Wandering Eyes

Baker grew up in a racing family. His father, George, was a trainer in New York and gave Baker his start at the racetrack. In the 1970s, Baker eventually branched out from his father and went to work for trainer David Whiteley.View the full article

Lemon Muffin, who dazzled in winning the Honeybee Stakes (G3) Feb. 24 at Oaklawn Park, will need to rediscover that day's winning formula. Since then, she's finished seventh in the Fantasy Stakes (G2) and eighth in the Kentucky Oaks (G1). View the full article

Despite falling off the lead by more than 10 lengths, jockey Flavien Prat settled the 3-year-old daughter of Kodiac (GB), moving her along the rail to save ground. View the full article

Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mystik Dan arrived at Pimlico Race Course just after 4 p.m. ET May 12 for a run in the May 18 $2 million Preakness Stakes (G1) following a van ride from Churchill Downs.View the full article

Kathleen O. (Upstart) got back to the winner's circle for the first time in over two years as she won the Serena's Song S. over a wet track in the Monmouth feature on Sunday. With a solid start to her racing career as a late juvenile and into her 3-year-old season, the Shug McGaughey trainee rattled off four straight wins in a row, which included victories in the GII Davona Dale S. and GII Gulfstream Park Oaks in Hallandale that spring. The dark bay turned in a respectable fifth in the Kentucky Oaks to Secret Oath and Nest, but she did not return to action until November when she was the runner-up in the GIII Comely S. at the Big A. Her 4-year-old campaign through this past spring included five starts, but no wins, as the mare was last seen running a well-beaten sixth against optional claimers at Gulfstream Park in mid-March. Given a break for nearly two months, she shipped to Oceanport where she was tabbed as a 9-1 shot here. Kathleen O. brought up the rear heading into the first turn, but she looked to be engaged up the backstretch. With still a good bit to do around the far turn, the 5-year-old tipped to the extreme outside by the top of the lane and was set down for the final drive. At the eighth pole, Occult (Into Mischief) cut off the rail-skimming Venti Valentine (Firing Line), but she was unable to stop the momentum of Kathleen O., who secured the win in the final jumps. After a claim of foul, the stewards placed Venti Valentine second and moved Occult to third. “I think the two turns helped, said the Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey. “I took her to Kentucky to get her out of Florida and let her eat grass and get some cool weather instead of the hot Florida weather and I think she did good there. She had a really good work at Keeneland on the Saturday before she shipped up there and she shipped good. “She's always in the back when she races. She breaks okay but she doesn't break running. I'd like to see her get to where she breaks running and goes from there. We may try to stretch her out even more and see where it takes us. Yes, the (GIII) Molly Pitcher (July 20) is a possibility.” The winner's dam is responsible for 2-year-old filly Jacquelyn Eau (Tapwrit) and a yearling filly by Upstart. Kathleen O.'s extended female family includes GISW and sire Cupid (Tapit), plus 'TDN Rising Star' V V's Dream (Mitole). SERENA'S SONG S., $98,000, Monmouth, 5-12, 3yo/up, f/m, 1m 70y, 1:44.50, sy. 1–KATHLEEN O., 118, m, 5, Upstart–Quaver (SP), by Blame. ($8,000 Wlg '19 KEENOV; $50,000 Ylg '20 OBSOCT; $275,000 2yo '21 OBSAPR). O-Winngate Stables, LLC; B-Gainesway Thoroughbreds LTD & Bridlewood Farm, LLC (KY); T-Claude R. McGaughey III; J-Vincent Cheminaud. $60,000. Lifetime Record: MGSW, 12-5-3-0, $570,635. 2–Venti Valentine, 118, m, 5, Firing Line–Glory Gold, by Medaglia d'Oro. O-NY Final Furlong Racing Stable and Parkland Thoroughbreds; B-Final Furlong Racing Stable & Maspeth Stable (NY); T-Jorge R. Abreu. $20,000. 3–Occult, 118, f, 4, Into Mischief–Magical Feeling, by Empire Maker. ($625,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-Alpha Delta Stables, LLC; B-Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds, LLC (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. $10,000. Margins: 3/4, 1, 3/4. Odds: 9.00, 6.00, 0.20. Also Ran: Frosty O Toole, Traverse. Scratched: Beach Daze, Cheetara (Chi), Sunset Louise. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. #3 KATHLEEN O. ($20) goes from last to first in an action packed stretch run at Monmouth Park to win the $100,000 Serena's Song Stakes. The daughter of Upstart was ridden by Vincent Cheminaud and is trained by Shug McGaughey. The #7 Occult was DQ'd from second to third. pic.twitter.com/xkKXqEvEWZ — FanDuel Racing (Formerly TVG) (@FanDuel_Racing) May 12, 2024 The post MGSW Kathleen O. Returns To The Winner’s Circle In The Serena’s Song At Monmouth appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Just five months after bringing 700,000gns at the Tattersalls December Mare Sale, Pipsy (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) impressed in her North American debut with a last-to-first win in the GIII Soaring Softly S. at Belmont's The Big A meet Sunday. As a juvenile in her native Ireland, she won two of her three races including a listed stake before heading to auction where Woodford Thoroughbreds stuck the winning bid and imported the filly to race out of the William Walden barn. The tepid 3-1 favorite had her backers watching on nervously as the filly jumped straight in the air as the gates opened and spotted the field several lengths. Trailing her nine rivals up the backstretch as a pair of longshots battled up front, Pipsy regained contact with the back of the group as the opening quarter passed in :22.42. Pushed along around the turn, the favorite had still just one horse beat as the lead pack bunched up past the quarter pole. Confidently handled by Flavien Prat, Pipsy swung out past the furlong marker and engulfed the field from the center of the track, driving to the line a clear winner even as Kairyu (Ire) (Kuroshio {Aus}) chased her home. “The horses were acting up around her and she got very anxious in the gate and broke in the air,” said Prat. “So, we went to Plan B. I gave her a chance to see if she would get underneath me and she sure did. When I tipped her out, she made a great move.” From last to first, PIPSY, gets the win in the Grade 3 Soaring Softly under Flavien Prat for Trainer William Walden in her US debut! pic.twitter.com/vzFnryKktH — NYRA () (@TheNYRA) May 12, 2024 Pedigree Note: One of 97 stakes winners for Kodiac, Pipsy sold for 700,000 gns as a 2-year-old before her U.S. debut after previously RNA'ing for 45,000gns as a yearling at Tattersalls October in 2022 and bringing €60,000 as a foal at Goff's November Foal Sale in 2021. The first winner out of a half-sister to GSW/MG1SP Ziyad (GB) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}), this is also the family of MG1SW Aquarelliste (Fr) (Danehill) and MGISW Artiste Royal (Ire) (Danehill). Experte's youngest foal is a yearling colt by Ghaiyyath (Ire) and she was not reported bred for this year. Sunday, Belmont The Big A SOARING SOFTLY S.-GIII, $175,000, Belmont The Big A, 5-12, 3yo, f, 6fT, 1:09.41, gd. 1–PIPSY (IRE), 120, f, 3, by Kodiac (GB) 1st Dam: Experte (Fr), by High Chaparral (Ire) 2nd Dam: Arme Ancienne (GB), by Sillery 3rd Dam: Agathe, by Manila 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. (€60,000 Wlg '21 GOFNO1; 45,000gns RNA Ylg '22 TATOCT; 700,000gns 2yo '23 TATMA). O-Woodford Thoroughbreds LLC; B-Noel Finegan (IRE); T-William Walden; J-Flavien Prat. $96,250. Lifetime Record: SW-Ire, 4-3-1-0, $141,684. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Kairyu (Ire), 123, f, 3, Kuroshio (Aus)–Vegatina (GB), by Lope de Vega (Ire). (€80,000 2yo '23 TATGOR). O-Schwartz, Martin S. and O'Callaghan, Michael; B-Mr P. Turley (IRE); T-Cherie DeVaux. $35,000. 3–Amidst Waves, 120, f, 3, Midshipman–Troublesome, by Into Mischief. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($100,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Big Tufff Stables, Blackridge Stables LLC, Black Type Thoroughbreds, R.A. Hill Stable and Swinkbank Stables; B-Woods Edge Farm, LLC & Ballyfair Bloodstock (KY); T-George Weaver. $21,000. Margins: HF, 3/4, NO. Odds: 3.35, 8.10, 3.85. Also Ran: Independenceavenue, Kodiac Wintergreen (Ire), Marco T., Golden Ghost (GB), Caress, Artemis Sound, Tiger Belle (Ire). Scratched: Baraye, Buttercream Babe, El Terreno, Value Area. Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. The post Pipsy Impressive In Last-To-First Soaring Softly Win appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Benedetta brought up a treble of doubles as she atoned for a run of top-tier frustration by becoming the first mare in 11 years to win Adelaide's marquee sprint, The Goodwood (G1T) at Morphettville May 11.View the full article

