Wandering Eyes

Mystic Park runs triumphant at Riccarton Park for trainers Michael and Matthew Pitman. Photo: Ajay Berry (Race Images South) Major sprint features are looming large on Mystic Park’s horizon after the classy local kicked off his five-year-old season with victory in Saturday’s Open Sprint (1000m) at Riccarton Park. Mystic Park made barnstorming progress through the grades last season, winning four of his seven starts in increasingly impressive style. The Ocean Park gelding won by four lengths in Rating 65 company first-up during the New Zealand Cup Carnival in November, then added two Rating 75 victories and an open handicap before the season was out. Saturday’s 1000m dash was a significantly shorter first-up assignment than the 1200m and 1400m trips Mystic Park excelled over last season, but the exciting up-and-comer was nevertheless backed into $3.20 favouritism. He produced a performance that had his trainers Michael and Matthew Pitman and jockey Sam Weatherley thinking about bigger and better things to come. Mystic Park broke only fairly from gate seven, but strode forward through the first 200m of the race to take up a comfortable position alongside the front-running La Bella Nera. Weatherley released the brakes at the top of the Riccarton straight and Mystic Park warmed into his work, slowly but surely edging ahead of La Bella Nera. Mystic Park’s stablemate Third Decree chimed in on his outside with a determined challenge, but Mystic Park lifted again and held her out by three-quarters of a length. La Bella Nera stuck on for third, another two and a half lengths adrift of the Pitman pair. “He’s a good horse,” Weatherley said. “He could potentially be a Telegraph (Group 1, 1200m) horse. He wasn’t fully screwed down today, but he really wanted to win. The stablemate came up to challenge him, and he just said ‘no chance’ and really pinned his ears back. He’s a lovely horse.” “We knew that there would be speed in the race today, so we were hopeful that our two could just track in behind that speed and pick them up late,” Matthew Pitman said. “The Parsons horse fought hard, but our two showed their class over the concluding stages. “They’re both lightly raced and still have a bit of improvement. Hopefully they can go on to big things this season.” Mystic Park stopped the clock at 56.29 seconds for 1000m on a Soft5 track. “He can really run quick times,” Pitman said. “He showed that with some of his closing sectionals in the autumn. We’re confident that he can go on to some nice races. He’s pretty quick, and especially when he relaxes like that. He’s a very good horse when he can relax in behind another runner that gives him something to follow. I think he’s hardly been beaten when that’s been the case. “Hopefully a Stewards’ Stakes (Listed, 1200m) or Telegraph is calling him now, and then maybe Aussie further down the line. “We’ll look at the carnival on our back doorstep for Third Decree too. She might go to a Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes (Group 3, 1400m).” Horse racing news View the full article

Growing Empire on the way to the barriers prior to the running of McNeil Stakes at Caulfield. (Photo by George Sal/Racing Photos) Growing Empire ($2.50) has returned to the racetrack in fine style, finishing off with a brilliant turn of foot to run away from his rivals in the Group 3 McNeil Stakes at Caulfield. Ciaron Maher and Mark Zahra combined with the three-year-old colt, who has now won three of his four career starts, with this win being the best of the lot. Zahra tried to cross the field and settle on speed aboard this son of Zoustar; however, Stay Focused ($4.60), Astapor ($8.50), and Band Of Brothers ($19) kicked up to lead the race, so he chose to sit three-wide with cover. The field turned for home, and Zahra was sitting quietly on his mount, but as soon as he pushed the button, Growing Empire lengthened quickly and took over with 200m to go. Wonder Boy ($5) wobbled on the corner and lost some ground on the eventual winner before picking himself up to run on strongly into second place. It was all honours to Growing Empire as he was eased down by Zahra to win by a margin that could have been much bigger. 2024 McNeil Stakes replay – Growing Empire Following back-to-back winners at Caulfield, Maher spoke post-race about the win. “We’ve certainly got him on the same path (as Merchant Navy), he’s a very exciting colt,” Maher said of Growing Empire. “I didn’t really tie Mark down with too many instructions, if he pinged the lids we were going to go forward. “He ended up with a beautiful run, he’s a very very progressive colt and he’s on a Coolmore path so he’s started the prep well. “He’s probably one of our benchmark colts. “He’s always had that really good ability and he spelled well at Yulong. “He’s come back in, the team have done a great job, you can still see late that there’s a lot more there, he still wobbles around and that’s why we wanted to get him to the races now, he needs that bit of experience. “We’ll get him to Flemington, he can have a couple of looks down the straight and hopefully he’s right to go on Derby Day.” Zahra was complimentary of the winner in his post-race interview. “They don’t win much better than that,” Zahra said. “I thought this prep, today would be the day, if he was going to get beaten, today would be the day and at the 400 (metres) I didn’t have to worry about that. “Unbelievable feel. “It was good to see him without the blinkers, I’ve been trying him in the blinkers and I said to Ciaron ‘I think he just wants to be a bit too keen in them… let’s just see how he goes first up with the option of putting them on’. “The way he won I don’t think he needs them. He’s there for you, his turn of foot’s electric, he looks a pretty smart horse.” When asked about the spring goals for Growing Empire, Zahra responded quickly, “Win a Coolmore would be nice.” Growing Empire is the $5 favourite with horse racing bookmakers in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes futures market. Horse racing news View the full article

Young Werther beats Duke De Sessa in the Quayclean Handicap at Caufield. Photo: Bruno Cannatelli Seven-year-old gelding Young Werther indicated he is in for another good campaign when resuming from a brief break with a strong win in the Quayclean Handicap (2000m) at Caulfield on Saturday. The Danny O’Brien-trained son of Tavistock lumped 61kgs under Blake Shinn and sat just behind a strong tempo set by eventual runner-up Duke De Sessa, getting the better of that rival after the pair sprinted for home early, scoring by three-quarters of a length. With five wins to his name from 34 starts and a further 12 placings, the veteran middle-distance galloper has competed at the highest level and is five-time Group 1 placed. Among those elite level placings are a second and third placing in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington in 2021 and 2022 respectively, and connections of Young Werther are keen to make it third time lucky. Winning trainer Danny O’Brien was impressed with the win as Young Werther advanced his career earnings to A$2,100,950 in a slick time of 2:01.41. “He’s got 61kgs on his back and he is only a little fella, but he did that last spring, winning a race with 61.5kgs,” O’Brien said. “It was a proper race for the two of them really, they levelled out a long way from home. It always looked like he was going to get the better of the second horse, but he had to do it, and I thought it was a good effort.” O’Brien is convinced Young Werther has continued to improve as he has aged. “He was always a little backward horse and his last two winters he has been to Brisbane and he has come back from Queensland both times really well,” he said. “I think he will go to a better level again this spring and he only needs to find a length or two to win a nice race. He has been around the mark in a few decent Group Ones.” The Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) on October 5 looms as an obvious target. “He has run second in it and third in it as a younger horse and he still gets in well at set weights and penalties, where he doesn’t get the penalty,” O’Brien said. “He has got a great record at Flemington over the 2000m and we can use that to see where he goes to from there. “We have stayed away from Caulfield because he has never really gone well here, but he has won here today so there is a chance he could go from a Turnbull into a Caulfield Cup (Group 1, 2400m) this year.” Horse racing news View the full article

