Wandering Eyes

Churchill Downs will institute new entry procedures that will be in effect for guests visiting the track any day of Kentucky Derby Week, starting Saturday, April 28 through Derby day May 5. The track launched KentuckyDerbyParking.com to help visitors plan their arrival. “Churchill Downs has invested heavily to improve the arrival and entry experience for all our guests and employees. We want to ensure a safe and secure environment, while helping people get in and out of the venue as efficiently as possible,” said Churchill President Kevin Flanery. “We encourage everyone joining us for Derby Week to visit KentuckyDerbyParking.com so you know exactly what to expect before you get to the track.” Derby Week visitors will be the first to use Churchill Downs’ new expanded entry plaza, which will lead guests from Central Avenue to the newly constructed paddock gate that’s replacing previous entrances at gates one and 17. The track renamed its admission gates to reflect their locations in the venue: paddock gate, clubhouse gate and infield gate. New entry procedures include: all guest passing through a metal detector; prohibited items (which are listed on kentuckyderbyparking.com); self-scanning entry turnstiles; no reentry; secondary ticket scanning and official wristbands for certain sections; and quick entry lanes for guests with no bags. The track has released a video to inform guests on what to expect, which can be viewed here. In keeping with tradition, guests on Oaks and Derby Days are permitted to bring in food and box lunches in clear plastic bags smaller than 18 inches by 18 inches. However, these items are prohibited opening night Apr. 28 through Thurby May 3. View the full article

Coolmore stallion Magician (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}-Absolutelyfabulous {Ire}, by Mozart {Ire}) will relocate from Ashford Stud to Coolmore’s Castlehyde Stud in Cork next month. The G1 Irish 2000 Guineas winner’s eldest crop are now 2-year-olds and his covering fee has been set at €7,500. Magician’s yearlings sold quite well last autumn; he had six sell for an average of 67,333gns and a top price of 210,000gns which was for a colt out of Perfect Step (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}), bought by Amanda Skiffington on behalf of Coolmore at Tattersalls Book 2 from Kilminfoyle House Stud. Castlehyde manager John Kennedy is looking forward to the stallion joining the likes of Holy Roman Emperor (Ire) and Starspangledbanner (Aus) and said, “The Magician colt out of Perfect Step has been earning very positive reports from Ballydoyle so it makes sense to bring Magician back to Ireland. He also has first crop 2-year-olds with British-based trainers Richard Fahey, Charlie Hills, Peter Chapple-Hyam, David Simcock and Charlie Fellowes.” View the full article

CHELSEA CLOISTERS (f, 2, First Samurai–Postulant, by Pulpit) took all the money for her debut in Thursday’s opener and Keeneland and ran to it, drawing off powerfully in the lane to a dominant score. Showing several sharp drills, including a local half-mile gate spin in :48 flat (5/86) Apr. 6, the $125,000 Fasig-Tipton July buy broke customarily sharply for a Wesley Ward baby from her inside draw and quickly established command. Challenged briefly by Elle Factor (The Factor) through a :22.60 quarter, the bay stole away on the turn and slammed the door past the furlong grounds en route to a seven-length romp in :51.70. Elle Factor was second-best. The winner is a half to Beggarthyneighbor (Half Ours), SW, $190,217. Her dam is a half to GSW Antrim Rd. (Fit to Fight), while second dam Pretty in Green (Green Forest) is a half to MGISW Wavering Monarch (Majestic Light). Deeper in the female family are MG1SW Motivator (GB) (Montjeu {Ire}), MGISW Goodbye Halo (Halo), dual champion Zilzal (Nureyev), MGISW Awe Inspiring (Slew o’ Gold), MG1SW Culture Vulture (Timeless Moment) and MG1SW Polish Precedent (Danzig). Postulant was bred to Not This Time last spring. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $36,000. O-Hat Creek Racing; B-Alastar Thoroughbred Co (KY); T-Wesley A. Ward. View the full article

