Wandering Eyes

Veteran handler’s big guns produce impressive first-up runs behind Galaxy Patch in Sha Tin Trophy.View the full article

Ballydoyle's Bounty (Ire) (No Nay Never–Rosdhu Queen {Ire}, by Invincible Spirit {Ire}) had little to beat in the six-furlong maiden at Naas on Sunday and made no mistake to open his account in style. Runner-up on debut in a Curragh maiden last month, the son of the 2012 G1 Cheveley Park Stakes heroine was contained on the front end throughout the early stages by Wayne Lordan and went through the race untroubled en route to a bloodless 4 1/2-length success from Iceford (Ire) (Beckford {GB}) as the 2-9 favourite. The dam was a 2.1million gns purchase at the 2013 Tattersalls December Sale. bar none ….@Ballydoyle and @coolmorestud's young son of No Nay Never backs up a pleasing debut @curraghrace by nicely winning @NaasRacecourse under @waynemlordan pic.twitter.com/HFkQdz0BuX — Racing TV (@RacingTV) October 13, 2024 The post No Nay Never Son Of Rosdhu Queen Opens His Account For Ballydoyle appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Circuit Jolly falls short in Sunday’s opener after joining string of gallopers to jump over a mark on the Sha Tin track.View the full article

Cambridge Stud’s outstanding weekend continued at Rotorua on Sunday, with their exciting mare Luberon (NZ) (Embellish) adding a valuable black-type success to her name in the Gr.3 Sweynesse Stakes (1215m). The previous day at Te Rapa, Snazzytavi carried the prominent yellow and black-chequered silks to victory in the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) for Graham Richardson and Rogan Norvall, and it was the turn of the Stud’s private trainer Lance Noble in the feature sprint, where Luberon was rated a $6.20 hope on the TAB tote. A competitive field assembled in this year’s race, with a number of proven elite-level sprinters in the mix, while Luberon had put her hand up as a key chance with a strong resuming victory at Ellerslie last month, starting fourth-favourite with Bonny Lass on top at $3.20. With Warren Kennedy in the saddle, Luberon was positively away from the gates before front-runner Farravallo took over the lead, with the mare settling midfield and off the fence. Turning for home, Luberon trailed Navigator and ranged up on his outside to hit the lead at the 200m, before showing a sizzling turn of foot to kick clear by more than two lengths. Rising talent Navigator and Gr.1 Railway (1200m) winner Waitak put in strong performances to fill the trifecta. Noble was thrilled with the performance, which was Luberon’s first stakes victory after placing in the Listed Challenge Stakes (1100m), Gr.2 Auckland Guineas (1400m) and finishing fourth in the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m). “She’s probably just fulfilling the promise she’s shown as a three-year-old, a few things went wrong so this is very pleasing,” Noble said. “She is a great advertisement for Embellish, and it tops off a great weekend for Cambridge Stud.” After the race, Kennedy indicated the shorter distances were now well suited to Luberon. “Since we’ve brought her back to the sprints, I think she’s found her niche,” Kennedy said. “Lance put those cheek pieces on her and it’s done the trick, they went at a good pace up front and she was a little bit fierce for me, but when she saw daylight, she’s picked them up really quickly and easily. “It was just a hands and heels ride.” Luberon has now earned $196,875 in stakes with five wins from just ten starts. A daughter of Cambridge Stud stallion Embellish, Luberon was bred by her owners Brendan and Jo Lindsay who operate the farm. View the full article

Veteran handler could be forced to thrust exciting galloper into Group Two company after latest win.View the full article

Jockey labels Pierre Ng’s excitement machine ‘the next future star’ after sensational return in Sunday’s feature.View the full article

