Wandering Eyes

The Breeders’ Cup will continue to expand its Breeders’ Cup Challenge series through the addition of four qualifying events at Ascot Racecourse during the Royal Ascot meeting, held June 19-23. The winners of the G1 Prince of Wales’s S., G1 Queen Anne S., G2 Norfolk S. and G1 Diamond Jubilee S. will all be awarded automatic “Win and You’re In” berths into the 2018 Breeders’ Cup at Churchill Downs Nov. 2 and Nov. 3. The June 19 Queen Anne, for older horses at a mile, is a qualifier for the GI Breeders’ Cup Mile; the June 20 Prince of Wales’s S., for older horses at 10 furlongs, is a qualifier for the GI Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf; the June 21 Norfolk, for 2-year-olds at five furlongs, will serve as a qualifier for the newly created Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint; and the June 23 Diamond Jubilee, a six-furlong dash for older horses, will be a qualifier for the GI Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint. These races join the 1 1/2-mile G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S., run July 28, which will award an automatic berth into the Breeders’ Cup Turf, as the fifth “Win and You’re In” races to be run at Ascot Racecourse this year. The King George has been a part of the international Breeders’ Cup Challenge since 2011. Throughout 2018, the Challenge includes over 80 graded/group races internationally. “There is nothing quite like the excellence, tradition and prestige of the Royal Ascot meeting, and we are so proud and delighted that the Prince of Wales’s Stakes, Queen Anne, Norfolk and the Diamond Jubilee will be a part of the 2018 Breeders’ Cup Challenge series as we continue to encourage international participation for the World Championships,” said Craig Fravel, Breeders’ Cup President and CEO. “We thank our partners at Ascot for working with us in accomplishing this goal, and look forward to the outstanding coverage from the NBC Sports Group of these fixtures, and extensive coverage of the Royal Ascot races in June.” All four races will be televised live and streamed in the U.S. as a part of NBC Sports Group’s live coverage of the Royal Ascot meet. “We’re delighted to be participating in the Breeders’ Cup ‘Win and You’re In’ program with races from Royal Ascot for the first time,” said Nick Smith, Ascot Director of Racing and Communications. “These are pivotal race meets in our respective jurisdictions and natural targets for the very best racehorses in the world. It’s particularly pleasing to be involved from the start with the development of the new Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. It’ll provide an excellent new opportunity for European juveniles.” The Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series “Win and You’re In” NBC Sports Group television schedule will be announced Tuesday, and the full 2018 Breeders’ Cup Challenge series schedule of races will be released Wednesday. View the full article

