Wandering Eyes

Lee Searing had one of the biggest successes in his breeding career when Kingsbarns won the $1 million Stephen Foster Stakes (G1) at Churchill Downs June 29, proof that his decision to get more involved with breeding was the right one.View the full article

The Nick Ryan-trained Johnny Rocker. (Photo by George Sal/Racing Photos) Johnny Rocker is poised to establish himself as a top-tier sprinter, according to his trainer, Nick Ryan, who has mapped out an ambitious spring program for the rising five-year-old. Ryan is not holding back, planning for the entire to resume in the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) on September 7 and then compete in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) on September 27. Ryan is aiming for a slot in The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 19 for Johnny Rocker, confident that his form in those two races will secure it. “I think he’s going to improve in the next campaign. He’s going to be a five-year-old bull next season and there’s plenty to come,” the trainer told Racing.com. “That first preparation, he exceeded expectations. “We had nice plans and we were always going to raise the bar with him. Now we’re back for the Group 1 sprints at The Valley and we are after an Everest slot. “We won’t be making up the numbers in any race we contest with him.” Johnny Rocker is currently marked as a +7000 winning hope with horse racing bookmakers for The Everest. Horse racing news View the full article

A mix of excitement and relief was felt by Barbara Kennedy after Subtle Power crossed the line at Ruakaka on Saturday, delivering her first success as a trainer in New Zealand. Kennedy had previously trained 59 winners in her native South Africa, and after moving to New Zealand with her husband and jockey Warren, was given the opportunity to take over Peter and Dawn Williams’ successful barn at Byerley Park from the beginning of June. Subtle Power was one of the horses Kennedy took over from the Williams’ for owner-breeder Chittick Investments, and the Savabeel filly was rated a $6 chance in the maiden mile contest after finishing third on debut at Cambridge. In the hands of the premiership-leading hoop, Subtle Power settled in behind the speed through the running and took the lead early in the straight, managing to hold out several late chargers to score by a head. Kennedy was delighted to get on the board so early into her Kiwi career, made particularly special with her husband in the saddle. “I was really ecstatic on the day and a bit relieved at the same time to get the first win out of the way,” Barbara Kennedy said. “We were really happy and it was great to have Warren ride my first winner in New Zealand too. “She’s a filly who the penny hasn’t quite dropped yet, she was still very green after hitting the front quite early, and she got a bit lost. “She was one with Peter and Dawn, so Warren had done a lot of trackwork on her while she was with them and had ridden her at the trials as well. He was very happy with her. “She’s a decent type and has shown us tonnes of ability, so she’ll probably head out for a spell now and come back in the spring.” Back at Byerley Park, Kennedy is establishing a good foundation heading into the new season next month. “We have a nice little routine going with a great team that Peter and Dawn have trained up really well, they all know the swing of things,” she said. “We have 15 horses in training, so that’s a nice number to kick off with and slowly figure things out as we go. “I’m hoping Subtle Power can be something special for the new season and we have a few other decent prospects coming through, but my main goal is to get the winners rolling and being able to compete with the bigger trainers. “I’m looking forward to getting out there and showing them what we’ve got.” View the full article