6th-NEW, £10,000, Cond, 4-19, 3yo, 10fT, 2:04.72, gd. NORDIC LIGHTS (GB) (c, 3, Intello {Ger}–Marika {GB} {SW-Eng}, by Marju {Ire}), who scored in taking fashion on debut over 10 furlongs on Lingfield’s Polytrack Mar. 7, raced towards the fore throughout the early stages. In front with a half mile remaining, the 5-2 second favourite was joined and headed soon after by the strong-travelling Argentello (Ire) (Intello {Ger}) but stuck to the task to regain the advantage approaching the final furlong. Staying on stoutly, the 575,000gns TATBRE 2yo had two lengths to spare over Raa Atoll (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) at the line, with Argentello fading to be five lengths further away in third and The Queen’s Elector (GB) (Dansili {GB}) another five lengths back in fourth having made the early running. “He broke the track record here breezing and although he did it the nice way around first time when he was slow out of gates, we expected him to do it like he did today,” commented trainer Charlie Appleby whose purple patch continues. “He’s a nice horse and I think he’ll get further, but I’ll sit on the fence for a bit and digest the week.” Nordic Lights, who as Appleby stated caused a stir on day one of last year’s Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale and duly became the most expensive progeny of his sire at that point, is a half-brother to Sabratah (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), MSW & GSP-Fr, $165,478, and to Raw Impulse (GB) (Makfi {GB}), SW-Aus, $191,238. The listed-winning dam is a half to the G3 Fred Darling S. winner Sueboog (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}), who in turn produced one of Godolphin’s stalwarts in the G1 Prix d’Ispahan and G2 Prix Guillaume d’Ornano scorer Best of the Bests (Ire) (Machiavellian). Her 2-year-old colt is by Charm Spirit (Ire) and she also has a yearling colt by Kingman (GB). Sales history: 95,000gns Wlg ’15 TATFOA; 100,000gns RNA Ylg ’16 TATOCT; 575,000gns 2yo ’17 TATBRE. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $14,400. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. O-Godolphin; B-Shutford Stud (GB); T-Charlie Appleby. View the full article

In this ongoing series, Heather Anderson subs for Alan Carasso and takes a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this weekend running at Tokyo and Kyoto Racecourses. Saturday, Apr. 21, 2018 11th-TOK, ¥41,800,000 (US$417k), Open (Oasis S.), 4yo/up, 1600m DREAM KIRARI (h, 6, Giant’s Causeway–Truant, by Gone West), third in the G3 Elm S. last term, steps up in trip after a third going 1400 metres in the Listed Coral S. at Hanshin behind fellow US-bred and 2016 G1 February S. hero Moanin (Henny Hughes) on Mar. 31. Out of a half-sister to European highweights Bosra Sham (Woodman) and Hector Protector (Woodman), as well as French Classic victor Shanghai (Procida), the entire was purchased for $250,000 back in 2013 during the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. B-Colts Neck Stables LLC (KY) 2nd-KYO, ¥9,550,000 (US$89k), Maiden, 3yo, 1400m AMERICAN DOMINGO (f, 3, Scat Daddy–Queen of The Night, by Sadler’s Wells) was 10th over the Hanshin sod when unveiled on Dec. 9, but was a much-improved fourth switched to Chukyo over this trip Mar. 25. Trying dirt for the first time on Saturday, the $160,000 KEESEP yearling is from the same family as international champion Falbrav (Ire) (Fairy King), as her placed dam was a half-sister to the six-time Group 1 winner. B-Queen Of The Night Syndicate (KY). Sunday, Apr. 22, 2018 10th-KYO, ¥34,620,000 (US$322,364), Allowance, 4yo/up, 1900m SOLEIL DE PARIS (c, 4, Lemon Drop Kid–Chatham, by Maria’s Mon) already sports three wins from seven starts, and was successful over the Nakayama main going 1800 metres on Jan. 14. Making his second 4-year-old appearance, the $535,000 KEESEP yearling shares his MSP dam Chatham (Maria’s Mon) with European juvenile highweight Air Force Blue (War Front), while champion juvenile filly Flanders (Seeking the Gold) is nested under his third dam, the winning Starlet Storm (Storm Bird). B-Stone Farm (KY). 11th-KYO, ¥112,800,000 (US$1,050,500), G2 Yomiuri Milers Cup, 4yo/up, 1600mT DASHING BLAZE (h, 6, Kitten’s Joy–Blazing Bliss, by Honour and Glory) scored his first group win in the G3 Epsom Cup at Tokyo last June, but ran respectably when fourth in the G3 Kokura Daishoten in his 6-year-old bow on Feb. 8. Originally a $65,000 KEESEP yearling, the full-brother to SP Honor the Kitten bloomed into a $400,000 OBSAPR juvenile and dropped a spot most recently in the Mar. 11 G2 Kinko Sho to subsequent G1Osaka Hai hero Suave Richard (Jpn) (Heart’s Cry {Jpn}). Another U.S.-bred of interest is Mozu Ascot (c, 4, Frankel {GB}–India, by Hennessy), a son of European superstar Frankel (GB), who has enjoyed such a good start to his second career. From the family of Grade I winners To Honor And Serve (Bernardini) and Angela Renee (Bernardini), the half-brother to SW Kareena (Medaglia d’Oro) was an encouraging second last out in the G3 Hankyu Cup on Feb. 25. B-Kenneth L. & Sarah K. Ramsey (KY) for Dashing Blaze & B- Summer Wind Farm (KY) for Mozu Ascot. View the full article

