Wandering Eyes

Magic Time. (Photo by George Sal/Racing Photos) The two-time Group 1 winning mare Magic Time produced an eye-catching piece of work at Cranbourne on Monday morning, with the daughter of Hellbent signalling a return is near for the ultra-consistent five-year-old. The Grahame Begg-trained galloper had no luck towards the end of last preparation, finishing the campaign with back-to-back runner-up placings behind Belclare in the Group 2 Invitation (1400m) and Group 2 Hot Danish Stakes (1400m) respectively. Begg was on course at Cranbourne on Monday morning to speak with Racing.com, suggesting a return to Sydney would be the likely scenario for Magic Time as she tackles the Group 2 Expressway Stakes (1200m) first-up. “Very happy with the way she went,” said Begg. “She really appreciated the bit of rain we got overnight. The ground was quite rain-affected, and she was very comfortable in that. She got to go through her gears nicely before her trip to Sydney. “She’ll head up to Sydney this week and then she’ll run on the 15th in the Expressway Stakes. “She looks as good as she’s ever looked and her two jump-outs leading into her first-up run have been really really good. We think that she’s in for a really good prep. “Second-up she’ll run in the Canterbury Stakes (Group 1) on the eighth of March at Randwick and then we’ve got options, either to go to maybe a George Ryder (Group 1) or stick to the mares’ races.” Magic Time is currently listed as a $6.00 chance with BlondeBet in futures markets for the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at Randwick on March 8. Horse racing news View the full article

Odds Bookmakers News Field Past Winners Apollo Stakes Group Two Betting Guide Date: Saturday, February 15, 2025 Location: Randwick Racecourse – Sydney, New South Wales Prize Money: $300,000 Distance: 1400m The Apollo Stakes, a Group 2 race for open class horses, is conducted by the Australian Turf Club at Randwick. First run in 1974, the Apollo Stakes is held over 1400m under weight for age conditions and is worth $300,000 in 2025. Mares have had notable success in the Apollo Stakes, with Winx (3 times), Fangirl, Colette, Alizee, Private Steer, Sunline, and others winning in the last 30 years. Winx’s 2019 victory marked her 30th consecutive win. Colette won first-up in 2021, beating Kolding, and the 2001 edition saw the last non-NSW trained winner, Sunline. Notable winners include Emancipation, Red Anchor (1985), Lonhro (2003), Racing To Win (2008), and Anamoe (2023). The 2024 Apollo Stakes was won by Fangirl, defeating Militarize and Think It Over. 2025 Apollo Stakes betting odds 2025 Apollo Stakes odds are unavailable. Apollo Stakes odds will be released closer to February 15, 2025. How to bet on the Apollo Stakes All Australian online bookmakers featuring horse racing will have Randwick races available to bet on. Like most Group 2 races, Apollo Stakes betting opens when nominations come through, typically on the Monday prior to the Apollo Stakes. Australians can bet on the Apollo Stakes at the following betting sites: Neds Code GETON 1 Take It To The Neds Level Neds Only orange bookie! Check Out Neds Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit today. “GETON is not a bonus code. Neds does not offer bonus codes in Australia and this referral code does not grant access to offers. Full terms. BlondeBet Signup Code GETON 2 Punters Prefer Blondes BlondeBet Blonde Boosts – Elevate your prices! 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Apollo Stakes News Ceolwulf to return in Group 2 Apollo Stakes Australia horse racing news 4 weeks ago Dual Group 1 winner Ceolwulf is primed for his return in the Apollo Stakes at Randwick, with trainer Joe Pride … Read More The Follow Files: Chris Waller runners return in fine style Horse Racing Tips 12 months ago In this week’s Follow Files, we have found runners from Flemington and Randwick last Saturday that are worth keeping an … Read More One-act affair as Fangirl dominates rivals in Apollo Stakes Australia horse racing news 12 months ago Fangirl ($2.00) has produced a breathtaking display on Saturday to secure victory in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) at … Read More Randwick free racing tips & quaddie | Saturday, February 17 Horse Racing Tips 12 months ago Randwick hosts a stack of black-type racing this weekend for Apollo Stakes Day 2024. See our free horse racing tips … Read More Think It Over set for Apollo Stakes return Australia horse racing news 12 months ago Trained by Kerry Parker, Think It Over is poised to make his return in Saturday’s Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) … Read More Anamoe doesn’t miss a beat in Apollo Stakes win Australia horse racing news 2 years ago The Moe’ is back. After a spring campaign that saw this champion four-year-old claim four Group 1 victories, including a … Read More 2025 Apollo Stakes Final Field HorseBetting.com.au will update this page when the 2025 Apollo Stakes field is released. Previous Apollo Stakes Fields 2024 Apollo Stakes field No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight 1 Think It Over Kerry Parker Nash Rawiller 7 59kg 2 Cascadian James Cummings Zac Lloyd 9 59kg 3 Arapaho Bjorn Baker Joshua Parr 3 59kg 4 Buckaroo Chris Waller Tommy Berry 6 59kg 5 Attractable Sara Ryan Regan Bayliss 1 59kg 6 Navajo Peak David Payne Jason Collett 10 59kg 7 Lindermann Chris Waller Tim Clark 4 59kg 8 Fangirl Chris Waller James McDonald 8 57kg 9 Semana Ciaron Maher Dylan Gibbons 2 57kg 10 Militarize Chris Waller Kerrin McEvoy 5 55.5kg 2024 Apollo Stakes result https://horsebetting.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Randwick-2024-Group-2-Apollo-Stakes-17022024-Fangirl-Chris-Waller-James-McDonald.mp4 1st – Fangirl (+100) 2nd – Militarize (+100) 3rd – Think It Over (+110) Recent runnings of the Apollo Stakes: 2024: Fangirl spaces rivals Fangirl ($2.00) produced a breathtaking display to secure victory in the 2024 Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m). It was a one-act affair for the returning Chris Waller-trained mare, as the five-year-old torched her rivals in what could only be described as a galloping lesson. James McDonald allowed her to roll towards the back of the field, only leaving one behind her as Cascadian ($15.00) missed the start, sitting on the outside of a drifting stablemate Buckeroo ($17.00). It was easy to see how well Fangirl was travelling at the top of the straight, as McDonald moved towards the centre of the course, barely asking for an effort from the daughter of Sebring, who put her rivals to bed within a moment. Militarize was asked to respond in kind but was no match for the stablemate and would have to settle for the runner-up spot, while Think It Over, Navajo Peak and Buckaroo all played for the minor money. 2023: Anamoe returns a winner Anamoe returned in superb order for James Cummings to win first-up in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes. James McDonald was cool, calm and collected from the wider draw, pressing forward to sit just in behind the speed one-off the rail, finding cover behind Laws Of Indices who tracked across to sit outside the lead. Hinged, from the Chris Waller yard, was the pacemaker throughout, which was the likely scenario with a speed map lacking a genuine leader over the 1400m. Anamoe cruised up to his rivals when asked the question by McDonald and the son of Street Boss obliged with his customary turn-of-foot getting him to the front and clear with 150m to go. Fangirl was impressive on the inside running rail to run on for third, while Hinged was brave sticking on for second. 2022: Think It Over a class above Think It Over kept his impressive winning stretch alive, as he recorded a dominant victory in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m). The Kerry Parker-trained gelding won three consecutive races during the Sydney Spring Carnival, which took his career prize money beyond $4 million. The six-year-old was quite easy in betting, getting out to $7.50 in the feature, before being supported right before they jumped. With a breakneck tempo set by I Am Superman and Riodini, Think It Over was gifted a terrific run in transit, under Nash Rawiller, and had the race won a long way out from home. Previous winners of the Apollo Stakes Apollo Stakes Past Winners Year Horse Jockey Trainer 2024 Fangirl James McDonald Chris Waller 2023 Anamoe James McDonald James Cummings 2022 Think It Over Nash Rawiller Kerry Parker 2021 Colette Rachel King James Cummings 2020 Alizee Hugh Bowman James Cummings 2019 Winx Hugh Bowman Chris Waller 2018 Endless Drama Tye Angland Chris Waller 2017 Winx Hugh Bowman Chris Waller 2016 Winx Hugh Bowman Chris Waller 2015 Contributer James McDonald John O’Shea 2014 Appearance Blake Shinn Guy Walter 2013 Alma’s Fury Blake Shinn Paul Murray 2012 Rain Affair Corey Brown Joseph Pride 2011 Melito Brenton Avdulla Gerald Ryan 2010 Danleigh Hugh Bowman Chris Waller 2009 Tuesday Joy Blake Shinn Gai Waterhouse 2008 Racing to Win Hugh Bowman John O’Shea 2007 Desert War Hugh Bowman Gai Waterhouse AO 2006 Ike’s Dream Darren Beadman John Hawkes 2005 Grand Armee Danny Beasley Gai Waterhouse 2004 Private Steer Larry Cassidy John O’Shea 2003 Lonhro Darren Beadman John Hawkes 2002 Ha Ha Jim Cassidy Gai Waterhouse 2001 Sunline Greg Childs Trevor McKee 2000 Sunline Greg Childs Trevor McKee Apollo Stakes winners pre-2000 Apollo Stakes Past Winners Pre 2000 Year Horse 1999 Kidman’s Cove 1998 Quick Flick 1997 Juggler 1996 Juggler 1995 Pharaoh 1994 Burst 1993 Naturalism 1992 Quick Score 1991 Triscay 1990 Key Dancer 1989 Beau Zam 1988 At Sea 1987 Diamond Shower 1986 Drawn 1985 Red Anchor 1984 Emancipation 1983 Dalmacia 1982 Calm Joe 1981 Red Nose 1980 Embasadora 1979 Scomeld 1978 Just Ideal 1977 Visit Recommended! Take It To The Neds Level Home of the Neds Toolbox Check Out Neds 18+ Gamble Responsibly Punters Prefer Blondes It’s a fact, Blondes have more fun Join BlondeBet 18+ Gamble Responsibly. THINK. IS THIS A BET YOU REALLY WANT TO PLACE?. Next Gen Racing Betting Top 4 Betting. Extra Place. Every Race. Join Picklebet 18+ Gamble Responsibly. What are you really gambling with? It Pays To Play New online bookmaker Check Out PlayUp 18+ Gamble Responsibly Say Hey to the social bet! You Better Believe It Join Dabble 18+ Gamble Responsibly. THINK. IS THIS A BET YOU REALLY WANT TO PLACE?. Full terms. View the full article

