Wandering Eyes

It was worth the wait. After being rescheduled and run eight days late due to the weather, the GI FanDuel Fourstardave Handicap at Saratoga featured a breakout performance by 'TDN Rising Star' Carl Spackler (c, 4, Lope de Vega {Ire})–Zindaya, by More Than Ready), who was taking the first Grade I event of his career after winning three other graded races, all at Saratoga. As a 'Win and You're In' race for the GI Breeders' Cup Mile, the Fourstardave gives Carl Spackler a fees-paid berth into racing's Championship Day in November. Fresh off a Jul. 13 GIII Kelso Stakes win, Carl Spackler tracked Strong Quality (Quality Road) from the start behind :24.76 and :49.24 fractions. He collared that one at the top of the stretch, opened up, and the race was over, as the e Five Racing Thoroughbreds runner kicked clear to win by about four lengths. More Than Looks (More Than Ready), making his first start since a sixth in last year's Breeders' Cup Mile, closed from the penultimate spot to nab second over favored Ottoman Fleet (GB) (See The Stars {Ire}), who won a pair of graded events at Churchill in his last two. Carl Spackler's win marked the first victory in the Fourstardave for trainer Chad Brown. O-e Five Racing Thoroughbreds; B-Fifth Avenue Bloodstock (Ire); T-Chad Brown; J-Tyler Gaffalione. CARL SPACKLER is taking his superior intelligence and superior horsepower to the @BreedersCup after winning the Grade 1 @FanDuel Fourstardave with @Tyler_Gaff aboard for trainer Chad Brown and @e5Racing! pic.twitter.com/C6ofpM4AZF — NYRA () (@TheNYRA) August 11, 2024 The post Carl Spackler Wins Fourstardave, Gives Chad Brown First Win in the Race appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Pacific Classic (G1) is three weeks away and many of the horses gearing up for the big race showed up on the work tab this week, but the defending champion is a huge question mark.View the full article

The Virginia Derby (G3T), traditionally a turf race held at Colonial Downs in September, will be moved to dirt in 2025 and join the Road to the Kentucky Derby in March.View the full article