It feels unnecessary for Roger Charlton to talk of building his profile. This, after all, is a man who won two Derbies in his first season some 28 years ago, and in the meantime has developed a reputation perhaps the equal of any other current British trainer in terms of pragmatism and maximising the potential of sprinters, stayers and anything in between. Yet racing is a numbers game and memories are short in this data-rich age. So Charlton, who jots down every winner in a small notebook on his desk at the historic Beckhampton yard he took over from Jeremy Tree, can point to an impressive 67 fresh entries from 2017 including three Group 1s from the Irish National Stud’s new stallion Decorated Knight (GB) (Galileo {Ire}). “Last year was our best in terms of winners and prize-money, and we were even sixth in Ireland, mainly thanks to Decorated Knight,” he said. “He’ll be hard to replace at that level but I suppose at this time last year we weren’t really expecting to win three Group 1s with him – he was consistent in Group 3s, Group 2s, but Group 1s are hard to come by. Somehow he did it, so we need a replacement.” “Our strength this year is that maybe on the back of having a couple of good years, maybe Group 1 winners help, and the likes of Quest For More (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), Thistle Bird (GB) (Selkirk) and Al Kazeem (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) are gradually lifting your profile, raising your head a bit more. And I think that results to a certain extent in better quality younger horses from owner-breeders as well as new owners. Probably this year, for the first time since I started training, we have over 60 two-year-olds. We only have space for 105 here, but you need reserves and if you’re looking for quality you also need quantity to get you there. After all, we’re competing with people who have 200 or 250 horses in training. We have to fight hard.” Last year’s intake included Juddmonte’s giant Herculean (GB) (Frankel {GB}), a full-brother to the smart Fair Eva (GB) out of G1 Sprint Cup S. winner African Rose (GB) (Observatory), who made a striking debut at Ascot last September. “Herculean has been a little slow to come to hand, he was a bit held up in one way or another, so he won’t run in a trial or the Guineas,” Charlton explained. “He’ll hopefully make an outing some time later in April and we’ll see where we go from there. He’s a big horse with a long stride, and looked quite good at Ascot. He’s exciting. He put on a lot of weight through the winter and you’d still think that he’d be a better horse in September than he is in June. He could start off over seven furlongs but I’d be looking at a mile and it would be a bonus if he stayed further.” Charlton’s sole entry in the G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas is Gavota (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}), narrowly beaten in the G3 Oh So Sharp S. last October. “She was a bit unlucky not to win a Group race but perhaps didn’t handle running into the dip at Newmarket. She’s not a big, robust filly, she should come to hand, and might go in a Guineas trial but I’m not at this stage thinking of her as a rock-hard Guineas contender. It might be a question of looking about a bit.” Indeed Gavota’s Guineas credentials may become clearer after she contests the G3 Dubai Duty Free S. at Newbury on Saturday. Even more intriguing is Withhold (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}), who landed a mighty gamble on only his second start for his new connections in the Cesarewitch. “It was only a handicap and he is only rated 98 but I can see him improving,” Charlton said. “The aim this year is, longer term, to present him into the Melbourne Cup with a low weight, but he needs to improve 12lb or thereabouts to get in. To see if he’s good enough he probably needs to run in Cup races and maybe start at Sandown. Even if he’s second or third the handicapper will be looking at taking him up.” He continued, “It’s about a light season, four or five runs before the Cup, so rather than it being an afterthought it’s going to have to be an objective. It’ll be very hard to do that but instead of a £60,000 race, we’re trying to win a £4million race but Mr Bloom (owner Tony) would like that sort of challenge.” Although his premier stayer is being geared for abroad, Charlton approves of the valuable bonuses recently allocated to the Cesarewitch and Ebor. “Thanks to the BHA the stayers programme has been hugely incentivised and they’re proper races to have as a target,” he said. “I think it will take eight to 10 years before it really gets into the system. The owner-breeder who is planning their matings now will start to think ‘we’ll go to that mile and a quarter, mile and a half stallion because there should be a market for those rather than wanting instant success from natural speed all the time’. The market for the stayers is pretty good, there’s a steady stream going to Australia for that exact reason in that they don’t breed staying horses. In many ways staying races are more captivating, and it’s nice to have horses that are late maturing, and with stamina in their pedigrees.” Almodovar (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) exemplifies the type Charlton describes. Third in the G2 Hardwicke S. in 2016 for David Lanigan, he is not far off a belated reappearance. The 68-year-old explained, “He had a year out to recover from various issues. I don’t know a lot about him but so far he’s a nice natured, nice moving horse who had a pretty high level of potential form. As a six-year-old and a gelding, you’d hope there’s a good chance he gets back up to that level or better.” Atty Persse (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), who won at Royal Ascot before losing his way, has also been gelded. “He needed bit of time off to rebuild himself. He’s not in full training, so no early targets, but he has done very well and I think that with a bit of luck, at the level he’s at, he can still progress again. He has settled down very well. Montjeu had a gene that needed careful management, such as with Camelot, and some of the Frankels might be the same. You need to harness their energy and be trained well, as he was, but some are deeply relaxed. It’s a bit like Danehill in that he’s proving he can be a sire of anything – they can stay, they can be fast, they can be two-year-olds – and we’re only scratching at it now, he has plenty more to come.” Charlton continued, “We saw a lot of energy in Frankel when he was winning his races, and some of the characteristics of the Frankels is that it’s very obvious that their best furlong was their last one, or even the one after the winning post. Atty did that, they get into their stride and they’re away.” Other older members of the team include the prolific Cribbs Causeway (Ire) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}), who will attempt to pick up further black type, old stager Second Step (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}) and Projection (GB) (Acclamation {GB}), who shook up the high-class Blue Point (Ire) (Shamardal) in the G3 Bengough S. and will take in more group sprints. “A few of the two-year-olds I might need to get on with, but I like to work them on the grass and we’ve not been anywhere near that with the weather,” Charlton concluded. “There are some nicely bred ones among them and some quite nice maiden three-year-olds, but you have to remind yourself that Charlie Appleby, John Gosden, they all have hugely strong bunches of three-year-olds as well. They’re pretty competitive divisions – you think you’ve got a good one to run at Newbury and it’s beaten by group horses.” Certainly his string lacks the depth of a few of his rivals but, as the last 28 years have shown, Roger Charlton is never making up the numbers. View the full article

