Wandering Eyes

With Kentucky Downs set to give away $3.1 million, the Aug. 31 Nashville Derby (G3T) drew an overflow field of 14 whose connections want in on a cut of that massive prize.View the full article

Sibelius (Not This Time–Fiery Pulpit, by Pulpit), winner of the 2023 G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen, has been retired from racing after suffering a tendon injury, trainer Jerry O'Dwyer confirmed the news first reported by Blood-Horse Tuesday. “He is a 6-year-old and he tore a tendon in a regular, routine gallop,” O'Dwyer said. “He can come back 100% from it, but that will be a seven or eight month or a year process. He has done so much for us already, we are not going to take a chance of him overexerting himself again.” Racing for Delia Nash and Jun Park, the hard-knocking gelding became a fan favorite when he just got his nose in front on the line in the Golden Shaheen. He also recorded back-to-back wins in the GIII Mr. Prospector Stakes in 2022 and 2023. “He is just a superstar horse to have around,” O'Dwyer said. “He is a complete ham. He loves the attention. He has taken us half-way across the world to Dubai, twice. One time, with an unbelievable victory and the last time with another unbelievable experience of just being out there and competing against some of the best horses in the world.” On the board in 16 of 27 starts, Sibelius won nine times–including six black-type events–and earned $1,803,011. “That is not fully decided yet,” O'Dwyer said with a chuckle when asked what the plans are for the gelding's future. “It's going to be between me and the owners, basically. He is in Kentucky right now at Delia Nash's farm. Delia and Jun have been absolutely wonderful people for me and for that horse. They have let me do the right thing by the horse every step of the way. There was never any question, when the time came, that he would be retired in as best order as we can.” O'Dwyer does have hopes for second career for his star gelding. “My wife, Alison, does a lot of the Retired Racehorse Project stuff, so she is probably going to take him to the Thoroughbred Makeover in the next couple of years, once he's back healthy and well,” the trainer said. “We would like to do that with him. He loves the attention and he loves a job to do. Once he is happy and has a job that he wants to do, he will continue to do a job. When he doesn't want to do a job anymore, he will live out his days at the owner's farm in Kentucky. As we did with him racing, we are going to let him do all the talking. It's all about him and what he wants to do.” The post Group 1 Winner Sibelius Retired appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Longtime owner and breeder Leonard Riggio, founder of the bookstore giant Barnes & Noble, passed away Tuesday in New York City, according to the Wall Street Journal. He was 83 and had been battling Alzheimer's disease. A native of Brooklyn, New York, Riggio acquired a single Barnes & Noble store in Manhattan in 1971 and turned the company into the country's largest bookstore chain, but he entered into racing almost by accident with a single purchase in 2001. “My wife and daughter love the show horse world and they would be buying a horse every year or so and I finally said to my wife, 'Hey, is it OK if I buy one to race?” Riggio told TDN's Steve Sherack in 2017. “It really started out as innocently as that.” One of his first acquisitions was Noble Causeway (Giant's Causeway), purchased for $1.15 million at the 2003 Keeneland September sale. On the racetrack, the chestnut finished second in the 2005 GI Florida Derby and in the breeding shed, he would go on to sire Samraat, who won the 2014 GIII Gotham Stakes and GIII Withers Stakes in the My Meadowview colors. “Ultimately, we got the bug to have our own breeding operation when 'Noble' became a sire,” Riggio said in 2017. “We bought a bunch of mares for him and then we kind of got, I want to say, addicted. Being able to watch the horses being born, get on their legs for the first time, seeing them go through the paces of growing into adults–all of that, I must say, is more thrilling than the race itself. With every one of them, you're just full of hope and you really get to love these magnificent creatures.” Homebred Tin Type Gal (Tapit) carried Riggio's colors to victory in the 2015 GIII Miss Grillo Stakes and 2016 GIII Boiling Springs Stakes, while Tapwrit (Tapit), sold for $1.2 million at the 2015 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale, went on to win the 2017 GI Belmont Stakes. My Meadowview also bred and campaigned stakes-winner Marion Ravenwood (A.P. Indy), who would go on to produce champion Nest (Curlin), as well as Grade I winner Idol (Curlin) and graded-placed Lost Ark (Violence). Riggio and his wife, Louise, created Project Home Again, a non-profit that built and gave away 101 homes in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. The couple were also at the forefront of the building of a contemporary art museum in Beacon, New York. Riggio is survived by his wife, Louise, three daughters and four grandchildren. The post Leonard Riggio Passes Away appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A horse's advanced age is hardly a stumbling block when a Thoroughbred is in the hands of Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. View the full article