Facing just three rivals, 'TDN Rising Star' GETAWAY CAR (c, 2, Curlin–Surrender Now, by Morning Line) had things all his own way right from the break to take the GIII Best Pal Stakes at Del Mar. On the lead straight away, the 1-5 favorite led gate to wire and cruised the length of the stretch under a motionless Juan Hernandez to come home the easiest of winners over Mischief River (Into Mischief). Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0. O- SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Bashor, Dianne, Determined Stables, Masterson, Robert E., Ryan, Tom J., Waves Edge Capital LLC and Donovan, Catherine; B-Blue Heaven Farm & Curlin Syndicate; T-Bob Baffert. Sales History: $300,000 wlg '22 KEENOV; $700,000 ylg '23 KEESEP. The post ‘TDN Rising Star’ Getaway Car An Easy Winner In Best Pal appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — If it was up to Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, Seize the Grey (Arrogate) would be running in the $1.25-million, GI Travers Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on Aug. 24. On Sunday morning, all Lukas could do was shrug his shoulders when asked if the GI Preakness Stakes winner would be taking a place in the Travers starting gate. “I don't know,” he said at his barn on the Oklahoma Training Track. “I am going to vote to run him in it.” Lukas, though, apparently doesn't have the only say. MyRacehorse, which owns the horse, lists 2,570 partners who got involved with a payment of $127 per share. Of course, 2,570 people don't get to give their opinion on where and when Seize the Grey runs. That would fall on Michael Behrens, the founder and CEO of MyRacehorse. He did not return a message left on his cellphone on Sunday. Last month, MyRacehorse sold the breeding rights to Gainesway Farm in Lexington. According to a release from MyRacehorse in July, the deal has a base value of $3.5 million with additional incentives. The final value of the breeding rights would balloon by $3 million if Seize the Grey wins the Travers and $4 million more if he were to win the GI Breeders' Cup Classic. If Seize the Grey wins a Grade I other than the Travers of Classic, it's a $2-million bonus. That would include the GI Pennsylvania Derby at Parx on Sept. 21. Lukas said he believes that Gainesway is involved with the decision on Seize the Grey's next start. Brian Graves, the general manager at Gainesway, said that is not the case. “The owners will decide where he runs next; it's their call not mine,” Graves said by phone Sunday. “I am not sure where they are running the horse next. The horse is limited to a certain amount of runs before the retirement.” How many races that is was not made clear. Seize the Grey has raced seven times this year and has three wins and a third. Since winning the Preakness, he was seventh in the GI Belmont Stakes on June 8 and fourth in the GII Jim Dandy Stakes on July 27. Both of those races were run at Saratoga. “There is some thought that maybe he doesn't care for this racetrack,” Lukas said. “I don't quite buy into that.” Lukas said there is talk that MyRacehorse would rather wait for the Pennsylvania Derby and give Seize the Grey more time between races. Lukas would like to run in both the Travers and Pennsylvania Derby. “I never trained afraid to run them when they are good,” Lukas said. “I have made a living doing that. So many times, we overreact to the time off and whether he is ready and all of that. I have run a lot of horses in a lot of stakes–I mean a lot of stakes–and I run them back in short time.” Lukas said he will continue to train Seize the Grey as if he were going to run in the Travers. He plans on working him on Monday. “It's a no-win situation for me,” Lukas said. “If he runs well (in the Travers), I'm a hero. If he runs poor, it's like, 'I told you so; you should not have run him.' But I am bulletproof to that stuff. If he doesn't run (in the Travers), I'll just keep right on training him for the next one.” Gaffalione Has Been Riding As Good As Anyone Lately At Saratoga Over the past four days, no one has been hotter than jockey Tyler Gaffalione at Saratoga Race Course. He has won nine races over that period to give him 25 winners. Sixteen days of racing remain in the 40-day meet. Tyler Gaffalione after a win in the July 27 GI Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap | Sarah Andrew Irad Ortiz, Jr. is the leader with 33 wins, and he is followed by Gaffalione and Flavien Prat, each with 25. “Everything has been going really well,” Gaffalione said on the Saratoga backstretch this weekend. “My agent (Saratoga Springs native Matt Muzikar) has been doing a great job getting us on live horses, and the horsemen have done a great job bringing them over ready to run.” The question is can Gaffalione–or anyone else–knock off Ortiz, Jr., who has won four of the last six titles, including the last two? Ortiz, Jr. will be sitting out three days next week as he serves a suspension Wednesday-Friday. “You always come into these meets with the confidence that you can win,” he said. “Everything has to go your way and you have to get a little bit of luck. Who knows?” Better Days Ahead For Romans And Keep It Easy Trainer Dale Romans was hoping for big things from Keep It Easy (Hard Spun) in Saturday's Grade II Saratoga Special Stakes at Saratoga. It didn't happen. Keep It Easy, the 5-2 second choice among the eight 2-year-olds, was never a factor. Ridden by Junior Alvarado, Keep It Easy stumbled badly coming out of the gate. For them, game over. “(Alvarado) said he was standing good, and the ground broke out from under him behind and he went to his knees,” Romans said outside his barn on the Saratoga backstretch Sunday morning. “He lost all chance and cut himself up a little bit.” Keep It Easy just before the Saratoga Special | Sarah Andrew After the stumble, Keep It Easy bumped with Good Directions (Liam's Map), further making this a horrible Saratoga Special for the Romans barn. “He fell into (Good Directions); that probably kept him up,” Romans said. “It kept him from going all the way down. Junior is lucky he stayed on. After that, he said he gave him a little chance down the backside, and he could tell he was rattled and then he just let him gallop around there.” Romans said Keep It Easy was in good shape Sunday morning after the ordeal. Keep It Easy broke his maiden in his second start, at Churchill Downs on June 27. Romans was encouraged with the effort even though the public dismissed him at odds of 23-1. The Saratoga Special became the goal and Romans expected something, well, special. So, for sure, on Sunday there was disappointment. “He was the focus of the meet, he was the big horse in the barn,” said the Kentucky-based Romans, who has 10 horses stabled at Saratoga. “I know he is a good horse. The good side of it is that he looks sound this morning, he is healthy and it looks like there is a lot of ground in front of us.” There is no specific race that Romans will target Keep It Easy to. He will likely resurface at Keeneland in the fall. “He'll live to fight another day,” Romans said. “This shows how tough it is to win a big race. Everything has to go right, and you can't stub your toe in a graded stakes race at Saratoga.” The post Saratoga Notebook, Presented by NYRA Bets: Lukas Wants To Run Seize the Grey in Travers, No Decision Has Been Made appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

