Wandering Eyes

Overlooked at the windows to the tune of 22-1, Plensa (Caravaggio) fired a big shot in the Exacta Systems Gun Runner Stakes and landed in the winner's circle at Kentucky Downs on Saturday. After finishing as the runner-up in two tries last fall to break his maiden, the dark bay finally graduated on his fourth attempt June 15 under the Twin Spires. The colt was last seen running third against optional claimers over the Spa turf July 18. Plensa was in the mix early before dropping towards the rear of the field as a pair of longshots took the field up the backstretch towards the far turn. From the rail, the Rusty Arnold trainee continued to bide his time, but moving to an outside lane at the top of the stretch gave him the running room he needed. Plensa flashed some serious turn of foot, cleared inside the final sixteenth and scooped up his first black-type score. The winner's dam is responsible for 2-year-old colt Infiltrate (Oscar Performance), who just broke his maiden at first asking over the Pea Patch's main track Aug. 8. Proximity Bias also produced a yearling filly by Oscar Performance last year and a weanling colt by Liam's Map back in the spring. She was bred to Life Is Good for 2026. Plensa's extended female family includes GI Woodford Reserve Turf Classic Stakes hero Stroll (Pulpit). EXACTA SYSTEMS GUN RUNNER S., $1,897,778, Kentucky Downs, 9-6, 3yo, 1mT, 1:33.51, gd. 1–PLENSA, 118, c, 3, by Caravaggio 1st Dam: Proximity Bias, by Flatter 2nd Dam: Sidle, by Seeking the Gold 3rd Dam: Maid for Walking (GB), by Prince Sabo (GB) ($70,000 RNA Ylg '23 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Mill Ridge Farm and Frank Garrison; B-Frank Garrison & NATO et al (KY); T-George R. Arnold II; J-Florent Geroux. $1,136,300. Lifetime Record: 6-2-2-1, $1,266,319. *1/2 to Tx Women for Arts (Practical Joke), SW, $264,005. 2–Giocoso, 124, c, 3, Not This Time–Nutcracker Suite (Ire), by Fastnet Rock (Aus). ($75,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). O-Rocker O Ranch LLC; B-Breed First LLC (KY); T-J. Keith Desormeaux. $373,000. 3–Namaron (Ger), 124, g, 3, Amaron (GB)–Nacci (Ger), by Soldier Hollow (GB). (£200,000 3yo '25 GOFLO). O-Hronis Racing LLC; B-Christian Henze (GER); T-John W. Sadler. $86,500. Margins: 1, 3/4, HD. Odds: 22.60, 5.44, 3.84. Also Ran: Layabout, Clever Again, Forged Steel, Native Runner, Tiz Dashing, Rolando, New Century (GB), Capitol Hill, Siesta Key, Anegada, Reach for the Rose. Scratched: Griffin's Wharf, Yinzer. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. #6 PLENSA ($47.20) closed strongly to upset the $2,000,000 Gun Runner Stakes at @KYDownsRacing. This is the first stakes win for the juvenile Caravaggio colt. @Flothejock was in the irons for trainer George Arnold and owners @MillRidgeFarm and Frank Garrison. pic.twitter.com/Ir2MPYbuns — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) September 6, 2025 The post Longshot Plensa Fires To Take Gun Runner Stakes At Kentucky Downs appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A boosted prize fund worth almost twice the value of last year's race and some changing plans have produced a bumper 12-runner Prix du Moulin (G1) Sept. 7 at Longchamp, while the Prix Vermeille (G1) for fillies and mares also drew extremely tough.View the full article

Epic Ride provided John Ennis with his first Kentucky Derby (G1) starter in 2024, checking in 14th at Churchill Downs. Now, he is responsible for the young trainer's first graded stakes victory.View the full article

Making his second start of an apparently audacious $100,000 claim, Flying P Stable's OLE CRAZY BONE (g, 5, Ghostzapper–Southern Gem, by Smart Strike) raced prominently throughout Saturday's running of the $2.5-million GII KTDF Kentucky Turf Cup Invitational Stakes at Kentucky Downs and came away in the final eighth of a mile to punch his ticket to the GI Breeders' Cup Turf at Del Mar on Nov. 1. Haltered out of a runner-up effort over the Churchill turf course on June 26, the 5-year-old was last seen in the Turf Cup Preview race at Ellis Park Aug. 3, when he was checked at a crucial stage in upper stretch and flew home to just miss. Ridden forward here with Flavien Prat taking over, Ole Crazy Bone raced in third position turning down the backstretch as Corruption (Medaglia d'Oro) showed the way through a half in :48.87. Up into a clear second at the midway stage, Ole Crazy Bone continued to stalk the front runner into the sweeping far turn and was poised with a half-mile to travel. Nudged along five-sixteenths from home, Ole Crazy Bone claimed Corruption with a furlong and a half to travel and raced away to score convincingly. Tawny Port (Pioneerof the Nile), third to Grand Sonata (Medaglia d'Oro) last year and runner-up in the Gold Cup over an extended two-mile trip here on Aug. 30, ran on for second just ahead of Corruption in third. It was a sixth Turf Cup for trainer Mike Maker. Sales history: $190,000 Wlg '20 KEENOV; $150,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 19-7-5-2. O-Flying P Stable; B-Adena Springs (KY); T-Mike Maker Ole Crazy Bone wins easy in the G2 Kentucky Turf Cup Invitational at Kentucky Downs at 6/1! Mike Maker trains and Flavien