Wandering Eyes

Already the queen of her regal barn, already a star on a global scale, Enable will now take aim at a barrier that has endured throughout Breeders' Cup's history when she attempts to become the first Arc winner to win the Turf in the same season. View the full article

Thai runners to honour memory of late billionaire owner on Friday View the full article

Woodworth gets gilt-edged chance on Elite Invincible View the full article

Poon, Clark to ride at Dester Singapore Gold Cup meeting View the full article

Debt Collector heads 27 entries in Dester Singapore Gold Cup View the full article

Day two of Equestricon started much like the first with a large variety of activities taking place around the Convention Centre, from panels to Justify’s connections signing autographs. While the first day’s focus for this piece was on aftercare and racing personalities, the second day’s focus was on racing itself. That started in the Guardians At the Gate panel when Steve Koch, the executive director of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association’s Safety & Integrity Alliance, and New York Racing Association Chief Examining Veterinarian Jennifer Durenberger shined some light on the regulatory and state veterinary side of racing. Much of Koch’s talk was based around the track accreditation process and various rules that have to be followed to get accredited. Talking about the process and the run-down of what tracks have to provide in their report for the application, he said it is one of the most interesting reports the public never sees. While only 24 tracks are currently accredited, Koch said that there are other tracks that are working toward getting accredited, but they just have a few small things that need to be solved. “One of the things a lot of folks don’t understand is that it’s not just the racetrack that has to get this done,” he said. “Each track has to have all of the stakeholders in on this. If your jockey colony isn’t working with you, if your regulators aren’t on the ball, if your horsemen and owners and trainers aren’t on the ball, it’s going to be difficult to get over the hump.” During Durenberger’s part of the panel, she shared some interesting stats from a variety of topics, both as what she sees as a vet and from the regulation side. One such thing was that NYRA runs between 1,200 1,500 Out of Competition test samples every year, in addition to daily TCO2 testing on horses in selected races. When asked how many horses she scratches on a weekly basis, Durenberger said that gate scratches vary, but no matter where she goes in the world, the number of morning scratches seem to stay the same. “That is remarkably consistent at every racetrack I’ve ever worked at, every international jurisdiction I’ve visited. If I’m looking at 30 horses, I’m going to expect to have to make a decision about two or three and I’m going to have to scratch about half a horse a day, so I’ll scratch three or four a day,” she said. Both panelists fielded multiple questions from the crowd and it was near the end of the panel when Koch threw out some more information about accredited tracks that shows how powerful those 24 tracks are in the industry. “Seventy-five percent of North American wagering, 90% of graded stakes, and 96% of Grade Is [are run at accredited tracks],” he said. Shortly after the panel ended, next door international racing took the spotlight in the International Perspectives on Racing panel. With four panelists from around the world moderated by Nick Luck taking the stage, the panel could have filled a full day. Among the many points talked about in the 90-minute panel were providing more information for gamblers, aftercare, how shuttle stallions are making it easier to follow racing abroad, and the need for racing seasons. When talking about the topic often discussed in how North America should find ways to be as popular as other countries, TDN’s Kelsey Riley threw out a point that isn’t often considered when talking about Australia versus the United States. “One thing I think about the Australians, I feel like racing appeals on so many levels there because it’s embedded into the culture in so many levels there,” she said. “Speaking on the higher end, you see people all dressed up out at the races having a drink, being seen. I just feel like that’s a big part of the Australian culture, that’s something that they just inherently enjoy doing. But at the same time, you also have the country racing where you can even go to the pub and watch it and have a bet. I think it’s dangerous to say that you can take these experiences, these certain ways of doing things and transfer them over to America because I think there’s big inherent cultural differences there.” Full of good information from beginning to end, one point talked about later in the panel was the need for consistent disqualification rules around the world. With a more international audience wagering on races, figuring out why a horse was disqualified is a challenge that could be changed to help bring in more money. “I think internationally it makes it smoother if we have a similar perspective,” Fanny Salmon said. “That’s also what the International Federation of Horse Racing Authority is trying to achieve, is that we follow the same rules.” The final panel attended was one on how to find the next big horse, a fitting panel with the passing of the legendary Cot Campbell over the weekend. His involvement in finding previous big horses and ownership groups was talked about by West Point Thoroughbred’s Terry Finley. “Cot is really the king of partnerships, he originated the concept in the late 1960s. Every time you dealt with Cot, you dealt with a person who always had a smile on his face and a good word to put in and a good word to say. He just did it with so much class and he was so genuine,” Finley said. “I challenge any of us to look at anyone in our industry who had as big of an impact on our great game in the last 50 years as Cot Campbell. I’ll say to Cot up in heaven, ‘Thank you very much.'” During his talk, Finley also made it clear that, just because you find a ‘big horse’ once, doesn’t mean your search is over. West Point placing second in the 2014 GI Kentucky Derby and winning the 2017 Derby just fed the urge to find another big runner, Finley said. “You think about the fact that you got to the mountain top when you win the Derby,” he said. “And all those things, you’re thankful for the people who assisted you, you think about going to the races with your father, but the things that also comes into your mind is ‘I’ve got to figure out how to get back here’ and to get the next big horse. So the search and the quest and the journey to get your next big horse, it never stops and that’s a good thing.” While Finley talked about the constant search for the big horse, for Fasig-Tipton’s Terence Collier, searching is only a part of the journey. “The panel is about the next big horse and I’m going to tell you now, you cannot find the next big horse. The next big horse is going to find you because you don’t know where they’re going to come from,” Collier said. From stallion acquisition with Bill Farish to buying yearlings with David Ingordo, all four speakers acknowledged that luck played a part in finding their big horses. Ingordo summarized it best at the end of his panel when telling the story about how he privately purchased Stellar Wind after his phone calls had been ignored, but a friend’s phone call was answered. “I could have called this man 100 times and never got a response and yet fate brings somebody in to the office that was able to help me get it done and it ended up being Stellar Wind. You can have all the plans you want and everything else, but sometimes there’s this element of luck,” he said. While the majority of Equestricon ended today, a few final events wrap up Wednesday with Equestricon’s final event passing the baton to Churchill Downs with a day of racing at the track for those who bought the add-on experience with their tickets. View the full article