Storm Boy winning as a juvenile. Photo: RacingNSW The Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Storm Boy ($2.30) has returned with a bang to claim the Group 3 San Domenico Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday afternoon, making every post winner under Adam Hyeronimus. The son of Justify was a shade disappointing at the end of his two-year-old campaign, going down a short-priced favourite in the Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) and Group 1 Sires’ Produce (1400m). The now-three-year-old appears to be back at his brilliant best, and although the jury was out after two even barrier trial victories heading into Saturday, there’s no doubt the $20 million Coolmore purchase is back on track. He pinged the lids from the inside draw (1) and never looked in much danger despite the equal favourite Gatsby’s ($2.30) sliding across into the one-one under James McDonald. Storm Boy was able to produce sustained speed from the outset, with his rivals spotting the leader an unassailable head start, with only Mayfair ($7.00) and Tropicus ($17.00) making any inroads in the final furlong. Conditions have favoured on-speed runners throughout the afternoon; however, it was clear to see the class rise to the top in the 2024 San Domenico, with Storm Boy cruising to a comfortable 2.9-length win. 2024 Group 3 San Domenico Stakes Replay – Storm Boy Co-trainer Adrian Bott was on course representing the stable post-race and suggested there’s still plenty options for Storm Boy in the spring but confirmed the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) would be the next target. “There is so much talent there,” said Bott. “I’m glad he’s been able to come back and race in that manner and showcase his talents and natural speed that’s he’s got today. “There is further improvement. I’ve always thought he’s going to be better getting over further, but to do that today showing that sustained speed, he was able to run them into the ground and that’s the quality colt that he is. “In the back of our minds, we’ve always thought a Caulfield Guineas, Cox Plate type of program for him. That’s what we thought going into the campaign. “But the brilliance he has shown today, whether he could be an Everest horse dropping back off a Golden Rose. “Everything is on the table, no decision has been made. We’re heading towards the Golden Rose, that’s his immediate target.” Adam Hyeronimus was delighted with the performance and credited the stable for the conditions of the horse, suggesting he knew his fate heading to the stalls. “We know what he can do,” said Hyeronimus. “I was very pleased to be able come here and have him do the talking. “That is very much the role of the stable. They are colts, but you would think they were a four-year-old gelding. I knew my fate when I cantered off into the gates and we went around lovely and relaxed, in a good rhythm. I knew we were on. “I thought he jumped relatively well at 1100m. I didn’t have to be probably as aggressive as I thought I was going to have to be. I knew once I did find the front he’d drop the bit. He only needed a breather for 100m given the sectionals I know he can run are pretty devastating. “Once I got that 200m rest and I kicked him up at the top of the straight he just grew again and off he went.” Storm Boy is now an equal favourite and marked a $4.00 chance with horse racing bookmakers for the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) on September 28. Horse racing news View the full article

Recommendation ridden by Blake Shinn wins the Vale Black Caviar at Caulfield. (Photo by George Sal/Racing Photos) Recommendation ($2) brought up a hat-trick of Group 3 wins at Caulfield on Saturday afternoon when Blake Shinn piloted the Ciaron Maher-trained gelding to victory in the Vale Black Caviar. The race named in honour of the late great Black Caviar is registered as The Heath 1100 Stakes, and it is also the first time that Maher has won the race with any of his runners. With two of the key market chances, Chain Of Lightning and Arkansaw Kid, withdrawn earlier in the day, the race was left as a match race between Recommendation and Kallos ($2.50), and they didn’t disappoint. Shinn took the son of Shalaa to the front of the field and sat on the girth of Acromantula ($34), while Jamie Kah on the Godolphin galloper followed the eventual winner every step of the way. However, as the field turned for home, Shinn pushed the button on his five-year-old gelding, and he quickly put a margin on the second favourite. In the final 100m, Recommendation held a margin, and the runner-up couldn’t bridge the gap, going down by just under a length, with Nettuno ($9.50) running home into third place. 2024 Heath 1100 replay – Recommendation Ciaron Maher was on course to speak about Recommendation and the victory. “He was very confident, Blake (Shinn), he rode the horse very confidently, he’s just found his sweet spot here, Caulfield 1100 (metres),” Maher said. “We knew Kallos would be very hard to beat, he’s got a great fresh record and he executed it perfectly, Blake. “They’ve got a great affiliation, he gave him a perfect run… he controlled the race, great effort by him, great effort by the team, Jack (Turnbull) at Cranbourne is managing him very well. “He just seems to bounce off the bend and bridles up, we’ll have a look at Flemington and see how he goes, he certainly seems to have gone to another level, we’ll pick our way through.” Blake Shinn also spoke about the win post-race. “I still had to ride my own race, I just had to ensure that I didn’t put too much pressure into the race early because I knew Kallos, I’ve won on him before, he’s got an amazing turn of foot,” Shinn said. “He met us better at the weights when they met in the Oakleigh Plate, I knew if he went quick early and were vulnerable late he’d be coming over the top of me so I didn’t lead on him today. “There was that quick horse (Acromantula) inside of me, I thought if it jumped it’d lead so I just rode our own race and made it a race from the top of the straight. “Geez he was brave, at the two hundred when he got challenged I loved his tenacity. “1100 is really his wheelhouse, he’s hard fit, I just love him. “I love how far he’s developed this prep, full credit to Ciaron and the team and more importantly the horse.” Horse racing news View the full article

Snitzel colt To Bravery Born completes a comfortable victory in the first two-year-old race of the season. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) The familiar tangerine and blue colours of Te Akau Racing were back to doing what they do best when To Bravery Born took out the traditional opening two-year-old race of the season at Wanganui on Saturday. Despite there being only four runners to face the starter, the Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-prepared son of Snitzel showed he has what it takes to feature later in the season with a professional performance in downing race favourite Toretto by a comfortable two-length margin. Rider Opie Bosson never panicked when his mount was slightly tardy at the start and then hampered by Toretto and Bordeaux Belle as he looked to find a handy position. Angled three-wide around the home bend To Bravery Born quickly established his dominance and had things well under control as he eased down close to the finish line to provide a pretty picture for owners, the Te Akau Secret Identity Racing Partnership. Co-trainer Mark Walker had plenty of praise for the performance. “I remember when Dave (Ellis) bought him as a yearling, we looked at each other and couldn’t believe that he only made $200,000, and were quite perplexed at the time as to why, but it was late in the day and there was torrential rain,” Walker said. “For a Snitzel colt he was great value, and it was exciting to see him win the way he did on his debut outing. “He broke in well, has always been a very forward type, and the way he relaxed and went to the line today, really uncontested, suggests he has a nice future.” Bosson was suitably impressed by his mount given he didn’t have things go all his own way during the race. “He travelled fairly, although the horses inside me ran us out really wide at the start, but he got into a nice rhythm,” Bosson said. “Once I stoked him up before the turn he stretched out nicely and did it pretty easily in the end. “He’s got the ability there and a few gears left so the further he goes the better.” Te Akau Racing have built a strong record in the race with Group 2 Eclipse Stakes (1200m) winner Bellatrix Star securing victory last year, while Rubicon Crossing won in 2022 before being twice stakes placed and in 2019 Cool Aza Beel scored prior to also taking out the Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) for the stable, along with the Group 1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) of that year. Horse racing news View the full article

