Wandering Eyes

Kingsbarns (Uncle Mo) had always shown potential, but making good on it had become a problem. After he won last year's GII Louisiana Derby to remain undefeated in three career starts, he struggled to duplicate that performance. He did win the GIII Ben Ali Stakes at Keeneland, but his record still lacked that all-important Grade I win. That's no longer a problem. Kingsbarns defeated a strong field to win the June 29 GI Stephen Foster Stakes at Churchill Downs. To discuss that win and other matters relating to Spendthrift Farm, Spendthrift's GM Ned Toffey joined this week's TDN Writers' Room podcast, which is sponsored by Keeneland. He was the Green Group Guest of the Week. “This is a horse with a lot of a stamina and really good tactical speed,” Toffey said. “But can he sustain a run? I think things set up better for him in the Stephen Foster. And Luis [Saez] rode a great race. So hopefully that's what we see going forward.” That he's now won a Grade I race means that Kingsbarns will some day set up shop in the stallion barn at Spendthrift. “So what does the win mean? Grade I, Stephen Foster, son of Uncle Mo, out of a Tapit mare. The future of Kingsbarns is in a stallion barn,” Toffey said. “This win means we can order him a nameplate for his stall in the stallion barn. He's earned a spot.” Spendthrift has not had a top 3-year-old colt so far this year, but that may change as Tuscan Sky (Vino Rosso) showed some promise when winning the Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth, a prep for the GI Haskell Stakes to be run July 20 at Monmouth Park. “We sort of thought he was this year's Kingsbarns,” Toffey said. “He was two-for-two going into the Wood Memorial. We were hoping for a big performance there to springboard us into the Derby. It just wasn't there, for whatever reason. But he's bounced back. He's always been a good workhorse. He tends to finish off his works really well, gallop out really well. We'll be as eager to see what he can do in the Haskell as everybody else is. We're going to find out along with everyone else.” Toffey also provided an update on Tamara (Bolt d'Oro), who is out of Beholder (Henny Hughes). Trained by Richard Mandella, she looked like a superstar in the making when winning the GI Del Mar Debutante. But she then finished seventh in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies and hasn't been heard from since. “Richard had started her back and he was originally pointing her to the Test,” Toffey said. “But there have been a few little, just ticky tacky issues. Nothing major. But he's just had to back off on her training, so I think we probably won't see here until after Del Mar. But we do very much expect to see her at some point late this year. We're still very excited about her future.” In our breeding spotlight section we took a look at the WinStar stallion Constitution. Elsewhere on the podcast, which is also sponsored by the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders' Association, West Point Thoroughbreds, WinStar, XBTV.com and the KTOB, the team of Randy Moss, Zoe Cadman and Bill Finley talked about the Stephen Foster and the record handle that was produced at the Churchill Downs spring meet. There was also a discussion of NYRA's announcement that once the new Belmont is open all racing in the winter will be conducted on the Tapeta surface that is being installed. Click here for the video of the podcast or here for the audio. The post Ned Toffey Joins TDN Writers’ Room Podcast appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Entering off consecutive graded victories, Glassman Racing's Play the Music looks to keep her hot streak alive when she faces 11 fillies and mares in the $135,000 Hendrie Stakes (G3) at Woodbine.View the full article

Gearing up for a start at Saratoga, the fast and consistent 4-year-old filly Alva Starr (Lord Nelson) was euthanized Wednesday at Delaware Park after what was supposed to be a routine workout. “It was a regular work and everything was going fine,” said owner Dale Ladner. “There were no issues. Then, turning for home she switched leads and there was a problem with her right rear. “Obviously, it had to be pretty bad for us to make the decision to put her down. This is the first time I have ever been in a situation like this. It was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. I feel so bad for (trainer) Brett Brinkman, her exercise rider, her groom and everyone else who worked with her. I'm completely devastated. I have a small stable and never had a horse like her before. You have to be a special animal to win a Grade I.” Bred by Ladner and Brinkman, the Kentucky-bred broke her maiden at two at Delaware Park. It was her only start of the year, but she was just getting started. Her first stakes win came in the Dashing Beauty Stakes at Delaware and she followed that up with a blowout win in the GII Raven Run Stakes for her first graded win. She was even better this year, winning the GI Madison Stakes at Keeneland, followed by a second-place showing in the GI Derby City Distaff Stakes at Churchill Downs. In what would turn out to be her final start, she won the June 5 Rehoboth Stakes at Delaware. In 10 career starts she had never finished worse than second. “We were ready to take her up to Saratoga and run in the Honorable Miss and the Ballerina,” Ladner said. “Our ultimate goal was the Breeders' Cup. She had been so good to us. She gave a 100% effort every time, she won six of 10 races and made more than $1 million. We hope the family can produce another one like her. That's just not easy to do.” The post Grade I Winner Alva Starr Euthanized After Delaware Workout appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Quarter Horse racing at Ruidoso Downs is expected to continue July 4 in the wake of wildfires and subsequent flooding from heavy rains that wiped out a portion of the track. Ruidoso's home straight and frontside chutes, and a portion of the gallop-out on the clubhouse turn, are expected to be restored to racing condition in time for the holiday weekend. But more extensive damage involving flood contamination down to the base in the area around the six-furlong chute has put Thoroughbred races on hold for the time being. At an emergency meeting of the New Mexico Racing Commission (NMRC) July 2, horsemen, Ruidoso management, and other industry stakeholders discussed several contingencies for Thoroughbred racing, including transferring races for that breed to The Downs at Albuquerque, which is currently not racing and isn't supposed to start its scheduled two-month meet until Aug. 29. Concerns over