Rey Magnerio. (Photo by George Sal/Racing Photos) The Robbie Griffiths-trained Rey Magnerio is set to return in the Group 2 Rubiton Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday afternoon, with the son of Magnus impressing in a jump-out at Cranbourne on Monday morning. Griffiths was on course to discuss the piece of work with Racing.com, confirming the Rubiton would be the first-up target for the five-year-old gelding before eyeing off the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) later in the preparation. “I thought it was a fantastic piece of work,” said Griffiths. “He pulled his way down to the line in good time, pulled up well, and that’ll just top him off nice for a return run Saturday in the Rubiton. “He’s smack on for a return, but he’s not a hundred percent, I mean you want to be hundred percent for Newmarket Day. That’s his key goal and what he wins on the way through is a bonus. “He’s a good competitive horse that we targeted Derby Day and Finals Day last year and he nearly pulled off both, so he’s a good target horse and our targets the Newmarket, and if we’re lucky enough to win an Oakleigh Plate at his second run back that would be fantastic.” Rey Magnerio is currently equal on the second line of betting at $4.50 with horse racing bookmakers for this Saturday’s Rubiton Stakes, while you can get $26.00 with Neds for the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on March 8. Horse racing news View the full article

In 2024, the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Winter Mixed Sale–hosted over two days–was largely buoyed by the Lothenbach dispersal that saw seven of the sale's top nine mares–including a pair of seven figure offerings–originate from that consignment. While Monday's single-session renewal of the sale didn't quite attain the levels of one year ago, the latest edition did offer several of its own highlights. Hailing from the Red Oak Stable dispersal, Hip 395, a colt by Curlin led the day with a $775,000 final bid from Maverick, bidding online. Out of Grade I scorer Unbridled Mo (Uncle Mo), the Feb. 24 foal was consigned by agent Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa, who also offered his 12-year-old dam a few hips later. Catalogued as Hip 401, the Apple Blossom winner was secured by Jacob West, acting on behalf of Repole Stable, for $350,000. “David Hanley and I loved him,” said WinStar's Elliott Walden of the day's top price. “He showed so much class and had the top qualities from his sire Curlin and his broodmare sire, Uncle Mo. We really loved his leg for a Curlin.” Hip 395 c. CURLIN o/o Unbridled Mo sells for $775,000 at Kentucky Winter Mixed! Congrats to the connections: B: Maverick C: @HillnDaleFarm, agt for Dispersal of Red Oak Stable Br: Red Oak Stable (KY)#FasigKY pic.twitter.com/0o6x78uJrp — Fasig-Tipton (@FasigTiptonCo) February 3, 2025 Heading the broodmare portion of the sale, Boxwood (English Channel), led through as Hip 228, brought $650,000 from agent Steve Young. In foal to Nyquist, the 9-year-old dam of stakes-winning Keep It Easy (Hard Spun) was consigned by Royal Oak Farm. At the session's conclusion, a total of 260 head sold for $11,495,500. The average was $44,213 and the median was $17,000. One year ago, 372 horses sold over two days for a total of $21,687,000 with an average of $58,298 and median of $17,000. Last year's sale was highlighted by a trio of seven-figure mares, including sale-topper Zetta Z (Bernardini), in foal to Cyberknife, who brought $ 2 million. “It was a very encouraging sale today,” said Fasig-Tipton's Boyd Browning Jr. moments after the sale. “There were some highlights from the Red Oak dispersal. Obviously, it's always great when you can have the quality of the caliber of the Curlin colt today. I thought that the overall vibe, from start to finish, was encouraging. The RNA rate was certainly at an acceptable level and there was some activity on some of the less expensive horses than I would have seen on some of the recent sales. It really exceeded our expectations on some of the less expensive horses in terms of the activity.” According to Browning, the day's buying bench also yielded international participation, including the sale of Hip 229, Quality Road's Forever Dixie, who went to Shimokobe Farm via agent Polo Green Stable for $525,000. Consigned by Grovendale Sales, the 5-year-old was the second-leading mare of the session. Monday's top mare, Boxwood | Fasig-Tipton “Clearly, there was great competition for the top offerings,” he said. “It was nice to see a Japanese buyer make a significant purchase of [$525,000]. We had international participation bidding on several lots as well.” He continued, “Once again, there is great competition for quality, whether it is a yearling or racing prospect, a mare in foal or a broodmare prospect.” “We have a pretty good idea on the health of the market–we would like it to be a little bit broader or deeper. But certainly, there was plenty of bidding activity from start to finish.” Reflecting on the advent of the growing number of digital sales and their effect on the catalogue size of their live counterpart, Browning opined, “Our goal is to serve the market. Those who are much more comfortable selling at a live auction, that's great. And for those that are more comfortable selling on a digital platform, that's great too. The sales are basically complimentary. There was probably a bit of a reduction in numbers here because some horses may have shifted to December, January or the upcoming February digital sale. It's an evolving process.” Young Extends to $650,000 for 'November Quality' English Channel Mare Among those heading Monday's action, Hip 228, a daughter of turf champion English Channel, brought the highest price for a mare of the session when realizing $650,000 from agent Steve Young on behalf of an unconfirmed buyer. Offered by Damian and Braxton Lynch's Royal Oak Farm on behalf of the William Pape Dispersal, stakes winner Boxwood was sold in foal to Nyquist. “She is a November quality mare that through circumstances, she ended up here,” said Young explaining the attraction to the mare. “That made it a tick hard to anticipate what she was going to bring. I couldn't have seen her bring less, but I could have seen her bring more.” The chestnut is out of the unraced We Use to Sing, herself a half-sister to SW and GSP Ski Holiday (Harlan's Holiday). This is the family of GI Hollywood Starlet winner Creaking Board (GB). “She has a lot of checks and balances that make her appealing,” he continued. “She is by a very good broodmare sire and she is faster than most English Channels. She won her stakes race as a January 3-year-old.” Hip 228 BOXWOOD i/f Nyquist sells for $650,000 at Kentucky Winter Mixed! Congrats to the connections: B: Steven W. Young, agt C: @Royaloakfarm, agt for William L. Pape Dispersal#FasigKY @DarleyStallions pic.twitter.com/alhjr2yN9W — Fasig-Tipton (@FasigTiptonCo) February 3, 2025 The 9-year-old is already responsible for Triple Crown hopeful Keep it Easy (Hard Spun), who is targeting Gulfstream's GII Fountain of Youth Stakes. A $435,000 Keeneland September Sale purchase, Keep it Easy won Churchill's Ed Brown Stakes in his latest start. Boxwood's 2024 foal, a colt by Gun Runner, brought $425,000 at Keeneland last September. “She's had two very good foals sell for high-market money,” he said. “She's in foal to Nyquist who is as hot as he can be.” Asked what are the plans for his latest acquisition, Young added, “Keep it Easy is by a Danzig-line sire in Hard Spun. She was bought to be bred to Annapolis.” Standing at Claiborne Farm, War Front's Annapolis, who stood his first season at stud in 2024, is represented by his first crop of foals in 2025. At this venue last year, Young also purchased a single mare, who brought $500,000. Grade I-stakes placed, Home Cooking (Honor Code) produced her first foal this season. “I went and saw her [first foal] by Annapolis at Claiborne Farm,” he said. “She had a tremendous colt that is one week old. The connections couldn't be more pleased.” West Jumps in Early for GSP Daughter of Twirling Candy Early in Monday's session, agent Jacob West extended to $400,000 for Hip 94, a daughter of Twirling Candy named Ready for Candy. The 3-year-old was consigned by agent Shannondoe. “They were looking for something to keep in training,” said West of the unconfirmed buyer. “The price felt reasonable for a filly like her and we feel very good about our purchase. The seller was rewarded for having a nice horse.” Campaigned by Zilli Racing at Woodbine, the Mike De Paulo-trained filly made seven starts at two, and despite not breaking through with a win, she hit the board in five of them, including a trio at the stakes level. In her third trip to post, she came home runner-up behind Shifty (Medaglia d'Oro) in the grassy Catch a Glimpse Stakes in August before having to settle for seventh in the one-mile GI Natalma Stakes over the E.P. Taylor course Sept. 14. Ready for Candy | Fasig-Tipton Facing colts next time out in the 8 1/2-furlong Cup and Saucer Stakes, she finished a troubled fifth but was promoted to fourth following the disqualification of Ashley's Archer (Karakontie {Jpn}). Making only her third start on the Tapeta, the Ontario- bred filly was third in the Nov. 3 GIII Mazarine Stakes when returning to face her own sex and just got snagged by a half-length in her most recent start in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes Nov. 30. “She is going to head down to Florida right now,” added West. “She is coming back off a layoff and then she will be put back into training. She is still a maiden so they might take advantage of breaking her maiden down in Florida and then sending her back up to Canada for the spring Classics.” Bred by Mark Dodson in Ontario, the $62,000 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale and $60,000 OBS April Sale graduate is out of SP Enoree, a half-sister to GSW Grand Bili (City Zip), MSP Conquest City Girl (City Zip) and She Stands Proud, herself responsible for SW Souper Sinclair (Souper Speedy). This is the family of Canadian champion Woodcarver. Underscoring the decision to secure the filly, West added, “She is a filly that had talent and ability. She is three, and the market right now for a filly like her is pretty strong. It's not very often you can get your hands on the. You can see them, vet them and put your hands on them, go look at them a couple of times and feel confident about your decision.” Late in the session, West also added Hip 401, GI Apple Blossom winner Unbridled Mo (Uncle Mo), for $350,000 from the Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa consignment. Selling on behalf of the Red Oak Stable dispersal, the dam of Grade III winner Unbridled Essence (Essence of Dubai) was secured on behalf of Repole Stable. Hip 94 READY FOR CANDY sells for $400,000 at Kentucky Winter Mixed! Congrats to the connections: B: @Westbloodstock C: Shannondoe Farm, agt#FasigKY pic.twitter.com/m6l5gVe19v — Fasig-Tipton (@FasigTiptonCo) February 3, 2025 Tiz the Law Colt an Awesome Result for Farrar by Jessica Martini “It's a total blessing for me,” longtime Pennsylvania breeder Karen Farrar said after her short yearling colt by Tiz the Law (hip 55) sold for $95,000 to Mike Golden's Golden Lion Racing Monday at Fasig-Tipton. Farrar's breeding operation is down to two mares and she had purchased the colt's dam–with him in utero–for just $7,000 at last year's February sale. Farrar admitted she didn't attend last year's sale and wasn't really planning on buying anything, but there were a couple of things that stood out to her about the then 11-year-old mare My Awesome Mom (Awesome Again). “I had two mares, one I did not breed and one aborted in January,” Farrar explained. “So, I looked at the catalogue and I only picked out one mare, My Awesome Mom. And this sounds ridiculous, but I loved the name. So Marshall [Silverman] went to look at her and he sent me the video. I liked the way she looked and I liked who she was in foal to. Everything about her I liked. Then I saw she was born on St. Paddy's Day and then I saw she was bred on St. Paddy's Day. And I always won races on St. Paddy's Day.” Despite the appeal, Farrar's enthusiasm was tempered by her husband, Gary. “My husband said, 'We don't need another mare. We are trying to wind down.' So all of a sudden I got cold feet. And then Marshall called and asked what I thought. I didn't really think I wanted her then, so I told him $10,000. He said she would go for a lot more than that. I said, 'Well OK, that's fine. That's all I can do now.' And then she went for a lot less for some strange reason.” Farrar said the mare's young covering sire might have made some buyers hesitate. “Tiz the Law hadn't had any runners at the time. He had 2-year-olds coming up,” Farrar said. “And that's a tough time sometimes to sell a mare because you roll the dice. I've done this before where I bought a mare who had 2-year-olds coming up and you can have it all fall apart if the 2-year-olds don't run and then by the time the mare has the baby, you're sort of out of luck. Everything just fell into place with Tiz the Law doing well.” Hip 55 c. TIZ THE LAW o/o My Awesome Mom sells for $95,000 at Kentucky Winter Mixed! Congrats to the connections: B: Golden Lion Racing, David Wade, agt C: Equus Farm, agt Br: Karen S. Farrar (KY)#FasigKY @coolmoreamerica pic.twitter.com/hx6hd93gD8 — Fasig-Tipton (@FasigTiptonCo) February 3, 2025 Farrar started breeding racehorses in Pennsylvania in the late 1990's and among her graduates is 2010 GIII Cicada Stakes winner Liam's Dream (Saint Liam). “I had some nice mares,” Farrar said. “I had one that was a half-sister to Distorted Humor named Danzig's Dreamer. And I sold one of her babies privately for $250,000 and she went on to win a Grade III, but those mares got older and I ended up selling her.” Farrar already had plans to wind down her breeding operation when her husband passed away suddenly last October. “I am getting older, and he just passed away, but my husband was older, too,” Farrar said. “We were thinking about selling the farm next year and just keep a mare or two to board somewhere. I have two mares. The other mare is in foal to Frosted and [My Awesome Mom] is in foal to Dialed In. I was actually thinking about selling her, but I really like the mare. With my husband passing away, I'm not exactly sure I am going to be able to handle the farm and everything. But now I am afraid to sell her.” Farrar admitted Monday's result far exceeded her expectations. “I was hoping to get $50,000,” she said. “I didn't think I would get that. You never know what to expect at these sales, but I wasn't expecting that.” Farrar continued, “I just can't believe it. I know how to look at mares. I've done the buyer's guides. And I picked that mare out only because of her name–my mom and I had a great relationship.” The post ‘Encouraging’ Fasig-Tipton Winter Mixed Sale Led by $775K Curlin Colt appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Florida Thoroughbred Horsemen's board voted unanimously Feb. 3 to oppose Florida HB 105, which would remove a requirement to run live Thoroughbred races in order to operate slot machines or card rooms. View the full article

Coteau Grove Farms was represented by three winners Feb. 1 on the 22nd Louisiana Premier Night at Delta Downs, highlighted by Touchuponastar winning the LA Bred Premier Night Champion Stakes for the third year in a row.View the full article

This week, Michael catches up with champion trainer Jamie Richards and former premiership-winning jockey Danielle Johnson, to find out how life is in Hong Kong, the challenges of it, the racing scene compared to NZ, and meets their ever-growing family. Guerin Report – Ep.23 Ft. Jamie Richards & Danielle Johnson View the full article

Sailor Jack and Kattegat will cross swords at Tauherenikau and then take different paths before meeting up again in a northern staying feature. The Shaun Fannin and Hazel Schofer-trained pair will run in Thursday’s Central ITM Wairarapa Cup (2050m) and then go their separate ways until a joint assault at Ellerslie next month. The staying duo have the Gr.2 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup (3200m) on their programs with confidence in each’s ability to master the extreme distance of the March 8 contest. Sailor Jack (NZ) (Jakkalberry) returned from a freshen-up two runs back to finish third over 2100m at Trentham and then finished a sound fifth in the Gr.3 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2400m) at Ellerslie. “It was a really good run and uncharacteristically got back, he’s usually an on-speed runner, and he made good ground late,” Fannin said. “That gave us confidence that he’s not too far off the mark and we probably made the mistake of putting visor blinkers on him. “He’ll have the blinkers back on for Thursday and we’re sure he’ll roll forward and give a good account of himself. “Amber Ridell is going to ride him and he’ll carry 60kg, but we’re sure he’s up to carrying that weight.” Safely through Tauherenikau, the son of Jakkalberry will return north later this month. “If he can run first or second, then we’ll press on toward the Avondale Cup (Gr.3, 2400m) and hopefully on to the Auckland Cup,” Fannin said. “He’ll stay all day and seems to like Ellerslie, he’s won on the track and ran well there on New Year’s Day.” Kattegat (NZ) (Redwood) has also been a winner at northern headquarters and most recently finished runner-up over ground at Otaki. “She’s in good form for Thursday and I’m sure she’ll be a top three chance with Joe Doyle to ride her,” Fannin said. “She seems to like Tauherenikau and has had a win and a second there. If she gets through this race okay, then she might go back there for the Wairoa Cup (2050m) on February 16. “She does well with a bit of space between her races and that then would be three weeks into the Auckland Cup, which would suit her.” The daughter of Redwood hasn’t been the easiest mare to manage and the stable is taking a fingers crossed approach in her Cup build-up. “She can be quite a tricky mare, she can be a bit of a handful at home and not the easiest to ride,” Fannin said. “She’s quite headstrong and always seems to do something whether it’s kicking the box, bumping a leg or a stone bruise. “A few times we’ve put her in the box the night before the race and she’s fine and then in the morning she’s got a puffy leg or something else, she always seems to find trouble.” View the full article

