Wandering Eyes

7th-DMR, $75K, Msw, 2yo, 5 1/2f, 8:02 p.m. ET. Conditioned by John Sadler, Don Alberto homebred UNIQUE POWER (Into Mischief) debuts for his dam–champion older dirt female Unique Bella (Tapit)–who was acquired by the stable for $400,000 at the 2015 Keeneland September Sale. Her own dam is GI Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic heroine Unrivaled Belle (Unbridled's Song). Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm took this mare home for $3.8 million at the 2016 Keeneland November Sale. Unrivaled Belle's half-sister, Lemon Belle (Lemon Drop Kid), is responsible for GIII Gotham Stakes champ Raise Cain (Violence). A $700,000 buy for SF Bloodstock, Starlight and Madaket during Keeneland September, Kalea Bay (Authentic) makes the races for trainer Bob Baffert. The colt is out of SW For Royalty (Not For Love), who Jane Lyon at Summer Wind Equine added to her band for $2.1 million at the 2017 Keeneland November Sale. This dam–a half-sister to GI Ballerina Stakes runner-up Kiss to Remember (Big Brown)–has already produced GI La Brea Stakes victress Constellation (Bellamy Road) and MSW Truth Seeker (Into Mischief). Three other Keeneland grads make their first starts to round out the field. Post Game (Nyquist), a $550,000 purchase by Mayberry Farm, is trained by John Shirreffs. The juvenile for C R K Stable is out of a half-sister to MGSW Mr Freeze (To Honor and Serve). Citizen Bull (Into Mischief), another acquisition by SF, Starlight and Madaket, was hammered down for $675,000. The Baffert trainee counts MGISW Moonshine Memories (Malibu Moon) and MGSW Favorite Tale (Tale of the Cat) among his extended female family. Finally, Power Play (Authentic)–bought by Spendthrift $375,000 and trained by Richard Mandella–has MGSW Owendale (Into Mischief) in his family tree. TJCIS PPS 1st-SAR, $100K, Msw, 2yo, 6f, 12:35 p.m. ET. One half of a coupled entry, Sansone (Uncle Mo) debuts for trainer Shug McGaughey. The colt was acquired for $1.35 million by Chuck Sonson, Woodford and West Point at the Keeneland September Sale. His productive mare Diva Delite (Repent) is also responsible for champion older dirt female Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute), MSW Stage Left (Congrats) and new sire Verifying (Justify). TJCIS PPS 2nd-SAR, $100K, Msw, 2yo, 1 1/16mT, 1:07 p.m. ET. Peter Brant's White Birch Farm bid 250,000 gns during Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale for Asbury Park (GB) (Frankel {GB}). Bred by current partner St. Elias, the dark bay is out of French stakes winner Limonar (Ire) (Street Cry {Ire}). A half-sister to GI Shoemaker Mile hero Talco (Fr) (Pivotal {GB}), this dam produced the globetrotting Spanish Mission (Noble Mission {GB}) and SW Dude N Colorado (Uncle Mo). Asbury Park heads to the post for trainer Chad Brown. TJCIS PPS 3rd-MTH, $47K, Msw, 2yo, f, 1mT, 1:50 p.m. ET. Another Brown trainee is unveiled in Forward Deployed (War Front). An $800,000 buy for Sean Flanagan at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearling Sale, the filly is a half-sister to MGSP Classic Fit (Bernardini) and her second dam produced late sire Scat Daddy (Johannesburg). TJCIS PPS The post Saturday’s Racing Insights: ‘Unique’ Group Of Firsters Shine At The Seaside Oval appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

DEAUVILLE, France–John Stewart has made more of a splash in a year trading in bloodstock than most people will in an entire lifetime and the effervescent character behind the ever-expanding Resolute Racing sent more ripples through the industry by snapping up the €1.4 million Wootton Bassett (GB) top lot on day one of the August Yearling Sale at Arqana. Irishman Gavin O'Connor has been representing Resolute Racing at Arqana this week while Stewart tuned in from his base in America. Bred by David and Diane Nagle at Barronstown Stud, the colt was consigned by Haras d'Etreham. Coolmore filled the role as underbidder. Stewart, who had been placing his bids online, says he felt he got value when you compare the results to that of the recent yearling sales at Fasig-Tipton in America. He explained, “My plans are to bring these [European] horses back to America. I will break them over there, probably in the UK, and they will get their introductory training over there. We think that's the best way to do it. As you know, we mainly focus on turf with our programme because we're doing stuff internationally. “I'm a little surprised, when you compare the Saratoga sale and the Keeneland Book 1, the pedigrees are good, but they're not as standout. This one jumped off the page. Under the first dam, there is already a full-brother who has already done well, and he's the perfect kind of colt for our programme.” Stewart has signed for millions of dollars worth of bloodstock in his short time in the industry. However, Friday's acquisition represented his first foray into buying yearlings at the August Sale at Arqana. He continued, “Arqana was nice enough to fly Gavin [O'Connor] over and they gave him a free trip. We're going to be very selective on yearlings going forward on the purchases I make. I have 35-now 36 going on next year-and it's going to be really hard with Keeneland Book 1 coming up, because the book is a stunner. “He was the perfect specimen. Gavin is looking at conformation, and the physical attributes of the horse. Chelsea [Stone] is as well, here at home, watching the videos, and then Chelsea and I are doing the pedigrees here.” After an admittedly sluggish start, trade did pick up as the session progressed and, of the 133 offered, 96 were sold at a clearance rate of 72%. With some of the best stock still expected to go through the ring over the coming days, it's best not to draw too many comparisons or conclusions, but that clearance rate represented a near 12% drop on the corresponding day's trade last year. The average was down nearly 2% to €226,167 while the aggregate dipped almost 5% to €21,712,000. Yahagi Lands Frankel Filly For €800k Leading Japanese trainer Yoshito Yahagi, who sourced Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe contender Shin Emperor (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) at this sale in 2022, stated his intent on the eve of the sale when revealing that his main aim coming to Deauville was to find a similarly high-class prospect. Yahagi didn't waste much time in getting in on the action and provided some of the early excitement when signing for a daughter of Frankel (GB) from Haras des Capucines for €800,000. Yahagi said, “I think she's an elegant type of filly, she's faultless,” said Yahagi. “We haven't seen a top, top colt here yet but the standard of yearlings is very good, especially the quality of fillies here.” Offered as Lot 28, the filly out of Waldjagd (GB) (Observatory) is a half-sister to the Group 2 winner Waldbiene (Fr) (Intello (Ger}) and Listed winner Urwald (GB) (Le Havre {Ire}) and was bred by Ecurie Calarec. The yearling's two-year-old half-brother Misunderstood (Fr) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}) was the recent winner of the Prix de Crevecoeur on debut at Deauville. The further family also includes the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Waldgeist (GB) and G1 St Leger winner Masked Marvel (Ire). Talking Points Stewart wasn't the only American buyer in action at Arqana with Mike Repole's buying team sourcing three yearlings-by Wootton Bassett, Mehmas and Lope De Vega–for €690,000. The general consensus among buyers is that the best is still to come with regards to the representation of the first-season sires at this sale, but certainly Victor Ludorum (GB) has got off to a solid start. His three lots sold during the opening session achieved an aggregate sum of €385,000 at an average of €128,333, all from a fee of €15,000 in his first season at Haras du Logis. He will stand at Haras d'Etreham from 2025. It should also be noted that Lucky Vega (Ire) enjoyed a similarly promising start. From just one yearling representative, the Irish National Stud-based stallion enjoyed a €120,000 sale when Karl Burke bought the colt from Baroda Stud. Rumour has it that Jamie Railton's offering by the sire, lot 321, is going down well and should rock into similar money on Sunday. Frankel might be in danger of losing his crown as champion sire in Britain and Ireland this year, but he was recently represented by his 100th group winner and his offspring continue to sweep all before them when it comes to the action in the sales ring. His four lots to sell made a total of €1,860,000 at