Grade I winner and ‘TDN Rising Star‘ Diversify (Bellamy Road) is among a field of seven set to square off in the $1.2-million GII Charles Town Classic Saturday. The New York-bred capped a three-race win streak with a front-running tally in the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont last October, but connections opted to skip the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic and he instead shipped to Churchill Downs for the Nov. 24 GI Clark H., in which faded to fourth. That was his first start outside of the Empire State, so there’s at least some question as to how he’ll handle new surroundings and a quirky bull-ring track, but the Rick Violette, Jr. pupil has been working swiftly at Palm Meadows since his last afternoon appearance. Past Charles Town experience has proven an advantage in this race before, as evidenced by Imperative (Bernardini)’s wins in 2014 and 2017. War Story (Northern Afleet) is the lone runner to have competed here before-he was a close third in last year’s renewal. The hard-knocking chestnut annexed the GII Brooklyn Invitational S. at Belmont next out, before finishing fourth in a trio of Grade I affairs to end 2017, including the Nov. 4 GI Breeders’ Cup Classic. He was far back after a wide journey in the GI Pegasus World Cup Jan. 27, but returned to winning ways with a romping success in Tampa’s Challenger S. Mar. 10. You’re to Blame (Distorted Humor) rounded out the trifecta that day. Fear the Cowboy (Cowboy Cal) turned in a breakout performance in winning Gulfstream’s GII Harlan’s Holiday S. Dec. 16. Fourth in the Pegasus World Cup, he shipped all the way to Santa Anita to finish a distant third in the Mar. 10 GI Santa Anita H. Something Awesome (Awesome Again) is four-for-five since being transferred from Woodbine-based Danny Vella to Maryland-based Jose Corrales in the fall. The 7-year-old Ontario-bred stretched out to this nine-furlong distance for the first time last out in Laurel’s Mar. 17 Harrison E. Johnson Memorial S., and responded with a 2 1/4-length success, good for a career-best 100 Beyer Speed Figure. Third finisher Discreet Lover (Repent) flattered that one’s performance with a win in the GIII Excelsior S. at Aqueduct Apr. 7. View the full article