It doesn't take long for the Kentucky Downs meeting to hit full gear, as Saturday's program features three graded contests, including the GIII DK Horse Nashville Derby Invitational Stakes, with prize money that could reach $3.1 million. The purse remains intact should one of the 10 Kentucky-breds–eight in the main body of the field and two also-eligibles–is home first over the mile and five-sixteenths journey along the Kentucky/Tennessee border. The four foreign raiders are ineligible for the KTDF money, but the base purse of $2.5 million already makes it one of the richest Derbies in the world. The European invader with the best form in the book is King Power's Bellum Justum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) for trainer Andrew Balding. A 375,000gns Tattersalls October yearling, the bay colt was a maiden winner from four juvenile appearance, accounting for future G1 Commonwealth Cup hero Inisherin (GB) (Shamardal) going a mile at Newmarket in September. After landing the Listed Blue Riband Trial on seasonal return at Epsom Apr. 23, he was seventh to City of Troy (Justify) in the June 1 G1 Derby, but has since finished third in the G3 Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot June 20 and just missed when last seen in the G3 Gordon Stakes at Goodwood Aug. 1. Cugino (Twirling Candy) heads up the home defense, having made all the running to defeat Lagynos (Kantharos) in the June 1 Audubon Stakes at Churchill Downs. The latter, a consistent sort for Steve Asmussen, was subsequently an even fourth in the June 29 American Derby and was just nabbed on the line by Neat (Constitution) in the GII Hall of Fame Stakes at Saratoga Aug. 2. Carson's Run (Cupid), victorious in last year's GI Summer Stakes, enters the Nashville Derby off victories in the June 23 Tale of the Cat Stakes and a late-running tally in the GI Saratoga Derby Invitational Aug. 11. Navy Seal (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) could be one for the bottom of vertical wagers. A maiden winner and fifth in the G2 UAE Derby for Coolmore and Aidan O'Brien, the regally bred bay was purchased by Jim and Fitri Hay and was moved the barn of Wesley Ward. Third in an off-turf allowance at Canterbury June 22, he was just beaten in Saratoga allowance company by Friday's GIII Saranac Stakes winner West Hollywood (Uncle Mo) over a mile and a sixteenth July 27 and could improve for this step up in trip. His dam Athena (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) won the 2018 GI Belmont Oaks going 10 panels. Carson's Run | Sarah Andrew The fairer sex features in the afternoon's other marquee races, each of which carries prize money of $1.5 million for Kentucky-breds. Secret Money (Good Samaritan) is an 8-1 chance in the GII Ladies' Turf Sprint, having defeated Danse Macabre (Army Mule) and Bling (American Pharoah) in last year's age-restricted GIII Music City Stakes. California shipper Ruby Nell (Bolt' d'Oro), front-running winner of Santa Anita's GII Buena Vista Stakes going a mile back in March, cuts back to a sprint for the first time since winning the Unzip Me Stakes last October. Mission of Joy (Kitten's Joy) gets some class relief in the GIII Ladies' Turf Stakes, as she cuts back to a mile off a sixth in the GI Diana Stakes, where she was beaten three lengths by the repeating Whitebeam (GB) (Caravaggio). Implicated (Connect) is perfect in two starts since switching to the Chad Brown barn, an easy allowance win at Churchill May 12 followed by a 1 3/4-length victory in the GII Nassau Stakes at Woodbine. Behind in second was Fev Rover (Ire) (Gutaifan {Ire}), who just failed in her repeat bid in the GII Beverly D. Stakes Aug. 11. Pacific Classic One Of Three BC Qualifiers at Del Mar The Friday scratching of Adare Manor (Uncle Mo) leaves a maximum field of eight for Saturday's GI FanDuel Pacific Classic at Del Mar, with a berth in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic over the same course and distance on Nov. 2 at stake. Dr. Venkman (Ghostzapper) was the 5-2 morning-line second choice behind the mare and looks to be the chief beneficiary of Adare Manor's absence. Having debuted just this time last year with a pair of victories, the bay was second in the Oct. 21 Perryville Stakes and resumed with a runner-up effort in the GII Triple Bend Stakes June 1. Bred top and bottom to handle a route of ground, Dr. Venkman took over at about the midway stage of the GII San Diego Handicap and carried Antonio Fresu to a one-length victory over Katonah (Klimt). Dr. Venkman | Benoit Dr. Venkman could face some pressure from Reincarnate (Good Magic) in his first try at the mile and a quarter. A two-time Grade III winner at three, the $775,000 KEESEP yearling is winless in four starts this year, but has run well in his two tries at Saturday's trip. Third to Newgate (Into Mischief) in the GI Santa Anita Handicap Mar. 3, he set the pace before weakening late to be runner-up in the GI Gold Cup at Santa Anita May 27. He exits a distant second in the 12-furlong GIII Cougar II Stakes July 25. Middle-distance turf males compete for a 'Win and You're In' ticket to the GI Breeders' Cup Turf in the GII Del Mar Handicap earlier on the program. Gold Phoenix (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}) is the two-time defending champion of the 11-furlong heat and was just up in the 1 1/4-mile GII Charlie Whittingham Stakes May 4 ahead of a somewhat troubled seventh in the July 28 GII Eddie Read Stakes over a nine-furlong trip that is short of his best. Rockemperor (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) is as reliable as they come, even if it's been over two years since he last saluted. Sixth to Gold Phoenix in the Whittingham, he led late but was chinned on the wire in the 14-furlong GIII San Juan Capistrano Stakes June 16 and may want that sort of trip to bring out his best. Balnikhov (Ire) (Adaay {Ire}) ran on for third in the Read and will try this distance for the first time, while an interesting new shooter is El Encinal (Arg) (Il Campione {Chi}), last seen winning the G1 GP Carlos Pellegrini at San Isidro last December. Motorious (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) is back to defend his title and shoulders top weight of 123 pounds in the GIII Green Flash Handicap, which offers the winner a fees-paid berth into the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint over the same course and trip in a little more than two months. Beaten a length and a half into fifth as the favorite in last year's Turf Sprint at Santa Anita, the bay was a rough-trip seventh to Cogburn (Not This Time) in the GII Turf Sprint at Churchill May 4 and fourth in a six-furlong allowance in Arcadia June 16. Cal-bred Connie Swingle (Grazen) represents a real danger if building on a smooth success (99 Beyer) in the July 27 Daisycutter Handicap, her first start in 21 months. No Nay Hudson (Ire) (No Nay Never), winner of the William Walker Stakes last season at three, raids from Saratoga for Wesley Ward off a one-length fifth with trouble in a July 28 allowance. War Like Goddess Tough To Deny in Flower Bowl George Krikorian's 7-year-old nails-tough mare War Like Goddess (English Channel) does not appear to have lost her zest for racing and continues a march towards a fourth consecutive appearance at the Breeders' Cup as the 7-5 morning-line favorite in the GII Flower Bowl Stakes, a 'Win and You're In' qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf. War Like Goddess was a fractionally unlucky third as