Wandering Eyes

Rising star tackles elite company for the first time on day two of York’s spectacular Ebor meetingView the full article

Often the Bridges Insurance Services Pakuranga Hunt Cup (4800m) acts as a prelude to the Great Northern Steeplechase three weeks’ later, but for Niall Quinn, Saturday’s event is the key target for his well-performed Country Bumpkin (NZ) (St Reims) . A son of St Reims, Country Bumpkin has won four races over fences, with a trio coming in his favoured steeplechasing role where he more recently was an eye-catching second behind West Coast in the Koral Steeplechase (4250m) at Riccarton Park earlier this month. Quinn pressed onto the Grand National Steeplechase (5600m) the following weekend where Country Bumpkin finished fifth, indicating the distance in testing conditions may have not been to suit. “I was really happy with him in the Koral and he did well in the National, but I just don’t know whether he can quite get the trip in the heavy ground,” he said. “He’s come through it really well. He’s come home and seems happy. “Based on the National result, I don’t think we’ll go onto the Northern, so he’ll most likely do the Pakuranga and then back to Woodville on the last day of the (jumping) season. “Otherwise, he might get into the Jericho Cup race at New Plymouth.” Initially starting with Mark Brooks, the 11-year-old joined Quinn’s farm-based operation over five years ago and has been a consistent presence both on and off the track. “I’d heard about him because he didn’t suit being in a big stable, he had a few issues and wasn’t a very good doer,” Quinn said. “The owners wanted him to go somewhere he could be outside and working in a farm environment, so that’s how we got him. “He always showed a lot of promise and has had about nine seconds, so he’s done well. “He’s never changed, he’s always just had a great attitude and anyone can ride him, he’s really easy to have around.” Prior to Saturday’s race, Quinn had planned to take last-start winner St Elmo’s Fire to Awapuni Synthetic on Friday, but the gelding will be saved for next year with jumping firmly in his future. “He’ll go out for a holiday now and come back next year, he’s got his jumping ticket and has shown a lot of potential,” Quinn said. St Elmo’s Fire was set to run against newer member Steve Austin in the Majestic Horsefloats 2140, with the latter coming north from owner Kenny Moore’s stable with a career over fences also in sight. “A good friend of mine, Alan Browne, got me onto him and he’s a nice horse. I’m pretty excited for him,” Quinn said. “I also have Haloumi and Chiavari getting ready to go as well, they are really tidy jumpers. “They are most likely to get going next year.” View the full article

Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson were pleased to see the successful return of What You Wish For (NZ) (Embellish) and Trobriand at Taupo on Wednesday as the four-year-old pair collected fresh-up victories on the competitive card. What You Wish For, a son of former Te Akau star colt Embellish, had shown his prowess over ground as a three-year-old with a close-up third in the Gr.2 Waikato Guineas (2000m), completing his preparation with a solid sixth in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) in March. Resuming off the back of two trials, the gelding was tasked with the 62.5kg topweight, which was initially set to be decreased by Tayla Melvin’s four-kilogram claim. The stable apprentice was unfortunately injured at trackwork on Wednesday morning, with the ride then being picked up by Rihaan Goyaram. Jumping from an outside barrier, Goyaram eased What You Wish For back to the tail of the field, with a solid tempo set up by Phelan The Power and Drum Major. The gelding began to rapidly circle his rivals turning for home and swept into contention at the 200m, powering clear to score from a fast-closing Don Pauly and Kaimai Queen. The young hoop was grateful to secure a victory for the powerful stable and had plenty of praise for his mount. “He is a really nice horse and I’m very happy with him,” he said. “The horse was drawn wide and my instructions were to ride quietly, but he showed a very good turn of foot and he flew. “I think I got out at the right time and his turn of foot was very impressive.” Walker was equally impressed with What You Wish For, who picked up his second win from 11 starts for the Te Akau Wish & Win Racing Partnership. “It was a really good effort to win today, especially from a staying horse over the 1300m,” Walker said. “We had to have a late jockey change after Tayla Melvin was injured in a fall this morning, which was really bad timing because she had been doing a lot of work on this horse. “He will only improve with this run under his belt, still has to come on in the coat, but ran home in very good sectionals and has certainly returned to work as a stronger horse in this campaign.” Later on the card, stablemate Trobriand looked to be finding the form that placed him among the top two-year-old performers of his year when winning the Waikato Stud (1200m). In the hands of Opie Bosson, Trobriand was ridden patiently in midfield and waited for the gap at the top of the straight, and when it came, the gelding burst into the lead and let down strongly to score by 1-3/4 lengths to Marotiri Molly. Te Akau racing manager Reece Trumper indicated post-race that Trobriand had been gelded following a disappointing autumn campaign, a change that will hopefully assist in a long racing career for the promising sprinter. “He was having too much of a think when racing as a colt, so we had him gelded,” Trumper said. “His trials were very good coming into this, and Opie galloped him on Saturday on the course proper and said he’s absolutely flying. “He’s probably a horse like Prise De Fer that as an older horse can continue to work through the grades and be competitive in stakes races again.” Bred by Windsor Park Stud, Trobriand has won five races from 14 attempts and more than $325,000 in stakes earningsMark Walker and Sam Bergerson were pleased to see the successful return of What You Wish For (NZ) (Embellish) and Trobriand at Taupo on Wednesday as the four-year-old pair collected fresh-up victories on the competitive card. What You Wish For, a son of former Te Akau star colt Embellish, had shown his prowess over ground as a three-year-old with a close-up third in the Gr.2 Waikato Guineas (2000m), completing his preparation with a solid sixth in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) in March. Resuming off the back of two trials, the gelding was tasked with the 62.5kg topweight, which was initially set to be decreased by Tayla Melvin’s four-kilogram claim. The stable apprentice was unfortunately injured at trackwork on Wednesday morning, with the ride then being picked up by Rihaan Goyaram. Jumping from an outside barrier, Goyaram eased What You Wish For back to the tail of the field, with a solid tempo set up by Phelan The Power and Drum Major. The gelding began to rapidly circle his rivals turning for home and swept into contention at the 200m, powering clear to score from a fast-closing Don Pauly and Kaimai Queen. The young hoop was grateful to secure a victory for the powerful stable and had plenty of praise for his mount. “He is a really nice horse and I’m very happy with him,” he said. “The horse was drawn wide and my instructions were to ride quietly, but he showed a very good turn of foot and he flew. “I think I got out at the right time and his turn of foot was very impressive.” Walker was equally impressed with What You Wish For, who picked up his second win from 11 starts for the Te Akau Wish & Win Racing Partnership. “It was a really good effort to win today, especially from a staying horse over the 1300m,” Walker said. “We had to have a late jockey change after Tayla Melvin was injured in a fall this morning, which was really bad timing because she had been doing a lot of work on this horse. “He will only improve with this run under his belt, still has to come on in the coat, but ran home in very good sectionals and has certainly returned to work as a stronger horse in this campaign.” Later on the card, stablemate Trobriand looked to be finding the form that placed him among the top two-year-old performers of his year when winning the Waikato Stud (1200m). In the hands of Opie Bosson, Trobriand was ridden patiently in midfield and waited for the gap at the top of the straight, and when it came, the gelding burst into the lead and let down strongly to score by 1-3/4 lengths to Marotiri Molly. Te Akau racing manager Reece Trumper indicated post-race that Trobriand had been gelded following a disappointing autumn campaign, a change that will hopefully assist in a long racing career for the promising sprinter. “He was having too much of a think when racing as a colt, so we had him gelded,” Trumper said. “His trials were very good coming into this, and Opie galloped him on Saturday on the course proper and said he’s absolutely flying. “He’s probably a horse like Prise De Fer that as an older horse can continue to work through the grades and be competitive in stakes races again.” Bred by Windsor Park Stud, Trobriand has won five races from 14 attempts and more than $325,000 in stakes earnings View the full article

Gal in a Rush broke through at the stakes level July 6 by rallying from last to win the Hendrie Stakes (G3) on Tapeta at Woodbine. Now she seeks a follow-up victory at the Canadian track in the CA$135,000 Seaway Stakes (G3) Aug. 24 at Woodbine.View the full article

Senor Buscador has the earnings, but The Chosen Vron brings a six-race winning streak into the seven-furlong Pat O'Brien Stakes (G2) at Del Mar.View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Thursday's Observations features the return of TDN Rising Star Sea Just In Time (Sea The Stars). 16.10 York, Listed, £100,000, 3yo/up, f/m, 11f 188yT SEA JUST IN TIME (IRE) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) takes TDN Rising Star status into this Listed British EBF & Sir Henry Cecil Galtres Stakes, having impressed on debut at Newmarket and previously failed to fire on her first black-type attempt in the Listed Agnes Keyser Stakes. William Haggas has the Sunderland Holding's Arc and British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes entry in a better place now as she heads back up in class taking on an intriguing type in the Gredleys' Noisy Jazz (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}), a James Owen-trained Newmarket debut winner who is a half-sister to their star stayer Big Orange (GB) (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}). 16.50 Leopardstown, Mdn, €18,000, 2yo, f, 7f 30yT NATIVE VERSE (IRE) (Siyouni {Fr}) was a 550,000gns investment by Al Shira'aa Racing at Tattersalls October Book 1, with her half-sister Al Husn (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) having annexed the G1 Nassau Stakes weeks beforehand. Willie McCreery has been handed charge of the March-foaled bay, whose peers include the Niarchos Family's prized Proxima Centauri (Ire) (Circus Maximus {Ire}), the Jessica Harrington-trained daughter of Alpha Centauri (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) who was an eye-catching fifth on debut at Leopardstown last month. HOW THEY FARED 17.50 Kempton, Novice, £9,900, 2yo, 7fT Silver Peak (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}), Godolphin's €1.25million Arqana Deauville August graduate whose dam is a half to Persian King (Ire), failed to land a blow in fourth. The post Thursday’s Observations: TDN Rising Star Sea Just In Time Sits Galtres Test appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

