Wandering Eyes

While plenty of stakes excitement is on the horizon, game 2-year-olds Weiland and Myhotrodlincoln certainly provided a strong opening act May 3 at Churchill Downs. View the full article

A year to the day after she took the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) with a last-to-first finish, China Horse Club and Clearsky Farms' Quality Road filly is back at Churchill Downs to launch her 4-year-old campaign. View the full article

Lady Sheila Stable's Distaff Handicap (G3) winner Holiday Disguise will seek her second straight graded win in the $250,000 Ruffian Stakes (G2) May 6 at Belmont Park. View the full article

Racing industry officials from Florida weighed in Thursday in regards to the American Horse Council (AHC)’s recently published Economic Impact Study. According to the study, the equine industry has a $6.8 billion annual economic impact in the Sunshine State-up 33% since the last study was conducted 13 years ago. The racing industry’s impact is up 47%. “That’s significant,” said Lonny Powell, CEO of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owner’s Association in a release. “Florida truly is a horse state. To many, the beach, sun, sand, and oranges are synonymous with Florida, but our state has been steadily adding equines to that list to hang our state’s collective hat on for some time. Equines are becoming a strong part of Florida’s brand.” P. J. Campo, The Stronach Group’s Vice President of Racing, added, “A thriving Thoroughbred industry is vital to the state’s economy and to providing world-class entertainment to spectators from around the globe… It’s significant that racetrack operators in the state generate $307 million in revenue and create over 1,200 jobs with purses in excess of $105 million. Our Miami-area operation, Gulfstream Park, is one of the gems in the racing world and its right here in Florida.” Thoroughbred sales, particularly 2-year-old auctions held by the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company, also contribute significantly to the hospitality sector as buyers flock to the area. “Since 2010, OBS has sold over 22,000 horses for more than $1 billion dollars to buyers from every state except Alaska and 38 different countries,” said OBS President Tom Ventura. “OBS has become the destination to buy quality 2-year-olds, accounting for nearly 70% of juvenile sales in North America.” View the full article

WinStar Farm, China Horse Club, and SF Racing's grade 2 winner Quip returned to the work tab with a half-mile breeze May 3 ahead of his anticipated start in the 143rd Preakness Stakes (G1). View the full article

The Aug. 11 $1-million GI Arlington Million anchors Arlington Park’s 22-strong stakes schedule worth $3,700,000. Opening on May 4, the highlight of the 71-day meet is the International Festival of Racing Aug. 11, where in addition to the 1 1/4-mile Million, Arlington will also conduct the 1 3/16-mile $600,000 GI Beverly D. S. for fillies and mares and the 1 1/4-mile $400,000 GI Secretariat S. for sophomores. Both the Million and the Beverly D are part of the “Win And You’re In” Breeders’ Cup challenge series. Earlier in the season, the Chicago track will host the Ride to the Million July 12, a trio of grassy Million Day preps worth $100,000 each: the GIII Arlington H. (Million), the GIII Modesty H. (Beverly D) and the GIII American Derby (Secretariat). The first three horses across the finish line July 12 will have their entry fees waived for their Festival Day’s equivalents. The 1 1/2-mile $100,000 GIII Stars and Stripes S. and 1 1/16-mile $100,000 Hatoof S. are also slated for the grass on July 12. Other stakes events on the calendar are: the May 12 one-mile $100,000 GIII Hanshin Cup, the May 26 1 1/16-mile $100,000 GIII Arlington Classic, the 1 1/8 GIII Arlington Matron May 19 and the June 23 GIII Chicago H. The latter two races, each worth $100,000, were held at Churchill Downs in 2017. Both the Arlington-Washington Futurity for juveniles and the Arlington-Washington Lassie for 2-year-old fillies, will be the last stakes of the meet Sept. 8. “We are very excited for the upcoming meet,” said Arlington racing secretary Chris Polzin. “The Arlington International Festival of Racing has always been a highly regarded international event and a major springboard to the Breeders’ Cup World Championships for some of the best turf horses in the world. We hope to attract such horses this year the way that we have in years past. We are equally as excited to bring back the Chicago H. and Arlington Matron. Both races have proven to be competitive events when hosted here and have attracted quality horses from other circuits, so we are confident that we will continue to receive that support this year.” For the complete schedule, go to www.arlingtonpark.com. View the full article