Prat was aboard! #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/FaAKQ0pLTH — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) September 6, 2025 The post Ghostzapper’s Ole Crazy Bone Gives Maker A Sixth Kentucky Turf Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Delayed several minutes because of the storms sweeping through the area Saturday afternoon, recent GI Saratoga Derby Invitational winner World Beater made it two straight with a victory in the GIII Old Dominion Derby at Colonial Downs. Sent off the hot 2-5 choice for a distance he clearly relishes, the Pin Oak-bred colt entered this contest off a pair of Grade Is at the Spa–a second-place finish in the nine-furlong Belmont Derby on July 4 and a narrow score in the Saratoga Derby over 1 mile and three-sixteenths Aug. 2. Breaking cleanly from post 6, the chestnut was settled just behind as Iron Hand and Outrunner led over a soggy quarter in :25.38. Still cruising along two deep in fourth through a half in :51.18, the favorite was eager to go and jumped to the front straightening for home. In command from there, World Beater came home a geared-down winner over Mesero with early pacesetter finishing third. “He was rolling very good today,” said winning rider Jamie Torres. “He didn't care about how wet it was. I'm very, very happy with him. He's all talent.” Torres' win aboard World Beater in the Old Dominion Derby capped off three consecutive stakes victories on the day, including piloting As Catch Can to victory in the Old Dominion Oaks and Doncho in the Da Hoss Stakes. In a pair of starts at two, World Beater was anything but when giving it a go on the dirt, finishing ninth at both Churchill Downs and Keeneland. Returning in 2025 with a different game plan, trainer Riley Mott started the colt in a 7 1/2-furlong turf test at Gulfstream and the son of Oscar Performance finished a much-improved third, beaten only a length. Runner-up adding another furlong at Keeneland in April, the Kentucky-bred finally broke through while extending to nine panels when returning to Louisville May 2. After finding his sweet spot, Mott returned the colt to that distance and venue for the May 31 Audubon Stakes and was duly rewarded with a neck victory. “I'm just very thankful that we could bring the horse here in good shape and perform well in front of this crowd,” added Mott. “We've got a big group here with my wife's side coming in from Charlottesville, Virginia. We will watch him for a week or two to see [what's next]. It's been a long season for him, but we have pretty big aspirations for his four-year-old year next year.” Pedigree Notes: Dr. John Chandler, the breeder of Saturday's Old Colonial Derby winner World Beater, is also responsible for heaving bred his dam, Dabinett. Stakes winning second dam Sharp Apple (Diesis {GB}) is also responsible for European MGSW and French G1SP Pomology (Arch), as well as MGISP Sassy Little Lila (Artie Schiller). Both were also bred by Chandler. World Beater has a year-younger full brother named Heere's Johnny who recently finished second in the GIII With Anticipation Stakes at Saratoga. The winner also has a pair of sisters produced over the past two seasons by the Mill Ridge sire. The post World Beater Back on Top in Colonial’s Old Dominion Derby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Donamire Farm homebred Troubleshooting (c, 3, Not This Time–Into Trouble, by Into Mischief), a smart winner of the Dade Park Dash S. at Ellis Park July 4, got up to post a narrow victory in Saturday's GI Ainsworth Franklin-Simpson S. at Kentucky Downs. He becomes the eighth Grade I winner for leading young sire Not This Time. Of at odds of 5-1, he raced within striking distance in fifth and came charging on the outside to defeat Golden Afternoon (Goldencents) by a neck. Governor Sam (Improbable) was third. The final time for 6 1/2 furlongs was 1:14.33. Troubleshooting entered off a narrow second-place finish in an allowance sprinting on grass at Ellis Park Aug. 4. Troubleshooting becomes the third Grade I winner for broodmare sire Into Mischief, joining White Abarrio (Race Day) and Alva Starr (Lord Nelson). Into Mischief is also the broodmare sire of 'TDN Rising Star' Shisospicy (Mitole), who won the GII Ags Music City S. one race earlier on the same card. The stakes-winning Into Trouble, a $180,000 KEESEP yearling purchase by the Ball family's operation, is also responsible for the multiple stakes-placed Big Trouble (Kantharos), the unraced 2-year-old colt Trouble Calling (Dialed In), a yearling filly by Nashville and a colt by Nashville of this year. Into Trouble was bred back to Kantharos. Lifetime Record: 9-3-3-0 O/B-Donamire Farm (KY); T-Gregory D. Foley. Troubleshooting takes the G1 Franklin-Simpson at @kydownsracing at 5/1 for trainer @foley_racing with @tyler_gaff aboard! #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/vags3Klt6i — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) September 6, 2025 The post Not This Time’s Troubleshooting Gets Up in Ainsworth Franklin-Simpson appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Mike Love Ashburton trainer-driver John Hay returns from winter hibernation to line up his