Any queries about Lim’s Saltoro (NZ) (Shamexpress) seeing out a strong mile were quashed with some conviction on Sunday after the rising star under trainer Daniel Meagher bulldogged his way to victory in the S$150,000 Stewards’ Cup (1600m). That win could mean a clean sweep of the three four-year-old Group races is well and truly on the cards for the son of Shamexpress, with the Silver Bowl (1400m) already in his keep and the Singapore Derby (1800m) three weeks later seemingly at his mercy. However, the win on Sunday did not come easy as jockey Marc Lerner had to earn every penny of his riding fee with not only a patient ride, but also a strong one with plenty of argy-bargy late in the Stewards’ Cup. Upon jumping, things went to plan for most of the fancies as the favourite Lim’s Saltoro used gate one to his advantage to sit behind the expected pacemaker. While Lim’s Saltoro’s stablemate, January, pushed forward to race on the leader’s flank, Bestseller sat in a one-one position and second favourite Makin was also in a plum position to his inside. When things got serious upon turning for home, Bestseller made his move three wide but in the course of his action, left barely enough room for Lim’s Saltoro, who was sandwiched between the battling January on his outside and the tiring Aniki, to make his run at the 400m. But with Lerner showing little French flair but plenty of good old-fashioned grunt, Lim’s Saltoro bullied himself clear and a three-horse battle to the wire ensued as Makin chimed in with Bestseller at the 300m. It was still anyone’s guess at the furlong post but when the whips got cracking late, it was Lim’s Saltoro who prevailed by a short head over Bestseller while Makin ran another half-a-length back in third. Meagher was convinced Singapore Derby will be Lim’s Saltoro’s next assignment after he showed his sheer will to win over the mile on Sunday, which was a trait another champion galloper of his, Lim’s Kosciuszko, have. “He’s a good horse, isn’t he?” said an understated Meagher to racing presenter Ethan Mills after the race. “I spoke to Danny (ex-Kranji jockey Danny Beasley) just then and said he (Lim’s Saltoro) does things that (other) horses don’t do. They just win. “He had to fight through that gap and he did. He was going to the line as good as anything, so onwards and upwards with the (Singapore) Derby. “They’re (Lim’s Saltoro and Lim’s Kosciuszko) just winners, that’s their most similar trait, but they’re two different-sized horses. “We try to put them in our system to make them bombproof if that’s possible and the good one’s come through. He’s just a very good horse.” The Australian conditioner was succinct when queried about any concerns over the 1800m trip in the Singapore Derby for Lim’s Saltoro. “No,” he replied. Lerner, who was fast becoming used to big race success at Kranji, took nothing for granted. “I wished there could be many more (prize presentations),” said the French rider. “I’m very happy today. He was the best horse in the race but I think many people got scared at the 400m. “We took the risk of having some issue in the run, not to lose, but to teach him the proper way to the (Singapore) Derby and at least we know he will be very strong to the line (over 1800m) and it gave us more confidence. “To be fair, I had all the right to be beaten. Vlad did well when he came in to pocket us and he had the run on us. I was sure we would finish short and I don’t know how he (Lim’s Saltoro) just picked up. “Between him (Lim’s Saltoro) and Lim’s Kosciuszko, they just have the will to win.” Bred by Onyx Thoroughbreds, Lim’s Saltoro won two barrier trials while trained in New Zealand by Glenn Old. Now with eight wins and one second in nine starts, Lim’s Saltoro has taken his prizemoney to over S$350,000 for the Lim’s Stable. View the full article

Damian Lane returns to the mounting yard on Veight after winningAustralia Stakes at Moonee Valley Racecourse. (Photo by Reg Ryan/Racing Photos) It was another Saturday filled with its usual frustrations, but a candid Damian Lane has expressed his relief at returning to the winner’s stall on the biggest day of the racing week. Fresh from a quick trip to Japan, Lane resumed his quest for a maiden Melbourne Jockeys’ Premiership with a winning double at Caulfield. After an early win aboard Kin, Lane followed up with a victory aboard Bossy Nic. These were just his third and fourth metropolitan wins in June, but his first Saturday successes since partnering The Map to victory in the Listed Andrew Ramsden Stakes (2800m) on May 18. They were confidence-boosting results after what Lane himself described as a ‘tough’ period. “It’s been a tough period for me for city winners the last few weeks to be completely honest, particularly Saturdays, so I’m just working towards as many wins as I can,” Lane said. “It’s just been one of those frustrating runs that have come these last four or five weeks. “I’ve been riding handy horses in what look their right races, things just haven’t panned out, (there’s been) a lot of seconds. “There’s nothing I could put it down to, it’s just the way things have worked out.” Horse racing news View the full article

Leading Darwin apprentice Emma Lines is all smiles at Fannie Bay on Saturday after making it two wins from as many starts in June aboard the Heather Lehmann-trained Lucky Fortuna. Picture: Caroline Camilleri (Fotofinish Racepix) It’s the start of the Darwin Cup Carnival this weekend and it appears as though interstate trainers Neil Dyer and Heather Lehmann have timed their preparations to perfection if Saturday is any guide. Kyneton’s Dyer and Murray Bridge’s Lehmann, regular visitors to the Top End and who have enjoyed plenty of success, landed winning doubles at Fannie Bay. Ziggi Rocks ($4 fav) and Latest Bentley ($18) saluted for Dyer, who has 22 horses at his disposal, while Lucky Fortuna ($2.35 fav) and Gift Of Gold ($61) got home for Lehmann, who has a team of six horses. After a first-up eighth in open class (1600m) a fortnight ago, Ziggi Rocks (Jade Hampson) lined up over 1600m (0-70) and was camped in third place on the fence before finding open spaces in the home straight to overcome Chris Pollard’s fast-finishing A Big Chance ($5.50) and Peter Stennett’s New Enterprise ($5) by 1.3 lengths. Latest Bentley (Thomas Doyle), a 10-year-old gelding who debuted in Darwin in 2017, made it four wins from 22 Top End starts when he jumped from a wide gate over 1200m (0-58) before assuming control out in front. Phil Cole’s Lord Fenrir ($5.50) then arrived to keep him company, but once turning for home, Latest Bentley found another gear and kicked clear to win by 2.5 lengths, with Kerry Petrick’s Kikuyu ($4.80) storming home for third. Lucky Fortuna (Emma Lines), a first-up winner at Fannie Bay two weeks ago, had to work from the back and was then forced five deep in the home straight before getting home by 1.8 lengths in an eventful contest over 1200m (0-66). Some either missed the jump, were in contention at the 300m or caught the eye in the concluding stages and Angela Forster’s Zoumist was motoring home before being flattened at the 250m, but in the end, Kym Healy’s Equal Balance ($41) and Pompeii Empire ($9) filled the minor placings. Gift Of Gold (Sonja Logan), the first emergency, got a start in the 1300m maiden and the fact he overcame stablemate Valkur ($3 fav) and Dyer’s Fierce Legend ($9.50) by 3.8 lengths was surprising after coming ninth in an 1100m maiden on June 15. Eighth at the 1100m, Gift Of Gold – 12th in Hong Kong in his only other career start – picked up speed and joined Valkur and Tayarn Halter’s Tonix out in front before shooting clear at the 200m when little separated the trio passing the 400m. Jason Manning’s $4 favourite Motivated Miss (Vanessa Arnott) made it two wins and a second from its past three starts with an outstanding win over 1200m (0-58) after finding the lead from the outside gate held on to eclipse Cole’s Whitten ($4.80) and Pollard’s Call It A Loan ($8) by 0.8 lengths. Ella Clarke’s $10 hope Wild Beau (Aaron Sweeney) impressed on it’s Top End debut over 1100m (0-62) when it held a four length lead passing the 600m before prevailing by 0.8 lengths with Andrew Perdon’s Dummy Spit ($3.90 fav) and Dyer’s Yaki Ishi ($6.50) hot on his heels. Horse racing news View the full article