There was never any doubt about what Panagiotis "Peter" Synnefias would do—or wanted to do—when he was old enough to make a career decision. He became a trainer like his parents, Dimitrios and Paulina Synnefias.View the full article

The Grey Wizard takes one step closer to a possible stint in the Nov. 5 Melbourne Cup (G1) with his last-to-first victory in the $200,000 Cape Henlopen Stakes at Delaware Park.View the full article

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Eight fillies and mares of contrasting recent fortunes line up for Thursday's G1 Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks, with the appropriately named Queen Of The Pride (GB) (Roaring Lion) currently edging favouritism for Clarehaven in an open affair. One of the least exposed and therefore inevitably of more intrigue than most of her rivals, the impressive G2 Lancashire Oaks winner would be an emotive winner for Qatar Racing being a product of their beloved but ill-fated Roaring Lion and Classic heroine Simple Verse (Ire) (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}). David Redvers conveyed the importance of Queen Of The Pride on Wednesday. “It's everything we hope for in an organisation like this; to breed, raise and race horses at the highest level,” he said. “This filly is the culmination of quite a few years' work and it's hugely exciting for all the team. Now is the moment, so we will see. There's no such thing as an easy group 1 and this is a million miles from an easy group 1, but it's great to have her in there with a proper fighting chance and the betting public have taken a view that she has as good a chance as anything else in the race.” Can Emily Shine Again? Life is never as simple as fairytales every time, however, and the biggest danger could come from within as the Gosdens try again with Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) as the 5-year-old bids to turn around a largely unsatisfying campaign. Her form figures in 2024 read a scarcely-believable 5426, but that is not even half the story. Too keen when run down late only by the star filly Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}) when the ground had gone for her in The Curragh's G1 Pretty Polly Stakes in June, she was visibly uncomfortable on the unique contours of Goodwood but looks tailor-made for York's flat track granted the summer ground she needs. Is The Century On? If Aidan O'Brien can eke a small degree of improvement from the so-far progressive Content (Ire), this is going to be a landmark event as Galileo's 100th individual group 1 winner and given that she looked unlucky when second to You Got To Me (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) in the G1 Irish Oaks it is more than possible. Clearly in need of this mile-and-a-half trip now, she could pull off a unique family feat if successful, with her dam Mecca's Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) having won two editions of the meeting's G1 Nunthorpe Stakes over five furlongs. Wednesday could not have gone any better for Ballydoyle and Ryan Moore and the rider is keen on his filly here. “It was a good run from her in the Pretty Polly when third to Bluestocking and Emily Upjohn and she stepped up on that when an unlucky second to You Got To Me in the Irish Oaks,” he explained. “She has progressed with every run and I think York will suit my filly though and I'm looking forward to her.” You Got It… Like Ambiente Friendly (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}), Valmont and Newsells Park Stud Bloodstock's You Got To Me first showed her sizeable potential in Lingfield's Classic trials in May. Needing time and experience to mature and progress in the following weeks, she looked the finished article in the Irish Oaks and is the kind to carry on her improvement. “She did a nice bit on the grass on Saturday just gone, that went as well or better than expected, so we think she might have come forward,” trainer Ralph Beckett said. “I think York is set up really well for her as a track, the timescale is good as well,” he added. “She is a filly who needs to be kept on the go, she's not one that you can be hanging on to for targets later down the line, you have to keep rolling with her. I was concerned immediately after the Oaks that I wasn't going to get her to put back on what she'd lost that quickly. As it turned out, I was wrong about that, you've just got to get your timings right.” A Rich Tradition… When it comes to the elite fillies and mares races, Meon Valley Stud can say that they have enjoyed a fair amount of success down the years but they have yet to land this prestigious prize. Given the nature of the operation's bloodstock, it is always possible that they will come up with a gem every few years and they supply a dangerously stealthy improver this year in the Hughie Morrison-trained Mistral Star (GB) (Frankel {GB}). While her win in Newmarket's Listed Aphrodite Fillies' Stakes last month needs to be bettered here, the manner of it suggests she can get involved and she has a genetic headstart as a daughter of the top-level performer Shirocco Star (GB) (Shirocco {Ger}). Leovanni Sits Lowther Test… Not seen since winning the G2 Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot, Wathnan Racing's Leovanni (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}) bids to provide the Karl Burke stable with some recompense in the G2 Lowther Stakes following the deflating experience of Sunday's G1 Prix Morny. Also responsible for the Queen Mary fourth and Listed Marwell Stakes winner Miss Lamai (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) and outsider Unspoken Love (Ire) (Soldier's Call {GB}), he is fully loaded in the race he won with Swingalong (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}) two years ago. Ballydoyle's G3 Albany Stakes and G3 Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes third Heavens Gate (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) should prove a tough nut to crack, having collected Naas's Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes with the minimum of fuss. Rockcliffe Stud's Celandine (GB) (Kingman {GB}) is back over six furlongs on fast ground which was the combination in place for her defeat of Tales Of The Heart (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) in Newmarket's Listed Maureen Brittain Memorial Empress Fillies' Stakes. The post ‘Now is the Moment’ Redvers Relishing Queen of the Pride’s Yorkshire Oaks Bid 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.