Due to the expectation of excessive heat this week, Horseshoe Indianapolis has canceled their Aug. 28 card while Delaware Park and Kentucky Downs have adjusted their scheduled post times.View the full article

4th-Presque Isle Downs, $30,450, Msw, 8-27, 2yo, f, 5 1/2f (AWT), 1:05.49, ft, neck. TESSITURA (f, 2, Medaglia d'Oro–Octave {MGISW, $1,660,934}, by Unbridled's Song), a bit flat- footed at the start, dropped back to last, and remained there as Courageous Ari (Courageous Cat) took the advantage through an opening quarter in :22.31. Seeming to remain unhurried despite the increasing pressure from her jockey Willie Martinez, the 7-2 chance was given a left-handed reminder turning for home as the 10-1 pacesetter seemed to be heading to victory. With several lengths to make up, the roan was offered an escape route from her paint-scraping position as Courageous Ari continued to show the way with Joys of Summer (Summer Front) in hot pursuit. Making a bold late move along the inside, Two Scoops (Always Dreaming) appeared on the scene and momentarily appeared poised for victory. However, despite running greenly down the center of the track, Tessitura rolled to the front in the final strides to best Two Scoops by a neck. The early pacesetter held on for third. The roan is out of GI CCA Oaks and GI Mother Goose winner Octave, an earner of over $1.6 million for Starlight Racing and trainer Todd Pletcher. A sister to MGSW Belle Cherie (Belong to Me), the Unbridled's Song mare is from the family of dual Grade I winner Ms. Eloise. A $350,000 KEESEP yearling purchase, Octave subsequently brought $4-million from Godolphin's John Ferguson at Fasig-Tipton November in 2007. The winner, a half to Portamento (Ire) (Shamardal), GSP-UAE, GSP-Eng, $263,308, also has a yearling brother by Nyquist and a foal sister by Mystic Guide. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $18,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Godolphin, LLC; B-Godolphin (KY); T-Eoin G. Harty. The post Medaglia d’Oro’s Tessitura Goes from Last-to-First in Determined Debut Win at Presque Isle appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

There are five horse racing meetings set for Australia on Wednesday, August 28. Our racing analysts here at horsebetting.com.au have found you the best bets and the quaddie numbers for Canterbury & Sandown. Wednesday’s Free Horse Racing Tips – August 28, 2024 Canterbury Racing Tips Sandown Racing Tips As always, there are plenty of promotions available for Australian racing fans. Check out all the top online bookmakers to see what daily promotions they have. If you are looking for a new bookmaker for the horse racing taking place on August 28, 2024 check out our guide to the best online racing betting sites. Neds Code GETON 1 Take It To The Neds Level Neds Only orange bookie! Check Out Neds Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. What are you prepared to lose today? Full terms. 2 It Pays To Play PlayUp Aussie-owned horse racing specialists! Check Out PlayUp Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Full terms. Dabble Signup Code AUSRACING 3 Say Hey to the social bet! Dabble Have a Dabble with friends! Join Dabble Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. THINK. IS THIS A BET YOU REALLY WANT TO PLACE? Full terms. Recommended! Bet365 Signup Code GETON 4 Never Ordinary Bet365 World Favourite! Visit Bet365 Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. GETON is not a bonus code. bet365 does not offer bonus codes in Australia and this referral code does not grant access to offers. What’s gambling really costing you? Full terms. 5 Next Gen Racing Betting PickleBet Top 4 Betting. Extra Place. Every Race. Join Picklebet Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. What are you really gambling with? Full terms. 6 Bet With A Boom BoomBet Daily Racing Promotions – Login to view! Join Boombet Review 18+ Gamble responsibly. Think. Is this a bet you really want to place. Full terms. Horse racing tips View the full article

Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl-winning tight end Travis Kelce, along with the Zoldan family, have acquired a significant share of Team Valor International's interest in Gary Barber's Swift Delivery (Not This Time), Team Valor's Barry Irwin announced Tuesday. The Zoldan family have been members of Team Valor's syndicates for nearly four decades, including as partners in 2011 GI Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom. Bruce Zoldan, founder and CEO of Phantom Fireworks, attended this year's Derby along with Ohio native Kelce, who is friends with Zoldan's son, Alex. Trained by Mark Casse, Swift Delivery romped to a 16 1/2-length maiden victory over the all-weather surface at Woodbine June 23 for Barber. In his first start for the partnership of Barber and Team Valor, the 3-year-old gelding captured an allowance over the Woodbine turf July 19. He is expected to make his stakes debut Saturday in the Toronto Cup. The post Travis Kelce Joins Swift Delivery Ownership appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Cassiopeia Foundation has bought the Foxfield property in Virginia. It ensures the preservation of the historic site, fulfilling the dreams of founder Mariann de Tejeda and providing a stable platform for the continued operations of Foxfield Racing.View the full article