costs, staffing, and the availability of training for Thoroughbreds are all issues that must be considered before a decision gets made about either relocating 195 miles northwest to Albuquerque or waiting out what could be a weeks-long repair at Ruidoso. A major unknown is a current forecast for continued rain, and the fact that a portion of a river (Ruidoso Rio) runs lengthwise through the track's infield nearest to the backside of the track. Wildfires from mid-June not only forced a temporary evacuation of horses from Ruidoso, but scars from that burn exacerbated an existing storm runoff problem in the region, because the flames consumed vegetation that might have otherwise impeded the flow of water. “It's really difficult for anything to be etched in stone because of the forecast in the region. We still have moisture in the air and potential rain on the horizon, especially [July 4],” NMRC executive director Izzy Trejo told TDN Wednesday. “It can rain a few miles from the racetrack, and still affect the racetrack significantly because of that river that runs through the Ruidoso Downs property,” Trejo said. “We're hoping it doesn't come down as hard as it did in a couple of locations this past week; hoping for some cooperation from Mother Nature so we can proceed with a game plan to keep racing going here in New Mexico,” Trejo said. In addition to restoring the cushion and repairing the base where necessary, the El Paso Times reported that crews have been using excavators to widen and deepen the river channel that runs through the track's property to help handle future flooding. As for the next steps in the process related to Thoroughbred racing, Trejo underscored that “there's nothing definitive,” and that contingency plans are a work in progress. “We had an emergency meeting [Tuesday] to allow the licensees who are very concerned about what the future holds to speak to the leaders of the industry, the commissioners,” Trejo said. “At the end of the meeting one of the plans was to possibly utilize the Downs at Albuquerque facility,” Trejo said. “But there are logistical things that need to be addressed in order to do that. The Downs at Albuquerque's management team was going to take it to the ownership to see if there's a viable avenue to do that. It's not set in stone whatsoever. It's going to take a little more dialogue.” In the meantime, Trejo said, “Ruidoso's intending to run [July 4] from what I understand, as well as this weekend. There are Thoroughbred races that are scheduled, but in a discussion with Ruidoso Downs management [Tuesday], it appears evident that they will cancel all of the Thoroughbred races throughout the holiday weekend and modify the program to just be Quarter Horses. That request for approval has not been presented to the commission yet [as of midday July 3], so I'm not saying that's what's going to happen. That's what we hear they want to do.” The July 4-7 programs at Ruidoso originally included between three and six Thoroughbred races per day. “We're tough. We're racetrackers. We'll get through it all right. Just a little setback, and we'll move forward,” Trejo said. The post QH Racing to Resume at Ruidoso; Aftermath of Flooding Leaves T’breds in Flux appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

After chasing the leader of the 3-year-old filly division, Thorpedo Anna, Lea Farms' Power Squeeze drops in as the high weight in a field of seven 3-year-old fillies entered for the $300,000 Delaware Oaks (G3) July 6 at Delaware Park.View the full article

Following a spring meet at Churchill Downs with record purses and wagering, racing shifts in Kentucky to Ellis Park in Henderson beginning July 4. View the full article

Cieren Fallon faces a spell on the sidelines after breaking his back in two places when falling from his mount at Windsor July 1.View the full article

Top-notch jumps prospects lit up day two of the Arqana summer sale on Wednesday where top French agent Bertrand Le Metayer went to €450,000 to secure the promising Mambonumberfive (Fr) (Born To Sea {Ire}), who was second in a valuable three-year-old hurdle at Auteuil when last seen. Trained by Francois Nicolle, Mambonumberfive was consigned by Eric Ventrou, who was left visibly emotional by topping the sale. He said, “I had three weeks to prepare him so I was a little bit shocked. We did what we could but didn't want to change his routine because he likes to be outside with his friends. When they are outside like that, it can be scary, because you don't want them to get cuts or anything. I didn't sleep very good last night! It's a good day. A very good day.” He added, “I am based one hour from here in Normandie. I came back from Qatar six years ago. I have to say thank you to a couple of people–to Francois Nicolle, who has supported me for a long time, and also Bertrand Le Metayer. And also my team, because without my team, I cannot do anything.” Champion jumps trainer Willie Mullins was busy strengthening his squad for the upcoming season. Along with trusted advisors and long-time agents Pierre Boulard and Harold Kirk, Mullins splashed out on geldings by Churchill (Ire) and Battle Of Marengo (Ire) as well as a filly by Authorized (Ire) to the tune of €765,000. Speaking after buying the Authorized filly Karma D'Airy (Fr), who was second when last seen at Auteuil for trainer Hugo Merienne, Boulard said, “I have been buying for Willie [for] many years. We absolutely loved her. Willie has had huge success with Authorized, especially with fillies. She's really good-looking. She has only run twice and was second at Auteuil, showing that she can go chasing. Happy with that buy and we expected that she would make that.” A total of 12 horses cleared six figures on day two of the Summer Sale at Arqana where 75% of the 144 lots offered were sold. The average was €40,449, the median stood at €13,000 while the aggregate was €4,371,500. The post ‘I Didn’t Sleep Good Last Night’ – Mambonumberfive Fetches 450k At Arqana appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Leo and Sarah Dooley can tell you a thing or two about the Thoroughbred racing industry. But don't let their youthful appearances fool you–the couple has already forged a most impressive, not to mention broad, resume in the game. And while they can hardly be called newcomers to the sales game, having sold horses through other agencies in the past, the couple will embark on new territory when selling horses for the first time under their own banner, Norevale Farm, at the upcoming Fasig-Tipton July Sale July 9. Explaining the process that has led the couple to strike out with their own