Wandering Eyes

Haunui Farm’s strong run of form has continued with Grande Gallo their latest graduate to stamp her credentials as a stakes winner in waiting. High-class three-year-old Linebacker has led the recent charge with the son of Super Seth claiming top honours in the Gr.1 Randwick Guineas (1600m). Bred by GSA Bloodstock, he was purchased out of Haunui’s draft at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale for $160,000 by co-trainer John O’Shea and Suman Hedge Bloodstock. The Karaka nursery also co-bred and races the last-start Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series Final (1400m) winner Francee, a daughter of Iffraaj in Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson’s stable. And now, homebred Grande Gallo has continued the Haunui roll with a successful open class debut at Tauranga on Saturday. The powerful four-year-old by Belardo owns the tidy record of five wins from 12 starts for the Wexford Stables training combination of Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott. “Medrano was a lovely, big mare and a good type and that’s what Grande Gallo was, a very strong yearling,” Haunui Managing Director Mark Chitty said. “She made $85,000 during the second session at Karaka and for a filly to make that, she had to be a pretty good type.” The Listed Team Wealleans Tauranga Classic (1400m) on June 21 now looms as a potential target race for Grande Gallo. “She’s proving to be a more than handy mare who loves Tauranga (three wins) so it would be nice to see her get some black type,” Chitty said. “She’s from our foundation family and Wexford have placed her really well. “She goes back to Foxona, a Foxbridge mare my grandparents purchased back in the 1950s off Trelawney.” Grande Gallo is out of the General Nediym mare Medrano, whose half-sister Dopff won eight races including the Gr.2 Bluebird Foods Trophy (1600m). They represent a celebrated family of Group winners including Valpolicella and her offspring Vavasour, Catalonia-Vilanova and Celebrity Dream, Zourion, Pearl Of Alsace, Positivity, Pussy Willow and Saracino. “We sold On The Rise (Medrano’s dam) and then we bought Medrano back (for $25,000 at a Karaka May Sale),” Chitty said. “We had partners in her and then we later bought them out.” She produced six winners and among them Grande Gallo’s sister Fonsalette who was a multiple Group-placed two-year-old. Medrano has since been sold but Haunui are continuing to breed from her winning Commands daughter St Gallen. “The family continues to produce nice horses, which is all you can hope for, and St Gallen is in foal to Almanzor and we sold her Ribchester filly ($25,000) to Ian Middleton’s Exempt Bloodstock this year,” Chitty said. Exempt are also part-owners of U S Navy Flag filly War Princess who maintained her unbeaten record with victory at Wanganui on Saturday to set the Peter Didham-trained youngster on a path to the Gr.1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m). View the full article

As impressive as Book'em Danno's seasonal debut was March 14, and as eager as his connections are to prove his talent on a world stage, the $1-million Godolphin Mile on April 5 in Dubai has been ruled out for his next start.View the full article

Just over a decade after Colonial Downs was shuttered, the track, which re-opened for Thoroughbred racing in 2019, enjoyed arguably its finest day March 15. View the full article

Explore a multitude of captivating racing promotions offered by horse racing bookmakers on Monday, March 17. Immerse yourself in the thrill with generous bonus back offers, elevating your betting experience. Delve into these promotions from top-tier online bookmakers to maximise your betting opportunities. The top Australian racing promotions for March 17, 2025, include: Today’s best horse racing promotions Blonde Boosts! Elevate your prices! BlondeBet T&C’s Apply, Only for eligible customers. Login to BlondeBet to Claim Promo COPYCASH. GET COPIED. GET PAID – Get paid $0.10 every time someone uses Copy Bet to copy your bets Earn $0.10 per unique Copy Bet. Max $1000 per week. Copy Cash is real money into your account. Dabble T&Cs apply. Login to Dabble to Claim Promo 10 AGAIN! – Beaudesert Get 10% Boosted Winnings paid in BONUS CASH. Max bonus $100. First bet only. Paid in bonus cash. Cash Bets Only. Picklebet T&Cs apply. Login to Picklebet to Claim Promo Daily Multi Insurance Any Race. Any Runner. Any Odds. Get a Bonus Back if your Multi loses by a specified number of legs. Fixed odds only. Check your Vault for eligibility. T&C’s apply. Login to UniBet to Claim Promo Owners Bonus – Win a bet on your horse & receive an extra 15% of winnings in cash Account holder must be registered as an official owner of the nominated horse. Fixed odds only. PlayUp T&Cs Apply. Login to PlayUp to Claim Promo Odds Drift Protector If the price at the jump is bigger than the price that you took, we will pay you out at the bigger odds Eligible customers. T&C’s apply. Login to Bet365 to Claim Promo BoomBet Daily Race Returns Use your daily Race Returns to back a runner in ANY RACE you want* and if your horse doesn’t win but finishes in the specified positions, you get your stake back as a bonus bet. 18+ Gamble responsibly. Can be used across any race and code unless specified in customer’s BoomBox. Fix odds, win bets only. Max bonus $50. Login to BoomBet to Claim Promo How does horsebetting.com.au source its racing bonus offers? HorseBetting.com.au meticulously assesses leading Australian horse racing bookmakers, revealing thoroughbred bonus promotions for March 17, 2025. These ongoing offers underscore the dedication of top horse racing bookmakers. In the realm of horse racing betting, when one bookmaker isn’t featuring a promotion, another is stepping up. Count on HorseBetting.com.au as your go-to source for daily rewarding horse racing bookmaker bonuses. Enhance your value with competitive odds and promotions tailored for existing customers. Easily access these offers by logging in to each online bookmaker’s platform. For valuable insights into races and horses to optimise your bonus bets, trust HorseBetting’s daily free racing tips. Horse racing promotions View the full article