Swayzee’s dominant win the Victoria Cup, Coastal Babe’s winning debut in Aussie, and Keayang Zahara’s ninth victory on the bounce all feature in today’s Aussie News. By Adam Hamilton Mighty stayer Swayzee rekindled memories of last year’s powerhouse New Zealand Cup win when he added last night’s $300,000 Group 1 Victoria Cup to his growing CV. Just as he did at Addington 11 months ago, Swayzee simply ran his rivals ragged last night. And that’s despite doing a power of early work from a back row draw to circle the field then fight to get the lead from main danger, Mach Dan. Despite a scorching 43.2sec lead time and then 27.9sec opening quarter, driver Cam Hart just let Swayzee keep rolling in front. “He’s a beast doing that, he loves just rolling them along when he’s out in front,” Hart said. “I knew he’d done plenty, but he’s done it before and kept going. Even on the home bend, he still felt strong.” Swayzee held on to beat the improving Curly James by four metres to give trainer Jason Grimson the quinella. Mach Dan fought on bravely for third. The 1min51.8sec mile rate was just 0.4sec outside Lochinvar Art’s track record. Grimson said he had no qualms about opting to bypass the NZ Cup defence next month with Swayzee. “No, it’s a big trip and the travel and race itself took plenty out of him last year. I couldn’t ask him to do it again,” he said. “He’s got this (Carnival of) Cups series in NSW. He heads back home for the second leg of that now, which is around the same time as the NZ Cup.” Swayzee won the first of the five races in the Carnival of Cups series at Parkes two weeks ago and stands to pocket connections a $1 million bonus if he can win all five. Grimson is still looking to tackle the NZ Cup next month with Major Moth appearing his best chance. The recent Kilmore Cup winner finish a solid fifth in the Victoria Cup after losing momentum at a crucial stage and closing well late. In contrast, another of his NZ Cup contenders District Attorney worked hard early, but tired badly to finish last. Auckland Cup winner Better Eclipse looked to go just fairly back in seventh spot, beaten almost 20m. The other disappointment was eight-time Group 1 winner Catch A Wave, who ran eighth and is likely to have a break and be set for races early in the new year. X X X A daring Victoria Oaks raid returned the perfect result with classy Kiwi filly Coastal Babe. As daunting as it can be to tackle the might of the Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin stable in Victoria’s juvenile features, Steven Reid and Coastal Babe’s connections chose to just that and rewarded with wins in the heat and last night’s $150,000 Group 1 feature. But the connection still runs deep with Stewart and Tonkin, given Coastal Babe is raced by some of their best and most loyal clients in Summit Bloodstock and Reid opted to base the filly in Victoria’s most dominant barn during her three weeks or so in Victoria. Coastal Babe, who won five of 12 NZ runs before crossing the ditch, looked a logical Aussie raider given her abundance of a gate speed. And that’s just how it turned out, leading throughout to win her Oaks and the final. Many thought slick former Kiwi and now Queensland-based filly Aardie B Miki could cross Coastal Babe at the start, but she never looked likely and then Victorian stand-in driver James Herbertson dictated terms in front. Coastal Babe ripped home in 54.6 and 26.5sec to beat former Kiwi filly Kiss, who is also raced by Summit and trained by Stewart, by two metres. The first five across the line were trained from Stewart’s property near Ballarat. Showsomejoy ran third, Vague Beauty fourth and Eureka Jo was fifth. It was Herbertson’s sixth Group 1 win and one of his most important yet. X X X Champion Aussie trotter Just Believe showed he was primed for another New Zealand raid with a narrow but fantastic Group 1 win at Melton last night. The rising nine-year-old posted the ninth Group 1 win of his stellar career when he sat parked and nabbed a gallant leader, OIlivici, to win the $75,000 Bill Collins Trotters’ Sprint (1720m). Just Believe posted a brilliant 1min54.1sec mile rate for 1720m, just one second outside Tornado Valley’s track record. “That was a big win tonight, especially with five weeks between runs,” driver Greg Sugars said. “I was a little bit concerned when Ollivici gave a good kick at the top of the straight, but I knew he (Just Believe) would rally. He always does, but we had to really earn it.” Just Believe won by 1.4m to make it 36 career wins from 80 starts and edged close to $1.7 mil in career earnings. He looked every bit a dominant favourite for the $400,000 Group 1 Dominion Trot at Addington on November 12. In contrast, star French import Callmethebreeze finished last after a tough run and then galloping in the closing stages. “He just wasn’t trotting well tonight for some reason,” driver Kate Gath said. “It actually wasn’t that he was getting tired, more that he was trotting well at all. We’ll need to get him home and work out what caused that.” Earlier, a brilliant Greg Sugars drive helped former Kiwi mare Rakero Rebel land the biggest win of her career. Sugars saw daylight at just the right time from three pegs and flashed home to gun down leader and favourite Aardies Express in the $150,000 Group 1 Queen of the Pacific (2760m). It was deserved given Rakero Rebel’s fantastic record since coming to Australia and the fact she ran second to retired champion Ladies In Red in last year’s Queen of the Pacific. Trainer Jess Tubbs said the win was up with her most satisfying. “She’s a real favourite of ours, she deserves this one,” she said. Rakero Rebel’s win was her 12th from 43 starts with another 18 placings and she’s now banked $326,485. X X X The “freak show” heads to New Zealand next. Freak is a fair way to describe three-year-old trotting filly Keayang Zahara, who stretched her unbeaten record to nine races when she toyed with het rivals in last night’s $75,000 Group 1 Victoria Trotters’ Oaks (2240m) at Melton. It was the fourth Group 1 win for the daughter of Volstead. Driver Jason Lee worked Keayang Zahara to the front from gate four, cruised through a 63.2sec first half and then blasted home in 55.2 and 26.6sec. “She’s just something else,” Lee said. Keayang Zahara is booked on a November 3 flight to Auckland and will then head down to Christchurch as the headline act of the inaugural $500,000 The Ascent at Addington on November 12. X X X Former Kiwi pacer Mister Smartee grabbed a stranglehold on favouritism for WA’s most prestigious race with a dominant Gloucester Park win last Friday night. The four-year-old is in to $2.50 prepost favourite to give champion trainer Gary Hall Sr a staggering 13th win in the $450,000 Group 1 WA Pacing Cup on November 8. Mister Smartee, a four-year-old son of Always B Miki, made it 12 wins from just 14 starts when driver Gary Hall Jr took him the front from gate two and dominated last Friday night’s $100,000 Group 2 James Brennan free-for-all (2536m). With WA’s other young star Never Ending stranded in Victoria and Catch A Wave struggling to get a flight to Perth, Mister Smartee beat most of his key WA Cup rivals last Friday night. On the same card, Team Bond’s Kiwi-bred three-year-old Golden Lode raced into Group 1 WA Derby contention when he beat another young star, Alta Tribute, in a thrilling clash. X X X Champion trainer Emma Stewart totally dominated the Group 1 Victoria Derby when Best Deal led home the first four runners in the class for her. It took a blistering turn of speed along the sprint lane by Best Deal in a 25.9sec closing quarter to snatch a nose win over gallant stablemate Some American with Miki To Success third and Bay Of Biscay fourth. It was Stewart’s fourth Victoria Derby win with partner Clayton Tonkin. The others were Petracca (last year), Act Now (2021) and Our Little General (2017). Stewart had seven of the 12 Derby runners last night and also nabbed sixth (Kingman) and seventh (Stormryder). But it was a first Victoria Derby win for Stewart’s stable driver, Mark Pitt. “I was fortunate enough to drive the best horse in the race and get the best run, but he still has to really sprint quickly in a race where the pace was controlled,” Pitt said. View the full article