consignment, Sarah explained, “We've been in operation four years in September. We've boarded yearlings that our clients have sold at [Fasig-Tipton] July, Keeneland September, the New York sales and in [Fasig-Tipton] October. Gradually over the past three years, we've also sold our own pinhooks and our slow burner project, our homebreds as well, something we are developing over the next couple of years.” “We are starting off with a smaller consignment rather heading off to a sale the scale of September, but this is the first sale that we had some horses that we thought would really fit here. It just worked out timing-wise. Ultimately, I think it'll work out that it's a smaller sale and we can get one under our belt.” While never having managed a sales consignment entirely on their own, Leo feels that the couple's past experiences will help lead the transition. “We always used several consignors in the past and they did an excellent job for us,” he said. “We've learned bits a pieces from each of them, and we just decided that we'd like to stand behind our own horses a bit more.” Among Tuesday's collection of select yearlings, Norevale will lead over Hip 106, a filly by Bolt d'Oro, who will be followed by Hip 110, a colt by Practical Joke. The Norevale consignment will be rounded out by Hip 237, a filly by Army Mule. “This year, we have a nice group of three,” Leo said. “They have sire power–they're all by proven horses. And they really is a look of precocity with all of them. We are really looking forward to offering that group here.” The dark bay daughter of Bolt d'Oro is out of Bama Belle (Giant's Causeway), a half-sister to GI CCA Oaks winner Funny Moon (Malibu Moon) and SW Throng (Silver Deputy). This represents the family of three-time Grade I scorer Vanlandingham. An $80,000 RNA at Keeneland last November, the filly was bred by a partnership of Norevale, Tony and Michael Holmes and Jacalyn Tillman. “The Bolt d'Oro filly is nice and the timing is right after the 2-year-old sales season he's had,” he said. “She's a really athletic and fast-looking filly.” Representing the sole colt of the Norvale consignment, hip 110 is out of the unraced Street Sense mare Be Joyful. The colt's 8-year-old dam is out of the Peteski mare Trickski, also responsible for GI La Brea S. winner Dearest Trickski (Proudest Romeo) and GSP Gray Sky (Tapit). The colt brought $50,000 at Keeneland last November. “The Practical Joke colt is a very solid horse,” Leo affirmed. “He's forward going and would suit end users and pinhookers. The sire is doing very well right now which is a big advantage.” Rounding out the July sale triumvirate, Hip 237 is out of stakes-winning Secret Action (Tiz Wonderful). She was purchased by Norevale for $65,000 at Keeneland last fall. “The Army Mule filly just seems like a racehorse,” he opined. “She's by a proven sire and is just beautiful.” Asked why the July sale should suit the operation's initial offering, Leo explained, “The July sale has been very good to us over the years. For this sale, they need to be a little more forward and to look precocious. We have found that, if we brought the right horse over to the July sale, we were rewarded every time.” Building on Success Norevale has already enjoyed success on the racetrack, albeit a bit more behind the scenes. Heading some of its most recent graduates is TDN Rising Star Barbara T (Army Mule), a flashy winner at Keeneland in April. Offered by Norevale on behalf of its clients at Keeneland November in 2021, the weanling filly brought $25,000 and subsequently sold for $40,000 at the same venue the following September. Offered at the OBS March last season, she brought $120,000 from Michael Warnick and Joseph Hinkhouse. TDN Rising Star Barbara T, another Norevale grad by Army Mule | Coady Another notable graduate is Common Defense (Karakontie {Jpn}), who is campaigned by David Bersen, Tony and Michael Holmes and Norevale Farm. Trained by Kenny McPeek, the colt won his second career start and subsequently finished second in the GII Rebel Stakes. The son of Allusion (Street Cry {Ire}) RNA'd for $9,000 at Keeneland November in 2021. “He's probably the flag bearer for us,” offered Leo. “He was second in the Rebel and had to take a little bit of time off before the Derby otherwise we were probably looking for a day out.” Also from the Norevale program, Snead (Nyquist) brought $125,000 for a partnership of Norevale and its partners at Keeneland November in 2021 before selling the following season as a yearling for $210,000 at Fasig-Tipton. A $325,000 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic juvenile purchase, Snead broke his maiden at Churchill Downs in his third start before adding a 7 1/4-length score at the Fair Grounds last November. The grey rounded out the season with a runner-up finish in the Gun Runner S. in New Orleans Dec. 23. “Since we've had a few horses go on and do well for their new owners, it has been important for us to stand a bit more behind our horses, like we are doing with our own consignment,” explained Leo. “Some of our [graduates] have done well on the track, and for a hot minute we even had two on the Derby trail. It's nice for us to stand behind our horses and create our own brand. And this also gives our clients the option to sell with us year-round if they like.” Practice Makes Perfect A native of Kilkenny, Ireland, Leo received some his earliest instruction at the racetrack under the guidance of Irish-based conditioner Jim Bolger before adding stints with a pair of renowned European Thoroughbred operations–Ballylinch Stud in Ireland and Ecurie Des Monceaux in France. “The time I spent at Ecurie Des Monceaux was like a master's degree in prepping yearlings by Henri Bozo and his team. I really loved it,” recalled Leo. Venturing to the United States in 2013, he served for a time with the late Gerry Dilger at Dromoland Farm and following a brief return to Ireland to complete college, he returned to the U.S. in 2015 for a four-year run at Hunter Valley Farm. He also held the role of broodmare manager at Indian Creek Farm. “All those past experiences give you a feeling for what these horses are going to go on and do,” Leo said. “Since the ultimate goal is to raise a racehorse, that experience is invaluable.” Also sporting a lifelong connection to the industry, Sarah grew up around horses, courtesy of her parents, Marula Park Stud's Tony and Susan Holmes. After graduating with an Economics degree from the Transylvania University in Lexington, she also completed the Irish National Stud course followed by the Godolphin Flying Start program. In addition to Marula