On Sunday at Gulfstream Park, White Abarrio (Race Day) drilled five panels for trainer Saffie Joseph in 1:00.20, ranking third of 20 horses. The four-time Grade I-winning millionaire, who captured the Jan. 25 Pegasus World Cup last out, is being pointed to the GIII Ghostzapper Stakes on the Florida Derby undercard. “He went well,” Joseph said. “He sat off his workmate and went on strong in his gallop out. It was a good work, so he's going to the Ghostzapper in good order.” Also making the rounds for the Florida-based conditioner was the third-place finisher from the GII Coolmore Fountain of Youth Stakes, Neoequos (Neolithic). The Florida Derby hopeful went five furlongs in :58.90 seconds, which was the fastest of 20 horses at the distance. Over his home track in Hallandale, the colt has a pair of wins, two seconds and a third in six starts. Last fall he was runner-up in two legs of the Florida Sire Series for 2-year-olds. “He worked good,” said Joseph. “He worked in company, he took some dirt early and finished up well. He beat his workmate pretty handily. All things being well he's going to run in the Florida Derby.” The post Joseph Barn Drillers Include White Abarrio And Florida Derby Hopeful Neoequos appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Quietside's time was the fastest of 26 published at the distance, with clockers catching her galloping out six furlongs in 1:12 and seven furlongs in 1:26 4/5. The track was rated fast.View the full article

San Felipe (G2) winner Journalism, trained by Michael McCarthy, was clocked working four furlongs in :48 1/5 March 16. He is targeting the Santa Anita Derby (G1) at 1 1/8 miles on April 5.View the full article

Just over a decade after Colonial Downs was shuttered, the track—which re-opened for Thoroughbred racing in 2019—enjoyed arguably its finest day March 15. View the full article

Saturday's canceled card will be moved in its entirety to March 18. First post at 12:45 pm CT. The season will end with a six-day racing week, culminating with the Louisiana Derby Day card March 22 and closing day March 23.View the full article

'TDN Rising Star' Quietside (Malibu Moon) put in her last major workout for the GII Fantasy Stakes, covering five furlongs in :59.60 Sunday morning at Oaklawn under Ramon Vazquez. The 'Rising Star's' time was the fastest of 26 published at the distance, with clockers catching her galloping out six furlongs in 1:12 and seven furlongs in 1:26.80. The track was rated fast. “It was a strong five-eighths,” said trainer John Ortiz. “We'll come back next week and give her a maintenance [half-mile]. She did it really well today.” Entries will be accepted and post positions drawn Mar. 23 for the Fantasy, which anchors the Arkansas Derby card at Oaklawn Mar. 29 and is the final major prep at the track for the GI Kentucky Oaks. Future Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) swept both races in 2024. The Fantasy will offer 200 total points–100-50-25-15-10, respectively–to the top five finishers toward starting eligibility for the Oaks. Quietside tops the 'Lilies' leaderboard with 68 points. The post ‘TDN Rising Star’ Quietside Continues Work For Fantasy At Oaklawn appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sand Devil had his first work back since a runner-up effort in the Gotham Stakes (G3) March 1, covering a half-mile in :49 flat in company March 15 over the Belmont Park dirt training track. View the full article

