vinnie Colgan. “He’s going really well, he was another unlucky runner last start and again, he is that sort of horse,” Forsman said. “He gets back in his races and does need the luck at the right time. “He’s got an awkward draw (8), but a positive is that it’s only an 11-horse field so hopefully he won’t be too far off them. We know if he runs up to his best, he’ll be competitive.” Joining the $2 million-earner in the Group One will be Mary Shan, a talented mare who was beaten only by Orchestral in the Aotearoa Classic (1600m) on Karaka Millions Night. “She was great, she ran a super race and was just beaten by a better horse,” Forsman said. “From the wide draw (11), we’ll be able to press forward with her, there’s not a heap of speed outside of Belclare and El Vencedor. We can probably try to put ourselves in the race a bit from there.” Outside of the feature contests, Forsman is looking forward to kicking off the career of juvenile gelding The Espy, after a sharp trial win on February 11. The Espy has accepted into both the TAB 1100 at Ellerslie and the Cavallo Farms and Chris Rutten Bloodstock Two-Year-Old at Otaki, with Forsman leaning in favour of the latter. “I’m keeping an eye on the weather at Otaki, he wants a Good track so we accepted in both to see where we drew,” he said. “Clearly he has a better draw down there, so if the rain stays away, he’ll be more than likely heading down. “He’s always shown plenty of ability, I guess the only factor is he’s just had the one trial. You know that you’re up against the horses with a couple of trials or a run or two, they just have that little bit of an advantage. “But he certainly doesn’t lack ability and I think if he does things right and gets the right run, he’ll be competitive wherever he heads.” A son of U S Navy Flag, The Espy was bred by The Oaks Stud and purchased by Forsman for $100,000 out of their draft at the 2024 National Yearling Sales. “We had a nice U S Navy Flag that we rated at the time, and I thought this horse was a very nice mover, he was a neat type of horse,” he said. “He’s the athletic type that we try to buy if we can, and at this stage, he’s putting things together well.” View the full article

Cambridge trainer Tony Pike’s bid for a third Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (240m) title goes on the line at Ellerslie this weekend. His Classic contenders Golden Century and Amazing Fluke have arrived at the fork in the road when the youthful stablemates again clash in the Gr.2 Eagle Technology Avondale Guineas (2100m). Pike has previously won the Derby with Sherwood Forest (2020) and Rangipo (2016) and will know after the Guineas what firepower he will have at his disposal in his bid for a third success in the Blue Riband event. “Saturday will tell a story and whether they are ready for the Derby, we know both of them will get the trip but it’s just whether they are mature enough to handle the preparation,” Pike said. “It’s D-Day for both of them, but I think Golden Century is definitely a horse that can progress through.” Ryan Elliot will partner Golden Century while Kevin Stott is aboard Amazing Fluke, and a change of tactics will come into play on Saturday after they finished fourth and third respectively in the Gr.2 Waikato Guineas (2000m). “They ran okay and were probably both ridden a bit aggressively,” Pike said. “I think with Golden Century that Ryan took off a bit early at Te Rapa and back to Ellerslie with a slightly quieter ride will help him. “Obviously, we’ve always thought the 2400m will suit him, as long as he’s finding the line on Saturday, it will set him up for the Derby.” Pike will make a gear adjustment to get the best out of Amazing Fluke. “We’ll take the side winkers off, he just got too keen last time but still fought on quite well and we’ll ride him a lot quieter with the Derby in mind,” he said. “I personally still think he’s a preparation away from it all, even though he’s got the ability.” Pike’s other black-type contender at Ellerslie is Roederer in the Gr.3 Eagle Technology Avondale Cup (2400m). “He’s been a bit stiff and last start in a slowly run race he was really strong late,” he said. “He’s got an awkward barrier (18) so we’ll have to go back and ride for a bit of luck so it will be interesting to see where he fits in. “This will give us a line as to whether we press on to the Auckland Cup (Gr.2, 3200m) or toward something else.” The stable will also have two chances to get on the board early on Saturday with Lucy In The Sky and Boombox to debut in the opening event, the TAB 2YO (1100m). “They have both trialled well, Lucy In The Sky has only had the one and was very professional and ran good time,” Pike said. “She has got a good barrier (two) so it will be interesting to see how she goes, there’s some good race day form and strong trial form so it’s one of the better maiden two-year-old races we’ve had this season. “She should run well and Boombox is still a bit new but has showed plenty of ability and drawn to get a soft trip so he’s not out of the race either.” Of his other runners, Pike rated Dimaggio an each-way chance in the Bentley’s Chartered Accountants (1400m) following his last-start second to Derby favourite Willydoit. View the full article

The $20-million G1 Saudi Cup and much of its accompanying card will air in the U.S. Saturday, Feb. 22 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET on FS2, according to a release from the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) Thursday. The 'Golden Hour' telecast will air from noon-1 p.m., with a scheduled post time for the Saudi Cup at 12:40 p.m. Following the Saudi Cup broadcast, America's Day at the Races will begin at 3 p.m. Saturday on FS2 with live coverage from Aqueduct Racetrack and Oaklawn Park. The post Saudi Cup Television Coverage on FS2 Saturday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Ruidoso Downs will not offer Thoroughbred racing at its upcoming race meet, leaving New Mexico without an operating Thoroughbred track during the summer. View the full article