Trainer Danny O’Brien says it’s now or never in terms of winning a Caulfield Cup next Saturday for his seven-year-old gelding Young Werther (NZ) (Tavistock). “He’s going as well as he’s ever gone. That was a good run in the Turnbull, and he’s come out of it in good shape,” O’Brien said. “He will never get a better opportunity to win a Caulfield Cup. This is his opportunity.” Young Werther finished a last-start fifth in the Turnbull Stakes behind Via Sistina. It will be Young Werther’s second attempt at a Caulfield Cup after he finished eighth behind Incentivise in 2021. “He wasn’t quite mature enough then, he’s ready for it this time.” Although Young Werther hasn’t won over 2400 metres, O’Brien said he had put in several exemplary performances at the distance. These include a second in the ATC Derby and a third in Victoria Derby as a three-year-old. O’Brien pointed out that at his last run over the trip he finished second behind his stablemate Vow And Declare in the Grand Prix at Eagle Farm in track record time. O’Brien said Vow And Declare would not run in the Caulfield Cup after his last in the Might And Power Stakes. “He’s pulled up well,” he said. “That was his first poor run for a long time. He’s been very consistent for 18 months; we’ll monitor him during the next week or so and check whether he runs again in spring.” O’Brien has built up a solid record in the Caulfield Cup having quinellaed the event in 2007 when Master O’Reilly defeated Duoro Valley. He has subsequently trained Vow And Declare to finish second in 2019 and Vigor, who finished third in 2010. View the full article

Talented stayer Aljay (NZ) (Rock ‘N’ Pop) indicated he will be a big threat come New Zealand Cup Week, after a comprehensive winning display in the Staphanos Classic (1950m) at Rotorua. The Kevin Myers-trained seven-year-old was the winner of the Gr.3 Martin Collins New Zealand Cup (3200m) in 2022, and he looks to be on track for a third shot at the iconic Riccarton contest, as demonstrated by his performance on Sunday. In the hands of apprentice Ngakau Hailey, who decreased his 61kg impost by three-kilograms, Aljay settled near the tail of the compact field, which had plenty of quality including the $2.60 race-favourite Drop Of Something. Cork and Verry Flash forced the favourite to work early in the contest to reach the pace making position, with Aljay biding his time before making a move to the outside as the field tightened turning for home. Drop Of Something gave the gelding something to chase in the straight, but Aljay showed a dashing turn of foot to storm over the top in the final strides, the margin just a head at the post. Hailey, who has now ridden Aljay on three occasions for two wins and a placing in the Listed Rotorua Cup (2200m), was full of praise for the son of Rock ‘N’ Pop. “I’m very happy,” Hailey said. “I was struggling to hold my position a bit at the 800, so I pulled him back, Ace (Lawson-Carroll) gave me a drag into the race and he went beautifully. “He’s got a super turn of foot, push-button to ride and just stays and stays.” Wanganui-based Myers purchased Aljay for $39,000 at the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sales, and in his 42-start career, he has won nine races and just shy of $480,000 in stakes earnings. His dam, Albacora, also produced star jumper Tallyho Twinkletoe, who was a Trans-Tasman Grand National Hurdle and Steeplechase winner through his glittering career. View the full article

