Wandering Eyes

A month after his barnstorming stakes victory at Ellerslie, smart juvenile Do You Just (NZ) (So You Think) has been sold and will continue his racing career in Hong Kong. The son of So You Think showed promise through his two-year-old season, but it wasn’t until the Listed Champagne Stakes (1600m) in mid-May that he showed his true colours, leading up and spacing his rivals by 6-½ lengths. That performance came as little surprise for co-trainer Lance O’Sullivan, who shared in the ownership of Do You Just with Waikato Stud, his daughter Caitlin O’Sullivan Doyle, and her husband Tom Doyle. “The only surprise about his stakes win was that he hadn’t produced that kind of performance before then,” O’Sullivan said. “We certainly thought he was up to it. “As we went, we found out a bit about him, and the reason why he hadn’t been was because he’d never raced right-handed before that. He trialled particularly well right-handed, and the first start he had right-handed, he did that.” When purchased for $250,000 out of Carlaw Park’s draft at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sales, connections had hoped Do You Just would race on as a colt, but after being gelded, selling him became an inevitability. “He was purchased as a colt, but once he had to be gelded, he was no real value to Waikato Stud, as they would generally race fillies or colts,” O’Sullivan said. “I also raced 20 percent of the horse myself. “When we sell a horse out of the stable, the one thing we hope is that they turn out really well, so the owners will come back in the future. “It is the way racing is, some people choose to keep them, but this horse was purchased for $250,000 at the sales, and he paid his way and sold for a profit. “Hopefully, we can repeat the same sort of exercise in the future and the horse can remain a colt, but he just wasn’t going to make a racehorse as a colt. “We hope he can go up to Hong Kong and turn into a top horse for his new connections.” View the full article

Lisa Latta will hold a strong hand in Friday’s two-year-old feature at Otaki, with Platinum Diamond (NZ) (Hello Youmzain) tipped as her top seed. The Awapuni trainer will have able back-up in the Listed John Turkington Forestry Castletown Stakes (1200m) with Brutiful Lass and Platinum Pantheon also in contention. Platinum Diamond has earned top billing from the stable after the highly encouraging start the daughter of Hello Youmzain has made to her career. The filly made late ground to run fourth at her Hawera debut in early May and then produced an irresistible finish from the back of the field at Wanganui to defeat Country Salon, again a race rival. “I’d have to go with the last-start winner, she was really good and ran home well and has gone in the right direction since,” Latta said. She is unsure of Platinum Diamond’s future after the Castletown and whether she would be in the running for the upcoming Listed Courtesy Ford Ryder Stakes (1200m). “We’ll just get through this run first and then make up our minds,” Latta said. “It will be her third start and she’ll need a break at some stage, she was a late foal and she looks a nice three-year-old prospect.” Brutiful Lass finished runner-up on debut at Tauherenikau earlier this year and returned from a break to run third at Hawera before the Brutal filly ran out of luck behind Platinum Diamond. “I’m really happy with her and she didn’t have all favours at Wanganui where a gap got quite tight on her,” Latta said. “She certainly isn’t the worst for a maidener as it doesn’t look an overly strong field.” The third member of the trio is Hanseatic’s son Platinum Pantheon, who made two appearances during the summer for a first-up fourth at Tauherenikau and then unplaced at Wanganui. “He had a jump-out at Levin and went really well, he ran second and just got beaten,” Latta said. “He looks well and it’s just whether he handles the track, being an Australian-bred horse.” Latta has several other runners on Friday and also liked the chances of Benefactor in the Cavallo Farms & Chris Rutten Bloodstock Handicap (1600m) and Good Craic in the Vets on Riverbank Maiden (1200m). “Benefactor was good at Wanganui last Saturday and will be backing up and Good Craic has been knocking on the door,” she said. Contributer mare Benefactor was a last-start third in open handicap company while Per Incanto four-year-old Good Craic has posted four runner-up finishes from her last five outings. View the full article

Custom-made packages are now available for those wanting to follow the World Driving Championship (WDC25) around New Zealand this November. This will be the first time New Zealand has hosted the prestigious event on its own. Ten drivers from around the world, including our own Blair Orange, will compete at the following venues: • Kaikoura – November 2 & 3 • Cambridge – November 5 • Addington – November 7 • Winton – November 9 • IRT New Zealand Cup Day at Addington – Tuesday, November 11 There has already been strong interest in the Championship, both locally and internationally. Harness Racing New Zealand, in conjunction with travel agents Holland Clarke & Beaton, are offering fully organised tours, covering part or all of the Championship. Packages will be tailor-made to individual requirements. You can attend as many race meetings as you like, and we can organise as much of the travel and logistics — including flights, transfers, and accommodation — as required. Prices will vary depending on the package. Those taking part will also enjoy exclusive access to the WDC area on race days, as well as entry to official functions and events. The offer is open to both New Zealanders and international visitors. We encourage everyone interested in following the Championship to express their interest as soon as possible, as places are limited. All enquiries should be directed to wdc25@hrnz.co.nz For more information on the Championship, visit wdc25.nz View the full article

Bet N Win settles into Aussie Multiple Group 1 winner Bet N Win will race in Sydney this Saturday night, ahead of his Inter Dominion campaign in Queensland. The Rowe Cup winner was on a flight from New Zealand, along with Pinseeker and Betterthancash, earlier in the week. The two pacers will front up in race 1 at Menangle at 7.17 pm on Saturday while Bet N Win will contest the Ainsworth – AGTSlots.com Trotters Mobile at 10.36pm. Bet N Win is currently a $5 fourth favourite for the Inter Dominion Trotting Final at Albion Park on July 19, behind Oscar Bonavena ($3), Arcee Phoenix ($4.50), and Callmethebreeze ($4.50). Vale Murray Matthews Harness Racing New Zealand would like to send its condolences to the family of Murray Matthews, who died earlier this week. A trainer, owner and breeder Matthews was 74. He owned or co-owned more than 20 horses over the years – many of them had football-related names including Bergkamp (2 wins), Van Nistelrooy, Arjen Robben and Rykaard. Another of them Japie Stam was his last winner as a trainer in 2006. His first was Esprit Turbo in Auckland in 1997. He trained 10 winners overall. He also raced Gladys Greenland, who had two wins from Jeremy Young’s northern stables before being transferred to Steven Reid in Rangiora. A celebration of Murray Matthews’ life will be held on July 12. Fletcher hits 50 When Paris Prince won at Addington on Friday the 13th it marked a special milestone for veteran trainer Fred Fletcher. It was his 50th success with the progeny of Royal Aspirations, a horse he trained in 17 of his 18 career victories (the other one was with Sam Smolenski). Paris Prince has been in regal form of late winning four of his last seven starts and 10 overall from 61 starts. Royal Aspirations’ stock have had 85 wins in total, with Fletcher also having wins with the likes of Royal Del (13 wins), Sunny Louis (8) and Royal Pride (6). Royal Aspirations stands at Phoebe Stud with a $2500 service fee. Telfers extend lead Team Telfer has now shot out to a six win lead in the trainers’ premiership. Steve and Amanda Telfer and Stonewall Stud have now produced 78 wins in 2025, to be six ahead of Michael House, the newly-crowned New Zealand Amateur Drivers Championship winner. The Telfers have had 14 winners in June including Captains Secret who landed a $40,000 win bet at Alexandra Park last Friday. Blair Orange is the country’s leading driver with 90 wins, with the Telfers’ top southern driver Tim Williams second on 59. Wilson House, with 57 wins, is 17 wins ahead in the junior drivers championship with Crystal Hackett and Harrison Orange second equal on 40 wins. Star mare wins again The brilliant Twin B Joe Fresh has won her second straight Roses Are Red feature for the mares at Woodbine Mohawk Park in Canada, winning in 1:48.8 by more than three lengths. The star mare has strong Kiwi connections through trainer Chris Ryder and driver Dexter Dunn, who are also co-owners. She has now won 32 races and earned close to $US3m. Also on the programme Louprint produced a stakes and track record of 1:47.2 to win the 42nd edition of the $1m North American Cup. The race for the three-year-old pacers produced a stirring finish with Dunn fourth with Captain Optimsitic. It was Louprint’s 12th win in 15 starts. Six finalists in Industry Excellence Awards Harness Racing will be represented by six finalists at the 2025 Entain Industry Excellence Awards in Auckland later this month. They are Samantha Ottley and Crystal Hackett (National Racing Woman), Zachary Butcher (Equine Licence Holder Excellence), Nathan Purdon (Leadership Excellence), David Branch (Administration and Innovation Excellence) and Shannon Armour (Care and Welfare Excellence). The awards are open to anyone under 40 and the winner of each category – and the supreme Entain Excellence Award winner – will be announced at an awards night at Tote On Ascot at Ellerslie Racecourse on Sunday, June 29. Category winners will receive $10,000 with finalists in each category receiving $2,000. The overall supreme winner receives an extra $5,000 and a $5,000 educational package. Flights and accommodation are supplied for each of the category finalists. Countdown to weanling sale The NZB Standardbred Weanling Sale is just over a week away. Held in conjunction with the National Thoroughbred sale for the first time, the standardbred sale which includes three yearlings will start on June 26 at Karaka at 2.30 pm. Around 90 standardbreds will go under the hammer. A total of 19 horses will be Next Gen eligible. To see the catalogue click here Auction closes tonight The latest gavelhouse.com standardbred auction closes from 7pm tonight (Wednesday) Among the 10 lots is Bad Habits who has won three races from 17 starts for trainer Regan Todd. The Lazarus four-year-old is, according to his advertisement, “due for a change of scenery and is ready to go straight away for new owners”. At last look he had met his reserve, with bidding at $7,000. Kiwi Harness Heavyweights at Royal Ascot Legendary trainer Barry Purdon and prominent owner Richard Cole (IRT) have been spotted trackside at Royal Ascot this week. Great to see New Zealand harness racing faces enjoying one of the world’s most iconic racing events. View the full article