Retired jockey Larry Snyder, a longtime steward at Oaklawn Park, passed away Monday. He was 76 and had been battling cancer. During his 35-year riding career, Snyder won eight titles at Oaklawn. Among his most notable Oaklawn wins were the 1983 Rebel S. aboard that year’s GI Kentucky Derby winner Sunny’s Halo, as well as the 1989 GII Arkansas Derby on Dansil, whom he would ride to a fourth-place finish in both the Kentucky Derby and GI Preakness S. “Larry was a very beloved member of the Oaklawn family,” track president Louis Cella said. “We were all happy that we were able to honor him with the new Winner’s Circle before he passed. It was a very proud moment in Oaklawn’s history. We are able to recognize someone who played an important part of our past with something that will begin a wonderful new tradition at Oaklawn. Please join the Oaklawn Family in sending our thoughts and prayers to the Snyder family.” Oaklawn dedicated its winner’s circle to Snyder in a ceremony held last Thursday. Snyder became only the sixth rider in U.S. racing history to reach 6,000 career wins at Louisiana Downs on Aug. 24, 1989. He was honored by his peers that year with the prestigious George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award. Snyder retired in 1994 with career earnings of $47,207,289 and 6,388 recorded victories, which still ranks him 14th among all North American jockeys 24 years after his retirement. “In my 40 years at Oaklawn, I don’t know if I worked with anyone with more integrity than Larry Snyder,” Senior Vice President Eric Jackson said. “He lived his life the same way on the track as he did off of it. Larry will be greatly missed.” While still an active rider in 1988, Larry Snyder was inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame and during retirement, in 2001, he was honored as part of the Arkansas Walk of Fame in Hot Springs. He was nominated for induction in 2006 into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. In 1999, he was inducted into the Fair Grounds Racing Hall of Fame. Snyder was a steward at Oaklawn from 1995-2017. A longtime resident of Hot Springs, Snyder is survived by his wife of nearly 57 years, Jeanette, who is renowned for her jockey silks, and son, Larry, Jr. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Lynette. View the full article

XBTV has unveiled “A Candid Conversation with Victor Espinoza,” a three-part series of video interviews with the injured jockey. Espinoza discusses his success, the accident that left him initially paralyzed and his future with XBTV’s Zoe Cadman. Part One of “A Candid Conversation with Victor Espinoza” can be viewed at www.xbtv.com or by clicking here. Part Two will be released Wednesday and Part Three will be available Thursday. View the full article

Middle-Eastern interest proved telling again at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale as prices rose beyond the 400,000gns mark for the first time in two days of trade. Monday’s 335,000gns top lot Archetype (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire} had been bought on behalf of Saudi Arabian connections and that price was exceeded in substantial fashion once Corrosive (Uncle Mo) entered the ring in the early evening as lot 709 Auctioneers always have to work earnestly to drum up interest in many of the more prosaic offerings here but the price quickly jumped up exponentially to reach 450,000gns to Saudi-based agent Ibrahim Rachid on behalf of owner Abdulrahman Fahad M Albawardi. In his career with Hugo Palmer the colt had reached a perfectly reasonable rating of 95 to date but the prized credentials of not only the US pedigree but wins on quick ground at Ascot and on the all-weather at Chelmsford undoubtedly fuelled the demand. The flamboyant Rachid explained that the 3-year-old colt would be trained in Saudi Arabia, where there are major events at the start of next year. “He is a good-moving horse and he vetted well,” he said. “He was bought for the King’s Cup and the Crown Prince’s Cup but he could also go for the Dubai Carnival.” The result was quite a windfall for Corrosive’s previous owner, the Turkish industrialist Ibrahim Araci. His bloodstock manager Rob Speers had secured him from last year’s Craven Breeze-up for 150,000gns. “He came from Con Marnane and he’s had a decent career, but he had some truly global appeal and we had interest from America and many other places,” Speers said. Meanwhile Ted Voute, who signed for Archetype for HRH Prince Faisal Bin Khaled, was in action again for the same visiting party when claiming lot 586, Mjjack (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus}) for 240,000gns. A durable sort for Karl Burke, the grey signed off with third in the Balmoral H. on British Champions Day. “They have more races in the Saudi Arabian programme for those seven-furlong to a mile type horses now and hopefully he’ll have a good career there,” said Voute. At the conclusion of Day 2, 238 lots sold from 270 offered (88%) and grossed 8,250,100gns. The median ticked down three points to 17,500gns, but the average rose by 4% to 34,664gns. Nass Retreads Familiar Path Fawzi Nass used last year’s sale to source what proved to be a thoroughly successful Dubai World Cup Carnival campaign and the Bahraini businessman and trainer delivered another statement of intent by securing Euginio (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), who had looked one of the star attractions. His recent Stakes victory was worth its weight in gold as he reached the sum of 400,000gns. Listed as lot 486, the winner of the G3 Darley S. at Newmarket just over a fortnight ago will join Nass’s Dubai satellite yard after his agent Oliver St Lawrence resisted a determined challenge from Anthony Stroud. St Lawrence and Nass have teamed up to fine effect in the past, most notably with the purchase of Krypton Factor (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}) eight years ago. He remained the stable’s flagship horse until the most recent Carnival through an enduring career which included a win in the G1 Golden Shaheen S. Nass looks to have found a replacement for the popular old stager in the shape of Jordan Sport (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), bought for 90,000gns at last year’s sale and already a Carnival winner as part of a streamlined team. El Chapo (GB) (Lethal Force {Ire}) also contributed to the stable’s five victories in the UAE season by taking one of the 2000 Guineas Trials. “We were looking for a horse of his calibre for quite some time and he’s going to have a task to accomplish hopefully back in the Middle East, in Dubai and possibly Bahrain as well,” Nass said. “We’ll concentrate on the Carnival and hopefully get to World Cup night.” St Lawrence added, “He’s a good, strong horse who goes on good to firm ground. We were very keen to get him and I’m sure he’ll do very well out there.” Euginio was second at Royal Ascot in the green colours of Saleh Al Homaizi and Imad Al Sagar and also obliged in a conditions event at Doncaster. There had been some eyebrows raised at his presence in the sale for the Kuwaiti owner-breeders, who run Blue Diamond Stud near Newmarket, but their representative Tony Nerses explained that there was no need for concern. “I’m delighted–they got a good price as he’s a very genuine, very good horse,” he said. “I bought him for 155,000gns at Book 1 and it just shows that everything’s for sale at the right price. It’s not a dispersal, we are just shedding the excess. We had a lot of horses, so it’s a case of culling down and getting back to sensible numbers.” Al Homaizi and Al Sagar were also offering a couple of regally-bred fillies and the one to attract plenty of attention was their homebred lot 574 Lady Rasha (GB) (Dansili {GB}). Unraced and consigned by Roger Charlton’s Beckhampton House Stables, she is a half-sister to the G2 Gimcrack S. winner Ajaya (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). John Butler signed the docket for 320,000gns but it later emerged that she had been bought under the Blue Diamond banner. The filly is likely to return to Charlton’s care and might well be one to note for next season. Similar rules applied to her half-brother Extra Elusive (GB) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) (lot 703), who hit 300,000gns after recording three from five so far. “He has bags of ability and hopefully he’ll realise his potential and be a proper black-type horse,” Nerses said. Stroud Bounces Back Anthony Stroud had been underbidder on a handful including Corrosive but any disappointment was eased by the acquisition of Lucius Tiberius (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) (lot 731) for 320,000gns. Much the most popular of the Aidan O’Brien draft, he had ironically finished fourth behind Euginio at Newmarket when signing off for Ballydoyle. “He was bought for one of my clients and is going for the Dubai Carnival,” Stroud said. “The programme should suit him well.” He could not reveal much more about two other Stroud Coleman Bloodstock purchases which came in quick succession from William Haggas’ Somerville Lodge consignment. Mubtasim (Ire) (Arcano {Ire}) (lot 651) was picked up for 140,000gns and Completion (Ire) (Arch) (lot 658) cost 120,000gns. Dilemma for Noel Meade In days gone by this fixture would have been chock-full of National Hunt figures looking for middle-distance Flat horses with the scope to go jumping. Whilst a few were still on the ground, the Australian and Middle-Eastern buyers and even the domestic all-weather programme has made it ever harder to get hold of such specimens, so it made a pleasant change to see the well-liked multiple Irish champion jumps Noel Meade successfully bid 110,000gns for lot 607. Davy’s Dilemma (GB) (Sixties Icon {GB}) was a decent handicapper at two miles on the level for Michael Dods, who did well with his consignment from Denton Hall Stables with lot 606 Mister Belvedere (GB) (Archipenko) also hitting six figures. “I spoke to Michael and he said he wasn’t going to give him away,” said Meade. “He’s for an existing owner and will make a novice hurdler as he’s been gelded, he’s strong and ready to go. I’m looking forward to getting going with him.” Reverend Jacobs (GB) will break relatively new ground for his sire Nathaniel (Ire) in switching codes. Lot 655, another offering from the Haggas stable and a three-time winner for owner Bernard Kantor, also left the ring for exactly 100,000gns to Anthony Bromley’s Highflyer Bloodstock. “He’s going to go jumping with Alan King,” Bromley said. “The 3-year-olds aren’t easy to buy and he’s one of Nathaniel’s first crop–we haven’t had one before. He came highly recommended.” Hurdling could also emerge as an option for the ex Charlie Hills Porth Swtan (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) (lot 525), who will form part of former trainer Garry Moss’s ambitious new venture in a yard near Jedburgh in Scotland. He was bought for 100,000gns by Jeremy Glover on behalf of owner Hal McGhie. “He’ll have a break and will be a dual-purpose type,” said Moss. The final piece of theatre during the evening from came with lot 757 Feel Glorious (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}), who had caused a 125-1 upset for Surrey trainer George Baker at Glorious Goodwood and had a valuable update when second in the Listed Grosser Soldier Hollow Preis S. in Germany on Sunday. Picked up for 52,000gns at Book 2, she changed hands for 130,000gns with successful bidder Stephen Hillen announcing that she would be heading for Christophe Clement’s stable in America. The third of four days of this sale commences at 9:30 a.m. local time on Wednesday. View the full article