Team Hayes will contemplate having two runners in the Cox Plate, with three-year-old gelding Evaporate (NZ) (Per Incanto) a possibility to join his stablemate Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) in the prestigious event at The Valley after his third in the Caulfield Guineas. On Sunday, Ben Hayes confirmed Mr Brightside would have his next run in the Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040) on October 26 after he pulled up well after his second in the Gr.1 Might And Power Stakes. “He ran very well. The race shape was not ideal and he always seems to be the one to do the chasing behind these front runners,” Hayes said on RSN. “He’s on track for the Cox Plate and I notice that rain is forecast, so he will be suited by a track with a bit of give in it. While he runs well on firm tracks, he runs better on surfaces with give.” Hayes said they would give consideration to starting Evaporate in the Cox Plate, at a track he is undefeated in from three starts, after his great run in the Caulfield Guineas. “I thought his was the run of the race. He had to make an early move and then went wide. He peaked on his run and was only beaten three-quarters of a length in a race which was dominated by on-pacers,” Hayes said on RSN. Ben Hayes said they had four options which they would consider for Evaporate, which were the Cox Plate or the Gr.2 Vase (2040) on the same program against his own age group or the Gr.1 Spring Champions Stakes (2000) at Randwick on the same day. The other race he could run in was the Gr.3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600) at Flemington on Victoria Derby Day. View the full article

Sterling Express (NZ) (Shamexpress) came from nowhere to collect the fourth victory of his promising career at Arawa Park on Sunday, taking out the MacMillan Accountants 1400. Prepared by Mark Brosnan at Matamata, Sterling Express has been lightly-raced with twelve previous starts resulting in three wins and three minor placings, a record punters anticipated he may improve, backing him into $5.20 favouritism ahead of Sudbina ($5.30). Slowest away from the barriers, Sterling Express settled among the backmarkers in the hands of Masa Hashizume, with This Little Light heading the field at a decent tempo. Turning for home, the four-year-old had a task on his hands with the entirety of the field ahead of him, but Hashizume weaved a path through down the straight and burst into the clear short of the line, running down the Te Akau pair of Wolverine and Malborough Bay to score by a long neck. While having plenty of faith in his charge, Brosnan hadn’t expected him to make up the margin in such devastating fashion. “It was a really big performance from him,” Brosnan said. “I knew he had a pretty good sprint, but I didn’t think he would get there, it was very good. “He has been up for a while but we’ll probably keep him going a little while longer, I’ll look for another race for him.” Sterling Express raced in the colours of his co-breeder and owner Gloria Macrae, who has been a strong supporter of Brosnan and enjoyed recent success with stablemate Fly My Wey and full-sister Grace ‘N’ Glory. Also in the gelding’s ownership is former trainer Brian McKeagg. “Gloria bred him and Brian McKeagg used to be a trainer, he unfortunately had a stroke but he used to train for her so that’s how it began,” Brosnan said. The son of Shamexpress is out of Macrae’s six-win mare On Parole, and the victory increased his career earnings above $113,000. View the full article

A four-win horse in a special conditions maiden is a rare sight, and rapidly improving mare Lux Libertas (NZ) (Almanzor) proved to be as dominant on the Te Rapa track in Saturday’s Three Wise Birds (1400m) as she was on paper. The $65,000 race was restricted to horses that were maidens on July 16. At that stage, Lux Libertas had recorded a fifth and a seventh from her only two starts. She then recorded a stylish maiden win at Te Rapa on July 27, followed by another three straight victories on August 10, September 4 and September 15. In her only appearance since then, the four-year-old Almanzor mare finished third behind My Lips Are Sealed and Keegan at Te Rapa on September 27. Lux Libertas was sent out as the hottest favourite of the day on Saturday at $1.30, and she lived right up to those high expectations. Ridden patiently by Warren Kennedy, Lux Libertas settled at the back of the field and could still see all of her eight rivals as she came around the home turn. But then Kennedy angled her into clear air one from the outside, and Lux Libertas produced an explosive turn of foot and bounded to the front with 100m remaining. Lightly raced three-year-old On The Town chased hard and kept the margin to less than a length, but Lux Libertas was never in any danger of defeat. “She’s just getting better and better, and she’s learning her craft more with every race,” Kennedy said. “She finished really strongly today and just switched off a little bit once she hit the front, so she still has a bit more to learn. But she was a deserving favourite for this race and she’s won it as she liked. “The reason for taking her back the way we did today was that we need to teach her to relax if she’s going to get up over a bit more ground. She has such a huge action, she was always going to make up that ground quickly. “Her connections will probably have bigger plans in mind for her from here, and likely up over more ground as well.” Lux Libertas has now had eight starts for five wins, with all of those victories coming from her last six starts. She has earned $119,045 in stakes. Part-owned by Kylie Bax’s Goldeye Trust, Lux Libertas was bred by her parents Graham and Helen-Gaye Bax in partnership with Lib Petagna’s JML Bloodstock. Lux Libertas is by Almanzor out of the stakes-placed Makfi mare Miss Fi, whose three foals to race are all winners including the Malaysian stakes winner Trigger Pegasus. Lux Libertas completed a winning double on the Te Rapa card for Kennedy and trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott. They had previously joined forces to win the Dan Looker – Celebrating 100 Years (2000m) with Sassy Lass (NZ) (Staphanos). View the full article

Guy Heveldt, Emily Murphy and Jayne Ivil are joined by jockey Warren Kennedy to chat about his win in the Livamol on Snazzytavi. Then Glen Boss covers off all the races from across the ditch. Weigh In, October 13 (youtube.com) View the full article