–In an intriguing GI Travers Stakes loaded with talent and questions, will anyone be surprised if 'TDN Rising Star' Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) wins? Nope. Although it is unlikely that the colt trained by Chad Brown will be the betting favorite Saturday in the 155th running of the signature race at Saratoga Race Course–he is a narrow fourth at 3-1 on the morning line–Sierra Leone's record demands respect. He has never been worse than third in seven career starts. One of those victories came in the GI Blue Grass. His three seconds in a 3-3-1 record are by two noses–most notably in the GI Kentucky Derby–and one length. His third was by 1 1/2 lengths in the GI Belmont Stakes at Saratoga on June 8 when the deep closer stumbled at the start and delivered a big rally over a speed-favoring track. Sierra Leone and jockey Flavien Prat will start from Post 2 in the field of eight entered in the $1.25 million Travers. Leaving from the next stall in the 1 1/4 miles race will be his Brown stablemate Unmatched Wisdom (Cairo Prince). Unmatched Wisdom, to be ridden by Irad Ortiz, Jr. for the first time, is unbeaten through three starts and is making his graded stakes debut. The field includes Belmont and GI Haskell winner, the 5-2 favorite Dornoch (Good Magic), the brilliant 3-year-old filly Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna), and 'TDN Rising Star', 2-year-old champion and beaten Derby favorite Fierceness (City of Light), providing a serious handicapping challenge. Brown grew up in nearby Mechanicville and began attending the Travers as a young boy with his family. He has saddled 15 horses in the Travers from his debut in 2011. His top finishes are a pair of thirds: Miles D (Curlin) in 2021 and Zandon (Upstart) in 2022. Sierra Leone | Sarah Andrew Much has been expected of Sierra Leone after he was the $2.3 million topper at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale. Since his winning debut on Nov. 4 at Aqueduct he has proven to be a top-level race horse with $2,218,00 in earnings. In his last three starts, though, the Derby, Belmont and a second in the GII Jim Dandy he was a major player, but not a winner. He has been a mix of fabulous and frustrating for Brown. “The horse is doing great. He's got no excuse,” Brown said. He's a very consistent horse. He's run really consistently good races. Recently, he's likely run into horses that are really on their best day and had beaten him. “He's consistent. He's always there. He's the horse that keeps showing up in these races. I'm hoping that over time, his consistency will prevail and he'll get back to winning. His first couple starts of the year were very impressive, that he was able to win, and his losses have been by small margins.” Brown noted that Sierra Leone, co-owned by Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg, Rocket Ship Racing and Peter Brant has been a durable type. This will be his sixth start as a 3-year-old in a season spread over seven months. “I've never been disappointed with this horse,” Brown said. “I've been disappointed with a couple of the results, him being on the wrong side of the outcomes at the finish, but I've never, ever been disappointed in this horse.” In his run through the stretch of the Derby, he bore in and bumped with Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel (Jpn), and that incident that might have compromised both colts' chances to win. Brown changed bits and jockeys for the Belmont, replacing Tyler Gaffalione with Prat. The bias of the course, the rough start and being forced wide by Protective entering the stretch did not help him. Brown said it would be nice if the Sierra Leone could get a better position earlier, rather than coming from so far off the pace. “I don't believe in any of his races it's been for any fault of any jockeys that have ridden him,” Brown said. “This horse just doesn't have a lot of early speed. But in a perfect world, yeah, I wish he was a couple lengths closer early. Certainly, we're going to attempt to put him there. I don't think anyone's taking him back. It's just the horse sort of settling, kind of where he ends up early. If we could encourage him to be a little closer, I do think it would be beneficial.” Unmatched Wisdom (outside) | Sarah Andrew With speedy Dornoch, Fierceness, Thorpedo Anna, Batten Down (Tapit) and Unmatched Wisdom in the field, Sierra Leone could get an ideal setup in the Travers. “His running style is pretty defined,” Brown said. “You can see that he's a come-from-behind horse so hopefully a good pace develops in front of him and he can navigate a clean trip without getting stopped and come with his late run and hopefully at a mile and a quarter, it's good enough to get there in time.” Klaravich Stables's Unmatched Wisdom fell sick last year when he was being prepared for the races and did not debut until May 10. He won a muddy mile maiden at Aqueduct by 6 1/4 lengths, prevailed in a 1 1/8 miles allowance on June 22 by 5 3/4 lengths and led from gate to wire in the Curlin Stakes on July 19 to win by one length. “He's done nothing wrong,” Brown said. “He's training really well. He's got to step up. He's facing three of the most talented 3-year-olds in the crop, including Thorpedo Anna, Fierceness and Dornoch. These three horses are really at the top of the division, so he's going to have to step up and prove he belongs in that group.” Brown said he considered a couple of factors before deciding to enter Unmatched Wisdom in the historic Travers. “He's got a win over the track,” Brown said. “He seems to be doing well here. I think he's improved since the Curlin. I didn't momentarily think about waiting for the (GI) Pennsylvania Derby, but you only get one crack at the Travers. He's got good positional speed, and his last work here with Irad on him (Aug. 16, 5f in 1:00.41 3/6), really convinced me to give it a shot.” The post Brown Has Sierra Leone And Unmatched Wisdom Ready For The Travers Stakes appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Long successful with grass females, trainer Chad Brown has racked up a record seven victories in the Ballston Spa Stakes (G2T) at Saratoga, all since 2012. He is likely to get an eighth when he starts four horses in the 1 1/16-mile turf race.View the full article