Last year's Champion 3-year-old male and 'TDN Rising Star' Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) will return to Fair Grounds to make his 4-year-old bow in the 100th running of the GII New Orleans Classic on Saturday. Tabbed as the 7-5 morning line favorite, Sierra Leone will face nine other opponents including the highly-regarded winner of the GIII Mineshaft Stakes at Fair Grounds Feb. 15, Hall of Fame (Gun Runner). As reported by TDN's Senior Contributing Editor Alan Carasso, Sierra Leone's trainer Chad Brown had made plans for the colt to make his 4-year-old debut in the G1 Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh back Feb. 22. However, an abscess on the champion's coronet band forced the trainer to cancel a key workout. The GII Oaklawn Handicap was a potential target, but the pivot to New Orleans–where the colt won the GII Risen Star Stakes just over a year ago–materialized as the latest move. In the New Orleans Classic, the $2.3-million topper from the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale will once again be guided by fellow Eclipse winner Flavien Prat and will break from post seven. Never out of the money in eight graded stakes tries and with earnings in excess of $6 million, Sierra Leone is co-owned by Peter Brant, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg, and Brook Smith. During his stellar 3-year-old season, the colt took home the GI Toyota Blue Grass Stakes ahead of his second place run in GI Kentucky Derby. Sierra Leone's top accomplishment on his way to being named last year's Eclipse champion came when the dark bay won the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar. The post Champion Sierra Leone Set To Make 4-Year-Old Start In GII New Orleans Classic On Saturday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

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San Felipe (G2) winner Journalism, trained by Michael McCarthy, was clocked working four furlongs in :48 2/5 March 16. He is targeting the Santa Anita Derby (G1) at 1 1/8 miles on April 5.View the full article

Lady Shenandoah cemented her status as Australia's best filly when she secured her third group 1 triumph with a victory in the Coolmore Classic (G1) March 15 at Rosehill.View the full article

Just over a decade after Colonial Downs was shuttered, the track—which re-opened for thoroughbred racing in 2019—enjoyed arguably its finest day March 15. View the full article

5th-Gulfstream, $70,000, Msw, 3-16, 3yo, f, 6f, 1:11.00, ft, neck. DRY POWDER (f, 3, Gun Runner–Tell All, by Broken Vow) came into this debut with a sparkling price tag and a three-strong string of bullet works at Palm Meadows. Showing the way under pressure through :22.52 and a half in :45.75, she locked horns with Practical Lov (Practical Joke) as they swung into the lane and briefly lost the advantage as they got to mid-stretch. Battling back gamely, Dry Powder would not be denied and she came back on the rail to beat that challenger in a photo. Dry Powder is the most recent to the races for Tell All and the dam's second winner. She has a juvenile filly by Candy Ride (Arg) in the wings as her last registered offspring and is due to the late Uncle Mo this year. Tell All is a half-sister to MGSW Overheard (Macho Uno), the most accomplished of all her siblings, and they hail from the immediate female family of GISW Confessional (Holy Bull). Sales history: $525,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $42,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Gold Square LLC; B-Corser Thoroughbreds LLC (KY); T-Chad Summers. DRY POWDER ($6.60) was game as can be down the lane! She breaks her maiden on debut in the 5th at @GulfstreamPark under @LPanici. @horsesummers trains the 3-year-old Gun Runner (@Three_Chimneys) filly for owner @goldsquare88. Play the late Pick 5: https://t.co/RNKSWDl51a pic.twitter.com/wh4kG6hnVf — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) March 16, 2025 The post Gun Runner’s Dry Powder Ultra Game in Gulfstream Unveiling appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

