Wandering Eyes

Budding junior driver Kate Coppins heads to Cambridge Raceway tonight with a strong book of four drives, and plenty of reasons to be optimistic. She kicks off her night in Race 1, the Christmas At The Raceway Tickets On Sale Now Handicap Trot (5:41p.m.) aboard President Flynntin. The pair have been in a rich vein of form lately, booking a cheque in all their last four starts. This season has been the geldings most successful yet, amassing two wins and a further seven placings, all of which with Coppins in the bike. His last start at Cambridge Raceway showed plenty of promise and Kate is confident that he has found another field that he is capable of capitalising on tonight. “With the field he found himself in last start we expected him to run a place,” Kate said. “But in saying that it’s probably the best run he’s had. He ran a personal best last quarter that day, so I’d say he’s a good chance to make up his 10m handicap tonight and if he can get a nice enough run, he’ll definitely be there in the finish.” In Race 3, the Garrards Horse And Hound Mobile Pace (6:32 p.m.) Coppins jumps aboard Brookside Girl for David Butcher. The Downbytheseaside mare finds a step down in grade after some solid efforts at Alexandra Park and looks well-placed against tonight’s opposition. “Her last few starts at Auckland have been quite good,” Kate said. “With that form and the downgrade in the field she’s racing tonight I’d say she’s a pretty big chance. It will be up to David as to what we do, if anything we’d be looking to sit back and make a mid-race move.” For her third drive Coppins teams up with her employer Arna Donnelly aboard Joes Rock in Race 5, the Dunstan Horsefeeds Mobile Pace at (7:29 p.m.) Back from a brief freshen-up, the mare has a solid record at Cambridge, with four placings from six starts at the track. “It’s her first start back from a spell, she’s a bit of a one-trick pony so I’ll be saving her for the run home,” Kate explained. “Hopefully we’ll find some cover and get a bit of luck in the running. I don’t get behind her often in trackwork but the few times I have this preparation she’s found the line really well. She’s as happy as ever.” Coppins rounds out her night in Race 6, the TFS Horse Transport Mobile Pace (7:54 p.m.) with Baileys Pitch, also for Donnelly. The Bettor’s Delight gelding ran better than his fresh-up performance suggests, and Kate is hopeful that with a bit more luck, they can turn things around tonight. “I didn’t do him many favours with my drive on him last start,” she admitted. “I’d like to have put him in a handier position off the gate. He still found the line really well despite the run that he got so if we can get handy early tonight, he’ll make his presence known at the finish.” And when it comes to her best chance of the night? “President Flynntin, he’s always my pick of the litter,” she laughed “He’s a good boy.” View the full article

Capable race mare Sea Eagle (NZ) left the best until last during her brief breeding career. The daughter of Group One winner Don Eduardo’s final foal is the promising Eagle Rock (NZ) (Eagle Rock), who will attempt to add to his record in the Property Brokers Taumarunui 3YO (1400m) at Te Rapa on Saturday. The El Roca gelding is prepared by part-owner and breeder Kylie Little who trained Sea Eagle to win on six occasions, including two editions of the Parliamentary Handicap (2200m) at Trentham. Of her two previous live foals, Eagle Rock’s older sister Golden Eagle (NZ) (El Roca) won once, while another sibling Belle Fille (NZ) (El Roca) was unraced. “She was a good mare and taught me a lot. She’s been retired, he’s the last foal which may have been a bit premature, but she raced until a later age (eight),” Little said. “He (Eagle Rock) is probably a bit more relaxed than her, and she was quite a short-coupled little brown thing whereas he’s more classic looking with a bit of length about him.” Eagle Rock finished runner-up in his first two starts at Pukekohe and Wanganui before he broke his maiden last time out over a mile at Te Rapa at the end of May. “He’s still got to learn the game, he’s not a racehorse yet but he’s getting there,” Little said. “He trialled up nicely at Te Awamutu and has done well since. “The distance could be a little bit short, he’s a really nice stayer in the making but at a young age he’s probably still sharp enough to go a nice 1400m.” Safely through the weekend, Eagle Rock may make another trip to the Central Districts for a special conditions maiden over 1800m. “All going well, he’ll go to New Plymouth and depending on that we’ll see whether we give him one more over ground,” Little said. “We’ll put him aside then and bring him back, there’ll be plenty left in the tank for the autumn. “In time, I think he’s going to be a really nice type of cups’ horse.” Lynsey Satherley has been booked to ride Eagle Rock while Bridget Grylls will be aboard stablemate Irrigate (NZ) (Ocean Park) in The Callinan Family Taumarunui Gold Cup (2200m). The Ocean Park mare posted consecutive minor placings before an under-par effort at Te Rapa earlier this month. “She threw a spanner in the works and before that she was going on all cylinders,” Little said. “It was just one of those days, so we’ll just put in behind us and move on. I think with the track improving it will suit her a lot better on Saturday.” View the full article