Docklands handed Harry Eustace his first Group One success and star three-year-old Field Of Gold lit up the turf on a bumper day one of Royal Ascot on Tuesday. Eustace celebrated the biggest moment of his career with his brother David, who has made a strong impression in his first season as a handler in Hong Kong, after Docklands prevailed in a thrilling finish to the Group One Queen Anne Stakes (1,600m). Starting a $14 chance, Docklands settled in the back half of the field. Despite Australian...View the full article

Aptly-named homebred Country Salon will be out to continue Gavin Sharrock’s golden run with his juveniles this season when he tackles Friday’s Listed John Turkington Forestry Castletown Stakes (1200m) at Otaki. The two-year-old son of Darci Brahma holds great sentimental value to Sharrock, with the Taranaki horseman naming Country Salon and his dam after his daughter. “My daughter and I raced (his dam) Uniquebotique together,” Sharrock said. “She has got a little hair salon on her farm called Unique Boutique and that’s how that mare got her name. She is out in the country, so I called him Country Salon.” Country Salon has had three starts to date, running fifth on debut before winning at Trentham over 1200m on a Heavy10 track last month and was runner-up last start at Wanganui over the same distance. Sharrock has been pleased with the progression of his gelding and believes he is capable of adding a maiden stakes victory to his record on Friday. “I am really rapt with him,” Sharrock said. “We should have run first and second last start, but my other horse (Spandeedo) carted him off the corner. “He has drawn reasonable (4). It is a winnable race, it is not that strong of a field.” A spell beckons Country Salon after Friday’s assignment, with Sharrock already setting his sights on further black-type targets next season. “After Saturday he will probably go for a break and then I will get him ready for the Wanganui Guineas (Listed, 1200m).” He will likely be met in the Wanganui feature by stablemate Daylight Robbery, who has just returned to Sharrock’s barn from a spell after a pleasing juvenile campaign that netted a win and two placings from five starts, and he earned himself a place in the $1 million Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) before running fourth in the Gr.3 Matamata Slipper (1200m). Sharrock said there is very little between the pair, and meeting in the Wanganui Guineas may reveal the better horse. “Daylight Robbery came in on the 8th of May, he had two months off, and he will be getting ready for the Wanganui Guineas as well,” Sharrock said. “If he goes well there, we might head to Christchurch with him (for the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas, 1600m). “I would rate Daylight Robbery in the top seven two-year-olds in the country at the moment. I haven’t tested Country Salon yet. He has won really well on a $40,000 Saturday against winners, he is a very smart galloper and he is nicely put together. “Until they meet, I don’t know which one is the better of the two.” Sharrock also has plenty of time for fellow juvenile Spandeedo, who has won one and placed in two of his three starts to date, with a tilt at next month’s Listed Ryder Stakes (1200m) at Otaki in the balance. “Spandeedo will go to Hawera on the 12th (of July), and he might have a go at the Ryder if he happened to win there,” Sharrock said. Back at Otaki on Friday, Sharrock will also line-up three-year-old gelding Vibration in the Foxton New World Handicap (1200m). “He has his little quirks but is a very capable horse,” Sharrock said. “On his last start I would expect him to go a really good race.” Meanwhile, Sharrock was pleased to see Soldier Boy back to winning form at Te Rapa last Saturday, and said stakes targets are now in the crosshairs for the five-win gelding. “The old fella has been good to me,” Sharrock said. “A lot of people don’t realise, but I lost a lot of time with him last year. He had a really bad knock to his fetlock and he had puss coming out of the joint, and I was battling it the whole time. He was still running places, but he was never 100 percent. He went out for a good break and he has come back really good this time. “He is having a freshen-up this week and he will more than likely have a tilt at the Opunake Cup (Listed, 1400m) and if he happened to go well there, we might take him down to Christchurch for the Winter Cup (Gr.3, 1600m).” View the full article