Breeders’ Cup will introduce new video camera technologies for its coverage of this weekend’s World Championships. Through new virtual reality and 360-degree video capabilities, the introduction of the overhead and mobile BatCam and increased usage of the innovative Jockey Cam presented by Aston Martin, Breeders’ Cup hopes to provide fans with new and enhanced ways to engage with their favorite jockeys, horses and races throughout the weekend. “Modern horse racing fans are consuming content in completely new ways, and it is important for Breeders’ Cup to stay on the apex of the technological curve,” said Craig Fravel, CEO and President of Breeders’ Cup. “As a result, we will be implementing revolutionary video camera technologies in this year’s championship event, which will bring an unparalleled level of immersion to the fan experience. Whether our fans are cheering at Churchill Downs or in their homes, they will be able to experience the races in entirely new ways.” Breeders’ Cup’s first virtual reality/360-degree broadcast, called Breeders’ Cup VR, will feature three VR cameras placed in the backstretch, paddock and Winner’s Circle at Churchill Downs and will provide fans with never-before-seen views of the jockeys, horses and venue. Fans will be able to experience Breeders’ Cup VR through most VR headsets via the Breeders’ Cup YouTube channel, including Oculus Go, Google Daydream and Cardboard. For those without a VR headset the broadcast can be viewed in 360-degrees via the Breeders’ Cup website, mobile application and YouTube channel. Breeders’ Cup and NBC Sports Group have joined forces on Breeders’ Cup Live! presented America’s Best Racing, a live, commercial-free program of select races and behind-the scenes action during championship weekend. Breeders’ Cup Live! will showcase the Filly & Mare Sprint and the Turf Sprint, the first two Breeders’ Cup races Saturday, and will be live streamed on Breeders’ Cup’s and NBC Sports’ Facebook pages, and NBCSports.com from 11:55 a.m.-12:55 p.m. ET. View the full article

Hot City Girl (City Zip) will star in the second season of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame’s Foal Patrol, which provides live cameras following the daily activities of in-foal mares. The season begins in December and can be viewed at www.foalpatrol.com. The inaugural season, which ran from December 2017 through September 2018 attracted 1.6 million views. Racing for Lady Sheila Stable and trainer Linda Rice, Hot City Girl won four stakes, including the 2015 GIII Charles Town Oaks. The 6-year-old mare, who resides at Edition Farm in Hyde Park, NY, is in foal to Bernardini. View the full article