A number of Te Akau Racing fillies could put their hand up for a shot at upcoming stakes assignments at Riccarton Park on Wednesday. Hunter Durrant, who handles the South Island arm of Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson’s stable, has 14 runners engaged in the midweek meeting, including Group Three performer Ocean Miss (NZ) (Ocean Park) in the GM Accounting and Consulting Rating 65 (1200m). The daughter of Ocean Park placed behind Tuxedo in the Gr.3 Wellington Stakes (1600m), subsequently finished eighth in the Gr.3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m) and had a short freshen-up ahead of a potential tilt at the upcoming southern Guineas races. “She’s come up well, she had a freshen since her last run and this will be a run to evaluate where we go with her next,” Durrant said. The same applies to promising filly Donna Chiara (NZ) (Belardo), who joins her stablemate in the Rating 65 contest after nearly four months away from the races. “She’s coming up well, she had a nice trial at Ashburton and she’s a filly we rate, a nice one to have for Lib Petagna,” Durrant said. “She won very impressively back at Timaru and we just hope she can go along the path of repeating that this prep. “We rate her highly enough to be going towards those (Guineas) races, so if she comes up, that’s what we’ll aim for.” Another three-year-old filly in Corps D’Elite (So You Think) has come close to collecting her maiden in two starts to date, and Durrant anticipates a step-up in distance in the Alistair Gray Memorial Maiden (1400m) will be right up her alley. “She’s stepping up to 1400 and that will suit, she’ll appreciate that being by So You Think,” he said. “She’s a pretty classy filly who has done everything right so far.” Purple Prose (NZ) (Embellish) indicated he is also a winner in waiting last-start at the course, with a luckless run behind Airpark Hustler making him the big danger in the Fiona Stuart Memorial Maiden (1600m). “He was very unlucky last start at Riccarton, if he’d seen clear air earlier I think he would’ve been right in it,” Durrant said. “Stepping up to a mile, I think he’ll be pretty hard to beat.” Of their older contingent, the in-form Fellini (NZ) (Belardo) will kick off his new campaign in the Rangiora Equine Services Open Handicap (1600m) which wasn’t the gelding’s original plan. “We didn’t plan to run him on Wednesday, but when we saw how light the noms were for this race, we thought we’d put him in,” he said. “He’s fit and ready to go after a few nice trials.” The five-year-old had placed in a Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) in his juvenile term but has found a purple patch of form this season, winning two of his last four and finishing fourth in the Listed Sothy’s Spring Classic (2000m). “He’s racing in career-best form and there isn’t any exact reason, he’s just possibly a late maturer,” Durrant said. Insatiable (NZ) (All Too Hard) also had a near-faultless spring campaign with a pair of placings down the Riccarton chute over Cup Week, and after breaking her bridesmaid streak at Timaru, Durrant expects he’ll be right in the finish in the C.S Stevens Memorial Banks Peninsula Cup (1100m). “He’s had a nice freshen-up, and if he brings his A game, he should be very hard to beat,” he said. View the full article

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During the first episode of the BloodHorse Monday podcast, trainer Ron Moquett said a decision on running Speed King in the Rebel is still undecided. The ultimate goal is the $1.5 million Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park March 29.View the full article