The 29-day Santa Anita Hollywood Meet wrapped up Sunday with Antonio Fresu winning the jockey's title, Phil D'Amato as top trainer and Nick Alexander as leading owner. For Fresu, this was his first jockey's title at Santa Anita. The 33-year-old native of Italy has been riding in the U.S., specifically the Southern California circuit, since April 2023. Fresu ended the Hollywood Meet with 34 wins from 152 mounts (22%) to finish four wins clear of runner-up Juan Hernandez. Fresu also had five stakes wins to lead all jockeys. At last year's Hollywood Meet, Fresu came up just one win short of Hernandez in the race for leading jockey. Fresu's stakes wins came with Seismic Beauty in the GII Santa Margarita for trainer Bob Baffert, Richi in the GII Santa Maria for Baffert, Motorious in the GIII Daytona for D'Amato, Public Assembly in the GIII Royal Heroine for D'Amato and Freedom's Not Free in the Cinema Stakes for trainer Mark Glatt. Fresu also led all jockeys with $1,794,786 in purse earnings. For D'Amato, this was his seventh trainer's title at Santa Anita. He won 27 races from 113 starters (24%) to finish seven wins clear of runner-up John Sadler. D'Amato also led all trainers with $1,573,678 in purse earnings and tied Baffert for most stakes wins with five. D'Amato's top assistants are Rudy Cruz and Euriel Mejia. The barn's five stakes wins came with King of Gosford in the GI Shoemaker Mile, Motorious in the GIII Daytona, Public Assembly in the GIII Royal Heroine, Jungle Peace in the GIII Senorita and Super Shine in the Desert Stormer. Alexander has been one of California's leading owners and breeders for decades. His runners at the Hollywood Meet won 11 races from 25 starts, a 44% success rate. The post Fresu Wins Santa Anita Jockey’s Title at Hollywood Meet; D’Amato Tops Trainers, Alexander Leads Owners appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In the span of seven months nearly a decade ago, Maria Borell went from the ecstasy of training a Breeders' Cup winner with just her 30th lifetime starter to making national headlines for being a no-show in the face of animal cruelty charges after authorities rescued 43 neglected and undernourished horses from dire stabling conditions at a Kentucky farm leased by her father. On Tuesday, Borell was stymied in her attempt to regain a Thoroughbred training license in her home state. Borell, now 42, had been hopeful she would be able to regain her licensure. In July 2023, her charges from 2016 all got dismissed in Mercer County District Court, and in September 2024, Borell was licensed as a trainer in California. But on June 17, 2025, after hearing testimony from Borell while her attorney, Karen Murphy, watched via videoconference, the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation (KHRGC)'s license review committee went into closed session to debate the matter. When the committee reconvened in open session, its chairman, Greg Harbut, informed Borell that if she didn't choose to withdraw her license request, the committee's vote would “almost certainly result in denial of this application.” Murphy, who has ample experience handling licensure hearings for trainers, immediately withdrew the application on Borell's behalf. The attorney was aware that a denial on her record might jeopardize Borell's ability to continue training in other states and would likely cause bureaucratic difficulties for a future pursuit of licensure in Kentucky. “Maria is heartbroken,” Murphy told TDN in a phone interview after Tuesday's hearing. “We withdrew [the application], which means we do not have to face the rabbit hole of a denial, where we'd have to go through all sorts of appeals and exhaustion of administrative remedy, and focus on what it is that we're missing, because I don't know what we're missing. “It's very disappointing for reasons that are both human and legal. On the legal side-and I kind of wanted to speak on it [at the hearing], but I wasn't allowed to-Maria spent a substantial amount of time to achieve what she achieved, which was a dismissal with prejudice of all the charges, and an expungement from the record. “An expungement means that the court has treated the matter as if it never happened, and it has directed the court, if anybody was to ask, to not reveal anything about the matter. And the individual, who the charges were brought against, is also notified that they don't have to reveal [the expunged charges]. That is a legal principle that is applied everywhere in the United States of America, and it [doesn't exclude] racing.” Murphy continued: “She's passed the trainer's test. She has a license in California. She's able to participate there. So there's ample precedent. For Kentucky not to take the same principled position-there is no legal impediment to her licensure-there's something else that's going on. And I don't know what it is, other than the fact that we all know what happened, but the court and the law has said to Kentucky the point of expungement is to relieve a person of a perpetual black mark once the court has decided there's no merit to the case. “That's what the court decided, and [the license review committee] was provided with those documents. So that's a very challenging situation to be in, and we'll meet the challenge. But we're extremely disappointed in the fact that they failed to meet their obligation to respect the law,” Murphy said. Murphy told TDN to expect that Borell would be back before the KHRGC's license review committee at a future date. Chronology of the Case… At this time 10 years ago, Borell had never trained a Thoroughbred winner from 22 lifetime starts. Then she took over as the conditioner of Runhappy, who blossomed into a graded stakes-winning sprinter and eventual Eclipse Award-winning champion. But 24 hours after Runhappy won the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint on Oct. 31, 2015, Borell was fired, and she sued client Gallery Racing Stables, LLC, (owners James and Linda McIngvale) for breach of contract and defamation. Over the winter of 2015-16, Borell relocated to Florida, but a training stint with Drawing Away Stable was also short-lived, ending in a May 2016 dismissal from that job. In May 2016, an investigative article titled “The Shocking Untold Story of Maria Borell” was published on (but has since been removed from) the website US Racing. It alleged that Borell had been involved in a series of incidents involving questionable equine care, damage to and neglect of properties she has leased, and personal financial difficulties. After reading that article and a follow-up that specifically referenced alleged neglect at a farm near Harrodsburg leased by Charles “Chuck” Borell, the Mercer County Sheriff began investigating. When the sheriff's investigators found underfed, underwatered, and confined horses with open sores, untrimmed feet, and no one seemingly present to care for them, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDOA) stepped in to rehome the horses and provide them with veterinary care. Deeming that the horses there had been abandoned by Chuck and Maria Borell, Class A misdemeanor charges and arrest warrants were issued for the father-and-daughter tandem. Chuck Borell was arrested on July 29, 2016, while Maria Borell remained at large. Chuck Borell entered an “Alford plea” (a plea of guilty without making an admission of guilt) in Mercer County District Court on Sept. 29, 2016, that spared him from going to jail. He was to serve two years of probation in return for relinquishing any ownership interest he had in the 43 horses that had since been moved to 14 different farms. Maria Borell was technically considered a fugitive from justice. But KDOA officials told TDN back in 2016 that the department did not have the resources to extradite her if she was apprehended out of state. From 2022 to today… After six years, in June 2022, Maria Borell turned herself in to Kentucky authorities. In an effort to address the charges and clear her name, she initially pleaded not guilty. Prior to the case going to trial, a different attorney for Maria Borell negotiated a plea deal in July 2023 that centered on the contention that the charges against her would be difficult to prove given that the affected horses were not under her immediate care at the time. Maria Borell ended up paying her $7,500 bail bond (plus an additional $2,500 that had been held in escrow) to Thoroughbred Charities of America, which had laid out as much as $13,000 toward caring for the horses. Separately, Murphy said she recently negotiated a settlement for Maria Borell's outstanding debt with Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital, a deal that is predicated on her client obtaining a license to train horses and being able to bring in income to pay the money. At her June 17, 2025, KHRGC license review hearing, Maria Borell gave her side of the story about what happened during the time she was out of public view with animal cruelty charges pending. “I know it's been a long time since I've been licensed to train here, and it's been a long road, and I learned a lot of lessons in the past nine years,” Maria Borell said. “Obviously, you know, what happened with my dad's farm was not my fault, but I did not handle it properly. I wish I came back and helped,” Maria Borell said. “I've had a lot of time to think, and know how to do things right the second time around, you know. I have continued to work with horses the whole time. I have my own personal horses. I am a vet assistant, at times, in busy seasons for my horse vet. And I'd really like another chance,” Maria Borell said. “I consider Kentucky home, and I'd love the opportunity to be back here and prove myself and not screw up this time in any way, shape or form,” Maria Borell said. Maria Borell said that she did, at one time, have control over the Harrodsburg farm leased by her father. But in the aftermath of her firing by the owners of Runhappy, she had jumped at a chance to make a fresh start by training in Florida. “I let my ego get the best of me, and I said, 'Well, screw this. I'm going to move. I can do this again. I don't need Runhappy.' And I turned everything [at the farm] over to my dad and I moved to Florida,” Maria Borell said. “And then seven months later, my dad had a new farm out in Clark County, and everything had gone horrible,” Maria Borell said. “At the time, I was suing Mr. McIngvale for my winnings at the Breeders' Cup and other races, and my attorney at the time told me, 'Don't come back [to Kentucky]. It's going to make you look bad. You're not responsible for that farm. You won't have any chance to win this money. Don't come back,'” Maria Borell said. “And that was my biggest mistake. It made me look guilty. I should have helped. I should have stepped up. And that is my biggest regret of all, is not coming back to help when it was clearly needed,” Maria Borell said. Maria Borell said that in California, “They licensed me immediately, no stipulations.” But last autumn, she explained, she had to go through a separate hearing with management at Santa Anita Park, which had denied her access to the track. Santa Anita management eventually granted her access, and she was assigned stalls at Los Alamitos Race Course. But by that time, the owner who had promised to send her horses to train came down with health issues, and eventually decided to keep his stock in Kentucky. Because of that, Maria Borell still hasn't officially saddled a horse in a race since May 11, 2016, at Gulfstream Park. Maria Borell said at Tuesday's hearing that she believes she has support from the Thoroughbred community to be allowed to train again. She specifically referenced trainer Kenny McPeek phoning a KHRGC license review committee member to vouch for her, and also mentioned a support letter submitted with her application from trainer Gary Contessa. “As far as people actually at the track, in the industry, I do seem to have actual support, honestly,” Maria Borell said. “And I would love a second chance. I won't let you guys down. I swear, I will not screw up a second chance,” Maria Borell said. But on Tuesday, committee members did not allow Maria Borell that opportunity. Besides Harbut, the other KHRGC license review committee members who discussed her application in closed session were Paul Brooker, Michael Dudgeon, Jamie Eads and George Haydon. The post Trainer Maria Borell Withdraws Kentucky Application appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The first of three daytime Thoroughbred meets this year at Los Alamitos will begin Friday, June 20, for a nine-day Los Angeles County Fair season continuing through Sunday, July 6.View the full article