That the figures recently released by the Jockey Club from its Equine Injury Database showed another significant drop in the number of fatalities was good news, but hardly surprising news. The numbers seem to get better every year. But dig deeper into the data presented by the Jockey Club and there is a number that is quite surprising and encouraging. In 2024, dirt tracks were almost as safe as synthetic tracks. There were 1.18 fatalities per 1,000 starts on the dirt, which came very close to the number in the same category for synthetic tracks, which was 1.02. Compare that to ten years earlier, when the number for dirt was 2.02 per 1,000 starts and 1.20 on synthetic surfaces. Ever since, the gap has been narrowing. The Southern California dirt tracks, once considered among the most dangerous surfaces in the sport, are leading the way. On the dirt, Santa Anita had just one fatality from 2,579 starts. In 2019–a dark period in Santa Anita's history when the equine safety issue became front page news–the number was 13. At Del Mar in 2024, there was also just one fatality on the dirt from 1,709 starts. According to Dr. Michael “Mick” Peterson, executive director of the Racing Surfaces Testing Laboratory (RSTL) and professor of Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering at the University of Kentucky, the reason why dirt is getting so much safer is simple–tracks around the country have made huge strides forward in recent years to make their dirt surfaces more consistent and more comparable to one another. “You've got to give HISA credit for this because everybody's on the same page. It's just that simple,” said Peterson. ” Since HISA went into effect in July of 2022, the RSTL has been responsible for overseeing pre-meet inspections, material testing and daily measurements at all racetracks under HISA's jurisdiction. Dr. Mick Peterson | Horsephotos “At our pre-meet inspections, Branden [Brookfield, the RSTL on-site testing manager] will sit down with the tracks, he'll talk to them about the things he's seeing. [If there's a problem], nine times out of ten they'll say, 'oh yeah, I know.' And they'll fix it,” said Peterson. As track operators face an increasingly unpredictable environment thanks to climate change, the question of consistency and variability from one dirt track to another is proving an increasingly important one. Data was presented during last year's Jockey Club Welfare and Safety Summit breaking dirt surfaces into four climate groups. Dirt tracks in hot dry climates had an average 1.31 fatality rate per 1,000 starts, making them the safest. The dirt surfaces in climates with hot summers and cold, freezing winters had the worst equine fatality rates (1.53 fatalities per 1,000 starts). Which is why the RSTL's centralized electronic database through which information is shared among tracks and with HISA has been so vital. “When you talk to Parx they can look at Delaware. When you talk to Delaware they can look at Laurel. We're completely transparent with them. And if they've got any questions they call. At the end of the day, all the horses shipping back and forth are seeing more consistent surfaces,” said Peterson. “All the barriers are gone and it's working,” Peterson added. Virginia-Maryland Circuit An Example For Others to Follow In a rare show of cooperation in a sport where everyone seems to be looking out for No.1, the new Maryland Jockey Club and Colonial Downs have formed a circuit. When Laurel or Pimlico is running, Colonial will be dark. When Colonial races, the Maryland tracks will not. It's a good idea, but it's apparently going to need time to catch on. Colonial ran a special three-day meet over last weekend, with the feature attractions being the Virginia Derby and the Virginia Oaks. Both races were previously held in the late summer and were run on the grass. They moved to the dirt and were run Saturday, making them races with qualifying points for the GI Kentucky Derby and the GI Kentucky Oaks. With no other prep races being run for the Derby over the weekend, the Virginia Derby filled a void. The fans clearly bought into the concept. Colonial is a small facility, so they put a limit on the attendance at 8,000. Last Wednesday they announced that the day was sold out. American Promise punches his ticket to the Derby | Coady Media Both races delivered. Making just her second career start, Fondly (Upstart) proved she's a legitimate contender for the Kentucky Oaks with a half-length win in the Virginia Oaks. In the Virginia Derby, Wayne Lukas did what he so often does, winning big races with a longshot who doesn't look like they can win on paper. After running fifth, beaten 13 lengths in the GII Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds, the Lukas-trained American Promise (Justify) demolished the competition, winning by 7 3/4 lengths. In doing so, he punched his ticket to the Kentucky Derby. The downside of the meet was that there were too many small fields. Over three days they ran 26 races, which attracted 152 starters. That's an average field size of 5.68. Maybe that should have been expected. Over the weekend, Colonial mainly had to draw horses from Maryland. Those who normally race at Colonial won't arrive until the track opens its main meet, which runs from July 9 to Sept. 13. By then, Colonial will have two distinct horse populations to draw from and should offer a racing product superior to that at any other Mid-Atlantic track. Laurel should also benefit, as long as it can get the Colonial horsemen to stick around and race in Maryland the rest of the year. Circuits will work. They