Rouhiya's unexpected victory May 12 in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French One Thousand Guineas) provided a perfect illustration of the Aga Khan's maxim that racing and breeding racehorses is a game of chess with nature.View the full article

GI Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan (Goldencents), who was confirmed for the GI Preakness S. Saturday by trainer Kenny McPeek, traveled Sunday to Pimlico Race Course and arrived shortly after 4 p.m. accompanied by McPeek's assistant trainer Ray Bryner. “No muss, no fuss,” said Bryner. “He's a really easy horse to be around, not complicated.” Bryner indicated that the colt's plans for the week included a Monday gallop over the Pimlico surface following the 8:30 a.m. renovation break. Set to join Mystik Dan in Baltimore is the Chad Brown-trained Tuscan Gold (Medaglia d'Oro) who will try to award his trainer a third Preakness after Brown won in 2017 with Cloud Computing and in 2022 with Early Voting. Shipping from California Tuesday will be the Bob Baffert pair of Muth (Good Magic) and Imagination (Into Mischief), who will leave their Santa Anita base early Tuesday morning and arrive at Pimlico Tuesday afternoon. “They are both doing well,” said Baffert. “I liked the way they breezed; they were a good team. I am happy the way they are coming into this.” The post Mystik Dan Settles In At Pimlico; Contenders Begin To Arrive appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Metropolitan caused another Classic shock at Longchamp when narrowly denying the fast-finishing Dancing Gemini in the French Two Thousand Guineas May 12.View the full article

GIII Honeybee S. winner Lemon Muffin (Collected), eighth behind Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) in last week's GI Kentucky Oaks, will contest the GII Black-Eyed Susan S. Friday at Pimlico Race Course. The field of eight, which was drawn Sunday, also includes Jeanne Marie (Speightster), Ringy Dingy (Dialed In), Call Another Play (Audible), Gun Song (Gun Song), Whocouldaskformo (Uncle Mo), Corposo (Vino Rosso) and Recharge (Gun Runner). “She has her days when she's up and down and everything,” said trainer D. Wayne Lukas of Lemon Muffin. “On her best day, she's a very, very nice filly. But she doesn't always show up every time, so we're hoping that we get one of those days when she does.” Call Another Play earned her way into the Black-Eyed Susan with a win in Laurel's Weber City Miss S. April 20, her third consecutive win for trainer Mike Trombetta. “She just finally caught some continuity and she's figuring things out in these two-turn races,” said Trombetta. “She's been able to handle it. She's going to have to step up her game, it's just a matter of how much.” The Black-Eyed Susan is one of three graded-stakes races on the card Friday at Pimlico to open Preakness weekend. First post Friday is at 11:30 a.m. with the Black-Eyed Susan going off at 5:44 p.m. The post Lemon Muffin Wheels Back For 100th Running Of The Black-Eyed Susan appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Rouhiya's unexpected victory May 12 in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French One Thousand Guineas) provided a perfect illustration of the Aga Khan's maxim that racing and breeding racehorses is a game of chess with nature.View the full article

In a wild upset of the G1 Victoria Mile on Sunday at Tokyo Racecourse, Ten Happy Rose (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) rocketed home late to secure her first win at the highest level and an automatic berth into the GI Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at eye-popping 208-1 odds. Having finished sixth in her most recent appearance on track in the G2 Sankei Sports Hai Hanshin Himba S. Apr. 6 and seventh before that Feb. 17 when trying the G3 Kyoto Himba S., her last time in the winner's enclosure was August 2023, when she won the Listed Toki S., and before that in May 2022 in the Freeway S. In no hurry after the jump, the chestnut watched the race unfold early from the back flight with only three others behind her as Conch Shell (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) and