Adare Manor (Uncle Mo), a winner of her last three races–two of them Grade Is–has been entered in the Pacific Classic, said her trainer Bob Baffert. The five-year-old mare has run four times this year, finishing second in the GI Beholder Mile at Santa Anita March 9 before taking the GI Apple Blossom, GI Santa Margarita, and GI Clement L. Hirsch, has won 10 of 18 starts, three Grade Is, and over $2 million. She came from off the pace to win the Clement Hirsch, and Baffert said that the filly had been doing so well that he was encouraged to enter her in the Pacific Classic. “It wasn't the plan,” said Baffert. “I was going to run her in the Clement Hirsch and then the Zenyatta and then the Breeders' Cup, like last year, but I've been watching her closely and she came out of the last race really well. She had a different style of running the other day, she sat back, and she's doing really well.” The media frenzy surrounding Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna)'s Travers bid against the boys may have dissauded Baffert from making a premature announcement. “I didn't want to say anything,” said Baffert. “She was doing well, but I didn't want to get backed into a corner, and if you say you're going to run, there's that pressure of running, and I didn't want that pressure. But she looks great, she worked really well, so i thought if you're going to take a chance in one of the races here, I think she should like the mile and a quarter. She's a big mare, a big strong mare, so we'll just see what happens and hopefully when they turn for home I don't say `oh, that was a bad idea.'” The post Baffert Enters Adare Manor Against The Boys in Pacific Classic appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