an average of €465,000, with the filly sold to Yahagi being joined by the likes of Lot 106, a filly out of a half-sister to the Oaks winner Talent (GB) (New Approach), from the Monceaux draft, who went the way of Sackville Donald for €360,000. Dominant National Hunt trainer Willie Mullins is not a man that you'd expect to see signing for yearlings at one of the premier sales but never underestimate the depth of the recruitment drive at Closutton. Through his long-time and trusted agent Pierre Boulard, Mullins bought yearlings by Zarak [a colt for €140,000] and Galiway [a filly for €100,000]. Indeed, Mullins has had plenty of success with the progeny of both sires, with Galway Hurdle winner Zarak The Brave (Fr) and Vauban (Fr) springing to mind. Night Of Thunder Colt Sparks Bidding War Night Of Thunder set pulses racing late in the afternoon when consecutive lots by the Darley stallion sold for a cumulative total of €1,630,000. Richard Knight, standing beside trainer Kevin Philippart de Foy, was the successful bidder on the first of them, Lot 120, a filly consigned by Baroda Stud out of the Listed-winning Encapsulation (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) who reached €780,000. Attempts to get a comment from Knight were cut short when he announced his intention to follow up on the next lot through the ring, a colt out of Ecurie des Monceaux's exciting young mare Enchanting Skies (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). The mare's first foal was 'TDN Rising Star' Beauvatier (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), last year's champion two-year-old colt in France and only recently third in the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest, while her second foal, the Siyouni (Fr) filly Lhakpa (Ire), is hitherto unbeaten in two starts. After a protracted bidding war with Richard Brown of Blandford Bloodstock, Knight was left with no option but to accept defeat in his attempt to secure a quickfire double on the afternoon, with the gavel eventually coming down at €850,000 in favour of Wathnan Racing–mistakenly according to Brown who refused to be drawn on the identity of his client. “I can't tell you that he's for Wathnan–it was knocked down to Blandford Bloodstock,” he said. “I can't actually say who he's for, but we were delighted to get him. He'll go back to England and Malcolm Bastard will break him. We'll decide [on plans] after that.” Brown added of the battle with Knight, “That was absolutely lights out–it was our last bid, so it was a very close-run thing. We had a very short list for today and he was the colt that we wanted. “I'm a huge fan of Night Of Thunder and the mare is really doing it. Beauvatier was obviously a top-class two-year-old and he's trained on, while the sister looks like she could be pretty smart. I've been told that she's going straight for the Prix Marcel Boussac.” St Lawrence Strikes For Half-Sister To Rashabar It could be quite the week for Haras de Beaufay and their Camelot (GB) mare Amazonka (Ire). This time last year her first foal sold for €120,000 to Sam Sangster Bloodstock and was later named Rashabar (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), the winner of the G2 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot and likely to be among the favourites when he returns to Deauville this weekend for the G1 Prix Morny. Victory there would cement Amazonka's status as a top-class producer, but already there seems to be little doubt given how competitive the bidding was when her second foal, a filly by Acclamation (GB), went through the ring as Lot 52. Oliver St Lawrence eventually struck the winning bid at €600,000, acting on behalf of Bahraini buyers who will now be hoping for the ultimate pedigree update on Sunday. “She's a lovely filly and I've been a big fan of Acclamation for ages,” said St Lawrence. “She was a gorgeous filly and, as Brian Meehan just said to me, hopefully we'll be a half-sister to a Group 1 winner after Sunday. “She's been bought for Fawzi Nass and the team. We haven't worked it out, but she'll probably stay in France I should think. She's a filly that can hopefully go to the paddocks. We definitely paid top dollar for her, but she was a queen of a filly.” Fast becoming the queen of the paddocks at Beaufay, Amazonka never made it to the track herself but has three siblings who earned black type, including the G3 Bronte Cup winner River Of Stars (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and the German Listed scorer Apadanah (Ger) by the same sire as Rashabar. Al Shira'aa On The Board With Wootton Bassett Daughter Of Channel Powerful owner-breeder Al Shira'aa Farms has had plenty of success buying at this sale-French 1,000 Guineas third Vespertilio (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) was sourced here–and, while the outfit had to fill the role as underbidder on the half-sister to Rashabar, came up trumps with a Wootton Bassett filly out of Prix de Diane winner Channel (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}). Al Shira'aa's Kieran Lalor said, “Wootton Bassett is a sire that we love. We breed to him, so it makes sense for us to go after these fillies. Channel was obviously a Classic winner, so she suits our programme. We sent the boss a video and she loved her. We tried on the Frankel earlier, and the Acclamation filly. That didn't work out, so we're delighted to have this filly on board.” He added, “She'll go home now to the farm in Ireland. They get turned out there for a couple of months before we decide what we're going to do with them. We're very excited to have her. It's a great family and Nathaniel, the broodmare sire, we're big fans of as well. We use him a lot ourselves. “It's a Wootton Bassett over Galileo kind of cross which has already had success. She's a beautiful filly and she deserved that price. The market is demanding that price for this kind of filly. We'd love to see her as a Classic type. And with the Nathaniel there, you'd hope she could get to a-mile-and-a-quarter or a-mile-and-a-half.” Cool Profit For Sundstrom As Al Shaqab Go To €500k For Blue Point Filly Al Shaqab were one of the major buyers on day one, with the team signing for three speedily-bred yearlings to the tune of €980,0000, headed by the Coulonces-consigned Blue Point filly at €500,000. The leading owner-breeders had already secured a Havana Grey colt for €120,000 and a Starspangledbanner filly for €360,000 earlier in the day. Speaking on the Blue Point filly, Al Shaqab's Benoit Jeffroy said, “All of the team really liked this filly because she is a great mover–very athletic with a big step. Obviously she is by an up-and-coming and very exciting young stallion in Blue Point. It's a good pedigree and Dansili is a very good broodmare sire. Big congratulations to the consignors because it was a very good pinhook!” Anna Sundstrom's Coulonces outfit has a habit of coming up with the goods in France. The Blue Point filly represented another outstanding piece of pinhooking given that she was bought alongside Philip Zwicky for €150,000 at the Goffs November Foal Sale. While Al Shaqab will doubtless have much to look forward to next year with its day-one acquisitions, there is plenty of excitement building towards the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe given Al Shaqab and Ballylinch Stud jointly snapped up a majority share in the warm favourite and French Derby winner Look De Vega. Jeffroy concluded, “It's very exciting. It was a privilege to be able to buy into a Prix du Jockey Club winner who is favourite for the Arc right now. We are really happy and we hope he is going to run in September in the Prix Niel. Then we'll be going for the Arc and hopefully we can win it.” The post Stewart Makes A Major Splash At Arqana With €1.4 Million Wootton Bassett Colt appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. 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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.