The short-priced favourite for the upcoming Racecourse Hotel and Motor Lodge 150th Grand National Steeplechase (5600m), Jesko (NZ) (Atlante), will step out on the flat at Waverley on Friday as he readies for his biggest test yet in a fortnight. The son of Atlante commenced his current campaign at Waverley in April, and in the hands of his co-trainer Shaun Fannin downed his Rating 65 rivals over 2200m. That trend continued when he stepped out over fences, winning a restricted open steeplechase at Wanganui and claiming feature crowns in the Manawatu Steeplechase (4000m) and Wellington Steeplechase (4900m). Fannin, who trains Jesko in partnership with his wife Hazel, will hand over the reins for the first time this preparation when Chris Dell guides the gelding’s fortunes in the EquivetsNZ (2200m). “It’s definitely more of a fitness run before Riccarton, we wanted to give him a hit out on the grass and this looked like a nice option,” Fannin said. “He’s raced well at Waverley previously and has had a couple of wins there on the flat. “He galloped well on the course proper at Awapuni yesterday (Tuesday) and went pretty well, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he ran a cheeky race on Friday. “It’ll be very beneficial to be able to get a race into him before we go down south.” Hazel will accompany Jesko to Christchurch early next week, with the Racecourse Hotel and Motor Lodge Koral Steeplechase (4250m) as his first assignment on Saturday, August 2. “He’ll race on Friday, then will head down to Riccarton on Tuesday,” Fannin said. “He’ll run in the Koral before the National, that’s the plan. “He’s done a fair bit of jumping so he doesn’t need too much in between, but he did have a school last Thursday, more so because of the lack of grass tracks to gallop on. It was a good way of getting some fitness into him. “Hazel is going down with him for the first week, so I’ll probably ask her to pop him over a couple of jumps down there on the day before the Koral. He’s done a fair bit of jumping so hopefully he remembers what he’s doing when he gets out there.” At the Waverley meeting, the stable will also be represented by Sweet Ada (NZ) (Adelaide), a consistent mare searching for an elusive maiden success in the Chris Hays Livestock (2200m). “She’s been going consistent races and she meets a similar field to what she’s been coming up against,” Fannin said. “She’s done well since Woodville, so I can’t see any reason why she shouldn’t be a good top-three chance again. View the full article