DONCASTER, England–“A victory for small breeders!” That was the emphatic verdict from an emotional Muriel Knox after her family had topped Tuesday's opening session of the Goffs UK Doncaster Premier Yearling Sale with their homebred Havana Grey (GB) filly for £240,000. Mark McStay's Avenue Bloodstock struck the winning bid on behalf of Skara Glen Stables. Lot 157 might have been consigned by Sarah Fanning Sales, but it's fair to say that this was a Knox filly through and through with Miss Mercy (Ire) (Law Society) as her fourth dam, a mare Muriel's late father-in-law, Ken Knox, bought nearly three decades ago for just 3,000gns. Miss Mercy quickly proved herself a shrewd buy as the dam of three black-type performers, including the Listed winners Sadeek (GB) and Dubai Dynamo (GB), both by Kyllachy (GB), while her Listed-placed granddaughter Spinatrix (GB) will be a familiar name to most as the winner of 10 races for the Michael Dods yard. She in turn is the dam of the G3 Athasi Stakes heroine Twilight Spinner (GB) (Twilight Son {GB}). However, no matter what went before it, there could be no mistaking that the sale of this filly, the first foal out of Spinatrix's winning daughter Twist of Hay (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), was the most exciting result that this generation of the Knox family has experienced during its time in the sport. Muriel was joined by son Josh, who said, “We always knew we had a nice horse and we landed on the right sire at the right time. We never thought she'd make that much–it's by far our biggest result, by a long, long way.” “It's emotional,” Muriel continued. “My heart was pounding. It sort of went quiet for a little bit, and we thought maybe she's stuck here, but then off she went again. We were joking yesterday that we better put a bigger reserve on her, but it's worked out well! “We're based in Northallerton and it's a victory for small breeders. We only have five mares and most of them are from the same family. My husband Jeremy's father bought Miss Mercy and bred from her. She was just a little, cheap acquisition, but he really liked her and she was the foundation mare.” Twist of Hay is said to be in foal to Ardad (Ire) having produced a colt by Lope Y Fernandez (Ire) earlier this year, giving the Knoxs plenty more to look forward to with what is the fifth generation of this family to have passed through their hands over the last 30 years or so. McStay, too, is excited to see what the next chapter might hold with a filly who was purchased on behalf of his new client and is now set to join Donnacha O'Brien. “She's a beautiful filly,” he said. “She was very well-presented and has been bought on behalf of Ira Gumberg of Skara Glen Stables. She has the Queen Mary written all over her and goes into training with Donnacha O'Brien. “Doncaster is renowned for selling sharp and early two-year-olds and this filly is exactly that. She is very typical of the quality of animal we have seen do well from this sales ground over the years and she joins a trainer with a track record of producing Royal Ascot winners.” Whilst the Havana Grey filly was one of two yearlings to surpass the £200,000 paid for last year's top lot, trade on day one was otherwise down on 12 months ago. Of the 243 yearlings offered–25 more than last year–200 sold at a clearance rate of 82%. The aggregate was down by 11% at £8,209,500, while the average dipped by 14% to £41,048 and the median by 11% to £31,000. Lot 157 is now leading proceedings at the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale. This filly by Havana Grey has stolen the show and her breeders were overjoyed with her making £240,000. pic.twitter.com/7senWLeWOB — TDN (@theTDN) August 27, 2024 Mehmas Colt Heads Phil Cunningham's Haul Classic-winning owner Phil Cunningham has reaped the rewards after enlisting the services of Highflyer's Anthony Bromley at last year's Premier Yearling Sale, and the brief given to the ace agent was much the same 12 months on as he secured one of the top lots from Tuesday's opening session, a Mehmas (Ire) colt from the Houghton Bloodstock draft who commanded £210,000. “Mehmas was on our wish list if we could get one,” said Bromley last year after securing another yearling by the Tally-Ho Stud resident for £145,000, one of seven lots he signed for on behalf of Cunningham at that sale for a total of £617,000. Admittedly, the colt since named The Man (Ire) is yet to add to his Southwell debut win in three further starts for Richard Spencer, but at least two others have shown genuine Group-class potential, namely Listed scorer Yah Mo Be There (GB) (Mohaather {GB}) and Newmarket debut winner Righthere Rightnow (Fr) (Kodiac {GB}). That duo were bought for £95,000 and £72,000, respectively. A return trip to Doncaster for next month's G2 Champagne Stakes has been earmarked for the last-named colt, while Bromley is already thinking of York next summer for what proved to be just the first of six new recruits to the Rebel Racing ranks on Tuesday. Lot 28 is out of Cheveley Park Stud's Listed-winning mare Red Box (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}), herself a daughter of the Prix de Diane heroine Confidential Lady (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}). “He's a real Donny type of horse and we've bought him to try and win Harry's Half Million,” Bromley said. “We've had a bit of luck from last year's sale. We've got Yah Mo Be There, Righthere Rightnow, who won at Newmarket and goes to the Champagne Stakes, and The Man who is not a bad horse as well. “It was definitely more than I was hoping to bid for him. We had to outbid George Scott who was very strong on the horse. I don't normally spend that sort of money on Flat yearlings, but I'm very excited to get this one.” By the end of the opening session Bromley's six purchases for Cunningham came to a total of £730,000, with the others including lot 87, a Sergei Prokofiev colt from Whitsbury Manor Stud, and lot 92, a Dark Angel (Ire) colt from the Yeomanstown Stud draft who reached £170,000. “It's for the same team,” said Bromley after going to £140,000 for the yearling by Whitsbury Manor's leading first-season sire. “He was a great athlete, with size and scope, and the sire is obviously flying. I've loved this horse since I saw him on Saturday and Richard [Spencer] liked him when he got here on Sunday. He's been high on our list to buy all week. “We ran into Clive Cox again and he's a good judge to outbid. I'd hoped to get him for around £100,000, but sometimes you've got to go a couple more bids than you'd budgeted for.” 16,000gns £140,000 Not a bad pinhook for Whitsbury Manor Stud who stand the sire of lot 87. pic.twitter.com/X2S0gUA95L — TDN (@theTDN) August 27, 2024 Too Hot To Handle One of only two yearlings by Too Darn Hot (GB) in the catalogue, lot 76, continued the good work the young Darley stallion put in at the Arqana August Sale where three of his six yearlings made at least €200,000, with a colt out of the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches runner-up Irish Rookie (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}) leading the way at €520,000. This filly from the Barton Stud consignment is out of the Listed-winning Exceed And Excel (Aus) mare Shamandar (Fr), already the dam of the Listed-placed Admiral Nelson (GB) (Kingman {GB}), as well as the unbeaten three-year-old Shamrock Bay (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}), who is two from two for Daniel and Claire Kubler since the catalogue was published. That update no doubt helped the Parks Farm Stud-bred filly achieve one of the highest prices of the session when knocked down to Sackville Donald and Manor House Stables for £170,000, not to mention the soaring reputation of the stallion. “She's a very strong, precocious-looking