well-thought-of gelding Moonshiner on the grass at Methven today. In what could be the omen bet considering the full moon this weekend, Moonshiner is a $3.50 favourite in Race 7, the Peter Lagan Standardbreds Pace over 2400m at 2.49pm. “I haven’t raced anything over the past few winters. I went on holiday for a month, so he (Moonshiner) had five weeks off. “I’m working eight at the moment. All just young ones and qualifiers. He’s the only racehorse I’ve got at the moment,” said Hay. The three-year-old Always B Miki gelding has not raced since winning his maiden back in April at Banks Peninsula, but trainer Hay still expects a good run. “I’m happy with his work at home. He’s done plenty. His workout was good, although we didn’t go much time,” said Hay. That workout was just last week at Methven, and although the times weren’t worth a second look, he still won very nicely. His last 800 was 64.2. “I expect him to go a good race. Just whether or not he can win, I don’t know. But he will improve a lot with the run too, whatever he does.” Moonshiner is no stranger to the Mt Harding circuit. As well as wining the workout he placed there too before winning his maiden. “He’s carrying a bit more weight this time, but that could just be him now. He’s strengthened up a lot,” said Hay. While Moonshiner is having his first race out of maidens at just his sixth race day appearance, other horses in the event are much more experienced. Santanna Mach ($10.00FF), for instance, has won 23 races from 246 starts. Swift Guy ($.5.50) looks set to start second favourite while Logan Rock and Fergalicious are also well supported ($6.50). View the full article

A busy stakes weekend at Kentucky Downs will come to a close Sept. 7 with juveniles spotlighted in a pair of million-dollar stakes.View the full article

Al and Bill Ulwelling know what it is like to experience the highs and lows of life in a span of just minutes.View the full article

Three-year-old Big Mojo pulls the upset and defeats his elders in the Sprint Cup Stakes (G1) Sept. 6 at Haydock Park.View the full article

Sunday, Baden-Baden, Germany, post time: 15:25, WETTSTAR.DE – 155TH GROSSER PREIS VON BADEN-G1, €300,000, 3yo/up, 12fT Field: Alleno (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}), Cold Heart (Brz) (Alpha, Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai {Aus}), Goliath (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}), Straight (Ger) (Zarak {Fr}), Path Of Soldier (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}). TDN Verdict: This contest has lost much of its lustre with the defection of G1 Deutsches Derby hero Hochkonig and Godolphin's globetrotting multiple Group 1 winner Rebel's Romance. Their absence provides an ideal opportunity for last term's G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes hero Goliath to regain the winning habit after an uninspiring last-of-five in June's G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and a second in last month's G3 Prix Gontaut Biron. Last year's runner-up and April's G1 Tancred Stakes victor Dubai Honour returns to European action for the first time since November and rates a serious threat. Last year's Deutsches Derby fourth Alleno and this year's fourth Path Of Soldier head the home defence. [Sean Cronin]. Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France, post time: 15:50, QATAR PRIX DU MOULIN DE LONGCHGAMP-G1, €800,000, 3yo/up, 8fT Field: Marhaba Ya Sanafi (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}), Quddwah (GB) (Kingman {GB}), Rosallion (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}), Dancing Gemini (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), Go To First (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}), Lead Artist (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Persica (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), Alcantor (Fr) (New Bay {GB}), Sahlan (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), The Lion In Winter (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Henri Matisse (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Serengeti (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). TDN Verdict: Richard Hannon has yet to win this contest and is represented by Rosallion, winless in four Group 1 starts this year, and his Group 3-winning stablemate Persica in a hot renewal. Aidan O'Brien is three-handed, with jockey bookings and form suggesting G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains hero Henri Matisse as the obvious stable preference. Last term's Poulains runner-up Dancing Gemini, who has finished behind G1 Lockinge Stakes hero Lead Artist twice this year, was ahead of Japan's Go To First when third in last month's G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois. Domestic hopes rest with outsiders Sahlan and Alcantor. [Sean Cronin]. Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France, post time: 16:25, QATAR PRIX VERMEILLE-G1, €900,000, 3yo/up, f/m, 12fT Field: Survie (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}), Aventure (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Ginalyah (Ire) (Chachnak {Fr}), Bedtime Story (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Whirl (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Gezora (Fr) (Almanzor {Fr}). TDN Verdict: This mouthwatering distaffers' clash plays host to G1 Prix de Diane heroine Gezora eyeballing G1 Pretty Polly Stakes and G1 Nassau Stakes victrix Whirl. The former was one length too good for Whirl's stablemate Bedtime Story in the Chantilly Classic and should confirm form with the Ballydoyle back-up, who has failed to fire on all cylinders in two subsequent starts. Christophe Ferland trainee Aventure, runner-up in this and G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, was last seen finishing second in June's G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and is an obvious danger. Survie has plenty to find with Aventure and Whirl on recent form and returns to action coming back off a second in last month's G1 Prix Jean Romanet, while Ginalyah's presence is baffling. [Sean Cronin]. Sunday, Baden-Baden, Germany, post time: 14:00, 92ND BRUNNER – OETTINGEN-RENNEN-G2, €70,000, 3yo/up, 8fT Field: Best Lightning (Fr) (Sidestep {Aus}), Geography (Ger) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), Glady Tiger (Ger) (Zoffany {Ire}), Make Me King (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Penalty (Ger) (Frankel {GB}), Short Final (Fr) (Zelzal {Fr}), Zabiari (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Quebec (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}). TDN Verdict: This open renewal is at the mercy of the Francis Graffard-trained G3 Prix Bertrand de Breuil victor and G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois seventh Zabiari. He encounters last year's winner Penalty, who has failed to fire in five starts since, the four-time Group 3 winner Geography and the consistent veteran Best Lightning, who is set to make his fourth start in this contest. [Sean Cronin]. Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France, post time: 14:33, QATAR PRIX FOY-G2, €119,000, 4yo/up, 12fT Field: Almaqam (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Cheeky Boy (Fr) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), Iresine (Fr) (Manduro {Ger}), Mont St Michel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Arrow Eagle (Fr) (Gleneagles {Ire}), Map Of Stars (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Sosie (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Los Angeles (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), Byzantine Dream (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}). TDN Verdict: Arc Trials Day, brought forward one week this year, commences with the older horses taking centre stage over the main event's 12-furlong strip. Last term's G2 Prix Niel winner and Arc fourth Sosie has annexed this term's G1 Prix Ganay and G1 Prix d'Ispahan and will head postward coming back off a close-up sixth in July's G1 Coral Eclipse at Sandown. May's G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup victor Los Angeles is on a recovery mission after unplaced effort's in the G1 Prince Of Wales's Stakes and G3 Royal Whip and will be chaperoned by stablemate Mont St Michel. Almaqam, Map Of Stars and Arrow Eagle all rate as dangers, while Japanese raider Byzantine Dream takes a step into the unknown coming back off a second in May's G1 Tenno Sho Spring. [Sean Cronin]. Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France, post time: 16:00, QATAR PRIX NIEL-G2, €119,000, 3yo, 12fT Field: Leffard (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), Cualificar (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Swagman (Ger) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Parachutiste (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Bay City Roller (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), Nitoi (Siyouni {Fr}), Aftermath (Ire) (Justify), Tennessee Stud (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). TDN Verdict: Gerard Augustin-Normand and Antonio Caro's G1 Grand Prix de Paris hero Leffard sets the standard in a contest with eight runners for the first time since 2014. His main rivals are G1 Prix du Jockey Club runner-up and G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano third Cualificar and G1 Derby third Tennessee Stud, who has not been seen since running fourth in June's G1 Irish Derby. Aidan O'Brien has won this just once, with Soldier Of Fortune in 2007, and relies Swagman, who comes back off an extended break after annexing April's G3 Sandown Classic Trial. Andre Fabre has a record 12 editions in the books and sends forth the unexposed Nitoi for this year's renewal. [Sean Cronin]. Click here for the complete fields. The post Black-Type Analysis: Goliath Aiming To Bounce Back In Grosser Preis Von Baden appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Max Ciao becomes the initial stakes winner for first-crop sire Maxfield in scoring a narrow victory in the $101,000 I'm Smokin Stakes at Del Mar.View the full article