will help with field size, which is a problem in the Mid-Atlantic, where there is way too much racing, and they should result in increased purses. Maryland racing relies on a subsidy from the state and Colonial has fattened its purse because it has Historical Horse Racing machines. By running fewer dates at both places, the slices of the purse pie will be bigger. Let's hope the Colonial-Laurel experiment is successful and inspires others to do the same. A Monmouth Park-Parx circuit should be a no-brainer, but things like that rarely come together in racing. No Dubai For “Danno” Jersey-bred star Book 'em Danno (Bucchero) was supposed to be using last Friday's Boston Handicap at Colonial Downs as a prep for a trip to Dubai. Trainer Derek Ryan said he was considering the $2 million G2 Dubai Golden Shaheen Stakes at six furlongs and the $1 million G2 Godolphin Mile. Both races are run on Apr. 5. Book'em Danno is back in the winner's circle | Coady Media But after Book 'em Danno won by 2 1/2 lengths over just two competitors, Ryan has changed his mind. “He's up here in Ocala, rolling around in a round pen right now,” he said. “We're not going to Dubai. It's too close. I'd have to ship next Sunday. It's three weeks and I don”t like to run back in three weeks. Then you miss the early summer races here. Right now, it just doesn't fit in.” Despite the small field, which also included Repo Rocks (Tapiture) and Celtic Contender (Irish War Cry), Danno was tested and didn't pull clear until late. “I know it scratched down to a small field but they were the three main players entered in the race,” Ryan said. “We got what we wanted out of it. They ran fast but good horses will do that. The other two were both stakes winners, legitimate hard knocking horses. And they were older horses, which gave them a big edge. But we got a perfect trip, a perfect everything.” So far as where Book 'em Danno will start next, Ryan said he has yet to come up with a schedule. –Dan Ross contributed to this story. The post Week In Review: Dirt Tracks Getting Safer Every Year appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Top 3-year-old Journalism (Curlin) returned to the work tab Sunday at Santa Anita following his victory in the GII San Felipe Stakes Mar. 2. Journalism and jockey Umberto Rispoli hit the track together under darkness at about 6:30 a.m. PT. The colt, trained by Michael McCarthy, was clocked working four furlongs in :48.20. He is targeting the GI Santa Anita Derby at 1 1/8 miles Apr. 5. “Very good,” McCarthy said of the drill. Rispoli reacted with a wide grin and a thumbs up. In the San Felipe, Journalism ran down previously unbeaten Barnes (Into Mischief) in deep stretch and won going away by 1 3/4 lengths with Rispoli aboard. The effort earned a 108 Beyer Speed Figure, which is tied for the highest posted by a 3-year-old this year. Journalism Runs Down Favorite Barnes And Wins The Grade II, $300,000 DK Horse San Felipe Stakes For 3-Year-Olds Going 1 1/16 pic.twitter.com/UsrF8Rdtc8 — Santa Anita Park (@santaanitapark) March 2, 2025 In this weekend's Kentucky Derby Future Wager, Journalism opened as the 3-1 favorite and remained the favorite at 5-1 as of Sunday morning. Journalism has banked $338,880 in earnings for breeder Don Alberto Stable and co-owners Bridlewood Farm, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Elayne Stables 5 LLC and Robert V. LaPenta. He also won the GII Los Alamitos Futurity in December. Bullard (Gun Runner), another graded stakes-winning 3-year-old for McCarthy, worked for the first time in four weeks. The 'TDN Rising Star' was clocked going four furlongs in :48.60 seconds. Bullard has not started since finishing third in the GII San Vicente Stakes Jan. 4. McCarthy called it a “nice work” and added Bullard is also possible to return in the Santa Anita Derby. “We're keeping all of our options open,” McCarthy said. Trainer Bob Baffert's workers included 3-year-old Madaket Road (Quality Road) and multiple stakes winner Casalu (Caracaro). Madaket Road went four panels in :46.40 seconds. It was the fastest of 72 works at the distance. In two starts this year, the Quality Road colt finished second in the GII Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Feb. 23 and was third in the GIII Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita Feb. 1. He is also part of this weekend's Kentucky Derby Future Wager. Casalu worked four furlongs in 49 flat. In two starts at the Classic Meet–both on grass–the 3-year-old filly won the Blue Norther Stakes in December and the Sweet Life Stakes Feb. 9. Kopion (Omaha Beach) worked four furlongs in :48.40 seconds for trainer Richard Mandella. Winner of the GI La Brea Stakes in December and GII Santa Monica Stakes Feb. 1, the 4-year-old had to miss last weekend's Beholder Mile because of illness. The filly has earned $434,600 for owner Spendthrift Farm. There were a combined 244 workouts between the main track and training track at 'The Great RIP' on Sunday. The post Journalism Leads Cadre Of Santa Anita Workers On Sunday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Dog Penalties LOVE LIKE OURS | Christchurch 10 March; marring; stood down for 28 days and must complete trial. MITCHAM WILLY | Southland 12 March; collapsed at lure; must complete trial with veterinary clearance required. GOLDSTAR LENNON | Christchurch 14 March; showed unreasonable aggression at lure; must complete trial. Protest EARNESTNESS | Auckland 9 March (heard Cambridge 13 March); ineligible nomination; disqualified from 2nd. The post 10-16 March 2025 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