Park, Sarah's work experience includes stints with Bluewater Sales, Hunter Valley Farm and Lane's End Farm. “I've had a different trajectory than Leo, but I think that's what makes us work so well as business partners,” explained Sarah. “We both bring so many different things from each side to the table.” While discussing her progression in the industry thus far, Sarah was quick to credit two of her staunchest supporters, her parents. “I grew up on my family farm and my parents were commercial breeders, and they are to this day. They had a lot of success with a farm that their good friend and partner calls, 'the size of a garden', endearingly of course. And I really love the life they created for themselves. They started on the bottom rung and they worked their way up. Both of them grew up around horses. They found this piece of land and made it their own. They did it the hard way and have been successful. For my brother [Michael] and I, it was a wonderful way to see the freedom they had in developing their own business and lifestyle. I loved tailing my father around at the breeding stock sales and him teaching me pedigrees.” She added, “That's what I was really after too. I wanted to chase that in Thoroughbred industry. We both knew we wanted to go out on our own one day and it was just one foot in front of the other and we built it from there.” Timing is Everything Bravely, the couple launched Norevale Farm in the throws of the COVID pandemic in the fall of 2020, and despite an understandably tepid start, the operation has made steady progress since them, although the journey was not without its challenges. “We started our farm in September during COVID but we also had our first daughter [Maeve] in December of 2020,” recalled Sarah. “We had my riding horse, his little sister and their mother. And one client sent us a mare and foal down from New York. That is literally what we started out with.” She continued, “Since then, we've added a couple of additional farms and added another daughter [Ruth] this past September. It has not been easy, but it's been so rewarding. Everyone in this industry knows how hard the days are, but we have great partners and great staff. We are surrounded by great people.” Having started with a single 110-acre tract of leased land in 2020, the couple now has expanded to three separate leased farms and the operation has grown to just over 250 acres and approximately 100 head. Relying on scouting pinhook prospects at the breeding sales in the fall, the Norevale team also works tirelessly to improve their breeding stock, which currently numbers approximately 25 mares. “When we started out, we leased our first farm because it was right around the corner from my parent's farm, which was appealing since we could share equipment until we could afford our own,” Sarah recalled. “And now is the right time to start our own consignment. We've done everything when it felt like the right time. Sure, we might want to buy our own farm one day but it would have to be the right farm at the right time in the right place. We wouldn't necessarily go seeking that out, and I don't think we'd look for anything else in this business right now because we'd really like to build on what we have. Just to keep focusing on quality, quality, quality.” Leo added, “Things have certainly progressed, but we are quite happy with where we are. This is as big as it gets.” “We just want to keep producing racehorses. Upgrade the quality of our broodmare band over time, but the bottom line is we just want to keep producing quality racehorses. It's nice to be able to balance the breeding with the pinhooking to where they complement each other and help each other out at times. So it would be nice to grow the overall quality of both of those sides of the business.” With yet another goal checked off the list, what are the plans for Norevale in the future? “We're both very involved in the day-to-day operations,” Sarah explained. “I think if we took on any more horses, we would completely change a huge element of our business which is both of us being so involved. We enjoy it that way.” “And the same goes for our consignment, right now it will be for our own pinhooks and homebreds and several of our year-round client's horses as well, but we want to stay with what we are comfortable with, what we enjoy, and we know we can do a good job.” And what is the key to continuing to grow in a career that can be fraught with setbacks, roadblocks and challenges? “Lots of elbow grease until now, but hopefully all those hard days keep paying off,” said Sarah. “Obviously, there are less days to celebrate than not, but the days we do celebrate make it all worth it.” The post Norevale Raises the Flag at Fasig-Tipton July With Initial Consignment appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Aidan O'Brien trainee Surpass (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}–Blending {GB}, by Medicean {GB}) shaped with promise when getting up late to snag his May 29 debut at Tipperary by a neck and returned to the Limerick Junction venue to attain 'TDN Rising Star' status with a powerful display in Wednesday's Glenvale Stud Race over an extended seven furlongs. The G1 Vincent O'Brien National Stakes entry, racing under a three-pound penalty, jumped out in second and was the nearest pursuer of the clear leader through halfway. Looming large going ominously well passing the quarter-mile pole, the 4-9 favourite quickened in style to hit the front approaching the final furlong and surged clear under mild coaxing to easily outclass Dakota Blue (Fr) (Sioux Nation) by an impressive three lengths. “He's a nice horse and has had two nice runs here,” said Ryan Moore. “He's impressed me both times and hopefully he has a nice future. He's very comfortable on that [good-to-firm] ground.” Surpass, who becomes his sire's first Rising Star, is the third of five foals and one of two scorers out of a winning half-sister to G3 Musidora Stakes third Ricetta (GB) (Camelot {GB}) and Listed Prix de Pontarme runner-up Spanish Intent (GB) (Acclamation {GB}). His second dam Panzanella (GB) (Dansili {GB}), a daughter of G1 Poul d'Essai des Pouliches heroine Zenda (GB) (Zamindar), is kin to four stakes performers headed by four-time Group 1-winning sire Kingman (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). The February-foaled bay is half to a yearling colt by Australia (GB) and a weanling colt by Ghaiyyath (Ire). 4th-Tipperary, €20,000, Cond, 7-3, 2yo, 7f 100yT, 1:39.28, g/f. SURPASS (IRE), c, 2, by Saxon Warrior (Jpn) 1st Dam: Blending (GB), by Medicean (GB) 2nd Dam: Panzanella (GB), by Dansili (GB) 3rd Dam: Zenda (GB), by Zamindar Sales history: 240,000gns Wlg '22 TADEWE. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $20,582. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. O-Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-James Wigan (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. Surpass (Saxon Warrior) makes it two from two and there's surely plenty more to come from this exciting two-year-old for Ryan Moore, Aidan O'Brien and @Ballydoyle @tipperaryraces pic.twitter.com/AYHiETvQNK — Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 3, 2024 The post First Rising Star for Saxon Warrior as Surpass Powers to Impressive Tipperary Success appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Stonestreet Stable's Emery (More Than Ready), whose lone career loss to date came when fourth in the GI Frizette Stakes at Aqueduct last October, returns to the New York oval as the 6-5 morning-line favorite in the GIII Victory Ride Stakes Thursday. The 6 1/2-furlong race with a field of five is the lone graded event on tap for the holiday. Trained by Brad Cox, Emery was a first-out winner at Saratoga last August before finishing some five lengths adrift of champion Just F Y I (Justify) in the Frizette. She returned six months later to take a six-furlong optional claimer at Keeneland in April and captured her first stakes victory in the Leslie's Lady S. at Churchill Downs June 9. The Victory Ride field also includes Mystic Lake (Mo Town), who will be looking for back-to-back graded scores following her win in the May 17 GIII Miss Preakness Stakes. Like she did in the Miss Preakness, Mystic Lake will break from the rail Thursday as the race's 124-pound highweight. “She is an older filly now, they mature,” said co-owner Mark Cornett. “She's run good races before, she is just doing it against better horses now and we hope she can carry it over.” Mystic Lake, who also has a pair of Tampa Bay stakes wins on her resume, is 5-2 on the morning line. Rigney Racing's Halina's Forte (Mitole), also 5-2 on the morning line, is already a stakes winner at Aqueduct following her victory in the seven-furlong Ruthless Stakes in February. She faded to eighth after setting the pace when trying two turns in the 1 1/16-mile GI Ashland Stakes at Keeneland Apr. 5 and was fourth in the seven-furlong GII Eight Belles Stakes May 3 before returning to the winner's circle in a six-furlong optional claimer at Churchill Downs May 31. “In the early spring, you dream of maybe having an Oaks horse,” trainer Phil Bauer said of the filly's Ashland tilt. “We took a swing at it based on her good race up there going seven-eighths, but we'll just keep her one turn. Maturity and racing always helps and we'll see how far she can stretch it, but six to seven [furlongs], for now, is what we'll do.” Although the Eight Belles effort in the slop saw Halina's Forte finish 7 1/4 lengths back of the victorious My Mane Squeeze (Audible), Bauer said he was pleased with how the filly performed and with how she responded last out. “I'm not sure if she disliked it [wet track] so much, or if she was too close [to the pace]. I was pretty proud of her effort, and it was a pretty good race overall,” Bauer said. “I don't think she got a whole lot out of the Ashland, so maybe she came up a hair short to finish top three there, but she was able to rebound with that allowance win and now we're back to trying graded stakes. “We knew we could take on a stakes somewhere last time, but we felt she could be a superior horse in that heat and we could build from there,” he added. The Victory Ride is the eighth race on the Belmont at Aqueduct card and has a scheduled post time of 4:42 p.m. The post Victory Ride Highlights Holiday Action Thursday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Asian Racing Federation (ARF) chairman Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges will give the keynote speech during the opening session of the Asian Racing Conference (ARC) in Sapporo, Japan from Aug. 27-Sept. 1. Also the CEO of the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC), Engelbrecht-Bresges will speak on key post-pandemic trends in racing and breeding, as well as exploring the most pressing issues facing the racing industry today. There will also be a panel discussion with Engelbrecht-Bresges being joined by Masayuki Goto, ARF vice-chairman and executive advisor to the Japan Racing Association (JRA); Suzanne Eade, chief executive of Horse Racing Ireland (HRI); Peter V'landys, CEO of Racing NSW; Drew Fleming, CEO of Breeders' Cup; and Joe Saumarez Smith, chair of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA). Other speakers will be announced in due course. For more information on the ARC, please visit the ARC website. The post Engelbrecht-Bresges to Give Keynote During First Session of Asian Racing Conference appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Friday's meeting at Newton Abbot will go ahead as scheduled after the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) completed a “thorough assessment” following four equine fatalities at the track last week. A statement read, “Following four fatalities at its most recent fixture, the BHA's racecourse and veterinary teams have worked closely with colleagues at Newton Abbot to understand as best as possible the circumstances behind each incident. “The BHA's racecourse and facilities manager is satisfied that there was no issue with the racing surface or any other facility at the track that caused these incidents. This followed an inspection of conditions at Newton Abbot and a thorough assessment of the track's racing surface maintenance records. “While the individual equine fatality reviews are ongoing, it has been determined that each injury was sustained in unique circumstances and there appears to be no external factor linking them.” It continued, “Newton Abbot's record demonstrates how rare such occurrences are; in the last two full years, 2022 and 2023, a total of 1,524 runners competed at the track, resulting in three fatalities [defined as a horse being fatally injured as a direct result of their injuries on the raceday or within 48 hours of the raceday]. “This equates to a fatal injury rate of 0.20 per cent, below the current national jumps average of 0.42 per cent.” The post BHA Concludes Newton Abbot Fatalities due to ‘Unique Circumstances’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

White Birch will not take his place in the Eclipse Stakes (G1) July 6 after he was ruled out of the Sandown contest following an unsatisfactory blood test.View the full article