Riding a three-race win streak, Stellify (Justify–Savvy Star, by Medaglia d'Oro) went to the front a few jumps into the GIII Ladies Marathon at Kentucky Downs and held the advantage all the way to an easy score. Sent off the 2-1 choice, the 4-year-old carved out opening fractions of :26.10, :49.57 and 1:13 for three quarters. In control turning for home, the $140,000 KEESEP yearling purchase spurted clear in the lane and proved best to defeat closing Way to Be Marie (Not This Time) by four lengths. Miwa (GB) Siyouni {Fr}) rounded out the trifecta, Final time for the 1 5/16-mile test was 2:06.84. Lifetime Record: 6-4-1-1, $1478,404. O-Elements Racing, George Messina & Michael Lee, B-WinStar Farm (KY); T-Brad Cox. Saturday, Kentucky Downs LIGHT & WONDER LADIES MARATHON INVITATIONAL S.-GIII, $1,806,666, Kentucky Downs, 9-6, 3yo/up, f/m, 1 5/16mT, 2:06.84, gd. 1–STELLIFY, 122, f, 4, by Justify 1st Dam: Savvy Star, by Medaglia d'Oro 2nd Dam: She's a Winner, by A.P. Indy 3rd Dam: Get Lucky, by Mr. Prospector 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($140,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Elements Racing LLC, George Messina & Michael Lee; B-WinStar Farm, LLC (KY); T-Brad H. Cox; J-Florent Geroux. $1,164,200. Lifetime Record: 6-4-1-1, $1,442,604. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Way to Be Marie, 122, f, 4, Not This Time–Woman of the World, by Henrythenavigator. ($75,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP; $95,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR). O-Robert V. LaPenta & Madaket Stables LLC; B-William B. Harrigan & Mike Pietrangelo (KY); T-Rob Atras. $382,000. 3–Miwa (GB), 122, f, 4, Siyouni (Fr)–Bartaba (Fr), by Deep Impact (Jpn). 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. (€230,000 3yo '24 ARQDEC). O-Repole Stable; B-Wertheimer Et Frere (GB); T-Joe Sharp. $91,000. Margins: 2 3/4, 3/4, 1. Odds: 2.11, 19.56, 4.93. Also Ran: Duvet Day (Ire), Nadette (Fr), Beach Bomb (Saf), Boss Lady Bailey, Ayra Stark (Arg), Spanish Eyes (Ger), No Mo Candy, Gran Mirella (Arg). Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. The post Justify’s Stellify Wires $2M Ladies Marathon at Kentucky Downs appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Royal Testament (f, 2, Midshipman–True Testament, by Hansen) was too sharp for the boys in Saturday's Rosie's S. at Colonial Downs. Off at odds of 2-1, she raced under pressure from the inside through an opening quarter in :22.05, began to shake clear at the top of the stretch and kept on rolling down the lane to win by four lengths. First-time starter Gypsy Art (Munnings) was second. Rogue Legend (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) was third. The final time for 5 1/2 furlongs was 1:02.47. Sixth on debut in the Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies S. at Gulfstream May 10, she was a sharp winner at second asking sprinting over the Monmouth grass July 27. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0. O-Mathiesen Racing LLC; B-Killora Stud, LLC (KY); T-George Weaver. Royal Testament beats the boys in the Exacta Systems Rosie's S. at @colonialdowns! @Ericcancel85 was aboard for trainer George Weaver. #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/sI19Ol7XJo — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) September 6, 2025 The post Midshipman Filly Royal Testament Beats the Boys in Rosie’s Stakes appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Max Ciao becomes the initial stakes winner for first-crop stallion Maxfield in scoring a narrow victory in the $101,000 I'm Smokin Stakes at Del Mar.View the full article

Maxfield's first stakes winner as a freshman sire comes in as Max Ciao takes the I'm Smokin Stakes at Del Mar on Friday. Unveiled as a third-place finisher at Santa Anita May 25, the colt was fourth, beaten seven lengths, July 19 by Friday's 3-2 second choice Thirsty Rebel. Max Ciao found himself in the winners circle in career start number three, a six-length victor back here at Del Mar Aug. 8. In his first stakes try, the son of Maxfield broke alertly, stalking just over a length off the speed up the backstretch. In tandem with familiar foe Thirsty Rebel (Stay Thirsty), the duo powered past front-running 7-5 favorite Sammy Davis (Sir Prancealot {Ire}) at the top of the stretch. Shoulder to shoulder at the sixteenth pole, the 7-1 shot just got his nose down on the wire. Saul Elliot (Listing) rallied for third. Bella Ciao is a daughter of Anandi (Anabaa) and is a half-sister to Val's Jazz (Kentucky Jazz), who herself produced stakes winners Grand Reefer (Grand Slam), Boowoogeemalia (El Corredor) and Love That Jazz (Not For Love). The winner's dam is responsible for a pair of Stay Thirsty progeny–currently a yearling colt and a weanling colt. She was bred back to Hopkins for 2026. I'M SMOKIN S., $101,000, Del Mar, 9-5, (S), 2yo, 5 1/2f, 1:03.59, ft. 1--MAX CIAO, 121, c, 2, by Maxfield 1st Dam: Bella Ciao (MSP, $201,047), by Flatter 2nd Dam: Anandi, by Anabaa 3rd Dam: Anawac, by Quack ($240,000 RNA Ylg '24 FTCAYR). 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Steve Knapp, Terry C. Lovingier, and John Moroney; B-Terry C. Lovingier (CA); T-Steve R. Knapp; J-Armando Ayuso. $57,000. Lifetime Record: SW, 4-2-0-1, $117,000. 2--Thirsty Rebel, 121, c, 2, Stay Thirsty–Argyle Pink, by Sky Mesa. ($90,000 Ylg '24 FTCAYR). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Mark D. Breen; B-Terry C. Lovingier (CA); T-Chief Stipe F. O'Neill. $19,000. 3--Saul Elliott, 121, c, 2, Listing–Cryptic, by Indian Charlie. 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Here We Go Brothers and Seymour Jukie and Jack Stable LLC; B-Reddam Racing, LLC (CA); T-Chief Stipe F. O'Neill. $12,000. Margins: NO, 1 1/4, HD. Odds: 7.30, 1.50, 9.60. Also Ran: Fionello, Sammy Davis, Another Bulleit, Pavlovian, Desert Dawg. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. MAX CIAO ($16.60) got his nose down at the right time in the $100,000 I'm Smokin Stakes at @DelMarRacing. The son of @DarleyAmerica's Maxfield is trained by Steve Knapp. @ArmandoAyuso2 had the call. @CTBACalbred pic.twitter.com/nXUWMuxvEx — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) September 6, 2025 The post Max Ciao! Freshman Sire Maxfield Has First Stakes Winner In I’m Smokin At Del Mar 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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At the onset of the 2025 season, Rigney Racing could boast having bred Chancer McPatrick (McKinzie), winner of last year's GI Hopeful and GI Champagne and a 2024 Eclipse Award winning finalist. Only last month, the Rigney team rolled into Fasig-Tipton with a single yearling to sell at the Saratoga Select Yearling Sale, and its colt by Not This Time out of Rigney's stakes-winning mare Mariah's Princess (Ghostzapper) realized a cool $1.4 million when purchased by the partnership of Repole Stable and Grandview. Backed by an even larger arsenal this time, Richard Rigney's Rigney Racing will offer a total of 17 yearlings at this week's Keeneland September Sale. Denali Stud will handle the selling duties. “It's a nice mix between homebreds and weanling purchases,” said Rigney Racing's private trainer, Phil Bauer. “It's fairly even between homebreds and [pinhooks] this year.” “They both have the physical, which is the main thing and we're excited to see what the public thinks about them.” Early in Monday's session, Rigney Racing will offer Madison's Freggie, who was purchased by Rigney for $425,000 at Keeneland September in 2021. Unraced, Hip 27 is a half-sister to MGSW Canoodling (Pioneerof the Nile) and her second dam, Miz Kella (Harlan's Holiday), is a full-sister to 2-year-old champion and dual Grade I winner Shanghai Bobby. “I had [Madison's Freggie] and she showed a ton of ability and got hurt before she ran so that's why we went ahead and kept her,” explained Bauer. “You keep your fingers crossed that they produce pretty foals and for her first foal, she is a great physical and is by Tapit.” Later in Monday's session, Hip 72, a $190,000 weanling purchase at Keeneland November, is out of another unraced mare, Pioneer Princess (Pioneerof the Nile), who is herself out of a sister to Grade I winner and producer Marylebone (Unbridle's Song). A full-brother to the Apr. 21 foal brought $250,000 at this venue in 2024. Hip 72, a filly by Practical Joke selling on Day 1 “She is a beautiful horse and Practical Joke is picking up enough steam that she'll be sought after as well,” Bauer added. A former assistant to Kenny McPeek, Bauer met Rigney while employed by the Kentucky-based trainer. After undergoing a few growing pains, the partnership between Rigney and Bauer has flourished into a multi-dimensional breeding/selling/racing operation. With 20 broodmares based at Denali Stud in Kentucky, and approximately 100 head throughout the operation, Rigney Racing is poised for bigger and better things. That's high praise for an operation that is already responsible for a seven-figure yearling in Saratoga last month. “We loved the horse on the farm and felt like it went really well up there. He had all the right people on him,” Bauer said. “It's really the perfect storm of what you need to have when you're selling a horse.” He added, “[The sale] was Rigney Racing coming full circle. We bought the mare and won a stake with her. She was the beginning of what we hope will be a glimpse of things to come for us with the breeding program.” According to Bauer, the operation has taken off since bloodstock agent John Moynihan joined the team. “He's steering the boat and we are fortunate enough to be there,” said Bauer of Moynihan. “We work well together. But he's definitely the driving force behind this.” Not to be understated, Bauer explained that the pioneering spirit and passion for the game that Rigney possesses is what propels the success of the operation. “Mr. Rigney is a big-picture kind of guy,” he said. “I think when we're buying these horses as weanlings and yearlings, we anticipate that they will hopefully reach a level where we can bring them to the broodmare band and create a brand that we have worked hard to develop.” “Rigney Racing has reached that level breeding a horse like Chancer McPatrick. With the graded stakes mares on the farm now producing nice foals by really good stallions, so it's definitely a recipe for success. It's coming together and hopefully it continues to do well.” The post ‘Playing at All Levels’, Rigney Racing Hopes to Continue the Hot Run appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Bob Baffert will send out a capable quartet in Sunday's