FANDOM (GB) (c, 3, Showcasing {GB}–Brogan {GB}, by Pivotal {GB}) took the Mahony Stakes field gate to wire Sunday under Dylan Davis for trainer Brad Cox. This year's Palisades Stakes winner added blinkers, broke sharply from the rail and turned back all comers in a driving finish to just last over 36-1 shot Run Carson (Maclean's Music). An objection lodged by third-place finisher Apollo Ten (Violence) against the winner was disallowed. Lifetime Record: GSP, 5-2-0-1. O-Stonestreet Stables LLC; B-Chasemore Farm; T-Brad Cox. Sales History: 170,000gns ylg '22 TATOCT. #1 Fandom scores in the Mahony S. at Saratoga at 4/1 for trainer @bradcoxracing with @davisjockey on top! pic.twitter.com/RRBfE0bQA4 — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) August 11, 2024 The post Fandom Takes The Mahony At Saratoga For Brad Cox appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

There are four horse racing meetings set for Australia on Monday, August 12. Our racing analysts here at horsebetting.com.au have found you the best bets and the quaddie numbers for Muswellbrook. Monday’s Free Horse Racing Tips – August 12, 2024 Muswellbrook 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 12, 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

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Off a visually-impressive 16 3/4-length win on debut at Lone Star for Bret Calhoun June 29, STILETTOS (f, 2, Upstart–Unspoken Word, by Catienus) jumped up to win Sunday's Ellis Park Debutante. Pressing the pace early, the top pair opened up on the field and were along off the turn as the winner held off Rich City Girl (City of Light) to hit the line first. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0. O- Collinsworth Thoroughbred Racing LLC; B-Lori Collinsworth & Mark Collinsworth; T-W. Bret Calhoun. #6 Stilettos backs up her dominating debut win and stays perfect in the Ellis Park Debutante for trainer Bret Calhoun with @b_hernandezjr aboard! #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/KZ6ghao3kj — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) August 11, 2024 The post Upstart Filly Stilettos Victorious In Ellis Park Debutante appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Josie Carroll added another chapter to her outstanding training career when she recorded her 1,000th victory Aug. 11 at Woodbine in the day's fourth race.View the full article

In an old fashioned throwdown in the Ellis Park Juvenile Stakes on Sunday afternoon, it was Owen Almighty (Speightstown–Tempers Rising, by Bayern) who got the best of rival Politicallycorrect (Violence) and won the black-type. Both short-priced favorites were ready for the match and they certainly went at one another up the backstretch and into the far turn. However, it was Owen Almighty who sized up his rival and took the prize at the Pea Patch. The final running time was 1:24.36. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0. Sales History: $360,000 '22 KEENOV; $355,000 '23 FTSAUG. O-Boardshorts Stables, LLC; B-Mark Stanley; T-Brian A. Lynch. #7 Owen Almighty was superior in the Ellis Park Juvenile under @cristiantorr64 for trainer @blynchracing! #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/pmOcLLUif0 — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) August 11, 2024 The post Owen Almighty Shows Mettle In Ellis Park Juvenile Throwdown appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Runners gearing up towards the GI FanDuel Racing Pacific Classic worked over the weekend with three weeks to the big race. Last year's winner, 'TDN Rising Star' Arabian Knight (Uncle Mo) may not return to defend his title after finishing fourth in the GII San Diego per trainer Bob Baffert. “He's doing fine,” Baffert said. “But I don't know what I'm going to run in the Pacific Classic.” Meanwhile Subsanador (Fortify), one of two Argentine-breds thought to be headed to the Pacific Classic, will instead run in the GIII Iselin Stakes at Monmouth Park Aug. 17 according to trainer Richard Mandella. Parenting (Justify), Newgate (Into Mischief) and Reincarnate (Good Magic), all from the Baffert barn, have been mentioned as possible runners in the Pacific Classic. Reincarnate, runner-up to Midnight Mammoth (Midnight Lute) in the GIII Cougar II, put in a five-furlong work Saturday, stopping the clock in 1:01.4. (1/4). Newgate, who hasn't raced since returning from the Middle East where he ran ninth in the G1 Dubai World Cup, returned to the work tab Friday, posting a three-furlong bullet in :36.40 (1/8). Other candidates for Del Mar's marquee race of the summer meet all put in works this week. Dr. Venkman (Ghostzapper) worked Saturday on the main track going four furlongs in :47.60 (9/92). It was his first work since his victory in the GII San Diego last month. Trainer Mark Glatt indicated he was pleased with the work and is pointing to the Pacific Classic. Katonah (Klimt), runner-up in the San Diego, is also being pointed to the Pacific Classic. He put in his first work since the San Diego Saturday going four furlongs in :47.40 (6/92). Midnight Mammoth is pointing to the Classic off of his victory in the GIII Cougar II. Trainer Craig Dollase worked him Saturday, going four furlongs in :48.00 (19/92). Express Train (Union Rags) is another probable participant off of his third-place finish in the San Diego. “He came out of the race fine,” trainer John Shirreffs says, “I thought he ran a credible race and we're looking forward to the next one.” Trainer John Sadler is still uncommitted to running Full Serrano (Full Mast) in the Classic. “He came out of the race well,” Sadler says. “We'll start to breeze him back next week and look for something here, whether it's that (the Pacific Classic) or not, we haven't decided.” The post Pacific Classic Workers Tune Up At Del Mar appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