Tale of Verve (Tale of Ekati–Verve, by Unbridled), second in the 2015 GI Preakness S., has been retired from racing and will begin his stud career next season at owner/breeder Charles Fipke’s C.F. Farms near Paris, Kentucky. On the board in six of 20 starts, the 6-year-old retires with two wins and earnings of $500,245. He will stand for $2,000, live foal. View the full article

Multiple graded stakes winner War Dancer (War Front–Deed I Do, by Alydeed) will stand the 2019 season as part of the Irish Hill and Dutchess Views Stallions roster at Irish Hill Century Farm in Saratoga. The 8-year-old stallion, who won the 2013 GII Virginia Derby and 2014 GIII Louisville H., will stand for $7,500 LFSN. “We’re pleased to have the opportunity to stand War Dancer. He checks all the boxes for breeders looking to get their mare to a top son of War Front,” said Michael Lischin, managing member of Irish Hill & Dutchess Views Stallions LLC. View the full article

A pair of stallions have been added to the roster at Glenn and Becky Brok’s Diamond B Farm near Mohrsville, Pennsylvania for the 2019 breeding season. Social Inclusion (Pioneeof the Nile–Saint Bernadette, by Saint Ballado), relocating to Diamond B from Woodford Thoroughbreds in Florida, will also stand for $5,000. The 7-year-old was third in the 2014 runnings of the GI Preakness S., GI Wood Memorial and GII Woody Stephens S. “He was a super impressive racehorse… we are always trying to get good sire power in Pennsylvania and I think we’ve succeeded in identifying a horse like him,” Glenn Brok said. “He’s got a great disposition. He’s a big horse, standing 16.3 hands; he’s got a lot of bone, with a big hip and shoulder. He’s built like a horse that can get you both speed and distance.” Eastwood (Speightstown–Fifth Avenue Ball, by Deputy Minister), second in last year’s GIII Los Angeles S., will begin his stud career at a fee of $2,500. “Speightstown is revealing himself as a sire of sires,” said Brok. “We’re excited about bringing this son of Speightstown to Pennsylvania.” View the full article

The Group 1 Grosser Preis Von Bayern takes centre stage at Munich on Thursday and gives racing fans a rare opportunity to see top quality racing during the week. The race has been farmed by Jean-Pierre Carvalho in recent years with him taking the last four renewals, Ivanhowe (2014), Ito (2015), Guignol (2016 & 2017). The prize is destined to go elsewhere this season as Carvalho has no runner. Defoe heads the market and raiding party for this Group 1, he won his first two starts of the season including the Group 2 Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket. Roger Varian raised his sights for a brace of Group One’s contests at the Curragh and Baden-Baden where he was placed on both occasions. On his last start, he finished a well-beaten 15th in the Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe behind the all-conquering Enable. This was a disappointing run but would still give him a chance in this contest. Defoe beat one of today’s rivals Iquitos in the Preis Von Baden Group 1 Stakes two starts back and that rival will be looking to keep the prize in Germany. Iquitos has only won once this season but has run respectably in top races all season and he was second in this twelve months ago behind Guignol. I think he lacks the class to win but showed still run his race. Royal Youmzain represents the classic generation and is held in high regard by leading trainer Andreas Wohler, so much so that he has jumped off well fancied on all of his starts. Since stepping up in the class he has been met with defeat including the German Derby and the Group 1 Preis Von Berlin. On a line through Best Solution, it would appear that Iquitos has the beating of Royal Youmzain. The next Brittish raider is Dee Ex Bee, who boasts a runners-up medal in the Epsom Derby earlier in the year behind Massar.. Mark Johnston’s inmate has looked slightly regressive since that run and although he ran well to finish fourth in the St Leger when last seen, he was still beaten nine lengths. This drop down in trip looks sure to suit the son Farhh and if he recaptures his Derby form then he must go close. The rest of the field is made of Tiberian, Racing History and Windstoss. Selection: Defoe The post Grosser Preis Von Bayern Preview appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

Grade I winner Free Drop Billy (Union Rags–Trensa, by Giant’s Causeway) has been retired from racing and will begin his stud career at B. Wayne Hughes’s Spendthrift Farm as part of the nursery’s “Share the Upside” program in 2019. “Free Drop Billy is a great-looking horse with a proven sire’s pedigree, and he was a dominant Grade I winner and leading 2-year-old of his crop,” said Ned Toffey, general manager at Spendthrift. “He ticks a lot of significant boxes, especially for a stallion prospect in his spot in the market. We believe he’s a terrific value that breeders are really going to like, and we’re excited to stand him.” The Share The Upside fee for Free Drop Billy will be $10,000 for one year, however, breeders must also breed a mare in 2020 on a complimentary basis. After the breeder has a live foal in 2020, pays the stud fee, and breeds a mare back, he or she will earn a lifetime breeding right beginning in 2021. For breeders not interested in the Share The Upside program, Free Drop Billy will be offered for $10,000 on a standard stands and nurses contract. Racing for Albaugh Family Stables and trainer Dale Romans, Free Drop Billy was second in the GIII Sanford S. and GI Hopeful S. before an emphatic four-length victory in the GI Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity. He was second in this year’s GII Holy Bull S. and third in the GII Toyota Blue Grass S. and GIII Gotham S. On the board in seven of 11 starts, Free Drop Billy retires with two wins and earnings of $662,470. 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. Tuesday’s Insights features a $1.1-million KEESEP yearling. 1.10 Nottingham, Mdn, £10,000, 2yo, c/g, 8f 75yT CADRE DU NOIR (War Front) was another major purchase by Phoenix Thoroughbred Limited, this time for $1.1 million at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale which put him in the top 10 at last year’s auction. Entrusted to Martyn Meade, the March-foaled bay is a half-brother to the GII Royal Heroine S. winner and multiple grade I-placed Parranda (English Channel). View the full article