Fozzy Stack shares his loathing of the limelight, quest for finding a good horse and more There is a famous quote attributed to Benjamin Disraeli that says, “talk to a man about himself, and he will listen for hours.” Poor old Benjamin clearly never spent a morning in the company of Fozzy Stack-a man who is nothing short of allergic to any form of self praise or adulation. For the best part of 25 years, Fozzy has sent out a raft of high-class winners for some of the biggest names in the sport. Yet, the 45-year-old, who officially took over the licence from his legendary father Tommy in 2017, would prefer to talk about anything other than his accomplishments in the game. And there have been plenty of those. Aspen Grove (Ire) (Justify) delivered a breakthrough success at the highest level for Fozzy when landing the Belmont Oaks a couple of years ago. That was a significant one, given it came in the colours of owner Craig Bernick, who is as much of a friend as he is a patron to the stable. Then there is the fact that Fozzy has sent out a listed or Group winner every year that he has held the licence. No mean feat for a trainer operating in a jurisdiction as competitive as Ireland and for one who keeps his string to just 50 horses most years. But even more impressive than those achievements on the track is Fozzy's ability to swat away any unwanted questions or attention just as you would a persistent wasp that has been hovering in front of your face on a warm summer's day. Fozzy's lack of interest in dealing in small talk shouldn't be taken as cold or even rude. He's just not wired that way. And, do you know what, in a game full of people who don't mind tooting their own horn, Fozzy's approach is a refreshing one. Unless, of course, you are a journalist. “I prefer to let other people do the talking,” he says unapologetically, sneaking in a cigarette whilst out of sight of the eldest of his three children, Emelia, who is busy calling the shots to jockeys Seamie Heffernan and Joey Sheridan on a bitterly cold morning. “A good horse is a dangerous thing in anyone's hands,” he adds, further deflecting any form of conversation from himself. “What some people may deem to be good trainers or bad trainers, they've enjoyed success simply because they have come across a good horse. So I don't think this is a game where you can become too egotistical. It all goes back to the horse.” Belmont Oaks winner Aspen Grove | Sarah Andrew Irish 1,000 Guineas heroine Tarascon (Ire) (Tirol {Ire}), Royal Ascot winner Lolly For Dolly (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}), and Prix Morny scorer Myboycharlie (Ire) are just some of the high-class horses who have been trained from this famous Thomastown Castle base near Golden in County Tipperary. Tarascon was partnered to Classic glory by the then baby-faced 17-year-old jockey Jamie Spencer, who was in the same class as Fozzy in school and describes the trainer as having always been “pretty quiet” but “well able to unearth a good one every year.” Such sentiments were echoed by Heffernan, who has become an increasingly important part of the operation since leaving his role at Ballydoyle last year. “Some lads love listening to sh*t and others don't,” Heffernan begins. “Like Jesus Christ, some of the rubbish you have to listen to in this game is frightening. And then some lads will treat that rubbish as Gospel. That's not Fozzy's style. He doesn't say a lot but he's well able to train.” Heffernan continued, “Fozzy was one of the fellas who rang me straight away after I left Ballydoyle. I've ridden winners for him for many years but it's getting harder and harder for people like him to compete with the big boys who have billionaire owners. There's no agenda with Fozzy. He just wants to be surrounded by good horses, look after the people who are closest to him and make a living. “I could ask Fozzy for anything-I'd say anything bar money! But seriously, I could ask him to help me out with anything and he'd do the best he could for me. I think he's a bit misunderstood. He probably doesn't sell himself. He can train one when he gets one but, unfortunately, getting them is becoming tough. You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.” There may not be an obvious flag-bearer for the stable to look forward to this season but last year's Irish Lincolnshire winner Chazzesmee (Ire) (Excelebration {Ire}) is on target for the English edition of the race while Grand Marques (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), Bodhi Bear (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) and Bay Colony (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) “have chances of being nice three-year-olds,” according to the trainer. But the reality of the situation is that this is a selling yard. A quick scan through last year's haul of winners tells you everything you need to know with the majority of the highly-rated horses having been sold to continue their careers abroad. “The prize-money is so bad in this country,” Fozzy says. “It doesn't pay to keep those ordinary horses around the place. And then when you get a good one, whatever you're being offered for them to go to America or Hong Kong or wherever it is, they wouldn't win it in prize-money in six years in Ireland, which is wrong really. I think it's a complete disgrace that you could have a horse rated 100 and, if he manages to win a listed race, he picks up just a little over 20 grand for winning in Ireland. That wouldn't feed him for half the year! Now, that's a good horse. So imagine trying to keep the lesser ones. Prize-money in Ireland is sh*t. We were running for more money in 2008 or 2009 than we are today and the cost of getting the horse to the races now has gone up three-fold.” For that reason, Fozzy is quite unique in that he owns bits and pieces of the majority of the horses within his care. “Too many,” he concedes. But the trading aspect of the business has amplified due to Irish racing's prize-money remaining stagnant when compared to the rising costs. It's at the sales where Fozzy has been able to pick up the slack. He explained, “The sales are a very important part of my business. Whenever you buy a horse, you're going to have to live and die by that horse as long as you have it. You have to turn up and work the sales hard. It's probably something I picked up from my father. He used to work the sales hard and was always trading away with yearlings and foals or whatever. Usually I'd buy the sprintery/miler-type. But yearlings were very hard to buy last year. I'd have bits and pieces in plenty of the horses here. Too many of them, actually. But you won't make money in training fees.” He added, “But I've been training here since my father got meningitis. He very nearly died, you know? He got the last rights and everything. That was the Christmas of '98. I was only f****ng 19 at the time. I worked for Nicolas Clement for a summer in Chantilly-went there to learn French. And then I was with John Dunlop before my father got sick. I had only been there for three or four months and I had to come home and I've been here ever since. I had plans of going to Australia or America like every other young fella but this is the way it worked out.” Ever since Fozzy was parachuted in to take over from Tommy, who is coming up on 80 years of age in November, the goal has remained the same; unearth a Group 1 animal. Few people have supported this outfit in that quest more in recent times quite like American-based owner Bernick has. The pair were introduced to each other through bloodstock agent Hubie de Burgh almost a decade back and the relationship has gone from strength to strength. Along with Aspen Grove, Bernick has been represented by classy types such as Castle Star (Ire), You Send Me (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) and Woody Creek (GB) (Zoffany {Ire}), with the latter's two-year-old by St Mark's Basilica (Fr) seemingly going the right way at home on the gallops. Perhaps it is fitting to leave the last word about a man who loathes speaking about himself to one of the people who knows him best. “In all walks of life, it is much easier to find people who are great talkers but who can't do anything, for it is to find those who know exactly what they are doing but don't make self promotion their priority,” Bernick replies when asked to sum up his trainer. “With Fozzy, he has a very good understanding of his horses and their capabilities and he's pretty good at an auction, too. Lots of trainers feel that they have to tell a story in order to keep a horse in their barn. But not Fozzy. He only wants a horse if it can accomplish the mission and he doesn't sugar coat things. “Fozzy and I are coming up on 10 years working together now and above all else, he's an extremely warm person. In fact, I think it would surprise people as to how sensitive he is to people and what situations they're going through. The Stack family didn't accomplish much by talking. They achieved what they have in racing by keeping their counsel and delivering the goods.” The post “A Good Horse Is A Dangerous Thing In Anyone’s Hands” appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