NEW KENT COUNTY, VA — Prior to the running of Sunday's third race on the Colonial Downs 'Festival of Racing' program, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin announced that the track, which has run summer dates since its return to the racing calendar five years ago, would be conducting a 'spring' meeting at the New Kent County track. Youngkin also told the crowd on hand that the Virginia Derby, previously held on the turf, would be contested during the new meeting and that it is to become a points-earning race on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Churchill Downs CEO Bill Carstanjen also addressed the crowd, voicing his satisfaction with the progress made at Colonial Downs on the occasion of the second Festival of Racing since Churchill purchased the track in November 2022. This story will be updated as additional information becomes available The post Colonial To Add Spring Dates, VA Derby To Become Derby Points Race appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Josie Carroll recorded her 1,000th career win as a trainer in Sunday's fourth race at Woodbine when the 4-year-old Tapit gelding Spinzar won for LNJ Foxwoods. Carroll, who became the first woman to trainer a King's Plate winner in 2006, also trained this year's Woodbine Oaks winner. Horses racing out of the Josie Carroll barn include names such as two-time Canadian Horse of the Year Mighty Heart (Dramedy), Careless Heart (Stormin Fever), champion 2-year-old colt Avie's Flatter (Flatter), Ami's Holiday (Harlan's Holiday) and champion 3-year-old colt Ami's Gizmo (Giant Gizmo). Carroll has earned nearly $59m in purse earnings with 176 stakes wins and 59 graded wins. She was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2019. The post Hall of Famer Josie Carroll Reaches 1,000 Training Wins appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

At a time with no shortage of legal issues for racing, the three-day Racing and Gaming Conference at Saratoga will open Aug. 12.View the full article

Sierra Leone returned to the worktab Aug. 11 for the first time since his runner-up effort in the July 27 Jim Dandy (G2), completing a half-mile in :49.View the full article

Charyn staked his claim to be the best miler in Europe Aug. 11 with victory in the Prix Jacques le Marois (G1), earning him an automatic berth and free entry to the $2 million Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T) at Del Mar Nov. 2.View the full article

2nd-Ellis, $71,000, Msw, 8-11, 2yo, f, 7f, 1:25.32, ft, 2 1/4 lengths. LIAM IN THE DUST (f, 2, Liam's Map–Whisper Louise, by Bernardini) debuted at even-money here. The favorite clung to a tenuous lead nestled between a pair of rivals, which included to her outside up the backstretch Impulse Buy (Speightstown). The 2-year-old secured the top spot around the far turn and past the three-sixteenths pole her overdrive kicked in. Cruising along, the chestnut won by 2 1/4 lengths over Impulse Buy. The winner has a younger full-sister who is now a yearling and her dam foaled her a half-sister by Global Campaign Apr. 24. A half-sister to GSW First Passage (Giant's Causeway)–the dam of GSW Berned (Bernardini)–Whisper Louise was bred to Caracaro for next term. Liam in the Dust's extended female family includes GISW Pinehurst (Twirling Candy), and under her third dam we find sire MGSW Graeme Hall (Dehere) and his half-sister GISW Harmony Lodge (Hennessy). Sales History: $45,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP; $250,000 2yo '24 OBSMAR. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $42,505. Click for the Equibase.com chart. O-Storyteller Racing and Schroeck Racing LLC; B-Don Alberto Corporation & W. S. Farish (KY); T-Rodolphe Brisset. It was a @BrissetRodolphe exacta in R2 at @ellisparkracing, with #7 Liam in the Dust getting the win over stablemate Impulse Buy! @luissaezpty was aboard the 2YO filly. #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/jtOn7arrEs — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) August 11, 2024 The post Liam In The Dust Left First Start Behind With Ellis Score appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