Though three Japanese-trained 3-year-olds traveled to Saudi Arabia to compete Feb. 22 in the $1.5 million Saudi Derby (G3), a cast of 10 promising 3-year-olds remained behind in Japan to contest the Feb. 23 Hyacinth Stakes at Tokyo Racecourse.View the full article

Brendan Walsh trainees Somethinabouther and Salt depart from the balmy South Florida weather in search of Kentucky Oaks (G1) points in the Feb. 21 Cincinnati Trophy Stakes at Turfway Park.View the full article

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Commissioner John Carvelli, who was appointed to the CHRB in August 2024, resigned from his position, CHRB executive director Scott Chaney acknowledged during the Feb. 20 meeting. Chaney said the resignation came "about 10 days ago."View the full article

For the first time in the United States since data has been recorded, the racing-related fatality rate for the majority of U.S. races—specifically tracks under the oversight of HISA—fell below 1.00 per 1,000 starts for a calendar year in 2024.View the full article

MSW Determined Kingdom (Animal Kingdom) captured the title of Virginia-bred Horse of the Year and will be recognized–along with other 2024 award winners–during Virginia Derby Day festivities at Colonial Downs Mar. 15, the track said in a Thursday press release. A series of award presentations will take place between various races from the paddock infield that day and broadcast over the simulcast feed. Determined Kingdom's year was marked with his third straight win in the Punch Line Stakes at Colonial last July. The 6-year-old was also rewarded as the Virginia-bred Turf Sprinter of the Year. Gigante was named Virginia-bred Turf Horse of the Year. The son of Not This Time, bred by Ann Mudge Backer and Smitten Farm, won back-to-back black-types and was the runner-up in the GII Muniz Memorial Classic Stakes–all at Fair Grounds. Freshman title awards will be presented to Sail Theseven Seas (Street Sense) and Saxton (Mosler) in the Virginia-bred filly and colt categories, respectively. The former finished in the top three in all five of her races, while the latter was 2-for-5 and bankrolled $110,400 last year. Top Virginia-bred Older Female honors went to Tufani (Distorted Humor), who was bred by Chance Farm and the Distorted Humor Syndicate. Now a 5-year-old, she won the Brookmeade Stakes and Nellie Mae Cox Handicap at Colonial. Virginia-Certified winners include Future Is Now (Great Notion) as top female performer and Book'em Danno (Bucchero) as top male. Both had outstanding campaigns–the former earned $513,155 while the latter bankrolled $807,500. Maryland-bred Future Is Now won four stakes including a pair of Grade II races–the Intercontinental Stakes at Saratoga and the Franklin Stakes at Keeneland. The 5-year-old spent her Virginia residency at Johnson's Legacy Farm in Bluefield. Book'em Danno collected a trio of stakes wins including the GI Woody Stephens Stakes at Saratoga. The 4-year-old gelding also connected in the Pasco Stakes and Jersey Shore Stakes. In addition, Book'em Danno was a game runner-up in the G3 Saudi Derby. The New Jersey-bred spent his six-month Virginia residency at Gracie Bloodstock's Locust Hill Farm in Middleburg. Virginia Trainer of the Year honors go to Susan Cooney, whose farm is based in Delaplane. In 2024, Cooney had 11 wins, nine seconds and 17 third place finishes. The post Determined Kingdom Captures Horse Of the Year Honors To Lead Virginia-Breds appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Jonny Turner Matthew Williamson is itching to get into the harness racing hot seat at Cromwell on Friday. The Oamaru reinsman has received the call-up to drive two strong winning threats on the first of two days of harness racing over the weekend in Eurokash and Homebush Lad. Williamson is no stranger to wearing the Greg and Nina Hope colours but will link up with Eurokash for the first time in the feature trot, the Oakley Plumbing Supplies Handicap Tot (5.08pm) and the driver thinks he can make the most of his opportunity. “It is great to get on two good chances for Greg and Nina on Friday.” “They have been great to me over the years and we have had a bit of luck.” “Eurokash looks a great chance — it is a bit of a drop back in grade for him.” “He’s a nice horse and if he can get away and get a nice enough run he should be a great chance.” Homebush Lad did not get a run to suit in his last start in last weekend’s Gore Summer Cup. But the pacer can bounce back in Friday’s pacing feature, the McNulty’s Transport Handicap Pace (6.46pm). “Miraculous looks the horse to beat but Homebush Lad has to be a good each-way chance. “He loves the grass and the longer distance.” Williamson drives eight horses with Florence The Machine rating among his best winning threats on ability in Race 9, the Mojo Modern Joinery Trot (7.14pm). But the trotter has been making plenty of early errors recently which she cannot afford to repeat. “Hopefully, she is getting a bit closer to doing things right because she has the ability there to win a race like that on Friday if she can get away.” The Williamson-trained Pyramid Rose clashes with Florence The Machine on Friday. “She has been a bit the same lately. She’s made a couple of mistakes but the ability is definitely there.” Despite his patchy form line, Mighty Miki looks a winning hope for Williamson. The pacer was checked early in his last start at Gore and had little hope after. Jay Bee Hill and She’s A Jewel look top-four hopes among the reinsman’s outside drives. While Harold Hanover rates the clear outsider of Williamson’s drives, he would not be surprised if the pacer ran a cheeky race. “He won the last time I drove him and he beat Captain Amore who has been going well since.” “If he got a soft run from the draw it wouldn’t surprise me if he went a cheeky race. The horses in that grade are very even.” Williamson also links up with