The International Federation of Horseracing Authorities has created a steering committee to study the future governance of the IFHA, IFHA Chairman Louis Romanet announced on Tuesday. The committee was created on the request of Romanet to evaluate the IFHA’s statues and structure and was approved by the Executive Council. IFHA Vice-Chairman Brian Kavanagh will lead the committee, which is composed of participants from the four regional areas representing: the Asian Racing Federation (Frances Nelson, QC, Chair of Racing Australia), European and Mediterranean Horseracing Federation (Nick Rust, Chief Executive British Horseracing Authority), North America (Jim Lawson, Chief Executive Officer, Woodbine Entertainment Group), and South America’s OSAF (Horacio Esposito, Advisor in International Affairs, OSAF). “Any global organization must consistently assess its mechanisms to ensure the structure can realize its missions for a continually evolving world, and horse racing is no different,” said Romanet. “I look forward to receiving the recommendations from this newly formed governance steering committee as it is critical that the IFHA measures itself for the future challenges of our global sport, and to ensure our sustained ability to promote good regulation and best practices.” In other IFHA news, the Iran Equestrian Federation (IEF) was approved by the IFHA Executive Council as an affiliate member. “We were honored to host the Iran Equestrian Federation at the 52nd IFHA Conference and to learn about the distinguished history of Iranian racing and breeding,” Romanet said. “On behalf of the IFHA, I wish them continued success and look forward to working with the IEF as an affiliate member of our federation.” Several changes to various IFHA technical committees were also approved. For the full details, click here. View the full article

A trial of a new transparent entry and declaration process will take place at all-weather fixtures this winter following approval from the BHA Racing Group and the sport’s Executive Committee, the British Horseracing Authority announced on Tuesday. The trial is designed to investigate whether making the current entry and declaration process fully transparent and removing the re-opening and re-offering of races can improve efficiency and benefit participants. The trial of open entries and declarations will run from Dec. 1, 2018 to Feb. 28, 2019 and cover all flat races barring the Winter Derby. Trainers will be surveyed following completion of the trial, with their views combined with quantitative information as part of a full review which will inform whether the process could be rolled out beyond the scope of the trial. “Anecdotal evidence has, for a number of years, suggested that a transparent system of entries and declarations could bring benefits for both horsemen and racing’s customers,” said Jack Connor, Racing Development Manager at the BHA. “This trial, which has been approved by the BHA Racing Group, gives us a chance to monitor whether such a system works for trainers and their teams. It will also allow us to measure the impact of such changes on field sizes and non-runners, enabling an evidence based comparison of the two systems.” View the full article

It’s not the least bit uncommon for European jockeys to win a Breeders’ Cup race, but the names are usually familiar ones like Frankie Dettori and Ryan Moore. But this year it could be that the star among the European jockeys in the Breeders’ Cup is a 23 year-old baby-faced jockey from Ireland who you may not even have heard of. His name is Oisin Murphy, and on the other side of the Atlantic, there is no hotter rider. Murphy will have four rides in the Breeders’ Cup: Soldier’s Call (GB) Showcasing {GB}) in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint; The Mackem Bullet (Ire) (Society Rock {Ire}) in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Filles Turf; Lightning Spear (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) in the GI Breeders Cup Mile and Roaring Lion (Kitten’s Joy) in the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic. Murphy was a recent guest on the TDN podcast, brought to you by Taylor Made. Excerpts from that podcast are below. TDN: We’ve read that your uncle, Jim Culloty who is a legendary steeplechase trainer and jockey, was your mentor. That he, more so than anybody else, brought you along, and taught you the craft. Could you talk about him, and what he meant for you as a young boy growing up? OM: I moved in with Jim when I was about 14 years of age, and he was an up and coming jump jockey at the time and would become a top jump trainer. He achieved plenty as a rider. He won a Grand National, Cheltenham Gold Cups. He basically won all the big national hunt races in Ireland and England. As a trainer, he won another Cheltenham Gold Cup, and he had four Cheltenham winners in total. I had plenty to live up to when I started my own riding career. But he pointed me in the right direction. It was his decision to send me to England, to Andrew Balding, to be an apprentice. I owe him a lot. He’s been my mentor for, since–well–since day one. TDN: Being someone from Ireland, and with Ireland having great racing of its own, is that why you became a UK-based jockey? Just because of the whole connection, and your beginnings with the Balding stable? OM: There are more opportunities in Britain. Really, in Britain, we race every day. We may not race in England, but there’s racing in Scotland or Wales, or wherever. There’s a variety of tracks. People aren’t afraid to travel, also, so as a rider, I had a better chance to get going, compared to Ireland. I’m very grateful to my uncle Jim for making that decision, because had I stayed in Ireland, I may not be in the position I’m in now. TDN: The 2013 Scottish Gold Cup at Ayr was the first major win of your career. At the time, did you ever think this is as good as it gets? Or, did you imagine that four or five years later, you’d regularly be winning Group 1 races? OM: I’ll be honest–I always thought it was a very difficult game, and I was fully aware that as a jockey, you’re only as good as your last race, or your last winner. You have a little bit of grace, in essence, but you have to keep achieving and keep finding the fast horses. I was fully aware of that, from a very young age. I grew up watching my uncle Jim, as a jockey, with my granddad at home, and his races would be criticized. He depended on success to keep things going. TDN: You did get one big break. A few years ago, you were signed on to be the stable rider for Qatar Racing. How much has that meant to your career? That is exactly what you’re talking about. You need those big outfits behind you. What have they meant to you, and what have they meant for your success? OM: It was my ambition to be part of the Qatar Racing team when I was an apprentice, because of their horses at Andrew Balding’s stable. Obviously, it never dawned on me that that would be possible. But I worked hard, and one of my first rides for Qatar was probably Champions Day 2014 and everything went well. Sheikh Fahad and his brothers are very supportive of flat racing in Europe, and actually across the world. He wanted me to do well. TDN: You actually made your debut in the Breeders’ Cup last year, but it was a quiet one. You had one mount, a big long shot who finished ninth. I don’t imagine you got much attention, or any acclaim like you’re going to get this year. What did you take away from the experience of riding in your first Breeders’ Cup last year at Del Mar? OM: It’s a fantastic event. Obviously, frankly, I’ve always wanted to do very well there, both for European trainers and American trainers. I want to get to the very top level, and I’m 23 years of age–but I’m hungrier than ever. I want to succeed. Hopefully, this year, I’ve got some live chances, and I can get my first Breeders’ Cup win. TDN: Here in the U.S., we have a saying–and I don’t know if you have the same saying in Ireland or England–but we say that an athlete is “in the zone.” Basically, that means they’re focused, they’re hot, they’re doing everything right, and when you look at what you’ve accomplished since August, six Group 1s, including the Juddmonte International, the Sussex Stakes, the Irish Championship Stakes. Are you “in the zone,” and if so, why? What’s going on right now in particular that you just seem to be doing everything right, and winning so many big races? OM: I’d love to say I’ve been “in the zone” for a few years, but now, I’m getting the opportunities. I don’t have anything obstructing me as such. I live, breathe, and dream racing. I know how important it is to keep the people I’m riding for happy, and to do my job as best I can. But now, I’m really getting chances, and obviously Qatar Racing is growing all the time. With time, they’re buying better and better horses, and I’m connected to Andrew Balding and also Phoenix Thoroughbreds, who’ve done very well in the U.S. this year. I ride for all these great people, and they’re putting me up, and I want to do as well as I can for them. That’s my complete focus. I don’t have anything else. TDN: What do you think that a Breeders’ Cup win might do for your career, and your reputation? OM: It would mean a lot, because I haven’t had many opportunities to ride in the U.S. Some of the absolute top horses in the world over the last few years are American horses, like American Pharaoh, Justify. I followed their career paths. As European riders, we don’t get many opportunities to visit the U.S. We’ve got a very busy schedule here. But Ryan Moore talks about these sort of races–the Triple Crown and the Breeders’ Cup–all the time. Your Triple Crown is something he really would like to be part of. It’s rubbed off on me. I’d love to get the opportunity to ride a little bit more on dirt. I’m low on experience, but I’m very hungry, and that is the dream for me. The beauty of being a flat jockey is you can ride all over the world. I remember watching the Dubai World Cup, and the Preakness, when I was about 10 or 11 years of age, and hoping one day, I might be part of them. It’s a possibility now, and that’s a great position to be in. View the full article