Charlie Appleby has made his presence felt in a major way this week at Newmarket and 24 hours after Soliloquy (GB) made all under William Buick to capture the G3 Nell Gwyn S. it was deja vu as TDN Rising Star Masar (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) killed off the opposition in dramatic fashion in Thursday’s G3 bet365 Craven S. Setting just a steady tempo early, last year’s G3 Solario S. winner who started as the 7-2 second favourite had everything in trouble passing three out and from there it was all over as he strode on powerfully for a nine-length dismissal of White Mocha (Lope de Vega {Ire}), with the 8-13 favourite Roaring Lion (Kitten’s Joy) fading to be third, a head away. “That was a very good performance–he had been showing flashes of brilliance and was always going to be a better 3-year-old than 2-year-old,” Buick said. “He’s a lovely mover with a great turn of foot and he just put everything together there.” Appleby, who had gambled with the dirt in Meydan when tackling the Mar. 10 Listed Al Bastakiya with Masar only to see him trail in 10th, was not surprised by the result and added, “I knew he was 100 per-cent ready, as he’d done fantastically well over the winter. It was never my intention to run him in Dubai, but he was going too well and so I wanted to get a bit of gas out of him and put some manners on him. If he had adapted to the dirt, we could have gone UAE Derby and if not it still put a run under his belt and so if this came down to a dogfight fitness was going to be his edge. He quickened twice and has got stronger, but we always said he was going to be a 3-year-old and he’s got the pedigree to do that. The Guineas route is foremost in our minds now.” Understandably, given his G2 Royal Lodge S. win and G1 Racing Post Trophy second accompanied by bullish vibes from Newmarket, Roaring Lion was hot property here and few conceived of defeat as he looked to set up a rematch with Saxon Warrior (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). If Masar had a patchy record, he was still an unknown quantity and his unbeaten stablemate Glorious Journey (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) looked all potential so the Appleby team arrived with an air of quiet confidence. Masar’s early conditioning when third in the Listed Chesham S. at Royal Ascot helped him to succeed in Sandown’s Solario in September before he came unstuck on testing ground when third in the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Chantilly on Arc day. Sixth behind Mendelssohn (Scat Daddy) in Del Mar’s GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf in November, he had therefore become something of a forgotten horse particularly as he was beaten out of sight tackling the dirt last month. Even at halfway here supporters of Roaring Lion would have been content as he seemed to be following the chestnut with a degree of comfort, but as Masar applied building pressure the favourite soon cracked and the closing stages were a tour de force rarely seen in this 2000 Guineas prep. Roaring Lion’s trainer John Gosden was far from forlorn and said, “I’m perfectly happy. He was 80 per-cent. He tired in the last furlong. For me, he needs an end-to-end gallop. He does not want a steady one and a dash. He may well go for the Guineas. I’d hope there’d be proper pace all the way. There usually is. It’s very different to the trial. I think his strength in the end will be a mile and a quarter at least. He’s in the Prix du Jockey Club as well, but the Guineas is still very much an option.” Hugo Palmer said of the runner-up White Mocha, “We’ll probably skip the Guineas and go a mile and a quarter next time.” It is not surprising that Masar was tried on the dirt, as his dam Khawlah (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) was successful in the G2 UAE Derby and G3 UAE Oaks. A half-sister to the G2 Prix Guillaume d’Ornano scorer and G1 Jebel Hatta runner-up Vancouverite (GB) (Dansili {GB}), she is a granddaughter of Melikah (Ire) (Lammtarra) who captured the Listed Pretty Polly S. and placed in the G1 English and Irish Oaks. Her three black-type winners are headed by the G2 Grand Prix de Deauville hero Masterstroke (Monsun {Ger}), who was also third in the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, while her G3 Meld S.-winning son Moonlight Magic (GB) shares Cape Cross as a sire with Khawlah. Melikah’s dam is the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe heroine and bewildering matriarch Urban Sea (Miswaki), whose Sea the Stars (Ire) is also by Cape Cross. Khawlah’s 2-year-old colt by Shamardal unfortunately died this year. Thursday, Newmarket, Britain BET365 CRAVEN S.-G3, £60,000, NEW, 4-19, 3yo, c/g, 8fT, 1:38.15, gd. 1–MASAR (IRE), 126, c, 3, by New Approach (Ire) 1st Dam: Khawlah (Ire) (Hwt. 3yo-UAE at 7-9.5f, MGSW-UAE & GSP-Eng, $1,366,175), by Cape Cross (Ire) 2nd Dam: Villarrica, by Selkirk 3rd Dam: Melikah (Ire), by Lammtarra O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. £34,026. Lifetime Record: G1SP-Fr, 7-3-0-2, $157,990. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–White Mocha, 126, c, 3, Lope de Vega (Ire)–Lastroseofsummer (Ire), by Haafhd (GB). (90,000gns Ylg ’16 TATOCT). O-Dr Ali Ridha; B-Woodford Thoroughbreds LLC (KY); T-Hugo Palmer. £12,900. 3–Roaring Lion, 126, c, 3, Kitten’s Joy–Vionnet, by Street Sense. ($160,000 Ylg ’16 KEESEP). O-Qatar Racing Ltd; B-Ran Jan Racing Inc (KY); T-John Gosden. £6,456. Margins: 9, HD, 4. Odds: 3.50, 16.00, 0.60. Also Ran: Glorious Journey (GB), Just Brilliant (Ire), Sir Hamilton (Ire). Scratched: Thunderhooves (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. View the full article