–A long-term plan and a recent decision brought California-based, Indiana-prepped Chatalas (Gun Runner) the rest of the way across the continent to run in the GI $600,000 Alabama Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. Feeling that she is better on dirt, her owners and trainer Mark Glatt decided last winter to avoid grass racing and point her to 3-year-old filly stakes in the Midwest and East. In her first start in seven months, Chatalas won the GIII Indiana Oaks by a head on July 6. Four weeks later, when trainer Kenny McPeek announced on Aug. 3 that three-time GI winner Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) would face males in the GI Travers on Aug. 24 rather than the Alabama, Chatalas was Saratoga-bound. A field of eight will contest the 1 1/4 miles of the historic Alabama, which was first run in 1872. From the rail out: Intricate (Gun Runner), the only horse to beat Thorpedo Anna, in the GII Golden Rod ; Chatalas, Power Squeeze (Union Rags),winner of the Gulfstream Park Oaks and the Delaware Oaks; Iowa Oaks winner Just Basking (Arrogate), who is making her graded stakes debut; America's Vow (Constitution); two from trainer Todd Pletcher, Miss Justify (Justify) and GI Alcibiades Stakes winner Candied (Candy Ride); and Neon Icon (Arrogate), trained by Rusty Arnold. Candied, who drew the rail in her last four starts, will start from No. 7 under Manny Franco and is the 7-5 morning-line favorite. The Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners's filly was second by 4 1/2 lengths to Thorpedo Anna in the GI Coaching Club American Oaks. “She's probably the most accomplished one in the race,” Pletcher said. “I thought she ran well last time, the second-best to Thorpedo Anna, but no disgrace in that. Hopefully she's going to move forward in the Alabama” Trainer Mark Glatt | Benoit Glatt said Chatalas's connections agreed that they should try to play to her strength on dirt. “In Southern California in the summer the 3-year-old filly and colt division actually is centered around turf,” Glatt said. “We ran her on the turf, our final start of her 2-year-old campaign, just to see how she might run on the turf, realizing that the better races for 3-year-olds were going to be on turf this summer. Although she ran well, we didn't think she was quite as effective on turf. She's got natural route speed, but she's kind of a stayer. She didn't show an explosion.” Chatalas was caught near the wire by Medoro (Honor Code), now a GIII winner, and finished second by a neck in that turf test, the Blue Norther Stakes, on Dec. 29 at Santa Anita. It was her sixth start of the season, during which she was 2-1-1 and won the GII Chandelier Stakes. “We felt it was the right time to give her some time,” Glatt said, “let her kind of regroup from that pretty solid campaign as a 2-year-old, otherwise we wouldn't have much come this summer and fall. As she was getting ready, we could tell she was training even better than she did as a 2-year-old. We just felt like trying to see where she fit back there in some of those races initially could help us manage her the rest of the year.” Glatt sent Chatalas to Kentucky to his friend, trainer Grant Forster, at Churchill Downs and nominated her to the Indiana Oaks, the Delaware Oaks and the Iowa Oaks, which were all scheduled for the same weekend. They opted for the Indiana Oaks because it was an easier ship from Louisville. She stayed in Kentucky with Forster, who will saddle her in the Alabama for Glatt. Dan J. Agnew, a member of the Washington Racing Hall of Fame since 2007, bred Chatalas and is her majority owner with Rancho Temescal Thoroughbred Partners and William Chatalas. She is out of Indian Safari (Indian Charlie), who suffered a career-ending injury in a stall accident after winning her debut in 2014 and became a broodmare. Agnew said his wife, Kim, suggested that they name the filly after their neighbor, the late Susan Chatalas. Following her debut victory at Del Mar last summer, Chatalas's husband, William, became a partner in the horse. “He went to the maiden race,” Agnew said.” He used to work at the racetrack 70 years ago so he knew a little bit about it and said 'Gee, I'd like to buy a part of this horse. Will you sell me part?' I said, 'Absolutely.' For a guy like him, who has lost his wife, this filly has given him a little bit of renewal. He gets pretty excited. Something to live for. He's been down to watch her train. He's got a couple of boys who have come to the races to watch her run. He's a wonderful friend, a wonderful guy and a great owner.” Agnew and Chatalas are scheduled to attend the Alabama. Like Just Basking, her breeders-owners, Wendy Schwarz Gilder and her brother Andrew Schwarz, are in their first graded stakes. They operate as Gilder-Schwarz Farms LLC. While growing up in New Orleans, they came to love horses and racing at Fair Grounds. In 2017, under the guidance of Pope McLean at Crestwood Farm, they embarked on their longtime plan to get into the breeding business. Schwarz is in the real estate development business and said he is comfortable with the time it takes–from conception to the sale or racing–in breeding Thoroughbreds. The gem of their band of four broodmares is Spanish Star (Blame), the dam of Just Basking. Spanish Star is a half-sister to 2019 GI Belmont Stakes winner Sir Winston (Awesome Again). They bought her in foal to Arrogate (Unbridled's Song) for $275,000 at the 2020 Keeneland November Sale. Spanish Star (Hip 1149) | Keeneland “When you look at Spanish Star, physically, the hips, everything, she's structurally perfect,” Schwarz, 58, said. “We're not the only one who saw that that day because we had to bid for her, but it was our strategy. Can't buy a horse that won the Alabama so we were going for horses on physical and that's what we bought. We paid more than we thought, but physically, you don't see horses like that that often. She never raced, so we thought she was a horse we could afford. It turned out we were right. And how lucky do we get being an Arrogate?” At the 2016 Travers, his first stakes try, Juddmonte's Arrogate turned in a jaw-dropping performance, winning the race by 13 1/2 lengths in the track-record time for 1 1/4 miles of 1:59.36. He went on to win the GI Breeders' Cup Classic and the Eclipse Award as the 3-year-old male champion. Arrogate was retired to stud at Juddmonte in 2017 where he stood for three years before he had to be euthanized. Just Basking is from his final crop. Spanish Star had two foals before being purchased by Gilder-Schwarz. The 2019 now-gelded colt One Timer (Trappe Shot) won the GII Franklin-Simpson at Kentucky Downs and has earned $914,135. The 2020 colt has not raced. Gilder-Schwarz has a business model of selling its colts and possibly retain promising fillies to race. They sold the 2022 filly Kilwin (Twirling Candy) for $225,000. She broke her maiden at first asking in July. Spanish Star's Essential Quality (Tapit) colt is being offered at Keeneland September and they have a Flightline (Tapit) colt on the ground. Schwarz said he may have trouble convincing his sister to sell the Flightline. Schwarz said he and his sister waited until they were in a place in their lives where they could try to breed at a proper level. “I want to breed graded stakes-quality horses and have a lot of fun with my family,” he said. “My big, audacious goal is to someday have a horse in the Alabama. I swear to God, I swear to God I said that.” Just Basking–the name Basking was not available–the second flat horse to run in the stable name, has brought Gilder-Schwarz to the Alabama. She was being prepared to run as a 2-year-old, but got loose at the training center and came out of that jaunt with injuries. Just Basking made her first start for veteran trainer Ian Wilkes with a second over 6 1/2 furlongs at Turfway Park on March 13. She was a closer second at 1 1/16 miles on April 7 at Keeneland and broke her maiden by 7 3/4 lengths at the Alabama's 10-furlong distance against older horses on April 27 at Churchill Downs. Following a fifth in a 1 1/8 miles optional claimer she won the listed Iowa Oaks by 4 3/4 lengths. Schwarz said they would have taken a shot in the Alabama with Thorpedo Anna in the field. “Certainly, that would have been a challenge, but we were going to run against whoever showed up,” he said. “At a mile and a quarter with an Arrogate, you've always got a chance. If you could pick a distance, that's where we would want to send JB. That's her distance, so you've got a puncher's chance, even if I thought Thorpedo Anna was in it. Also, as a breeder, getting some black type, regardless. “Now we think we have a big chance. I don't know if we could get to the wire first, but I know we'll be running probably the fastest with whoever hits the wire first. Hopefully we'll get there in time.” The post Seeking The Dirt, Chatalas Hit The Road For The GI Alabama appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. 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Wyoming Downs experienced record-setting business in its first Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse meet under the new ownership of ECL Entertainment and Clairvest Group.View the full article