Like any astute businessman, Mike Repole has surveyed the landscape in recent times to see how he can take his already successful venture to another level. View the full article

Imperial Hint (Imperialism) kicked off a five-race win skein in at Parx in October of 2016, amassing a pair at the graded level wins in the process. Victorious in last term’s GIII General George S. at Laurel in February followed by Gulfstream’s GIII Smile Sprint S. in July, the dark bay galloped home an easy winner in a short renewal of the Donald LeVine Memorial S. Sept. 4. Given a freshening ahead of a second-place finish in the Nov. 4 GI Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar, he marked his seasonal return with a five-length win in Tampa’s Sprint S. Mar.25. He draws post three while being reunited with Javier Castellano. Another horse with an exceptionally consistent record is Whitmore (Pleasantly Perfect), who annexed a quartet of stakes in 2017, including Oaklawn’s GIII Count Fleet Sprint H., GIII Maryland Sprint S. and GII Phoenix S. Given some time off after a dismal eighth on Breeders’ Cup day, he is two-for-two this term-a win in the Mar. 10 Hot Springs S. before successfully repeating in the Apr. 14 Count Fleet. Limousine Liberal has shown a strong affinity for Churchill Downs, having accounted for five wins and a second from seven starts at the oval. Winner of this race last May, he followed up with consecutive wins in the six-furlong GIII Aristides S. June 3 and the June 30 Kelly’s Landing S. Back at Churchill Downs later in the fall, he added a score in the Bet on Sunshine S. Nov. 18 and was given the rest of the winter off. Well supported for his return in the Apr. 7 GIII Commonwealth S. at Keeneland, Limousine Liberal came up a neck short of 23-1 winner Warrior’s Club (Warrior’s Reward). Sure to be running in the late stages is Live Oak’s Awesome Slew (Awesome Again), last year’s winner of the Commonwealth and one-mile GIII Ack Ack S. at Churchill in September. Third in the GI Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Del Mar in November, the five-year-old was most recently a well-distanced second behind winner Army Mule (Friesan Fire) in the Apr. 7 GI Carter H. at Aqueduct. View the full article

2nd-CD, $66K, Msw, 3yo/up, f/m, 1mT, post time: 10:58 a.m. ET Amerman Racing Stables’ homebred EMMY PERFORMANCE (Point of Entry) has been pegged at morning-line odds of 15-1 owing to her double-digit draw, but she’s certainly blessed with the pedigree to overcome that obstacle. The chestnut daughter of SW Devine Actress (Theatrical {Ire}) is a half-sister to last year’s GI Belmont Derby and GI Secretariat S. hero Oscar Performance (Kitten’s Joy) and that one’s millionaire MGSW full-brother Oscar Nominated. Juddmonte’s twice-placed Pachinko (Tapit), a half-sister to French G1 winner Announce (GB) (Selkirk), is repatriated for her U.S. debut for trainer Brad Cox. The gray was previously conditioned by Andre Fabre. TJCIS PPs 3rd-CD, $66K, Msw, 3yo/up, 6f, post time: 11:26 a.m. ET St Elias Stable and West Point Thoroughbreds combined forces to acquire BUGLE NOTES (Ghostzapper) for $825K at KEESEP in 2016, the most expensive of 38 yearlings be his sire to sell at public auction. The bay, a half-brother to SW Giant Payday (Giant’s Causeway) and GSW Annual Report (Harlan’s Holiday) is out of a daughter of GISW Furlough (Easy Goer), the dam of GSW Happy Hunting (Seeking the Gold) and SW Pardon (Elusive Quality). The third dam includes Furlough’s Grade I-winning half-sister Finder’s Fee (Storm Cat) and GI Breeders’ Cup Sprint hero Dancing Spree (Ninjinsky II). TJCIS PPs 6th-BEL, $75K, Msw, 3yo/up, f/m, 1m, post time: 4:14 p.m. ET On this Kentucky Derby weekend, it seems only appropriate that GOLDEN AWARD (Medaglia d’Oro) is entered for her career debut. A homebred for Harvey Clarke, the May 22 foal is a daughter of Arch’s Gal Edith (Arch), the dam of champion and 2012 GI Kentucky Derby and GI Preakness S. hero I’ll Have Another (Flower Alley). The mare was bought back on a bid of $950K out of the 2012 FTKNOV sale and her most recent produce is a filly from the first crop of Triple Crown hero American Pharoah. TJCIS PPs 9th-SA, $54K, Msw, 3yo, f, 1mT, post time: 7:45 p.m. ET FASHION BRAND (Medaglia d’Oro) is an Andrew Rosen homebred daughter of the talented Theyskens’ Theory (Bernardini), a Group 3 winner and Group 1-placed in Europe and runner-up, beaten a neck by Winter Memories (El Prado {Ire}), in the 2011 GI Garden City S. Theyskens’ Theory is a half-sister to Eclipse Award winner Stevie Wonderboy (Stephen Got Even). TJCIS PPs View the full article