Woodbine Entertainment and Rogers Sports and Media announced July 3 that they have entered into a multi-year media rights agreement for Canada's most prestigious Thoroughbred horse race, the King's Plate Stakes.View the full article

Group 1-winning jockey Cieren Fallon will miss the height of summer racing after breaking his back in a fall at Windsor on Monday. The 25-year-old has ridden a septet of winners in the past two weeks. Already first past the post 26 times this season, Fallon was dislodged from Nanna Western (Ire) (Soldier's Call {GB}) on his way back to the paddock after running 12th of 14 in the British EBF Restricted Maiden Stakes. He will not require surgery. Fallon said, “It's definitely come at the wrong time. There's never a good time to have an injury but especially in the middle of the season when you are knocking in the winners left, right and centre. “It's just one of those things and I had an injury in the winter and recovered well, so if I recover well again, I can get ready for the back-end of the season. “There's no timescale been given, but luckily I don't need any operations or surgery and that's a plus. It's still a bit of an unknown really about how long it is going to be but I'm getting the best treatment I can and hope to be back as soon as possible.” The post Cieren Fallon Sidelined By Broken Back appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

1st-BAQ, $90K, Msw, 2yo, f, 5 1/2f, 1:05 p.m. ET Hit the Bid Racing Stable and Morplay Racing's ITALIAN SOIREE (Uncle Mo), a $600,000 purchase following a :10 flat work at the OBS March sale, makes her racetrack debut for trainer John Terranova in this holiday card opener in New York. The filly, bred by Repole Stable, is a full-sister to stakes winner Be Better and out of a half-sister to graded winner Old Time Hockey (Smarty Jones). The Repole Stable colors will be carried by debuting Yellow (Bernardini), a $225,000 KEESEP purchase. Trained by Todd Pletcher, the filly is the 2-1 morning-line favorite. She is a half-sister to last year's GII Chandelier S. winner Chatalas (Gun Runner). Brittany Russell saddles firster Gata Brazil (Into Mischief) for Nice Guys Stables. Out of American Story (Ghostzapper), the filly is a half-sister to Grade I winner American Gal (Concord Point). TJCIS PPS The post Thursday’s Insights: Pricey Juvenile Italian Soiree Debuts appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Promising two-year-old colt Sands Of Marra (Ire) (lot 200B), an impressive winner for Ollie Sangster at Windsor last week, is one of six wildcards to have been added to the Tattersalls July Sale, the sales company announced on Wednesday. One of seven winners to date by first-season sire Sands Of Mali (Fr), Sands Of Marra is out of the dual winner Revived (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) (lot 70) who, incidentally, is also set to be offered at the July Sale carrying a full-sibling. She in turn is out of a half-sister to the dam of the five-time Group 1 winner and sire Dream Ahead. The Camden Colt (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) (lot 800A)–consigned by Baroda Stud on behalf of Richard Hannon's East Everleigh Stables–is the most accomplished of the six wildcards with a Timeform rating of 97. He was last seen finishing in mid-division in the Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot, while Swindon (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) (829A) has also shown a solid level of form in just three starts for William Haggas, possessing a Timeform rating of 92 after his fourth-place finish in a handicap at Goodwood. The list of wildcards is completed by the four-year-old Hotaugustnight (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) (200A), a full-sister to this year's G1 Derby fourth Deira Mile (Ire), plus a pair of lightly-raced three-year-olds in Moon Man (GB) (Pastoral Pursuits {GB}) (lot 539B) and At Vimeiro (Ger) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) (lot 539A). The David O'Meara-trained Moon Man was a winner at Ayr last time, while Jane Chapple-Hyam's At Vimeiro was last seen finishing third at Windsor. The full catalogue for the Tattersalls July Sale, which takes place from July 9-11, can be found here. The post Six Wildcards Added to Tattersalls July Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Barry Fowler and Steve Weston's Dundalk maiden winner Usdi Atohi (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}–Eria {Ire}, by Zoffany {Ire}) finished last of six in May's G3 Naas Fillies' Sprint when last seen and bounced back in style to register a first black-type triumph in Wednesday evening's Listed Coolmore Ten Sovereigns Tipperary Stakes. The 20-1 outsider was swiftly into stride and stalked the tempo in second from flagfall at the Limerick Junction venue. Shaken up soon after passing the quarter-mile marker, she engaged Powerful Nation (Ire) (Sioux Nation) entering the final furlong and was driven out to prevail by a neck from that rival in a thrilling duel. The duo were 2 3/4 lengths clear of the remainder, headed by long-time leader Shamrock Breeze (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}) in third. Usdi Atohi, a €150,000 Goffs Orby graduate, is the second of three foals, all by Ten Sovereigns (Ire), and one of two scorers produced by a full-sister to G3 Gallinule Stakes third Sherpa (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) and Listed Knockaire Stakes runner-up Emporio (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}). The March-foaled bay, who hails from the family of G1 Dewhurst Stakes hero Beethoven (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}), is a full-sister to Listed Curragh Stakes victrix Asean (Ire) and a weanling filly. Usdi Atohi's fourth dam is the dual stakes-placed matriarch Luv Luvin' (Raise A Native). Usdi Atohi was down the field behind Fairy Godmother last time but bounces back to land the Listed feature at 20/1 for Donnacha O'Brien at @tipperaryraces. A filly by Ten Sovereigns, and consequently a fitting winner of the €40,000 @coolmorestud Ten Sovereigns Tipperary Stakes! pic.twitter.com/9ORGTKeZ4i — Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 3, 2024 The post American-Owned Ten Sovereigns Filly Wins Tipperary Feature appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Thursday's Observations features close relatives of two Darley sires. 