Out On Bail (c, 2, Tiz the Law–Judge Lee, by Street Cry {Ire}) became the first stakes winner for his freshman sire (by Constitution) by delivering a hard-fought win in Friday's $150,000 Skidmore Stakes at Saratoga. Favored at 3-2 while facing only three rivals, the gray was always traveling nicely while racing in an outside second as Jet Sweep Joe (Frosted) showed the way. The two raced shoulder to shoulder down the stretch, and, after exchanging bumps close to home, Out On Bail got up to win by a head. The result stood following a stewards' inquiry and an objection by the rider of the runner-up alleging interference against Out On Bail. “I just rolled my eyes,” winning trainer Mike Maker said. “You can watch the head-on and see the one horse [No. 1, Jet Sweep Joe] just kept carrying and carrying us. It was kind of puzzling, but it's not the first time I've been puzzled.” On a potential next start in the six-furlong GIII Futurity Oct. 4 at Belmont at the Big A, a 'Win and You're In' for the five-furlong GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint in November at Del Mar, Maker added, “The Futurity makes sense.” Judge Lee produced a full brother to the winner in 2023. She was bred to Americanrevolution for 2025. SKIDMORE S., $139,500, Saratoga, 8-16, 2yo, 5 1/2fT, 1:05.00, gd. 1–OUT ON BAIL, 122, c, 2, by Tiz the Law 1st Dam: Judge Lee, by Street Cry (Ire) 2nd Dam: Miss Prado, by El Prado (Ire) 3rd Dam: Northern Swava, by Northern Baby ($40,000 Ylg '23 SARAUG; $110,000 2yo '24 OBSMAR). 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Chambers, Case, Paradise Farms Corp. & Staudacher, David; B-Matthew Nestor (NY); T-Michael J. Maker; J-Jose L. Ortiz. $82,500. Lifetime Record: 4-2-1-1, $156,000. *First stakes winner for freshman sire (by Constitution). 2–Jet Sweep Joe, 122, c, 2, Frosted–Sister Blues, by Pioneerof the Nile. O-Hall Stables, LLC; B-Hall Stables LLC (KY); T-Paul McEntee. $30,000. 3–Spiralizer, 122, c, 2, Twirling Candy–Jotown, by Speightstown. ($250,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP; $550,000 2yo '24 OBSMAR). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Wathnan Racing; B-Bridlewood Farm (FL); T-Steven M. Asmussen. $18,000. Margins: HD, 9HF, 3 3/4. Odds: 1.55, 2.15, 2.35. Also Ran: Classic Time. Scratched: Governor Sam, Raise the Bar, Soontobeking. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Down to the wire! OUT ON BAIL, the 2YO son of @coolmoreamerica stallion Tiz the Law, clinches the Skidmore Stakes in a thrilling photo finish with @jose93_ortiz up for trainer Mike Maker. pic.twitter.com/pl128KVqcJ — NYRA () (@TheNYRA) August 16, 2024 The post Out On Bail Survives Inquiry to Become First Stakes Winner for Tiz the Law appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Byron López was 18 years old when he moved from Guatemala and began working for a talented new trainer named Todd Pletcher. He started out as a hot walker and soon moved up to becoming a groom. Twenty-four years later, he now cares for some of the best of the best among Pletcher's elite stable. López shared his story in Spanish, but the deep devotion he has for his equine charges surpassed any language barriers. “I am motivated by the horses,” he said. “They are so affectionate and I get along with my horses well. I never really liked to work, but I like working here. It has been a lot of years and I just got used to it. It became home. I feel good working at the stable with everybody around.” With his quiet presence, soft hands and pockets full of peppermints, López has played a role in developing many of Pletcher's superstars. Invisible Ink was the first top-class horse López remembers looking after. The son of Thunder Gulch was third in the GI Florida Derby and second in the GI Kentucky Derby in 2001. The veteran groom has had a few other favorites over the years: 2010 GI Ogden Phipps and GI Beldame Stakes winner Life At Ten (Malibu Moon), 2014 GI Breeders' Futurity and 2015 GI Blue Grass Stakes hero Carpe Diem (Giant's Causeway), 2019 GIII Sunland Park Derby winner Cutting Humor (First Samurai) and of course his all-time favorite, Malathaat (Curlin). From Malathaat's first Grade I score by a head in the 2021 Ashland Stakes to her sixth and final one in the 2022 Breeders' Cup Distaff, López was there for every step and shared a close bond with the champion. Byron López and Malathaat | Sarah Andrew “She was very affectionate, very intelligent and she always liked to eat,” he said. “I looked after her a lot. I would always carry a bag of peppermints for her.” After Malathaat retired, López didn't have long to wait before he began working with another special horse who would develop into a champion. Fierceness (City of Light) broke his maiden in devastating fashion last summer in Saratoga, winning by over 11 lengths and becoming a 'TDN Rising Star,' and then claimed the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile. “He knows when he's going to the track and he settles himself,” shared López. “He knows what he's going to do on the track. He's very quiet. When I arrive in the morning and put the halter on him, he starts asking for peppermints.” This year Fierceness put in another jaw-dropping performance in the GI Florida Derby and then after a disappointing finish in the Kentucky Derby, the Repole Stable homebred bounced back in his most recent start in the GII Jim Dandy Stakes. Before the race, Fierceness proved to be somewhat of a handful in the paddock at Saratoga. “He started looking around and was very happy,” López said with a smile. “I was not.” Fierceness has maintained a steady win-lose pattern throughout his seven-race career, but he will look to break that trend in the upcoming GI Travers Stakes on Aug. 24 ahead of a potential bid in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic come November. “I know he's going to do well because he's a really good horse,” López noted. “The most important thing for me is I ask God for him to stay healthy for what's expected from him in the race. Hopefully he has the same performance and luck.” This week, López had to part with a colt that he has grown particularly attached to. Kingsbarns (Uncle Mo) had been pointing for the Breeders' Cup Classic after his win in the GI Stephen Foster Stakes, but an injury incurred during training in Saratoga forced the 4-year-old to retire prematurely. The Fierceness team celebrates a win in the GII Jim Dandy | Sarah Andrew Doing everything he can to ensure that his horses are healthy has always been López's top priority. “Every time I see a race or the horses leaving the gate, I always ask God for them to have a safe trip. All of [the horses], not just ours, and the jockeys too,” he said. Working for the same stable for over 20 years is a rare feat. López has been with Pletcher for some of the renowned trainer's very first Grade I wins, on through dozens of training titles and Breeders' Cups, and more recently, Pletcher's Hall of Fame induction in 2021. “I am always grateful to the boss, Todd Pletcher,” said López. “I am thankful for the trust he has always had in me and to all the assistants and the people he has had on the team–because that's what we are, a team.” No matter the outcome of next Saturday's Travers, Fierceness will receive the highest level of care when he gets back to the barn after the race. Long after the track has quieted for the night, López will be there to make sure Fierceness is clean, comfortable and stocked with plenty of peppermints. The post Breeders’ Cup Connections: Fierceness in Good Hands with Byron López appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Tommy Roberts, an ebullient entrepreneur whose innovations helped move the Thoroughbred industry forward over many decades, died Aug. 14 at his vacation home in North Carolina. He was 96. His longtime friend Joe Raucci confirmed Roberts' death. View the full article

Howard Wright, one of the founding members of staff at the Racing Post and a journalist respected across the racing world, died the morning of Aug. 16 after a short illness. He was 79.View the full article