We're inside the 13-week mark to the GI Kentucky Derby with no seismic changes to the running order at this early stage of the season. The rankings are fairly evenly distributed among contenders based on both coasts and in Kentucky, Arkansas and Louisiana. 1) FIRST RESORT (c, Uncle Mo-Fair Maiden, by Street Boss). O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Eoin G. Harty. Lifetime record GSW, 4-2-1-0, $338,671. Last start: WON Nov. 30 GII Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes. First Resort's 6-1 win in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes Nov. 30 rated as the most visually impressive 2-year-old route stakes last season, and his bounding-home fourth-quarter split of :23.28 and final sixteenth of 6:10 represent the fastest respective finishing fractions out of 11 Derby qualifying stakes at 1 1/16 miles so far in 2024-25. Initially, trainer Eoin Harty had envisioned that this Godolphin homebred by Uncle Mo would make his 3-year-old debut at either Gulfstream Park or Tampa Bay Downs. But Mother Nature forced a change to those plans when adverse winter weather descended upon Turfway Park in mid-January, where Harty has stabled both First Resort and 'TDN Rising Star' Poster (Munnings). The game plan is now for First Resort to target the Feb. 22 John Battaglia Memorial Stakes at Turfway, while Poster got shipped to Tampa to train in advance of this Saturday's Sam F. Davis Stakes. “They missed two works, and I just didn't feel like I would have been doing them any favors to try and fit a square peg into a round hole,” Harty told TDN on Monday shortly after First Resort breezed six furlongs in 1:14 as the only worker at that distance over Turfway's Tapeta surface. “He's progressing. He missed a little training like a lot of horses in the Midwest and the South over the last two or three weeks. That's why I worked him three-quarters and he worked very well. He doesn't have to progress much. I'm still very happy with him. He hasn't disappointed me at all.” Harty also trained First Resort's dam, Fair Maiden, another Godolphin homebred. She was a four-time victress by Street Boss who won the 2020 GI La Brea Stakes. “The only similarity they really have is their speed. They both have natural speed,” Harty said. “She was a pretty flighty, a little, narrow-headed chestnut filly. He doesn't have that at all. He is so laid back, so mellow. He's very kind. Very nice to be around. He gets a little aggressive at feed time, which is understandable. But he covers so much ground in the morning when he's training, so he keeps himself very fit.” 2) SANDMAN (c, Tapit-Distorted Music, by Distorted Humor). O-D. J. Stable LLC, St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds and CJ Stables; B-Lothenbach Stables Inc (KY); T-Mark E. Casse. Sales History: $1,200,000 2yo '24 OBSMAR. Lifetime Record: GSP, 6-2-1-1, $344,595. Last start: 2nd Jan. 25 GIII Southwest Stakes. On the Derby development trail, a second-place finish earned by overcoming adversity can count more than an actual win, and until some other soph prospect wows us with a sensational try despite a brutal trip, Sandman's rousing, runner-up effort in the GIII Southwest Stakes is this year's benchmark for outrunning in-race hardship. This $1.2 million OBSMAR colt by Tapit buckled at the ankle then leaped sideways at the start of that Jan. 25 Oaklawn stakes. Relegated to last, Cristian Torres let Sandman regroup on the backstretch. The colt started gathering true steam three-eighths out, but by that time he was chasing a staying-on leader who had capably shrugged off a dueler and was ahead by open lengths. Sandman uncoiled through the lane, and he looked like the more confident colt shouldering aside the lugging-out 4-5 favorite and 'TDN Rising Star' Patch Adams (Into Mischief) when those two raced in close quarters through midstretch. Sandman never quit, ending up a length behind Speed King (Volatile), who ran a gritty race on the lead at 14-1 odds but benefitted from a trouble-free run on the front end while the three betting favorites all encountered trip woes. Sandman closed against the grain of a speed-centric track that afternoon, with the 11-race card yielding one wire winner and seven just-off-the-lead winners, compared to closers prevailing in only three races. Trainer Mark Casse reported that Sandman returned “in good order.” The Feb. 22 GII Rebel S. is next, where a potential marquee matchup looms with one of the two West Coast colts ranked below at Nos. 3 and 4 on this list. Citizen Bull | Benoit 3) CITIZEN BULL (c, Into Mischief-No Joke, by Distorted Humor). O-SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Tom J. Ryan, Waves Edge Capital LLC and Catherine Donovan; B-Robert & Lawana Low (KY); T-Bob Baffert. Sales history: $675,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP. Lifetime record: MGISW, 5-4-0-1, $1,421,000. Last start: WON Feb. 1 GIII Robert B. Lewis Stakes. Even though he won the GI Breeders Cup Juvenile and was voted the Eclipse Award for top 2-year-old male, Citizen Bull headed into his first start at age three as one of the more “ignored” juvenile champs in recent memory. He didn't sit atop too many published early-season Derby contender lists (including this one), and he was sometimes ranked behind horses with less experience even within his own stable, the powerhouse barn of trainer Bob Baffert. That changed to a large degree on Saturday when this $675,000 KEESEP son of Into Mischief returned from a three-month break with a smackdown wiring of the GIII Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita. He earned a 98 Beyer Speed Figure despite trouble at the break and being cut back in distance to a mile after a pair of Grade I wins at 1 1/16 miles to close out his 2-year-old campaign. After bobbling at start, Citizen Bull recovered on his own under a patient Martin Garcia, asserted himself at the head of affairs, cranked out a legit tempo while keeping challengers at bay on the backstretch, then opened up on the far turn without being roused. Gamely chased home by two Baffert-trained stablemates in the five-horse field, he drew away under steady handling to score by 3 3/4 lengths. “He was fresh,” Garcia said post-win. “When I was warming him up, he just wanted to go and you could see that he was ready, and when the gates opened it was like the ground broke underneath him. He just broke too fast. Right away he recovered and I just sat, sat, sat and he just took me right away. Bob knows when the horses are ready. That's why he is in the Hall Of Fame.” Baffert has described Citizen Bull as a “big, strong, heavy horse” who will benefit from racing, perhaps more so than training. “It's funny you see him and you don't realize that in a race that he has those gears,” Baffert said. “He won't show you that in the morning, but he does have gears.” 4) BARNES (c, Into Mischief-All American Dream, by American Pharoah). O-Zedan Racing Stables, Inc.; B-Jeff Drown and Don Rachel, LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert. Sales history: $3,200,000 Ylg '23 FTSAUG). Lifetime record: GSW, 2-2-0-0, $189,000. Last start: WON Jan. 4 GII San Vicente Stakes. The Bob Baffert-trained Barnes put in a :59.80 (5/72) five-furlong breeze Saturday at Santa Anita, his third published workout since annihilating four rivals in the Jan. 4 GII San Vicente Stakes. Considering that Barnes cost $3.2 million at FTSAUG and is named in honor of the Hall-of-Fame trainer's longtime assistant, Jimmy Barnes, he probably doesn't need any added pressure placed upon his broad, bay shoulders. But since Baffert has already compared Barnes favorably to the colt's maternal grandsire, the 2015 Triple Crown champ American Pharoah, superlatives figure to be maxxed until Barnes makes his first start around two turns. Baffert confirmed on Sunday that next race will be either the Rebel Stakes Feb. 22 at Oaklawn or the San Felipe a week later at Santa Anita. Both are contested at 1 1/16 miles, and you'd have to think that Baffert intends to separate Barnes from the above-ranked Citizen Bull. I flip-flopped Citizen Bull and Barnes in the Nos. 3 and 4 slots this week after writing them up the other way around a month ago. That amounts to splitting hairs at this early stage of the season. But even if you concede that Barnes rates higher in long-term potential, it's awfully tough to discount that Citizen Bull has already won three stakes around two turns, while Barnes has yet to attempt a race beyond seven furlongs. With his highly hyped debut win at Churchill Downs on Thanksgiving Eve now more than two months in the rear-view mirror, it's worth noting that of the nine rivals Barnes beat in that 5 1/2-furlong sprint, five of them have run back, and none managed to win their next-out starts (although the runner-up Barnes beat by a head won his second start back). 5) SOVEREIGNTY (c, Into Mischief-Crowned, by Bernardini). O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-William I. Mott; Lifetime Record: GSW, 3-1-1-0, $143,280. Last start: WON Oct. 27 GIII Street Sense Stakes. This Godolphin homebred was back on the worktab Friday, breezing a half mile in :49.20 (13/16) after previously only working twice since Dec. 24 at Payson Park. Sovereignty broke his maiden in his first two-turn attempt in the Oct. 27 GIII Street Sense Stakes, and although his next start has been highly anticipated, no plans for his sophomore debut have been publicly disclosed. Unveiled on the undercard for last summer's Grade I Travers Stakes, Sovereignty rallied from last with a seven-wide swoop to get fourth in a six-furlong sprint that yielded two next-out winners. A one-turn mile at Aqueduct a month later seemed better suited to his Into Mischief (out of a Bernardini mare) pedigree, and Sovereignty stalked and romped home with huge strides to just miss by a neck, beaten by the 1.25-1 favorite. Start number three was Sovereignty's big coming-out party at Churchill. Bet to 7-5 favoritism in a nine-horse field, he broke a step slow from the outermost post, remained patiently parked in last until the quarter pole, then circled everybody for another seven-wide stretch attack that propelled him to a five-length, 87-Beyer victory. 