Eleven 3-year-olds will vie for a CA$200,000 prize in the Aug. 24 Canadian Derby (G3) at Century Mile Racetrack. The field is headed by Western Canadian star sophomores August Rain and Classy City in the 1 1/4-mile main track contest.View the full article

City of Troy earns a Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) berth with his spectacular, record-setting victory in the Aug. 21 Juddmonte International Stakes (G1) at York.View the full article

John and Thady Gosden have two high-profile entrants in the Aug. 22 Yorkshire Oaks (G1). Queen of The Pride has gone from strength to strength this season, while her group 1-winning stablemate Emily Upjohn has some questions to answer.View the full article

The Aug. 3 Whitney Stakes (G1) didn't work out for Skippylongstocking, but trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. has turned the page and entered the 5-year-old Exaggerator horse back to defend his title in the $1 million Aug. 23 Charles Town Classic Stakes (G2).View the full article

Returning to the site of his first grade 1 win, leading 3-year-old sprinter Book'em Danno will have a chance to add another top-level victory to his résumé Aug. 24 at Saratoga Race Course in the $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes (G1).View the full article

For a horse that has won the richest race in the world, Saturday's $250,000 GII Pat O'Brien S. at Del Mar might not seem like an overly difficult spot. But when Senor Buscador (Mineshaft) heads to the post for Saturday's race, he probably won't be the favorite and there will no doubt be some wiseguys who throw him out altogether. The problems are threefold: He's not a seven-furlong horse; he will not have run for 147 days; he'll be facing the best sprinter on the West Coast in the California-bred marvel The Chosen Vron (Vronsky). None of this has escaped trainer Todd Fincher. Yes, he'd like to win this race but the bigger goal is to take a step forward on his way to the GI Breeders' Cup Classic. After winning the Feb. 24, $20 million G1 Saudi Cup, Senor Buscador was third in the G1 Dubai World Cup on March 30 and has not run since. A more conventional route to the Breeders' Cup would have been to start Senor Buscador off in the July 27 GII San Diego H., but Fincher said he didn't have the horse ready for the race. “When he came back from the Middle East I turned him out and gave him a little break,” Fincher said. “We brought him back and listened to him. If he had been ready for the San Diego we would have run him in that race. We were waiting on him. This race, the Pat O'Brien, was always a possibility from the beginning.” Senor Buscador has not sprinted since running third in the 2022 Pat O'Brien. The Saudi Cup is a mile-and-an-eighth race and the Dubai World Cup is contested at a mile-and-a-quarter. “Obviously, we want to run the classic distances,” Fincher said. “It's a good race for him to come back in. He's ready to run now and we are happy with him. He wasn't ready for the San Diego. His fitness wasn't there.” Todd Fincher | Coady He will also have a new jockey. Joe Talamo will replace Junior Alvarado, who will be in Saratoga to ride Batten Down (Tapit) in the GI Travers S. for his main client Bill Mott. Talamo has been riding Senor Buscador in the mornings since he returned to Fincher's barn. A win could prove to be a big boost for the jockey, who is just 14-for-229 on the year. After the Pat O'Brien, Fincher will target the Sept. 28 GI California Crown S. at Santa Anita and then the GI Breeders' Cup Classic. “This is the best horse I've ever trained and it's always exciting to have a horse like that running for you. He's a fantastic horse. It's not just me, everybody is excited to see him run again,” Fincher said. The Pat O'Brien could come down to a race between two of the sport's most beloved blue-collar heroes. Senor Buscador, who is 6-years-old, has not always been this good. The Saudi Cup was his first top level win. Prior to that, the 2023 San Diego marked his biggest career score. To pick up another graded victory in the Pat O'Brien, Senor Buscador will have to defeat one of the most popular horses in the sport. The Chosen Vron has won 19 of 24 career starts, including 17 stakes races, defeating both Cal-breds and open company. At seven furlongs, he appears to have a big advantage over Senor Buscador. “He's a great horse and a great outstanding Cal bred,” Fincher said. “I've admired that horse for a long time. It will be a good matchup between two fan favorites. Like the Cowboys vs. the 49ers. I have nothing bad to say about The Chosen Vron. He's looked like an awesome horse for a long time. I like great horses, whether they are in my barn or someone else's.” Others expected for the Pat O'Brien include Big City Lights (Mr. Big), Happy Jack (Oxbow), Moose Mitchell (Danzing Candy), Raging Torrent (Maximus Mischief), See Through It (Curlin to Mischief) and Arrowthegreat (Arrogate). The post For Senor Buscador, The Pat O’Brien A Starting Point appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Once again American investors have shown an increasing receptivity to European bloodlines, this time at the big yearling sale in Deauville. For now, however, we're still only talking about a minority even among those with the resources required to import elite yearlings. But with a reciprocal curiosity also growing in Europe–thanks to Justify, in particular, but also to those breeze-up pinhookers now preparing their next raid on the September Sale–it does feel as though the overdue renewal of transatlantic traffic is beginning to gain commercial traction. We still have a long way to go, however, before the U.S. domestic market sheds its timidity about leaving the safe, narrow lanes leading to sires that made their name on dirt. True, Oscar Performance has stepped boldly into the breach created by the loss of his sire, almost simultaneously with that of English Channel. His farm has shown that, yes, with sufficiently imaginative management, it really can be viable to stand a (presumed) grass horse in Kentucky. But the next question is whether his success might stimulate a greater willingness to gamble on stallions eligible to follow in his slipstream—horses like Yoshida (Jpn) and War of Will. Each met the commercial prejudices of the American market halfway, parlaying cosmopolitan pedigrees to win Grade I races on both turf and dirt (with War of Will additionally proving his efficacy on synthetics). Now of course there are many different reasons why a young stallion may succeed or fail, so we should perhaps not take too bleak a view of the brevity of Yoshida's career in the Bluegrass. WinStar secured him a solid first book, yielding 90 named foals, but they were given a cool reception at the sales. And while nobody could have expected them to discover a precocity he had never shown himself, 10 winning from 42 juvenile starters last year, the commercial tanker was quickly marooned. His second crop of yearlings had bombed in the ring, achieving a median barely half their conception fee, and he was down to 34 mares last spring. Having originally launched at $20,000, a third consecutive cut to $7,500 had already been announced for 2024 when it was decided to allow the horse a fresh start at Darley Japan, back in his native land. Grayosh | Sarah Andrew Unsurprisingly, the horses he left behind have meanwhile begun to stir a little: not just because that's what almost invariably happens, but because that was his profile all along anyway. So far this year he has had 32 winners from 76 starters–and, rare distinction in an intake that has underperformed woefully by this measure, these now include a first graded stakes scorer. Grayosh