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Updated: 2 months 3 weeks ago

Heat K.O.’s Friday Racing At Delaware

Thu, 2025-07-24 11:41

The live racing card at Delaware Park will be canceled Friday due to expected extreme heat conditions in the area, the track said Thursday. In a statement, the Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission said, “Acting upon the recommendation of the DTRC, veterinarians and stewards, Delaware Park has cancelled the live racing card scheduled for Friday, July 25, due to the excessive heat index forecasted by the National Weather Service to be above 105 for the region.”

Racing remained on schedule for Thursday and is due to resume with a full card on Saturday, July 26.

The post Heat K.O.’s Friday Racing At Delaware appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Taylor Made’s OpenRing App Aims to Streamline the Sales Inspection Process

Thu, 2025-07-24 10:02

Horse racing is notoriously slow to embrace change. Take yearling inspection, for example. Walk up to the consignment, get a paper card and a pen and fill out the horses you want to see, and get in line to wait your turn. That's how it has always happened. But if the Taylor Made Sales Agency has anything to say about it, pretty soon, everyone will arrive with their pre-made selections, hold their QR code up to a scanner, and get ready to see their horses, courtesy of their new OpenRing App.

The idea was born when Katie Taylor, the Vice President of Operations at Taylor Made, was looking at horses herself for bloodstock investments on behalf of the farm.

“That's when I got to wear the shoes of a buyer or shortlister,” she recalls. “And I wished there was a better way to make a card for myself ahead of time or to get myself organized. I'd get back at night and be like, `man, I missed one vet report, or didn't get to see one horse, or whatever.”

From that experience was born OpenRing, named after the popular OpenTable app which has transformed dining out.

The OpenRing app allows buyers to make their card up ahead of time. Each of their choices is accompanied by the catalogue page, photos and videos, and, after you have seen the horse, vet reports. The app ensures you don't go to see your horses at Barn 2 when they're really in Barn 31, and, before you head to the barn, you are told how long the approximate wait time is, so you know if you should head over now, or see other horses in advance. When you do arrive at the barn, you scan the QR code, and are immediately put in the queue to see your horses. Push notifications let you know if there is an update on any one of your selections.

Users can see the horses available on the app as soon as they ship in. You can also choose all colts, all fillies, and at mixed sales, all weanlings, in-foal mares, or all show. You can also make a card for someone, text it them, and once that person checks in with the app, the two people will be connected going forward. In that way, a shortlister can create cards for someone else who will automatically have the QR codes. Notifications also let you know if a horse you have been waiting for has shipped in, particularly useful at a horses-of-racing-age sale.

Emily Csenar, Taylor Made's Boarding Operations Assistant Manager, said that traditionally, “lookers come up to the welcome center and will read off their short list, request the Taylor Made short list, or ask for an all-show. Our welcome center employee will enter their list, ask their name and possibly a spelling. They are then in our sale queue to be placed with a sales person for their show.” Vet reports are also requested at this time from an employee.

Now, said Digital Sales Coordinator Maxine Pina, “I'd say it varies depending on the person, but anywhere between 10-15 minutes is saved from scrolling/sorting out the lists on the iPad or reading off the catalog. You also no longer need to find anyone for a vet report and are able to see it at your leisure.”

Taylor said she felt that the green light-yellow light-red light functions were going to be one of the most useful features in the app. “You'll know if it's, `hey, they have some open rings right now, so I'm going to head that way, and the wait won't be very long,' or if it's red, I'm going to kind of steer clear. If it's green, `come on down and we will get you on a ring.' So that's kind of what we're shooting for, and I think we'll get more sophisticated with that as we go forward. But right now we're just getting started.”

The app debuted at the Fasig-Tipton July sale, where it got top reviews from the people who tried it.

“It's a new technology and process so I can understand the hesitance and reluctance to jump right into it,” said Csenar, “but our team has spent months working on the app, testing it, and working out bugs and are constantly making improvements and changes. The people that did use the app were excited and enjoyed it. They especially liked being able to access the vet reports after looking at the horses.”
Said Pina, “We had 121 users download and register by the end of the July Sale. The first couple of days we spent mainly getting people registered and familiar with the app and by the second/third day we had lookers checking in with the app.”