Michael House's Hunt has been declared from the $2 million Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T), opening the door for Divisidero to run in the Nov. 3 event at Churchill Downs. View the full article

Lady Chanelle McCoy, with the support of Horse Racing Ireland, launched the Irish National Stud’s new racing club, INS Racing, Horse Racing Ireland announced on Tuesday. Horse racing fans will be able to be the co-owners of a minimum of six racehorse for an annual cost of €399. The racing club was developed to grow the sport in Ireland, and assisting with Tuesday’s launch were trainers Michael O’Callaghan and Willie McCreery, both of whom will train several of the INS Racing’s future string. Besides the ownership opportunities, free racecourse entry to every meeting that includes an Irish National Stud-declared racehorse in Ireland, regular trainer updates via a bespoke INS Racing app, access to yard visits, parade ring access, educational workshops, special events and, as a bonus, a share of the club’s prizemoney. Club owners will also receive a season ticket to the Irish National Stud & Gardens, a €48 value, a 2019 calendar of events, an Irish National Stud Racing Pin and an information booklet about the club’s horses in training. “I am delighted to be in Kildare today to lend my support to this initiative,” said Lady McCoy. “As someone who has been lucky enough to experience the thrill of Thoroughbred horse racing for years, it is great to see the Irish National Stud and Horse Racing Ireland make the possibility of racehorse ownership a reality for a wider audience. This club will enable many sports fans to get closer to horse racing than they ever have before.” View the full article

LOUISVILLE, Ky – Already armed with a degree in meteorology, it was a smooth transition for Matt Schera to begin trading energy commodities for a Connecticut-based hedge fund a little over a decade ago. It was his love for racing, believe it or not, that made it an even easier one. “I know other good meteorologist who can forecast the weather well, but would have a lot of trouble with managing risk and having literally hundreds of millions of dollars on weather trades, or basically, weather bets,” Schera said. “But because I had been gambling on horses, really for my whole life, I had already experienced that feeling and I think it really helped me.” A horse owner since 2013, the 43-year-old married father of three daughters (ages six, eight and 12) heads to this weekend’s Breeders’ Cup with a pair of live longshots-Glorious Empire (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) (Turf) and Isotherm (Lonhro {Aus}) (Dirt Mile). “It would be a dream come true,” Schera said when asked what a Breeders’ Cup victory would mean to him. From Penn National to the Famed Twin Spires… Growing up in Pennsylvania about an hour outside of Penn National Race Course, racing wasn’t exactly love at first sight for Schera. “It’s funny because I just couldn’t figure out for the longest time why my mom was so into this,” he said. “It just wasn’t that exciting for me.” That all changed right around 1994 as Schera began following the career of that term’s popular Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old colt Holy Bull. He also began attending the races with his mother at his hometown track around that time, too. “He was my favorite and ever since then I kind of caught the bug and began handicapping and following horses,” Schera said. “It’s such a puzzle handicapping races and it’s really fun even outside of the betting part. I was a fan for a long time–my mom had the Breeders’ Cup races on VCR tapes and I would just watch them over and over again. I used to write notes on all the horses and also saved the video tapes of their races. I never thought I’d own horses at that time. Luckily, things went in my direction.” Business First… For some owners, racing is nothing more than an expensive hobby and a fun way to spend a weekend with family and friends. Schera is not one of them. “I’ve put a serious amount of my money into this game and I’m trying to get a return,” he said. “I’ve told all my trainers time and time again, I won’t keep doing it if we don’t make money.” Schera’s current stable, which includes a handful of broodmares and babies, hovers right around the 40-head mark. That number has held steady without stocking up at the yearling sales this fall. “I’ve always been trying to make a profit and that’s not something I just say,” the graduate of Penn State University said. “I’d really like to make this a business that can last and that’s why I think yearlings have kind of taken a back seat.” Schera, instead, prefers to add to his barn via the claim box or through private purchases. This summer’s GI Sword Dancer S. and GII Bowling Green S. upsetter Glorious Empire was claimed by trainer Carlos Martin on behalf of Schera for just $62,500 in May 2017. “When I have a line on how the horse runs and can actually see its past performances, I do much better,” Schera said. “I enjoy the chase of trying to find the good horses and also doing the hard work and research end of it. I don’t really like the lottery ticket of an expensive yearling. Obviously, they’re riskier, but they also have more upside.” Schera added with a laugh, “I guess ‘Glorious’ is pretty good upside for his claiming price, though.” Early Stakes Success… Three years before celebrating his aforementioned first Grade I victory at Saratoga, three-time graded winner and current Spendthrift Farm Kentucky stallion Race Day (Tapit) helped put Schera on the map with wins in the 2015 GII Oaklawn H., GII Hagyard Fayette S. and GIII Razorback H. Already a two-time winner at the time, Race Day was acquired as a 3-year-old by Schera for $285,000 at the 2014 KEENOV Sale from the WinStar Horses of Racing Age draft. Isotherm–more on him in a bit–punched his first ticket to the Breeders’ Cup as a 2-year-old with a narrow win in the 2015 GIII Pilgrim S. at Belmont Park. The $120,000 KEESEP yearling purchase was unplaced in that year’s Juvenile at Keeneland. Other graded winners for Schera include: Syntax (Ire) (Haatef) (2015 GIII Kent S.) (private purchase) and Farhaan (Jazil) (2017 GIII Thunder Road S.) ($40,000 claim). Thundering Sky (Sky Mesa) ($145,000 FTNAUG), MSW & MGSP, $498,160, was recently retired and has been catalogued to the upcoming Fasig-Tipton November Sale on Schera’s behalf by South Point Sales Agency, Agent I, as Hip 144. And the story behind all those weather-related names and lightning bolt on Schera’s light blue-and-yellow silks? “Even before Penn State I was a complete weather fanatic as a kid,” Schera said. “I was out measuring snow and recording weather casts on my Fisher-Price tape recorder. I really had a passion for it growing up. I was very good at forecasting and won various contests in college.” He began his professional career forecasting for AccuWeather, then worked for an energy company-also forecasting the weather as well as working with traders–in Baltimore, Md. Schera left that post 12 years ago for his current role at the Tudor Investment hedge fund in Greenwich, Ct. Breeders’ Cup Bound Duo… Racing for as low as a $50,000 tag last term, the front-running Glorious Empire will line up for the Breeders’ Cup Turf for trainer James “Chuck” Lawrence off consecutive wire-to-wire victories at Saratoga–a dead-heat tally at 22-1 in the Bowling Green July 28 and a 15-1 decision with a career-best 106 Beyer Speed Figure in the Sword Dancer last time Aug. 25. Schera embraces the underdog role for his 7-year-old gelding, who has battled his way through a well-documented history of bleeding. “It’s sort of the Rocky angle,” Schera said of Glorious Empire, listed at 12-1 on the morning line for the Turf. “That scene where he’s punching the meat bag in the locker and they say that Apollo should come and watch him-that was Glorious Empire this summer. He was working like that and no one was paying attention to him.” Although winless since a score in the 2017 GII San Marcos S. over the Santa Anita lawn, Isotherm, now trained by Phil D’Amato, cuts back in distance for the one-turn Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile following a pair of good efforts in defeat, including a third-place finish behind likely Classic favorite Accelerate (Lookin At Lucky) in the GI Awesome Again S. Sept. 29. “It’s hard in life to actually accomplish the things you dreamed about as a kid and it almost never happens,” Schera concluded. “But in my life, between meteorology to the family and kids, everything has worked out and I’m just thankful that I even have a shot.” View the full article