Thistledown Racino in Ohio fired its track superintendent on Monday, and management at the Cleveland-area track has brought in outside racing surface consultants and is working with the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) in the aftermath of four lost days of racing and training this week because of escalating safety concerns with the dirt surface. But Sean Wright, who was only on the superintendent's job four months before his abrupt termination July 21, told TDN in a Wednesday phone interview that Thistledown's troubles on its one-mile dirt oval extend beyond the graphic images that have circulated on social media this week showing fist-sized rocks that were allegedly picked up from the track by jockeys and horsemen on Monday and Tuesday. Wright said that there have been eight catastrophic injuries at Thistledown since the meet began Apr. 21–five in races and three during training–and that when he became concerned enough on Monday morning to discuss the issue with the track's stewards and then to contact HISA, he was terminated within just a few hours by track management. “Monday, when I told the stewards and when I told the HISA official that's on the grounds that I do not feel comfortable guaranteeing the safety of that racetrack because I don't want to break any more horses down, that's when I was called upstairs and subsequently let go,” Wright said. “I believe I was let go because of [being] a whistleblower,” Wright said. “They even mentioned during our meeting that it was not my place to go to the stewards or HISA. Well you know what? It was damn sure my place to go to the stewards or HISA.” Wright continued: “When I reported what I saw on that racetrack, that's my professional obligation. And it's not only my professional obligation, I take a lot of pride. I've been in this business for 45 years. My family's been in this business for over 100 years. I rode. I trained. These guys mean something to me. These horses mean something to me. That's what I'm here for.” TDN left messages for three Thistledown racing executives on Wednesday, seeking management's side of the story about the state of the track surface and Wright's firing. But none of the racino's execs–general manager Chris Volle, director of racing Patrick Ellsworth, and racing secretary Patrick Mackey–called back prior to deadline for this story. Herbie Rivera, Jr., the Jockey's Guild representative whose region includes Thistledown, told TDN that track management has brought back the racino's retired track operations director, David Ellsworth, who is Patrick's father, to oversee the track's maintenance. “I was a jockey there for years, in the 1980s and 90s, Rivera said. “That was my home track, and that track was the best, always in great shape. But this year they lost their track man [John Banno] who had been there for 25 years, who went to Laurel.” Rivera explained that even before the superintendent transition this past spring from Banno to Wright (who came to Ohio after working as the track superintendent at Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico), the Thistledown surface had been devolving. “I was talking to one of my top riders recently and I asked him how long has it been this way,” Rivera said. “And he told me the last couple of years it's been up and down, very wavy, for whatever reason.” Rivera said those sorts of complaints seemed to come and go, but that he started getting reports on July 21 that Thistledown's surface was way out of whack. “Whatever it was, it was a disaster Monday morning,” Rivera said. “They went out to gallop, then [about an hour before the scheduled renovation break] they closed [the track] and started working on it hoping to run [the Monday afternoon races]. The jockeys picked up a bunch of rocks and they brought them to the stewards. “Then came Tuesday morning. I was in touch with my jocks, and they said the track looked good, really good. But by 10 o'clock [the surface] was wavy [when the harrows were going over the surface], and they didn't like what they saw. So I think the management and jockeys, everybody together, decided 'Let's work on this' to try to get it to the satisfaction of everybody.” Horses break from the gate at Thistledown | JJ Zamaiko Wright has his own theories about the track's problems, which he said largely come down to two issues: The recent lack of rain, compounded by repeated difficulties in getting his crew of employees to follow maintenance orders. “When I first started to work here, we went 34 consecutive race days without a single incident,” Wright said. “When it was raining, we were great, because I would level that racetrack every day. I would make sure that it was conditioned and harrowed every day.” Wright said the problems with the track surface began to pick up once the rain ceased to fall earlier this summer. The top got too loose while the bottom got too hard. He said he tried to underscore to his crew the importance of adding water, but that they would not consistently comply with his requests. “I don't mean to throw my guys under the bus, but a spade's a spade here,” Wright said. According to Wright's version of events, when some employees responded to his orders by swearing at him and refusing to do the work, he began putting his track maintenance orders in writing, via text messages, so he would have a written record to document the work he wanted done. “My separation notice says that I had threatened one of my employees. I did not threaten one of my employees,” Wright said. “Any time that I had asked one of my employees to do something, I got called a [expletive] and they walked off and ignored it. They're all Teamsters. You can tell by my accent I'm from Texas, and I'm not used to dealing with unions.” Wright told TDN that he reported this alleged insubordination to Thistledown's management and human resources department. Although he maintains that he did not threaten any specific employee, he did admit to TDN that he told his bosses he was almost at the point of punching someone if the verbal attacks kept up, which was another reason he wanted his exchanges with workers documented via text messages. “I didn't know what to do, but I know I damn sure didn't deserve to be called a [expletive] every time I asked somebody to do their job,” Wright said. Wright said that once the catastrophic injuries reached a total of eight this month, he, track management, and a HISA on-site representative all concurred that the Racing Surfaces Testing Laboratory needed to be asked to come in and do another inspection to see what had changed since the pre-meet track analysis in March. The testing was done on Saturday, July 19, Wright said. Although the complete analysis has not been finalized, Wright said he rode along with the testing crew as they circled the track taking readings that looked for inconsistencies under the surface, and that he was told that the preliminary results looked good or “probably even better” than March's readings. “I went around there with them for the measurements. You can tell when the raw data's coming back what it kind of looks like,” Wright said. On Sunday there was no racing at Thistledown, but training occurred without incident, Wright said. “Monday I got there about 12:30 in the morning. I went out there and I leveled the racetrack like I usually do, and then I brought out the conditioner to cut the racetrack, because that's what I use as a cut harrow. I called for water and the night crew started watering.” At 6:00 a.m. the track opened for training, with Wright back in his office to attend to paperwork. But Wright said within 15 minutes his phone was “ringing off the hook” with complaints about how bad the track looked. Wright said he stepped out to look at it, and it appeared evident to him that the crew hadn't done the necessary follow-up watering or harrowing. Wright said he cut short training and personally oversaw the work to try and get the track ready for that afternoon's racing. After that is when he went to the stewards and HISA with his concerns. Wright was called in for an afternoon conference with his bosses and then told later that evening that he was fired. Wright told TDN on Wednesday he has been in contact with a lawyer about possibly challenging the firing in court because he believes he was wrongfully terminated for speaking up about safety concerns. He also said that he now has personal concerns about ever getting another track superintendent job in the industry with a termination that is “not justifiable” on his résumé. “Some days I got there right after midnight, other days I didn't get there until three o'clock in the morning, but I usually didn't leave until after six o'clock in the afternoon, every day. I took off less than 10 days since I first started working there Mar. 18,” Wright said. “I'd go into the jocks' room every day to try and get feedback from the riders. When we did start having accidents, I requested that I be able to go up to the stewards' box and watch the replays, and we watched them together, in slow motion, to try and figure out what went wrong. That's how much attention I've tried to pay to that racetrack,” Wright said. Thistledown eventually ended up cancelling all of its racing this week (Monday through Thursday) to try and get the track back in order. Training is expected to resume Saturday, July 26, with racing to follow on Monday, July 28. The post Thistledown Track Super Claims He Was Fired for Reporting Safety Concerns to Stewards and HISA appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Barry Irwin's Team Valor International announced July 23 the acquisition of group 3-winning filly Queen Azteca. She will make her first North American start Aug. 16 in the Alabama Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course.View the full article

Barry Irwin's Team Valor International announced July 23 their acquisition of grade 3-winning filly Queen Azteca. She will make her first North American start Aug. 16 in the Alabama Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course.View the full article