Cruising Fontana who must contend with barrier 8 in race 1. Five to follow at Cromwell Racing journalist Jonny Turner has analysed the colliding form lines from both further north and south to come up with five horses to follow on day one. Harold Hanover – Race 4 Being unable to crack the top eight in your last two starts generally isn’t the best form recommendation. But circumstances have been totally against Harold Hanover recently. The pacer has been caught three-wide for most of his last three starts, after breaking through for a maiden victory at Ascot Park previously. Harold Hanover doesn’t deserve to be among the favourites for race 4, but he also doesn’t deserve to rate the $34 outsider of the field, as he was in the race’s initial fixed odds market. This week a change of luck could be on the cards, with the five-year-old following out a fast beginner and strong winning hope in Paradise Valley. If Harold Hanover can settle in the trail of three back on the inner, he looks at least a top-four or place chance and possibly a cheeky win threat. Leading reinsman Matthew Williamson jumps in the sulky this week, which can only help the pacer. At big odds, there are far worse options for a cheeky dollar each way on Friday. To place a bet on this race click here Eurokash – Race 5 Friday’s feature trot looks to set up perfectly for Eurokash. The trotter steps back in grade after taking on Group 3 company over a less than ideal sprint trip at Addington. At Cromwell, Eurokash gets back on grass and over the longer trip of 2600m, against a field he looks very well placed in. With an early scratching, the trotter takes on just four other rivals, with few of them having raced at the kind of level Eurokash has in his career. His 20m handicap looks very workable and Eurokash should take plenty of holding out in his Cromwell raid. To place a bet on this race click here Deceptive Lee – Race 7 For a horse that has been to the fringes of open class, Deceptive Lee looks ideally placed in Friday’s junior drivers’ event. With early speed to burn and a sweet draw in barrier 4, driver Seth Hill is sure to have his eyes on the early lead. Over 1800m at Cromwell, there is no better place to be and it should give Deceptive Lee his winning shot. While his winning strike rate of six from 54 suggests he is far from a certainty, the seven-year-old has raced in strong company in many of those outings. He’s also placed in two of three starts at Cromwell and was unlucky not to win his last start there when a flat tyre cost him as he went down in a stronger grade two starts ago. To place a bet on this race click here Miraculous – Race 8 There looks to be a key ingredient in Miraculous’ quest to break through for a well-deserved win, having last scored in October of last year. The pacer went down by a small margin in the Wairio Cup when making up plenty of late ground after starting from a 20m handicap. While the four-year-old faces the same mark on Friday, he faces just five other rivals in a field that looks even more suitable. It should add up to Miraculous getting a big chance to break through after producing strong form through summer. Of course the horse must make a good beginning to help his winning chances, but he has been doing exactly that recently. To place a bet on this race click here Secret Agent Man – Race 10 He’s set to start the shortest-priced favourite on Friday and deservedly so. Secret Agent Man has only tasted defeat once in his short career, going down by the barest of margins two starts ago. The four-year-old bounced back when dispatching with a handy line up at the same track, despite sitting parked. The field Secret Agent Man faces on Friday is a step up from that win, but it looks well within the pacer’s range. The old saying goes there is no such thing as a good thing, but Secret Agent Man looks as close as you will find at Cromwell. To place a bet on this race click here View the full article

By Michael Guerin Benjamin Butcher isn’t sure his return to race driving will bring him a win at Alexandra Park on Friday night but it will sure feel like one. The popular Waikato horsemen hasn’t been seen in a race since a smash at Alexandra Park in August that left him with a shoulder injury and concussion. It was the latter that has caused Butcher the most grief, with anybody who has had concussion knowing the “foggy head feeling” that Butcher had to go through. “It was pretty bad there for a while but a lot better now,” says Butcher. Butcher will have two drives tonight. “I was in no real hurry or had a set date to get back out there but this race came up with two in it I train so it seemed the right opportunity.” He will partner Hearts N Aces in Race 4, the Gallagher Insurance Mobile Pace for mainly three-year-old maidens while father David will drive I Can Too. “They are both nice horses but they have also only had one trial each this time. “The maidens weren’t going fast last week so I decided to race them this week but I think the one Dad is driving is actually a better chance.” “But I think they are both better than maidens eventually.” Ironically the horse Butcher was driving when he had his race accident in August, Iron Heart, is in the same race and listed as a debutante because after the fall that night the race was deemed a no-race. Butcher’s first drive back will actually be the race before on Rise To The Occasion in Race 3, the Dunstan Speedfeed Summer Series – Handicap Trot. The dependable trotter is looking at least a place chance in a race that should be dominated by the backmarkers. The night has plenty of horses just tipping into odds-on including two from the Purdon barn in Without You (Race 1) and Demon Blue (Race 6) while the biggest certainty of the night is Ray Green and Nathan Delany will train the winner of the two-year-old race as they have all five starters. One of the other features will be Kyvalley Hotspur dropping back from taking on Muscle Mountain and Oscar Bonavena lately when starting off a 45m handicap in the $20,000 main trot, the Lone Star Alexandra Park Handicap Trot. View the full article