What Bairnsdale Races Where Bairnsdale Racing Club – Racecourse Rd, Bairnsdale VIC 3875 When Monday, Ocotber 14, 2024 First Race 1:30pm AEDT Visit Dabble A new week of racing in Victoria commences at Bairnsdale on Monday afternoon, where an eight-race meeting is set to greet punters. Brief showers are forecast on raceday, meaning the Good 4 track rating at the time of acceptances will likely downgrade to a Soft 5 or 6, with the rail sticking to its true position. The Bairnsdale races on October 14 are set to commence at 1:30pm AEDT. Best Bet at Bairnsdale: Malarkey Despite putting in a poor run at Hamilton on Heavy ground, Malarkey looks set to bounce back in style at Bairnsdale. The Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock-trained gelding has since been back to the jumpouts where he put in a promising display up on speed and offered a nice kick when asked to quicken. Look for Brad Rawiller to hold the rail having drawn barrier one, and if the son of Swear can offer a similar kick on the home turn, Malarkey should prove too hard to run down. Best Bet Race 3 – #4 Malarkey (1) 4yo Gelding | T: Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock | J: Brad Rawiller (59.5kg) +300 with PlayUp Next Best at Bairnsdale: Cortes Cortes has been off the scene for over a year, but on the back of a couple of handy jumpouts, the son of Pariah looks poised to strike upon return. The five-year-old has a win and a minor placing in two fresh runs throughout his career, suggesting he does not take too long to come to hand. Considering he is a natural front-runner, it is likely Brad Rawiller will look to land outside the lead from barrier 10. What he may lack in fitness, Cortes should have enough class on his side to account for his BM58 rivals over 1000m. Next Best Race 5 – #3 Cortes (10) 5yo Gelding | T: Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock | J: Brad Rawiller (61.5kg) +250 with Bet365 Best Value at Bairnsdale: Outcaster Outcaster simply had no luck at Moe second-up this campaign after travelling wide throughout over 1619m, and with a bit more luck on Monday, she can reverse that form quickly. Prior to that run, the Pairah mare returned from a spell with an eye-catching run at this track over 1200m when unleashing a strong finish from the rear of the field. She stays at 1600m and with enough speed in the race, it sets up perfectly for Outcaster to unwind down the heart of the track and salute at a nice price with horse racing bookmakers. Best Value Race 7 – #14 Outcaster (13) 5yo Mare | T: Rachael Cunningham | J: Jake Noonan (56.5kg) +900 with Neds Monday quaddie tips for Bairnsdale races Bairnsdale quadrella selections Monday, October 14, 2024 1-3-10 3-4-5-10-11 2-7-8-9-10-14 1-2-3-4 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips
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Horses owned by their breeders swept all eight of the stakes on the 39th annual Jim McKay Maryland Million program Saturday at Laurel Park. Brilliant Ice, a 5-year-old gelding owned and bred by Crystal Park Stables, marched up on the outside from mid-pack, then slipped through at the rail to seize the lead at the head of the lane before drawing away to a 5 1/4-length victory in the featured $150,000 Classic S. at 1 1/8 miles. The 5-1 win by Brilliant Ice represented the second Maryland Million stakes score of the day for his sire, Great Notion, who increased an already remarkable streak to 15 years. His offspring have now won at least one Maryland Million Day stakes in every running of the event since 2010. Great Notion has been the state's leading stallion by progeny earnings every year since 2018, and is once again the leader so far this season. Trained by Annette Eubanks and ridden out at the 1:50.19 finish by jockey Jeiron Barbosa, the 5-for-26 Brilliant Ice had never won a stakes before–and neither had his owner/breeder despite decades in the racing business. “He is the great-grandson of the first horse that we ever owned,” said Phil Bartz, a principal of Crystal Park Stables. “I didn't know he had this in him, but we gave it a shot and he was really good today.” The 2.1-1 favorite Mosler Time (Mosler) was second in the Classic. Mugatu (Blofeld) ran third. Course conditions were fast and firm throughout the day. The most intriguing result of the afternoon came in the $100,000 Turf Sprint S. over 5 1/2 furlongs when Bosserati (Holy Boss), the lone filly in a stakes against nine males, assumed command straight out of the gate and swatted back several serious stretch bids to win at 5-1 odds in 1:02.04. Joel Politi owns and bred the 4-year-old, who is a front-running specialist who had performed well against (bit did not beat) open-company stakes distaffers all season long. Jockey Sheldon Russell rode for his wife, the trainer Brittany Russell. “She's had a big year. She's been knocking on the door, a couple of tough beats, and, look, we took a swing here today [running] the filly against the boys,” said Brittany Russell. “But we felt like we had a shot, and she ran her race. She didn't know she was running against a bunch of boys. She's just been a whole lot of fun, and for her to win a race on Maryland Million Day, this is why we do this. This is huge.” Owner/breeder Dianne Stern articulated similar sentiments after her 4-year-old filly Foxy Junior (Cuba) captured the $100,000 Distaff S. at seven furlongs. “It means so much, because I'm from Maryland, and this is something I've dreamed of,” said Stern. “We had her mother and grandmother, who ran here.” Jomar Torres rode Foxy Junior for trainer Bernie Houghton. Her victory might have been the most tenacious of the afternoon, considering she stalked behind a brisk speed duel, clawed back the lead when confronted by fave at the top of the stretch, then held off another late charge to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:23.86. In the $125,000 Turf over nine furlongs, Starstruck Notion (Great Notion) avenged a second-place finish in last year's edition of the same stakes, in which the gelding was beaten three-quarters of a length. Under deft handling by Forest Boyce, Starstruck Notion secured a primo stalking position inside and bided his time third or fourth for most of the trip. The 3.3-1 shot briefly lost momentum entering the far turn when the pack shifted, then regained his stride to split horses at the quarter pole before tipping out to the three path and closing with a surge to nail a tiring favorite at the wire in 1:47.84. Pat McBurney trains the 4-year-old for owner/breeder Kenneth Garcia. Starstruck Notion is a New Jersey-bred with a Maryland sire, so that gives him dual access to Maryland Million conditions and New Jersey-bred opportunities. The two juvenile stakes, both carded at six furlongs, were each decided by neck margins. In the $100,000 Nursery S. for 2-year-old males, Do It for Michael (Uncle Lino), led from the outset and stayed on under constant pressure despite drifting out late in the lane in 1:10.57. The 5-2 second choice, ridden by Xavier Perez and trained by John Robb for owner/breeder No Guts No Glory Farm, now sports a 3-1-0 record from four starts, with all of his wins at Laurel. In the companion $100,000 Lassie S. for 2-year-old-fillies, jockey Angel Cruz rallied from 12th and last at 8-1 odds with Shkhara Fire (Friesan Fire) to win in 1:11.24 for trainer Jose Corrales and the owner/breeder partnership of Barak Farm and Dino's Thoroughbreds. Barak Farm and Corrales also ran third in the Lassie with the 22-1 Safe Trust (Mosler). In the $125,000 Ladies S. at nine furlongs on the lawn, favored Circle Home (Bodemeister), a 5-year-old mare owned and bred by Dark Hollow Farm, raced last or next to it for most of the nine-furlong journey, then lived up to her name by looping the field four wide around the far turn and uncorking a gradual grind-down to reel in the 9-1 pacemaker, scoring by a neck at 19-10 odds in 1:48.10. Jevian Toledo rode for trainer Miguel Vera. In the $100,000 Sprint S. at six furlongs, Celtic Contender (Irish War Cry) sat well behind a trio of speedsters in fourth, picked them all off from the far turn to mid-stretch, then repulsed a stern late charge from the even-money favorite to win by half a length at 9-2 odds in 1:09.87. Victor Carrasco rode for trainer Hamilton Smith and owner Lewis Family Racing (bred by the late Fred T. Lewis, DVM). The post Homebreds Sweep All Eight Maryland Million Stakes appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Making her stakes debut in the Oct. 12 Ontario Fashion Stakes (G3), A Game stepped up to the plate and knocked it out of the ballpark in a 48-1 upset for trainer Josie Carroll.View the full article