Central Kentucky-based McMahon and Hill Bloodstock has promoted Kristin Stivers to Controller and hired Mary Motion as Director of Business Development. In addition to offering bloodstock services such as portfolio management, insurance, and appraisals, McMahon and Hill also offers U.S.- and New Zealand-based racing, pinhooking, and breeding partnerships under the Bourbon Lane name. Stivers, who has been with McMahon and Hill since 2016, will oversee finances for Spruce Lane Farm, the Bourbon Lane Retirement Fund, multiple partnerships, pinhooking LLCs, and single horse co-ownerships. Motion, whose background includes time with trainers Graham Motion and Christophe Clement, as well as with bloodstock agent Chad Schumer, will focus on the partner and client experience within the partnerships, pinhooking LLCs, and co-ownership groups. The post Stivers Promoted, Motion Hired at McMahon and Hill appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The first day of the Tattersalls Ireland July Store Sale was topped by an Order Of St George gelding at €55,000. Sold by Liss House to Gaynestown, lot 32 is from the same family as Grade 2-placed hurdler Carriganog (Shantou). Overall, eight horses made €30,000 or more, with a son of Harzand (lot 4) the other lot to breach the €50,000 mark. Brian Lawless picked up the Glebe Farm offering for €52,000. At the close of trade, 155 horses sold for €1,381,950. The average was €8,916 and the median was €6,000. The second and final day of the store sale will begin at 10 a.m. The post Order Of St George Gelding Tops First Day Of The July Store Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – When he found out he was going to need a new jockey, John Shirreffs didn't blink. He knew who was going to ride Baeza (McKinzie) in Saturday's $500,000 GII Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. And the jockey isn't all that new, not to Baeza. Baeza will be reunited with California-based Hector Berrios when he steps on the track to take on GI Kentucky Derby and GI Belmont Stakes winner Sovereignty (Into Mischief) and three others in the 1 1/8-mile traditional prep for the Aug. 23 GI Travers Stakes. Shirreffs knew a few weeks ago that he was going to be jockey shopping when Flavien Prat informed him he would be unavailable. Prat is heading to California to ride 'TDN Rising Star' Nysos (Nyquist) in the $300,000 GII San Diego Handicap. Prat rode Baeza in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont. Berrios was the rider for three of Baeza's first four starts, including a second-place finish in the GI Santa Anita Derby behind Journalism (Curlin). “I don't think there was another rider that we were really considering because of Hector's experience with the horse,” Shirreffs said Wednesday morning on the Saratoga backstretch. “It's hard to continually change riders on a horse. I think a horse, especially a young horse, needs a little consistency.” This will be the 37-year-old Berrios's first time riding at Saratoga. “Oh yeah, very comfortable with him,” Shirreffs said. “Hector is a professional rider. He studies the Form, he watches film. He has lots of experience and he has lots of experience with Baeza. He knows him in and out.” Baeza, owned by C R K Stable LLC and Grandview Equine, arrived in Saratoga on Friday night. After he walked on Saturday, he went to the track on Sunday. Shirreffs is looking forward to another chance at Sovereignty. Baeza finished third behind him in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont. In the Derby, he was 1 1/2 lengths behind him, but only beaten a neck for second by Journalism. Last month at the Belmont, run at Saratoga, Sovereignty beat Baeza by 6 1/2 lengths. “We've all seen (Sovereignty) run,” Shirreffs said. “He is a very nice horse. My horse has to run his best race, and I think Baeza has a better race in him.” Pressure Off Bauer After Halina's Forte Honorable Miss Win When Halina's Forte (Mitole) surprised just about everyone–including her trainer–when she won the GII Honorable Miss at 24-1 on Sunday, the pressure was off the barn. “Made our meet,” trainer Phil Bauer said at his barn on the Oklahoma training track Wednesday morning. “You don't want to set the bar too high coming up here because you will just get deflated. You hope to win one or two and we got our one. The longer the meet goes, and you haven't been able to get a win, it weighs on you a little bit.” Haliana's Forte wins the Honorable Miss | Coglianese Ridden by Irad Ortiz, Jr., Halina's Forte was the second-longest price in the Honorable Miss field of eight. It was her second start this year after finishing second in the Prairie Rose Stakes at Prairie Meadows as the 4-5 favorite. That was her first start since November. Halina's Forte slipped up the rail and won the race by a half-length over R Disaster (Awesome Slew). 'TDN Rising Star' Scylla (Tapit), the 6-5 even-money favorite, was third. Last year, Halina's Forte, owned by Rigney Racing, won the Galway Stakes at Saratoga. “I was shocked when she did not win off the layoff,” Bauer said. “I thought that was kind of a walkover race. Sometimes they need one and I tried not to read into it too much and kept marching forward.” Bauer said he was more surprised that his other horse in the race–5-year-old mare Little Prankster (Practical Joke)–finished last. She was 17-1. Last year, Bauer had a successful summer at Saratoga with six wins in 17 starts. He has 14 horses in his barn. There is a chance Halina's Forte could be seen again. That would be in the seven-furlong, $500,000 GI Ballerina on Aug. 23, Travers Day. “We'll see how it comes up,” Bauer said. “('TDN Rising Star') Ways and Means (Practical Joke) might scare some horses away. If it's a position where you think you could get top three, it's probably worth running.” Looking For a New York Sweep The