filly by a stallion who needs no introduction,” said Ed Sackville. “She's been bought for an existing owner of Hugo Palmer and will be trained at Manor House Stables.” “I think you never know until you're in the ring,” he added when asked whether the fee was in the ballpark of what he'd expected to pay. “But I think if you're spending that kind of money you want to have something [in the pedigree] to back it up and she had that.” Lot 76 at the Goffs UK Premier Sale sells for £170,000. Consigned by Barton Sales, this filly by Too Darn Hot will join Hugo Palmer at Manor House Stables. pic.twitter.com/ef2clEN42O — TDN (@theTDN) August 27, 2024 A'Ali Is Alright Of the seven yearlings by first-season sire A'Ali offered during this opening session, Anthony Stroud struck for the two most expensive in the shape of the colt who was offered by Lynn Lodge Stud as lot 206 and Sarah Fanning's filly who went through the ring as lot 173. The latter is set to carry the same colours A'Ali sported during his own racing career, those of Shaikh Duaij Al Khalifa, after being bought for £130,000, while the £150,000 colt is set to go into training with George Scott, with the owner yet to be confirmed. “He was a very athletic colt,” Stroud said of lot 206, a half-brother to the Listed winner and G3 Molecomb Stakes runner-up Rocket Rodney (GB) (Dandy Man {Ire}). “He's going to go to George Scott, who trained the half-brother, and he was a very good representation of the sire. He should be a two-year-old and I liked him very much.” Stroud, of course, is a long-time fan of A'Ali having been the one to buy him for £135,000 when he went under the hammer at the breeze-up sale here at Doncaster, and he seemingly likes what he's seen of the high-class sprinter's progeny on his return to Town Moor for this sale. He added, “There's 14 of them [yearlings by A'Ali] here and I thought they were a really good example of his stock. They look really good, really athletic, early two-year-old types–I thought they were very nice.” Another first season sire who is impressing is A'Ali. His progeny have been very well received at Goffs UK with Anthony Stroud purchasing two so far. pic.twitter.com/0lMChJNeXD — TDN (@theTDN) August 27, 2024 Mehmas Continues To Make Waves Oliver St Lawrence Bloodstock was the name on the docket for lot 146, a colt by Mehmas (Ire) offered by Tally-Ho Stud, but it was young trainer John O'Donoghue who did the bidding as he looked to add to his growing team at John Oxx's former base at Currabeg. A one-time assistant to Roger Varian in Newmarket, O'Donoghue has saddled 16 winners in Britain and Ireland since sending out his first runners under his own name in 2022, including Pearling Path (Fr) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), who provided him with perhaps his most notable result so far when filling the runner-up spot in the Listed Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot in his first season. This year O'Donoghue has sent out 16 different horses in Ireland, including the Sergei Prokofiev two-year-old Majestic Wave (GB), last seen dead-heating for second in a maiden at Cork last month. The horse he couldn't be split from on that occasion was another son of Mehmas in Magnum Force (Ire)–since Listed placed at York for Ger Lyons–a result which clearly had a lasting impression on O'Donoghue as he explained the decision to part with £130,000 for this colt. He was bought for Bahraini clients including Fawzi Nass who is already involved in the yard. “I think he was typical of the stallion and they've done well of late,” O'Donoghue summed up. “We dead-heated for second with a nice Mehmas in Ireland with a Sergei Prokofiev of ours. I just thought he ticked all of the boxes. I was keen to get a Mehmas that really looked like a Mehmas and that's what he is.” He added, “We're very lucky to have that support from Fawzi, Sheikh Nasser and the guys in Bahrain. Hopefully, he's a nice horse and lucky for them next year. We thought he'd be around the six-figure mark, maybe 115 or 120–130 was probably the top of our ceiling.” Talking points Safe to say that Sergei Prokofiev is beginning to earn the respect he deserves. Currently leading the first-season sires' championship in Europe, Sergei Prokofiev had something of a coming of age here on Tuesday when respected buyers like Anthony Bromley and Clive Cox stretched to secure colts by the Whitsbury Manor Stud-based stallion. It's one thing talking the talk, which the progeny of Sergei Prokofiev did at the yearling and foal sales these past couple of years, but now that they are actually doing the business, shrewd judges are standing up and taking notice. That was reflected in seven yearlings selling for an average of £52,286. And what about next year's first-season sires championship? Both Starman and Supremacy performed creditably on Tuesday, which they ought to have given the sheer strength in numbers offered by the young stallions, but it was A'Ali who shone brightest. Two of the Norfolk Stakes winner's yearlings broke the six-figure barrier which led to a hugely impressive average of £79,750 for four horses sold. Few buyers have quite an affinity with Doncaster as Peter and Ross Doyle do. The father-and-son team have sourced Canford Cliffs (Ire), Olympic Glory (Ire), Tiggy Wiggy (Ire) and Barney Roy (GB) at this sale and it was only right to see the team featuring high on the buyers' sheet at the close of play on Tuesday. All told, Peter and Ross Doyle signed for 10 yearlings for £676,000. There were 14 yearlings who rocked into six figures on day one compared to 18 on this corresponding day of trade last year. Golden touch It was all smiles for the team at Whitsbury Manor Stud after lot 87, a colt by their own stallion, Sergei Prokofiev, sold to Highflyer and Phil Cunningham for £140,000. Bred by Whatcote Farm Stud out of their winning Dandy Man (Ire) mare Shrara (Ire), he'd previously been bought for just 16,000gns at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale. “We're absolutely delighted–it's a fantastic result,” said Joe Callan, Whitsbury Manor's head of bloodstock and sales. “He's been bought by a fantastic judge and he's going to a great trainer in Richard Spencer, so we couldn't be more pleased. “He's a great horse, a big mover and very strong–he caught everyone's eye here. We're absolutely thrilled with the result and wish the new connections the best of luck with him.” Buy of the day They say the early bird catches the worm and Karl and Kelly Burke might well be rewarded for playing early in the case of lot 38, a block of a filly by Twilight Son (GB) who appears to have speed to burn. Consigned by Folland-Bowen Bloodstock, the Twilight Son filly is a sister to six-time winner Under The Twilight (GB), who achieved a rating of 90 in her pomp. The pedigree is just speed on speed with the dam, Rococoa (Ire) (Zebedee {GB}), having won twice over sprint trips. It would be no surprise to see this £40,000 purchase feature in the early part of the season next year and she couldn't have gone to a better trainer to fulfill her potential. She should prove to be a value buy. Thought for the day Goffs might have uncovered a bit of a gem in Tadhg Dooley. The youngster has taken to auctioneering like a duck to water and proved to be assured and competent beyond his years on the rostrum again on Tuesday. Put it this way, no vendor would be heard complaining when young Dooley steps up to offer their yearling. And that, perhaps, is the greatest compliment of all. The post Small Breeders Smiling as 240k Havana Grey Filly Tops Opening Session at Goffs appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Sibelius, the gutsy winner of the 2023 Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1), has been retired from racing. View the full article