When retired iconic Woodbine race announcer Dan Loiselle reflects on his 29 years of calling Thoroughbred races, there is one horse that stands out among all the others–Wise Dan (Wiseman’s Ferry)–and having a chance to meet the champion horse for the first time last week provided him with a special memory. Loiselle, who retired in 2015 and was recently voted into the Canadian Horse Race Hall of Fame, happened to be on a two-week road trip in the U.S. with his wife, Wendy. They visited some historic places, such as Graceland, the Civil Rights Museum, the Grand Ole Opry, Churchill Downs (because Wendy had never been to the track), Keeneland and the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame. But a key part of their itinerary, in particular in Lexington, was visiting the Forest Lane Farm of the Wise Dan’s trainer Charlie LoPresti and his wife, Amy. Loiselle wanted to see Wise Dan because he personally stood out from all the horses–and not just because of a similar name. “In 2012, he won the Woodbine Mile and went on to win the Breeders’ Cup Mile and was named the American Horse of the Year,” Loiselle said. “In 2013 he won the Woodbine Mile and Johnny Velazquez rode him and he never even asked the horse to run and he broke the course record. He then went on to win the Breeders’ Cup again and went on to become the American Horse of the Year again. When they came to the wire in 2013, I said, ‘Here he is, the Titan of the Turf. The sensational Wise Dan.’ “All I read about him for the next week was everybody calling him the Titan of the Turf. So he was my favorite horse and calling those two Woodbine Miles was really special. So when I was in Lexington last week, I got a hold of Charlie LoPresti and his wife Amy and went out to the farm and I got a picture of the big chestnut horse standing in the paddock with me. “It’s a picture of Wise Dan and Dumb Dan together,” Loiselle joked. “It was great to see the old horse and he looks really good.” Because of his fixture calling races high above the Woodbine grandstand, Loiselle had never seen the horse up close, and when he called the LoPresti’s home phone and left a message saying he wanted to drop by the farm to see Wise Dan, Amy told Charlie he had to immediately call him back and tell him how much they wanted to see him. “I was dying to meet him because he’s got such a great, great voice,” Amy said. “He’s like Tom Durkin. Honestly, it’s a shame that he retired. There’s certain people that have that kind of voice for calling races. He put so much into it, you can tell. He said [the 2013 Woodbine Mile] was his favorite race he ever called. I said me, too. I was just thrilled that they came. It meant a lot to me. “That was a really big deal for me because I didn’t travel with [the horse] and I lived everything vicariously through my nephew and Charlie because they went everywhere with him. Charlie would tell me stories about meeting people and Woodbine was one of his favorite, favorite places to go. They were so nice to them up there. It’s the greatest turf course that there is.” Coincidentally, Amy had been watching races of Wise Dan a week before Loiselle called. “It’s just kind of funny he called a week later,” Amy said. Loiselle said he and Wendy spent an hour with the horse. “He’s a lovely animal and I’ve heard stories about him, how approachable he was, how you could pet him, but fierce and determined as a racehorse,” Loiselle said. “I had thought I’d love to see him, and if it doesn’t happen that’s fine, too.” Charlie LoPresti, who was unavailable when the Loiselles came to the farm because he had a horse racing that day, said it was the first time an announcer had dropped by to see the horse. “He’s just a great race caller, but I think Wise Dan meant so much to him and I was flattered that he called and wanted to come see him,” LoPresti said. “There’s been a lot of people come see him–a lot of media–but that’s the first time a race caller had come see him.” Loiselle said Wise Dan’s personal connection to him is because of what the horse did for Canadian horse racing. “I was just so impressed by him,” Loiselle said. “You don’t see a lot of American champions come to Woodbine [and dominate]. Kentucky Derby winner Funny Cide came to Woodbine and won the Dominion Day and A.P. Indy came to Woodbine [to run in the now-defunct Molson Mile], but not a lot of really, really, high profile horses. You don’t see American Pharoahs and California Chromes at Woodbine, but Wise Dan did.” With Loiselle three years removed from race-calling, Robert Geller has taken over announcing duties at Woodbine. The Toronto oval’s 63rd year of Thoroughbred racing begins Saturday with a 10-race card that includes Pink Lloyd, the favorite to win Canadian Horse of the Year honors Thursday night at the 2018 Sovereign Awards, entered in the Jacques Cartier S. View the full article

Stunning when capturing the G1 TJ Smith S. on Apr. 17 by two lengths, his second elite level score, the Gerald Ryan-trained Trapeze Artist (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}) looks hard to beat in Saturday’s G1 All-Aged S. over 1400m. Jumping around slightly in his distances of late, the 3-year-old colt will surely secure himself a more lucrative stud deal if he can claim a third Group 1 victory. Around this time last year, Godolphin’s It’s Somewhat (Dynaformer) resumed with a Group 3 win followed a victory over this year’s G1 Doncaster winner Happy Clapper (Aus) (Teofilo {Ire}) before travelling to Queensland for further stakes success. If anywhere near that form, the 7-year-old could surprise quite a few. Three runs back over 1400m saw Brave Smash (Jpn) (Tosen Phantom {Jpn}) snared the G1 Futurity S. at Caulfield and having never finished out of the places at the trip, the Darren Weir-trained A$2.3m earner puts up a strong case. Second on four occasions from five starts at the trip, including second in this race last year, the Kris Lees-trained Le Romain (Aus) (Hard Spun) will be third-up after a pleasing fourth behind Trapeze Artist in the TJ Smith S. Placed in three of his four runs this time in, blue-blood colt Showtime (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}) is likely to sit handy, and if the pace is only moderate, he could sprint when rounding the turn and be hard to run down. Winless since the Listed Albury Cup in March 2016, but with 11 placed efforts, all at black type level since, the Chris Waller-trained Tom Melbourne (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) is statistically a place chance, although categorically he’s not a winning chance. Not having raced since his failure in the G1 Australian Cup over 2000m at Flemington, Godolphin’s Hartnell (GB) (Authorized {Ire}) drops back to the trip of his most recent Group 1 victory, when winning the CF Orr S. at Caulfield in February. Given an easy time in a recent barrier trial, jockey Hugh Bowman rides the 7-year-old in an attempt to reinvigorate the multiple Group 1 winner. View the full article