bonus is no more, but that doesn't mean a sweep of three New York-bred summer races doesn't mean anything. And that is the position trainer Rob Atras is in with his 3-year-old Train the Trainer (Dialed In). Train the Trainer wins the Mike Lee | Sarah Andrew In his last two starts, Train the Trainer won the Mike Lee Stakes at Saratoga on June 4 and the New York Derby at Finger Lakes on July 14. The third leg of the series is the $200,000 Albany Stakes on Aug. 21 and Atras is hoping to be there. From 1999 to 2015, the three races made up the Big Apple Triple and a horse that won all three legs would get a bonus of $250,000. “It would be nice,” Atras said when asked about the Big Apple Triple. “But it's alright. If he makes it to the race and runs big and happens to win it, I would be fine with that, too.” Train the Trainer began his career in California with trainer Mark Glatt. “He ran a really good second in his first race and Mark called me and asked if I would take the horse in New York,” Atras said. “They did not really have anything mapped out for him.” Train the Trainer, owned by Alipony Racing and Saints or Sinners, has won all three of his starts with Atras. He broke his maiden by five lengths, won the Mike Lee by 2 3/4 lengths and then the New York Derby by 4 1/2 as the 1-2 favorite. The likely favorite in the Mike Lee, Mo Plex (Complexity), was not able to run because his barn was under quarantine at the time. “After that race, we were not really sure what to do,” Atras said. “We weren't really pointing to the New York Derby; we were looking at maybe an allowance race.” He ultimately decided to head to Finger Lakes and two turns and Train the Trainer passed the test. Now, he'll try for the sweep. After that, who knows? “It's a possibility,” he said when asked about trying open company. “For now, we're going to take it one race at a time.” The post Saratoga Notebook, Presented by NYRA Bets: Shirreffs More Than Comfortable Having Berrios Back on Baeza appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar. Counterbalance (f, 2, Caravaggio–Out of Balance, by Kitten's Joy) came flashing home to finish fourth in a race that held together quite well over opening weekend at Del Mar. Overlooked at 37-1 in her debut going five furlongs on dirt for trainer Michael McCarthy, the Amerman Racing homebred broke alertly from her inside draw, but was quickly outfooted. She was heading the wrong direction while under a ride in sixth as the highly touted, even-money favorite Cherry Cider (Tiz the Law) was hounded by Thank You India (Practical Joke) with eventual winner La Wally (Constitution) sitting the garden spot in third through an opening quarter in :21.97. Still with plenty to do with positions unchanged at the top of the stretch, Counterbalance began to figure things out from there and came rocketing home in a field-best :12.05 to finish three lengths adrift the winner while powering on impressively past the wire. La Wally was a nose better than Cherry Cider and it was another 2 1/4 lengths back to Thank You India in third. The final time for five furlongs over the fast going was :58.25. Counterbalance received a 55 Beyer Speed Figure. “I thought the race was very positive in that she accelerated in the lane going five furlongs to be fourth,” owner/breeder John Amerman said. “Importantly, she galloped out ahead of all the other horses in the race. We are very pleased with this daughter of Caravaggio's performance.” All 12 of Caravaggio's graded/group winners have excelled on grass, led by top-level winners Porta Fortuna (Ire), Whitebeam (GB) and Tenebrism. Counterbalance's dam and two-time winner Out of Balance (Kitten's Joy) made all 18 of her career starts on grass. She was produced by Balance (Thunder Gulch)–a half-sister to the once-in-a-lifetime Zenyatta–who carried the navy silks of Amerman Racing to a trio of Grade I victories at Santa Anita. Could a surface switch be in Counterbalance's future? “At this point, our options are open,” Amerman said. Since launching 'Second Chances' in 2017, 64 maidens have been featured in these pages (through 2024), producing 25% graded stakes winners, 34% stakes winners and 48% stakes horses. The series has introduced eight future winners at the top level, led by this year's GI Kentucky Derby and GI Belmont Stakes winner Sovereignty (Into Mischief), 2023 Horse of the Year Cody's Wish (Curlin) and fellow two-time Breeders' Cup winner Golden Pal (Uncle Mo). Did LA WALLY ($14.20) watch the Haskell earlier? The two-year-old daughter of Constitution (@WinStarFarm) absolutely flew down the lane to just catch favored Cherry Cider in the 6th at @DelMarRacing. What a ride by @Antonio1Fresu for trainer Mark Glatt. pic.twitter.com/e6n6opQ5U8 — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) July 19, 2025 The post Second Chances: Well-Related Counterbalance Outruns 37-1 Odds in Del Mar Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Kids Day will take place at Saratoga Race Course on Sunday, July 27. The celebration of racing and family fun will be presented in conjunction with the NYRA Students of Thoroughbreds and Racing (NYRA STAR), a signature program designed to welcome young fans to the sport of Thoroughbred racing. The first 5,000 children, ages 12 and under, will receive a Saratoga headband, presented by NYRA STAR, along with a $25 gift card to Hildebrandt's Ice Cream for the perfect start to a day of engaging, hands-on activities at the Spa. Kids Day will give children and families a special behind-the-scenes look at life on the track. Kids will accompany NYRA staff to perform various racing-day responsibilities, including announcing scratches and changes and the ceremonial call of “Riders Up” in the Paddock. The post Saratoga Race Course to Host Kids Day on July 27 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