the public choice in the 2021 renewal at the seaside oval. Seventh against the boys in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Turf, the bay has just two runs under her belt this season, a pace-compromised third in the GI New York Stakes here June 8, but she bounced back to return a relatively generous $4 to her backers in the mile and three-eighths GIII R. G. Dick Memorial Stakes at Delaware July 7. War Like Goddess | Sarah Andrew Parnac (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}) made every yard of the running last year, controlling a soft pace before easily holding off McKulick (GB) (Frankel {GB}) by 1 1/4 lengths. The two met again in the GII Glens Falls Stakes Aug 1, with McKulick turning the tables by 2 1/4 lengths, as favored Eternal Hope (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) could do no better than fourth in her first start of the season. The Queens M G (Thousand Words) seems to have righted the ship in her last couple of starts and looms the one to beat in the GI Spinaway Stakes. Inexplicably down the field in the June 6 Astoria Stakes, the dark bay filly lit up the tote to the tune of $91 in the opening day Schulyerville Stakes July 11 and followed suit–albeit at much skinnier odds–in the GIII Adirondack Stakes last time Aug. 4. The waters are deeper Saturday, as the competition includes Quietside (Malibu Moon), who was named a 'TDN Rising Star' at first asking for a towering 6 1/4-length debut success Aug. 4, and Godolphin first-time starter winners Pondering (Hard Spun) and Immersive (Nyquist). In the GIII Prioress Stakes, the first of the day's three graded events on closing weekend at the Spa, Rigney Racing's 'TDN Rising Star' Two Sharp (Twirling Candy) figures a handful off an 11 1/4-length graduation going 6 1/2 panels Aug. 2. Brightwork (Outwork) was to have made her 3-year-old debut in the GI Test Stakes but lost her footing in the paddock and was forced to scratch. She is an obvious threat from the outside stall. The post Nashville Derby A Very Rich And ‘Grand Ole’ Showdown appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — George Krikorian's dependable War Like Goddess (English Channel) will make her age-matching seventh career start at Saratoga Saturday in the GII $500,000 Flower Bowl. War Like Goddess has never been worse than third at Saratoga Race Course. The turf distance specialist won the 1 3/8-mile Flower Bowl in 2021, its last year as a Grade I, and was second by a neck in 2022. Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott did not run her in the race last year. The Flower Bowl will be her third start this season. She was third by 3 1/4 lengths in the GI New York on June 7 that was part of the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga meet. Exactly one month later, she won the GIII Robert G. Dick Memorial Stakes at Delaware Park. “We're well aware of the fact that she's getting a little older,” Mott said. “One day they eventually tire out, but she seems to be doing well at the moment. She's coming off of a good race, and she's going into this race seemingly quite good. There's other younger fillies in there that I'm sure are doing well, but we're still trying to compete.” On the advice of bloodstock agent Donato Lanni, Krikorian purchased War Like Goddess for $30,000 in June 2019 of the OBS 2-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age sale. In two previous trips to auction she sold for $1,200 as a weanling and was an RNA as a yearling when bidding stopped at $1,000. In a 2022 TDN story, Krikorian noted that he was not responsible for the filly's distinctive name. “I bought her with that name and I told Donato 'I don't like that name,'” Krikorian said. “I didn't see the horse then because he was in Florida and I was out here in California when he called me about the horse. I didn't get to see her for maybe four months or five months later. When I saw her, I looked at her and I said, 'Hey, we don't need to change her name. She's beautiful. She is a War Like Goddess.'” In her 20-race career she has proved to be a top-notch runner and a fabulous bargain with earnings of $2,775,184 from a record of 12-2-3. She has three Grade I wins, two of them over males in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic. Mott has tried her twice against males in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf at 1 1/2 miles and she was a rallying third by three lengths in 2022. She has at least one win in each of her five seasons of competition. “The target this year would be the Breeders' Cup, the Filly and Mare Turf, because it's at a mile and three eighths this year at Del Mar,” Mott said. “The last two years, it's been odd distances. It's been a mile and three-sixteenths, which is a little short for her. We feel the mile and three-eighths might suit her a little better.” In her lone appearance in the Filly and Mare Turf in 2021 at Del Mar, she made the lead in the stretch but was caught and was third by a half-length. At 1 3/8 miles, War Like Goddess is 4-1-1 from six starts. Pyrenees Will Try to Continue Ascent in Gold Cup It's fair to say that Pyrenees (Into Mischief) has been a project for trainer Cherie DeVaux and owner-breeder Blue Heaven Farm that is turning into a success story. He enters the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup Sunday on an upswing with four wins and a second in his last five starts. Pyrenees Thursday morning at the Spa | Sarah Andrew DeVaux said the colt was a bit slow to develop, but after his career was interrupted has grown into a legitimate stakes horse. In his last two starts he won the GIII Pimlico Special and was second by 2 1/2 lengths to the now-retired Kingsbarns (Uncle Mo) in the GI Stephen Foster on June 29. “I just think it was time and maturity,” DeVaux said. “He had a really significant injury that caused him to be off for a year. When he came back from that, he was a completely different horse. Physically, he's always been slight and a bit feminine, but mentally, he really matured.” DeVaux said Pyrenees suffered the leg injury early in 2023 and it kept him away from racing until mid-December, when he broke his maiden at Fair Grounds. Though he was by top sire Into Mischief, early on DeVaux and her staff did not see him developing into a stakes-caliber runner. “It would be hard to justify saying that the way he trained, in the way he was running,” she said. “It's not because it was lack of talent. He just wasn't putting it out there on the track. You could tell that there was more in there, and he just wasn't putting it out. We had tried blinkers and were going to run him in blinkers, but then when he hurt himself, we just kind of regrouped with him.” By year's end, Pyrenees was a different horse. “When he came back, he was breezing much better, a lot more focused,” DeVaux said. “He was so aloof as a 2-year-old. That's the only word I can use for him.” Following the maiden-breaker, Pyrenees took the next steps on his climb with an allowance victory in late January and a three-length score at Keeneland on Apr. 12 over a sloppy track. He edged Kingsbarns in the GIII Pimlico Special, giving DeVaux her third stakes win on the program that day. While it was an important victory for the colt in his first stakes try, DeVaux said the turning point had already occurred. “I would say Maryland kind of just solidified that we were on the right track with him,” she said. “I was really impressed with his race at Keeneland. Then again, he followed it up with the Stephen Foster where then you're stepping up into Grade I company. It was a tough race, and he was there. I just think it actually might have been just a touch too short for him.” DeVaux said the decision was made to bypass the GI Whitney and point Pyrenees for the 1 1/4-mile Gold Cup. “He had done a lot in a short amount of time,” she said. “At some point we had the discussion that if he is going to make it to the Breeders' Cup, he's going to need a little break. Not a break from training, but just a break in racing. We decided that was probably the best opportunity after the Stephen Foster to just give him a little time for his next race.” Summer Holiday is Over for White Abarrio White Abarrio (Race Day)'s break from training and a vacation on a farm has ended and he has returned to the care of trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. at Saratoga Race Course. “He's back here,” Joseph said. “He's back training. He's back galloping.” White Abarrio on Friday | Sarah Andrew White Abarrio's owners moved him from Abarrio's barn to Richard Dutrow, Jr.'s stable in May 2023. He went on to finish third in the GI Met Mile then won the GI Whitney Stable and the GI Breeders' Cup Classic. This year he was 10th in the G1 Saudi Cup. After finishing fifth in the Met Mile run at Saratoga, he was sent back Joseph, who decided he needed a break. “It was just give him a change-of-mind piece and see if he could drop himself down and relax,” Joseph said. “And he did. It just felt like he had nervous energy. He just wouldn't let himself down and was anxious, anxious, anxious.” Joseph said the goal is to prepare the 5-year-old for the GI Pegasus World Cup on Jan. 25 at Gulfstream Park. “That's kind of where he needs to get to and everything's kind of working backwards from there,” Joseph said. “How we get there, we don't know yet. There's possibilities. He could run in October, November, if everything went right, but we don't want to set a date and have to be changing. He's going to tell us. After a couple breezes, then we'll be able to come up with a formal plan.” Joseph said White Abarrio would remain at Saratoga for a while after the meet ends on Monday. The post Saratoga Notebook, Presented by NYRA Bets: Saratoga-Loving War Like Goddess Returns to Flower Bowl appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

It had been more than a year since Saratoga Race Course witnessed what happened in the Aug. 30 Saranac Stakes (G3T).View the full article

2nd-SAR, $100k, Msw, 2yo, 1 1/16mT, 12:37p.m. ET Breaking from the rail for owner/breeder St. Elias Stable is COMPLEX AGENDA (Quality Road), who brings with him a loaded pedigree and a bullet work over the grass at Saratoga. Said move was three works back over the training track Aug. 2, where he went seven panels with the dogs up in 1:29 flat (1/4). His dam, GSW Nonna Mela (Arch), won the GII Adirondack and ran second in the GII Prioress Stakes. That mare is a half-sister to multiple Listed winner, Graded-placed Nonna Madeline (Candy Ride {Arg}). To his outside is the pinhooking success story made of dreams, namely Executive (Constitution). The colt was a $100,000 purchase at KEEJAN by Jim Fitzgerald as an agent, and would return to the Keeneland auction house in September to see the hammer fall for $900,000, going the way of Pin Oak Stud. He hails from the female line of MGISW Liam's Map (Unbridled's Song) and GSW & GISP Not This Time (Giant's Causeway). Also debuting here are a pair of European acquisitions in Repole Stables runner Battle Drum (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), a 360,000 ARQMAY pick up this year, and Klaravich Stables's Early Adopter (GB) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), secured as a yearling for 170,000gns at TATOCT. The former claims German Highweight mare G1SW-Ger India (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) as family while the latter is out of a Group 1-placed mare and is a half-brother to the dam of G1 Kennedy Oaks winner Zardozi (Aus) (Kingman {GB}). Early Adopter boasts dual Grade I-winner Program Trading (GB) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) as a relative. TJCIS PPs 6th-SAR, $100k, Msw, 2yo, f, 5 1/2fT, 2:47p.m. ET Debuting for Bregman Family Racing LLC, LAURICE (Bolt d'Oro) will go to post here for trainer George Weaver with Junior Alvarado in the irons. From the family of champion juvenile colt MGISW Shared Belief (Candy Ride {Arg}), the filly was a $460,000 purchase at this year's OBS April sale and had gone through the Keeneland sales pavilion on two occasions before that, selling for $75,000 at KEENOV as a weanling and then for $80,000 as a yearling at KEESEP. She's been working religiously on both surfaces, and is 7-2 on the morning line for this debut. TJCIS PPs 8th-SAR, $100k, Msw, 2yo, 7f, 3:55p.m. ET In what is shaping up to be an expensive maiden special race, GUNS LOADED (Gun Runner) leads the charge as the priciest of the bunch. A son of multiple graded-placed Sky My Sky (Bernardini), he hals from the female line of Media Nox (GB) (Lycius), who in addition to her racing prowess, found acclaim as the dam of G1 Prix de Diane Hermes-French Oaks and G1 NetJets Prix du Moulin de Longchamp victress Nebraska Tornado (Storm Cat). Most recently, the female family enjoyed success at the highest levels in Europe by way of multiple Group 1 winner Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}). Sold for a princely sum of $800,000 at KEESEP, Guns Loaded will race for the partnership of Morplay Racing LLC, Joey Platts, and Lady Sheila Stable. To his inside debuts Well Suited (Uncle Mo) for owner and breeder Godolphin. Hailing from the immediate family of Scat Daddy, he's out of SW & MGSP Classic Fit (Bernardini), who in turn is out of a half-sister to the late, great sire. TJCIS PPs 1st-DMR, $75k, Msw, 2yo, f, 6f, 4:30p.m. ET On the rail and debuting for Richard Mandella, GRACE BY FAITH (Authentic) leads a competitive field in this Del Mar opener. A three-quarter sister to MGSW General Jim (Into Mischief), she was an $800,000 purchase from KEESEP last year by Spendthrift Farm, which stands her sire, and has been given a 10-1 morning line shot. To the outside of that one is Margarita Girl (Twirling Candy), a $575,000 OBSMAR purchase back in March by Saints or Sinners, and now races for them in partnership with Rancho Temescal Thoroughbred Partners. Mark Glatt's charge hails from the female line of Tempo West, herself responsible for multiple European Highweight, multiple Group 1 winner and GI Breeders' Cup Classic runner-up Declaration of War (War Front) and his full-brother MGSW & MGISP War Correspondent. She also produced French Listed winner, multiple Graded-placed Vertiformer (Dynaformer). This is the female family of GI Belmont Stakes hero Union Rags (Dixie Union). TJCIS PPs The post Aug. 31 Insights: Coast to Coast Debuts for Well-Meant Maidens appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU) has granted a temporary stay of enforcement to connections in six pending total carbon dioxide (TCO2) cases, all of which are out of Pennsylvania. In total, 11 of the 14 pending and resolved TCO2-related cases reported since the advent of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) have concerned horses that ran in Pennsylvania. Of the three other TCO2-related cases, one ran in California and two were out of Ohio. When asked about the reason behind the temporary stay of enforcement, HIWU spokesperson Alexa Ravit wrote in an email that the agency continuously reviews all adverse analytical findings, “and is currently conducting a review of TCO2 analysis at the Pennsylvania Equine Toxicology and Research Laboratory (PETRL).” The PETRL, affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania, analyzed all samples collected for TCO2 testing within the state. Five of the 11 Pennsylvania-related cases concerned horses that ran at Penn National, five ran at Parx Racing, and one ran at Presque Isle Downs. “We cannot comment on the details of the review at this time, but if anything is found that affects the outcomes of the pending cases, that will be made public when the cases are resolved,” Ravit added. High total carbon dioxide (TCO2) levels could be an indication of bicarbonate loading–otherwise known as “milk-shaking”–which can neutralize the build-up of lactic acid in muscles, thereby helping the horse's performance. TCO2 is also naturally occurring in a horse's system. According to HISA's rules, the alkalization or use or administration of an alkalizing agent is prohibited on race day, and a TCO2 blood threshold in excess of 37 millimoles per litre (mmol) is reportedly evidence of “international administration.” Eight of the 14 cases have already been resolved. The trainer in each of the cases was issued a 30-day suspension and a $2,500 fine. This includes Salvador Naranjo, whose trainee Fever tested positive for TCO2 after running at Los Alamitos on Dec. 9 last year. According to Ravit, HIWU issued a temporary stay in the enforcement of that case due to the, at the time, pending federal intra-articular injection rule changes. “The affected Covered