6) AVIATOR GUI (c, Uncle Mo-Paulistinha, by Tapit). O/B-Three Chimneys Farm, LLC (KY); T-Chad Brown. Lifetime record: GSP, 4-1-1-1, $120,500. Last start: 2nd Dec. 7 GII Remsen S. This Uncle Mo-sired homebred for Three Chimneys Farm opened some eyes with an adversity-overcoming, trip-troubled second when stretched out to nine furlongs in the Dec. 7 GII Remsen S. After stalking inside, this Chad Brown trainee was full of run but was boxed in at the quarter pole. After fighting free, he brushed aside a rival at the lead of the lane, then had his momentum stalled a second time when lugging in atop the heels of the eventual winner, Poster. Yet he closed with authority, ending up second by a head-bob before galloping out past Poster. Aviator Gui is wintering at Payson Park but has only had two late-January workouts to this point in his sophomore training. Captain Cook | Sarah Andrew 7) CAPTAIN COOK (c, Practical Joke-Pow Wow Wow, by Indian Charlie). 'TDN Rising Star'. O-St. Elias Stable; B-Marylou Whitney Stables, LLC (KY); T-Richard E. Dutrow, Jr. Sales history: $410,000 2yo '24 KEENOV. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, $188,256. Last start: WON Feb. 1 Withers Stakes. Trainer Rick Dutrow, Jr. has touted Captain Cook's relaxed nature as nice complement to the colt's smaller stature, because he believes that easy-going attitude will allow the colt to conserve in-race energy. This 'TDN Rising Star' by Practical Joke ($410,000 KEENOV) had an arduous sprint debut at Churchill Oct. 27 in which he was bumped and crowded at the break and got hooked five wide on the far turn, finishing sixth but beaten only four lengths. Captain Cook then burst onto the scene with a 9 1/4-length pace-pressing blowout score at Aqueduct over a sloppy seven furlongs Dec. 28. Stretching out to nine furlongs in the Feb. 1 Withers Stakes, Captain Cook commanded 7-5 favoritism and delivered a measured 2 1/4-length victory (94 Beyer) despite breaking a touch tardily and stalking the leaders while three wide on both turns. His stretch run had a no-nonsense, focused quality to it. It might be two months before we see this colt in action again. Dutrow said he will aim for the Apr. 5 GII Wood Memorial Stakes, because he prefers longer spacing between races for Captain Cook, and believes that having two wins over the Aqueduct dirt (with one of them at the Wood's nine-furlong distance) is a plus. 8) EAST AVENUE (c, Medaglia d'Oro-Dance Music, by Ghostzapper). 'TDN Rising Star'. O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Brendan P. Walsh. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, $410,645. Last start: 9th Nov. 1 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile. 'TDN Rising Star' East Avenue (Medaglia d'Oro) closed at 15-1 odds in last month's Derby Future Wager, the fourth betting choice behind the mutuel field (4-1), Barnes (6-1) and Patch Adams (12-1). Bettors are not only being forgiving of East Avenue's blown break in the Breeders' Cup (when he was favored in the Juvenile and finished ninth after a poor start), but they're also factoring in that this Godolphin homebred has reportedly been thriving in his Fair Grounds training for the Feb. 15 GII Risen Star Stakes. This Brendan Walsh trainee won his first two starts by a combined 13 1/4 lengths. He dismantled an Aug. 24 Ellis Park maiden sprint field by eight lengths (86 Beyer), then wired the GI Breeders' Futurity by 5 1/4 lengths over the short-stretch 1 1/16-miles configuration at Keeneland. 9) KEEP IT EASY (c, Hard Spun-Boxwood, by English Channel). O-St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds, CJ Thoroughbreds. B-Mr. & Mrs. William L. Pape (KY). T-Dale L. Romans. Sales history: $435,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP. Lifetime record: 4-2-0-0, $207,671. Last start: WON Nov. 30 Ed Brown Stakes. Keep It Easy had been nominated for this past Saturday's GIII Holy Bull Stakes, but trainer Dale Romans opted to wait for the GII Fountain of Youth Stakes Mar. 1 instead. This $435,000 KEESEP colt by Hard Spun has been training at Gulfstream for his two-turn debut, and is now four breezes into his winter campaign after a 5 1/4-length runaway win despite absorbing a bump at the break in the 6 1/2-furlong Ed Brown Stakes at Churchill Downs. Two colts who finished behind Keep It Easy in that Nov. 30 stakes subsequently won stakes themselves. Runner-up Tough Catch (Complexity) took the Sugar Bowl Stakes at Fair Grounds at 2-5 odds in his next try, while sixth-place Coming in Hot (Maclean's Music) scored by 5 1/2 lengths in a Turfway allowance sprint, then won the Turfway Preview Stakes at 3-1 odds. The most notable name in Keep It Easy's company lines is the No. 2-ranked Sandman, who was favored at even money in his June 27 sprint debut but finished fifth behind this colt's second-start wiring of a Churchill sprint field at 23-1 odds. Keep It Easy's one ugly race is a total tossout: He blew the break at the start of the GII Saratoga Special Stakes and never recovered, finishing last. 10) RODRIGUEZ (c, Authentic-Cayala, by Cherokee Run). 'TDN Rising Star'. O-SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Tom J. Ryan, Waves Edge Capital LLC and Catherine Donovan; B-Kingswood Farm & David Egan (KY); T-Bob Baffert. Sales history: $485,000 Ylg KEESEP '23. Lifetime record: 3-1-2-0, $86,800. Last start: 2nd Feb. 1 GIII Robert B. Lewis Stakes. While everyone was raving over Citizen Bull's “champ is back” performance in last weekend's Lewis Stakes, his stablemate Rodriguez's sneaky-good, two-move effort to finish second got lost in the shuffle. This 'TDN Rising Star' by Authentic broke running, chased the favorite, then appeared to be falling out of contention with a half-mile to race. But Rodriguez wasn't spent. Jockey Juan Hernandez instead wanted him positioned outside instead of between horses for the far-turn run, and within a furlong Rodriguez was back on the prowl without losing significant momentum. This Bob Baffert trainee had no quit in him despite getting outkicked by the much more experienced Citizen Bull through the stretch, and he was the only other horse besides the winner finishing strongly. Hernandez wisely chose not to hammer on him in the final stages when it was evident this May 20 foal who was making his first start against winners was not going to reel in the Breeders' Cup winner and divisional champ. Burnham Square | Lauren King 11) BURNHAM SQUARE (g, Liam's Map-Linda, by Scat Daddy). O/B-Whitham Thoroughbreds, LLC (KY); T-Ian R. Wilkes. Lifetime Record: 4-2-1-1, $202,330. Last start: WON Feb.1 GIII Holy Bull Stakes. When equipped with blinkers for the first time in start number three, Burnham Square (Liam's Map) flashed speed and broke his maiden by nine lengths from post one in a 1 1/16-miles race Dec. 28 at Gulfstream. Attempting stakes company over the same short-stretch configuration Feb. 1, he drew the outermost seven post for the Holy Bull Stakes but came out slowly, dropping back to last while four wide in the early going. After repositioning down near the rail, Burnham Square commenced a bid up the fence with little coaxing, closing a gap that had him six lengths last 5 1/2 furlongs out but within one length of dueling leaders a furlong later. When one of the speedsters called it quits and dropped back, Burnham Square was briefly bottled up with nowhere to go. But he made his own clear path, bumping lightly with a rival entering the far turn while coming out for running room, again giving up four paths of real estate on the bend. Approaching the quarter pole, four different horses had already taken turns on the lead, and Burnham Square willingly chased the new frontrunner, the favored Tappan Street (Into Mischief), who had come over the top with what looked like a winning move. With more left to give, Burnham Square zeroed in on Tappan Street with purpose, and even though it took him the better part of the stretch to reel him in, the gelding responded to rousing before punching through at the sixteenth pole. Kept to task late, he won by 1 3/4-lengths, and the 90-Beyer effort was impressive considering his difficulty at the break, the lost ground on the turns, the backstretch traffic, and the fact that the race's finish line was at the sixteenth pole. Trainer Ian Wilkes said post-win that the Fountain of Youth Stakes Mar. 1 is “a strong possibility” for Burnham Square's next start. 12) JONATHAN'S WAY (c, Vekoma-Female Drama, by Indian Charlie). 'TDN Rising Star'. O-Rigney Racing, LLC; B-Susan L. Anderson Racing LLC (OH); T-Philip A. Bauer. Sales history: $290,000 Wlg '22 KEENOV). Lifetime record: GSW, 4-2-1-0, $268,530. Last start: 2nd Nov. 30 GII Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes. Jonathan's Way, who celebrates his third birthdate Feb. 5, is being aimed for the Risen Star Stakes, where he and East Avenue should take the brunt of the betting. This $290,000 KEENOV weanling won his first two starts in a manner that mirrored the early racing career of his sire, Vekoma. Both won six-furlong sprints in New York in their debuts, then scored as favorites in one-turn-mile stakes second time out. Jonathan's Way parlayed a 4 1/4-length maiden score at Saratoga Aug. 17 into a win in the Sept. 14 Iroquois Stakes. Vekoma (who had gotten a later start as a May 22 foal) won his Sept. 23, 2018, debut at Belmont, then took down the GIII Nashua Stakes. Their paths diverged from there. Jonathan's Way ran seventh with no obvious excuse in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, then wheeled back four weeks later with a gutsy second as the beaten .87-1 favorite in the GII Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill. He overcame a bump at the break, got hooked five wide off the far turn, then twice had to shift away from a tiring rival in the stretch. He dug in and was closing in on the impressive, No. 1-ranked First Resort, but came up 2 1/4 lengths short. Vekoma, by contrast, followed up his first two wins by running third in the GII Fountain of Youth Stakes, winning the then-GII Blue Grass Stakes, and finishing twelfth in the 2019 Kentucky Derby. After missing 10 months with foot ailments, Vekoma's connections cut him back to one-turn races in 2020, and he ended his career with three straight stakes victories, including the 2020 GI Metropolitan Handicap. Interestingly, winning a debut and then a stakes was also the career path for this colt's dam, Female Drama. In 2009, she wired two sprint races in New York as a juvenile to start her career, but never won again from four more starts. The post TDN Derby Top 12: An Eclectic Cast of Evenly Matched Characters appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Thoroughbred Owners of California recognized the state's leading owners by earnings, by number of total wins, and number of stakes wins for 2024. Reddam Racing, for the fourth consecutive year, is California's top owner by earnings.View the full article