Alice Springs trainer Terry Gillett and daughter Dakota. It could be an exciting few weeks for Alice Springs trainer Terry Gillett. His star mare, Dakota Lee, who made it 10 wins from 10 starts at Pioneer Park on Sunday with success over 1100m (BM76), is bound for the Darwin Cup Carnival to contest the $135,000 Palmerston Sprint (1200m) on August 3. The five-year-old daughter of Kuroshio, who missed two years of racing after developing claustrophobia, will be debuting in the Top End. Gillett, the 2020/21 champion trainer in the Alice Springs and Provincial Premiership, could also secure the 2023/24 title after hitting the lead with a winning double at Pioneer Park. Paul Gardner (23), who has never won Central Australia’s trainers’ premiership, has held sway all season, but Gillett (24) took over courtesy of Dakota Lee – $1.35 favourite with online bookmakers – and Altar Boy ($1.30 fav). There’s two Alice Springs meetings to go, and with Gardner in Darwin, the door is ajar for Gillett, who was pipped by Lisa Whittle at the end of the 2021/22 season. Stan Tsaikos, enjoying a purple patch in the Red Centre of late, and apprentice Jade Hampson shared the riding honours on Sunday with winning doubles. After breaking the track record for 1200m (1:07.85) a fortnight ago, Dakota Lee (Tsaikos) was put to the test before kicking clear over the final 100m to sink Greg Connor’s Flying Start ($4.80) and Ray Viney’s Tango Stepz ($31) by three lengths. Altar Boy (Tsaikos) made it three wins in a row following a first-up sixth in May after arriving from Townsville, but he had to dig deep before prevailing over 1400m (BM64). He was never far from the lead, but Altar Boy travelled three deep and only hit the front with 100m to go before getting home by 1.3 lengths from Viney’s Duty ($15) – last at the 1000m – and Yannick Valenti’s Mexi Cola ($13). Whittle’s Il Don Cavallo ($3.10), ridden by Sonja Logan, shared the early lead over 1200m (0-64) before hitting the front at the 600m and refused to buckle after a disappointing last start seventh to beat Connor’s Delago Lad ($2.70 fav) and Dan Morgan’s Arrogant Miss ($4.80) by 1.3 lengths. Morgan’s $2.90 favourite Boy Big (Hampson), who hadn’t won since last October, and the rest of the field were content to allow Gillett’s Family Ties ($5) to take an early lead over 1100m (0-58). Family Ties was two lengths clear at the 200m, but Boy Big swooped to win by 1.5 lengths with Viney’s Cubic Zirconia ($3.50) – last at the 700m – rocketing home for third. Valenti, based in Derby (WA), arrived in town with a team for the June 16 meeting and was unsuccessful, but it was a different story on Sunday when Get Out Mick ($10) saluted over 1200m (Class 2). Fourth in a 1400m maiden first up, Get Out Mick was seventh at the 600m before winding up in the home straight under the guidance of Hampson to nail Whittle’s Another Val ($3.50 fav) right on the line with Will Savage’s Becquerel ($8.50) third. Horse racing news View the full article