Person had penalty points from an intra-articular injection violation that were revoked (and the stay on the case lifted) upon implementation of the new HISA Racetrack Safety Program rules,” Ravit explained. In Naranjo's case, the sample was analyzed by the Kenneth L. Maddy Equine Analytical Chemistry Laboratory at UC Davis. Trainer Carlos Lopez was similarly issued a 30-day suspension and $2,500 fine due to two of his trainees testing positive for TCO2 after running at Belterra Park on Aug. 10 last year. Those samples were sent to the Ohio Department of Agriculture's Analytical Toxicology Laboratory. According to Richard Hackerman, who represents one of the trainers with two pending TCO2 cases, he finds it “extraordinarily unlikely that there's a rash of milk-shaking going on in Pennsylvania and virtually nowhere else in the country.” HIWU does not collect B samples when conducting TCO2 testing. However, trainers can request in advance the collection of a duplicate sample. In Pennsylvania, the duplicate samples go to PETRL, as per HISA's rules. “The official Sample and any duplicate Sample shall be analyzed by the same Laboratory. If the Agency, in its discretion, determines that the duplicate Sample cannot be analyzed within 5 days after the Sample is collected, the findings of the official Sample shall be final,” the HISA rules state. This is not the first time questions have been raised about testing procedures at laboratories contracted for use by HIWU. At the end of last year, the TDN reported on testing uniformity difficulties arising from different testing equipment, testing methodologies and sets of staff interpreting the results between the then-six laboratories contracted for use by HIWU. Internal reviews of the laboratories had uncovered different limits of detection in blood for the diabetes drug Metformin and for benzoylecgonine (BZE), a metabolite of cocaine. In light of the review, HIWU explained that it had subsequently harmonized its “testing sensitivity” in blood across the six labs for these two substances, and that it would repeat the harmonization process for other drugs, including banned substances. Earlier this year, HIWU severed its contract with the University of Kentucky's Equine Analytical Chemistry Laboratory due to questions raised about the lab's performance, and about “personnel” matters related to the former lab director, Scott Stanley. The Racing Medication and Testing Consortium (RMTC) also suspended its accreditation of the UK Lab. Investigations into these matters at the UK Lab are still ongoing. According to Ravit, there is no deadline for the stay to be lifted in the pending TCO2 cases while HIWU continues its review. The post HIWU Stays Enforcement of Pending TCO2 Cases, Conducting Review of Pennsylvania Lab appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Stronach Stables's Macho Uno, Eclipse Award-winning champion juvenile and whose progeny include GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner Mucho Macho Man, was euthanized at the age of 26 due to liver complications at his home at Adena South Aug. 30, according to a Friday press release from 1/ST Racing. A son of Horse of the Year Holy Bull bred by Adena and a half-brother to Breeders' Cup Classic winner Awesome Again, Macho Uno won on debut at Saratoga for trainer Joe Orseno in July 2000. After he was third in the GI Hopeful Stakes, Macho Uno won the GI Grey Breeders' Cup at Woodbine. The colt would follow that up with a score over future Hall of Famer Point Given in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Macho Uno's 3-year-old campaign was delayed until July due to an ankle injury. Once his season began, the grey won the GIII Pennsylvania Derby and was fourth in the Breeders' Cup Classic. The colt returned the next year with a victory in the GII Massachusetts Handicap and he was fourth in the GI Whitney Handicap before ending his racing career with a fifth-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Arlington. At stud, along with siring Mucho Macho Man–himself the sire of GISW Mucho Gusto–Macho Uno claims Grade I winners Macho Again, Private Zone, Tolomeo and V I P Zone. The stallion was represented by 17 crops prior to being pensioned to Adena South in 2020. The post Pensioned Sire Macho Uno Succumbs To Liver Complications appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The popular program designed to attract horses from outside California, will be back in effect for the track’s autumn meet. Eligible horses will receive $4,000 guaranteed for their first start at Santa Anita.View the full article

Evvie Jets runs in the Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf (G3T) Aug. 31, and it will be an emotional day. Michael Amendola said late father left him, his sister Jennifer, and his mother Shelia a half dozen horses. Evvie Jets is the last one running.View the full article

Santa Anita will once again implement the “Ship and Win” program for the 2024 Autumn Meet, which kicks off Friday, Sept. 27. The incentive program is designed to attract horses from outside California. Horses from out of state who made only one start at the Del Mar Summer Meet will remain eligible for Santa Anita's Ship and Win purse bonus provided they did not make an additional start elsewhere. Eligible horses will receive $4,000 guaranteed for their first start at Santa Anita, as well additional bonus money in excess of listed purses. “The Ship and Win program is now well known throughout the country and it should continue to attract a significant numbers of horses,” said Santa Anita Director of Racing and Racing Secretary Jason Egan. “We have a great facility at which to race and train with the best turf racing in America at this time of the year, which provides tremendous incentives for those considering stabling here in Southern California year-round.” Santa Anita will inaugurate the California Crown at the meet on Saturday, Sept. 28. The post Santa Anita’s ‘Ship and Win’ Program is Back appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga (THS), a 501c3 nonprofit which utilizes retired racehorses in therapeutic programs promoting the mental health and well-being of New York residents, will be unveiling a new state-of-the-art indoor arena and group therapy space Sept. 4 at its Saratoga Springs facility. Local officials and members of congress will attend the ribbon cutting. “We are thrilled to unveil our new indoor arena, which represents a significant step forward in our mission to support mental health in our community,” said Dr. Erin C. Sisk, founder of THS. “With this facility, we can now offer our services year-round, ensuring that more individuals and families can benefit from the healing power of equine-assisted psychotherapy.” The new arena was constructed with the grant funding awarded to THS through DASNY, New York State's capital project development authority, through the Nonprofit Infrastructure Capital Investment Program (NICIP). The post New Indoor Arena and Therapy Space for Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga 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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Godolphin repeated their feat of five years ago when signing for the €850,000 top lot at Friday's BBAG September Yearling Sale, surpassing the previous record fee of €820,000 they paid for a Sea The Stars (Ire) filly in 2019. It's a record that had been shared since 2020 when Dietrich and Annabel von Boetticher's Gestut Ammerland also forked out €820,000 for a full-sister to the 11-length Deutsches Derby winner and sire Sea The Moon (Ger), but now there is a new outright leader in the shape of the colt who went through the ring on Friday as lot 67. Named Del Maro (Ger), he too has a Classic pedigree fully befitting of the highest-priced horse in the sale's history. A son of the 2,000 Guineas and Derby winner Camelot (GB), Del Maro was offered by Gestut Brummerhof and is out of their homebred Preis der Diana scorer Diamanta (Ger) (Maxios {GB}), a half-sister to the Listed winner and Group 2 Oleander-Rennen third Diamantis (Ger) (Golden Horn {GB}). His second dam is the G3 Preis der Winterkonigin runner-up Diamantgottin (Ger) (Fantastic Light). Diamanta's first foal, the Dubawi (Ire) filly Diya (Ger), who failed to find a buyer when offered