Lou Hodges, Jr., a second-generation photographer who has captured horse racing images at the Fair Grounds since 1976, has announced his retirement. Hodges, Jr., who took over the family business in 1978, will now hand the reins over to his daughter, Amanda Weir Hodges. “Fair Grounds has been lucky to have Lou Hodges,” Senior Director of Racing Jason Boulet said. “Our racetrack, our horses, and our horsemen have come to life through the fantastic photos he has taken. We are very grateful for everything he and his family has given us, and we are fortunate to have his highly-respected daughter Amanda take over. Although Lou is retiring, his photos will always be here to tell Fair Grounds' story.” Hodges, Jr. spent plenty of his childhood at the racetrack with his father. “He would go out early in the mornings to deliver pictures to the trainers,” Hodges, Jr. said. “So I would go with him through the barn area and that's where I learned a lot about his relationship to the horsemen. He would walk into the barn to deliver pictures and everybody would always get excited. It was really something. He had a lot of friends on the racetrack. People really respected him.” Hodges, Jr. also worked as the track photographer at Rockingham Pak, Washington Park, Arlington Park and Louisiana Downs, and remarked on how the photography business has evolved down the years. “The technology changes always came along at the right time for me,” Hodges Jr. said. “More than anything that's what kept me really interested. It allowed me to always try to think of a new way to do a picture, some new angles, something different to shoot.” With so many years on the job, Hodges, Jr. has a sufficient number of stories to tell. “Washington Park, that was my first racetrack fire,” Hodges, Jr said. “They had not run Thoroughbred racing there for a number of years, but they decided to bring it back, and on Jan. 1 as we rode into town, the temperature dropped below freezing, then below zero. On Feb. 5, we had left to go back to our apartment and the track caught fire. All the fire hoses had frozen up and they just watched it burn down–there was nothing they could do.” “Then eight years later there was Arlington,” Hodges, Jr. said. “Eight years after that Fair Grounds burned down. So I've seen enough racetrack fires. When we got back to racing at Fair Grounds and were using tents, Pat Day was in the post parade and he saw me standing there and said 'Just being around you I feel like I should have a fire extinguisher.'” Hodges, Jr.'s daughter joined the operation in 2015. “Amanda's undergraduate degree from Ole Miss is in Art Education,” Lou said. “She came along with different ways of looking at things. Her computer skills with photoshop are outstanding. I was very fortunate that she decided to come into the business, it made life a lot easier.” “My father is still going to come out for the big race days,” Amanda said. “We joke that he is like the Rolling Stones. Will he ever really officially retire? Who knows.” This past Sunday, Fair Grounds celebrated Lou Hodges Jr.'s retirement, and the fourth race was run in his honor. The post Fair Grounds’ Photographer Lou Hodges, Jr. Announces Retirement appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Michael Guerin The Australian exclamation mark could be coming at the HRNZ annual awards in Christchurch this Saturday night. That is when the industry celebrates the good and the great of 2024. The night will feature a huge roll call of equine talent to honour as well as some of the people who make the industry tick and while it is always a special night it could be even more so for any Australians who make the trip across the Tasman. This year Australian-trained horses are eligible for age group and major awards. They will be judged on their performances on this side of the Tasman only. Last season saw the Australians dominate New Zealand’s major races and that could be reflected in the categories and even overall Horse of the Year voting. They won big races including the New Zealand Cup with Swayzee and the Auckland Cup with Better Eclipse, with Merlin flying the Kiwi flag in the Race by Grins. Those results alone will make for interesting voting: is a one-off NZ Cup win enough to earn Swayzee aged pacer of the year against, say, the Auckland and Invercargill Cup wins of Republican Party, who was also third in the NZ Cup? And if Merlin is, as looks likely, to win the Four-Year-Old of the Year would that and the Grins win give him a shot at Pacer of the Year? A little horse who casts a shadow over all the pacing winners will be recently-retired Australian trotting champion Just Believe, whose body of work here was close to a total domination. He won the first TAB Trot, the Rowe Cup and the Dominion and he and his connections are also enormously popular so he is certain to be in the running for Horse of the Year. The supreme award has of course been won by a trotter two of the last three years in Sundees Son but Australian-trained winners of the premier award are a far rarer occurrence. Flashing Red was half classed as an Aussie when he won in 2007 but was trained by Tim Butt for the wins that won him that title. So if one of the Aussies can claim the signature award this Saturday night they will join the elitist of clubs. The change of the calendar that sees most feature races run at the start or end of the season has also increased the competitiveness of the categories, with many having early season stars who will to be weighed up against later season form. One of the most open awards will be Three-Year-Old Male Pacer with Cold Chisel, Chase A Dream, Major Hot, Better Knuckle Up and We Walk By Faith all winning huge races and with no dominant performer. The juvenile pacing fillies also shared the honours around as did the older pacing and trotting mares, three-year-old male trotters and the four-year-old pacing mares. Where and when : NZB Standardbred HRNZ Annual Awards Saturday, February 8 Christian Cullen Lounge, Addington Raceway Doors open at 5.15pm, Awards begin 6.00pm View the full article