Every week, the TDN posts a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) related rulings from around the country. The following rulings were reported on HISA's “rulings” portal and through the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit's (HIWU) “pending” and “resolved” cases portals. Resolved ADMC Violations: Date: 02/18/2025 Licensee: Raymond Valerio, trainer Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision of HIWU. Explainer: For the use or attempted use of a Class C controlled medication on Crypto Conspiracy during the race period. Date: 02/18/2025 Licensee: Amador Sanchez, trainer Penalty: 30-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on February 19, 2025; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $2,500; imposition of 2 Penalty Points. Also: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); Treated as 1 violation with Mayheminthepalace under 09/08/23 HISA Guidance. Final decision of internal arbitration panel. Explainer: Medication violations for the presence of Lidocaine-a controlled substance (Class B)-in samples taken from Mayheminthepalace, who won at Remington Park on 10/4/24, and from Excuses, who finished second at Remington Park on 10/6/24. Date: 02/17/2025 Licensee: Gerald Butler, trainer Penalty: 20-month period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on February 18, 2025; a fine of $10,000; payment of $5,000 of HIWU's arbitration costs (Rule 3214(a)). Final decision by arbitral body. Explainer: Possession of a banned substance, Levothyroxine, and acts of retaliation and threats/intimidation. Date: 02/17/2025 Licensee: Jon Glenn Arnett, trainer Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Also: A fine of $500; imposition of 1 Penalty Point; referral to the relevant state or federal authority. Final decision by HIWU. Explainer: Medication violations for the use or attempted use of a Class C controlled medication on Blessed Anna during the race period, and for “Possession of a Controlled Medication Substance or Controlled Medication Method not in compliance with applicable State or Federal law” for an event dated 9/28/24. Date: 02/13/2025 Licensee: David Wayne Baker, trainer Penalty: 15-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on February 14, 2025; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $1,000; imposition of 2 Penalty Points. Final decision by internal adjudication panel. Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Mepivacaine-a controlled substance (Class B)-in a sample taken from Mars Magic, who won at Ferndale on 9/7/24. Pending ADMC Violations: 02/14/2025, John Salzman, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Methocarbamol–Controlled Medication (Class C)–in a sample taken from Happy Hour Joker on 1/16/25. 02/14/2025, William Blair, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Triamcinolone–Controlled Medication (Class C)–in a sample taken from Dot on 1/19/25. 02/13/2025, Alejandro Mendieta, trainer: Pending medication violation for the use or attempted use of a Class C controlled medication on Pure Elegance during the race period. 02/13/2025, Roshan Samsundar, trainer: Pending medication violation for the use or attempted use of a Class C controlled medication on Gringotts during the race period. 02/12/2025, Todd Pletcher, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Betamethasone–Controlled Medication (Class C)–in a sample taken from Vassimo, who won at Gulfstream Park on 12/14/24. Read more on the story here. Violations of Crop Rule: Oaklawn Park Francisco Joaquin Arrieta–violation date Feb. 16; $500 fine, two-day suspension Francisco Joaquin Arrieta– violation date Feb. 14; $250 fine, one-day suspension The post Weekly National Regulatory Rulings, Feb. 13-19 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

It now appears as if only two of the five tracks that ran summer fairs meets in Northern California in 2024 are willing to consider giving racing a go in 2025, exacerbating the racetrack fallout in that region that started when The Stronach Group ceased operations at Golden Gate Fields, the region's lone commercial track, last June. “Ferndale has expressed interest,” Oscar Gonzales, the vice chair of the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB), said at Thursday's monthly board meeting. “They're trying to bring together the different components. Fresno, their fair board leadership, who I communicated with, is also considering. But I'd have to say preliminarily that the other three fairs–Cal Expo, Santa Rosa and Pleasanton–are probably going to opt out this year, if not indefinitely.” In December, the California Authority of Racing Fairs (CARF) board voted unanimously to rescind a proposed 2025 Golden State Racing meet at Pleasanton after a financially disastrous three-month autumn meeting at the tail end of 2024. That meet unsuccessfully attempted to fill NorCal's “anchor track ” void left by Golden Gate's closure, but the Pleasanton racing season didn't draw enough betting interest, and ended with a purse overpayment of approximately $800,000. Although Pleasanton's management (the Alameda County Fair) initially stated back in December that it intended to keep the facility open as an 850-stall training center to help maintain a Thoroughbred population base in the region, the number of horses stabled there had fallen below 500 by late January, enough of a tail-off that both Pleasanton and CARF jointly announced that such an option was no longer feasible. Around the same time, CARF itself said it would not apply for any 2025 race dates on behalf of any individual fairs, instead directing its staff to reorganize operations with a focus on addressing current obligations and supporting future efforts. “Alameda County Fairgrounds, which had planned to stay open as a training center through the summer fair season, has