6th-Santa Anita, $55,500, Msw, 10-12, 2yo, f, 1m, 1:40.10, ft, 3 3/4 lengths. HOWIN (f, 2, Gun Runner–Flora Dora {MSW & GISP, $607,152}, by First Dude), a $550,000 Keeneland September yearling, graduated on debut Saturday against three other fillies who also brought $500,000 or better at various sales. Favored at 6-5, the chestnut broke sharply and had a shot to set the pace, but backed off to let Watershed Moment (Omaha Beach) and Boujee Beach (Global Campaign) take the honors instead. Howin stayed in touch with the first two through the :22.39 and :46.89 fractions, took command with authority on the turn, and held sway by 3 3/4 lengths as Wren (Into Mischief), a $500,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling, chased her home. Out of a multiple black-type winner who placed third in the 2016 GI CCA Oaks, Howin has a yearling half-brother by Candy Ride (Arg), who sold at the recent Keeneland September sale for $250,000 to Frank Fletcher Racing Operation. The mare was covered by Munnings and Liam's Map for next term. Sales History: $550,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $32,400. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Baoma Corp; B-Coffee Pot Stables (KY); T-Bob Baffert. The post Gun Runner’s Howin Graduates on Debut at Santa Anita appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Big Fame (Mr. Big) topped 280 entries to be named the Thoroughbred Makeover Champion, sponsored by Churchill Downs, at the Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America Saturday at the Kentucky Horse Park. Big Fame's route to the title and a $10,000 check took her through the discipline of Eventing, in which the daughter of Mr. Big out of the Western Fame mare Adopted Fame finished fourth in preliminary competition. She also participated in the Show Jumper discipline, finishing second in preliminary rounds and landing second in the finale as well. “She has got such a great brain, very athletic, willing, and smart,” trainer Angela Carmitchel said of the 5-year-old bay mare. “She's got the work ethic of a Thoroughbred.” Big Fame, who won two of 13 races and earned $29,070 during her racing career, is still owned by one of her breeders, Dr. Dorothee Kieckhefer. “From the very beginning, I thought she would just make a wonderful jumper or eventing horse,” Kieckhefer, who was on hand at the Kentucky Horse Park to watch her homebred perform during preliminary rounds, told the Retired Racehorse Project Wednesday. “She just has the presence for the ring, and I think she has a lot of fun. All of the trainers that had her said that she has a wonderful work ethic, but she never really raced in the top levels–she's much better served in this area.” Discipline champions from the Makeover Challenge are: Eventing: Big Fame, trained by Angela Carmitchel Show Jumper: Comin' Back, trained by Madison Barnett Show Hunter: He Did It, trained by Anissa Butler Field Hunter: In The Air, trained by Caitlin Brooks Dressage: Flight To Paradise, trained by Kelly Ransom Polo: Baytown Ringer, trained by Meghan Shader Freestyle: Pretty In Prado, trained by Monique Cameron-Hamby Barrel Racing: Not Phar Now, trained by Jessica Frederick Competitive Trail: Eagle Feather, trained by Colton Thacker Ranch Work: Brooklyns Finest, trained by Raechel Ramsey The post Big Fame Named Thoroughbred Makeover Champion appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Wathnan Racing's California Crown Stakes (G1) winner Subsanador will miss the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) after being diagnosed with an ankle injury at Santa Anita Park, where he is based with Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella.View the full article