Feel Sympathy (Jpn) (Behkabad {Fr}) stepped out to set the fractions. Namur (Jpn) (Harbinger {Jpn}) broke particularly poorly, along with a rival to her outside, and the 5-2 second choice found herself trailing the field. The positions remained largely unchanged through the first 600 metres but the shuffle started in earnest entering the final bend as Ten Happy Rose inched forward from the grandstand side. Entering the final 600, the eventual winner still had at least seven rivals to catch, and was unwittingly aided when 2-1 favourite Masked Diva (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}) hit traffic as her path between runners closed on her in the stretch. While that one shifted in to try and recover the lost ground, Ten Happy Rose had stormed to the front in the final 200 metres and comfortably held off Fierce Pride (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and the troubled betting choice by 1 1/4 lengths. “The race development, from the start up until the final corner, exceeded my imagination and it was just a matter of how much the mare could extend her strides from there,” said winning rider Tsumura. “When we were actually leading in the last 200 meters, it was almost unbelievable. I am grateful for the fans that have been rooting for me and I hope this is just the start of more victories like this.” The most recent addition to a storied list of Victoria Mile winners–including names such as two-time Japanese Horse of the Year Vodka (Jpn), 2010 Horse of the Year Buena Vista (Jpn), and two-time Horse of the Year Almond Eye (Jpn)–Ten Happy Rose, along with the other top three finishers, has also earned an automatic starting position in the G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp as well as the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois. Check out that final stretch! Ten Happy Rose captures the #WinAndYoureIn Victoria Mile and punches her ticket to the #BreedersCup at @DelMarRacing! Congrats to all of the connections! pic.twitter.com/PcoqxMkBeK — Breeders' Cup (@BreedersCup) May 12, 2024 Pedigree Notes: Ten Happy Rose is the most accomplished runner for her dam Fatal Rose (Jpn) (Tanino Gimlet {Jpn}), who was an honest racehorse in her own right having hit the board 13 times in her career with several of those coming in unlisted Japanese stakes races on local circuits. Ten Happy Rose's last registered sibling is unplaced 3-year-old full-sister Fatal Tour (Jpn). The pedigree is quite calm beneath the second dam, but shines when reaching the third, by name Oenothera (Ire) (Night Shift). A Group-placed runner in Germany, she claims U.S. champion grass horse, GI Breeders' Cup Turf winner Northern Spur (Ire) as a half-brother and herself produced noteworthy runners or the dams of them, including the likes of multiple Group 1-placed Sundrop (Jpn) (Sunday Silence), the bridesmaid in the English 1000 Guineas and Fillies' Mile. That daughter further advanced Oenothera's legacy when she became the mother of Listed winners Storm Damage (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}); Nature's Colors (GB) (Poet's Voice {GB}), that one's full-sibling Whitman (GB); and was the granddam of stakes-winning Quiet Times (Ger) (Reliable Man {GB}). In addition to Breeders' Cup champion Northern Spur, this is also the female family of multiple Group winner Great Marquess (GB) and G1 Irish Derby runner-up, Glyndebourne (Ire). Saturday, Tokyo, Japan VICTORIA MILE-G1, ¥252,500,000, Tokyo, 5-12, 4yo/up, f, 1600mT, 1:31.80, fm. 1–TEN HAPPY ROSE (JPN), 123, m, 6, by Epiphaneia (Jpn) 1st Dam: Fatal Rose (Jpn), by Tanino Gimlet (Jpn) 2nd Dam: Primrose Eve (Jpn), by Sunday Silence 3rd Dam: Oenothera (Ire), by Night Shift 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Yasushi Tenpaku; B-Shadai Farm; T-Daisuke Takayanagi; J-Akihide Tsumura; ¥133,150,000. Lifetime Record: 24-6-5-2, ¥268,853,001. Werk Nick Rating: F. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Fierce Pride (Jpn), 123, m, 6, Deep Impact (Jpn)–Strawberry Fair (GB), by Kingmambo.1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O-Godolphin; B-Darley Japan Farm; ¥52,900,000. 3–Masked Diva (Jpn), 123, f, 4, Rulership (Jpn)–Mask Off (Jpn), by Deep Impact (Jpn) O-Shadai Race Horse; B- Shadai Farm; ¥33,450,000. Margins: 1 1/4, NK, NK; Odds: 207.60, 11.50, 1.30. Also ran: Doe Eyes (Jpn), Rouge Lignage (Jpn), Umbrail (Jpn), Moryana (Jpn), Namur (Jpn), Stunning Rose (Jpn), Sound Vivace (Jpn), Kita Wing (Jpn), Feel Sympathy (Jpn), Conch Shell (Jpn), Lilac (Jpn), Harper (Jpn).Click for the JRA chart & video. The post Ten Happy Rose Springs Upset in Victoria, Secures Berth to Breeders’ Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