OCALA, FL – The Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's June 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale, condensed to two days this year, opened with a day of steady trade Tuesday in Central Florida. A colt by Yaupon, consigned by Julie Davies, brought the session's top price when selling for $300,000 to trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. The session topper was one of six to sell for $200,000 or more on the day, matching the figure from the opening day of last year's three-day auction. “Good solid day,” said OBS Director of Sales Tod Wojciechowski. “It felt like horses were moving and changing hands and there was good depth of buyers. Given the strength of the market coming in, we were hopeful and we're looking forward to tomorrow.” During Tuesday's session, 221 horses grossed $9,718,500 for an average of $43,975 and a median of $26,000. From 430 catalogued head, 298 horses were offered with 76 failing to meet their reserves for a buy-back rate of 25.5%. At last year's opening session, 212 head sold for $8,004,000 for an average of $37,755 and a median of $20,000. The cumulative sale average in 2024 was $36,379 and the median was $20,000. The OBS June sale concludes with a final session Wednesday beginning at 10 a.m. Yaupon Colt Takes Early Lead at June Sale Trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. signed the ticket at a session-topping $300,000 to acquire a colt by Yaupon (hip 104) during Tuesday's first session of the OBS June sale Tuesday. “I bought him for myself,” Joseph said. “If I like them, I buy them and then I worry about selling them afterwards.” The juvenile, consigned by Julie Davies, had worked a furlong in :9 4/5 at the OBS March sale, but had to be withdrawn from that auction with a P1 chip. He came back to work a matching :9 4/5 during last week's under-tack preview. “I saw him in March,” Joseph said. “He worked fast in March and he came back and duplicated it. For me, if he could duplicate that time, that means he is pretty legit. He's a good-looking horse out of an Into Mischief horse, so we hope for the best.” The juvenile, who was purchased by Davies, her boyfriend Chalino, and Tami Bobo for $85,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale, is out of After the Party (Into Mischief). The mare is a daughter of stakes winner Defy Gravity (Bandini), who is a half-sister to Grade I winner Callback. “That is pricey for the June sale,” Joseph admitted of the colt's price tag. “Normally, it's a sale to get bargains. But there were plenty of people on him and we are happy to get him.” Redirected Gun Runner Colt Rewards Roberts Veteran horseman Rusty Roberts had high hopes when he brought a colt by Gun Runner (hip 399) to the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sale last month, but the auction's weather-plagued under-tack preview meant the juvenile could only gallop over the Timonium track and he subsequently RNA'd for $195,000. The colt was then supplemented to the OBS June sale where he worked a furlong in :10 flat last week and sold Tuesday for $220,000 to Salli Foushee. “We had a really nice Blame filly [in the Midlantic sale] who breezed the first day and sold extremely well for us,” Roberts said Tuesday in Ocala. “And then we thought [hip 399] was one of our best horses in the sale, but the racetrack didn't play to our favor. We decided to bring him down here and it worked out very well for us.” Roberts had purchased the colt, out of graded winner Volcat (After Market), for $140,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton October sale. The juvenile was consigned by Clovis Crane in Maryland and by Top Line Sales Tuesday. Asked if the gallop-versus-breeze made a difference in the sales result, Roberts said, “Absolutely. This horse has so much talent, he just needed a place to display it. That's all we were looking for. A place for him to display his natural talent.” Roberts agreed the colt's $220,000 price tag was just the sort of result he had been hoping for last month. “That's exactly what we were looking for in Maryland,” he said. “We would have liked to do it down there, but circumstances didn't work out in our favor. So we brought him here and he displayed himself and he had beautiful gallop out. He presented himself well, he vetted perfect. He stayed sound. Clovis did an exceptional job getting him ready.” Now several weeks removed from the Midlantic show's session of untimed gallops, Roberts was asked to assess the importance of the under-tack previews. “I am very glad that my Blame filly (hip 64) worked when she did,” Roberts said. “Because I don't think we would have sold her for $350,000 had we not gotten to display her natural talent, with her beautiful stride and her long gallop out. I think it's imperative that a horse does get to display that. That's what we do when we prepare horses for 2-year-olds in training sales. We condition those horses and we prepare them to display their talent–or lack of talent. And so when we have a horse with talent, we get rewarded for it. I think it's essential that we continue be able to do that.” Other supplements to the June sale who RNA'd at the Midlantic sale included a colt by Twirling Candy (hip 410) consigned by Tom McCrocklin who sold for $250,000 to Case Clay Thoroughbred Management after working a quarter-mile in :20 4/5 last week. The juvenile had RNA'd for $145,000 after working a furlong in :10 4/5 over a sloppy sealed surface in Timonium last month. A colt by Charlatan (hip 421), consigned by Wavertree Stables, sold for $240,000 to JPM Bloodstock after working a furlong in :10 flat last week. The dark bay had RNA'd for $190,000 after a :10 3/5 work in Timonium. 'The Right Moment': Tiz The Law Colt Goes Swoosh For Navas Asked how he was able to acquire a colt by Tiz the Law (hip 174) for just $4,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton October sale, consignor Jonathan Navas said it was “the right time, the right moment.” The colt returned dividends for the partners Tuesday in Ocala when selling for $160,000 to D J Stable. Hip 174 is out of Blake's Magic (Bernstein), a half-sister to Canadian champion Mobil (Langfuhr). He worked a furlong at last week's under-tack preview in :10 flat. Hip 174, a colt by Tiz the Law , goes to D J Stable | OBS “He's always been a very calm, very classy horse,” Navas said. “That's one of the things that got into my mind when I first saw him. He's always been good, always moving forward. A very calm horse and a nice horse to be around.” Of Tuesday's result, Navas said, “You never know. Sometimes you spend more money and you don't make enough money. Some of them make money and some of them don't. We are just very blessed. “I am happy that good people and good horseman have this horse, so he's going to have the best chance to shine.” Navas, a former jockey in Venezuela, has been consigning under the Navas Equine banner since 2020. At the 2023 OBS April sale, the consignment sold a colt by Justify for $400,000. He had been purchased the previous September at Keeneland for $50,000. “My partner and owner [on the colt] is Georgie Gonzalez from Puerto Rico,” Navas said. “We do about 20 [pinhooks] total. We are having a good season. It takes a lot of work, a lot of effort, but we are doing what we like. We just care about the horses so much.” The post ‘Good Solid Day’: $300,000 Colt by Yaupon Tops OBS June Opener appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A dispute that had threatened the upcoming meet at the Fair Grounds has been resolved, which means the meet will be held as scheduled, from Nov. 22 to Mar. 23. Churchill Downs Inc., which owns the Fair Grounds, was threatening to close the track after the Louisiana Supreme Court ruled in March that the statute that legalized Historical Horse Racing Machines at the OTBs run by Fair Grounds was not legal and that the machines could not continue to operate without voter approval. CDI officials previously said that shutting down the HHR machines would mean the elimination of 46% of its off-track betting parlor revenue. CDI also said it would also be hurt by state laws this year expanding poker machines at truck stops and bars. Citing those problems, CDI threatened to surrender its racing license. An agreement between horsemen and CDI was reached on Monday that will allow the meet to proceed. However, it was not immediately clear as to what ended the impasse. The Blood-Horse was first with the story. “We are pleased to have reached an agreement with the horsemen to continue racing at Fair Grounds Race Course following productive conversations with Governor Landry and Senator Henry,” said CDI spokesperson Tonya Abeln. “We remain committed to collaboration with stakeholders in pursuit of positive outcomes for the horse racing industry in Louisiana and look forward to continuing to move forward–our focus is firmly on the future.” Abeln acknowledged that progress was made after “productive conversations” with Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry and Louisiana Senate President Cameron Henry. “I understand they worked everything out in a meeting yesterday,” said owner-breeder Michelle Rodriguez, who is on the Board on the Louisiana HBPA. “I have been told that they have agreed to start the meet in late November and then end it March, which is similar to what we had this year. The dates will be discussed at an emergency meeting of the Racing Commission. They came to the table. One of the representatives from Churchill Downs was at Evangeline Downs the other night and that's how I found out about the meeting. It's not set in stone yet, but we feel now that since the impasse has been broken we should be in good shape. All is good. We are all very happy.” The agreement will not be official until after all sides come together for a June 24 emergency meeting of the Louisiana Racing Commission. However, it appears to be a formality as all sides appear to now be on the same page. One factor that may have caused CDI to strike a more conciliatory tone was action taken last week by the New Orleans City Council and state lawmakers to ensure that the property could not be developed for other uses. The City Council created an interim zoning district to ensure the property remains a racetrack. Meanwhile, state lawmakers passed legislation to designate the Fair Grounds as a historic site, requiring legislative approval for major changes such as pulling the plug on horse racing. Benard Chatters, the president of the Louisiana HBPA told the Blood-Horse “We're gonna take a slight decrease in purses, but we'll be creative to try to make some things happen … I think we'll be running for close to the same thing we ran for last year.” The post Agreement Reached, Fair Grounds Will Hold 2025-26 Meet appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The move came as a surprise to some as President Donald Trump had said that immigrants who worked in hospitality and agriculture had nothing to fear when it came to his administration's plans to crack down on illegal immigrants.View the full article