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Prevailing in a good pari-mutuel battle and then backing it up on the track, Hronis Racing's debuting A. Z. WILDCAT (f, 2, Munnings–Lucky Long, by Lookin At Lucky) turned in a professional effort to open her account as the narrow 2-1 favorite. The $200,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase broke a bit inward, but was up to press the early issue before sitting the pocket trip from third around the hairpin turn. Produced three wide into the stretch, the filly went to the lead with a quarter mile to race, dueled with Power Connection (Authentic) into the final furlong and went on to prevail by about two lengths. What About Q (Tiz the Law), the well-backed second favorite, held for third while finishing well clear of the remainder. Sales history: $200,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP. O-Hronis Racing LLC; B-Stoneriggs Farm (KY); T-John Sadler. A. Z. WILDCAT ($6.00) won on debut in @LosAlRacing race 8. The 2-year-old by Munnings (@coolmoreamerica) was ultra professional under @HIBerrios. @sadlerracing conditioned the filly for @Hronis_Racing. pic.twitter.com/QB107uSzeL — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) June 30, 2024 The post Munnings Filly A. Z. Wildcat Impressive on Los Al Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Earlier this year at the Ocala Breeders' Company's March 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale, Walmac Farm, Five Fillies Stable, and Ryan Ritt went to $195,000 for a son of Violence, who just six months earlier sold for $9,500 as a yearling. View the full article

The 150th Spring Meet at Churchill Downs concluded Sunday with a record $708.3 million wagered over the 43-day meet. That broke the 2022 Spring Meet record of $614.8 million by $93.5 million. Just 10 years ago, the Spring Meet betting totaled $368.8 million. All sources handle during the six-day Derby Week (April 27-May 4) rose to $446.6 million–including $320.5 million on Kentucky Derby Day–to eclipse last year's Derby Week record of $412.0 million. The wagering increases continued throughout the final 37 days of the Spring Meet (May 9-June 30) as handle totaled $261.7 million, which was a $38.7 million and 17.4% increase from the previous post-Derby mark of $223.0 million during the 2022 Spring Meet. Saturday's 12-race Stephen Foster Day card attracted the most wagers in the 43-year history of the event. Betting totaled $18.8 million, which was a $4.9 million or 35% increase from the last time it was held at Churchill Downs in 2022. The $18.8 million milestone also was the second-largest non-Derby Week or Breeders' Cup wagering day in the history of the track, only behind the $19.3 million bet on Stephen Foster Preview Day during the COVID-19 pandemic on May 23, 2020. “From record prize money to large fields, high-quality participants, robust wagering and large payouts, this year's record-breaking Spring Meet delivered all-around positive results,” said President of Churchill Downs Racetrack Mike Anderson. “The horse owners, jockeys and trainers provided exceptional competition on the racetrack, and our team and partners delivered an outstanding guest experience. We extend our sincerest appreciation to the horseplayers and the greater Louisville community who made this year's Spring Meet so special and enjoyable.” A record $58 million was paid in purses during the nine-week Spring Meet, which averaged $1.4 million daily with an average purse per race of $139,000. Churchill Downs lured 3,432 starters for its 418 races for an average of 8.2 horses per race. Racing on the Kentucky circuit will shift to Ellis Park Racing & Gaming beginning Thursday at 12:50 p.m. ET for their 25-day stand. Live action at Churchill Downs will return Thursday, Sept. 12 for the 14-day September Meet. The post Record Spring Meet Wagering At Churchill Downs appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Dubai Honour produced a performance June 30 in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud hallmarked with quality here to see off Feed The Flame and add a first European group 1 win.View the full article

Wathnan Racing's Cagliostro continued his rise through the ranks June 30 with a sharp victory in the $279,875 Hanshin Stakes at Churchill Downs, his first stakes win.View the full article