As has become customary in turf races throughout the east and midwest, Chad Brown offers up a pair that merit respect in the GII Churchill Distaff Turf Mile. Dream Awhile (War Front), 7-2 on the morning line, appears to be carrying the most forward momentum heading into this race. A close-up third in her U.S. debut at Aqueduct Nov. 9, the Joe Allen homebred followed up with a come-from-behind victory in Gulfstream’s Tropical Park Oaks Dec. 30. Facing a salty bunch in her latest in the Feb. 10 GIII Suwannee River S., Dream Awhile ran a winning race but found only stablemate Elysea’s World (Ire) (Champs Elysees {GB}) a neck too good at the wire of the nine-furlong test. Brown is also represented by On Leave (War Front), who has proven consistent throughout her career, having hit the board in 13 of 15 careers outings. Victorious in last summer’s Perfect Sting S. at Belmont, she added the All Along S. at Laurel later in September. Given some time off following the latter, she returned to finish third in the GII Goldikova S. at Del Mar Nov. 4 ahead of a score in the Dec. 16 GIII My Charmer S. at Gulfstream. Last time out, she was only a half length behind winner Lull (War Front) and runner-up Res Ipsa (English Channel) in the GIII Honey Fox S. Mar. 31 and appears poised to take another step forward this time. Another model of consistency, Res Ipsa rounded out 2017 winning three out of her last four starts, including a win in a Keeneland allowance Oct. 13. Hailing from a barn that typically doesn’t crank them up for their first start back, she looks ready for improvement here. Mark Casse saddles a pair of Grade I winners, including John Oxley’s Dream Dancing (Tapit), who hasn’t visited the winner’s circle since her GI Del Mar Oaks victory. Seventh last time out in the GIII Suwanne River S., she secures the services of Javier Castellano here. Drawing the 11 hole, La Coronel captured the GI Queen Elizabeth Cup at Keeneland last October before finishing runner up in the Feb. 10 GIII Endevour S. at Tampa. Third at the Oldsmar oval’s GII Hillsborough S. Mar. 10, the John Oxley filly weakened late to be fourth last out in Keeneland’s GI Jenny Wiley S. Apr. 14. View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Friday’s Insights features a half-brother to Midas Touch (GB) (Galileo {Ire}). 5.10 Newcastle, Cond, £6,400, 3yo, 10f 42y (AWT) PHOTOGRAPHER (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) is another of the John Gosden stable attempting to fit into the Derby picture and Denford Stud’s half-brother to the top-level performers Midas Touch (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and Coronet (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) stays on the all-weather after a debut win at Chelmsford in November. In opposition is Newsells Park Stud’s Galactic Spirit (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}), a winning Marco Botti-trained half-brother to the GI Goodwood S. and G1 Singapore Airlines International Cup hero Gitano Hernando (GB) (Hernando {Fr}). View the full article