GI Blue Grass Stakes winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) returned to the work tab Sunday morning for trainer Chad Brown ahead of an expected next start in the GI DraftKings Travers Stakes Aug. 24. The $2.3m FTSAUG grad, last seen second to another 'Rising Star' and champion in Fierceness (City of Light) in the GII Jim Dandy Stakes July 27, covered a solo half mile in :49 flat over the Oklahoma training track. “He worked super,” said Brown. “He's come out of his last race well and I'm happy with where he's at.” The Jim Dandy marked Sierra Leone's first start with a ring bit under Flavien Prat. He had also been training solo ahead of that start. “It's an area of his training that he's kind of graduated into,” added Brown. “He's got a lot of experience now and fitness, so at this stage of his career, it seems to be working good for him. We'll see where it takes us. For right now, he's fine doing that. We're very much so on target for the Travers.” Also breezing over the weekend was champion Idiomatic (Curlin) for Brad Cox who went five furlongs in 1:00.40 (3/12) Saturday morning. She'll target a title defense in the GI Personal Ensign Stakes Aug. 23. “Really good breeze on the Oklahoma. She will have one more before the Personal Ensign,” Cox said. 'TDN Rising Star' Showcase (Uncle Mo), a winner in Saturday's GII Saratoga Special, rebounded well from his efforts Sunday according to Todd Pletcher. “He's excellent. He looked really good this morning,” said Pletcher. “We will play it by ear [where to run next].” After Saturday's race, Pletcher indicated that the GI Hopeful Stakes Sept. 2 may be a little quick back. He said he may prefer to wait until the fall and stretch out in the either the GI Champagne Stakes at Aqueduct or the GI Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland. The same races are also under consideration for Tenacious Leader (Not This Time) who graduated at second asking Saturday. “I thought that was good,” said Pletcher. “We knew he'd appreciate stretching out. It allowed him to get into a good rhythm. He finished up well. We were happy.” The post Sierra Leone Back Working At Saratoga; Showcase Exits Special In Good Order appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Some of the most highly anticipated races during the summer racing season are the 'baby' races during the boutique meetings at Saratoga and Del Mar and at Ellis Park, which attract its fair share of high-priced offspring from a variety of top national outfits. Summer Breezes highlights debuting and stakes-entered 2-year-olds at those meetings that have been sourced at the breeze-up sales earlier in the year, with links to their under-tack previews. Here are the horses entered for Monday at Ellis Park: Monday, August 12, 2024 Ellis 4, $71k, 2yo, 7f, 2:21 p.m. ET Horse (Sire), Sale, Price ($), Breeze Authentic Strike (Authentic), OBSMAR. 450,000. :10 C-de Meric Sales, agent; B-R Brisset, agent Ann Harrison Desert Aire (Thousand Words)-AE, FTMMAY, 190,000, :10 1/5 C-Shamrock Stable; B-Christina Jelm, agent Mike Puhich Ellis 7, $71k, 2yo, f, 5 1/2fT, 3:52 p.m. ET Rhaenys (Higher Power)-AE, OBSJUN, 120,000, :10 1/5 C-30-30 Ranch, agent; B-Lets Go D. Stable The post Summer Breezes, Sponsored By OBS: August 12, 2024 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