3rd-Woodbine, C$77,409, Msw, 5-12, 2yo, 4 1/2f (AWT), :52.57, ft, head. SOL DE VERANO (c, 2, Thousand Words–Thank You Note, by Uncle Mo) made his first start as a 6-1 shot here. The dark bay bounced out of the inside gate and immediately hugged the fence. Flashing some strong foot, the colt took the lead up the backstretch, but he felt the pressure as the rest of the field bore down on him. Bottled up just behind the leader entering the lane, Admiral Nelson (Lord Nelson) looked for running room, but the pacemaker was in control with a sixteenth left found the wire by a head. The winner's dam foaled a colt by Midshipman last year. Sol de Verano is the second winner for his first-crop sire (by Pioneerof the Nile). Sales History: $12,000 Ylg '23 FTKOCT. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $31,508. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Alberto Campos-Cota, Joseph Freeman and Nathan Squires; B-Cambrey Farm LLC & Jason Hewitt (KY); T-Nathan Squires. The post Sol De Verano Spells Second Winner For Sire Thousand Words At Woodbine appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Albaugh Family Stables' Catching Freedom, the Kentucky Derby (G1) fourth-place finisher, will run in the May 18 $2 million Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico Race Course, trainer Brad Cox said May 12.View the full article

Godolphin homebred Bold Act remains in the United States to race beneath the Churchill Downs lights May 18 in the 1 1/2-mile $250,000 Louisville Stakes (G3T).View the full article

Ten Happy Rose got a clean trip in the Victoria Mile (G1) May 12 at Tokyo Racecourse while the favorites had problems and the race ended with the 208-1 shot as an easy winner.View the full article

With a 'frog strangler' at Lone Star Park, Glee (Honor A.P.–Red Tabby, by Bluegrass Cat) beat the boys over the slop to break her maiden at first asking and in the process handed her freshman sire the second win of his stallion career. The 2-year-old broke well from the outside gate and angled over to take the lead up the backstretch. Glee was followed closely by Big Rasee (Clearly Now), but the filly did not back down around the far turn. Splashing home a winner by multiple lengths, she got her picture taken after the strong opening statement. The Lane's End sire (by Honor Code) has 80 foals of racing age to his credit. The final running time was :52.58. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0. Sales History: $60,000 '23 FTKOCT. O-Mike G. Rutherford; B-No Escape Ranch (TX); T-Steve Asmussen. The post Honor A.P.’s Glee Beats The Boys At Lone Star appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Horse racing on Monday, May 13, will feature two meetings in Australia. Our racing analysts here at horsebetting.com.au have found you the top bets and the quaddie numbers for Muswellbrook. Monday’s Racing Tips – May 13, 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 May 13, 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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1st-Woodbine, C$87,579, Msw, 5-12, 2yo, 4 1/2f (AWT), :52.26, ft, 1 3/4 lengths. FRENCH HORN (f, 2, Complexity–Emma's Encore {GISW, $398,248}, by Congrats) was rewarded for her debut as the 1-1 choice here. The filly got down to business from the bell by making the pace up the backstretch. Chased by her three rivals, she continued to make every pole a winning one around the far turn and into the lane. The juvenile dug down and found more to deliver a second win for her freshman sire (by Maclean's Music). Fellow first timer Kokomo (Flameaway) was second by 1 3/4 lengths. The winner is a half-sister to Man Friday (American Pharoah), SP, $173,138. Emma's Encore foaled a filly last year named Dare to Know (Daredevil) and she was bred to Highly Motivated for this season. Sales History: $65,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $38,441. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-BG Stables; B-Narola, LLC (ON); T-Mark E. Casse. The post French Horn Hits As Second Winner For Sire Complexity At Woodbine appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Bettors were able to lock in some juicy prices in the two futures pools for this year's GI Preakness S., but banking on which horses would even enter the middle jewel of the Triple Crown ended up being almost as tough a task as choosing a winner. Consider yourself a pretty decent Preakness prognosticator if, in Pool 1 that closed back on Mar. 2, you nabbed 30-1 advance odds on subsequent GI Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan (Goldencents); 19-1 on likely Preakness favorite and 'TDN Rising Star' Muth (Good Magic), or 70-1 on Catching Freedom (Constitution), the Derby's eventual fourth-place finisher. Yet for a select few to be able to hold tickets on those gaudy overlays, there were a lot Preakness futures players whose hopes were dashed long before the crab cakes started cooking in Baltimore. Of the 39 individual betting interests offered in Pool 1, those are the only three colts expected to be entered when the Preakness is drawn on Monday. Most bettors who choose to wade in to futures pools know there is inherent risk involved in trying to chase higher-odds rewards, because if your horse doesn't end up starting, you lose. But Pool 1 of the Preakness futures pool took that concept to the extreme this year, with only 7.5% of the entire slate of individual entrants still in contention less than one week before the race. The “field” option of all other 3-year-olds closed at 5-1. Further contributing to the Pool 1 odds imbalance, so many would-be wiseguys loaded up on 'TDN Rising Star' Nysos (Nyquist) two months ago that his price plummeted to 5-2. The “wisdom” of the crowd at that point in the Triple Crown season was that because Churchill Downs had banned Nysos's trainer, Bob Baffert, the colt (who at the time was ranked No. 1 on both TDN's Sophomore Top 12 list and the NTRA's poll of 3-year-olds), would automatically be targeting the Preakness. But Nysos's connections had never made any such public declaration way back in late winter, and 10 days after Preakness futures Pool 1 closed, he was taken out of training with what Baffert described at the time as a “minor” setback. Nysos has not had a published workout since. But the Baffert-trained Muth subsequently won the Mar. 30 GI Arkansas Derby. And because Mystik Dan ran a non-threatening third behind Muth at Oaklawn, his price drifted even higher, to 45-1, in Pool 2 of the Preakness futures, which closed approximately one hour before the Kentucky Derby went off on May 4. Muth, by contrast, went off at 7-2 odds in Pool 2. Bettors by that time were armed with the knowledge that he was being pointed for Baltimore on May 18. All things considered, that's still a pretty fair mutuel considering he projects to go off much lower on Preakness Day. Pool 2 reflected a much more likely lineup of Preakness starters. Yet because 'TDN Rising Star' Fierceness (City of Light) took the brunt of the action at 9-2 and then stamped himself as a no-go for the Preakness with a 15th-place finish in the Derby, there was still decent value spread among seven other likely Preakness starters. Those overlays include Catching Freedom at 14-1 (far lower than his Pool 1 price but better odds than you will get on Saturday); Imagination (Into Mischief) and Tuscan Gold (Medaglia d'Oro), both at 17-1; Seize the Grey (Arrogate) at 25-1; Just Steel (Justify) at 35-1; Copper Tax (Copper Bullet) at 50-1 and Uncle Heavy (Social Inclusion) at 133-1. The “all others” proposition went off at 12-1 in Pool 2. But among the 10 likely entrants at deadline for this column, the only horse that field bet would cover is Mugatu (Blofeld), who figures to be at least three times that price on Saturday. Lucky Sevens It's only early May, but already we have two horses tied atop the North American leaderboard with seven wins apiece in 2024. Both won races at smaller tracks on Kentucky Derby Day to break a three-way tie among six-time winners this season. Epicurean (Speightster), a 6-year-old mare, scored in a starter/optional claimer at Thistledown to run her record to 7-for-8 through only a little more than four months of racing this year. She's 12-for-42 lifetime, and prior to her second win at Thistle this spring had previously hit the winner's circle