With two top level chances in Saturday’s G1 Moet & Chandon Champagne S. over 1600m at Randwick, Team Hawkes’ runners Outrageous (Aus) (All Too Hard {Aus}) and Irukandji (Aus) (Dundeel {NZ}) look capable of continuing their impressive form of late. Third in the G1 Sires’ Produce S. over a furlong shorter on Apr. 7, the Brenton Avdulla-ridden Outrageous gained clear running when it was too late last start before charging home, indicating that the step up to the mile should suit. A winner of the G3 Baillieu Qty (1400m) on Mar.31, the Spendthrift Australia-raced Irukandji, like his stablemate, indicates that the 1600m of Saturday’s race should suit and from gate four has the option of going forward, or settling behind those that try to cross him. One of only two runners in the field to have contested the G1 Golden Slipper S. and the G1 Sires’ Produce S., the Hayes, Hayes and Dabernig-trained Long Leaf (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) finished in fourth last start after working home well out of the pack, and if still capable of performing at his peak on his fifth run in this campaign, should be a contender. Seemingly surprising all bar her trainer and owner by winning the G1 Sires’ Produce S. as the outsider of the field, El Dorado Dreaming (Aus) (Ilovethiscity {Aus}) needs to be included once again, purely just to show that her Group 1 victory was no fluke. Successful in the G2 VRC Sires’ on Mar. 10, before a very unlucky run in the Sires’ Produce, the Ciaron Maher-trained Not A Single Cent (Aus) (Not A Single Doubt {Aus}) is looking to atone here, and a win would give his dam a second Group 1 winner in the space of a few weeks, with the colt being a half-brother to triple Group 1 winner Happy Clapper (Aus) (Teofilo {Ire}). With his dam capturing this race in 2013, Godolphin’s well-bred colt Encryption (Aus) (Lonhro {Aus}) had the gun run in the Sires’, a race also won by his dam Guelph (Aus) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}), but failed to really make an impression, when beaten just under two lengths into sixth. His sire and dam recorded 11 combined Group 1 wins at 1600m and above, so on paper this colt should be in the finish. View the full article

‘TDN Rising Star‘ Jenda’s Agenda (Proud Citizen) looks to increase her career record to five-for-six while making her first graded stakes start in Friday’s GIII Doubledogdare S. at Keeneland. Bred and owned by trainer Larry Jones and wife Cindy when she romped by 6 1/4 lengths first out at Fair Grounds last January, the daughter of MGSW Just Jenda (Menifee) was bought into by Rick Porter’s Fox Hill Farm before adding two more tallies at three, including Laurel’s Caesar’s Wish S. that March. Subsequently sidelined due to bone bruising, the bay was second to a very in-form foe when cut back to a sprint in New Orleans Feb. 1, but she returned to winning ways back at two turns in Hot Springs Mar. 17. “She has done well since her race at Oaklawn and done well here,” Larry Jones said. “Friday will be her first start in a graded stakes, so hopefully we can move onward and upward.” Another ‘Rising Star‘ looking to break through at the graded level is Stonestreet homebred Valadorna (Curlin). A close second in the 2016 GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, the Mark Casse pupil hasn’t yet quite reached the heights she seemed like she might at that point. She became a stakes winner in the Tiffany Lass S. at Fair Grounds on Dec. 26, but faded to sixth in the GIII Houston Ladies Classic S. a month or so later. Well Humored (Distorted Humor) is three-for-three on dirt, and stepped up markedly on the Beyer Speed Figure scale when she earned a 93 in defeating Tapa Tapa Tapa (Tapit) in Tampa’s Wayward Lass S. last time out Jan. 20. View the full article