Edited Press Release The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) is pleased to announce the addition of Thoroughbred horsemen Michael Annechino, Neil Howard, Todd Mostoller and Justin Revak to its Horsemen's Advisory Group. Formed in 2022, this body of racing industry participants provides HISA's executive team and Standing Committees with formal feedback on the evolution of its Racetrack Safety Program and Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) Program. Its new members succeed outgoing Horsemen's Advisory Group members Timothy Keefe, Maggi Moss, Graham Motion and Kirk Wycoff. The Horsemen's Advisory Group has 18 members with a wide variety of viewpoints from across the racing industry. Its membership includes trainers, owners, bloodstock agents, horsemen's group representatives and veterinarians. “We are grateful to Timothy Keefe, Maggi Moss, Graham Motion and Kirk Wycoff for their invaluable contributions to HISA's mission,” said HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus. “Their unwavering dedication and keen insights have played a critical role in advancing HISA's rules, driving meaningful progress for the industry. We are excited to welcome our new members and look forward to learning from their extensive experience as we continue to build a safer and more unified framework for Thoroughbred racing.” The full list of the Horsemen's Advisory Group members can be found here. The post HISA Announces New Members To Horsemen’s Advisory Group appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

For the fourth consecutive year, Paul Reddam's Reddam Racing was the leading owner in California by total purse earnings, while Hronis Racing LLC led all California owners by number of victories, according to statistics released Monday by the Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC). Runners campaigned in the white-and-blue colors of Reddam Racing in California proved victorious 32 times from 252 starts for total purses of $2,031,442. Among the stable stars were the multiple stakes-winning Stay and Scam, a daughter of Reddam's Square Eddie, who also hit the board in the GIII Wilshire Stakes and GIII Royal Heroine Stakes. Other Reddam colorbearers to earn black-type include Don't Fight the Fed (Nyquist), Stolen Treasure (Nyquist) and Accidental Genius (I'll Have Another). Hronis collected 35 wins from 142 California starts for earnings of $1,720,310, topped by GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile hero Full Serrano (Arg) (Full Mast), Antifona (Fr) (Recoletos {Fr}) and Tapalo (Tapiture). Cuyathy LLC, owner and breeder of Eclipse Award finalist and top miler Johannes (Nyquist), and the partnership of Sondereker Racing, Kruljac, Fetkin, and Thornburgh each had five stakes wins in 2024. The top earner for the latter partnership is the outstanding Cal-bred sprinter The Chosen Vron (Vronsky). The post Reddam, Hronis Among 2024 Statistical Leaders In California appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Board of the Florida Thoroughbred Horsemen (FTH) met Monday to address HB 105, the pending legislation seeking decoupling in Florida that would allow Gulfstream Park to separate its gaming license from the requirement to continue to conduct live racing. The Board of the FTH voted unanimously against decoupling and is against the passage of HB 105. Their statement issued Monday reads: “The future of Thoroughbred racing in South Florida is too important and too uncertain if HB 105 is passed. We cannot take that risk without a definitive plan going forward. “The organization wants to actively engage and work with 1/ST RACING and Gulfstream regarding the future of racing in South Florida. We have requested a series of meetings with 1/ST and Gulfstream so that the interested parties can collectively come up with a sustainable solution that would be in the best interest of racing. “Unless and until that solution is developed and agreed upon, the Florida Thoroughbred Horsemen will be against decoupling or any legislation that threatens continued Thoroughbred racing in South Florida.” The FTH joins many of their counterparts in other jurisdictions (THA, KTA) and major industry shareholders such as Hill 'n' Dale Farm's John Sikura, in coming down against the legislation. The post FTHA Issue Statement Opposing Decoupling Legislation appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A Letter To The Industry from Damon Thayer The Florida State Legislature is facing a crossroads similar to what we in Kentucky's General Assembly faced in early 2021. At stake, as it was in Kentucky, is the future of the labor-intensive horseracing and breeding industry in that state. With strong support from horsemen whose livelihoods were at risk, Kentucky lawmakers passed legislation that allowed the racing industry to invest in itself by protecting tracks' ability to conduct and benefit from another parimutuel product known as historical horse racing (HHR). Today, Kentucky has the strongest racing circuit in America, with tracks creating hundreds of new jobs and billions of dollars in economic investment. By contrast, passage of Florida's HB 105 would permit Gulfstream Park to sever the legislatively mandated connection between its gaming license and conducting live horse racing. Gulfstream's ownership, which wants to build a casino and hotel on the property, says that's the only way the historic track will survive for three more years, but unlikely beyond that. But past performances tell another story: it would end horse racing in south Florida and cripple the state's important Thoroughbred breeding industry. When the Kentucky industry was threatened by a judicial action (a state Supreme Court deciding HHR was unconstitutional after 10 years of favorable legal opinions), it required a legislative remedy. Now racing in Florida is threatened by a desire to change a long-standing legislative remedy designed to help the horse industry to compete with the state's full-blown casinos (currently standing at eight). Racing is heavily regulated and continues to thrive in states where the industry has a strong relationship with the legislature, where the industry can tell its story and the legislature can make vital decisions about its future and health. Now is the time for everyone who cares about live horse racing and breeding in Florida–and that should include not just the Sunshine State but every other racing jurisdiction–to band together and tell Tallahassee the Florida Thoroughbred industry's story. According to the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association statistics, thoroughbreds alone account for: $3.24-billion annual economic impact 87,600 thoroughbreds in the state 33,500 jobs While I'm proud of the strength of Kentucky racing and breeding, I also know that it's important that the industry is strong in other states. It's all part of the North American ecosystem. If the Florida legislature doesn't care about that, lawmakers should care about protecting the tens of thousands of jobs and hundreds of thousands of acres of green space within its borders. The Florida legislature can't force Gulfstream Park to continue live horse racing. But lawmakers shouldn't make it easy to abandon such a vital agri-business, job-creator and tourism attraction. It's important to remember that Gulfstream Park would never have gotten its gaming license in the first place if not for conducting live horse racing. Pompano Park is the cautionary tale for Florida lawmakers. Once the Standardbred industry's premier winter track, Pompano closed three years ago, one year after decoupling legislation was passed for harness racing. Breeding horses is a long-term investment. The foals of 2026 resulting from mares that will be bred starting this month won't reach the racetrack until at least 2028, the last year for which Gulfstream Park says it will guarantee live racing if the decoupling legislation is approved. (And if not approved, Gulfstream Park's consultant Keith Brackpool has said the track almost assuredly will close much sooner.) Just the threat of Gulfstream Park closing in the next few years will take a toll. Uncertainty in the marketplace creates added risk and therefore less investment in any industry, especially those where the payoff is several years away. Not to diminish the importance of Tampa Bay Downs–a true gem itself with its 4 1/2-month winter racing season and one of my favorite tracks–but there would now be far less incentive to have a mare foal in Florida. A year from now, how many of those mares will be shipped out to give birth in Kentucky, New York, Louisiana or Pennsylvania–pick a state–to take advantage of those states' viable breeders incentives? HB 105 would devastate Ocala. Marion County's 75,000 horses account for the largest single-county equine population in the United States. Of those, 34,000 are Thoroughbreds. One in five of Marion County's jobs–or 28,500 total employment–involve the horse industry, according to the FTBOA. It's not just Florida-bred horses and broodmares that are vital to the Florida industry's health. Thousands of young horses are sent there from all over the country to get their earliest training on Florida farms and training centers. Horsemen from all over the East Coast and Midwest reside at least four months over the winter to train and race in Florida, spending millions of dollars in lodging, food, sales tax and horse feed, bedding and supplies. Just like Kentucky, Florida is an exporter of Thoroughbreds. One example: the Ocala Breeders Sales, among the pre-eminent sellers of 2-year-olds in the world, sold a total 4,147 horses (all ages), fetching a total of $180 million in 2024. It's the job of government to create an environment where industries can thrive. HB 105 would do just the opposite. There's a way for world-class horse racing to co-exist with a large casino and hotel without sacrificing tens of thousands of jobs, hundreds of thousands of acres of green space and an important tourism magnet. Florida's legislature should vote for its horse-racing industry by not passing HB 105. Damon Thayer recently stepped down after 22 years in the Kentucky General Assembly, the last 12 as Senate Majority Floor Leader. He has served in numerous capacities in track management, marketing and publicity, work that continues with his Thayer Communications and Consulting marketing company. Thayer is a partner in racehorses through C.J. Thoroughbreds, including horses racing at Gulfstream Park. The post As Did Kentucky, Florida Legislature Should Bet On Live Racing appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