All eyes were on the unbeaten Sacred Life (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr} in Monday’s G3 Prix Djebel at Deauville, but it was the 10-1 shot Dice Roll (Fr) (Showcasing {GB}) who dominated in the testing conditions to supply owner Giacomo Algranti and trainer Fabrice Chappet with a live dream of Classic glory in 2018. Always close to the pace racing up the centre, the chestnut who signed off his juvenile campaign with success in the Criterium de la Vente d’Octobre d’Arqana over a mile at Chantilly in September was left in front with 2 1/2 furlongs remaining. Drawing away under Cristian Demuro, he hit the line with five lengths to spare over Magic Bibou (Fr) (Panis), with the 13-5 favourite Sacred Life only plugging on into fourth as the field finished spread out. Successful on debut from this race’s protagonist Drummore (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) over six furlongs at Maisons-Laffitte in July, Dice Roll was a well-beaten fourth in the Listed Prix Francois Boutin upped a furlong here the following month before regaining the winning thread over 7 1/2 furlongs back at Maisons-Laffitte in early September. Not tested again in black-type company despite his success in the valuable sales race at Chantilly late that month, he demonstrated that he had thrived over the winter and also his ability to handle this sapping surface which killed off so many as he ploughed through with relish. “He had a nice campaign as a 2-year-old, with some easy races which enabled him to strengthen,” Chappet explained. “He had never faced such a group of horses before, so the performance was excellent. He loves this ground and likes to set the pace–he can really destroy a field with that pace. The program dictates that we go to ParisLongchamp for the [May 13 G1 Poule d’Essai des] Poulains now, but we will see how he comes out of this and enjoy the moment.” A triumph for buyer Amanda Skiffington, who saw his potential at the Arqana October Sale, Dice Roll descends from the G3 Prix des Reservoirs winner and G1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches runner-up Boreale (Fr) (Bellypha {Ire}). Her unraced daughter Dibenoise (Fr) (Kendor {Fr}) went on to produce the MGSW sire Racinger (Fr) (Spectrum {Ire}), as well as the duo of group 1-winning sons of Montjeu (Ire) in Corre Caminos (Fr) and Recital (Fr). The dam, whose pedigree also features the champion 2-year-old filly Princesse Lida (Nijinsky II), has a yearling filly by Elusive City. Monday, Deauville, France PRIX DJEBEL-G3, €80,000, DVL, 4-9, 3yo, c/g, 7fT, 1:28.67, vhy. 1–DICE ROLL (FR), 128, c, 3, by Showcasing (GB) 1st Dam: Schlague (Fr), by Pulpit 2nd Dam: Si Je N’Avais Plus (Ire), by Kaldoun (Fr) 3rd Dam: Boreale (Fr), by Bellypha (Ire) 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. (€130,000 Ylg ’16 AROCT). O-Giacomo Algranti; B-Gestut Zur Kuste AG (FR); T-Fabrice Chappet; J-Cristian Demuro. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 5-4-0-0, €217,180. Werk Nick Rating: D+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Magic Bibou (Fr), 128, c, 3, Panis–Hidden Magic (Fr), by Bering (GB). O-Gemini Stud, Mlle Sandra de Montzey & Bruno de Montzey; B-Sebastien Joucla, Stephane Joucla, Romuald Joucla & Eric Dupont (FR); T-Bruno de Montzey. €16,000. 3–Batwan (Fr), 128, c, 3, Kendargent (Fr)–Matwan (Fr), by Indian Rocket (GB). O-Guy Pariente; B-Guy Pariente Holding (FR); T-Philippe Sogorb. €12,000. Margins: 5, 1 3/4, 3/4. Odds: 10.00, 10.00, 10.00. Also Ran: Sacred Life (Fr), Louis d’Or (Ire), A Quiet Man (Ire), Infernal Majesty (Fr), Leonio (Fr), Cardsharp (GB), Drummore (Ire), Woodmax (Ger), Epic Adventure (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. View the full article