was standard issue, to start with. She cost Sean Flanagan no more than $25,000 as a Fasig October yearling, and was one of the many that never made the track at two. But she has been progressing sharply since breaking her maiden in April, on her third start, reaching a new peak with a plucky denial of the favorite in the GII Lake Placid Stakes last weekend. She's the second foal of a Paddy O'Prado mare picked up by breeder Susan Bedwell for just $15,000 at the Fasig-Tipton February Sale after doing little to build on an early black-type podium (on turf), but the family does introduce a rather startling celebrity behind a second dam who was Listed-placed in France. For the latter was out of an unraced half-sister (by The Minstrel) to no less a pair than El Gran Senor and Try My Best, which duly means that this cheap mare's fourth dam is none other than Best In Show. The other conspicuous flourish in Grayosh's page is the replication of El Prado (Ire) who, besides supplying the damsire, also accounts for Yoshida's second dam. But that was presumably a marginal consideration in the choice of a stallion who could scarcely have been better adapted to the less insular perspectives we're supposed to be exploring. For in winning the GI Woodward Stakes on his dirt debut, as an elite scorer already on turf that year (also beaten barely a length at Royal Ascot), Yoshida had become just what the WinStar team must have sought from their bold venture to the big JRHA Sale. As we all know, buying a stallion's pedigree at the yearling sales opens a long, fragile highwire, but even a sum converting to over $750,000 proved well spent. Yoshida paid it all back on the track, banking $2.5 million, and the ball was then in the court of Bluegrass breeders as to whether they wanted to buy into a more international future. As a son of Heart's Cry (Jpn), of course, Yoshida offered them an opportunity to repatriate the Sunday Silence bloodline, but there were home comforts to his dam Hilda's Passion. True, her sire Canadian Frontier (a son of Gone West) faded dismally after a bright start at stud, but Hilda's Passion had contributed lavishly to that in winning the GI Ballerina Stakes by nine lengths. Once a $4,200 RNA as a weanling, on retirement she was exported by Katsumi Yoshida for $1.225 million. It did not take American commercial breeders long, however, once again to decide that they had little to learn from the fabulous rewards achieved by the truly global horizons of their Japanese counterparts. War of Will | Claiborne Farm WHERE THERE'S A WILL… Let's hope that War of Will gets less parochial treatment, as another horse that straddled dirt and turf after combining a familiar indigenous brand (War Front) with a top-class offering from an extraneous gene pool (Europe, this time, rather than Japan). All the early signs, a cycle behind Yoshida's failure to take root, are in auspicious contrast. Fully subscribed for a debut book that yielded 99 named foals, War of Will (sustained by excellent fertility) has a very similar second crop coming through. He made an excellent debut at the yearling sales, achieving an average $117,202 that comfortably took care of a $25,000 fee; and now his first crop is finding its feet on the track, too, fillies at Saratoga and Woodbine last weekend putting War of Will on seven from 29 starters to date. Both these maiden winners represent the same connections as War of Will himself, and attest to the support Gary Barber gave the horse at the sales. At Keeneland last September he gave $160,000 for Saratoga debut scorer She's Got Will, bred by Nicholas M. Lotz; while the previous November in the same ring Jeff Amorello signed a $165,000 docket for the weanling Ready to Battle, off the mark at Woodbine. Like War of Will, both are trained by Mark Casse, who has declared debut winner Will Reign–another Barber investment, for $85,000 last September–for the Catch A Glimpse Stakes at the same track on Friday. Barber will know that the sire's own template, from this stage, is all encouragement. War of Will was thrown in the deep end as a juvenile but kept rolling all the way through, proceeding to the Fair Grounds to win the GIII Lecomte and GII Risen Star Stakes. He was then showed up for all three Classics, winning the middle one; and regrouped in maturity to win a Grade I over a mile of turf. She's Got Will | Sarah Andrew All that was underpinned by genes that will surely make his performance from here of particular interest to anyone who wouldn't mind keeping a filly. Not just because of that maternal line, tracing to Best in Show (oh yes, her again!) as fifth dam via a lake of regal Niarchos blood. First and foremost, this horse is surely our last chance to compress so closely the two principal disseminators of Northern Dancer: by a son of Danzig out of a daughter of Sadler's Wells. That's not a pedigree, that's a time capsule! SQUEEZE A REWARDING SEQUEL When Fasig-Tipton cut the pack for the Saratoga catalogue, it fell open at C–meaning that the second yearling into the ring was one by Liam's Map out of Callmethesqueeze (Awesome Again). Presented by Eaton Sales, he was sold to St Elias Stables and Starlight Racing for $425,000–a great yield when you consider that the mare, then 14, was carrying this fellow when signed for by Athens Woods for just $50,000 at the 2022 Keeneland November Sale. Already, in the few days since, all parties to the Saratoga transaction can look forward with heightened expectations after Power Squeeze (Union Rags), bred from the mare by her previous owners Forging Oaks Farm, added the GI Alabama Stakes to the wins (GII Gulfstream Park Oaks/GIII Delaware Oaks) that had already decorated her page. Athens Woods, of course, is run parallel to Eaton Sales by Reiley McDonald–who had long assisted the late Jim Peyton in developing a successful commercial program at Forging Oaks. Peyton's widow Gail enjoyed carrying forward the legacy for a time but began winding down the farm a couple of years ago, a process that included the sale of Callmethesqueeze. Power Squeeze (outside) | Sarah Andrew Bringing her into his home broodmare band is due reward for McDonald after helping the Peytons to such coups as buying a Pulpit mare named Shimmer for $140,000 and subsequently selling her son by Street Sense for $500,000 and a couple by Union Rags for $310,000 and $285,000. Forging Oaks also bred multiple graded stakes winner Consumer Spending (More Than Ready), a $200,000 yearling, from the Scat Daddy mare Siempre Mia (herself sold at the 2022 Keeneland January Sale for $390,000). Callmethesqueeze's sire has long contributed to the distaff influence achieved by sons of Deputy Minister. Awesome Again's daughters having produced the likes of Accelerate and Keen Ice (both by sons of Smart Strike in Lookin At Lucky and Curlin). Get past Awesome Again, however, and the family has some pretty leftfield seeding, with the next three dams by Roanake, Honey Jay and Solo Landing. Nonetheless Callmethesqueeze has also produced the stakes winner Call on Mischief (Into Mischief), bred by Forging Oaks when the future champion sire was still only at $45,000 (made $250,000 as a yearling). Speaking of broodmare sires, I am delighted to see Sky Mesa adding to his all-round resume as damsire of a couple of the faster juveniles of the summer: bargain Debutante Stakes winner Vodka With a Twist (Thousand Words) and now Bolton Landing Stakes winner Kimchi Cat (Twirling Cat). Bred the way he is, this perennially underrated stallion was always likely to percolate some quality through his daughters. The post Breeding Digest: Yoshida’s Parting Shot Proves A Bargain appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