at this sale in 2022, has also proved herself a talented performer in the familiar yellow and black silks of her owner-breeder. Although well beaten in the Preis der Diana when last seen, she'd earned her place in that field with a comfortable victory in the Listed Diana Trial the previous month. Anthony Stroud struck the winning bid on behalf of Godolphin, who will be hoping for better luck with this colt than they had with their €820,000 purchase in 2019. The filly, later named Annie d'Autriche (Ger), never made it to the racecourse, whereas the Sea The Moon sibling, named Sea The Sky (Ger) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), showed a high level of form in France for Andre Fabre, winning at Listed level and finishing third in the G3 Prix Minerve. Incidentally, Sea The Sky later found her way into the hands of the Godolphin team as well when bought for €1.25 million at Arqana last December. Of the 210 lots offered, 153 sold at a clearance rate of 73%, down 2% on last year. The average also fell by 2% to €48,552, while the median was consistent with 12 months ago at €48,745. The aggregate spend was €7,428,500, down 8% on last year's figure. Soldier Hollow Gone But Not Forgotten Anthony Stroud also signed for lot 113, a Teofilo (Ire) colt who fetched €150,000, on behalf of Godolphin, but he was forced to settle for the role of underbidder when it came to the sale's other standout result. The Soldier Hollow (GB) colt in question, or lot 52, was offered by breeder Helmut von Finck of Gestut Park Wiedingen, the owner of the former German champion sire who died in May this year. Soldier Hollow is perhaps best known as the sire of the Deutsches Derby winners Pastorius (Ger) and Weltstar (Ger), while daughter Tamfana (Ger), who was purchased for €20,000 at this sale in 2022, has finished fourth in the 1,000 Guineas and third in the Prix de Diane this year. This colt is out of the winning Shirocco (Ger) mare Wamika (Ger), who has already produced three black-type winners by Soldier Hollow, including the G3 Preis der Winterkonigin scorer Whispering Angel (Ger). She in turn is the dam of the G3 Bavarian Classic winner Wilko (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}). The second dam, Wakytara (Ger) (Danehill), has also produced a multiple Group winner by Soldier Hollow in the shape of Wai Key Star (Ger), something which was identified by Alex Elliott as one of the reasons why he refused to be beaten on lot 52. “He was just a very, very classy individual,” he summed up after securing the colt for €320,000. “The mare hasn't missed to Soldier Hollow and even the second dam didn't miss to Soldier Hollow, so it's obviously blood that works. “If he can run as well as he looks, then I'm sure we're going to be okay, even with such a hefty price tag on him. He'll go to Ralph Beckett. It's a sale that has been good to us and, hopefully, this is another horse who can add to that.” Elliott bought three yearlings in total for an aggregate of €460,000, with the others including lot 73, a colt by Too Darn Hot (GB) who sold for €110,000. Another Classic Coup for Liberty Racing? Eckhard Sauren was another of the sale's most prolific buyers with his five purchases–headed by Gestut Gorlsdorf's Kingman (GB) filly [lot 155] who fetched €200,000–coming to an aggregate of €629,000. Sauren also bought a colt by first-season sire Japan (GB) out of the aforementioned Whispering Angel for €120,000. Of the 24 yearlings by Japan offered, 14 sold for a total of €717,000 and an average of €51,214. The dual Group 1 winner stood his first season at Gestut Etzean in 2022 at a fee of €11,000. The HFTB Racing Agency was busy on behalf of Darius Racing, picking up six yearlings for an aggregate of €380,000, while the Liberty Racing team, led by Lars-Wilhelm Baumgarten, were back for more, little wonder given the significant success they've enjoyed with their recruits from this sale in recent years. As if buying last year's Deutsches Derby hero Fantastic Moon (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) here for the bargain sum of €49,000 wasn't enough, the team then repeated the dose at Hamburg in July with Palladium (Ger) (Gleneagles {Ire}), a colt they'd bought from this sale for €80,000 in 2022. Fantastic Moon, who is back in Group 1 action in Saturday's Grosser Preis von Baden, came from the Stauffenberg draft in 2021 and Liberty Racing returned to that source this year with their €140,000 purchase of lot 107, a Teofilo (Ire) colt out of the G2 Cape Verdi runner-up Asoof (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). Lot 65, Liberty Racing's most expensive buy at €200,000, also had something in common with one of their Classic victors as a son of Gleneagles. Offered by Gestut Park Wiedingen, the colt is a half-brother to the G3 Preis der Winterkonigin winner Dhaba (Ger) (Areion {Ger}), who is in turn the dam of the three black-type performers, headed by the Listed scorer and G2 German 1,000 Guineas third Dishina (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}). All told, the team responsible for the last two winners of the Deutsches Derby added six yearlings to their ranks for a total of €527,000. Lope De Vega's Big Year Shows No Signs of Slowing Down Lope De Vega (Ire) continues to lead the race to be crowned champion sire in Europe in 2024 and his popularity was reflected at the recent Arqana August Sale where a filly by the Ballylinch Stud stallion commanded one of the top prices at €1 million. That filly was consigned by Ballylinch, but roles were reversed in Baden-Baden on Friday as the team behind Lope De Vega turned buyers with the €190,000 purchase of lot 78, a filly out of the Listed-placed Lips Eagle (Ger) (Gleneagles {Ire}). Lips Eagle herself is a half-sister to the G1 Grosser Dallmayr-Preis – Bayerisches Zuchtrennen and G2 German 2,000 Guineas winner Lucky Lion (GB), while the second dam, Lips Arrow (Ger) (Big Shuffle), won two Listed races and was Group 3-placed on two other occasions. “It's been a huge year for the stallion,” said Lizzy Sainty, the French representative for Ballylinch, after securing the only Lope De Vega yearling in the catalogue. “She's a lovely filly. She was really typical of her sire with a lovely walk and she obviously comes from a really top class nursery in Etzean. They do a brilliant job. “She'll come home to Ireland and John [O'Connor, managing director of Ballylinch] will make a decision on her future later.” Sainty also confirmed that Prix du Jockey Club hero Look De Vega (Fr) is on track for his two big autumn targets, with the G2 Prix Niel set to be used as a stepping stone to the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe for which he heads the ante-post betting. It was announced in July that Ballylinch had snapped up a majority share in the exciting stallion prospect, in association with Al Shaqab Racing. He will retire to Ballylinch at the end of his racing career to stand alongside his world-famous sire. The post Godolphin Strike For €850K Record-Breaking Camelot Colt At BBAG appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Pegasus Stakes winner Salute the Stars (Candy Ride {Arg}) was an RNA in the inaugural auction from BidXSell, a company that aims to change the way people buy and sell horses online by charging a $500 fixed fee as a commission. The four-year-old colt is owned by Gary and Mary West. “This was a successful sale any way you look at it,” said Saeed Almaddah, President and CEO of Silk Road LLC, which developed the platform. “First, Salute the Stars was a great horse to debut the site with. He is a talented, classy horse with a market value that brought thousands to the site from all over the world. The horse was digitally pulled out of the stall over 2,000 times. Secondly, and most importantly, we showed the thoroughbred industry worldwide that our auction platform unleashes the power of the digital auction market directly into the hands of the stakeholders at a significantly lower cost. The seller of Salute the Stars was exceptionally pleased with the unique visibility the BidXSell platform offers. Sellers know exactly who has interest in their horse, mirroring the physical sale structure of knowing how many times and to whom a horse has been shown and vetted. The seller knows the region of the world most interested in