Newmarket's mile maiden on Friday evening's card holds a special place as the race that hosted the debut of Frankel (GB), not to mention Motivator (GB) and others who went on to make their mark in the big league, and this year it was the turn of Julian Richmond-Watson to enjoy the spoils courtesy of his newcomer Anniversary (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}–Lixirova {Fr}, by Slickly {Fr}). Racing prominently from the outset under Rob Hornby, the 16-1 shot gained the edge approaching the furlong marker and stayed on strongly to get to the line 3/4 of a length ahead of Ballydoyle's Scandinavia (Justify). Continuing the red-hot form of the Ralph Beckett yard's 2-year-olds, the winner is a son of the 2009 G3 Prix Miesque scorer Lixirova (Fr) (Slickly {Fr}) who cost what looks a bargain 65,000gns at the 2022 Tattersalls December Foal Sale. 2010: Frankel 2017: Roaring Lion 2021: Coroebus 2024: Anniversary The 65,000gns purchase joins an illustrious roll of honour at @NewmarketRace pic.twitter.com/yioMiJQrZp — Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 16, 2024 The post Sea The Moon Colt Wins The Frankel Maiden For Richmond-Watson appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Over halfway through Friday's session of the Arqana August Yearling Sale, a son of Wootton Bassett (GB) (lot 105) was the first yearling to breach the seven-figure mark, hammering for €1.4 million to John Stewart of Resolute Bloodstock. Consigned by Haras d'Etreham, the dark bay is a full-brother to GIII Franklin-Simpson Stakes hero Guildsman (Fr). Their dam, Dardiza (Ire) (Street Cry {Ire}), is a half-sister to the dam of world-beater and current Etreham stallion Almanzor (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). The seven figure mark has been broken at the #AugustSale as lot 1⃣0⃣5⃣, a filly by #WoottonBassett @coolmorestud from the talented family of multiple Gr.1 winner ALMANZOR was sold to John Stewart by @Haras_d_Etreham for €1,400,000. pic.twitter.com/J8HQLpcWxD — ARQANA (@InfoArqana) August 16, 2024 The post John Stewart’s Resolute Bloodstock Buys Wootton Bassett Colt, From The Family Of Almanzor, For €1.4 Million At Arqana appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Some of the most highly anticipated races during the summer racing season are the 'baby' races during the boutique meetings at Saratoga and Del Mar and at Ellis Park, which attract its fair share of high-priced offspring from a variety of top national outfits. Summer Breezes highlights debuting and stakes-entered 2-year-olds at those meetings that have been sourced at the breeze-up sales earlier in the year, with links to their under-tack previews. Here are the horses entered for ay at Saratoga: Saturday, August 17, 2024 Saratoga 1, $100k, 2yo, 6f, 12:35 p.m. Horse (Sire), Sale, Price ($), Breeze McHale (Maclean's Music), FTMMAY, 220,000, :21 1/5 C-Golden Rock Thoroughbreds, agent; B-Taproot B'stock, agent Saratoga 2, $100k, 2yo, 1 1/16mT, 1:07 p.m. ET Dragoneer (McKinzie), OBSMAR, 450,000, :9 4/5 C-Kings Equine, agent; B-Jones/Everett for Belmar/Hill/Gargan Del Mar 4, $75k, 2yo, f, 1mT, 6:32 p.m. ET Schilflied (Mendelssohn), OBSAPR, 210,000, :9 4/5 C-Paul Sharp, agent; B-TCK USA Del Mar 7, $75k, 2yo, 5 1/2f, 8:02 p.m. ET Toppers At Seaside (Instagrand), OBSJUN, 40,000, :10 1/5 C-Skies Thoroughbreds, agent; B-R B Hess Jr The post Summer Breezes, Sponsored By OBS: August 17, 2024 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Isa Salman Al Khalifa-William Haggas axis, fresh from celebrating the victory of Economics (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) in Thursday's G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano, added lustre to that success as connections' Jewelry (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}–Simply A Star {Ire}, by Giant's Causeway) made an impressive debut in Friday's Tom Mitchell 70th Birthday Celebration British EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes at Newbury. The 280,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 graduate delivered a decisive closing burst to register a 2 1/2-length win from Toomuchforme (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) in the six-furlong test. Smart debut! Jewelry sparkles first time out at @NewburyRacing for @CierenFallonJr3 and @WilliamHaggas… pic.twitter.com/01TyEM67sQ — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) August 16, 2024 2nd-Newbury, £12,000, Nov, 8-16, 2yo, f, 6fT, 1:11.45, gd. JEWELRY (IRE) (f, 2, Wootton Bassett {GB}–Simply A Star {Ire} {MSP-Ire}, by Giant's Causeway) was positioned in a midfield sixth through the early fractions of a contest won in 2020 by multiple Group 1-winning distaffer Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never). Nudged along to close at halfway, the 14-1 chance was shaken up to hit the front passing the furlong pole and quickened clear in the closing stages to easily account for Toomuchforme (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) by an impressive 2 1/2 lengths. Jewelry is the sixth of eight foals and third scorer out of Listed Tipperary Stakes runner-up and Listed Curragh Stakes third Simply A Star (Ire) (Giant's Causeway), herself kin to five black-type performers headed by GI Belmont Oaks Invitational winner Athena (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and G1 Irish Oaks heroine Bracelet (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}). Simply A Star is also a granddaughter of storied blue hen Urban Sea (Miswaki). The January-foaled bay, full to a yearling filly, is a half-sister to G3 Weld Park Stakes runner-up A New Dawn (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) and a weanling filly by Camelot (GB). Sales history: 280,000gns Ylg '23 TATOCT. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $8,299. O-Isa Salman Al Khalifa; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-William Haggas. The post Wootton Bassett’s Book 1 Graduate Jewelry Impresses in Newbury Debut Win appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Stall Lintec consigned Thursday's Italian listed winner Lips Freedom (Ger) (Free Eagle {Ire}) to the BBAG August Online Sale, and Freddy Tylicki, acting with Andrew Kinirons Racing, snapped up the colt for €43,000 to top proceedings on Friday. Sold as lot 40, Lips Freedom has also placed at Group 3 level twice in Germany. A half-brother to G2 German 2000 Guineas and G1 Grosser Dallmayr-Preis Bayerisches Zuchtrennen hero Lucky Lion (GB) (High Chaparral {Ire}) and the stakes-placed Lips Eagle (Ger) (Gleneagles {Ire}), Lips Freedom is out of multiple stakes winner and two-time Group 3-placed Lips Arrow (Ger) (Big Shuffle). Backes (Ger) (Millowitsch {Ger}) (lot 7) brought a winning bid of €18,000 from Edmund Eitel, and the placed colt will remain with trainer Markus Klug. He is a full-brother to the G3 Schwarzgold-Rennen third Barbelchen (Ger), with the duo out of the Group 3 scorer Butzje (Ger) (It's Gino {Ger}). Rounding out the top three was Lotterbov (Ire) (Protectionist {Ger}) (lot 24), who cost Greg Wroblewski €16,500. The German listed winner is a half-brother to three stakes horses. Both horses were from the draft of Holger Renz. Overall, 24 horses sold for a gross of €187,000. The average was €7,792. The post Listed Winner Lips Freedom Tops BBAG August Online Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

George Waud's Englemere (Ire) (Goken {Fr}–Ascot Family {Ire}, by Desert Style {Ire}), who finished within eight lengths of the winner when 14th in Royal Ascot's G2 Queen Mary Stakes, ran second in a Sandown nursery last month and made the transition back to stakes company a winning one in Friday's Listed Highclere Thoroughbred Racing St Hugh's Stakes at Newbury. The 8-1 chance occupied a position at the tail of the larger far-side pack and remained in rear when the field's two groups merged soon after halfway. Making eyecatching progress into contention inside the quarter-mile marker, she launched her challenge passing the furlong pole and was driven out to deny the dual stakes-placed Kaadi (Ire) (Soldier's Call {GB}) and Listed Prix des Reves d'Or third Kuwaitya (Ire) (Soldier's Call {GB}) by a neck and a half-length for a career high in a bunch finish. Quick-fire double for @loughnane_billy and @gbougheyracing! Englemere keeps to the task well at @NewburyRacing… pic.twitter.com/DpaRnqL8dI — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) August 16, 2024 The post Goken’s Englemere Registers Black-Type Win in Newbury Highlight appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this Saturday running at Niigata Racecourse: Saturday, August 17, 2024 5th-NII, ¥13,720,000 ($92k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1200mT ECORO SIEG (c, 2, Twirling Candy–Lily Pod, by Bernstein), bred on a variant of the highly successful cross of Candy Ride (Arg) over Storm Cat, cost $95,000 at last year's Keeneland