Elio Barrera captured the first riding title of his young career at the recently concluded Evangeline Downs Thoroughbred meet. Juan Larrosa took home the training title while Elite Thoroughbred Racing repeated as champ in the owner standings.View the full article

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority has penalized Brian Hernandez Jr. for his ride aboard multiple grade 1-winning filly Thorpedo Anna in the $1.25 million Travers Stakes (G1) Aug. 24 at Saratoga Race Course.View the full article

Maiden Watch: Week of Aug. 19-Aug. 25View the full article

The Zoldan Family, owners of Phantom Fireworks, and Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl-winning tight end Travis Kelce recently acquired a significant share of Team Valor's interest in Gary Barber's 3-year-old gelding Swift Delivery.View the full article

Elio Barrera captured the first riding title of his young career and Juan Larrosa fended off a number of challengers in a tightly contested trainer's race at the Evangeline Downs Thoroughbred meet which concluded Saturday. Michele Rodriguez's Elite Thoroughbred Racing repeated as the meet's leading owner. Barrera, a 22-year-old from Guatemala in his second full season of riding, finished the season with 80 wins from 420 mounts at the meet which opened Apr. 5. He was one of five riders to eclipse the million-dollar mark in purse earnings, topping the list at $1,585,265. Larrosa edged clear in the final nights of the meet to capture the training title, with 33 wins from 157 starters. Shane Wilson topped the earnings list with $698,430. Elite Thoroughbred Racing repeated as leading owner with 19 wins from 102 starters. Adding in 18 seconds and 11 shows, Elite Thoroughbred earned a meet-topping $429,555. Evelyn Benoit's Brittlyn Stable finished second with $316,380 and Robert Norman's Norman Stables was third with $304,470. The post Barrera, Larrosa, Elite Thoroughbred Racing Earn Evangeline Titles appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