Heading into the unknown trip-wise, Ahmed Mouknass’s Coeur de Beaute (Fr) (Dabirsim {Fr}) thoroughly saw out her first seven-furlong test as she battled to a hard-fought verdict over Zonza (Fr) (Alex the Winner) in Monday’s G3 Prix Imprudence at Deauville. Last seen winning the six-furlong Listed Prix Zeddaan at this race’s traditional home, Maisons-Laffitte, in October, the bay raced towards the rear under Stephane Pasquier early and steadily wore down Zonza to gain the lead 100 metres from the finish. Staying on for a half-length success, with the strong-finishing unexposed Talbah (GB) (Style Vendome {Fr}) 3/4 of a length away in third, she is ready to shoot for the stars now. “I think that was a good field and it was a very nice performance,” trainer Mauricio Delcher-Sanchez said. “She was a nice 2-year-old filly with a good record in speed races and today the problem was whether she would settle. We have done a lot of work on her during the winter and she settled beautifully. Her turn of foot was amazing and obviously she has improved. We will see, but she could be very good and will go for the [G1 Poule d’Essai des] Pouliches [at ParisLongchamp May 13] now. The fact that they have changed that race to the middle course is good for her, as a mile is her limit.” Coeur de Beaute, who was also second to Sound and Silence (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) in the G3 Prix Eclipse at six furlongs at Maisons-Laffitte in September, hails from the first crop of Haras De Grandcamp’s classy juvenile Dabirsim, who was put firmly on the map last term by the talented Different League (Fr). Twilight Tear, whose 2-year-old colt Coeur de Pierre (Fr) (Zanzibari) was like this filly snapped up by MAB Agency from Osarus September, was a once-raced Lady Bamford homebred sold for just 15,500gns at the 2010 Tattersalls December Sales. Her immediate relations carry significant gravitas, with her dam being a full-sister to Sadler’s Wells’s pair of group 1-winning juveniles Listen (Ire) and Sequoyah (Ire). Both were later responsible for top-level performers themselves, with the latter throwing the G1 English and Irish 2000 Guineas, G1 Sussex S. and G1 St. James’s Palace S. hero and sire Henrythenavigator (Kingmambo). This excellent family also features last year’s G1 Epsom Derby runner-up Cliffs of Moher (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas and GI Breeders’ Cup Turf hero Magician (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and, further back, a trio of group 1 winners in Dolphin Street (Fr) (Bluebird), Saffron Walden (Fr) (Sadler’s Wells) and Insight (Fr) (Sadler’s Wells). Monday, Deauville, France PRIX IMPRUDENCE-G3, €80,000, DVL, 4-9, 3yo, f, 7fT, 1:30.35, vhy. 1–COEUR DE BEAUTE (FR), 126, f, 3, by Dabirsim (Fr) 1st Dam: Twilight Tear (GB), by Rock of Gibraltar (Ire) 2nd Dam: Clara Bow (Ire), by Sadler’s Wells 3rd Dam: Brigid, by Irish River (Fr) 1ST GROUP WIN. (€30,000 Ylg ’16 OSLATE). O-Ahmed Mouknass, Alain Jathiere, Ecurie Pandora Racing & Gerard Decocq; B-Haras de Grandcamp (FR); T-Mauricio Delcher Sanchez; J-Christophe Soumillon. €30,000. Lifetime Record: 6-2-2-0, €76,100. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Zonza (Fr), 126, f, 3, Alex the Winner–Zanyeva (Ire), by Oasis Dream (GB). O-Alain Jathiere, Martin S Schwartz Racing & Gerard Augustin-Normand; B-Hugues Rousseau & Jean-Pierre-Joseph Dubois (FR); T-Didier Guillemin. €16,000. 3–Talbah (GB), 126, f, 3, Style Vendome (Fr)–Lamorlaye (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire). O/B-Al Shaqab Racing (GB); T-Nicolas Clement. €12,000. Margins: HF, 3/4, HF. Odds: 4.20, 2.80, 11.00. Also Ran: Moisson Precoce (GB), Long Island (Fr), Tantheem (GB), Spaday (Ire), Fou Rire (Ire). Scratched: Yori (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. View the full article