during the winter months at Mahoning Valley for owner/trainer Nestor Rivera. Tennessee Moon (Ransom the Moon), a 4-year-old filly, won the $25,000 Swihart Memorial S. at Fonner Park to compile the same 7-for-8 mark this year with victories at both Fonner and Delta Downs. She's 12-for-22 lifetime for owner/trainer Mark Hibdon. Oddly enough, the gelding right behind them in the standings with six wins, Inside Stunt (Greenpointcrusader), is a stablemate of Epicurean's in Rivera's barn. Deja vu All Over Again Here's another oddity: Last June 4, I wrote an article for TDN titled “Deja vu at Atokad” that detailed how the same set of four Nebraska-bred Thoroughbreds, competing in one-furlong races on back-to-back days at Atokad Downs, finished 1-2-3-4 on both afternoons. The mare who won two races within 24 hours was P R Girlfriend (Gold Schleiger). The unusual result was the product of the South Sioux City track's ownership, Ho-Chunk, Inc., needing to conduct at least one day of live racing to maintain Nebraska licensure as an active racetrack, a status that Ho-Chunk, for nearly a decade now, has been perpetuating in an oft-delayed attempt to eventually develop a racino. This year's two-day festival at Atokad was conducted Friday and Saturday. As in recent years, it consisted of three one-furlong races per day, limited to four starters each, with multiple horses entered on back-to-back days. The sprints for Thoroughbreds took place over a straightaway with a J-shaped gallop-out that is part of what remains of the five-furlong oval where the otherwise demolished Atokad previously conducted more traditional race meets from 1956 through 2012. P R Girlfriend, now age six, had gone five starts over the last 11 months without being able to win at two other Nebraska tracks, Columbus and Fonner. But she proved she is a one-furlong specialist and horse-for-the-course at Atokad, winning again on Friday and dead-heating for another victory on Saturday. On Friday, P R Girlfriend went off as the 2-1 second choice (yes, these contests had betting–about $2,300 in win, place, exactas and doubles for that race), scoring by a head in :12.40 despite breaking last in a one-furlong sprint. On Saturday, just 21 hours and 33 minutes later, P R Girlfriend again was sent off as the second choice in a four-horse field. This time she broke third, put away the favorite, then got hooked on even terms at the wire by a fresh closer for the dead-heat win, matching Friday's :12.40 clocking. And P R Girlfriend wasn't the only horse at Atokad to win two races in two days this past weekend. The 9-year-old gelding Pickeljuice (Holiday Justice), who hadn't won a race in nearly two years, also managed the feat. Ho-Chunk business operations manager Marshall Bass told KCAU-TV there is no firm timetable for the new racino, but the hope is to break ground in the next year. “We will continue the races going forward,” Bass told KCAU. “This might be the last year, we might have another one here next year. But in the grand scheme, the big plan at the end is to have these races in a full track at our new facility here in South Sioux City.” The post The Week In Review: Juicy Preakness Future-Bet Prices, Provided You Guessed Who’d Show Up appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Todd Pletcher-trained Antiquarian (Preservationist), who won Saturday's GII Peter Pan S. at Belmont's The Big A meeting, will point towards the GI Belmont S. held at Saratoga, Pletcher confirmed Sunday. “He certainly acts like it,” said Pletcher when asked about whether the added distance would benefit Antiquarian. “We didn't get him in until October, but he's always done everything very professional.” Both Antiquarian and Peter Pan third-place runner Protective (Medaglia d'Oro) will ship to Saratoga sometime in the coming week where they will join last year's champion 2-year-old Fierceness (City of Light) in the Pletcher barn. Coming off a disappointing 15th in the GI Kentucky Derby, Fierceness is also on target for the Belmont. Other runners shipping north were GII Man o' War S. winner Silver Knott (Lope de Vega {Ire}) for Godolphin and Charlie Appleby along with Nation's Pride (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) who are both slated to appear during the Belmont at Saratoga meet. The post Peter Pan Winner Antiquarian To Ship To Saratoga With Eye