Field of Gold left a pair of classic winners, Night of Thunder and Ruling Court, completely flat-footed en route to a St James's Palace Stakes (G1) victory at Ascot.View the full article

Maiden Watch: Week of June 9-June 15View the full article

The Patrick Biancone-trained Lennilu takes on Karl Burke's Zelaina in the Queen Mary Stakes (G2) June 18.View the full article

Los Angeles and Anmaat square off June 18 in the Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot.View the full article

The progressive American Affair produced a powerful performance to hold off Frost At Dawn and strike in the King Charles III Stakes (G1) for Scottish trainer Jim Goldie June 17.View the full article

Field Of Gold left a pair of classic winners, Night of Thunder and Ruling Court, completely flat-footed en route to a St James's Palace Stakes (G1) victory at Ascot.View the full article

ASCOT, UK — There may be cause for concern when it comes to the tumbling number of foals bred in Britain but, with Ascot festooned with the Union Jack, the first three races represented a terrific result for the United Kingdom, falling to horses bred in England, Wales and Scotland. In front of the King and Queen, first Docklands then Gstaad and American Affair testified to the strength of Thoroughbreds produced in the country, with British-based Irishmen Richard Kent and John McGrandles being the breeders behind the first two Group 1 winners of the royal meeting. The pride of Mickley Stud, Docklands is by the farm's resident stallion Massaat and went one better than his second-place finish in last year's Queen Anne Stakes to lift the opening contest of Flat racing's biggest meeting and give trainer Harry Eustace his first Group 1 winner. As Eustace was engulfed in hugs by his parents James and Gay and brother and fellow trainer David, over from Hong Kong, a beaming Terry Henderson of OTI Racing followed Docklands in to the winner's circle, the globetrotting Australian syndicator bringing a welcome international feel to the day. But it was over in Shropshire that the winner's life began and, as his breeder Richard Kent leaned on the rail of the enclosure, his face a little higher of colour than usual, he accepted congratulations from Angus Gold. It was through Shadwell and Gold that the the 2,000 Guineas runner-up Massaat ended up at Mickley Stud and, as with any of the stallions Kent stands, he has had plenty of home support. Kent said, “I rang Harvey Bell yesterday with the list of horses and I have eight or nine Massaats who were going to the Autumn Sale but now I think they might have to have an upgrade – or I could keep a few and run them in next year's Windsor Castle!” He continued, “Genuine horses and genuine people never let you down. Go for a genuine horse and try to stick around as many genuine people as you can. We've two Massaat fillies who both ran yesterday and both were second and they both ran their hearts out. We went to Germany with a filly by him last year and she ran her heart out, and they are not the fanciest of pedigrees. My friend Liam Norris bought the dam Icky Woo for me and she wouldn't win a beauty contest but then she breeds us a genuine horse like this. It's all about their heart.” Docklands shares his birthplace with one of the hottest stallions around at the moment, Havana Grey, who was bred by Kent in partnership with the late Lady Caroline Lonsdale. Other notable recent Mickley graduates include G2 Temple Stakes winner Liberty Beach and G1 Irish St Leger winner Brown Panther for Michael Owen. “We used to breed jumpers and we went broke doing that so we went over to the sprinters,” Kent added. “Docklands was a beautiful horse and Adrian Costello is a very good judge and he bought him off me as a foal. Terry Henderson was keen to buy the horse because he had bought his half-brother Harbour Views, who was a very good horse down in Australia, by Le Havre.” Mickley Stud will be represented at Ascot again on Thursday as the breeder of London Boy (Havana Grey), who runs in the Norfolk Stakes for Amo Racing. 'This is history repeating itself' First blood in the two-year-old contests of the week went to Gstaad, the Starspangledbanner half-brother to dual Group 1 winner Vandeek, bred by Kelly and Huw Thomas at Maywood Stud in Wales. Their dam Mosa Mine (Exceed And Excel) was also a homebred and is now in foal to Wootton Bassett. Huw and Kelly Thomas, breeders of Gstaad | Emma Berry “I can't believe it – another one,” said Kelly Thomas after the Aidan O'Brien-trained colt had stormed to success in the Coventry. “The mare's at home now and I was just looking at her as I left. She's in the front paddock and is being kept a very close eye on.” She continued, “This is history repeating itself. Vandeek went out and won on his first run and then goes into a Group 2 on his second run and wins, and this lad has done just the same.” Gstaad was sold for 450,000gns to MV Magnier as a foal in the year of Vandeek's great triumphs at Newmarket and Deauville. Thomas, who keeps four mares at Maywood, added, “To have their support means so much. To think that our little stud can produce a horse who's in training at Ballydoyle. I took the mare over to Coolmore to be covered this year and whilst I was there I was lucky enough to go to see Gstaad in his stable. It's a privilege to go there.” Flower of Scotland Another couple enjoying a day they will never forget was John and Wendy McGrandles, the owner-breeders of American Affair. In becoming the first Group 1 winner for his sire Washington DC, he also provided Scottish trainer Jim Goldie with a first Group 1 as well as a first Royal Ascot winner in the King Charles III Stakes, and King Charles III himself was there to hand over the trophy to to the winning connections. The ownership group includes the trainer's wife Davina Goldie and David Gatherer. John McGrandles, left, and fellow owners with the King | Racingfotos “American Affair is probably the only horse here with a Glasgow postcode in his passport,” said John McGrandles. “Jim trained his dam, granddam and grandsire, and he gave me the mare but I only got two foals out of her. She was a super mare but sadly I never got a filly from her.” That mare was Classy Anne, whose sire was the erstwhile Goldie stable star Orientor. From the same crop of foals bred by the McGrandles came Copacabana, who races at the opposite end of the distance spectrum to American Affair and won a bumper for Willie Mullins earlier this year. “We breed them at home just about 10 miles outside Glasgow. We've always had horses – we've bred event horses and racehorses all our lives, but this is without doubt the best racehorse I've ever bred,” added McGrandles, who is off to another major event tomorrow to show some sheep at the Royal Highland Show. “Washington DC isn't popular but the reason that I went to him is that the mare was a very fast mare and I thought I would go to the fastest stallion that I could afford. We've sent another mare back to him this year and she is also by Orientor.” Both Massaat and Bearstone Stud's Washington DC, who stand not much more than a stone's throw from each other in Market Drayton, were available at £3,500 this year. They may not be the most sought-after of stallions, but at the most fashionable meeting of them all, their offspring showed that fashion counts for little as long as you have heart. The post Union Jack Flying High as Small Breeders Strike on the Big Stage appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Churchill Downs Inc., which owns and operates Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, has reached an agreement with Louisiana horsemen for racing to continue at Fair Grounds from around Thanksgiving until early next spring.View the full article