indicated that it will close on Mar. 25, or 33 days from today, making the prospect of a traditional fair racing season less likely,” CHRB executive director Scott Chaney said at the Feb. 20 meeting. Chaney explained that CHRB commissioners and staff have met with representatives from each fairs track, both individually and collectively, to get an idea of which entities are still considering operating race meets in 2025. “To a fair, they all expressed their desire to race, but acknowledged the hurdles to racing, which included economic headwinds,” Chaney said. “With the closure of Pleasanton, the prospect of no existing horse population in Northern California, and the logistics of operating a fair meet without the assistance of CARF,” Chaney said chances of a traditional five-track summer fairs circuit were difficult to envision. Chaney added that a transition group that had initially been started to help horses and humans relocate from Golden Gate to Pleasanton has been rekindled to prepare for the cessation of training and movement out of Pleasanton. Gonzales said the CHRB needs to prepare for a near-term assessment of how a vastly truncated fairs season will affect the state's racing workforce. “I think there will come a time when we have to have a conversation about what this board's role is, or is not, as it relates to other areas of impact because of this significant setback,” Gonzales said. “I think there will be time to talk about that. But we welcome any public input [about] the things that this board should be looking at in terms of the kind of leadership and commitment of resources, just to lessen the blow. And it will be quite significant, in my opinion The post NorCal Fairs Season In Jeopardy, With Only Ferndale And Fresno Expressing Interest appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The 63rd annual class of Maryland-bred champions will be named starting next Wednesday, Feb. 26 at 10:00 a.m. ET each morning on social media, according to a press release from the Maryland Horse Breeders Association (MHBA). In addition to the divisional champions and Horse of the Year, the MHBA's top awards for Maryland stallion, broodmare and breeder will be revealed. The winners will be celebrated at the eighth annual Renaissance Awards, which will be held Friday, Apr. 18 at Laurel Park. The announcement schedule is as follows: Wednesday, Feb. 26–Maryland-bred Champion 2-year-olds (male, female) and 3-year-olds (male, female); Thursday, Feb. 27–Maryland-bred Champion Older Male, Older Female, Turf Runner and Sprinter; Friday, Feb. 28–Maryland-bred Horse of the Year, Broodmare of the Year, Stallion of the Year, Breeder of the Year The post 2024 Maryland-Bred Champions To Be Named Beginning Feb. 26 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Parx Racing in partnership with the Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association are announcing the addition of Feb. 27 to their 2025 live racing calendar. The first post will occur at 12:05 p.m. ET.View the full article

When Cary Frommer was first approached by Fasig-Tipton about the concept of a digital 2-year-old in training sale, she was immediately sold. Frommer isn't necessarily known for showcasing the sharpest drills at the breeze-up sales, so when the veteran consignor learned that the horses in the sale would be presented to buyers with a gallop video rather than a timed breeze, she saw this as an opportunity to let her trainees show off their true potential. “I love the idea that you don't have to ship the horses and train for two weeks over a track they're not familiar with,” Frommer said. “Plus, there's the idea that we as consignors have some control over what the potential purchaser sees in that we don't have to work fast to get attention. Buyers have to be horsemen about it by looking at the horses and their movement. There are a lot of really good consignors out there who can make horses go very fast. I'm not one of them, so it doesn't suit me to be pitted up against fast times.” At this month's Fasig-Tipton February Digital Sale, which opened for bidding on Thursday, Frommer has five horses entered in the 2-year-old in training portion of the auction. Along with a Tonalist filly and colts by Frosted, Great Notion and Silver State, Frommer's consignment will feature a filly by Munnings out of multiple stakes winner Midnight Disguise (Midnight Lute). “This filly is the whole picture,” said Frommer. “She's scopey and classy, does her job and could go on at any time. She could be anything. I've picked the five that I have in here because I think they all, if they did well, would help the digital platform because any one of them could be a really nice horse.” Frommer's strong showing in this inaugural sale must indicate that she has faith in the concept? “I don't know if faith is what you would call it, but I do have hope,” she noted. “I think ultimately it will be a real move forward in the sales. I understand the side of the coin the buyers are on too. Buying something off a video is hard to do, but I think that's when the relationship you have with the consigner comes into play.” Consignor Randy Miles explained how he believes that one of the keys to a successful digital 2-year-old sales arena will be giving the buyer as much information as possible. For the pair of colts that Miles has entered in this month's sale, that means offering not only the traditional vet reports and a gallop video to potential bidders, but also jogging videos and videos taken over several days of training, plus videos of the horse walking before and after a breeze. “I think trying to be as transparent as possible is really going to give the buyers much more confidence in what we're presenting,” he said. “[For the two he has entered] we decided to breeze them, but breeze them in say 13 seconds instead of 10. We wanted to show the buyers enough of the horse's movement, stride length and the way he carries himself, but keep it to a