She just missed first-time out in early February but Shred the Gnar (Into Mischief–Aspen Light, by Bernardini) more than put it all together in the third race at Gulfstream Park to not only break her maiden, but earn the 'TDN Rising Star' stamp of approval in the process. Out to set the fractions, it was all the field could do to keep pace with her early on, and she made that distinction clear when Luis Saez set her loose in the lane. Effortlessly leaving her competition behind, there was a sizeable margin back to Donor Advised (Gun Runner) in second. Shred the Gnar is Into Mischief's 51st 'Rising Star' to-date and his second on the weekend behind Lion of Justice Mar. 15 at Colonial Downs. SHRED THE GNAR ($2.80) rocked home in front in the 3rd at @GulfstreamPark. @luissaezpty piloted the Into Mischief (@spendthriftfarm) filly for trainer @BLynchRacing and owners @flyingdutchky. Pick 4 time https://t.co/jLQPq6YsJi pic.twitter.com/hIQHd0QU0B — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) March 16, 2025 The post Into Mischief’s Shred the Gnar Gains ‘Rising Star’ Honors at Second Asking in Gulfstream Maiden appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Saturday's canceled card will be moved in its entirety to March 18. First post at 12:45 pm CT. The season will end with a six-day racing week, culminating with the Louisiana Derby Day card March 22 and closing day March 23.View the full article