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky–Despite a stable half the size it was at its peak in 2016, trainer Ben Colebrook is having the best year of his career this season, and could pad his stats further with two Breeders’ Cup contenders. First up is KRA Stud Farm’s Knicks Go (Paynter), who will look to shock the world for a second-straight time in the GI Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. A debut winner at Ellis July 4, the grey was fifth in Saratoga’s GIII Sanford S. 17 days later and third in the Arlington-Washington Futurity Sept. 8 before running away to a five-length victory at 70-1 in Keeneland’s GI Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity Oct. 6. Knicks Go’s victory was 40-year-old Colebrook’s first at the Grade I level. “It surprised me a little bit in how easily he beat a pretty good field, but he did have a dream trip and that was probably part of it,” the Lexington, KY native said. “I thought he belonged in the race–to me, his two races before that you could kind of draw a line through–so I’m kind of thinking of it like he’s only run twice. He’s in great form right now. He came out of that race even better than he went in. He’s always been kind of laid back, but he came out of the race wanting to do more in his gallops and he’s just feeling good. He’s sort of just become a man, so to speak.” While Knicks Go might just be coming into his own, Colebrook’s other Breeders’ Cup runner has been there for years now. Limousine Liberal (Successful Appeal) will contest his third GI TwinSpires Breeders’ Cup Sprint in four years–his connections opted to skip last year’s race at Del Mar by design. The hard-knocking 6-year-old has bankrolled more than $1.7 million to date, and annexed the GII Churchill Downs S. here in May before finishing third in the GI Metropolitan H. and cutting back to take the GII Belmont Sprint Championship July 7. He enters off of thirds in the GI Forego S. and GII Phoenix S. behind a couple of these foes. “It’s been amazing to have a horse this consistent who shows up every time,” Colebrook said. “He’s just been a pleasure. He’s kind of a throwback horse–he lays it all on the line every time, and I think he can do it anywhere from six furlongs to a mile, too. He’s just a really neat horse.” Bred by Mike and K.K. Ball and campaigned in K.K.’s name, Limousine Liberal boasts twice as many wins under the Twin Spires–six–as the rest of the field combined. “It certainly can’t be a disadvantage considering he’s won five straight stakes over the track,” said Colebrook. “We’re confident in our horse over the racetrack, whereas some people don’t know how their horse will handle the track and some have had bad races over the track… We’re going to need every advantage to be involved in a race like this. Everything’s going to have to go perfectly, not just for us, but for whoever wins the race. I don’t think there’s a lot really separating the top five or six horses.” Colebrook currently trains 38 head–down from as many as 78–and he says he’s happier to keep the barn a bit smaller but of higher quality overall. He’s had a particularly good season with juveniles this year. In addition to Knick’s Go’s big win at Keeneland, the Balls’ Into Trouble (Into Mischief) annexed the Arlington-Washington Lassie S., while Life Mission (Noble Mission {GB}) and Blame the Frog (Blame) finished second and third, respectively, in the $500,000 Kentucky Downs Juvenile Turf Sprint S. Beach Getaway (Run Away and Hide) was third in the Debutante S. back in June. Colebrook has two other promising 2-year-olds, owned by high-profile connections, who haven’t even made it into stakes company yet. Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider’s Wrath (Flatter), who had some buzz behind him earlier this year, has recently gotten back on the worktab. He was second on debut at Belmont back in May before fading to sixth after a wide trip in a key Ellis heat July 29. “From really early, he was always kind of number one [among the group of 2-year-olds], and he still might be–I still think he’ll be a very good horse,” Colebrook, who trains four for Wrath’s powerful owners, said. “He’s just taken some time to do it. He was doing everything so easily that we decided to take him to Belmont, and he ran very well that day, but then we took him down to Ellis and it didn’t go according to plan. But he’s come back and he’s doing well, working at Keeneland.” He credits his year-round presence in Lexington as a key factor to picking up clients like Claiborne. Colebrook also sent out Fancy Dress Party (Munnings) to a good-looking 3 1/4-length debut score in a sloppy off-the-turf sprint in Lexington Oct. 26 on behalf of the Roth family’s LNJ Foxwoods. “I was on the filly for Mike and K.K., we had vetted her [at last year’s Keeneland September sale], but we had already spent our money,” Colebrook said when asked how he came to train one for another big name. “I’d known [LNJ co-advisor] Jason Litt for a while, so I reached out to them when they bought her and told them that if they’d like to leave her in Kentucky I’d love to have her. They said they’d keep me in mind, and when she was ready to be sent to the track, they called me out of the blue. It was a pleasant surprise.” Of expectations heading into last week’s race, he said, “I thought she’d run well, but I didn’t know if she’d be the type to win first out like that. She’d shown the tendency to not break real well, so going 5 1/2 furlongs on the dirt I was a little worried, but she broke fine and Julien [Leparoux] gave her a very patient ride. Going in, I thought maybe she’d be better on turf–she just has kind of a round action about her–but now I don’t know that she is solely turf. We’ll probably keep her on the dirt for now, but we have the grass angle to play with, which is always nice.” Colebrook has already begun further building for the future–he bought some pricey yearlings at this year’s Keeneland September for a new group, and a 20-acre farm with his wife Marina some 11 or 12 minutes from Keeneland. Buying on behalf of New River Equine, an entity that includes the Balls, Colebrook picked up three well-pedigreed youngsters at September for a combined $1.625 million, topped by a $900,000 Tapit filly from the highly productive family of Grade I winners Got Lucky, Rhythm, Girolamo, Imagining, Super Saver, Blue Grass Cat, Callback, et al. “That’s the most expensive horse that I’ve gotten to pick out at the sales, for sure,” Colebrook said. “Her pedigree goes back to a good Phipps family–she’s got a great pedigree–and you’ve got to like Tapit fillies. We looked at all the Tapit fillies at September and also [Fasig-Tipton] Saratoga, and I thought she was at the top of the list. For us, she was one we really honed in on.” Colebrook’s father John was a farm manager in Kentucky, and Ben grew up helping his dad break babies before moving on to stints at Bill Harigan’s Miacomet Farm and later as an assistant for Christophe Clement. He’ll get to call upon those early experiences again on his own farm. “I’ll use that as a place, ideally, to send horses after they run for a week or two so they can just be a horse, get outside and eat grass. Plus, I’ll also use it for lay-ups and if I need to break babies of my own… Hopefully it’ll be another tool in my arsenal as a trainer.” —@BDiDonatoTDN View the full article