closing-day GI Del Mar Futurity, a race he has won the last four years and a remarkable 18 times overall. After sending out future GI Kentucky Derby winner Silver Charm (Silver Buck) to scoop the event for the first time back in 1996, he added the next six renewals. His personal honor roll is a veritable Hall of Fame, including champions Midshipman (1998), Lookin At Lucky (1999) and American Pharoah (2014) among the champions to have succeeded at the seaside. The latter won his maiden in that year's Futurity. Baffert has runners for three different clients, and the only one of those to have not tasted Futurity success heretofore is Zedan Racing Stable. That could very well change if $3-million OBS March topper Brant (Gun Runner) can replicate his 'TDN Rising Star' debut back on July 26, when he defeated the re-opposing Chief Stipe O'Neill-trained Civil Liberty (Independence Hall) by better than five lengths in 1:02.63, good for a 101 Beyer Speed Figure. Flavien Prat looks for a third straight victory in the race and his fourth in the last half-dozen runnings. Desert Gate (Omaha Beach) was a smart debut winner at Santa Anita June 13 and validated that performance with a dominating 8 3/4-length score in the Aug. 9 GIII Best Pal Stakes, a victory achieved while getting nowhere near the bottom of him. Juan Hernandez retains the call. Baffert also sends out Balboa (Not This Time, $875,000 KEESEP), third in the Brant maiden and named a 'Rising Star' when galloping away by 7 3/4 lengths here on Aug. 10; and Litmus Test (Nyquist, $875,000 FTSAUG), who draws widest of the six off a 3/4-length debut tally over 5 1/2 furlongs on Aug. 16. Hernandez had the call on each last time, but Kazushi Kimura rides Balboa and the visiting Tyler Gaffalione gets aboard Litmus Test. Brigante (More Than Ready), a stablemate of Civil Liberty, is a two-start maiden and exits a third in the BestPal. Hey Nay Nay Stretches Out In Juvenile Turf Assuming he can handle a route of ground for the first time in his young career, Hey Nay Nay (Ire) (No Nay Never) is strictly the one to beat in Sunday's GIII Del Mar Juvenile Turf. Having broken his maiden at first asking in a five-furlong Santa Anita maiden June 1, the $300,000 Keeneland September acquisition shipped cross-country and made light work of four rivals to take the Aug. 2 Tyro Stakes at Monmouth Park by seven lengths. Plutarch (Into Mischief) is the homebred son of champion Stellar Wind (Malibu Moon) and gets the blinkers off after running home nicely enough to be second on his one-mile debut to 'TDN Rising Star' Intrepido (Maximus Mischief) Aug. 23. The turf is the hundred-thousand-dollar question. Won for Lou (Bucchero) was a useful third to Hey Nay Nay in their respective debuts and has the advantage of being one of just two in the field with form over course-and-distance, having bested Born to Rock (Rock Your World) by 1 1/4 lengths July 27. Proletariat (Raging Bull {Fr}) was third in the Desert Gate maiden, but defeated a next-out winner in a five-furlong turf dash locally on Aug. 1. The post ‘Rising Star’ Brant Leads Baffert Brigade Into Futurity appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

6th-DMR, $100K, Msw, 2yo, 5 1/2f, 7:11 p.m. ET. A pair of pricey colts under the care of Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert make their first starts as the seaside oval closes out its summer meet on Sunday. BOYD (Violence) is a Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May auction buy for Zedan Racing, who made the chestnut the second topper at the sale when they went to $1.05-million to acquire him. Initially, this future Baffert trainee was an $82,000 Fasig-Tipton Fall Mixed sale grad then went for $280,000 during Keeneland September. A half-sister to Canadian SW Silver Highlight (Silver Charm), GSW Street Sounds (Street Cry {Ire}) and Canadian MGSW Tower of Texas (Street Sense), unraced dam A Taste of Red (Street Boss) was taken home for $27,000 at the 2022 Keeneland November sale by Nassar Omirah while Boyd was in-utero. Also poised for his debut is Cherokee Nation (Not This Time). The colt was a $240,000 Fasig-Tipton November purchase, then the bay went to SF, Starlight and Madaket for $1.15-million during Keeneland September. His dam is SW Believe in Charlie (Indian Charlie), a half-sister to MSW Shamrocket (Tonalist). TJCIS PPS We have named our '23 Violence Colt after our dear friend, President and CEO of @FasigTiptonCo Boyd Browning! We are very excited for this colt's future on the track! pic.twitter.com/4uInp0JJcI — Zedan Racing Stables, Inc (@ZedanRacing) August 12, 2025 The post Sunday’s Racing Insights: Pricey Colts From Baffert Shedrow Debut As Del Mar Closes Out Meet appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Everybody had a fair crack at Saturday's Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock and it was the 16-1 shot Big Mojo (Mohaather) who proved the quickest and toughest to register another Group 1 success for some very lucky owners. Following the example of Paul and Rachael Teasdale's Breeders' Cup-winning fairytale story Big Evs, the Mick Appleby-trained three-year-old forged his own day in the limelight as he grafted on the front