It was announced in a joint statement on Monday that representatives of the Thoroughbred Group and the Racecourse Association (RCA) have undertaken a commitment to work together to pursue the signing of an industry-wide commercial partnership structure. These partnerships would see a commercial link formed between participants and racecourses to share the revenue that is generated by the sport. This is agreed to be a critical requirement if the industry is to reward owners and provide racegoers and bettors with competitive and engaging racing. In turn, it is hoped that this will improve the experience and returns for those who invest in the sport, as well as the outlook for the businesses and individuals that depend on it to earn their living. It was reported that work remains to get the first of these agreements in place but that significant progress has already been made between the Thoroughbred Group, the RCA and racecourses in recent months. This has included the sharing of financial statements in order to facilitate the drafting of proposals, for ongoing discussion, that will enable all racecourses to be evaluated equitably relative to each other, regardless of their business model, with the intent of encouraging greater investment in-prize money. Charlie Boss, interim CEO of the Jockey Club, said, “We continue to work closely with the Thoroughbred Group and share their vision for a constructive, transparent and collaborative relationship between racecourses and participants, which we believe is vital for British racing's future. “For some years now we have been meeting with industry groups and individuals to explain our financial performance and how money flows back through the sport. We welcome collaboration with the RCA and the Thoroughbred Group as the formally recognised bodies representing racecourses and participants on the commercial partnerships structure.” Paul Johnson, chief executive of the National Trainers Federation (NTF), added, “With participants' businesses coming under increasing financial pressure, the foal crop down and a number of owners leaving the sport, we recognise that there is a critical, and urgent, need for change. “We believe that commercial partnerships between racecourses and participants must be the first step in enabling differing stakeholder groups to function collectively to safeguard the future of British racing. A great deal of progress has already been made between the RCA, racecourses and the Thoroughbred Group and this commitment underlines the desire to put in place an agreement that can benefit the sport as a whole.” The post Thoroughbred Group and RCA to Collaborate on Commercial Partnership Goal appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The 2022 GII Demoiselle Stakes victress 'TDN Rising Star' Julia Shining (Curlin) has been retired and will be bred to leading sire Into Mischief, according to a tweet by Stonestreet on X. A full-sister to two-time champion MGISW Malathaat, also a 'Rising Star' for owner Shadwell Stable, Julia Shining claimed her own black-type at the elite level when she ran third in the GI Central Bank Ashland Stakes in 2023 at Keeneland. Her last start was a second-place effort Jan. 11 at Aqueduct in the Listed Ladies Stakes. Julia Shining and her sister continued a remarkable line of 'TDN Rising Stars' for the family, as their dam GISW Dreaming of Julia (A.P. Indy) was also a recipient of the moniker as were her half-siblings MGSW Dream Pauline (Tapit) and MSW Atreides (Medaglia d'Oro). Second dam Dream Rush (Wild Rush) was a multiple Grade I winner and twice placed at the highest level as well. “Welcome home, Julia Shining!” read the X statement. “This graded stakes winning daughter of champion Curlin and the remarkable MGSW Dreaming of Julia is officially joining our broodmare band! She will be bred to Into Mischief.” The post Graded Winner Julia Shining Retired to Stonestreet, to Visit Into Mischief appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Nominations for every Arqana sale will be made solely through the MyARQANA+ platform from today, with all vendors invited to create an account. Existing MyARQANA accounts will not be automatically transferred to the new platform. Designed to simplify the entire process for vendors, the new MyARQANA+ platform is designed to offer an optimised and seamless process for the management of horses entered at Arqana's sales. Intended initially for vendors, the tool manages every stage of the process, from nominating a horse to going under the hammer. Every breeder, consignor or owner can use it to: Nominate their horses Check their pedigrees and make corrections Submit health documents Access various documents useful for the sales (such as the letter to vendors) Put conformation photos and videos directly online following entry Sign purchase confirmation forms A hotline has been set up until the close of nominations on Friday, March 7 to help people get to grips with using the tool if necessary. The post MyARQANA+ Launched for Vendors Nominating their Horses appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Loved finally got over the graded stakes hump last time out with a victory in the Falls City Stakes (G3). Now, she aims for two in a row as she faces five rivals traveling 1 1/16 miles in the $250,000 Bayakoa Stakes (G3) Feb. 8 at Oaklawn Park.View the full article

The Burns family have been producing top-class racehorses from Lodge Park Stud in County Kilkenny since the early 1970s. Derby winner New Approach (Ire) and Oaks heroine Was (Ire) feature among the farm's long roll of honour and another milestone was achieved last autumn when Lodge Park Stud achieved a world record price for a yearling colt when selling their son of Wootton Bassett (GB) to Amo Racing at 4.3 million gns. That colt hailed from Galileo (Ire) mare Park Bloom (Ire), whose sister Al Naamah (Ire) at the time set a European record at Book 1 when selling for 5 million gns 11 years previously. Safe to say the Burns family know a thing or two about the game. The modus operandi for this thriving stud farm is quality over quantity. In fact, the slogan 'small on numbers, big on quality,' is the caption on Lodge Park Stud's X page while the Burns family make no bones about the fact that the objective is to breed for the racetrack rather than the sales ring. Such a business model has not just sustained the farm but has allowed it to thrive and Damian Burns, who helps run the family's stud alongside his brother Jamie, joined the TDN's Conversations podcast to look back on the breeding stock sales from 2024, discuss his philosophy to breeding, building up his own band of broodmares under the Lodge Park banner and a whole lot more. “I've been standing at stable doors long enough and I suppose it's a privilege to have been able to grow up in a thriving commercial enterprise,” Burns told TDN Europe's Brian Sheerin. “What I have learned is that it's when you breed those [top-class] racehorses, that's what acts as the biggest ambassador for the stud farm. Okay, you might have made huge money in the sales ring but why did they make huge money in the sales ring? It's because New Approach won the Derby or because Was won the Oaks.” He added, “The racetrack comes first for us. So, when you breed an elite racehorse like New Approach, that's what people really stand up and take notice of. And I've learned that that's what drives everything. And if you are not breeding those black-type horses, people are going to walk away. They're not going to come back to you.” To listen to the audio version of this podcast, click here. The post Conversations: Damian Burns Looks Back On The Breeding Stock Sales And More appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article