When it comes to racing, breeding and sales, Justin Wojczynski has done just about everything. He's been a pinhooker, he's broken horses for others and prepared them for the races, he's handled layup horses and he's been a trainer. One might think that's plenty, but Wojczynski is intent on expanding his stable of race horses while keeping his other side jobs. That might sound like a lot, but it has been made easier by the emergence of the 6-year-old mare Awesome Treat (Awesome Patriot). In her last start, she sprung an upset at 25-1 in the Kentucky Downs Preview Mint Ladies Turf Sprint S. at Ellis Park. On Saturday, she'll be looking to take things to the next level when she goes in the $1.5-million GII Ladies Turf Sprint S. at Kentucky Downs. “This is kind of something I've always wanted to do,” Wojczynski said. “Some circumstances and some jobs led us to pinhooking and 2-year-olds in general. I really enjoyed that and did well at it. We sold some good horses for good money. But when you get away from the 2-year-olds, you have to try to figure the horse out and develop them. At the 2-year-old sales you're all in on one day. It's great if it goes your way that day, but sometimes little hiccups occur. You don't always have the opportunity to show the best of your product, but that's the only opportunity you get. I found that frustrating at times.” Wojczynski, 41, graduated from Michigan State and initially wanted to be a veterinarian. But he decided to accept an internship from Kentucky Equine Management Internship program and has never looked back. He has worked for Lane's End, Pin Oak, Rusty Arnold, and Ciaran Dunne. He was assistant to pinhooker Cary Frommer and had his first consignment of his own in 2018. That group included Concrete Rose (Twirling Candy) who sold for $61,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May sale. She became a Grade I winner when capturing the 2019 GI Belmont Oaks Invitational S. Wojczynski bought the filly a year earlier as a yearling for $20,000 at Keeneland September. Leading up to this year, he started a few horses on his own, opening up his stable in 2020. He has won 12 races. He understands that when it comes to training, he's going to have to accomplish more before people start paying attention. Ricky Sikand, the co-owner of Awesome Treat, believes his trainer is well on his way when it comes to making a name for himself. “Justin approaches each horse with patience and precision, tailoring his methods to meet their individual needs,” Sikand said. “He will be quick to point out if a horse needs time off at the farm. His ability to build trust and confidence in both horse and rider is remarkable. Beyond his technical skills, Justin's passion for the sport and genuine care for the horses are evident in every session. “We've seen significant improvements in our horses' performance and demeanor, and the results speak for themselves. Justin's hands-on approach coupled with his well-trained and dedicated team makes for a very well run stable.” Wojczynski and his wife Gemma are also the co-breeders of Tough Catch (Complexity), a maiden winner at Saratoga slated to run in the GI Hopeful S. He is based at the Thoroughbred Training Center in Lexington, where he has 30 stalls and 12 of those horses are being pointed for the races with Wojczynski as the trainer. Awesome Treat has already proven to be a break-through horse for Wojczynski. Her win at Ellis was Wojczynski's first stakes victory as a trainer. With $1.5 million on the line Saturday, she'll be facing a much tougher assignment. Awesome Treat, who spends part of her year at Woodbine for trainer Steve Attard, has made 17 starts on the Tapeta surface with three wins. Wojczynski is now focusing on a turf campaign. She is 2-for-4 on the grass. “She's a super mare and she really tries hard,” the trainer said. “She was always running good on the Tapeta between here and at Woodbine. Sometimes you're a little hesitant to try something else when a horse is doing good. We took a stab with her in a grass race at Keeneland and she won at 51-1. She doesn't have a lot of conditions at this stage, so we focus on stakes races. Was that a big race for us at Ellis Park? Most definitely. Is the next one harder, a little more difficult? Yes. We'll just prepare her and take a shot and do it. I feel good about her being 20-1 in the morning line. She paid $100 at Keeneland and $50 when she won at Ellis Park. I'd probably be a lot more nervous if she was 5-2 or something.” While every trainer wants a barn full of top horses, Wojczynski is mostly focused on giving each individual horse the attention it needs, while offering a full slate of services to his clients. “I'd like to have a barn full of horses that are competing at a high level,” he said. “Yes, you want to shoot for that. Everybody loves training top-quality horses. Who doesn't want to play at the top of the game? You just want to be successful with whatever you do and want to produce a good product no matter what you are doing.” The post Jack-of-All-Trades Justin Wojczynski Seeks Career-Making Win at Kentucky Downs appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Travers Stakes (G1) winner Fierceness and runner-up Thorpedo Anna were separated by a head in their Aug. 24 showdown at Saratoga Race Course, and the margin was similar in the latest NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll, released Aug. 27.View the full article

Arena Racing Company, Britain's largest racing group, and 1/ST, North America's preeminent Thoroughbred racing and pari-mutuel wagering company, announced a new partnership to open new opportunities across some of their feature races.View the full article