4th-ELP, $71K, Msw, 2yo, 7f, 2:21 p.m. ET. PUBLISHER (American Pharoah), a $600,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearling Sale grad, debuts for owners Gus King and The Estate of Brereton C. Jones. Trained by Steve Asmussen, the bay colt is the first registered foal out of GSP Indian Pride (Proud Citizen), who is a half-sister to Canadian Horse of the Year Biofuel (Stormin Fever) and Canadian champion 2-year-old filly Tu Endie Wei (Johar). Also to the post is first-time starter–trained by Cherie De Vaux–So Sandy (Omaha Beach), who was initially a 2022 Fasig-Tipton Fall Sale buy for Jack Gallway. Last fall, the colt went through the Keeneland September ring and Lael Stables took him home for $535,000. So Sandy's extended female family includes SW Vodka With a Twist (Thousand Words) and MGSW Midcourt (Midnight Lute). Finally, Authentic Strike (Authentic) makes the races for partners Ann Harrison and Renata Hendrickson, and is trained by Rodolphe Brisset. The colt brought $450,000 during OBS March–the second highest juvenile price for his first-crop sire in 2024. Prior to that, the chestnut was purchased as a yearling by Stonehaven Steadings for $270,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Fall Sale. TJCIS PPS The post Monday’s Racing Insights: American Pharoah Colt Looks To Press The Pace At Ellis appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Twelve years the leading consignor at Arqana's August Sale, and usually in October, too, Ecurie des Monceaux will bring 39 yearlings on the short journey from its Normandy base to the sale paddocks in Deauville. Regulars at Arqana cannot fail to be familiar with the Monceaux brand. Its draft occupies the courtyard alongside the Villa Pégase, giving the impression during the last few days of yearling inspection that one is temporarily entering a cloistered world with Monceaux founder Henri Bozo as president. One of the most entrepreneurial members of the French breeding community, Bozo has established a strong council of co-breeders as partners in the operation, many of whom have their own farms but have been happy to invest in the beau ideal of the commercial breeding world in France. While Platonic (GB) (Zafonic), a shrewd purchase from Fittocks Stud 20 years ago, developed a formidable foundation at Monceaux, with such luminaries as the Group 1 winners Chicquita (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) and Magic Wind (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) among her descendants, more recently the Monceaux name has been kept in lights by Starlet's Sister (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who died last November at the age of 14. In that relatively short life she made headlines as the dam of Arc winner Sottsass (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) and seven-time Grade I winner Sistercharlie (Ire) (Myboycharlie {Ire}), while her offspring have topped this sale in 2020 (when run late as the Select Sale during Covid) and 2022, selling for €2.5m and €2.1m apiece to buyers from Bahrain and Japan. Monceaux sold two of the four seven-figure lots at last year's sale, achieving the second- and third-top price for colts by Siyouni (Fr) and Dubawi (Ire), sold to Coolmore and Godolphin respectively. This year its draft includes four of the five Dubawi yearlings in the sale along with 10 by France's leading sire Siyouni, and a liberal sprinkling of youngsters by Wootton Bassett (GB), Frankel (GB), New Bay (GB) and Zarak (Fr) among others. One sad absentee from Arqana this summer will be Lady Chryss O'Reilly, who died last August shortly after the sale had finished and was remembered on Sunday at the racecourse next door to Arqana where the Prix Minerve was run in her name. As well as running her own Haras de la Louvière operation, Lady O'Reilly had been a key partner in Monceaux from its early days. Henri Bozo says: “I think all of us breeders are good at breeding and raising horses but we are not so good at predicting what the market will do, so we will see what happens this week. “We have a strong draft consisting solely of yearlings from our mares and from our clients' mares who have been bred at the farm, so it is a joint effort between us and our partners. I think this year there is a good mix of yearlings from proven mares at the high end, and we have also been trying to invest in young mares and bring new blood to the farm, so there are a number of