the horse, how to adjust the reserve, and is ultimately in full command of the outcome. The emergence of BidXSell creates a new era in which consignors, breeders, farms, and agents are no longer held hostage by auction houses in the digital marketplace.” The company said that it would announce future U.S. sales. The post Salute the Stars RNAs in Inaugural BidXSell Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Wildcard Top Man Tom (Ire) (Ask {GB}) (lot 46) claimed the top podium at the ThoroughBid August Sale on Thursday. Consigned by Ben Pauling Racing, the 5-year-old gelding was knocked down for £13,500 to Dave Armstrong. The bay is out of Miss Your Top (Ire) (Luso {GB}), a half-sister to Grade 3 chase winner Little Josh (Ire) (Pasternak {GB}). Just behind the topper was El Fabienne (Fr) (Spanish Moon), with Another Partnership signing for the Willie Mullins-consigned mare. Sold as lot 34 for £12,000, the brown mare is a daughter of Silver Bell (Fr) (Silver Cross {Fr}), herself a full-sister to listed hurdle winners and graded-placed Tommy Silver (Fr) and Cross In Hand (Fr), as well as a half-sister to El Fabiolo (Fr) (Spanish Moon), who won a trio of Grade 1 chases. Overall, of the 48 lots offered, 28 sold (58%) for a gross of £121,900. The average was £4,353 and the median was £3,500. The post Ask Gelding Tops ThoroughBid August Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

As renovations continue at Belmont Park, The New York Racing Association (NYRA) divulged a plan July 1 to conduct approximately three months of winter racing annually at Belmont exclusively on an all-weather surface. A one-mile Tapeta track is currently under construction at Belmont, while the facility is scheduled to reopen in 2026. Lisa Lazarus, the CEO of the Horseracing Integrity & Safety Authority (HISA) provided a letter Friday to NYRA in support of the decision. The letter appears in full below. To Whom it May Concern: The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA), was established in 2020 following the enactment of the bipartisan federal Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act. HISA's mission is to implement a national, uniform set of integrity and safety rules that are applied consistently to every Thoroughbred racing participant and racetrack facility. As a point of emphasis, HISA works diligently–day in and out–to minimize the risk of horses sustaining injuries associated with horseracing. The New York Racing Association (NYRA) has been working closely and collaboratively with HISA since its formation and has always been in full compliance with its safety and integrity regulations. As HISA's CEO, I write to express my support for NYRA's decision to install an all-weather surface track at the new Belmont Park to be the exclusive surface for winter racing. Since 2009, The Jockey Club has maintained an Equine Injury Database that tracks fatalities by state, racetrack, and surface. An analysis of the data collected demonstrates that the dirt tracks with the greatest risk of high injury rates are based in a highly variable climate with high utilization (year-round racing). As Belmont is located in a highly variable climate and will support year-round racing, it meets the precise criteria for benefiting from an all-weather track. It is imperative, both ethically and to preserve horseracing's social license, that horse welfare is always prioritized when making business decisions. Declining to install an all-weather track, under these unique circumstances, would result in NYRA missing an opportunity to substantially minimize the risk of horses being injured because of an inconsistent dirt surface that is difficult to maintain in the winter at a racetrack that will be utilized year-round. Further, the data collected around the currently operating all-weather tracks strongly suggests that any concerns about a detrimental effect on field size and betting are misplaced. Thank you for considering these important safety concerns as you evaluate these issues. Respectfully submitted, Lisa Lazarus Chief Executive Officer Horseracing Integrity & Safety Authority The post HISA Pens Letter in Support of NYRA Synthetic Decision for Belmont Winter Racing appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In the GIII Saranac Stakes for 3-year-olds over the grass at Saratoga on Friday afternoon, West Hollywood (Uncle Mo) was the winner, but the race was marred by the first racing fatality of the summer season as The Big Torpedo (Big Brown) had to euthanized on the track, according to details provided by a release from NYRA. Owned by Thomas Albrecht, Vincent Fusaro and James Klein, The Big Torpedo (#5) sustained a catastrophic injury to his left front leg in the stretch run of Race 6. Despite the immediate response of on-site veterinarians, the Thomas Morley trainee was humanely euthanized due to the severity of the injury. The chestnut colt is the only horse to sustain a catastrophic injury during racing at the 2024 summer meet at Saratoga Race Course, which opened July 11 and has featured 2,879 horses starting in 369 races to date. As for The Big Torpedo's jockey Eric Cancel who was unseated, he was not injured. In the statement, NYRA also said that the incident caused #3 Take Me To Church (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) to alter course unseating Javier Castellano, who is being transported to Albany Medical Center for further evaluation. Castellano is awake and alert. It went on to state that the Brad Cox trainee, who sustained minor cuts and scrapes, was apprehended by the outrider and returned to the barn area via equine ambulance. Flurry Racing's Staton Flurry said in a post on X about his colt, “Take Me To Church is back at the barn with a few scrapes but seems okay. My thoughts and prayers are with Javier Castellano and the Morley barn.” By winning the Saranac, West Hollywood's Flavien Prat set the Saratoga meet record with his 16th stakes victory. Since this was his 12th graded win, he ties the mark set by Joel Rosario in 2022. Friday, Saratoga SARANAC S.-GIII, $162,750, Saratoga, 8-30, 3yo, 1 1/16mT, 1:40.89, fm. 1–WEST HOLLYWOOD, 118, c, 3, by Uncle Mo 1st Dam: White Hot (Ire), by Galileo (Ire) 2nd Dam: Gwynn (Ire), by Darshaan (GB) 3rd Dam: Victoress, by Conquistador Cielo 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($775,000 RNA Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Qatar Racing; B-B. Flay Thoroughbreds (KY); T-Brad H. Cox; J-Flavien Prat. $96,250. Lifetime Record: 5-3-1-0, $251,794. *1/2 to Pizza Bianca (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), GISW-USA, GISP-Can, $792,947. Werk Nick Rating: D. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Yo Daddy, 118, c, 3, Yoshida (Jpn)–Elle Stormin', by Tale of the Cat. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($29,000 RNA 2yo '23 OBSOPN). O-Winning Move Stable; B-Big Chief Racing LLC & Rocker O Ranch LLC (KY); T-Linda Rice. $35,000. 3–The Process, 118, c, 3, More Than Ready–Eblouissante, by Bernardini. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($375,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Belladonna Racing, LLC, Twin Brook Stables, Nice Guys Stables, West Point Thoroughbreds, Iapetus Racing, Hornstock, Runnels Racing, Perrine Time Thoroughbreds, RTR Stables, Peppermint Stables, Manganaro Bloodstock, Ingordo and Lucky Hat Racing LLC; B-Summer Wind Equine LLC (KY); T-Cherie DeVaux. $21,000. Margins: 5HF, 2 3/4, 2 1/4. Odds: 1.35, 5.30, 6.70. Also Ran: Villain, Take Me To Church (Ire), The Big Torpedo. Scratched: Proprietary Trade. Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Take Me To Church is back at the barn with a few scrapes but seems ok. My thoughts and prayers are with Javier Castellano and the Morley barn. pic.twitter.com/jd2i2SSnmc — Staton Flurry (@StatonFlurry) August 30, 2024 The post First Racing Fatality Of Saratoga Season Mars Saranac Stakes appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Bob Baffert-trained graded stakes winners Muth, Imagination, and Wynstock lead seven horses entered to race in the Sept. 1 Shared Belief Stakes at Del Mar.View the full article

With Adare Manor scratched from the Pacific Classic Stakes (G1), Dr. Venkman is now favored at 8-5 on the revised morning line for the $1 million race.View the full article