minimum. So we came up with going an eighth of a mile with another eighth or quarter-mile gallop out, just enough to show the buyers and make them comfortable.” Miles's two-horse consignment features a Not This Time colt named Clockin In who is out of GI Ogden Phipps Handicap victress and $1.1 million earner Tiz Miz Sue (Tiznow). The mare has two stakes horses on her produce record. “He's a big, strapping, dark bay colt that we have come to really respect,” noted Miles. “He was shipped to us in October by the breeder and he has had no setbacks in his training. We think he has quite a bit of potential later on.” Both the Not This Time colt and a Dialed In colt selling as Hip 43 were sent to Miles with the goal of eventually going on to race for their breeders, but this digital sale opportunity gave owners the ability to easily present their homebreds to the market. “It was something that appealed to us because we didn't have to be so demanding on the horse to get them ready for a 2-year-old sale in March or April,” explained Miles. “I do not believe the digital sales will ever be a threat to the way we are currently conducting our normal 2-year-old sales with the breezes and the showing, but I do think this appeals to both sellers and buyers. I think it's a wonderful idea. It's something that is needed. Some people have an appetite for the [traditional] 2-year-old sales and then some people may not have an appetite for the speed that we ask for in our 2-year-old sales, so this appeals to a lot of different people.” Tristan de Meric shares the same belief as Miles that digital sales will not replace 'brick and mortar' 2-year-old sales, but he said that digital sales could be a good fit for horses that end up needing more time to develop and would get overlooked at a traditional breeze-up sale. Yaupon colt out of Frosty Margarita | Katie Petrunyak de Meric said another likely case for a digital sale juvenile might be a horse that a breeder intends on racing themselves, but would like to present the horse to the market without sending them through the rigorous 2-year-old sales prep process. Like the two colts Miles has entered in the February Sale, the 2-year-old that de Meric will offer fits that bill. The son of Yaupon out of multiple stakes winner Frosty Margarita (Frost Giant) is a homebred for Chip Acierno's Gabrielle Farm. “[Fasig-Tipton's] Peter Penny took us to lunch to tell us about this idea and before he finished his sentence explaining what the sale was about, this horse popped into my mind,” recalled de Meric. “His breeder had thrown out that he might be interested in putting him in a sale, but he's also happy to go on and race. We've had him at the farm since October of his weanling year and he's been a beautiful horse from day one. I've always liked him. We wanted to make sure we brought a horse that could grab people's attention for this format as an experimental trial run.” He continued, “We've had several people come out and look at him already, just from us talking to people and the Fasig-Tipton team doing a great job of promoting these horses and making sure the right people are paying attention. I think for horses like the one we have entered, being a homebred of a client that is open to racing, it might be a little more appealing to some breeders instead of putting them into a 2-year-old sale, so I think there's a spot for this. There may be some kinks that need to be ironed out, but people want to buy early and keep going with the horse, so I think it could definitely be a small wave of the future.” Fasig-Tipton's February Digital Sale will feature a total of 13 two-year-olds in training, in addition to horses of racing age, breeding stock and a stallion season to Street Sense, and the sale will conclude Tuesday, Feb. 25. The post A Space for Digital Two-Year-Old Sales? Consignors Weigh In appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

OwnerView, an effort spearheaded by The Jockey Club and the TOBA, is hosting its first virtual Thoroughbred Owner Conference panel to be held Tuesday, March 11, at 2:00pm, with a discussion pertaining to accounting, legal, and insurance considerations. Gary Falter, project manager for OwnerView, will moderate the panel with guests Chapman Hopkins, chair of Stoll Keenon Ogden's Equine Litigation group; Joe Daugherty, public accountant for Dean Dorton, leading equine tax practice; and Mike Levy, founder of Muirfield Insurance. “The OwnerView webinar series is the industry's leading effort to educate and provide access to experts for new and existing owners,” said Falter. “In 2024, the webinars once again provided compelling topics and expert speakers, and the series continues to attract a wide audience of owners from around the country. At last count there have been over 17,000 views of the webinars. With the success of the online webinars, OwnerView is proud to offer another great series of topics in 2025.” Nine additional Thoroughbred Owner Conference virtual panels are scheduled for 2025. Registration is required and available free of charge here. The post OwnerView 2025 Thoroughbred Owner Conference Series Kicks Off March 11 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A select field of five, anchored by Godolphin's GI Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes heroine Cinderella's Dream (GB) (Shamardal), lines up in the 1800-metre G2 Balanchine on grass, the cornerstone of the Meydan programme on Friday. The GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf second will attempt to give trainer Charlie Appleby his seventh consecutive winner of the Balanchine. “We gave Cinderella's Dream a little break following the Breeders' Cup and she looks fresh and well,” said Appleby of the GII Saratoga Oaks Invitational Stakes victress. “This will be her only start in Dubai before we look at taking her back out to North America for the summer. She isn't finely tuned for this, as it's the start of hopefully another long