“We kind of wanted to get a couple of sales under our belts, but really a lot of the feedback we got at July was that the people that used it loved it,” said Taylor. “And then there were some other people like, `well, I don't really need it until September. I'll wait and download it then.' But we're really trying to encourage people to try it and use it at Saratoga and New York Preferred, just so that they're totally used to it when it comes to September, because September, November is where it's really going to be helpful to people.”

At the end of the day, OpenRing is another way for Taylor Made to put the customer first, said Taylor.

“I think the real goal of it is to eliminate frustration,” said Taylor. “I know people look at Taylor Made and they say, `oh, they're so big. I go there and get lost.' We want it to be as personalized and user-friendly. We want our size and our scope and our resources to be something that makes their lives easier, not more difficult. What we're trying to do is to make the whole process a lot easier and a lot more simple, and cater to the fact that everyone's tired and worn down and it's hard work out there and long days. So if you forget an X-ray report or whatever, it's just at the tip of your fingers. White-glove service is what we're trying to go after for our sellers and for our buyers.”

The app is currently available for iOS, and is available in the App store by searching Taylor Made OpenRing, or by clicking here. An Android version is in development.

To watch a demonstration, click here.

The post Taylor Made’s OpenRing App Aims to Streamline the Sales Inspection Process appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance In The Spotlight During Whitney Weekend At Saratoga

Thu, 2025-07-24 09:21

Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance will return to Saratoga during the first week of August to highlight accredited aftercare through a variety of initiatives at both Saratoga Race Course and Fasig-Tipton, the TAA announced Thursday. The organization will participate in events during Whitney weekend, which includes the GI Whitney Stakes, and will remain active through the Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearling Sale the following week.

The New York Racing Association will feature Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance as its Community Partner during Whitney weekend and TAA will also be present at NYRA's Community Outreach Booth on Saturday and Sunday, where fans can learn more about accredited aftercare. Branded merchandise will be available in exchange for donations, including a limited-edition Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance t-shirt. Donna Barton Brothers, author of Inside Track: Insider's Guide to Horse Racing, will appear at the booth on Saturday from 11 a.m. to noon. Signed copies of her book will be available for $10 each, while supplies last.

NYRA will also recognize Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance with a named race on the undercard on both Saturday and Sunday. Following each race, a presentation will be made to the winning connections, who will receive a branded blanket and gift bag.

“NYRA is pleased to continue this important partnership with Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance during Whitney weekend at Saratoga,” said Tony Allevato, NYRA Chief Revenue Officer and President of NYRA Bets. “Saratoga provides the ideal stage for highlighting the importance of supporting accredited aftercare, and we thank TAA for their commitment to the sport.”

The weekend will also include hosting the winners of the VIP experience auctioned earlier this year through the “Off to the Races” campaign supporting accredited aftercare. This experience was donated by NYRA, the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, and Anne's Washington Inn. The winners will enjoy a horseman's box for five, paddock and winner's circle access, a private tour with Tom Durkin, a family museum membership, and more.

Fasig-Tipton, a supporting partner of Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, will host The Saratoga Sale of selected yearlings Aug. 4-5. Representatives will be on-site to meet with supporters, consigners, and buyers to promote accredited aftercare. Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance will also distribute New York Thoroughbred Breeding & Development Fund co-branded gifts to consigners participating in the New York Bred Yearlings Sale, scheduled for Aug. 10-11.

While in Saratoga, Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance will also conduct inspections at accredited aftercare facilities as part of its ongoing accreditation process. In addition, staff will meet with trainers, owners, and supporters throughout the week and convene for the organization's annual board meeting on Thursday, Aug. 7.

The post Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance In The Spotlight During Whitney Weekend At Saratoga appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

NBC To Air 2026 Kentucky Oaks In Prime Time

Thu, 2025-07-24 09:11

NBC Sports will showcase the 2026 GI Longines Kentucky Oaks in prime time for the first time ever in 2026, Churchill Downs Incorporated announced Thursday.

The 152nd Kentucky Oaks, featuring racing's best 3-year-old fillies, will be presented Friday, May 1, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock. In addition to racing, Kentucky Oaks traditions centered around fashion and women's health advocacy will remain central pillars of the event pageantry–now culminating in a twilight finish.