There will be a fervent hope for sunshine July 25 when the $200,000 Amsterdam Stakes (G2) is contested at Saratoga Race Course View the full article

Atlantic Friends Racing's Historic Heart fended off the challenge of grade 1 winner Proven Innocent to notch his first top-level triumph in the July 23 $150,000 A. P. Smithwick Memorial Handicap (NSA-1) at Saratoga Race Course.View the full article

Thursday, Leopardstown, post time: 18:27, SAUDI CUP SILVER FLASH STAKES-G3, €36,000, 2yo, f, 7f 57yT Field: Balantina (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}), Brownstown (GB) (Cracksman {GB}), Composing (Ire) Wootton Bassett {GB}), Red Autumn (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), Skydance (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Smexy (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}). TDN Verdict: Aidan O'Brien has farmed this and Composing could easily be his 15th winner after her success in a Curragh maiden that is working out well. Skydance has shaped well in two starts over shorter, with the latter being a third in the G2 Airlie Stud Stakes, and is bred to appreciate this step up in trip, while the Albany third Balantina sets the form standard. [Tom Frary]. Thursday, Leopardstown, post time: 18:57, JAPAN RACING ASSOCIATION TYROS STAKES-G3, €36,000, 2yo, 7f 57yT Field: Flanker Jet (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), Flushing Meadows (Wootton Bassett {GB}), North Coast (Ire) (Starman {GB}), Prospect Thunder (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}). TDN Verdict: Like the Silver Flash, Aidan O'Brien dominates the history of this Classic pointer, with his 16 winners including King Of Kings, Rip Van Winkle, Cape Blanco, Gleneagles, Churchill and Anthony Van Dyck. Flushing Meadows may have got turned over in the Anglesey last time, but so was the first name on that list and you get the distinct feeling that this is one of their best. There isn't much opposition, with the Listed Pat Smullen Stakes runner-up North Coast the only real threat back at seven furlongs. [Tom Frary]. Thursday, Sandown, post time: 15:20, THE EUROPEAN BLOODSTOCK NEWS EBF STAR STAKES-Listed, £40,000, 2yo, f, 7fT Field: Electoral College (War Front), Hayynah (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), Hope Queen (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Jennifer Jane (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), Mystic Moment (GB) (Time Test {GB}), Nandita (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}), Orion's Belt (Ire) (Starman {GB}), Tavana (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}). TDN Verdict: Orion's Belt scored with authority at Newmarket's July Festival and is one of the more likely types in a tight contest, with the Beverley winner Hope Queen and Wetherby scorer Jennifer Jane to be respected. [Tom Frary]. Thursday, Compiegne, France, post time: 18:23, PRIX PELLEAS-Listed, €50,300, 3yo, c/g, 10fT Field: Nizam (Fr) (Pinatubo {Ire}), Ephesus (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), Uthred (Fr) (Persian King {Ire}), Abando (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}), Green Cape (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Dioptase (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), Jenilat Bright (Fr) (Birchwood {Ire}), Think Giant (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}). TDN Verdict: Gestut Ittlingen's German raider Abando was never a factor in this month's G1 German Derby and can stake a claim if reproducing the form of his third, behind German Derby sixth Zuckerhut and Hamburg hero Hochkonig, in June's G2 Union-Rennen at Cologne. Consistent G3 Prix Greffulhe runner-up Dioptase is an obvious danger and returns off a confidence-boosting tally over this trip at Salon de Provence last month. Last year's G3 Preis des Winterfavoriten second Think Giant has been out just once since, annexing a 10-furlong Chantilly conditions contest on sophomore bow four weeks ago. Philippe Decouz sends forth dual one-mile winner Uthred, who steps up in distance having run fifth the Listed Prix de Saint-Patrick last month. [Sean Cronin]. Friday, Ascot, post time: 14:25, THE FLEXJET PAT EDDERY STAKES-Listed, £50,000, 2yo, 7fT Field: A Bit Of Spirit (Ire) (Palace Pire {GB}), Cape Ashizuri (Ire) (St Mark's Basilica {Fr}), Italica (GB) (Sergei Prokofiev, Reciprocated (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), Sirius A (Ire) (Palace Pier {GB}), Time To Turn (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Tricky Tel (GB) (Ubettabelieveit {Ire}). TDN Verdict: Unbeaten and impressive at Nottingham and Carlisle, Reciprocated will be a warm order to continue the momentum in this often-informative race won in recent times by Chindit and Rosallion. A Bit Of Spirit is also two-for-two and untested so far, while the Ayr debut winner Cape Ashizuri looked a smart prospect and has the pedigree to go far. [Tom Frary]. Click here for the complete fields. The post Black-Type Analysis: O’Brien Aiming For A 15th Silver Flash With Composing appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Journalism (Curlin) won again, taking down the GI Haskell S. at Monmouth. But that's what we've come to expect from one of the sport's most consistent horses and the trainer, Michael McCarthy, who has pushed all the right buttons. To talk about Journalism and what's ahead for the 3-year-old, McCarthy joined this week's TDN