15.00 Great Yarmouth, Mdn, £9,950, 2yo, 6f 3yT Godolphin homebred SHADOW OF LIGHT (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) is a three-parts brother to dual Group 1-winning first-crop sire Earthlight (Ire) (Shamardal) and has William Buick in the plate for this debut. His 10 rivals include Hidetoshi Yamamoto's €200,000 Arqana August graduate Ultrasoul (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), who is a Roger Varian-conditioned son of G1 Prix de Diane heroine Channel (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}), herself knocked down to Katsumi Yoshida for €1.2 million at Arqana's December sale. 16.10 Haydock, Nov, £10,000, 2yo, 7fT Another Godolphin newcomer is 260,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 acquisition OLYMPUS POINT (IRE) (Earthlight {Ire}), a three-parts brother to last season's first-crop sire sensation Blue Point (Ire) (Shamardal), who sports the operation's second strip here. Opposition includes his winning stablemate Cavallo Bay (GB) (Pinatubo {Ire}), who is a homebred son of GI Natalma Stakes heroine La Pelosa (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}. The post Big Thursday for Godolphin as Siblings of Earthlight and Blue Point Set for Debuts appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Kentucky Derby fifth T O Password (Jpn) (Copano Rickey {Jpn}) has been sent to a farm to recover after surgery to remove bone chips in both front legs, trainer Daisuke Takayanagi announced on Tuesday. The news was first reported by Netkeiba.com. The chips were found on Tuesday, with the surgery performed later that day. He is expected to be sidelined six months. “He had surgery and [I] put him out to pasture today [Tuesday],” Takayanagi told the Japanese publication. “He will be fully healed in six months.” A winner of a 3-year-old newcomers' affair over 1800 metres at Kyoto in January, the Tomoya Ozasa-owned colt added the Fukuryu Stakes to his haul on Mar. 23 at Nakayama, once again over a fast dirt surface. He was not disgraced trying 2000 metres for the first time at Churchill Downs, and rallied to take fifth in the Run for the Roses won by Mystik Dan (Goldencents). T O Password is the fourth foal and fourth scorer out of three-time winner T O Rachel (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}). The post Kentucky Derby Fifth T O Password To Spell After Surgery To Remove Bone Chips appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Woodbine Entertainment and Rogers Sports & Media entered into a multi-year media rights agreement for Canada's first jewel in the nation's Triple Crown, The King's Plate. The new media rights partnership will provide fans with an extensive lineup of live premier horse racing from around the world, offering more opportunities to enjoy the sport than ever before. As part of the agreement, the 165th Kings Plate on Saturday, Aug. 17 will air on both Sportsnet and Citytv, and stream on Sportsnet+ and Citytv+. The second and third legs of the Canadian Triple Crown–The Prince of Wales Stakes (run at Fort Erie Race Track on Tuesday, Sept. 10) and the Breeders' Stakes (Woodbine Racetrack on Sunday, Sept. 29)–will also air on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+. In addition, fans can watch the following races from Woodbine Racetrack on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+: Woodbine Oaks (July 20), Greenwood Stakes (Saturday, Sept. 7), Turf Champions Day (Saturday, Sept. 14) which features the newly-named Rogers Woodbine Mile, and Turf Finals Day (Saturday, Oct. 5), featuring the Neartic Stakes and bet365 Dance Smartly Stakes. Select international races will also air on Sportsnet, Sportsnet+, Citytv, and Citytv+. For more information, click here. The post Sportsnet, CityTV Forge New Partnership for King’s Plate appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Thursday's top tips from the Post's racing teamView the full article

The unforgettably named Thore Hammer-Hansen bade farewell to British racing at the end of last season to take up a retainer with leading German owner Eckhard Sauren. On Sunday he will go to post for the G1 Deutsches Derby as the leading rider in the country. In many respects it was a homecoming for the young jockey, who was born in Cologne and spent some of his formative years in Baden-Baden, where his Danish-born father Lennart was riding and later training. It can also be regarded as a wise move. Hammer-Hansen was noticed for more than just his name during his time as an apprentice with Richard Hannon, whose stable he joined in 2017. In six years riding in Britain, he partnered 124 winners, 40 of those coming in 2021, the year in which he rode out his claim. In a famously competitive racing jurisdiction, it gets tougher for young jockeys when joining the senior ranks, no matter their talent, and the quietly-spoken Hammer-Hansen is not lacking in that regard. His father had been a successful jockey in Germany and Scandinavia, and with his parents still resident in Iffezheim, home to the racecourse better known as Baden-Baden, he started to take advantage of some of his contacts with increasingly frequent visits to Germany. “I had been going backwards and forwards for the last two years but I only signed my retainer last October so I am now based fully in Germany and this is my first full season since moving back. It's been going very well so far,” says the jockey, who is now back where it all started for him, in Cologne, close to the country's largest training centre. With 28 wins to his credit so far this season, Hammer-Hansen has five in hand over the second jockey in the championship, Leon Wolff. He has won two Group 3 races this year for one of the country's leading trainers, Henk Grewe, for whom he will also ride Palladium (Ger) (Gleneagles {Ire}) in the Derby. All nine of the jockey's stakes wins to date have been in his home country, where he landed his first group win back in 2022 on Dapango (Ger) in the G2 Oettingen Rennen. His revered father joined him on the winner's podium, much to the delight of the huge crowd at Iffezheim on the day that Hammer-Hansen Jr notched a treble. He says of Grewe, who has twice been champion trainer in Germany, “I've been riding for him for a couple of years and have built quite a good relationship with him. “A couple of good horses got injured in the run up to the Derby and I was without a ride for a while but then I got the call from Lars to ride Palladium. I won his maiden on him, so it's nice to be back with him.” The Lars in question is Lars-Wilhelm Baumgarten, co-founder of Liberty Racing, the ownership group which will be aiming for back-to-back wins in the Deutsches Derby after the victory last year of Fantastic Moon (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}). Like last year's winner, Palladium is a graduate of the BBAG Yearling Sale, having