Fresh off a spectacular four-timer during the prestigious Royal Ascot meeting, Wathnan Racing–the horse racing operation of the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Al-Thani–saw its blue-and-tan colors cross the line first and second, respectively, in Sunday's Hanshin Stakes by the progressive Cagliostro (Upstart) and Tumbarumba (Oscar Performance), each acquired by Wathnan over the last several months. Placed in last year's GIII Indiana Derby and GIII Smarty Jones S. and fifth in the GIII Oklahoma Derby for a partnership including West Point and David Ingordo, Cagliostro narrowly annexed a two-turn Keeneland allowance in April before changing hands. Making his first start for Wathnan, but still under the care of Cherie DeVaux in the June 1 GIII Blame S., the bay colt carried a daylight advantage into the final furlong before being run down late by Godolphin's promising Highland Falls (Curlin). With 'TDN Rising Star' Extra Anejo (Into Mischief) taking the lion's share of the action, Cagliostro was no better than the third betting favorite and broke running from a wide alley while cutting back in trip and sat just outside the rail-skimming 'Rising Star' and defending champion Zozos (Munnings) and Extra Anejo through sound fractions of :23.09 and :46.09. The pacesetter backed out of it abruptly leaving the half-mile pole behind, and Cagliostro continued to shadow Extra Anejo, an impressive comeback allowance winner May 30, in hand approaching the stretch. Cagliostro soon claimed the front-runner, pinched a break entering the final furlong and held sway as Tumbarumba gave game chase. Raise Cain (Violence) loomed boldly into the lane and finished a good third. “We thought the cut back in distance would really suit him today to keep him and Pyrenees (Into Mischief) separated from running against one another in the Stephen Foster,” the winning trainer said. “It worked out very well with Pyrenees running second in the Foster. We're very happy for our entire team and this ownership group.” Having become registered owners in England just over a year ago, Wathnan Racing–advised by Richard Brown and Olly Tait–had a week for the ages during the Royal meeting, particularly with their 2-year-olds. The operation won the G2 Norfolk Stakes with American-bred Shareholder (Not This Time), the G2 Queen Mary Stakes with Leovanni (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}), the G3 Jersey Stakes with Haatem (Ire) (Phoenix of Spain {Ire}) and the valuable Buckingham Palace Stakes Handicap with English Oak (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). Their other American interests include Subsanador (Arg) (Fortify), acquired following his runner-up effort in the GI Santa Anita Handicap. A 16th stakes winner for his Airdrie Stud-based stallion, Cagliostro is out of a half-sister to Water White (Conveyance), a stakes winner and third in the GI Acorn S. in 2020. The dam of the 2-year-old colt Hey Finch (Bucchero), A Rosefor Isabelle was most recently covered by City of Light. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. HANSHIN S. PRESENTED BY JRA, $279,875, Churchill Downs, 6-30, 4yo/up, 1m, 1:34.87, ft. 1–CAGLIOSTRO, 118, c, 4, Upstart–A Rosefor Isabelle, by Hard Spun. 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. ($385,000 2yo '22 OBSAPR). O-Wathnan Racing; B-Lance Colwell & Janice Clark (FL); T-Cherie DeVaux; J-Flavien Prat. $163,680. Lifetime Record: MGSP, 11-3-4-1, $436,668. 2–Tumbarumba, 120, g, 4, Oscar Performance–Naive Enough, by Street Sense. ($30,000 Ylg '21 FTKOCT). O-Wathnan Racing; B-Coteau Grove Farms LLC (LA); T-Brian A Lynch. $52,800. 3–Raise Cain, 118, c, 4, Violence–Lemon Belle, by Lemon Drop Kid. ($180,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP; $65,000 RNA 2yo '22 OBSOPN). O-Andrew N & Rania Warren; B-Rock Ridge Thoroughbreds LLC (KY); T-Ben Colebrook. $28,900. Margins: 1, 1 3/4, 2 3/4. Odds: 4.22, 6.74, 20.08. Also Ran: Three Technique, Charge It, Happy American, Extra Anejo, Frosted Grace, Zozos. Scratched: Best Actor, Injunction. Cagliostro wins The Hanshin Stakes presented by @JRA_WorldRacing! pic.twitter.com/5WwfGKE32O — Churchill Downs (@ChurchillDowns) June 30, 2024 The post Cagliostro Leads Wathnan 1-2 In the Hanshin Stakes appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The June misfortunes of Ruidoso Downs continued June 29 as heavy rain in the area caused flooding on portions of the track, prompting the cancellation of the final two Quarter Horse races Saturday and the postponement of the June 30 card to July 1.View the full article

Overcoming a huge deficit and with a ton of pace to run at, Politically Correct (Violence–Heron Watch, by Candy Ride {Arg}) enveloped the field and won by six lengths in the Bashford Manor Stakes at Churchill Downs on Sunday afternoon. The 2-year-old, who was tabbed as 7-1 shot, was not the swiftest out of the gate and the colt trailed up the backstretch. As the first quarter went :21.41, jockey Jose Ortiz did not panic and once he got his mount pointed towards the wire at the top of the lane it was time to move. Politically Correct rolled home a no-doubt winner to stay perfect. Smoken Wicked (Bobby's Wicked One) was the runner-up. The final running time was 1:10.56. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0. Sales History: $9,500 '23 KEESEP; $195,000 '24OBSMAR. O-Walmac Farm, Five Fillies Stable LLC and Ryan C. Ritt; B-St. George Farm LLC (Ky); T-Christopher Davis. 2YO Politicallycorrect wins the 123rd Running of The Bashford Manor with @jose93_ortiz aboard! pic.twitter.com/6UVxfOW6do — Churchill Downs (@ChurchillDowns) June 30, 2024 The post No Debate Here, Politically Correct Answers The Question In Bashford Manor Stakes appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The Aidan O'Brien-trained colt had been beaten three and a quarter lengths behind runner-up Ambiente Friendly at Epsom four weeks ago. However, he reversed that form this time, giving O'Brien a record-extending 16th victory in the Irish Derby.View the full article