The European breeze-up calendar rolls into its second half on Friday with the single-session Tattersalls Guineas Breeze Up & Horses In Training Sale, and while the market at the first four sales of this sector staged this season has been undoubtedly selective, buyers can perhaps take heart in the fact that quality continues to emanate from this sale, its flagbearer last year being Daban (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), sold here two years ago by Derryconnor Stud to Blandford Bloodstock for 260,000gns. The top filly of that sale proceeded to win the G3 Nell Gwyn S. and to make the frame, this weekend a year ago, in the Qipco 1,000 Guineas. The clearance rate at this season’s earlier sales has been the main figure to suffer, and so the question, today, is whether another expanded catalogue-up to 234 lots, before withdrawals, from 214 last year and just 172 in 2016-will be able to buck the trends. It would do well to match last year’s sale, which rode the Doncaster-Craven wave for an excellent clearance of 86% (154 sold of 179 offered) at a median of 25,000gns. The two previous years, moreover, also managed to outstrip the sector’s performance to that point, the clearance holding steady at just over 78% (at medians of 20,000gns and 23,500gns respectively). Growing catalogues across the sector are one point of blame for market polarization and to a degree, as such, the breeze-up sector has been a victim of its own success. Indeed, a total of 627 2-year-olds were catalogued for the first four European sales: Ascot, Doncaster, the Craven and La Teste. (There are another 650 to follow at Goresbridge, Arqana and in the Guineas Sale today.) Last year, the same four sales had listed 489 lots. Withdrawals sieved these aggregates down to 523 and 404 respectively, meaning that the number of lots to have entered the ring this time round has soared by 29%. Little wonder, then, if the clearance rate has suffered-even if taken at face value. The 337 lots sold to date represent 64.4% of those offered, compared with 301 sold at 74.5% last year. But a year-on-year comparison is two-dimensional at best. Both the Tattersalls Craven Sale and the Goffs UK Sale proved exceptionally strong in 2017, posting records in turnover, average and median. That doubtless stimulated the numbers eager to take a chance with unsold yearlings. Norman Williamson of Oak Tree Farm said he predicts the tough going in 2-year-old market will trickle down to the yearling sales later this year. “There doesn’t seem to be a middle market,” he said. “It’s probably easier to get big money for a horse than it is to just sell him. The breeze-up people and pinhookers are a huge help to the yearling market. Forget about what they buy, look at their underbidding too. They hold up the middle market. So the way this is going, I’d be slightly worried if I were selling yearlings. I know it’ll sort itself out but a lot of these guys won’t be able to plough back in.” Con Marnane, who has sold 96 black-type winners through Bansha House Stud, isn’t afraid to take a 2-year-old home if it doesn’t meet its value in the sales ring-in fact, I’m The Man (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}), who failed to illicit a bid at Doncaster, won first out at Chantilly on Wednesday in the colours of Marnane’s wife Theresa. Marnane echoed Williamson’s sentiments regarding the yearling sales. “The breeze-up guys spent £25 million on yearlings last year. That won’t happen this year,” he said. “It’s a complete buyers’ market out there.” View the full article

LOUISVILLE, Ky – Now that’s how you make an entrance. Mendelssohn (Scat Daddy), the blowout winner of the G2 UAE Derby, finally took his first spin beneath the Twin Spires on a very pleasant Thursday morning (video). The striking bay, a $3-million KEESEP yearling topper and half-brother to the brilliant racemare Beholder (Henny Hughes), looked a picture and had his neck arched and was on his toes while jogging a clockwise 1 1/4 miles along the outer rail. He was accompanied to the track by three Aidan O’Brien-trained stablemates immediately following the private session reserved for the Kentucky Derby/Oaks runners at 7:45 a.m. The quartet, which also included Deauville (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) (GI Turf Classic), Threeandfourpence (War Front) (GII American Turf S.) and Seahenge (Scat Daddy) (GIII Pat Day Mile S.), then turned around and cantered one mile before exiting through the six-furlong gap. Exercise rider Dean Gallagher was aboard Mendelssohn. Just as he exhibited in the mornings prior to securing the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar last fall and his aforementioned score in the desert by 18 1/2 lengths, Mendelssohn was his vocal self and did plenty of whinnying (or shouting) as he made his way around the oval. The Tabor, Magnier and Smith colorbearer did get a little hot and was lathered by his neck, but nothing alarming there as that’s quite common when the Euros make their first trip to the track in the States, regardless of what the temperature might be. Mendelssohn was immediately placed in quarantine at Churchill Downs after arriving from Ireland late Monday evening. “We just wanted to get him out there and stretch his legs,” Pat Keating, O’Brien’s head traveling lad, said while swarmed by reporters. “He’s a good traveler and handles it perfect; very straight forward. He handles it a lot better than I do.” The Ballydoyle trainer is expected to be at Churchill Downs Friday morning. OK, so who’s looked the best in the mornings this week? If you ignore the pp’s and the names on the yellow saddle towels, the three Derby horses that have made the best impression on the racetrack have been a trio of flashy chestnuts: the unbeaten ‘TDN Rising Star’ Justify (Scat Daddy), GI Florida Derby runner-up Hofburg (Tapit) and champion 2-year-old colt Good Magic (Curlin). One quick look at Justify, a $500,000 KEESEP yearling, and that massive stride of his, you can immediately see why Hall of Famer Bob Baffert is on the record as saying that he’s the best- looking horse that he’s ever trained. Juddmonte homebred Hofburg has been all the rage on the backstretch since arriving in Louisville and he’s been galloping like he’s owned the place since exiting his four-furlong breeze here Sunday. Good Magic, a $1-million KEESEP yearling, has also given off plenty of good vibes in his gallops and looks like he’s sitting on a career-best performance as well. Post time can’t come soon enough! View the full article