The Inglis Easter Yearling Sale opened at Riverside Stables in Sydney in fervent fashion on Monday, with five of the seven millionaires coming within the first 30 horses through the ring. When the dust settled at the end of four hours of trade during the abbreviated session, it was Arrowfield Stud and its reigning champion sire Snitzel (Aus) that dominated the top end the market; Arrowfield consigned five of the seven-figure lots and Snitzel sired three of the millionaires, including the two top prices: Arrowfield’s A$1.3-million filly out of Azmiyna (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) bought by Guy Mulcaster and trainer Chris Waller, and Bhima Thoroughbreds’s colt out of Asscher (NZ) (Stravinsky) bought by the trio of Gai Waterhouse, Blue Sky Bloodstock and Kerri Radcliffe, who was acting on behalf of George Bolton for A$1.2 million With 30 fewer horses catalogued for the opening session than last year, and 26 fewer offered, figures largely showed improvement. Eighty-six total were sold for A$32,155,000. The average was up 11% to A$373,895, while the median remained the same as day one last year at A$300,000. The clearance rate pointed to some selectivity in the market, however, down to 77% from 85% in 2017. More of the Same for Arrowfield… Arrowfield had closed out the 2017 Easter sale with a blockbuster five millionaires during the final session, and thus it picked up exactly where it left off on Monday. “We brought some really nice horses to the sale and I’m gratified the market has appreciated them and accepted them,” said Arrowfield’s John Messara. “I’m not overly surprised; I thought if the buyers were here, that’s what would happen. We have a few more to present in the next couple days; we’re not finished yet.” Arrowfield has developed successful partnerships with fellow leading global breeders the Aga Khan Studs and Northern Farm, and those joint ventures both featured on Monday, with the top lot being jointly bred with the Aga Khan Studs, and a A$1.05-million Snitzel filly bought by Jadeskye Racing being apart of the Northern Farm joint venture. The latter venture featured recently when one of its 2017 graduates, TDN Rising Star Estijaab (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}), won the G1 Golden Slipper. Snitzel Streak… Guy Mulcaster, best known as the buyer of Winx (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}) as a yearling, added two quality fillies to the stable of champion Sydney trainer Chris Waller early in the session on Monday when in short succession signing for lot 11, a daughter of Deep Impact (Jpn), and lot 32, the session-topping Snitzel filly, for A$1.1-million and A$1.3-million, respectively. Lot 32 is out of Azmiyna (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), herself an unraced half-sister to European champion Azamour (Ire) (Night Shift). Snitzel, in fact, enjoyed a tear of success within 10 lots, with three selling for seven figures. Those also included Arrowfield’s filly out of Asterix (Jpn) (Neo Universe {Jpn}) (lot 25), which made A$1.05-million from Damion Flower of Jadeskye Racing, who campaigned Snitzel himself; and Bhima’s colt out of Asscher (NZ) (Stravinsky) (lot 23). The latter was bought by Gai Waterhouse, Blue Sky Bloodstock and Kerri Radcliffe, who was acting on behalf of George Bolton, for A$1.2-million. The Asterix filly will look to follow in the footsteps of Estijaab (Aus), who was a seven-figure daughter of Snitzel sold at this sale last year by the Arrowfield/Northern Farm joint venture and who won the G1 Golden Slipper just weeks ago. Making An Impact Down Under… Deep Impact is well known as Japan’s perennial champion sire, but the son of Sunday Silence in fact has a standout record in Australia from limited opportunities: from four runners Down Under, he can lay claim to two Group 1 winners, Tosen Stardom (Jpn) and Real Impact (Jpn), as well as the recent Group 1-placed Ambitious (Jpn). Arrowfield Stud’s filly out of Alverta (Aus) (Flying Spur {Aus}) (lot 11), the Group 1-winning champion female sprinter who was also third in Britain’s G1 July Cup, will have every chance to add her name to that list as she heads into the stable of champion Sydney trainer Chris Waller, with his agent Guy Mulcaster signing the ticket at A$1.1-million. Alverta has produced three foals of racing age, all winners. “She has a lovely pedigree and we know how well Deep Impact is doing around the world,” said Mulcaster, who had the opportunity to see plenty by the sire while visiting the JRHA’s July Select Sale last year. “He has some lovely horses not only in Japan but also in Europe, and we’re expecting them to do well in Australia as well.” “The types the sire leaves outdo himself,” Mulcaster added. “They’re just magnificent horses and they have form everywhere they go, so we’re delighted to get her.” Arrowfield has three Deep Impact fillies to offer at Easter, and another of them, a daughter of Charming Estelle (Aus) (Redoute’s Choice {Aus}) lot 70, made A$1-million from trainer Tony McEvoy on behalf of Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al Maktoum midway through the afternoon. That pair campaigns this season’s G1 Blue Diamond, G1 Golden Slipper and G1 Sires’ Produce S.