been bought from his breeder Gestut Fahrhof for €80,000. He finished just over two lengths behind the winner Narrativo (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) when fourth in the G2 Sparkasse Koln-Bonn Union Rennen at Cologne on June 16, and the first five home that day will all meet again at Hamburg on Sunday. This will be a second ride in the Derby for Hammer-Hansen, who rode the 11th-placed I Fight For Lips (Ger) for Andreas Suborics last year. “I have been placed in a couple of Group 1s but I'm still waiting for that first Group 1 win,” he says and, after pausing mid-speech, he continues with a laugh, “I'm about to forget my English.” The jockey continues, “I was apprenticed to Richard Hannon for three and a half years and then was offered a job with Sir Mark [Prescott]. “I do miss the English style of racing. It's higher calibre and there's racing every day compared to only one or two race days a week here. Mr Sauren also has horses in training in France so I am lucky enough to ride there sometimes. “I was in England for seven years so this is a new environment for me, even though it's my home country. “There aren't as many jockeys over here and most of them are quite a bit older than me and it does get a bit lonely at times, especially as I had a lot of friends in England outside the weighing-room who were working in racing.” However, the 24-year-old is relishing his link with some of Germany's biggest names, not least Baumgarten, who, as well as being the syndicate manager of last year's Derby winner, also bred the 2023 G1 Preis der Diana winner Muskoka (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}). Now one of the major buyers at Germany's main yearling sale at BBAG, he is driving the idea of shared ownership in Germany, which remains a relatively rare concept in comparison to other nations. Hammer-Hansen says, “The horses that he has bought over the last couple of years have been very successful so it's great to be riding for them and I have had some luck for Liberty Racing in the past. “It's an adjustment being back in Germany but it is all going well and I am really thankful for the opportunity I have been given here.” Notes on Sunday's Classic Twenty horses look set to line up for the 155th running of the Deutsches Derby, which also features as a World Pool race. In what appears to be quite an open contest this year, the aforementioned Narrativo is likely to start favourite for champion trainer and six-time Derby winner Peter Schiergen and owner-breeder Gestut Ittlingen, who are also represented by Alleno (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}). Narrativo is one of three Derby runners for the late German champion sire Adlerflug (Ger), who died mid-covering season in April 2021, meaning that this year's three-year-olds are from his last full crop. Being responsible for 15% of the runners is an indication as to just how much the son of In The Wings (GB) is missed in Germany. Along with Narrativo, Adlerflug is represented by the French raider Mister Gatz (Fr), who is trained in Deauville by Stephanie Nigge, and Tiamo Hilleshage (Ger). The latter, as a full-brother to Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner and Deutsches Derby second Torquator Tasso (Ger) and half-brother to G1 Prosser Preis von Bayern winner Tunnes (Ger) (Guiliani {Ger}), is of particular note. He is racing in the colours of that trio's Dutch breeder Paul H Vandeberg. Paul H Vandeberg, left, breeder of Torquator Tasso and Tiamo Hilleshage | Emma Berry The Listed Premio d'Italia winner Queimados (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) races for Gestut Fahrhof, the breeding operation responsible for the above-mentioned Palladium, while G2 Derby Italiano winner Borna (Fr) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), who is trained by Markus Klug for Darius Racing, takes aim at a second Classic this season. Klug's successor as trainer for the powerful Gestut Rottgen operation is the former jockey Maxim Pecheur, who will saddle his first two Derby runners, Anspruch (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) and the sole filly in the field, Weltbeste (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}). With a name that translates to 'World's Best' she has plenty to live up to and is notable not just because of her gender but also as a full-sister to the 2018 Derby winner Weltstar (Ger) and a half to the previous year's winner Windstoss (Ger) (Shirocco {Ger}). Those two were the first two foals for Wellenspiel (Ger) (Sternkoenig {Ire}), who is also the dam of the dual Group 3 winner and Group 1 runner-up Well Disposed (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). A third winner in the Derby for the 16-year-old mare would take her past even the great Sacarina (GB) (Old Vic {GB}), whose Monsun (Ger) offspring Samum (Ger) and Schiaparelli (Ger) both won the colts' Classic in which their sister Salve Regina (Ger) finished second. She later atoned by winning the Preis der Diana against her own sex. The only other runner aside from Mister Gatz who is trained outside Germany is Mina Rashid (GB) (Almanzor {Fr}), who represents Andrew Balding and Ahmad Al Shaikh. The Chester maiden winner is dropping back in trip after finishing ninth behind Illinois (Ire) in the G2 Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot. The post Championship Leader Hammer-Hansen Bids for Derby Glory appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Just a couple of days after Darley announced that Too Darn Hot would not be shuttling to Australia, the operation revealed that he will be available to cover on southern hemisphere time at a fee of £50,000 from Dalham Hall Stud. The son of Dubawi, who is the most successful first-season sire ever in Australia and has already produced Group 1 scorer Broadsiding Down Under, will be joined by fellow Dalham Hall Stud residents Palace Pier and Cracksman to cover southern hemisphere time, at fees of £25,000 and £17,500 respectively. Three Irish-based stallions are also available; Night Of Thunder (€60,000), Space Blues (€15,000) and Naval Crown (€10,000). Too Darn Hot had travelled to Darley's Hunter Valley base for the last four seasons but he will not shuttle to Kelvinside for the 2024 season. Instead, the sire of Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Fallen Angel and German 1,000 Guineas heroine Darnation, will spearhead Darley's six-strong team of stallions available on southern hemisphere time. The post Too Darn Hot To Cover On £50,000 Southern Hemisphere Time Fee appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article