WinStar Farm, China Horse Club International, and SF Racing's grade 2 winner Quip returned to the work tab with a half-mile breeze the morning of May 3 ahead of his anticipated start in the 143rd Preakness Stakes (G1). View the full article

Purchased privately off a debut third behind Stillwater Cove (Quality Road) at Keneeland Apr. 8, Dreaming Diamonds (f, 2, Cross Traffic–Xunlei, by D’wildcat) became the initial winner from the first crop for her sire (by Unbridled’s Song) with an open-lengths success Thursday at Churchill Downs. Transferred from trainer Tracey Young to Tom Amoss, the bay was bet into 12-5 favoritism and jumped alertly from the inside box and engaged in a three-horse battle for the early lead. Going well approaching the exit to the turn, she was kicked further in front by Corey Lanerie, was well clear into the final furlong and came home about four lengths to the good. Cafe Mischief (Into Mischief) was also part of the early battle and held on for second. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-1. O-Rob Auerbach & Marc Winston; B-JRita Young Thoroughbreds LLC (KY); T-Tom Amoss. View the full article

Rocco Baldelli is part of the Tampa Bay Rays coaching staff. Before that–after playing in the MLB, mostly for the Rays–he was a part of the club’s front office involved with amateur scouting and the annual MLB first-year player draft. Rocco once told us that scouting high school and college players for the draft was more about finding the negatives than the positives, especially at the top of the draft. “We have to knock guys,” Rocco had said sheepishly. He almost hated saying it, but a job’s a job, right? It all made sense because most of the amateur players at the top of the draft are accomplished and evenly matched on paper, like the top prospects in the Derby. When it came to picking prospects, Rocco and other decision makers in the front office relied on their own eyes, scouting reports, and–this is important –statistical and historical data compiled by the Rays’ eggheads to winnow the field. What it all boiled down to was projection, especially with the first-rounders who are expected to be future MLB players. Rocco himself was a first-rounder, and he was picked because of his physique and speed and projected ability to hit in the MLB. Tampa Bay got it right with him. Let’s look at the Derby field as a potential draft and utilize the same philosophy to pick the No. 1 prospect. We’ll add a few more lower-round picks based on value to fill out our ticket. We’re going to project and dispassionately pick horses with the requisite speed and stamina to get 10 furlongs for the first time. Pedigree plays the major role, because that last eighth of a mile separates the men from the boys. Speed figures are are fine, but they’re based on races at nine furlongs. This is all about 10 furlongs, so we’ll have to project what the pedigree says. We’re also going to knock some prospects in the process, as Rocco did, so don’t take it personally. And one last thing: Rocco Baldelli isn’t just a baseball guy; he’s a breeder and owner who’s had success in his short time in the game. We project bigger things for him in the future. Top of the Draft The top-round prospects, for our purposes, are the single-digit morning-line choices. The potential first-rounders are Justify (Scat Daddy) (3-1), Mendelssohn (Scat Daddy) (5-1), Magnum Moon (Malibu Moon) (6-1), Audible (Into Mischief) (8-1), and Bolt d’Oro (Medaglia d’Oro) (8-1). We’re throwing out Justify and Magnum Moon, who didn’t race at two–yes, that Apollo curse has been historically significant because it speaks of experience. Both colts are talented but lightly raced, and Magnum Moon especially may be too green at this stage of his career for the Derby. We think his pedigree might be a tad short, too. There’s a lot of speed in his female family and not as much stamina to counterbalance it for 10 furlongs. Justify is a big, good-looking individual with star power and presence, but his sire, Scat Daddy, is a Storm Cat-line stallion, and none from the line has sired a Derby winner yet. That’s because the Storm Cat sires, except for Giant’s Causeway, are best at producing nine-furlong horses. It’s probably fair to say, then, that the Scat Daddys need some fortification from the bottom side of pedigrees