-placed Oohood (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus}), and they certainly have another quality filly on their hands, with lot 70 being a great granddaughter of Estelle Collection (NZ) (Stravinsky), the dam of champion sprinter Lankan Rupee (Aus) (Redoute’s Choice {Aus}). The fillies are the first by their sire to be offered as yearlings at a Southern Hemisphere sale. A Deep Impact filly was offered at Keeneland September last year but was bought back at $285,000. Arrowfield’s third Deep Impact filly goes through the ring on the final day of the sale as lot 442. “They did well, but you have to keep in mind it’s very expensive to send mares to Japan, and bring them back, the service fee is big; it’s a pretty expensive exercise,” Messara said. “However, I was pleased they’ve gone to good buyers and they’ll get their opportunity. We have the dams so we’ll benefit from any racing that comes.” Northern Farm Reinvesting… Northern Farm, as has become customary, had a presence at Easter on Monday, buying a Frankel (GB) colt from Cressfield Stud (lot 6) for A$500,000. That colt is a grandson of Rafha (GB) (Kris {GB}), best known as the dam of Invincible Spirit (Ire) and Kodiac (GB), and it is also the immediate family of dual Australian Group 1 winner and young sire Pride of Dubai (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}). While Frankel is yet to have a stakes winner in Australia, he has done well in Japan, his flagbearer being last year’s G1 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) winner Soul Stirring (Jpn) “We love Frankel,” said Tomonori Tsuda, head vet of Northern Farm. “Here in Australia, Frankel’s value is not as high as in Japan, where they’re doing very well. If you think about the price of the Tapits or the Frankels here, they’re good value compared to what they would cost in Japan.” Tsuda confirmed the colt would be sent to Japan to race, and said there are currently “seven or eight” Frankels in the Northern Farm system. Tsuda said he was also pleased to see Deep Impact well received on the opening day of the sale. He said there has been plenty of interest from breeders to use the champion sire Southern Hemisphere time, and that Arrowfield is part of his limited book because of a strong, 30-year relationship with the farm. “Many people are interested in breeding to Deep Impact Southern Hemisphere time, but at a moment we have a shortage of spots,” he said. “Because we have had a great relationship for 30 years with Arrowfield, that’s the reason we’re trading with them. Today’s results were about what we expected, so we’re happy. I think there is real potential for Deep Impact covering Australian mares. Deep Impact does well with speed mares, so I think his pedigree will suit the Australian mares very well.” Part of the Arrowfield/Northern Farm joint venture includes the shuttling of three young Shadai sires–Mikki Isle (Jpn), Real Impact (Jpn) and Maurice (Jpn)–to Arrowfield, and Tsuda said Northern Farm is increasing the number of mares it brings to Australia to support those young sires. Tsuda said that the 20 first crop foals of Mikki Isle that Northern Farm currently has in Japan have been impressing him particularly. “Also, the Japanese mares’ market is not mature, the prices are not proper in Japan, so we want to keep some mares here at Arrowfield,” he added. Frankel had two catalogued for this sale and they both went through the ring within the first hour. The other was Arrowfield’s colt out of Aqua Bella (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) (lot 21), whose second dam of the triple French Group 1 winner Aquarelliste (GB) (Danehill). That one was scooped up by Chinese entity Domeland for A$1.1-million. Aqua Bella was bought by Badgers Bloodstock for €230,000 from Arqana’s December Breeding Stock Sale in 2014. She was covered by Frankel Southern Hemisphere time the following year and expatriated to Australia. Invincible Leaves It Late… I Am Invincible (Aus), currently third behind Snitzel on the leading sires’ table, had thus far outshone his elder rival at the top of the price lists at Australia’s other major yearlings sales this season, and the Yarraman Park resident didn’t disappoint on Monday. Late in the session, he notched a seven-figure sale when co-trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, along with Julian Blaxland’s Blue Sky Bloodstock, signed at A$1.05-million for lot 120, a half-brother to G1 Golden Slipper winner Mossfun (Aus) (Mossman {Aus}). I Am Invincible and Snitzel each had 10 sold on the day, with Snitzel coming out on top by average at A$561,500 compared to I Am Invincible’s A$535,500. Fastnet Rock (Aus) came out third by average of sires with three or more sold, his six sold yielding an average of A$490,833. Dissident (Aus) (Sebring {Aus}) was the standout among first-season sires on day one. While he had just two sold, one of those fetched A$800,000: lot 22, the second foal out of the 2-year-old stakes winner Assail (Aus) (Charge Forward {Aus}). The Newgate Farm offering had given connections a scare when kicking a rail in the back ring and was as a result returned to his barn and offered as the last lot of the evening, but he appeared none worse for the wear, with China Horse Club and WinStar Farm the new owners. It could have also helped that he is out of a mare by Charge Forward, whose daughters have produced the last two winners of the Golden Slipper. The Easter sale continues on Tuesday at 11 a.m. local time. View the full article