campaign, but her preparation has gone well and she looks a worthy favourite.” Her main rival is last out G2 Cape Verdi heroine Choisya (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), who is trained by the father-and-son duo of Simon and Ed Crisford. “We're really pleased with the way Choisya has been training out here in Dubai,” said co-trainer Ed Crisford. “She won the Cape Verdi in good style and I think if she can progress again she'll be very competitive.” Oaks Points On The Table The Balanchine is one of a quartet of black-type races on a busy Friday in the UAE, and the G3 UAE Oaks offers the winner a free berth in the GI Kentucky Oaks on the first Friday in May. Worth 50 'Road to the Kentucky Oaks' points, the 1900-metre dirt race features eight fillies, with the Norwegian-trained Queen Azteca (Sharp Azteca) tops on ratings for trainer Niels Petersen. A winner at Jagersro in Sweden earlier in her career, the filly ran second to Flama Sunshine (Flameaway) in a 1400-metre conditions affair locally in December, but rebounded to take the 1600-metre Cocoa Beach Stakes (Cond.) here over Taswaheen (Mendelssohn) and Arigatou Gozaimasu (Honest Mischief) last month. “Queen Azteca has come on for the race and will benefit from a little bit further,” said Petersen. “The opposition will be pretty much the same, so of course we are optimistic, but most importantly the filly just looks like she's getting better and better. “It's a big race for us, coming here for so many years, it means a lot to us if we're able to pull this one off, because we know it's very difficult to win here.” Also on the undercard are the G2 Nad Al Sheba Trophy, a qualifier for the G2 Dubai Gold Cup in April, and the Listed Al Bastakiya over the course and distance of the G2 UAE Derby, also on Dubai World Cup night. The Listed Al Khail Trophy one-two of Keffaaf (GB) (Adlerflug {Ger}) and King Of Conquest (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) vie in the former, while G3 UAE 2000 Guineas runner-up Heart Of Honor (GB) (Honor A.P.) faces 15 in the latter contest and leaves from the rail. The post Lucky Number Seven For Appleby In Balanchine? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

C R K Stable and Grandview Equine's Baeza (McKinzie–Puca, by Big Brown), the 3-year-old, half-brother to Classic winners Mage (Good Magic) and Dornoch (Good Magic), is joining the GI Kentucky Derby trail following an impressive maiden victory at Santa Anita Feb. 14. “We're looking forward–I would think 99%–that the (GI) Santa Anita Derby (Apr. 5) is where we belong running,” C R K Stable's Lee Searing said. “Staying at home, no matter who we run against, we got a nice horse and he deserves the chance.” The John Shirreffs-trained Baeza pressed and pounced his way to a 4 3/4-length maiden win going a two-turn mile, good for a 93 Beyer Speed Figure. He made two previous career starts, also at a mile, finishing ninth on debut over the Del Mar lawn Dec. 1, and a distant second behind 'TDN Rising Star' Rodriguez (Authentic) while making his dirt debut with first-time blinkers at Santa Anita Jan. 4. Rodriguez was subsequently second in the GIII Robert B. Lewis Stakes Feb. 1. “He's a May foal, so it was really important that John took his time with him,” Searing said. “When Rodriguez beat him, my horse ran a really good race. We had to wait for either a stakes race or a maiden race and I wanted to run him back in a maiden. We've been through a few really good horses where we've jumped them into stakes races just due to lack of available races. This race came up and he really ran super.” #5 BAEZA ($6.40), the half brother to MAGE and DORNOCH, breaks his maiden in the 6th race at @santaanitapark. The three-year-old colt by McKinzie (@Gainesway) was ridden by @HIBerrios for trainer John Shirreffs. pic.twitter.com/p1zRmv5Sc1 — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) February 14, 2025 Hailing from the first crop of McKinzie, the Grandview Equine-bred Baeza brought $1.2 million to top the third session of the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling sale. Mage, the second foal out of the 'TDN Rising Star'-turned- bluehen mare Puca, upset the GI Kentucky Derby and also finished third in the GI Preakness Stakes earlier that spring. Dornoch, meanwhile, followed up with an upset of his own in the 2024 GI Belmont Stakes at Saratoga. Mage stands for $25,000 at Airdrie Stud and has his first foals arriving this year. Dornoch kicks off his career at stud at Spendthrift Farm, where he commands a fee of $40,000. John Stewart purchased the SW & GSP Puca for $2.9 million at the 2023 Keeneland November Sale. She produced a full-brother to Mage and Dornoch last year and is currently carrying a full-sister to the duo. Stewart announced that Puca would be bred back to Frankel (GB) on Southern Hemisphere time (See Mating Plans, presented by Spendthrift, for more). “He's a really good horse with a really good pedigree,” Searing said of Baeza. “As it's been discussed, he's got a different body type than Mage and Dornoch. He's a horse with a beautiful body along with great action. With his pedigree, he can go as long as they want to run. We're pretty darn excited that we can get him to the race. Obviously, he has no (Derby) points yet, so we need to run a really good race. Everybody, including John and myself, looks forward to that first Saturday in May.” Lee Searing | Photos by Z Searing is also looking forward to being on hand for Sunday's rescheduled GII Rebel Stakes program at Oaklawn Park. C R K Stable's purple-and-gold silks will be carried by 'TDN Rising Star' Justique (Justify) in the Carousel Stakes and Skinner (Curlin) in the GIII Razorback Handicap. Previously campaigned by Shirreffs in Southern California, both were transferred to Cherie DeVaux earlier this year. Justique was an impressive winner in her first start for DeVaux sprinting in an optional claimer at Fair Grounds Jan. 2. Skinner, a breakthrough winner of the