LOUISVILLE, Ky – With Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas leading the cavalry charge aboard his stable pony, there was no shortage of action on another chilly morning beneath the lights during the special Breeders’ Cup training window at Churchill Downs Tuesday. Already boasting a Breeders’ Cup-leading 20 victories, Lukas was out keeping a close eye on Calumet Farm homebred Derby Date (Will Take Charge), who is listed at odds of 30-1 on the morning-line for the Juvenile. The ageless 83-year-old continues to make the rounds throughout the week off the track in Louisville as well, promoting his new book Sermon on the Mount, an absolute must-have for any racing fan. Legendary former football head coach Bill Parcells will have the yellow-and-green colors of his August Dawn Farm carried by GIII Pilgrim S. winner Forty Under (Uncle Mo) (Juvenile Turf), who was led out for training by conditioner Jeremiah Englehart. Wesley Ward’s most recent Royal Ascot conqueror Shang Shang Shang (Shanghai Bobby) (Juvenile Turf Sprint), a last out winner over the boys in the G2 Norfolk S. June 21, bounded onto the track with very good energy, as did the comebacking ‘TDN Rising Star’ Selcourt (Tiz Wonderful) (F/M Sprint), most recently seen dominating the GII Santa Monica S. Mar. 24. Unbeaten ‘TDN Rising Star’ Complexity (Maclean’s Music) and Code of Honor (Noble Mission {GB}), one-two across the track in Belmont’s GI Champagne S. Oct. 6, both stood by the turn and took in the hectic scene for a few minutes, which included another spirited gallop from the wildly popular diminutive Sprint favorite Imperial Hint (Imperialism). Trainer Mark Casse watched by the rail as ‘TDN Rising Star’ Wonder Gadot (Medaglia d’Oro) (Distaff) continued to live up to her ‘Wonder Woman’ moniker, repeatedly attempting to jump throughout her gallop down the backstretch for the second straight day. “She’s been giving a lot of good photo-ops this week,” Casse said with a laugh. “That’s her though–she flies through the air. She just has so much energy.” The striking gray coat of Disco Partner (Disco Rico) (Turf Sprint) and the flaxen mane of the chestnut 2-year-old Current (Curlin) (Juvenile Turf) were only to be outdone by another stunning sunrise beneath the Twin Spires Tuesday as temperatures once again hovered in the low 40s. There was still plenty to take in following the private Breeders’ Cup training session, too, as the Classic-bound ‘TDN Rising Star’ Pavel (Creative Cause) made his way out over a very congested racetrack at 7:50 a.m. Other big names spotted sporting Breeders’ Cup saddle towels later in the morning included: the powerhouse Godolphin duo of Thunder Snow (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}) (Classic) and Talismanic (GB) (Medaglia d’Oro) (Turf); ultra-talented 2-year-old fillies Jaywalk (Cross Traffic) (Juvenile Fillies), unbeaten ‘TDN Rising Star’ Newspaperofrecord (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) (Juvenile Fillies Turf) and Sippican Harbor (Orb) (Juvenile Fillies); and the speedy Kentucky Derby pacesetter Promises Fulfilled (Shackleford), who is slated to take on his elders in the Sprint. As if that all wasn’t enough, the highlight of the morning didn’t come until the turf course was open for training shortly after 9:30 a.m., with the brilliant two-time Arc heroine Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) receiving the much-deserved rockstar treatment with photographers lined up along the outer rail by the dozen recording her every move. View the full article