“We are excited to present the Kentucky Oaks in prime time for the first time ever,” said Jon Miller, President, Acquisitions & Partnerships, NBC Sports. “With the Oaks on Friday night leading into the Kentucky Derby on the first Saturday in May, we can't wait to get back to Churchill Downs for another historic weekend of racing.”

“By moving the Kentucky Oaks to prime time, we're giving one of horse racing's most treasured traditions the national stage it deserves,” said CDI CEO Bill Carstanjen. “This decision is rooted in our commitment to growing the sport, reaching new audiences and creating unforgettable experiences for our fans.”

The Kentucky Derby stands as America's oldest continually held major sporting event. The 152nd Kentucky Derby will be held Saturday, May 2, 2026, on NBC and Peacock.

In May 2024, NBC Sports and Churchill Downs announced a multi-year extension of their historic partnership. The relationship, which began with the 2001 Kentucky Derby, will make NBC the longest running home of the Kentucky Derby, as NBCUniversal will become the first media company to present the most prestigious event in horse racing for three decades (32 editions of the Kentucky Derby from 2001-32).

The post NBC To Air 2026 Kentucky Oaks In Prime Time appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Thistledown Track Super Claims He Was Fired for Reporting Safety Concerns to Stewards and HISA

Wed, 2025-07-23 19:18

Thistledown Racino in Ohio fired its track superintendent on Monday, and management at the Cleveland-area track has brought in outside racing surface consultants and is working with the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) in the aftermath of four lost days of racing and training this week because of escalating safety concerns with the dirt surface.

But Sean Wright, who was only on the superintendent's job four months before his abrupt termination July 21, told TDN in a Wednesday phone interview that Thistledown's troubles on its one-mile dirt oval extend beyond the graphic images that have circulated on social media this week showing fist-sized rocks that were allegedly picked up from the track by jockeys and horsemen on Monday and Tuesday.

Wright said that there have been eight catastrophic injuries at Thistledown since the meet began Apr. 21–five in races and three during training–and that when he became concerned enough on Monday morning to discuss the issue with the track's stewards and then to contact HISA, he was terminated within just a few hours by track management.

“Monday, when I told the stewards and when I told the HISA official that's on the grounds that I do not feel comfortable guaranteeing the safety of that racetrack because I don't want to break any more horses down, that's when I was called upstairs and subsequently let go,” Wright said.

“I believe I was let go because of [being] a whistleblower,” Wright said. “They even mentioned during our meeting that it was not my place to go to the stewards or HISA. Well you know what? It was damn sure my place to go to the stewards or HISA.”

Wright continued: “When I reported what I saw on that racetrack, that's my professional obligation. And it's not only my professional obligation, I take a lot of pride. I've been in this business for 45 years. My family's been in this business for over 100 years. I rode. I trained. These guys mean something to me. These horses mean something to me. That's what I'm here for.”

TDN left messages for three Thistledown racing executives on Wednesday, seeking management's side of the story about the state of the track surface and Wright's firing.

But none of the racino's execs–general manager Chris Volle, director of racing Patrick Ellsworth, and racing secretary Patrick Mackey–called back prior to deadline for this story.

Herbie Rivera, Jr., the Jockeys' Guild representative whose region includes Thistledown, told TDN that track management has brought back the racino's retired track operations director, David Ellsworth, who is Patrick's father, to oversee the track's maintenance.

“I was a jockey there for years, in the 1980s and 90s,” Rivera said. “That was my home track, and that track was the best, always in great shape. But this year they lost their track man [John Banno] who had been there for 25 years, who went to Laurel.”

Rivera explained that even before the superintendent transition this past spring from Banno to Wright (who came to Ohio after working as the track superintendent at Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico), the Thistledown surface had been devolving.

“I was talking to one of my top riders recently and I asked him how long has it been this way,” Rivera said. “And he told me the last couple of years it's been up and down, very wavy, for whatever reason.”

Rivera said those sorts of complaints seemed to come and go, but that he started getting reports on July 21 that Thistledown's surface was way out of whack.