Writers' Room Podcast, presented by Keeneland. McCarthy was this week's Gainesway Guest of the Week. Journalism is a throwback, an iron horse who doesn't miss any dances. McCarthy noticed early on how tough this horse was. “He was a horse early on that seemed to thrive on training and running as a 2-year-old, three races in seven weeks,” McCarthy said. “That kind of gave me the impetus that maybe he could handle something like the Triple Crown, if we were fortunate enough to get there, and we were. I thought his race in the Kentucky Derby was very good on a sloppy racetrack and he had a little bit of trouble early in the race. He came back and trained just as well for the Preakness and you saw what happened there. Then it seemed like to me like he may have even gotten better after the Preakness and had a very gutsy performance in the Belmont at Saratoga. We brought him back to California, tried to give him an easy 10 days, two weeks, and he didn't seem to be having it. So, we started back up with him lightly and he made it known pretty quickly that he wanted to get back to the work tab. So, I guess you could call him an iron horse. People call him a throwback. He's a horse that carries a lot of condition. He's a very smart horse and takes good care of himself.” As is so often the case with Journalism, he looked like he was spinning his wheels in the Haskell. Then, 100 yards or so before the wire, he took off like he was shot out of a cannon. “In the Haskell, going into the first turn, he had taken himself back a little bit farther than we're accustomed to,” McCarthy said. “Then going around the first turn, Umberto (Rispoli) gave him a tap on the shoulder and he re-engaged and put himself in contention by about the five-eighths pole. Sometimes with good horses, until they get to the quarter pole, you just never know where they're at.” What's next for Journalism? There are a number of possibilities, including the GI Travers S. and the GI Pacific Classic. “We'll kind of watch him here over the next week and maybe come up with a game plan,” McCarthy said. “But, as of right now, I think everything needs to be on the table. It'll be interesting to see what happens in the Jim Dandy this weekend. He's been on the plane, off the plane. Part of the reason for us to go to Monmouth, outside of it being a Grade I, was it was just the easiest locale to get to. You can fly directly into Newark. Obviously, if you head back to Saratoga, you've got to go to Newark. Hopefully, that's a direct flight to Newark and then a four or five-hour van ride to Saratoga. So a lot of those factors will come into play. Some horses thrive on shipping and running. Sometimes it gets to them a little bit, but we're going to give him an easy couple of weeks here before we come up with anything.” McCarthy served as a long-time assistant to Todd Pletcher. What did he learn from the Hall of Famer? “Showing up was probably number one,” he said. “You do whatever it takes to get the job done, and that was number two. Organization was definitely number three. Anyone that walks into Todd's barn can see. They get things done in a timely fashion and everything is professional. So, there's a lot of things. I could start and we could talk about this for quite some time.” In our “Fastest Horse of the Week,” segment which is sponsored by WinStar, the team went over the many reasons there are to breed to WinStar stallion Life Is Good. The fastest horse of the week was the Pride of New Jersey, Book 'em Danno (Bucchero). He got a 111 Beyer for his win in the GII Alfred G. Vanderbilt S. Elsewhere on the podcast, which is also sponsored by 1/ST Racing, the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders' Association, West Point Thoroughbreds, the KTOB and 1/ST TV, the team of Zoe Cadman, Bill Finley and Randy Moss talked about Chad Brown's big day Saturday at Monmouth, where he won four races and increased his lead on his rivals in the trainer's standings. They looked at the blowout win by Scottish Lassie (McKinzie) in the GI Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga. The show wrapped up with a discussion of the interview that Kentucky Governor and 2028 Presidential hopeful Andy Beshear did with the TDN. To watch the Writers' Room, click here. To view the show as a podcast, click here. The post Michael McCarthy Joins the TDN Writers’ Room Podcast, presented by Keeneland appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Thursday's Observations features a half-brother to G2 Blandford Stakes winner and G1 Irish Oaks second Cayenne Pepper. 5.25 Leopardstown, Mdn, €20,000, 2yo, 8fT MONTREAL (IRE) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) is one of two Ballydoyle runners in this maiden won in 2022 by Tower Of London and the choice of Ryan Moore. A half-brother to the G2 Blandford Stakes winner and Irish Oaks runner-up Cayenne Pepper, he is joined by fellow newcomer Pierre Bonnard (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), a son of the G1 Nassau Stakes winner Sultanina (New Approach). The post Cayenne Pepper’s Half-Brother Montreal An Eyecatcher For Ballydoyle appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The $135,000 Curlin Stakes at Saratoga is not a time-honored path to the Travers Stakes (G1). Yet the Curlin serves a purpose as one last chance to swim in a shallow pond before heading over to much deeper waters in the Aug. 23 Midsummer Derby.View the full article