Better race position, a touch more luck in running and a considerable weight swing on a key rival should be enough for See Me Now to hit back with a win in the Class Four Mount Butler Handicap (1,650m). After a season of acclimatisation and a drop into Class Four, See Me Now found his forte over Happy Valley’s extended mile and trainer Francis Lui Kin-wai keeps returning to the well. See Me Now has tackled the course and distance five straight times now for a win and three placings and... View the full article

The Class Three cup race on Sunday was supposed to be all about just three horses but Solar Patch upset the apple cart by winning first-up and even third-placed Intrepic tagged himself as worth following. The John Moore-trained Solar Patch looked to have his share of ability in Australia but didn’t face any easy task to take on some smart horses who were already up and running here and beat them. But beat them he did and that opens up the possibility the son of Stratum is heading for... View the full article

The Goffs UK Breeze Up is streaming live on the TDN website, www.thoroughbreddailynews.com. Two-hundreds 2YOs catalogued for the Goffs UK Breeze Up Sale are breezing at Doncaster Racecourse. The sale will offer 2YOs by leading sires from around the world including Bated Breath, Dandy Man, Dark Angel, Distorted Humor, Dutch Art, Elusive Quality, Excelebration, Exceed And Excel, Exchange Rate, Hard Spun, Havana Gold, Holy Roman Emperor, Kodiac, Kyllachy, Lope de Vega, Pivotal, Scat Daddy, Showcasing, Zebedee, Zoffany etc. The sale will also offer the first 2YOs by a number of young sires including Alhebayeb, Bungle Inthejungle, Gale Force Ten, Garswood, Heeraat, Morpheus, Mukhadram, No Nay Never, Olympic Glory, Slade Power, Toronado, War Command, and more. View the full article

As could have been expected, it didn’t take long for Snitzel to get his name among the leaders at Easter, with Bhima’s colt out of Asscher (NZ) (Stravinsky) (lot 23) fetching A$1.2-million from Blue Sky Bloodstock and Gai Waterhouse and Arrowfield’s Snitzel filly out of Asterix (Jpn) (Neo Universe {Jpn}) making A$1.05-million from Damion Flower’s Jadeskye Racing. That followed just two lots after Arrowfield’s son of Frankel (GB) (lot 21) fetched A$1.1-million from Domeland Pty Ltd. View the full article

It didn’t take long for the action to heat up on opening day of the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale on Monday, with lot 11, a Deep Impact (Jpn) filly out of the Group 1 winning sprinter Alverta (Aus) (Flying Spur {Aus}), fetching A$1.1-million from Guy Mulcaster for group of owners with trainer Chris Waller. View the full article

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

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

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

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

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

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

Horses' test results April 7 View the full article

Zawari and Shafrizal suspended View the full article

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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