for 10 furlongs, and Justify may not have that. His family is as speedy as Magnum Moon’s–both have Florida-bred sprinters as third dams–and his broodmare sire, Ghostzapper, appears to be more an influence for speed than stamina in this role in pedigrees. For example, Ghostzapper is also the broodmare sire of champion sprinter Drefong, a son of the 10-furlong winner Gio Ponti, who is also a Storm Cat-line horse like Scat Daddy; and the Grade I-winning sprinter American Gal, by nine-furlong winner Concord Point; and others. Mendelssohn, a $3 million yearling half-brother to champion Beholder and top sire Into Mischief, is also a son of Scat Daddy, but he’s already won at a mile and three-sixteenths. He’s got more stamina on his dam’s side than Justify. Beholder, by a Storm Cat-line sprinter, was a 10-furlong Grade I winner against colts, and the extended family incudes Derby winner I’ll Have Another as well, but Mendelssohn’s blowout win at Meydan may not have been as impressive as it looked. He didn’t face a top field in Dubai, and, more importantly, he benefitted from a severe track bias that favored inside-post front runners. We’re passing on him. Audible is by Mendelssohn’s Storm Cat-line half-brother Into Mischief, a top stallion who spits out black-type winners with regularity but who has only had three Grade I winners to date, none at distances of more than nine furlongs. One of his best was multiple Grade I winner Practical Joke, a 3-year-old last year who was famously better suited to one turn than two. In fact, most of Into Mischief’s graded winners to date have won at less than nine furlongs–and many were pure sprinters. Add that Audible’s broodmare sire is the sprinter Gilded Time, who throws more speed into the mix, and 10 furlongs may not be his metier. We’ll pass. That leaves Bolt d’Oro as our No. 1 pick. He’s the big, tall and stretchy type–an obvious athlete like Rocco Baldelli–that you like to see for the Derby’s distance, and he’s got a great pedigree that blends speed and stamina, which are necessary in equal parts for America’s classic distance on dirt. His sire, Medaglia d’Oro, can get a wide array of types, from 2-year-olds to older horses, over the range of distances and surfaces, and his first-crop filly Rachel Alexandra, a Preakness winner, exemplified that combination of qualities so necessary for the classics. Bolt d’Oro is from a mare by A.P. Indy–a great marker for stamina in pedigrees–but his immediate female family has also produced sprinters and milers. Bolt d’Oro shares his extended dam line with Seattle Slew and Mr. Prospector, two sires that define the best qualities we’re looking for in a classic prospect. Bolt d’Oro was a Grade I winner at two and has two good runs this year that should leave him in peak form for Saturday. He’s got the looks, the form, and the pedigree. His speed figures are among the best at nine furlongs, and with his pedigree, they project to improve over added distance. Lower-Round Picks You look for value and bang for buck in lower round picks. Good Magic (12-1) fits the bill. He’s the champion 2-year-old colt of 2017, and he enters the Derby off a win. More importantly, he’s by Curlin, who is the most reliable source of classic horses nowadays. We’ll take him over the other 12-1 Curlin, Vino Rosso. Instilled Regard (50-1) has one of the best pedigrees for the distance. He’s by Arch–that’s a code word for stamina–out of a mare by Forestry–that’s speed. Forestry is already the broodmare sire of Derby winner Nyquist. Instilled Regard is from a Phipps family of 10-furlong Grade I winners Heavenly Prize, Good Reward, and Persistently. Free Drop Billy (30-1) is by Belmont Stakes winner Union Rags, an up-and-coming young sire whose oldest runners are 4-year-olds. And to put Union Rags’s success in perspective, consider that he already had four Grade I winners to his credit while proven sire Into Mischief has three. Free Drop Billy is from a Giant’s Causeway mare and is a half-brother to the European 10-furlong winner Hawkbill. It may be fair to say that he has more stamina than required for the Derby and therefore may be only plugging–or plodding–on at the end for a piece. Sid Fernando is president and CEO of Werk Thoroughbred Consultants, Inc., originator of the Werk Nick Rating and eNicks. View the full article

Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) winner Noble Indy has fallen from the spotlight since his win at Fair Grounds Race Course six weeks ago. View the full article

A familiar face greeted Mendelssohn when the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) entrant took his first steps on the Churchill Downs racetrack May 3. View the full article

A ceremony in Newmarket High Street on Thursday saw the unveiling of four commemorative paving stones honouring the achievements of the latest batch of inductees into the town’s ‘Legends of the Turf’ project. The project was officially launched in July 2014 when the first six commemorative paving slabs were laid in Newmarket High Street. The recipients of these awards were voted for by the community, recognising contributions made in three different categories: horses, jockeys, and other racing personalities. The latest four Legends are Pebbles, Walter Swinburn, Sir Jack Jarvis and Willie Snaith, who join the likes of Hyperion, Frankel, Fred Archer and Sir Henry Cecil among those already inducted. Pebbles (GB) (Sharpen Up) was a Newmarket horse through and through. Bred by Captain Marcos Lemos, she was conceived at Side Hill Stud, reared at Ashley Heath Stud and trained in Carlburg Stables in the Bury Road by Clive Brittain. Her sire had been trained by Bernard van Cutsem in Stanley House Stables, her dam by Clive Brittain and her maternal grandsire by Sir Noel Murless in Warren Place before standing at Wood Ditton Stud. She won at Newmarket in each of her three seasons in training, with her second season highlighted by her triumphs in the G1 1,000 Guineas S. Her most momentous victories, however, came in the G1 Eclipse and G1 Breeders’ Cup Turf in 1985. She became the first filly or mare ever to land the former, which had been inaugurated 99 years previously, while she was the first British-trained horse to win at a Breeders’ Cup Meeting. Walter Swinburn ranks as one of the greatest jockeys of the 20th century. Just 19 when he was appointed stable jockey to Michael Stoute, the partnership was an instant success, given a kick-start by the wide-margin victories of Shergar (Ire) in the 1981 Derby and King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Diamond S. Swinburn spent the final two decades of the 20th century regarded as arguably the best big-race rider in the world, with his CV ultimately boasting two more Derby victories and myriad other great triumphs, including the victory of Desert King (Ire) in the National S. in 1996, the first Group 1 winner ever trained by Aidan O’Brien. He retired from the saddle in 2000. He subsequently trained for a few years, and tragically died in December 2016, aged only 55. Walter Swinburn was represented at the ceremony by his parents Wally (himself formerly a top-class rider, twice champion jockey in Ireland) and Doreen, his daughters Claudia and Millie, brother Michael, and Sir Michael Stoute. Born in 1887, John Layton ‘Jack’ Jarvis was apprenticed to his father William Arthur Jarvis, trainer of the great racehorse and stallion Cyllene (GB). He was a successful apprentice both on the Flat and then over jumps before becoming one of three sons of William Jarvis to train a British Classic winner. He was champion trainer in 1939, 1951 and 1953. Sir Jack Jarvis was knighted by the Queen for services to horseracing in 1967, the year before he died. His other distinctions included the unique achievement of winning the biggest race in Scotland, the Ayr Gold Cup, as both jockey and trainer. He was represented at the ceremony by his great-nephew, current Newmarket trainer William Jarvis, and great-nieces Jane George and Melanie Shuttler. Willie Snaith was one of England’s most successful jockeys in the post-war years. He rode nearly 1,000 winners, but was honoured as much for his contribution to the community as for his achievements in the saddle. Snaith was awarded the MBE by the Queen in 2004. Now 90, and sadly in poor health, he was unable to attend the ceremony, but was represented by his son John (himself a former jockey) and grand-daughter Millie. View the full article

Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) winner Noble Indy has fallen from the spotlight since his win at Fair Grounds six weeks ago. View the full article

A familiar face greeted Mendelssohn when the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) entrant took his first steps on the Churchill Downs racetrack May 3. View the full article

Dale Romans-trained Coach Rocks is coming to hand at the right time for the May 4 Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1). With her rides the hopes of owners Roddy Valente, Rick Pitino's RAP Racing, and West Point Thoroughbreds. View the full article

MAE NEVER NO (IRE) (f, 2, No Nay Never–Sweet Shirley Mae, by Broken Vow) became the first winner for her freshman sire (by Scat Daddy), outfinishing her more fancied stable companion Abyssinian (Cairo Prince) to graduate by a half-length at first asking Thursday at Belmont Park. Quickly away, the cold-on-the-board 17-2 chance was straightened out by Gary Stevens after drifting in a bit a stride or two out of the stalls, then settled in third as Abyssinian appeared to be coasting on an easy lead. The chalk drifted a bit wide into the stretch and Mae Never No began to cut into the advantage, grabbed the front-runner at the sixteenth pole and inched clear. Mae Never No’s sire raced for this breeder in partnership with Coolmore and annexed his career debut at Keeneland before adding the G2 Norfolk S. at Royal Ascot and the G1 Darley Prix Morny a few months later. Sparingly campaigned at three, No Nay Never won the GIII Woodford S. in between runner-up efforts in the GII Swale S. and in the GI Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0. O/B-Ice Wine Stable (Ire); T-Wesley Ward. View the full article

A familiar face greeted Medelssohn when the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) entrant took his first steps on the Churchill Downs racetrack May 3. View the full article

Beach Patrol (Lemon Drop Kid), a finalist for 2017 champion turf male, makes his 5-year-old debut as the 5-2 favorite for Saturday’s GI Old Forester Turf Classic at Churchill Downs. The ‘TDN Rising Star’ makes his third Derby weekend appearance in a row, having just been touched off in the dying strides by the re-opposing Camelot Kitten (Kitten’s Joy) in the GII American Turf in 2016 and having dropped a narrow decision to Divisidero (Kitten’s Joy) in this event 12 months back. Things seemed to perk up a bit for Beach Patrol with a midseason switch to Joel Rosario, who was in the irons when proving a half-length superior in the GI Arlington Million last August. The dark bay stretched out to 12 furlongs for the first time in the GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational, scoring by five towering lengths, and he was last seen holding on grimly to complete the exacta behind Talismanic (GB) (Medaglia d’Oro) in the GI Breeders’ Cup Turf in November. On the surface, gate 10 is not ideal, but he should be able to slide across his rivals to stalk the pace outside likely front-runner Shining Copper (Aragorn {Ire}). Synchrony (Tapit) has earned the right to try top-level company and is this field’s form horse, with big wins in the Feb. 17 GIII Fair Grounds H. and a 1 3/4-length defeat of last year’s American Turf upsetter Arklow (Arch) in the GII Mervin Muniz Memorial H. Mar. 24. Kurilov (Chi) (Lookin At Lucky) should fall into a nice trip from gate three and would represent good value at or near his morning-line quote of 6-1. A Group 1 winner on dirt in his native Chile, the October foal was beaten a neck into third in the Dec. 23 Queens County S. over the Aqueduct main track, but switched to the grass for his latest and nearly claimed the scalp of Heart to Heart (English Channel) in the GI Gulfstream Park Turf S. Feb. 10. The latter franked the form when adding the GI Maker’s 46 Mile S. at Keeneland. Deauville (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is set for his fifth North American appearance, including a victory in the 2016 GI Belmont Derby and a second straight trifecta finish in the Million last summer at Arlington. He has one run under his belt this term, a narrow runner-up effort in the G3 Earl of Sefton S. at Newmarket Apr. 18. View the full article