GIII Native Diver Stakes at Del Mar Nov. 23, was third over a sloppy track in the GIII Louisiana Stakes at Fair Grounds Jan. 18. “We moved a few horses back east where racing and purses seem to be more advantageous to my stable,” Searing said. The post Baeza – the Half-Brother to Classic Winners Mage and Dornoch – Targeting Santa Anita Derby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The first foals for European champion three-year-old Vadeni (Fr) have been reported by the Aga Khan Studs, who also welcomed one of the first arrivals for Group 2-winning miler Erevann (Fr) recently when a bay filly out of the G1 Hong Kong Vase winner Daryakana (Fr) (Selkirk) was born on February 11. The foal is a half-sister to five black-type performers–including the G1 Prix Ganay winner and sire Dariyan (Fr)–and is described as “a beauty” by French studs manager Pierre Gasnier. He added, “[She's] a very attractive filly, with plenty of size, short-coupled and well-balanced, with a typical Dubawi head.” The first reported arrival for Vadeni was born on January 15, a bay colt out of the winning Outstrip (GB) mare Rue des Irlandais (Ire). The foal was bred by Mme Françoise Bérès of Ecurie, who described him as “a compact colt, who seems to be a precocious type”. Other foals of note for the G1 Prix du Jockey Club and G1 Eclipse winner Vadeni include a filly out of the stakes performer Miss Maia (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}), whose second dam is the G1 Prix de la Foret heroine Etoile Montante (Miswaki), born on January 31; and a filly out of the G3 Give Thanks Stakes winner Zannda (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}), bred by the Dreamer Partnership, born in Ireland on February 3. A colt foal out of the Fastnet Rock (Aus) mare Romelia (Ger) has been described by Julie Mestrallet at Haras de l'Aumonerie as having “an expressive head with great strength and a compact frame”. Mestrallet added, “He's a very good mover.” Vadeni covered 128 mares in his first season at Haras de Bonneval in 2024, while Erevann, a son of Dubawi (Ire) and the triple Group 1 winner Ervedya (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), was also strongly supported with 168 mares. They included the Elusive City mare Schmusli (GB)–a half-sister to the G2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte scorer Sans Equivoque (Ger) (Stormy River {Fr})–who delivered a colt at Haras d'Etreham at the end of January. “[He's] a good foal who has a lot of strength and good balance,” said Etreham's Nicolas de Chambure. “He already makes a great impression.” Meanwhile, Matthieu Gouesnard of Haras d'Ombreville has described himself as “delighted” with his Erevann colt out of a half-sister to the G3 Prix de Psyche winner Top Toss (Ire) (Linamix {Fr}). “He is well-built, with good bone, a nice size, and he is correct,” Gouesnard added. “He has a lovely profile and a beautiful shoulder.” Erevann stands for a fee of €8,000 at Haras de Bonneval in 2025, while Vadeni is available to breeders at a fee of €18,000. The post Vadeni and Erevann Represented by First Foals appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Bidding is now open for the Fasig-Tipton February Digital Sale, which includes among its 240 offerings a 'no guarantee' season to sire Street Sense with a portion of the proceeds going to recent Special Eclipse Award winner Stable Recovery, the auction company said via a release Thursday. The online sale will close Tuesday, Feb. 25 at 2:00 p.m. ET. The catalogue offers horses of racing age, breeding stock–including mares with foals at foot, 2-year-olds in training, yearlings, a stallion prospect, and a no guarantee stallion season. “We are heating things up in February with a sizzling catalogue,” said Fasig-Tipton Director of Digital Sales Leif Aaron. “We have some serious breeding stock catalogued–including graded stakes performers–as well as offerings from three dispersals, horses of racing age, a million-dollar-earning stallion prospect, and a no guarantee season to Street Sense.” Fasig-Tipton will also debut a new type of offering on its digital platform in this sale, a segment of 2-year-olds in training. “We are excited to offer a group of 2-year-olds in training for the first time on Fasig-Tipton Digital, in a new and unique format,” continued Aaron. “Two-year-olds will be sold from their training bases in Ocala, Florida; Aiken, South Carolina; and Lexington, Kentucky; and presented with professionally filmed gallop and breeze videos that are untimed. “All the resources of a traditional two-year-old sale will be at the buyer's disposal, including conformation photos and walking videos, vet reports, and a full repository,” Aaron said. “There is quality sire power among the entries, and buyers may schedule appointments to inspect the horses in-person through our platform.” Sires represented by 2-year-olds in training include Constitution, Munnings, Not This Time, and Yaupon. Two-year-olds in training are all grouped together in the catalogue as hips 41-57. Other offerings of interest in the catalogue: 'No guarantee' season to Street Sense (Hip 38), with a portion of the season's sale proceeds donated to Stable Recovery; Dispersal of Swifty Farms, offering horses of racing age, breeding stock, and yearlings, all of which are eligible for the Indiana-bred program; Breeding stock from the dispersal of Red Oak Stable; Stallion prospect Newgrange (Hip 9), MGSW and millionaire son of Violence. Click here to view a sale preview with Fasig-Tipton's Jesse Ullery and here to access the catalogue. The post Fasig-Tipton February Digital Sale Opens, Includes Street Sense Season To Benefit Stable Recovery appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Eight racehorses, seven trainers, and one jockey account for the 16 finalists that will comprise the National Museum of Racing's 2025 Hall of Fame ballot, as chosen by the Museum's Hall of Fame Nominating Committee. View the full article