With significant, persistent rainfall in the local forecast for the next several days, the four turf stakes races carded for June 20 at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course have been rescheduled for June 27.View the full article

While it is neither the habit nor the place of this column to cite scripture, words that some of you may have heard last Sunday should resonate with everyone in this game: “Endurance produces character, and character produces hope.” Certainly we wouldn't have much of a business if the reverses we endure could not be parlayed into those attributes. We often refer to the Turf as “character-forming,” which always feels rather ambivalent. After all, we might easily find ourselves turning into quite unpleasant characters! But a persevering nature tends to be a winning one, whatever happens on the track, and plenty will duly be rooting for Albaugh Family Stables the day they nail that first Kentucky Derby. The prize that drives their investment has often shimmered on the horizon, only to dissolve into a mirage. Not This Time, probably their best candidate, had to be retired at two; but they have since won nearly all the principal trials, sending no fewer than seven into the Derby gate over the past decade, including third-placed Angel of Empire (Classic Empire) in 2023 and Catching Freedom (Constitution) who ran fourth the following year. Last fall it looked as though the Iowa-based program might have found another candidate in a colt named for its founder Dennis Albaugh. After a 'TDN Rising Star' maiden score at the home of the Derby, however, Admiral Dennis (Constitution) proved too slow a learner–especially leaving the gate–to earn adequate starting points from his rehearsals. Instead, he regrouped for a fresh start in the inaugural Delaware Derby last weekend, where he suggested that he may yet measure himself, later in the year, against some that did make the first Saturday in May. He certainly has the right shape to his pedigree, doubling down on the great Weekend Surprise (Secretariat): not just as fifth dam, but replicated in the same generation as mother of A.P. Indy, whose grandson Tapit is of course sire of Constitution. The dam of Admiral Dennis, Gulf Coast (Union Rags), represented a fifth generation bred by William S. Farish and various partners, tracing to the purchase of Weekend Surprise's dam Lassie Dear. But while Gulf Coast's dam and granddam, Sweet Success (Candy Ride {Arg}) and Aspiring (Seeking the Gold), both managed a place in the GIII Bourbonette Oaks on the Turfway synthetic, this particular branch of the dynasty had otherwise fallen rather fallow. Only with the next dam, A.P. Indy's half-sister Lassie's Legacy (Deputy Minister), do we find its customary quality: her daughter Happy Week (Distorted Humor), herself a useful stakes operator, produced GI Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Happy Saver (Super Saver). Gulf Coast was duly treated as the end of this particular line and sent to auction ($240,000 Keeneland September yearling/$300,000 OBS March). After surfacing in the colors of WinStar Farm, however, she showed plenty of ability in a curtailed career. Having won on debut, she ran second, first (Cash Run Stakes) and second in black-type company in her only remaining starts, all compressed between November and February. Whatever went awry then at least permitted an immediate covering by the farm's emerging star, Constitution, whose first sophomores had the previous year included Tiz the Law. The result is Admiral Dennis, who brought $425,000 as a September Book I yearling. So the mare has made a flying start–just like Constitution. Having last year broken into the top five of the general sires' list, he has now established himself as a six-figure cover with his upgraded books cycling through onto the track. Albeit himself produced from the home herd, Admiral Dennis belongs to Constitution's first crop at $85,000, up again from $40,000 after his first juveniles had elevated him from an opening $25,000. If anything, it feels surprising that he has only sired two Grade I winners since Tiz the Law, in Mindframe and Americanrevolution. (American Pharoah and Liam's Map, in the same intake, have seven and six respectively.) Constitution does have a whole bunch of elite winners in Chile, where his prolific early service might have unnerved some people after he mustered just two graded stakes winners in 2023. But his overall body of work, with 51 stakes winners and 102 such performers, remains commensurate with his fee at 6.9 and 13.8 percent of named foals. With that mare quality now fully in play, he continues to consolidate and currently stands sixth in the year-to-date table. Drift Gathering Momentum Catching Freedom, mentioned above, was the first Constitution yearling landed by the Albaugh family. While he remained unraced when they bought Admiral Dennis, he was evidently shaping well enough to offer plenty of encouragement (started hot favorite on debut just a couple of weeks after the sale). Both horses were bred by WinStar, who similarly excelled in finding the dam of Catching Freedom–as can be judged from the way the previous foal out of Catch My Drift (Pioneerof the Nile), the 5-year-old Bishops Bay (Uncle Mo), continues to make up for lost time. Having missed most of 2024, last weekend he won his fourth consecutive prize in the GIII Salvatore Mile. Catch My Drift was bought for $400,000 at Fasig-Tipton in November 2015, having won four of 10 starts including a 9f stakes at Saratoga, missing the GII Turnback the Alarm Handicap by just half-a-length. She was given due opportunity, but neither of her first two foals by Medaglia d'Oro and Tapit made the racetrack. Her third, Strava (Into Mischief), fortunately for his breeders failed to reach his yearling reserve and was instead sold at Keeneland for $825,000 after winning his juvenile debut on the adjacent track. While he did subsequently manage a couple of black-type places, he ended up being claimed for $32,000 last fall. Catch My Drift's success since, with Bishops Bay ($450,000 yearling) and Catching Freedom ($575,000), has little blatant provenance. We are familiar with the astuteness of her breeders Fred W. Hertrich III and John D. Fielding (who sold her to Hidden Brook as a yearling for $95,000), but in this case they are strictly only breeders of record: they bought her in utero along with her $85,000 dam at the 2010 Keeneland November Sale. That was Drift to the Lead (Yonagushka), who had taken seven attempts to break her maiden but then won three in four at Delaware Park. She had a half-sister by Pleasantly Perfect who won three stakes, but that did not prevent their mother, by Tabasco Cat, being discarded for just $6,500. It's only in the next dam that we finally find a nugget: besides her 11-for-48, stakes-winning speed in Florida, Sigrun (Crafty Prospector) came up with a graded stakes winner who then became one of three stakes-producing siblings. That's pretty remote already, however, so we'll resist dwelling on the fact that Catch My Drift's fourth dam is a stakes winner by Baldski–having only last week noted that largely forgotten name lurking behind Justify himself. A Wise Decision The registered breeders of Catch My Drift get full credit, however, for Whiskey Decision (Into Mischief) after her successful resumption in the GIII Eatontown Stakes. Messrs. Hertrich and Fielding evidently repented of serial attempts to sell her–RNA at both Keeneland September ($230,000) and Fasig October ($180,000) as a yearling, subsequently scratched from a 2-year-old sale–and she has vindicated that decision, whatever the implied influence of whiskey, in winning four of eight. Bishops Bay | Adam Coglianese She's duly rewarding their faith in her dam Funny Song (Distorted Humor), who showed little in two starts after finding her way into their hands from breeders WinStar. It was certainly alert to favor her with Into Mischief for a debut cover: even for those of us who pay little heed to nicks, the Spendthrift champ's record with Distorted Humor mares is conspicuous. (Last week we noted how Patch Adams has brought daughters of Distorted Humor up to one-fifth of Into Mischief's Grade I winners.) Back then, however, her owners needed more immediate grounds for sending Funny Song to a $175,000 cover on the back of such an inauspicious track career. Sure enough, she already had a sensational