A talented if unlucky juvenile runner, Raging Torrent broke his maiden on debut at Del Mar but had to settle for third, fourth and fourth respectively behind 'TDN Rising Stars' in Prince of Monaco (Speightstown) in the GIII Best Pal Stakes and the GI Del Mar Futurity and Muth (Nyquist) in the GI American Pharoah Stakes. Brought back as a 3-year-old on the grass, he made a good account of himself when second in the John Shear Stakes two back April 7. He then broke through in a big way over course and distance, posting a 104 Beyer Speed Figure facing optional claimers on the Kentucky Derby undercard May 4. Back into stakes company Sunday, the even-money favorite was hustled right the front from his far outside draw and was allowed to go loose on the lead, opening up a comfortable margin back to Otto the Conqueror in second. Facing only a mild challenge from World Record off the far turn, Raging Torrent turned back any attempts to close into his lead and stayed strong to win alone on the wire. The sixth stakes winner for Maximus Mischief, Raging Torrent has a 2-year-old half-brother by Honor A.P. named Contra Mundum and a yearling half-sister by Collected. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Raging Torrent and @Antonio1Fresu win the Maxfield Overnight Stakes for trainer @Chief StipeONeill1! pic.twitter.com/SwVhnb4ZYr — Churchill Downs (@ChurchillDowns) June 30, 2024 MAXFIELD OVERNIGHT S., $173,700, Churchill Downs, 6-30, 3yo, 7f, 1:22.04, gd. 1–RAGING TORRENT, 118, c, 3, by Maximus Mischief 1st Dam: Violent Wave, by Violence 2nd Dam: Coastal Wave, by Dixieland Band 3rd Dam: Orange Wave, by Coastal ($27,000 RNA Ylg '22 KEESEP; $75,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR). 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Mark Davis; B-Rodney J. Winkler & Alfonso Mazzetti (KY); T-Chief Stipe F. O'Neill; J-Antonio Fresu. $107,200. Lifetime Record: GSP, 9-3-1-2, $317,400. 2–Otto the Conqueror, 120, c, 3, Street Sense–Dream It Is, by Shackleford. ($450,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Three Chimneys Farm; B-Hoolie Racing Stable, LLC (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen. $35,000. 3–World Record, 118, c, 3, Gun Runner–Marwa (GB), by Exceed And Excel (Aus). ($410,000 Wlg '21 KEENOV). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Siena Farm LLC and WinStar Farm LLC; B-Runnymede Farm LLC, Falguieres Bloodstock, Gestut Zur Kuste AG, et (KY); T-Rodolphe Brisset. $17,500. Margins: 2 1/4, HF, 5HF. Odds: 1.08, 3.42, 2.50. Also Ran: Carbone, Hold My Bourbon. Scratched: Lucky Jeremy, This Is Uscar. The post Raging Torrent Breaks Through In Maxfield appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The 2024 Churchill Downs Spring Meet leading jockey race will come down to the wire on closing day Sunday with Tyler Gaffalione holding a 44-43 win advantage over Jose Ortiz. Luis Saez, who had 32 wins following Day 42 of the 43-day meeting, was in third place followed by Florent Geroux (22), Cristian Torres (21) and Kentucky Derby 150-winning jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. (20). Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen owner Juddmonte locked up their respective titles prior to the start of Sunday's card. Asmussen's title is his record-extending 28th beneath the Twin Spires. Prior to his 10 runners on Sunday, his barn tallied 32 wins from 173 starts. Asmussen's barn is represented locally by assistants Scott Blasi and Sarah Campion. Brad Cox and Mike Maker were tied for second, 12 wins behind Asmussen with 20. They were followed by Tom Amoss, Greg Foley and Joe Sharp who each had 11 victories. Congrats to the 2024 Spring Meet leading trainer, Steve Asmussen! This is his record-extending 28th leading trainer title at #ChurchillDowns with 33 wins and counting pic.twitter.com/5EguhhiXLS — Churchill Downs (@ChurchillDowns) June 30, 2024 Juddmonte's 10 wins from 17 starts led all owners. Among the highlights of Juddmonte's meet were victories by Idiomatic (Curlin) in the GI Fasig-Tipton La Troienne and Scylla (Tapit) in Saturday's GII Fasig-Tipton Fleur de Lis Stakes. This was Juddmonte's third local title after being leading owner at the 2021 and 2023 Spring Meets. Godolphin and Three Diamonds Farm were tied for second with six wins apiece. The post Asmussen, Juddmonte Secure Churchill Leading Trainer, Owner Titles; Jockey Title Up For Grabs appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Bella Nipotina capped off another stellar campaign with a hugely impressive success in the Tiara (G1) at Eagle Farm June 29, the final group 1 of the Australian racing season.View the full article

Grade 3 winner Ova Charged was back in action June 29 at Lone Star Park, taking the $125,000 Chicken Fried Stakes to stretch her win streak to seven.View the full article