Hidden Brook Farm's commitment to top-tier horsemanship is being proven once again with the emergence of Dr. Venkman, who seeks his first grade 1 victory July 26 in the Bing Crosby Stakes (G1) at Del Mar. View the full article

Irishman Brian Acheson has acquired a minor stake in Ecurie des Monceaux. The news was confirmed by Monceaux's Henri Bozo to Jour De Galop on Wednesday evening. A prominent NH owner under the Robcour banner, Acheson has now handed Bozo more financial firepower to continue the French Flat nursery's consigning dominance at the upcoming Arqana August Yearling Sale. Monceaux has led the vendor table for each of the past 13 years. “I am delighted to have a new partner on board, a successful entrepreneur with dynamic ideas who will strengthen our team,” Bozo told the JDG of the new arrangement with the chief executive of Dornan Engineering. A multiple Grade 1-winning owner, Acheson's best runners have been Teahupoo (Masked Marvel), Gerri Colombe (Saddler Maker), Bob Olinger (Sholokhov) and Irish Point (Joshua Tree). The Arqana August Sale runs from August 16-18 in Deauville. Monceaux fields a 38-strong consignment, with a Zarak son of G1 St Leger heroine Simple Verse (Duke Of Marmalade) (lot 257); a daughter of Zarak who is a half-sister to group winner and dual Group 1-placed Vespertilio (Night Of Thunder) (lot 205); lot 149, a Frankel filly who is the first foal of G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches victress Mangoustine (Dark Angel); and a Night Of Thunder filly out of listed winner and bluehen Prudenzia (Dansili) (lot 206) some of the draft's highlights. Added Bozo, “We've had a lot of visitors inspecting the yearlings, some from France but also from abroad, which is a very positive sign. I'm looking forward to the sale.” Monceaux will also be stepping into the fray as a buyer this year in an increasingly competitive market for top-end fillies. “We have relaunched our partnership to invest in a few yearling fillies at the European sales this year. We believe they represent our best chance to get our hands on top-level broodmares.” The post Brian Acheson Acquires Part Of Ecurie Des Monceaux appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Collier Mathes's Chesapeake Farm has added Finn Green to consult and handle client relations and business development, it was announced in a release Wednesday. Chesapeake Farm operates on 2,000+ acres of leased land from Overbrook Farm and Wimbledon Farm in Lexington. Green is a fourth-generation Kentucky Thoroughbred horseman. He was racing manager for GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner Mucho Macho Man and a consultant for champion Runhappy. He will continue to operate his deWaal Thoroughbreds, LLC consulting and management company while working at Chesapeake Farm. “Collier and I have known each other for over 15 years,” Green said. “I'm humbled and excited to work with and for Collier. Collier has the capability to both increase and improve his business.” The post Chesapeake Farm Adds Finn Green appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

William Buick has been confirmed as the rider of Field of Gold in the July 30 Sussex Stakes (G1) at Goodwood and enjoyed a first feel of the classy Juddmonte-owned gray on the Newmarket gallops July 23.View the full article

The New York Racing Association announced July 23 that the precautionary quarantine of barn 28 at Saratoga Race Course has been lifted by the New York State Department of Agriculture effective immediately.View the full article

William Buick has been confirmed as the rider of Field of Gold in the July 30 Sussex Stakes (G1) at Goodwood and enjoyed a first feel of the classy Juddmonte-owned grey on the Newmarket gallops on Wednesday morning.View the full article

The precautionary quarantine of Barn 28 at Saratoga Race Course has been lifted by the New York State Department of Agriculture (NYSDA), effective immediately, the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) announced Wednesday. As a result, all horses stabled in Barns 28 are once again permitted to enter races, as of today, Wednesday, July 23, and to train with the general horse population beginning Thursday. Barn 28, which contains horses under the care of trainer Mike Maker and Mark Casse, was placed under a precautionary quarantine on Saturday, July 19, when the Maker-trained 4-year-old filly [Surprenant Cocca] presented symptoms of strangles and was transferred offsite to be tested for a number of potential ailments. Three subsequent PCR tests and a subsequent culture all returned negative for strangles. Furthermore, no additional symptomatic horses were identified during the precautionary quarantine period. The post Precautionary Quarantine of Barn 28 at Saratoga Lifted appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Every week, the TDN posts a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) related rulings from around the country. The following rulings were reported on HISA's “rulings” portal and through the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit's (HIWU) “pending” and “resolved” cases portals. Resolved ADMC Violations Date: 07/18/2025 Licensee: Joseph David Perez, trainer Penalty: A fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission. Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone—a class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Digits on 6/15/25. Date: 07/17/2025 Licensee: Arthur Agostini, trainer Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision of internal adjudication panel. Explainer: Violation for the use or attempted use of a Class C controlled medication on Guaio during the race period, an event dated 12/27/24. Guaio did not make a start on that date. Pending ADMC Violations 07/21/2025, Joe Toye, trainer: Pending vet's list medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine—a Class B controlled substance—in a sample taken from Valley Echo on 6/20/25. 07/21/2025, Ray Handal, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Dexamethasone—a Class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Valtellina, who won at Aqueduct on 4/10/25. 07/18/2025, Sergio Morfin, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Methocarbamol—a Class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Lady Dosia, who finished sixth at Santa Anita on 6/12/25. Violations of Crop Rule Colonial Downs Weston Hamilton – violation date July 18; $1,500 fine, three-day suspension Delaware Park Carlos Eduardo Lopez– violation date July 17; $500 fine, two-day suspension Monmouth Park Umberto Rispoli – violation date July 19; $6,000 fine, one-day suspension More on that story here. The post National Regulatory Rulings, July 17-23 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article