4th-LCP, €25,000, Mdn, 4-19, unraced 3yo, f, 8fT, 1:46.32, vsf. ZARKAMIYA (FR), f, 3, by Frankel (GB) 1st Dam: Zarkava (Ire) (HotY-Eur & MG1SW-Fr, $4,793,989), by Zamindar 2nd Dam: Zarkasha (Ire), by Kahyasi (Ire) 3rd Dam: Zarkana (Ire), by Doyoun (Ire) Zarkamiya enjoyed odds-on favouritism in this distaffers’ test and did not disappoint her supporters with a decisive success in this unveiling. She was steadied off the pace in a midfield sixth after breaking on terms with the front rank. Nudged along off the home turn, the 9-10 pick quickened in impressive fashion to challenge entering the final eighth and ran on strongly under mild urging in the closing stages to comfortably best long-time leader Xagere (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}) by a length. “She’s a lovely looking filly, but doesn’t show much in her paces at home,” explained trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre. “She’s not very demonstrative, but has a lot of energy and gives a lot. I feel we should take her step by step and space out her races. I think she will stay further and her next race will be over a mile-and-a-quarter.” The Aga Khan’s homebred is the sixth foal and second winner produced by storied MG1SW European Horse of the Year Zarkava (Ire) (Zamindar) and is a half-sister to G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud hero and G1 Prix du Jockey Club runner-up Zarak (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}). Like the winner, both Zarkava and Zarak were also conditioned by de Royer-Dupre. The bay, who retains entries in the May 13 G1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches, May 27 G1 Prix Saint-Alary and June 17 G1 Prix de Diane, is also kin to a 2-year-old colt by Invincible Spirit (Ire) and a yearling filly by Siyouni (Fr). Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, €12,500. 1ST-TIME STARTER. O-H H The Aga Khan; B-H H The Aga Khan’s Studs SC (FR); T-Alain de Royer-Dupre. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. View the full article

If their impressive last start performances are any indication, rising stars Harmony Hero and Aerohappiness could be bound to clash in the 2019 four-year-old series, but on Saturday both youngsters should continue their progression with wins at Sha Tin. Other than being three-year-olds with obvious upside, Harmony Hero and Aerohappiness have two very different profiles. Harmony Hero already had a reputation built on exciting performances in Australia when he arrived with Richard Gibson and has... View the full article

This week is a recap of the Belmont Stakes win of Count Fleet that ran in the June 12, 1943 issue. It carried the headline "Worse Than a Walkover." View the full article

The Richard Gibson-trained three-year-old Victory Power caught the eye of the stewards on Wednesday night at Happy Valley and looks a black booker from the meeting after a nice debut. The gelding had shown ability in his trials in New Zealand and again at his second Hong Kong trial appearance, after Gibson fitted him with blinkers and he looked ready to take to the race with a knockout sort of a chance. That chance probably disappeared when Victory Power drew wide at the 1,200m start on... View the full article

The once raced Willie John (GB) (Dansili {GB}) will not be taking up a G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas entry according to his new trainer Roger Varian. The colt was an impressive winner of a Yarmouth maiden last back end for William Haggas but was then sent to Tattersalls February Sale to dissolve his previous ownership group which included Markus Jooste of Mayfair Speculators. It was there that Roger Varian successfully bid 1.9-million guineas for Willie John on behalf of Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum but the owner will have to wait until mid summer before seeing the colt compete. Giving an update on the son of dual Group 1 winner Izzi Top (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) Varian said; “Willie John has impressed me in his work this spring, galloping in the manner of a high-class colt. While it is unfortunate he has incurred a small setback at this stage of the season, this will not keep him out for too long and we look forward to mapping out a Group-race programme for him from July onwards.” View the full article

Silvestre de Sousa will reunite with Pakistan Star in the Audemars Piguet QE II Cup but only if his former São Paulo apprentice school classmate, Joao Moreira, can coax the troubled galloped through another crucial barrier trial at Sha Tin on Friday. UK-based champion jockey De Sousa rode Pakistan Star throughout the 2017 four-year-old series and was second on the horse in last year’s QE II Cup, but since then the Tony Cruz-trained horse has made global headlines for stopping in... View the full article

Grade 1 winner Diversify looms the favorite in the field of seven April 21 for the $1.2 million Charles Town Classic Stakes (G2), contested around three turns at 1 1/8 miles. View the full article

NFL star Rob Gronkowski partnered with the equine Gronkowski's owner to acquire a minority stake in the 3-year-old colt, who won the March 30 32rRed Burradon Stakes at Newcastle and secured an invitation to the first leg of the Triple Crown. View the full article

Brazil’s Ruan Maia to ride at Chairman’s Trophy meeting View the full article

Khoo only worried about wide gate for Lord O'Reilly View the full article

One step at a time before she Dances, says Takaoka View the full article

NFL star Rob Gronkowski partnered with the equine Gronkowski's owner to acquire a minority stake in the 3-year-old colt, who won the March 30 32red Burradon Stakes at Newcastle and secured an invitation to the first leg of the Triple Crown. View the full article

NFL star Rob Gronkowski partnered with the equine Gronkowski's owner to acquire a minority stake in the 3-year-old colt, who won the March 30 32red Burradon Stakes at Newcastle and secured an invitation to the first leg of the Triple Crown. View the full article