There were three different winners of the Triple Crown races and the four Grade I preps leading up to the GI Kentucky Derby were won by still four other horses. That means that as the second half of the 3-year-old season starts in earnest with the July 20 GI Haskell Stakes at Monmouth, the race for the 3-year-old championship is as wide open as possible. Danny Gargan, the trainer of GI Belmont Stakes winner Dornoch (Good Magic), knows that. But Gargan, who has never lacked confidence in his 3-year-old colt, is optimistic that his horse will show that he's the best of the best and will make that statement in the Haskell. “He's good right now,” Gargan said. “He's doing really well. His work the other day (4 furlongs in :48.20 over the Saratoga training track) was tremendous. He never works that good by himself. We'll come back and do the same thing two more times, Then, at the Haskell, hopefully we will get a clean break and a good post and can get out of there and lay in a good position. I think he will be super, super tough. He's training better now than he was going into the Belmont.” After Dornoch won his third straight race in the GII Fountain of Youth Stakes, he seemed like a horse that would have to be reckoned with in the Derby. Then he ran fourth in the GI Toyota Blue Grass Stakes and 10th in the Derby. “The one hole cost him the Derby,” Gargan said. “I think he would have been a factor in the Derby if we had a different post. We moved on to the next race and he trained great for it. He just can't get stuck down on the inside again like he was in the Derby. In the Blue Grass, we got beat on the van. Those tornadoes came and we had to delay our van ride and he got there two days before the race. We shipped 20 hours and got in two days before a Grade I. That took too much out of him. But we couldn't put him on a van heading into tornadoes.” Gargan believes that the real Dornoch showed up in the Belmont. Getting a trouble-free trip, he fought off Mindframe (Constitution) to win by a half-length. Gargan had to chose between the Haskell and the GII Jim Dandy Stakes and said he picked the Haskell because it is a Grade I race. “I've won the Jim Dandy before,” Gargan said. “It's a great race, don't get me wrong. But it's not a Grade I. The Haskell is a Grade I with a $1 million purse. If the Jim Dandy was a Grade I, I wouldn't care about the purse money. I'd run in it.” He's going to have to bring his best to win the Haskell, which is shaping up as a very strong race. According to the Monmouth racing office, expected starters include GI Preakness Stakes winner Seize the Grey (Arrogate), GIII Tampa Bay Derby winner Domestic Product (Practical Joke), Affirmed Stakes winner Parenting (Justify) and three horses trained by Todd Pletcher, 2-year-old champion and GI Florida Derby winner Fierceness (City of Light), Belmont runner-up Mindframe and Pegasus Stakes winner Tuscan Sky (Vino Rosso). GI Arkansas Derby winner Muth (Good Magic) is a possible starter “We've run against Todd all year,” Gargan said. “Todd is smart and he knows what he is doing. I'm just not sure he's really going to run all three. But my horse is doing better now than he was before the Belmont. He can go forward and if he does he's going to be hard to beat.” The post Gargan Says Dornoch Doing Better Than Ever, Haskell Is Next appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Freshman sire Thousand Words (by Pioneerof the Nile) collected the first stakes win of his promising stud career, as Vodka With a Twist clinked her glass after getting her picture taken in the Debutante Stakes on closing day at Churchill Downs. The former charge of Jason McCutchen broke her maiden under his tutelage at second asking over a sloppy course under the Twin Spires May 17. With her new barn and as the 6-5 choice here, Vodka With a Twist got down to business from the bell by blazing a trail up the backstretch. Despite some mild pressure around the far turn, the filly had more to give as she confidently crossed the wire three lengths ahead of So There She Was (Munnings). One of 123 foals of racing age for her Spendthrift based stallion, the winner is the last registered offspring of Bourbon With a Kiss. Vodka With a Twist's second dam, SW French Dip (Speightstown), is a half-sister to MGSW/MGISP Midcourt (Midnight Lute). DEBUTANTE S., $218,750, Churchill Downs, 6-30, 2yo, f, 6f, 1:10.58, my. 1–VODKA WITH A TWIST, 120, f, 2, by Thousand Words 1st Dam: Bourbon and a Kiss, by Sky Mesa 2nd Dam: French Dip, by Speightstown 3rd Dam: Mayo On the Side, by French Deputy ($2,500 Ylg '23 FTKOCT; $90,000 RNA 2yo '24 KEEAPR). 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Medallion Racing, Omar Aldabbagh and William Strauss; B-Pillar Property Services Inc (KY); T-Philip D'Amato; J-Flavien Prat. $136,520. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, $209,320. 2–So There She Was, 118, f, 2, Munnings–Risk Premium, by Take Charge Indy. ($145,000 Wlg '22 KEENOV; $15,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP; $100,000 2yo '24 OBSMAR). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Mark Davis; B-Grantley Acres (KY); T-Chief Stipe F. O'Neill. $39,200. 3–Fortuna Mia, 120, f, 2, Vekoma–Windy Lane, by Cairo Prince. 1ST BLACK TYPE. O/T-Rey Hernandez; B-Tyler B. Jones (KY). $22,100. Margins: 3, 5, 2. Odds: 1.31, 2.22, 18.65. Also Ran: Glee, Adeera, Daisy Duke, La Marinera. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. #6 Vodka with a Twist scores in the Debutante at Churchill Downs for trainer Phil D'Amato with Flavien Prat in the irons! Two in a row for this 2YO filly by Thousand Words. #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/nokLpTbty4 — TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) June 30, 2024 The post Freshman Sire Thousand Words Toasts Vodka With A Twist After First Stakes Score At Churchill appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In the 1960s British racing had the chance to own bookmaking. But it's happening the other way round. Bookmakers are moving closer to owning racing. Betfred's headline sponsorship of all five Classics – the 1,000 and 2,000 Guineas, Derby, Oaks and St Leger – from 2025 is manna to racecourse execs whose job it is to find backers for marquee events. With the Qatar-owned Qipco stepping back from sponsorship of the Guineas meeting and King George at Ascot from next year (they're maintaining their support for Champions Day), the prestige of funding the five Classics passes to the most self-made of bookies. And there is more. Betfred will offer a £2m bonus for winning the colts' Triple Crown – the 2,000 Guineas, Derby and St Leger. Offering a bonanza for something that has not been done since 1970 is not the riskiest move a layer has ever made. But in a week when racing lamented the BBC Radio 4 Today programme's decision to drop racing tips from its hourly sports bulletins (except for the biggest fixtures), adding glamour – and cash – to the Triple Crown was hardly likely to foment discontent. Fred Done, Betfred's chairman, set out with his brother Peter in the 1960s – the decade in which Britain passed up the chance to enforce a totalisator system and instead licensed High Street bookmakers. The brothers shared a bed until they were 15 in Ordsall, known as the “slums of Salford.” Both left school at 15 without qualifications and found their vocation in the new betting shops of the time. Their first outlet was part-funded by a successful bet on Alf Ramsey's team to win the 1966 World Cup. “We upped our game, we had carpets,” Peter Done recalled, in a BBC series offering tips from chief executives. The Dones would call their customers 'Sir' and congratulate them when they won. Five decades on, Betfred have 1,432 betting shops and “800,000 active customers.” In May last year The Sunday Times Rich List valued the brothers' wealth at £1.87 billion – 93rd on the list. “I want to put the British Classics back where they belong, at the forefront of global horseracing,” Fred Done said. Nobody would contest that aim. Plainly though the tie-up confers PR benefits. In July last year Betfred paid the Gambling Commission £3.25m after an investigation found failures in their social responsibility and anti-money laundering procedures. In one case “safer gambling interactions” had not applied to a punter who staked £517,499 in two months. A more startling aspect is what the Betfred deal says about racing's power balance Coolmore have displayed a creditable urge to add a Triple Crown to their roster of historic feats and records. In 2012 Camelot came close to emulating Nijinsky, the last horse to tick off all those disparate tests, 54 years ago. Before Nijinsky, you had to scroll back to Bahram in 1935. The colts' Triple Crown is to racing what 1966 has become to the England football team: more demon, than mere itch. For publicity generation, it works well enough, and Coolmore, who still believe in the dream, were within their rights to welcome the extra two-mil they would harvest for their troubles. The Betfred bonus is not available to fillies, perhaps because Oh So Sharp completed it as recently as 1985. The Weatherbys Hamilton Stayers' Million bonus was discontinued in 2019 after Stradivarius won it two years running. These prizes are sometimes meant to remain unclaimed. With his Triple Crown bounty, Done, who already called himself 'The Bonus King,' found a handy synergy. Far more significant is his overarching sponsorship of all five Classics, which will calm nerves at Newmarket, Epsom and Doncaster. To think racegoers will attach importance to a prefix on a big race name is fanciful, but there is now consistency, at least: a sense that all five races are connected, which they are, by two and a half centuries. They are the foundations of Thoroughbred breeding and history. Bookmaker sponsorship of races has become inherent. It's entirely routine to see Sky Bet, Bet 365, Betway or Unibet in a race title. There was a curse of “Download the app” being added to make some of the race names read like essays. These long monikers have buried many a race's identity. A more startling aspect is what the Betfred deal says about racing's power balance. The direction of travel is bookmaking not 'supporting' live racing so much as financing much of it directly, not through the levy, where it defends its pile tenaciously, but as the impresario. Only 0.6% of betting turnover in the UK is returned to racing, compared to 8.6% in France and 16.6% in Japan. So when a big bookmaker plays the glamour shot of fixing its name to our five most famous races, everyone can sleep easy for a while, knowing the bills are paid. The peace though is disturbed by a nagging thought: who will own the sport 10 years from now, and what are the conflicts of interest? The post The Classics: Connected by Centuries – and now by Betfred appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article