yearlings who are the first or second produce of young mares. “We are lucky to have support from some very strong partners, and at the same time I am trying to increase the percentage that we own ourselves in the new mares. But the partnerships are very positive. It gives you extra input from different breeders. “Lady O'Reilly was the beginning of the partnership policy that Monceaux had. We started investing in mares and yearlings and at the same time she was also investing and we had the same taste so we decided to go into business together. She was the ideal partner. “We had a long talk with Patricia [Boutin, advisor to Lady O'Reilly] who came to see the stock here in the last few weeks and it will be very different without her. We have a great filly to sell out of Prudenzia from this special partnership. We always speak about Lady O'Reilly and remember her fondly, and I am very pleased to see that there is a race being run in her memory in Deauville. “Our strategy is to keep things simple. I think it makes sense to sell horses that you know and that you've bred yourself. That was the first part of our strategy – to sell only homebred yearlings and not to consign for anyone else – and the second part was to keep things easy and understandable for people. “I have a lot of respect for Tattersalls and Goffs but it was our choice in the beginning to have a clear signal to buyers and to clients that we offer all of our crop at the same place. Some will wait for October to give them more time, but all of them can be purchased in Deauville at Arqana and none of them is sold privately or elsewhere. “We started Monceaux at the same time as Arqana started and there was a common dynamism. I thought it was nice to offer the result of teamwork on the local market, and thankfully it has managed to attract a wide audience. I am always very happy to go to buy a mare or a yearling at Tatts or Goffs, but we want to stick to that plan.” Draft highlights: Where to begin? Perhaps with Lot 178, the half-sister to G1 Grand Prix de Paris winner Feed The Flame (GB) (Kingman {GB}) from the first crop of St Mark's Basilica (Fr). But then we would have to mention Lot 270, another by the same young stallion and a half-sister to the Irish Oaks winner Chicquita and G1 McKinnon Stakes victrix Magic Wand, out of the aforementioned Prudenzia (Ire) Dansili {GB}). On Friday, Magic Wand's first foal Ecstatic (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) became a TDN Rising Star when winning easily at Tipperary. “He was a hell of a racehorse,” says Bozo of St Mark's Basilica, whose first yearlings will be put to the market test in Deauville. “He was very good at two and three, winning the French Derby, and with a strong pedigree by a stallion who has done us well. We think he has a good chance and we decided to give him a good chance with some proper mares. We are happy with the ones we have.” Along with the draft's four Dubawi yearlings, is a colt by his son Too Darn Hot (GB). Offered as Lot 306, he is out of the dual Group 1 winner Simple Verse (Ire) (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}) whose first foal, Queen Of The Pride (GB) (Roaring Lion), has won the G2 Lancashire Oaks since the catalogue was published. Lot 112 is a filly whose sire was also raised at Monceaux, Sottsass, and she is a half-sister to the G2 Prix de Royallieu winner The Juliet Rose (Fr) (Monsun {Ger}) and this year's G3 Classic Trial winner Arabian Crown (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}). “You can guess that we are delighted to see the promising debut of Sottsass's two-year-olds. They are good movers, they are not too heavy, and they are light on their feet,” Bozo adds. Claim to fame: In addition to the success of the aforementioned Sottsass, Sistercharlie, Chicquita, Magic Wand and Feed The Flame, Monceaux and its partners have also bred and raised the Group/Grade 1 winners Paddington (GB), Mangoustine (Fr), Angel Bleu (Fr), Sea La Rosa (Ire), Blowout (GB), Intellogent (Ire), National Defense (GB), Ectot (GB), Charm Spirit (Ire), Most Improved (Ire), and Ancient Wisdom (Fr). Last word: “Our strategy is to try to offer yearlings by proven stallions. We do use a few unproven stallions but most of the yearlings we are offering, especially in August, are by the most proven stallions accessible.” The post The Arqana Lowdown: Ecurie des Monceaux appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