2nd-Saratoga, $90,000, (S), Msw, 8-21, 2yo, 6f, 1:11.65, ft, 3 1/4 lengths. SACROSANCT (c, 2, Honest Mischief–Vibrato, by Unbridled's Song), the 8-5 favorite, strode home an easy 3 1/4-length victor of his debut at Saratoga Wednesday, becoming the first winner for his freshman sire (by Into Mischief). The bay colt rushed up to press the pace down the backstretch through an opening quarter in :22.58. He took over approaching the stretch as the half went up in :46.12 and was well in control despite drifting slightly down the lane. Skytown (Echo Town) chased him home in second and Bold Fortune (Central Banker) was third. Sacrosanct was a $260,000 purchase at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May sale. He has a yearling half-brother by Instagrand and a weanling full-brother. The unraced Vibrato, purchased by Sims/Thomas/Burleson as a 3-year-old for $70,000 at the 2016 Keeneland November sale, was bred back to Honest Mischief this year. She is a daughter of multiple stakes winner Cuff Me (Officer). Honest Mischief stands at Sequel Stallions for $6,500. A Juddmonte-bred stakes-winning son of Honest Lady (Seattle Slew), he was third in the 2019 GII Amsterdam Stakes. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $49,500. O-Lady Sheila Stable, Jon Hansen & Schwing Thoroughbreds; B-Burleson Farms, Mckenzie Bloodstock, & Sequel Thoroughbreds (NY); T-Brad H. Cox. The post Honest Mischief’s Sacrosanct Easy Debut Winner at the Spa appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sea The Stars colt The Lion In Winter captures the Acomb Stakes (G3) Aug. 21 in track-record time and becomes the new betting favorite for next year's Two Thousand Guineas (G1). View the full article