On Belmont appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Tamfana (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) will attempt to gain compensation for her luckless run in the G1 1,000 Guineas when she makes her next appearance in the G1 Prix de Diane at Chantilly on Sunday, June 16. Trained by David Menuisier, Tamfana confirmed herself a high-class filly when finishing fourth at Newmarket, passing the post less than a length behind the winner and looking unlucky not to get closer still having endured a troubled passage. Now all roads lead to Chantilly and the next stage of a plan which has been a long time in the making according to Eamonn O'Connor, managing director of owners Quantum Leap Racing. “We've had this plan in mind over the winter, that it [the Prix de Diane] would be her main target,” O'Connor said. “Whatever she did then [at Newmarket], we expected her to step up for the trip that the Diane offers, so that's where we will go. “We're pretty confident she'll stay at least that–most of the horses that Quantum Leap Racing buy are horses with a staying pedigree. It will be a great day out, I know that from previous experience. We'll enjoy it and we're looking forward to the season beyond.” Reflecting on Tamfana's run at Newmarket, O'Connor added, “David and I had a conversation as we were still in two minds about whether to go to France, but he thought the filly was good enough to win the English Guineas and I don't think he was wrong. “We had a tremendous day, the members had the best day of racing most of them have ever had. We didn't win but it felt like we did. There was some mixed emotion afterwards about what could have been, but it's churlish to take anything away from the winner of a race like that and start going on about your own hard luck. We didn't win, but in truth we did come home thinking we had the best filly. “David has never lacked faith in her. On the day she arrived she didn't look like a €20,000 horse, that's for certain. He genuinely wasn't surprised by the run. A little bit gutted, I guess, that he didn't get his Classic winner but not at all surprised that she ran so well.” The post Prix De Diane Up Next For Improving Tamfana appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Completing a treble of shocks on Sunday's ParisLongchamp card, Alain Jathiere and Christine Guilbert's Birthe (Ire) (Study Of Man {Ire}–Barakaat {Fr}, by Lope De Vega {Ire}) upstaged her peers to take the G2 St Mark's Basilica Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary at 11-1. Coming off a win in Toulouse's Listed Prix Caravelle last month, the Laura Vanska-trained €10,000 Goffs Autumn Yearling Sale graduate was settled on the rail early by Aurelien Lemaitre tracking the leading duo. Sent up the cutaway to take over approaching the furlong pole, she was driven out to beat Almara (Fr) (Almanzor {Fr}) by 1 1/4 lengths. Birthe looks smart scoring in the St Mark's Basilica Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary! @paris_longchamp| @lauravanska1 |@lemaitre60LA pic.twitter.com/cfpa6D131o — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 12, 2024 Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France ST MARK'S BASILICA COOLMORE PRIX SAINT-ALARY-G2, €130,000, ParisLongchamp, 5-12, 3yo, f, 10fT, 2:07.74, gd. 1–BIRTHE (IRE), 126, f, 3, by Study Of Man (Ire) 1st Dam: Barakaat (Fr), by Lope De Vega (Ire) 2nd Dam: Royale Du Buisson (Ire), by Invincible Spirit (Ire) 3rd Dam: Biswa, by Kafwain 1ST GROUP WIN. (€10,000 Ylg '22 GOFAUT). O-Alain Jathiere & Christine Guilbert; B-Sabah Mubarak Al Sabah (IRE); T-Laura Vanska; J-Aurelien Lemaitre. €74,100. Lifetime Record: 5-3-1-1, €129,850. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Almara (Fr), 126, f, 3, Almanzor (Fr)–Molly Mara (Ger), by Big Shuffle. (€10,000 Ylg '22 ARQOCT). O/B-Zied Ben M'Rad (FR); T-Carlos & Yann Lerner. €28,600. 3–Survie (Ire), 126, f, 3, Churchill (Ire)–Sotteville (Fr), by Le Havre (Ire). O-Gerard Augustin-Normand; B-Franklin Finance SA (IRE); T-Nicolas Clement. €13,650. Margins: 1 1/4, NK, 1 3/4. Odds: 10.00, 7.90, 7.00. Also Ran: Dare To Dream (Fr), War Chimes (Fr), Making Dreams (Ire), Cashanda (Fr). Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV. The post Study Of Man’s Birthe Wins The Saint-Alary appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article