page–and, happily, it has only continued to strengthen since. Funny Song's unraced dam Music Room (Unbridled's Song) is a half-sister to a top-class pair in five-time Grade I scorer Music Note (A.P. Indy) and European Classic winner Musical Chimes (In Excess {Ire}); and their dam, in turn, was among a series of smart performers and/or producers out of champion It's in the Air (Mr Prospector). In the meantime, Music Note's son Mystic Guide (Ghostzapper) has won a G1 Dubai World Cup; Funny Song's half-sister has produced Grade I-placed Moon Over Miami (Malibu Moon); and her full sister has added not only Grade III dirt/triple turf stakes winner She Can't Sing (Bernardini) but one of the top current sophomores in GI Arkansas Derby winner Sandman (Tapit). Funny Song's next two foals were both sold as yearlings and, as fillies, their purchasers will be rubbing their hands. An $85,000 daughter of More Than Ready is still trying to break her maiden but ran second at Horseshoe Indianapolis last week; while the 2-year-old, a $525,000 purchase by Helen Alexander last September, is breezing at Saratoga. And she's by none other than Not This Time–the Albaugh family's greatest legacy, and a perfect example of endurance turning into new hope. The post Breeding Digest: Two Admirable Families Behind Dennis appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Already postponed once for rain from May 30 to June 20, weather has yet again pushed the four turf stakes on GIII Penn Mile day another week out. In a press release Tuesday morning, Penn National stated that the four stakes in question, the Penn Mile, Penn Oaks, Alphabet Soup Stakes and Lyphard Stakes will be now be held Friday, June 27. The release reads: “With significant, persistent rainfall in the local forecast for the next several days, the four turf stakes races carded for Friday, June 20th at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course have been rescheduled for Friday, June 27. Those four stakes will go–as drawn–on June 27. The other 7 non-stakes races carded for this Friday, June 20th will be run as scheduled, with this Friday's first post remaining at 5 pm. Of course, the safety of our athletes–both human and equine–is everyone's top priority. Moving these four stakes to June 27 also helps ensure that our horsemen will be able to run their horses on the turf, as intended.” The track also noted that guest announced Larry Collmus will still be on site on the 27th to call those four stakes races. The post Rain Forces Another Postponement Of The Penn Mile appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Immigration enforcement officers raided Delta Downs racetrack Tuesday morning, according to Ed Fenasci, executive director of the Louisiana Horsemen's Benevolent & Protective Association (HBPA). “There was a raid at Delta Downs. They shut down the highway–it's federal highway that's by Delta Downs. They shut that down, buttoned down the place and had an [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] ICE raid,” said Fenasci, Tuesday morning. Stressing that he has few specifics at the moment, Fenasci said that immigration enforcement offices had swept the racetrack backstretch, and that it started before eight o'clock. “The descriptions I'm getting, it was a raid. They had drones out,” said Fenasci, who said that members of his staff weren't permitted onto the property. “Nobody was allowed in or out of the property,” he said. It's currently unclear if any backstretch workers were arrested during the raid. The raid was coordinated between ICE, state and local law enforcement agencies, according to one source. In a statement Tuesday morning, David Strow, Delta Downs' vice president of corporate communications, wrote that he understood no Delta Downs employees were swept up in the raid. Delta Downs is owned and operated by the Boyd Gaming Corporation. “Our company complies fully with federal labor laws, and to our knowledge, no Delta Downs team members were involved in this matter. We will cooperate with law enforcement as requested,” wrote Strow. This story will be updated. The post Immigration Enforcement Descend Upon Delta Downs appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Wednesday, Royal Ascot, post time: 16:20, PRINCE OF WALES'S STAKES-G1, £1,057,500, 4yo/up, 9f 212yT Field: Anmaat (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}), Certain Lad (GB) (Clodovil {Ire}), Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}), Facteur Cheval (Ire) (Ribchester {Ire}), Los Angeles (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), Map Of Stars (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Ombudsman (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Royal Champion (Ire) (Shamardal), See The Fire (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). TDN Verdict: Ballydoyle's bruiser Los Angeles proved what a hardnut he really is when taking a Tattersalls Gold Cup that was set up like a war of attrition and there is something about this that has the air of inevitability. Anmaat could have had a say if the track had been hit by one of those thunderstorms that can happen at this time of year, but will surely play second fiddle again on this type of ground. As likeable as Map Of Stars and Ombudsman are, they have something to find with the favourite while See The Fire is so effective on York's flat terrain it is not easy to make a case for her outbattling the big colts in this. [Tom Frary]. Wednesday, Royal Ascot, post time: 15:05, QUEEN'S VASE STAKES-G2, £265,000, 3yo, 14f 34yT Field: Al Wasl Storm (Ire) (Affinisea {Ire}), Asmarani (Ire) (Sottsass {Fr}), Carmers (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Devil's Advocate (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), Furthur (Ire) (Waldgeist {GB}), Hallelujah U (GB) (Pinatubo {Ire}), Pinhole (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Rahiebb (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Scandinavia (Justify), Shackleton (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), Spinning Wheel (GB) (Postponed {Ire}), Titanium Emperor (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Too Soon (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}). TDN Verdict: Potential Irish domination here, with Ballydoyle represented by two different types and probably expecting most from Shackleton, while Paddy Twomey saddles the unexposed Listed Yeats Stakes winner Carmers. Francis-Henri Graffard sends across Asmarani, who is up markedly in trip having run into Rafale Design in the G3 Prix Hocquart. [Tom Frary]. Wednesday, Royal Ascot, post time: 15:40, DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE STAKES-G2, £225,000, 4yo/up, 7f 213yT Field: Cinderella's Dream (GB) (Shamardal), Crimson Advocate (Nyquist), Elmalka (GB) (Kingman {GB}), Fallen Angel (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), One Look (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}), Running Lion (GB) (Roaring Lion), Soprano (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), Start Of Day (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}). TDN Verdict: The way Cinderella's Dream went through the G2 Dahlia Stakes last month, we could be talking about a special filly and this looks hers for the taking. Fallen Angel is an obvious threat, but the Irish 1,000 Guineas and Moyglare winner has a bit to prove with cheekpieces fitted for the first time, while One Look comes into it after chasing home Porta Fortuna in The Curragh's G2 Lanwades Stud Stakes last month. [Tom Frary]. Wednesday, Royal Ascot, post time: 14:30, QUEEN MARY STAKES-G2, £150,000, 2yo, f, 5fT Field: America (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), Caitlin G (GB) (Bangkok {Ire}), Cardiff By The Sea (Ire) (St Mark's Basilica {Fr}), Come On Eibhlin (Ire) (Space Blues {Ire}), Eskimo Pie (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}), Eternal Solace (GB) (Tasleet {GB}), Flowerhead (Ire) (Starman {GB}), Guernsey Lady (Ire) (Coulsty {Ire}), Harry's Girl (GB) (Harry Angel {Ire}), Justice Twice (Ire) (Inns Of Court {Ire}), Lennilu (Leinster), Love Olivia (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), Miss Yechance (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}), Paris Carver (Bolt D'Oro), Revival Power (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}), Secret Hideaway (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), Shine On Me (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), Social Exclusion (GB) (Lope Y Fernandez {Ire}), Society Kiss (GB) (A'Ali {Ire}), Solana Rose (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), Spicy Marg (GB) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), Staya (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), True Love (Ire) (No Nay Never), Viamarie (GB) (Mehmas {Ire}), Zelaina (GB) (Mehmas {Ire}). TDN Verdict: Wathnan's TDN Rising Star Zelaina took the same Nottingham maiden as last year's winner Leovanni, so connections are hoping that lightning strikes twice. As it rarely does at this meeting, the race is more open than the betting suggests with the likes of the Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies Stakes winner Lennilu, Ballydoyle's high-class maiden True Love and Ralph Beckett's course-and-distance winner Society Kiss all poised. Special mention must also be made of Revival Power, the full-sister to Winter Power who probably wasn't expected to make such an impressive debut at Thirsk and would be an emotional winner for the Easterbys. [Tom Frary]. Wednesday, Royal Ascot, post time: 18:10, WINDSOR CASTLE STAKES-Listed, £110,000, 2yo, 5fT Field: Ardisia (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}), Azizam (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), Beach Partee (GB) (Lope Y Fernandez {Ire}), Better And Better (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), Call Me By My Name (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}), Dickensian (GB) (Pinatubo {Ire}), First Approach (Ire) (No Nay Never), Gaga Mate (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), Gorey Gold (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}), Havana Hurricane (GB) (Havana Gold {Ire}), Jan Steen (GB) (Sergei Prokofiev), Kamakameleon (GB) (Kameko), Kansas (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Logi Bear (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}), Nuevo Slovo (Ire) (James Garfield {Ire}), Old Is Gold (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), Rogue Legend (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), Rogue Supremacy (GB) (St Mark's Basilica {Fr}), Shaman Champion (Ire) (Shaman {Ire}), Sovereign Spell (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), Tough Critic (Caravaggio), Utmost Respect (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), Wyle Cop (Omaha Beach), Oasis Diamond (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}). TDN Verdict: Dual winner Rogue Legend will be more streetwise than most, but there is a chance that St Mark's Basilica's first winner Rogue Supremacy is a smart one. He looked the part at Wetherby on debut, while the Keeneland winner Tough Critic and Hamilton scorer Azizam are other unknown quantities at potentially inflated odds. [Tom Frary]. Thursday, Ascot, post time: 16:20, THE GOLD CUP-G1, £650,000, 4yo/up, 19f 210y Field: Coltrane (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), Dubai Future (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Sweet William (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Trawlerman (Ire) (Golden Horn {GB}), Wonder Legend (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Yashin (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}), Illinois (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). TDN Verdict: No Kyprios, but in Illinois Ballydoyle have a serious follow-up act with this trip looking within his compass. Getting better as the year progressed at three, the St Leger form is looking much better after the Coronation Cup and he sets the standard. Candelari is the unknown quantity, having mastered the newly-promoted G1 Prix Vicomtesse Vigier in the manner of a potential staying star, but it is a long time since this had a French winner and the likes of Vazirabad have been found wanting in recent times. Of the outsiders, Wonder Legend has abundant promise as the winner of the All-Weather Championships Marathon Handicap and one who loves the all-weather which seems link so well with this track. [Tom Frary]. Thursday, Ascot, post time: 15:40, THE RIBBLESDALE S.-G2, £250,000, 3yo, Open, 11f 211y Field: Caspi Star (GB) (Camelot {GB}), Catalina Delcarpio (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Ecstatic (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), Garden Of Eden (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), Go Go Boots (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Hollys Graces (Ire) (Australia {GB}), Island Hopping (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Lady Vivian (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), Life Is Beautiful (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire]), Serenity Prayer (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Understudy (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). TDN Verdict: This is an open renewal with just the one Oaks runner in Go Go Boots due to the quick turnaround from Epsom this year. Catalina Delcarpio didn't look the strongest stayer when second in the 10-furlong G3 Salsabil Stakes at Navan in April, so it is a surprise to see her here while the G3 Musidora Stakes runner-up Serenity Prayer and Ballydoyle's Listed Naas Oaks Trial Stakes winner Garden Of Eden also move up in trip. The latter is one of three from Ballydoyle, but there is a case to be made for Ecstatic who despite seeming to tread water of late is out of Magic Wand who took a while to fine her feet too. [Tom Frary]. Thursday, Ascot, post time: 14:30, THE NORFOLK S.-G2, £150,000, 2yo, Open, 5f 0y Field: Afjan (Fr) (Mehmas {Ire}), Ameeq (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), Charles Darwin (Ire) (No Nay Never), Clear Force (Ire) (Supremacy {Ire}), Comical Point (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}), Exclamation (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), First Legion (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), Graft (Ire) (US Navy Flag), Hey Tru Blue (GB) (Blue Point {Ire}), Irish Fighter (Ire) (Profitable {Ire}), Lil Brother (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), London Boy (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), Naval Light (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), Sandal's Song (Mendelssohn), Star Material (Ire) (Starman {GB}), Wise Appraoch (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}). TDN Verdict: No Outfielder, so this race has lost a potential superstar but there are still plenty who could emerge just as Gstaad did in the absence of Albert Einstein on Tuesday. Like Wesley Ward's hot prospect, Charles Darwin is another on the TDN Rising Star list who as a full-brother to Blackbeard has all the boxes ticked. Wise Approach is a half-brother to Perfect Power, who won this in 2021, while French interest is in the form of the Chantilly winner Afjan. [Tom Frary]. Thursday, Ascot, post time: 17:35, THE HAMPTON COURT S.-G3, £150,000, 3yo, Open, 9f 212y Field: Al Shababi (GB) (Without Parole {GB}), Arabian Force (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Detain (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Emit (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), Glittering Legend (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), Great David (GB) (Ribchester {Ire}), High Stock (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Jackknife (GB) (Kameko), Reyenzi (Fr) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), Sea Scout (Ire (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Stardrop (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}), Tiberius Thunder (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Tornado Alert (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), Trinity College (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). TDN Verdict: Two colts who showed up prominently in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club renew rivalry in Detain and Trinity College, with the 2,000 Guineas fourth and Derby sixth Tornado Alert bringing the Epsom form to the table. Glittering Legend has been laid out for this following his Listed Burradon Stakes win and shapes as a progressive type who should appreciate this track. [Tom Frary]. Click here for the complete fields. The post Black-Type Analysis: Los Angeles Looms Large In Prince Of Wales’s Stakes appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article