September Sale and was snapped up by trainer Hideyuki Mori for $250,000 after he breezed an eighth of a mile in :9 4/5 (see below) at this year's OBS March Sale. A half-brother to the stakes-placed She's Got a Way (Tonalist), Ecoro Sieg is out of a granddaughter of Snit (Fit to Fight), the dam of GIII Virginia Oaks winner Blind Date (Not For Love). Christophe Lemaire has the call. B-Caldara Farm Inc & William R Hilliard Jr (KY) 6th-NII, ¥13,720,000 ($92k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800m FLOWER DUET (JPN) (f, 2, American Pharoah–Elizabeth Way {Ire}, by Frankel {GB}) is out of a mare who placed twice from five stars for Godolphin and Mick Halford before changing hands for €58,000 at the 2019 Goffs November Sale. Trained in North America by Roger Attfield, Elizabeth Way won the GIII The Very One Stakes at Gulfstream Park and the GII Nassau Stakes at Woodbine before being retired at the end of 2020 and was bred to this sire the following season. Flower Duet's second dam Maids Causeway (Ire) (Giant's Causeway) won the 2005 G1 Coronation Stakes after finishing runner-up in that year's 1000 Guineas. B-Northern Farm The post American-Conceived American Pharoah Filly On Debut at Niigata appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this Saturday running at Niigata Racecourse: Saturday, August 17, 2024 5th-NII, ¥13,720,000 ($92k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1200mT ECORO SIEG (c, 2, Twirling Candy–Lily Pod, by Bernstein), bred on a variant of the highly successful cross of Candy Ride (Arg) over Storm Cat, cost $95,000 at last year's Keeneland September Sale and was snapped up by trainer Hideyuki Mori for $250,000 after he breezed an eighth of a mile in :9 4/5 (see below) at this year's OBS March Sale. A half-brother to the stakes-placed She's Got a Way (Tonalist), Ecoro Sieg is out of a granddaughter of Snit (Fit to Fight), the dam of GIII Virginia Oaks winner Blind Date (Not For Love). Christophe Lemaire has the call. B-Caldara Farm Inc & William R Hilliard Jr (KY) 6th-NII, ¥13,720,000 ($92k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800m FLOWER DUET (JPN) (f, 2, American Pharoah–Elizabeth Way {Ire}, by Frankel {GB}) is out of a mare who placed twice from five stars for Godolphin and Mick Halford before changing hands for €58,000 at the 2019 Goffs November Sale. Trained in North America by Roger Attfield, Elizabeth Way won the GIII The Very One Stakes at Gulfstream Park and the GII Nassau Stakes at Woodbine before being retired at the end of 2020 and was bred to this sire the following season. Flower Duet's second dam Maids Causeway (Ire) (Giant's Causeway) won the 2005 G1 Coronation Stakes after finishing runner-up in that year's 1000 Guineas. B-Northern Farm The post American-Conceived American Pharoah Filly On Debut at Niigata appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Irish Oaks runner-up Content (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) has been supplemented to the G1 Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks, bringing the field to 10 as of Friday. The Aidan O'Brien-trained filly joins stablemate and G2 Ribblesdale Stakes heroine Port Fairy (Ire) (Australia {GB}) in the 1 1/2-mile contest on Aug. 22. O'Brien is aiming for his fourth title in the York race in the last five years. Ralph Beckett-trained fillies have been enjoying a good season, and G1 Irish Oaks winner You Got To Me (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) will run in the Yorkshire Oaks for Valmont and Newsells Park Stud Bloodstock, but the participation of fellow Beckett runner and G1 Pretty Polly Stakes victress and G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes runner-up Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}) is not certain. The Juddmonte homebred is also entered in the G1 Juddmonte International Stakes at York one day prior. “A decision will be made over the weekend about Bluestocking's participation, where she goes,” Beckett said. “Obviously, she is in the [G1] Juddmonte International as well. So, we are going to have a discussion this weekend and make a final decision on that.” “It's nice when you can pinpoint a race from way out and train towards it,” said Alex Elliott, Valmont's racing adviser. “I think she is pleasing Ralph and the team very much and it looks a very warm contest. “It will be interesting to see where Ralph and Juddmonte go with Bluestocking, and Aidan O'Brien is going to run Content who we beat in Ireland. “I think we are going there in hopefully good shape and can hopefully be competitive. I think [a lot will depend] if we can get her to do it properly again and pace is important. We got that in Ireland and it would help us if we could get that again, but it is never guaranteed. However, I think the filly is exactly where we want her at this stage.” The race is not short of quality, as multiple Group 1 winner Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) has been entered by John and Thady Gosden. The Gosdens will also run multiple group winner Queen Of The Pride (GB) (Roaring Lion). Dermot Weld will saddle Aga Khan homebred Sumiha (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who won the G3 Munster Oaks at Cork in June. The post Yorkshire Oaks Field Takes Shape With Supplementation Of Content appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Yoshito Yahagi has made no secret of his love of shopping for yearlings in Deauville and the Japanese trainer got involved early as the Arqana August Sale got underway with the purchase of a daughter of Frankel (GB) from Haras des Capucines for €800,000. Offered as Lot 28, the filly out of Waldjagd (GB) (Observatory) is a half-sister to the Group 2 winner Waldbiene (Fr) (Intello (Ger}) and Listed winner Urwald (GB) (Le Havre {Ire}) and was bred by Ecurie Calarec. The yearling's two-year-old half-brother Misunderstood (Fr) (Hello Youmazin {Fr}) was the recent winner of the Prix de Crevecoeur on debut at Deauville. The further family also includes the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Waldgeist (GB) and G1 St Leger winner Masked Marvel (Ire). The post Yoshito Yahagi Strikes Early at Arqana for €800k Frankel Filly appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar. Sea Vista (c, 2, Street Sense–Sara Louise, by Malibu Moon) gained valuable racing experience in his unveiling, finishing second over a muddy, sealed track at Saratoga Aug. 3. The Godolphin homebred got the better of his Brad Cox-trained stablemate Immersive (f, 2, by Nyquist)–a smart debut winner earlier in the meet July 21–going four furlongs in :48 4/5 (40/118) at Churchill Downs July 27 and was one of three runners well-backed at odds of 3-1. Sea Vista broke in at the start and was quickly outsprinted while under a ride by Florent Geroux through an opening quarter in :22.12. Last of seven heading into the far turn, he began to find his footing around the bend. Hung out seven wide at the top of the stretch, he raced shoulder to shoulder with the slightly favored third-time starter I Got Game (Game Winner) and bumped repeatedly with that rival as they straightened for home. Sea Vista leveled off from there and came running down the lane to fall just 1 3/4 lengths short of the Todd Pletcher-trained first-time starter Uncaged (Curlin), who enjoyed the run of the race beneath leading rider Irad Ortiz, Jr. The final time for six furlongs was 1:10.55. Sea Vista earned an 80 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort. A stewards' inquiry into the turn focusing on Sea Vista and I Got Game resulted in no change to the order of finish. “I thought it was a positive race,” Cox said. “Honestly thought he'd break a little sharper and be maybe a touch more involved early. But he kinda found himself where he was and he did well to make up some ground with a little bit of a wide trip.” Cox continued, “I think he's a good colt. We would've never taken him up to Saratoga if we didn't think highly of him. We thought he was a horse that could win first time out. He ran very very well and obviously got a lot from it. He came out of it in good order. As of right now, we're looking toward running him back in the seven-eighths at the end of the month at Saratoga.” Sara Louise, who defeated the once-in-a-lifetime Rachel Alexandra in the 2008 GIII Pocahontas Stakes, is also the dam of 'TDN Rising Star' Nash | Sarah Andrew Carrying the colors of Eldon Farm, Sea Vista's dam Sara Louise defeated the once-in-a-lifetime Rachel Alexandra for trainer Dale Romans in the 2008 GIII Pocahontas Stakes at