by Stefanie Grimm and Jill Williams Godolphin homebred Poster (Munnings) stepped from maiden winner to allowance winner in a 'TDN Rising Star'-worthy performance Saturday to close out the card at Keeneland. Debuted going one mile on the grass at Ellis Park Aug. 19, he cruised home in gate-to-wire fashion by 1 3/4 lengths as the 5-1 fourth choice. Kept to that distance Saturday but bet down to 9-5, the Eoin Harty trainee was shuffled back by speedier rivals to his outside and wound up fourth along the rail as Enterdadragon (Outwork) handled the tempo through fractions of :22.64 and :47.84. Enjoying an inside trip around the far turn, Poster swung by the quarter pole still boxed in along the fence and on the wrong lead but was swung out by Rafael Bejarano into the final furlong. Once he had room and swapped leads, it was a one-horse race to the line as Poster came home alone three lengths ahead of Curahee (War of Will) in second. Poster is the 13th 'Rising Star' for Munnings, who was himself a 'TDN Rising Star' on debut in 2008 at Saratoga. Poster is his sire's second 'Rising Star' in the past month, joining Muhimma, who was honored after a maiden special weight Sept. 20 at Churchill. A homebred for Godolphin, Poster is out of the winning Tapit mare Pin Up, who was sold to Imagine Thoroughbreds while in foal to Nyquist at this year's Keeneland January sale for $130,000. The mare delivered that Nyquist colt Mar. 1. Also a homebred for Darley/Godolphin, Pin Up is a daughter of 1995 GI Hollywood Starlet Stakes winner and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies runner-up Cara Rafaela (Quiet American), who was named Broodmare of the Year in 2006. The latter is the dam of 2006 champion 3-year-old colt Bernardini (A.P. Indy), one of America's top sires prior to his death in 2021 and now perennially one of the nation's leading broodmare sires. Cara Rafaela is also granddam to MGISW Love and Pride (A.P. Indy). (1) Poster victorious in the night cap under @Rbejaranojockey! (12) Curamee and (8) Enterdadragon follow. pic.twitter.com/kkuSk6WtvL — Keeneland Racing (@keenelandracing) October 12, 2024 10th-Keeneland, $109,550, Alw, 10-12, (NW2L), 2yo, 1mT, 1:36.35, fm, 3 lengths. POSTER, c, 2, Munnings 1st Dam: Pin Up, by Tapit 2nd Dam: Cara Rafaela, by Quiet American 3rd Dam: Oil Fable, by Spectacular Bid Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $104,128. Click for the Equibase.com chart and VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree. O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Eoin G. Harty. The post Godolphin Homebred Poster Stays Perfect In ‘TDN Rising Star’-Worthy Win appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Trainer Cherie DeVaux's decision to add blinkers to She Feels Pretty paid off with a dominant victory for the 3-year-old Karakontie filly in the $750,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes (G1T) Oct. 12 at Keeneland.View the full article

Lael Stables' She Feels Pretty (f, 3, Karakontie {Jpn}–Summer Sweet, by More Than Ready) skipped home the easiest of winners in the GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes at Keeneland Saturday. The 3-2 favorite sat just off the pace set by King's Plate winner Caitlinhergrtness (Omaha Beach) and blitzed past that foe at the top of the lane. She extended her advantage to the wire to score by six lengths. European invader Soprano (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) chased her home in second and Caitlinhergrntess was third. She Feels Pretty won last year's GI Natalma Stakes and was a narrowly beaten third in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. She opened 2024 with a win in the May 17 Hilltop Stakes and was beaten 3/4 lengths when third in the July 6 GI Belmont Oaks Invitational and just a neck when second in the Aug. 17 GII Lake Placid Stakes. O-Lael Stables. B-Payson Stud (Ky). T-Cherie DeVaux. Lifetime Record: 7-4-1-2. Watch this jaw dropping performance! #3 SHE FEELS PRETTY ($5.08) absolutely dominates the $750,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes at @keenelandracing. The daughter of Karakontie was ridden by @ljlmvel and is trained by @reredevaux. Watch more on @FanDuelTV. pic.twitter.com/0TpIhxRIQf — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) October 12, 2024 The post Karakontie’s She Feels Pretty Much the Best in Queen Elizabeth Challenge Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