At a time with no shortage of legal issues for racing, the three-day Racing and Gaming Conference at Saratoga will open Monday, Aug. 12.View the full article

Uncertainty hangs over the breeze-up sector ahead of the first major yearling sale of the season at Arqana this week after the Breeze-Up Consignors Association [BUCA] instructed Goffs and Goresbridge not to go ahead as previously planned with its respective new sales in 2025. Goffs chief Henry Beeby and Goresbridge boss Ed Donohoe revealed to TDN Europe back in May that they were planning to hold breeze-up sales in Ireland next year. Both men explained that the decision had been taken after a number of consignors expressed views that there was demand for more than just the Tattersalls Ireland Breeze-Up Sale on the domestic circuit. However, Grove Stud's Brendan Holland, who was voted in as the new chairman at BUCA's AGM a fortnight back, says there is only a finite number of horses that can pass through the breeze-up system every season and the addition of a new sale would be a backwards step for the industry. He explained, “There were 1,100 places offered to the main breeze-up sales in Europe this season and 960 turned up. Only 768 were sold and that follows on from the 760 that sold in 2023. The numbers that are being sold at the breeze-up sales is constant and the market is stable at that level. We can't see how there is room or demand to sell 100 more horses-or any more horses for that matter-and, until we get to a stage where the market expands, I think it is BUCA's responsibility to protect the marketplace that is already in place. We should not be saturating it.” Holland added, “We have spent the past 15 years promoting the breeze-ups as a source of quality. It took a long time to change people's perception of what a breeze-up horse is and what can be found at these sales. In that time, we've had champion two-year-olds, three-year-olds and champion stayers, so it is becoming an easier product to promote because of the success we have had on the track. But we need to protect that.” To that extent, BUCA provided a written mandate to Goresbridge and Goffs and stated “it was unanimously agreed” at the AGM that the number of horses offered at the main breeze-up sales in Europe should not exceed 1,000. However, Donohoe has accused the association of misrepresenting some of its members and insists that the mandate could not have been unanimous given he has fielded a number of calls from consignors stating that they would be supporting Goresbridge if the sales company re-enters the breeze-up market after a seven-year hiatus. “A number of breeze-up consignors contacted me following that meeting to tell me that they didn't agree with the mandate and that they would be supporting our sale. I am not sure that the letter sent to me is representative of all BUCA members,” Donohoe said. He added, “I have replied to BUCA where I expressed my disappointment over the fact that no consignor contacted me to discuss the situation. Goresbridge is a family-run business and I don't see why BUCA feel that they can dictate how we run our business. The Tattersalls Ireland Breeze-Up Sale catered for 250 horses this year and-up until now-is the only breeze-up sale in Ireland. “A large number of breeze-up consignors, particularly the smaller vendors, were unable to get their horses into this-or indeed any-sale. I intend to cater for this gap in the market and, as I said, I have had written and verbal correspondence from a number of BUCA members explaining that they would be supporting us next year and that they did not agree with the proposals that were raised at the meeting. Having said all of that, I am open to discussion with BUCA and am keen to come to some kind of an agreement as we fully intend on holding a breeze-up sale next year.” While the TDN understands that Goresbridge had been planning an earlier sale date next year, the idea behind the Goffs Breeze-Up Sale at Naas racecourse was that it would be more reactive, in that it would be a small and select offering of later-maturing juveniles and some who had missed previous targets or failed to sell elsewhere. Beeby revealed that, while he still harbours an ambition to stage a breeze-up sale in Ireland that would compliment the company's breeze-up sale at Doncaster, the Goffs chief executive said that he would be working closely with Holland and the rest of the BUCA committee members to find a resolution. Regardless, no announcement as to whether Goffs would be staging a breeze-up sale in Ireland will be made until the Premier Yearling Sale at Doncaster later this month. Beeby explained, “Goffs is in dialogue with BUCA and I plan to meet with Brendan over the next couple of weeks to have a chat. We're not going to make any definitive decisions now-I mean, the sale isn't happening until next June. Also, our AGM takes place after our Premier Yearling Sale, so that will be the earliest that Goffs can announce whether the new sale will go ahead or not. “BUCA has made some relevant points to us about the number of horses being catalogued next year. From a Goffs point of view, we have our established sale at Doncaster and have the opportunity to stage this new sale at Naas but we will obviously listen to our clients and will work collaboratively with BUCA, as we always have done.” Asked how likely he felt it was for the new breeze-up sale to take place next year, Beeby said, “It will appear on our proposed sales dates for next year but, until it happens, it hasn't happened. The yearling sales will be a good time for us at Goffs to interact with breeze-up vendors. A number of people have called me and various views have been expressed. I'm told there was unanimity at the BUCA AGM but then there were people who didn't attend that meeting who have expressed contradictory views. Whether it was National Hunt stores or breeze-ups, everyone saw a tightening of the market and there is a concern that the appropriate measures are taken so that we minimise the impact of that. It's going to be up to sales companies and consignors-as ever-to work together on this.” When tasked with answering the same question as Beeby on whether he felt the BUCA mandate has thrown a spanner in the works with regards to plans for a new sale, Donohoe simply said, “I'd be taking short odds on our sale going ahead next year anyway. And that's from the horse's mouth.” The post BUCA Calls On Goffs And Goresbridge To Abandon Plans For New Sales appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Ralph Beckett trainee Matauri Bay (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}–Matauri Pearl {Ire}, by Hurricane Run {Ire}) a 500,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 full-brother to GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf heroine Aunt Pearl (Ire), made a winning debut in Sunday's Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Stakes at Leicester. The May-foaled bay, let go as the 2-1 favourite, registered a 1 1/2-length success from Shah (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the straight seven-furlong contest. Matauri Bay puts in a stylish debut performance to come home in front, winning the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Stakes for the combination of @HectorCrouch and @RalphBeckett pic.twitter.com/sfQlxFMMd1 — Leicester Racecourse (@LeicesterRaces) August 11, 2024 The post Lope De Vega 500,000gns Full-Brother to Aunt Pearl Makes Winning Debut at Leicester appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article