'TDN Rising Star' Sand Devil (Violence) had his first work back since a runner-up effort in the GIII Gotham Stakes Mar. 1, covering a half-mile in 49 seconds flat in company on Saturday over the Belmont Park dirt training track. Trained by Linda Rice, Sand Devil is targeting the nine-furlong GII Wood Memorial Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack Apr. 5–a 100-50-25-15-10 qualifier for the GI Kentucky Derby. “He went nice, went out five-eighths in 1:01 and 2, galloped out three-quarters in 13 and 3–we were very happy,” Rice said of the work. “He stayed with the company for about a half-mile and then went on by himself. We are headed towards the Wood Memorial, and things are going the right way.” The chestnut was handed his first career defeat by Flood Zone (Frosted) in the one-turn mile Gotham, where he stumbled at the break under regular pilot Jose Lezcano and rushed up to engage in a three-way battle for the lead with Flood Zone and Normandy Coast (Omaha Beach). Sand Devil stuck his head in front at the three-quarters call before being collared by Flood Zone heading into the stretch, and was defeated by 3 1/4 lengths. Sand Devil was awarded 25 Kentucky Derby qualifying points for the effort. “We felt like things didn't unfold perfectly for him, but there's no shame in being second in the Gotham,” Rice said. “He stumbled at the break and then rushed up and was head-and-head for the lead. Nothing went perfectly, but we still got 25 points.” Sand Devil entered the Gotham undefeated in three starts against state-breds at the Big A, beginning with a debut graduation Dec. 8. He then romped by 12 1/2-lengths in a one-turn mile optional claimer on Jan. 2, which netted him a 'TDN Rising Star' for the effort. Sand Devil aced his first stakes test in the Damon Runyon Feb. 8. NY-bred SAND DEVIL is now 2-for-2 after an impressive win in Race 2 with Jose Lezcano aboard for trainer @LindaRiceRacing. Keep an eye on this one! pic.twitter.com/CIAIF99vSJ — NYRA () (@TheNYRA) January 2, 2025 The colt's trainer said she is cautiously optimistic Sand Devil will relish a stretch-out to two turns in the Wood Memorial. “You have to wait and see. We're hopeful it will suit him and that the easier fractions might be helpful, but you never know until you send them out there,” Rice said. Statesman Politickin' To Get On Wood Ballot West Point Thoroughbreds, Woodford Racing and CJ Stables's Statesman (Constitution) is under strong consideration for the Wood Memorial. Trained by Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey, the bay won his last two starts traveling one mile and 40 yards at Tampa Bay Downs, graduating at fourth asking Jan. 17 and defeating optional claiming company Feb. 26. Statesman scores at Tampa | SV Photography “Well, Shug is obviously the leader of the band, but I know he is very, very intrigued by the Wood Memorial,” said Terry Finley, CEO of co-owner West Point Thoroughbreds. “We talk quite a bit and he thinks that surface up there is going to fit this horse very well. Shug didn't expect this, he sent him to Tampa for kind of a confidence boost and he ran really well, then came right back and put a good second effort in and ran a big number, so who knows?” Finley believes Statesman deserves a shot in the Wood off a career-best 78 Beyer. “Of course he has to step his game up and will have to beat better horses in the Wood than he did at Tampa, but I think he's in the zone,” said Finley. “He is a horse who seems to be getting better and better, and has a really, really good turn of foot.” The co-owner credits McGaughey's patient approach for allowing Statesman to develop. He was third in his off-the-turf one-mile debut in early August at Saratoga Race Course before finishing a well-beaten seventh over the grass upstate later that month. He was fourth going one mile at Gulfstream Park in November. STATESMAN ($17.40) and @JOCKEYSMARIN kicked it into overdrive to rally and nail Majorca on the line in the 8th at @TampaBayDownsFL. Shug McGaughey trains the son of Constitution (@WinStarFarm). Play the lucky last: https://t.co/3V0lqf7sit pic.twitter.com/H3sUSS8g9B — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) January 17, 2025 “He is a horse that wouldn't have benefitted from being rushed. We ran him last year in his first start in an off-the-turf race, and he finished a decent third,” he said. “We thought he would be a work in progress and a project-type horse. Then all of a sudden that project turned favorable right at the beginning of the year. They are not all cut out to win at Saratoga as 2-year-olds.” Statesman worked a half-mile for McGaughey in 49.93 seconds on Sunday at Gulfstream Park. The post ‘Rising Star’ Sand Devil, Statesman Prep For Potential Wood Start appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Saturday's canceled card due to a power outage at Fair Grounds will be moved in its entirety to Tuesday, Mar. 18, according to a Sunday press release from Churchill Downs Inc. First post is set for 12:45 pm CT. The track will conduct a six-day racing week culminating with the Louisiana Derby Day card on Saturday and closing day is Sunday, Mar. 23. The post Fair Grounds To Run Canceled Saturday Card On Tuesday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article