By Jonny Turner After securing one of the most satisfying wins of his career, Hayden Cullen can cap an outstanding weekend at Oamaru on Sunday. The trainer heads south hot on the heels of producing Winelight to win the $150,000 NZB Standardbred Harness Million Two-Year-Old Fillies Final at Addington on Friday night. While no stranger to big race success following his time with Mark Purdon and the All Stars Stable, Cullen and his family have taken their solo training operation to big heights from humble beginnings, in little over a year. “It all started from nothing really, at the start it was just Dad and I working up a few pre-trainers,” the trainer said. “But we got some younger horses that were able to race in the grades and they were winning and it built from there.” Cullen has built so quickly, he had more starters in feature races at Addington on Friday night than most trainers. And given the journey he has been on over the past year, winning a rich Harness Million feature gave him a huge buzz. “It was sensational, a huge thrill and it makes all the hard work pay off.” Cullen has three starters at Oamaru on Sunday including Major Cyclone, in the Phillips Horse Transport Trot. He could also make his way into feature races soon. “He is quite a nice horse and he’s been going good races.” “But he hasn’t quite been trotting 100%, so we have done a bit of work with the farrier and he seems a lot better.” Major Cyclone is raced by Cullen Racing Stables and leading West Australian Greg Bond who is a slot-holder for the inaugural running of the $500,000 The Ascent. “Safely through Sunday we have our eyes on the Hambletonian, Greg has a slot for him in The Velocity, all going well he can head through to Show Day.” Cullen also starts Arafura in race 5, the Denice Swain Memorial Fillies Mobile Pace. The filly went a solid race in her debut, getting too far back chasing a smart winner in The Lazarus Effect. “I am quite happy with her.” “She drew out in that first start and I said to Craig (Ferguson) to drive her for luck and see if she can run home, which she did.” “She seems to have improved with that run, she has worked a lot better this week.” Cullen will also start Louie Massimo in race 6, the Republican Party Road to the New Zealand Cup Mobile Pace. It is the horse’s first public appearance of the spring. “He is coming up well, I decided not to trial him but I’ve been happy with his work.” “He has a bit of gate speed, so the option is there to go forward and get handy.” “He should be an each way chance.” Olivia Thornley handles Louie Massimo fresh off steering Winelight to her Harness Million victory. Bob Butt takes the reins behind Arafura and Major Cyclone. View the full article

Chad Brown, at the age of 45, is used to saddling offspring of his best runners. "When I start being the trainer of the third dam, that's when I'll know it's time to look into retirement," Brown said with a chuckle. View the full article

6th-Keeneland, $130,000, Alw (NW3$X)/Opt. Clm ($100,000), 10-12, 3yo/up, 6 1/2f, 1:16.16, ft, 1 3/4 lengths. GIANT MISCHIEF (c, 4, Into Mischief–Vertical Oak {MGSW, $773,095}, by Giant Oak), a returning 'TDN Rising Star' made his first start Saturday since coming third in the GI Malibu Stakes to end the year Dec. 26. Off the board only once in seven prior starts, the Brad Cox runner rebounded here off nearly the year-long layoff as the 4-5 favorite by jumping straight to the front under Tyler Gaffalione. Chased throughout by a determined but ultimately second-best Kavod (Lea), Giant Mischief worked through fractions of :23.03 and :45.58, swung into the stretch still on the lead and stayed safely away to come home a winner by 1 3/4 lengths. Out of a MGSW first dam who sold to Stonestreet carrying the winner for $700,000 at FTKNOV in 2019, Giant Mischief has a yearling half-brother by Quality Road named Kelce who brought $850,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale this year. Vertical Oak produced a full-brother to the winner this year and was barren on a cover to Gun Runner for 2025. Sales History: $475,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GISP, 8-4-2-1, $428,105. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Bakster Farm LLC, Big Easy Racing LLC, Kueber Racing LLC, Spendthrift Farm LLC, Steve Landers Racing LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Ten Strike Racing, Titletown Racing Stables, Winners Win, M. Caruso, M. Dubb and M. Schwartz; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. The first race of the year for #4 GIANT MISCHIEF ($3.70) was an easy win as he goes gate-to-wire in race 6 at @keenelandracing. The 4yo son of Into Mischief (@spendthriftfarm) was ridden by @Tyler_Gaff and is trained by @bradcoxracing. Watch more on @FanDuelTV. pic.twitter.com/hlzSwcpnQ5 — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) October 12, 2024 The post ‘TDN Rising Star’ Giant Mischief Returns A Winner Off 10-Month Layoff appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article