Due to the expectation of excessive heat this week, Delaware Park and Kentucky Downs have each made changes to their scheduled post times.View the full article

The Zoldan Family, owners of Phantom Fireworks, alongside Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl-winning tight end Travis Kelce, have recently acquired a significant share of Team Valor's interest in Gary Barber's 3-year-old gelding Swift Delivery.View the full article

Eleven stakes races worth $3,575,000 will be offered during the 14-day September meet at Churchill Downs from Sept. 12-29.View the full article

Insel Racing's Awesome Result (Justify) made Tuesday's $365,264 Listed Breeders' Gold Cup her seventh victory from as many trips to the post and likely earned a trip to Del Mar for the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff Nov. 2. The same race was used as a springboard to victory in the same event by Marche Lorraine (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) at the seaside oval in 2021. Favored at 1-10 off a maiden stakes success in the Listed Empress Hai at Kawasaki May 8, Awesome Result broke a bit sideways, causing Yutaka Take to shift to his right in the saddle, then gradually worked her way forward to sit third and in the breeze rounding the first turn. Asked to take up the chase three deep passing the 600-meter pole, Awesome Result found the front prior to leaving the turn, got a right-handed reminder at the furlong grounds and coasted home. Awesome Result is one of 17 Japanese winners for her sire and one of two black-type winners, joining Listed Oasis Stakes hero Yuttitham (Jpn) (–Zipessa, by City Zip). The unraced dam Blossomed has accounted for eight other winners and was purchased by Springhouse Farm for $425,000 in foal to Honor Code about two months after her daughter Sippican Harbor (Orb) caused a 16-1 upset in the 2018 GI Spinaway Stakes. Blossomed's Grade III-placed daughter Bodacious Babe (Mineshaft) is the dam of Royal Spa (Violence), twice placed in stakes company at Oaklawn Park this past season; as well as Ju Taro (Arrogate), a three-time winner in Japan. The mare is also responsible for a 2-year-old brother to Awesome Result who fetched $350,000 at Keeneland November in 2022, but was bought back on a bid of $520,000 at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale. Tuesday's Results BREEDERS' GOLD CUP (Jpn-G2)-Listed, ¥52,700,000 ($365,264), Mombetsu, 8-27, 3yo/up, f/m, 2000m, 2:04, sy. 1–AWESOME RESULT, 126, f, 4, Justify–Blossomed, by Deputy Minister. O-Insel Racing; B-Orpendale/Chelston/Wynatt (KY); T-Yasutoshi Ikee; J-Yutaka Take; ¥31,000,000. Lifetime Record: 7-7-0-0, ¥138,430,000. *1/2 to Bodacious Babe (Mineshaft), GSP, $154,259; and Sippican Harbor (Orb), GISW, $262,650. 2–Delicada (Jpn), 121, m, 5, Pyro–Bronx Silver (Jpn), by Kurofune. O-Teruya Yoshida; B-Shadai Farm; ¥10,850,000. 3–Dreyse (Jpn), 121, m, 5, Gun Runner–Giuliet Seattle (Arg), by Seattle Fitz (Arg). O-Shadai Race Horse; B-Shadai Farm; ¥6,200,000. Margins: 5, 1, 4. Odds: 0.10, 16.60, 49.20. Click for the goracing.jp result. 8月27日（火）門別競馬場にて行われた第36回 #ブリーダーズゴールドカップ（JpnⅢ・ダート2000m） にて #オーサムリザルト が無傷の7連勝で重賞2連勝を成し遂げました。ご声援誠に有難うございました！ これからの活躍もぜひご期待ください！#インゼルサラブレッドクラブ #武豊騎手 pic.twitter.com/sz7z0xIIE0 — インゼルサラブレッドクラブ (@InselTCofficial) August 27, 2024 The post Justify’s Awesome Result Remains Perfect, Targeting BC Distaff appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Jockey Brian Hernandez, who was fined $1,250, will also serve a one-day suspension for the ride on Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) in last weekend's GI Travers Stakes, reports Daily Racing Form Tuesday. Issued by the Horse Racing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) and signed by NYRA steward Victor Escobar, the penalty was levied for using the crop seven times, one over the limit of six strikes. The Kentucky Oaks winner and Hernandez finished a close second behind juvenile champion Fierceness (City of Light) in the Travers. Hernandez, who is scheduled to ride Pyrenees (Into Mischief) in Sunday's GI Jockey Club Gold Cup, will serve his suspension on Labor Day. The post Hernandez Given One-Day Suspension, Fined for Travers Ride appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article