In the races before Woodbine stages a rescheduled King's Plate Aug. 23, undercard events will feature some familiar, winning names as War Bomber and Patches O'Houlihan seek return victories in the day's graded events after having success in 2023.View the full article

One race before the lucrative $1 million Charles Town Classic (G2), in which Saffie Joseph Jr. will saddle morning-line favorite Skippylongstocking, the conditioner sends out the potent duo of Haulin Ice and Mystic Lake in the Charles Town Oaks (G2).View the full article

Wednesday's seven-furlong novice at Kempton looked an intriguing affair on paper and Juddmonte's newcomer Detain (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}–Nisriyna {Ire}, by Intikhab) came through his first test with flying colours for the Gosdens. A half-brother to the stable's dual group 3 winner and G1 St Leger runner-up Arrest (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), the 9-4 second favourite recovered from a tardy start to race in mid-division early under Kieran Shoemark. Staying on strongly to lead passing the furlong pole, the €340,000 Goffs November Foal Sale graduate asserted to beat Afentiko (Ire) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}) by two lengths. Detain runs out an impressive winner in the Unibet/British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes under Kieran Shoemark for the Gosden team! @KShoemark | @thadygosden pic.twitter.com/mq4WWEGvAW — Kempton Park Racecourse (@kemptonparkrace) August 21, 2024 The post Wootton Bassett’s 340K Half To Arrest Off The Mark On Debut For Juddmonte appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article