end for William Buick throughout en route to a 1 1/4-length success. Last year's runner-up Kind Of Blue (Blue Point) was in that spot again, nosing out fellow Wathnan runner Flora Of Bermuda (Dark Angel) while the even-money favourite Lazzat (Territories) was only fifth. “The hardest job was getting him to the start and pulling him up,” Buick said. “He's just a real sprinter, he's got two speeds and he was lovely and smooth throughout the race. He's very genuine and I didn't have a moment's worry.” BIG MOJO Hard and fast up the stands' rail, Big Mojo is much too good in the @Betfair Sprint Cup @haydockraces. A HUGE DAY for the @MickApplebyUK team @WilliamBuickX pic.twitter.com/69efGrkHkT — Racing TV (@RacingTV) September 6, 2025 The post More Group 1 Glory For The Teasdales As Big Mojo Prevails At Haydock appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Some of the most highly anticipated races during the summer season are the 'baby' races during the boutique meetings at Saratoga and Del Mar and at Ellis Park, which attract its fair share of high-priced juveniles from a variety of top national outfits. Summer Breezes, sponsored by OBS Sales, highlights debuting and stakes-entered 2-year-olds at those meetings that have been sourced at the breeze-up sales earlier in the year, including links to their under-tack previews. Here are the horses entered for closing day at Del Mar. Sunday, September 7, 2025 Dmr 4, DMR Futurity-GI, $300k, 2yo, 7f, 6:00 p.m. Horse (Sire), Sale, Price ($), Breeze Brant (Gun Runner), OBSMAR, 3,000,000, :9 3/5 C-Eddie Woods, agent; B-Donato Lanni, agent Zedan Racing Civil Liberty (Independence Hall), FTMMAY, 160,000, :10 3/5 C-Pike Racing @ Highlander, agt; B-S Rothblum, agt Mark Davis Desert Gate (Omaha Beach), OBSMAR, 260,000, :9 4/5 C-Navas Equine, agent; B-Three Amigos Del Mar 5, $80k, 2yo, (S), 5fT, 6:30 p.m. Ventry Stand (Bolt d'Oro), OBSJUN, 75,000, :10 1/5 C-Grassroots Training & Sales, agent; B-P K Racing Violets Song (Violence), OBSMAR, 75,000, :21 1/5 C-Pick View LLC, agent; B-Jet Horse LLC, Peter Miller, agent Del Mar 6, $100k, 2yo, 5 1/2f, 7:00 p.m. Boyd (Violence), FTMMAY, 1,050,000, G C-Top Line Sales, LLC, agent; B-Donato Lanni, agt Zedan Racing Map Me Sexy (Liam's Map), FTMMAY, 160,000, :22 3/5 C-LG, agent; B-Steve Rothblum, agent for Mark Davis Metate (Vekoma), OBSJUN, 160,000, :10 1/5 C-Envision Equine, agent; B-Robert Hess Jr Sharons Maxfield (Maxfield), OBSMAR, 230,000, :10 1/5 C-de Meric Sales, agent; B-Richard Baltas, agent for Panic Stable Stormy Tapit (Independence Hall), OBSAPR, 240,000, :10 1/5 C-Navas Equine, agent; B-Jet Horse LLC, Tim McCanna, agent Dmr 9, DMR JvTurf-GIII, $100k, 2yo, 1mT, 8:30 p.m. Born to Rock (Rock Your World), OBSMAR, 90,000, :10 1/5 C-Really and Truly Thoroughbreds, agent; B-Michael Warnick Conducted (Mendelssohn), OBSAPR, 110,000, :20 3/5 C-Hoppel, agent; B-Danny Eplin Proletariat (Raging Bull {Fr}), OBSMAR, 200,000, :10 C-GOP Racing Stable Corp, agent; B-Dutch Girl Holdings/Irving Ventures, agent Mike Pender The post Summer Breezes Sponsored By OBS: Sunday, September 7, 2025 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sam Agars INVINCIBLE IBIS - R6 (3) Went close last term and has trialled well ahead of his return Jay Rooney BULB GENERAL - R9 (11) Won impressively last start and can swoop in a race laden with speed Owen Goulding INFINITE RESOLVE - R9 (1) Gone down by narrow margins on both starts and can make amends Phillip Woo AWESOME TREASURE - R6 (5) Looks a winning chance after a solid trial Shannon (Vincent Wong) BULB GENERAL - R9 (11) Had plenty in hand last season and looks ready to go first...View the full article

Considered by most to be mere understudy to Kalpana (Study Of Man) in Saturday's G3 September Stakes at Kempton, last year's Hong Kong Vase hero Giavellotto (Mastercraftsman) had other ideas as he registered a minor upset. Always comfortable tracking the pacemaker for Juddmonte 1-2 market-leader, the Marco Botti-trained 9-4 second favourite outstayed her under Oisin Murphy in the closing stages to score by 1 1/2 lengths as he continues on the road back to Sha Tin. Turned AWAY Giavellotto sees off the challenge from Kalpana to land the September Stakes @kemptonparkrace. The odds-on fav had every chance but just couldn't get by. Is the winner an outside contender for the Arc?@MarcoBotti | @oismurphy pic.twitter.com/hl3ksGejzs — Racing TV (@RacingTV) September 6, 2025 The post Hong Kong-Bound Giavellotto Upsets Kalpana In The September appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Following an impressive debut win at Newbury last month, TDN Rising Star Bow Echo (Night Of Thunder) denied chief rival Publish (Kingman) to double his tally in Saturday's Listed Ascendant Stakes at Haydock. Shrugging off that Juddmonte rival inside the final furlong, Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's George Boughey-trained 5-6 favourite readily asserted under Billy Loughnane for a length success. 12-1 for the 2,000 Guineas with @paddypower https://t.co/LE3iYNhCr4 — Racing TV (@RacingTV) September 6, 2025 The post Unbeaten Bow Echo Ascendant At Haydock appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article