Churchill Downs. Purchased privately by Sheikh Mohammed's operation and turned over to Saeed bin Suroor after finishing second to the aforementioned Hall of Famer in the GII Golden Rod Stakes, Sara Louise added a pair of graded wins to her resume for the 'Boys in Blue' and also finished within a head of two-time champion Indian Blessing in the GII Gallant Bloom Handicap. Sara Louise–a half-sister to GSW Just Louise (Five Star Day), the dam of MGSW & GISP Forbidden Kingdom (American Pharoah)–has also produced the Cox-trained 'TDN Rising Star' and GII Pat Day Mile Stakes runner-up Nash (Medaglia d'Oro) and GSP Sara Street (Street Sense). Sea Vista is bred on the same Street Sense x A. P. Indy cross as GISWs Maxfield and Speaker's Corner, who were produced by Bernardini mares. “He's a young horse,” Cox concluded. “I think the best is yet to come.” The 'Second Chances' Honor Roll is headed by Horse of the Year Cody's Wish (Curlin), fellow two-time Breeders' Cup winner Golden Pal (Uncle Mo) and GISWs A Mo Reay (Uncle Mo), Honor A. P. (Honor Code), Locked (Gun Runner), Paradise Woods (Union Rags) and Speaker's Corner (Street Sense). UNCAGED, the 2YO son of @HillnDaleFarm stallion Curlin, breaks his maiden in the fifth race with @iradortiz up for trainer @PletcherRacing. pic.twitter.com/sLbgpmgZVK — NYRA () (@TheNYRA) August 3, 2024 The post Second Chances: ‘The Best is Yet to Come’ for Street Sense Colt at the Spa appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

DEAUVILLE, France — One man who has truly made his mark on Deauville's summer season is Nurlan Bizakov. First his unbeaten Lazzat (Fr) (Territories {Ire}) took the G1 ARC Prix Maurice de Gheest, continuing his relentless surge through to the top ranks. To round off that successful day, another homebred, Ramadan (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) won the G3 Prix Daphnis. Next came Charyn (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) – already a Group 1 winner at Royal Ascot this year – who strode to success in the following weekend's G1 Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jaques Le Marois. As we hit the third weekend of Group 1 action in Deauville, Bizakov will dominate Sunday's racing in a different manner as the sponsor of the entire Prix Morny card through his breeding operation Sumbe. “We've been lucky in France but I have been in this game for a long time and there have been plenty of bad days so I am just trying to enjoy the good days,” says Bizakov, who is currently sitting in third place in the owners' table in France, behind only Wertheimer et Frere and HH The Aga Khan. “France is good to me and I won my first Group 1 here with Belbek a couple of years ago, but now having three Groups 1 wins this year is unbelievable.” The Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère winner Belbek (Fr) (Showcasing {GB}) was among the first wave of horses bred by Bizakov in France as he broadened his interests there from his original base at Hesmonds Stud in England. That expansion has included the purchases of Haras de Montfort et Preaux, which is now home to the Sumbe roster of stallions which includes Belbek, and then Haras du Mezeray from Charles-Henri de Moussac. “We have tried to bring only very good racehorses to become stallions,” Bizakov says. “Mishriff is a world champion and Angel Bleu was champion two-year-old in France. We wanted to support the stallion game in France because after the days of Le Havre and Wootton Bassett there is a big gap. We want to stand stallions that will bring Irish, English and German mares to France. The [covering] numbers were good this year and now it's up to their progeny.” Eventually that roster is likely to feature Charyn, now four, and bought by Bizakov as a yearling from his breeders Guy and David O'Callaghan. “It's more likely that we won't go to America for the Breeders' Cup Mile so we have two options,” says Bizakov of Charyn's more immediate career concerns. “The Moulin in September is our main target now. It's another Group 1 and another opportunity to show his ability to French breeders, and then we hope to go to Ascot for the QEII. After that we will make a decision but it's more likely he will stay in training next year since he's improving. But we'll see how he is through his next two races and make a decision.” He adds, “I was very impressed by the reception given to Charyn by French breeders. Everyone is congratulating me and saying that they can't wait until he is in his box at Montfort. Whether that will be next year or not, we'll see. For the gelded Lazzat a stud career is not an option but international travel is now on the cards for the three-year-old whose race record now stretches to six straight wins. “Lazzat has been amazing this year,” says Bizakov. “Unfortunately he is a gelding but that means we can enjoy him racing. So far everything has been good and he hasn't missed a single dance. “Sending any horse to Australia isn't easy. He'll have to get through all the veterinary checks and if he is accepted he will go to the Golden Eagle [in early November]. That's Plan A and we'll try to get there but Plan B would be the Prix de la Foret.” He continues, “I'd like to send a few good horses to Australia. I have set up a company there and prize-money in Australia is unbelievable. I believe that horses at Listed level here can be competitive enough.” In the meantime, Bizakov and his family can look forward to welcoming their guests, many of them fellow breeders, to Deauville on Sunday for the nine races sponsored by Sumbe, including the two Group 1 features, the Prix Morny and Prix Jean Romanet. “When France Galop approached me last January and told me there was this opportunity I grabbed it,” he says. “It's a big day for French racing and for French breeding – everyone is here for the sale and it's a nice way for us to say thank you to France Galop for everything they have done, and to the breeders. I am very happy and proud to be sponsoring this day.” The post ‘It’s a Nice Way for Us to Say Thank You’: Bizakov Enjoying the Summer of Sumbe appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Darwin trainer Chris Nash is bound for the annual Katherine Turf Club meeting at the Jim Jackson Racecourse on Saturday with Son Of Bielski. (Photo: Caroline Camilleri/Darwin Photography Professionals) After missing an Alice Springs Cup start in April with Son Of Bielski, Darwin trainer Chris Nash is eyeing Saturday’s Katherine Cup with the eight-year-old gelding. Nash, who had 14 wins in last season’s Top End and Country premiership and had four wins during the recent Darwin Cup Carnival, has never won an Alice Springs or Katherine Cup. Nor the Darwin Cup, but Nash did win the 2021 Palmerston Sprint (1200m) with Mayameen. Son Of Bielski lines up in what has been rated by many good NT judges as the strongest ever Katherine Cup (1700m). An emergency for the Darwin Cup (2050m) on August 5, the gelding got a start and impressed when fifth behind Hadouken. That prompted Nash to head to Katherine with the former NZ, Victorian and SA galloper. Fifth in his Top End debut over 1100m (BM54) last September, the gelding won five straight from 1300-1600m from October-March as he stepped up in grade. Victory in the St Patrick’s Day Cup (1600m) sealed his Alice Springs Cup (2000m) ticket, but Son Of Bielski missed a start with a foot abscess. Success back at Fannie Bay in June over 1300m (BM76) was followed by two poor results during the Darwin Cup Carnival in July – 10th in the Chief Minister’s Cup (1600m) and seventh in the Buntine Handicap (2050m). “He’s been up for a long time, he’s runs have been pretty well spaced,” Nash said. “He’s not a terribly difficult horse to train, you just find your race and get him ready for it. “There’s two runs where he went off the boil that left you scratching your head. “I thought he might have been showing a few signs of training off, but he was very sound and well and healthy going into them. “He went on to the Cup and I don’t think he could have raced any better – he actually ran out of his skin.” Nash wasn’t sure how Son Of Bielski would handle Katherine’s sand track, he will also weigh up the gelding’s future following Saturday’s race. “There’s a lack of options for horses wanting longer distances in Darwin after Katherine, so within the next month or six weeks he’ll probably head south for a spell,” he said. Horse racing news View the full article

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Baron Edouard de Rothschild's four-time Group 1 winner Mqse De Sevigne (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}), who successfully defended her G1 Prix Rothschild title at Deauville last month, will return to the Normandy venue in an attempt to register back-to-back victories in Sunday's G1 Sumbe Prix Jean Romanet. She will encounter four rivals after all five overnight contenders stood their ground for the €250,000 10-furlong contest. Opposition includes 'TDN Rising Star' Left Sea (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who was supplemented at a cost of €18,000, and the enigmatic Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}), another four-time Group 1 winner who is winless in three outings this term. The line-up is completed by the Joseph O'Brien-trained duo American Sonja (GB) (Tasleet {GB}) and Maxux (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). The card's other Group 1 contest, the €350,000 G1 Sumbe Prix Morny, also saw all overnight nominees confirmed as runners and nine will head postward for the six-furlong highlight. Last week's G1 Phoenix Stakes runner-up Whistlejacket (Ire) (No Nay Never) will make a swift return to action and has drawn stall two. Rivals include Wathnan Racing's G2 Norfolk Stakes hero Shareholder (Not This Time) and Manton Thoroughbreds' G2 Coventry Stakes victor Rashabar (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), with both making their first start since basking in Royal Ascot glory. Other notable contenders include Mohamed Saeed Al Shahi's G3 Prix du Bois and G2 Prix Robert Papin winner Arabie (GB) (Dandy Man {GB}), G3 Prix de Cabourg victrix Daylight (Fr) (Earthlight {Ire}) and 'TDN Rising Star' and Cabourg runner-up Polyvega (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}). Shaikh Duaij Al Khalifa's G2 Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes runner-up Arabian Dusk (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) has been supplemented for a fee of €25,200 and the Simon and Ed Crisford trainee is one of five overseas challengers. Cuadra Mediterraneo's hitherto unbeaten Estepona (Fr) (Mehmas {Ire}) and Yeguada Centurion's Epson Blue Cen (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) complete the line-up. The post Deauville’s Sunday Group 1 Fields Finalised, Mqse De Sevigne and Whistlejacket Declared appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Helena Baby will line up at Arawa Park on Sunday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) John Bell came close to picking up a lucrative prize during the week at the Cambridge Synthetic, and he will now switch his focus over the fences on Sunday with rising jumping star Helena Baby. Spanish Lad represented the local horseman in the Richard Bright Memorial (1500m) on Wednesday after two comfortable victories on the surface in his last two appearances. Among a tidy line-up of seasoned gallopers, the son of Shocking held his own, flying late into second behind the well-performed Monza. Bell was pleased with the gelding having just his seventh start, with plenty to look forward to as the turf tracks begin to improve through the spring. “We got a bit trapped coming down the back behind a wall of horses and pushed wide, but he’s run home beautifully, and it was a nice field,” he said. “He’s proving that he’s got some ability and a stride or two over the line he was in front. “I’m looking forward to the better tracks through the spring and summer months because he’s proved that he can’t handle the wet tracks.” Further down the road at Rotorua, Bell’s quartet of representatives is headed by Helena Baby in the Team Wealleans Hurdle (3000m), having transitioned seamlessly into his jumping role after being a multiple-stakes winner on the flat. A pair of wins at Te Aroha in maiden and open company has set the son of Guillotine on a path towards the Great Northern Hurdle (4200m) in September, however, navigating a path to the feature is proving difficult for Bell. “He’s an athlete, but it’s been difficult with the changing of venues being available to set him for a race,” he said. “With the likes of him, Ata Rangi and Denzel, they’ve been racing on the flat to get them in some sort of shape for their mission on Sunday. “After Sunday, I’m not quite sure where we will go with Te Aroha being out, but they hopefully are fit enough to do well.” Ata Rangi commenced his career over fences with a creditable run in behind two classy types in Dictation and Semper Magico at Hastings, and lines up among the key hopes in the Seeka Limited Hurdle (3000m). “He’s a courageous horse, he’s never afraid of anything and he does from time to time attack his fences,” Bell said. “We don’t have any problems with our horses jumping, it’s just getting them to the fences correctly which they’ve been taught over a number of years. Hopefully that can come together on Sunday for him.” Stablemate Denzel will be on jumping debut in the other maiden event, the Rotorua & BOP Life Members Hurdle (3000m), with jockey Nick Downs a key figure in the development of the Redwood gelding. “He’s a stunning looking animal with a pedigree to stay, hopefully it won’t be too wet for him, but he jumps nicely,” Bell said. “We’ve put a lot of time and effort into him, Nick Downs and my team at home have done a tremendous job with these jobs and put a lot of time and effort into all of them. “Nick’s been a great help and he’s riding all four of ours.” With solid efforts over hurdles to his credit, Curious George will try his hand over the bigger fences in the K.T Myers Racing Stables Steeplechase (3500m), with the potential for a heavy track the only query. “Unfortunately, he didn’t handle the wet track and was pulled up at Te Rapa last time, so he’s over the steeples where they may just go that little bit slower,” Bell said. “He’s more of a firm track horse than the other three.” Horse racing news View the full article

Stratford trainer Tony Dravitzki. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Tony Dravitzki has only one nagging worry with Tobias ahead of Saturday’s feature contest at New Plymouth. The Stratford trainer has his son of Complacent in prime order for the ITM New Plymouth Interprovincial (1600m), in which he will chase his fourth consecutive victory. “He’s in really good form and ready to go again, the only concern I have is that even with the four-kilo claim, he is still going to have to carry 57kg,” Dravitzki said. Tobias will be ridden by Elle Sole who partnered the gelding to a last-start victory at Hastings and three runs back over Saturday’s course and distance. Fellow apprentice Ciel Butler successfully guided Tobias in between times, also over 1600m at New Plymouth. “The weight is fair enough, he has earned it but it is still going to make it hard, that’s for real,” Dravitzki said. “We’ve had this race in mind for him for a while and he had two weeks off after his last win and it’s going to be 49 days since he last raced. “That’s not a concern though, he goes well when he’s kept on the fresh side.” Tobias is relatively lightly raced for a seven-year-old as the winner of six of his 24 career appearances. “One year, he was only two races into a campaign when he had a truck accident which put him out for eight or nine months,” Dravitzki said. “That was more the trainer’s fault than the horse, he got cast in my truck after the races at Waverley one day. “He got his front legs and belly over the partition and we had to sedate him to roll him off the truck, it was the only way we could get him off. “He is a very tough horse though and always has been.” With recent racing, Tobias has become easier to work with and evidenced by his golden run of form this preparation. “He can be quite excitable until he’s out on the track. He has settled down quite a bit lately, but he was hard work until this campaign,” he said. “I’m hopeful rather than confident and only because of the weight issue. “He has been racing out of his class and getting in on the minimum and I’ve been claiming on him, but we haven’t had any hiccups since he last raced.” Dravitzki co-bred the gelding with his brother John and brother-in-law Ian McCaul and they race the gelding with friend Noel George. The family has been involved in the industry around the Taranaki region for many years. “We’re related to Sandy and Brendon Dravitzki and Dennis Dravitzki, Claire’s another trainer who has a few in Stratford,” he said. “We’ve all got the racing blood in us and Sandy’s daughter Miranda was a jockey and rode a winner for me very early on in my training career.” Horse racing news View the full article