“Whatever it was, it was a disaster Monday morning,” Rivera said. “They went out to gallop, then [about an hour before the scheduled renovation break] they closed [the track] and started working on it hoping to run [the Monday afternoon races]. The jockeys picked up a bunch of rocks and they brought them to the stewards.

“Then came Tuesday morning. I was in touch with my jocks, and they said the track looked good, really good. But by 10 o'clock [the surface] was wavy [when the harrows were going over the surface], and they didn't like what they saw. So I think the management and jockeys, everybody together, decided 'Let's work on this' to try to get it to the satisfaction of everybody.”

Horses break from the gate at Thistledown | JJ Zamaiko

Wright has his own theories about the track's problems, which he said largely come down to two issues: The recent lack of rain, compounded by repeated difficulties in getting his crew of employees to follow maintenance orders.

“When I first started to work here, we went 34 consecutive race days without a single incident,” Wright said. “When it was raining, we were great, because I would level that racetrack every day. I would make sure that it was conditioned and harrowed every day.”

Wright said the problems with the track surface began to pick up once the rain ceased to fall earlier this summer. The top got too loose while the bottom got too hard. He said he tried to underscore to his crew the importance of adding water, but that they would not consistently comply with his requests.

“I don't mean to throw my guys under the bus, but a spade's a spade here,” Wright said.

According to Wright's version of events, when some employees responded to his orders by swearing at him and refusing to do the work, he began putting his track maintenance orders in writing, via text messages, so he would have a written record to document the work he wanted done.

“My separation notice says that I had threatened one of my employees. I did not threaten one of my employees,” Wright said. “Any time that I had asked one of my employees to do something, I got called a [expletive] and they walked off and ignored it. They're all Teamsters. You can tell by my accent I'm from Texas, and I'm not used to dealing with unions.”

Wright told TDN that he reported this alleged insubordination to Thistledown's management and human resources department. Although he maintains that he did not threaten any specific employee, he did admit to TDN that he told his bosses he was almost at the point of punching someone if the verbal attacks kept up, which was another reason he wanted his exchanges with workers documented via text messages.

“I didn't know what to do, but I know I damn sure didn't deserve to be called a [expletive] every time I asked somebody to do their job,” Wright said.

Wright said that once the catastrophic injuries reached a total of eight this month, he, track management, and a HISA on-site representative all concurred that the Racing Surfaces Testing Laboratory needed to be asked to come in and do another inspection to see what had changed since the pre-meet track analysis in March.

The testing was done on Saturday, July 19, Wright said. Although the complete analysis has not been finalized, Wright said he rode along with the testing crew as they circled the track taking readings that looked for inconsistencies under the surface, and that he was told that the preliminary results looked good or “probably even better” than March's readings.

“I went around there with them for the measurements. You can tell when the raw data's coming back what it kind of looks like,” Wright said.

On Sunday there was no racing at Thistledown, but training occurred without incident, Wright said.

“Monday I got there about 12:30 in the morning. I went out there and I leveled the racetrack like I usually do, and then I brought out the conditioner to cut the racetrack, because that's what I use as a cut harrow. I called for water and the night crew started watering.”

At 6:00 a.m. the track opened for training, with Wright back in his office to attend to paperwork.

But Wright said within 15 minutes his phone was “ringing off the hook” with complaints about how bad the track looked.

Wright said he stepped out to look at it, and it appeared evident to him that the crew hadn't done the necessary follow-up watering or harrowing. Wright said he cut short training and personally oversaw the work to try and get the track ready for that afternoon's racing.

After that is when he went to the stewards and HISA with his concerns.

Wright was called in for an afternoon conference with his bosses and then told later that evening that he was fired.

Wright told TDN on Wednesday he has been in contact with a lawyer about possibly challenging the firing in court because he believes he was wrongfully terminated for speaking up about safety concerns.

He also said that he now has personal concerns about ever getting another track superintendent job in the industry with a termination that is “not justifiable” on his résumé.

“Some days I got there right after midnight, other days I didn't get there until three o'clock in the morning, but I usually didn't leave until after six o'clock in the afternoon, every day. I took off less than 10 days since I first started working there Mar. 18,” Wright said.

“I'd go into the jocks' room every day to try and get feedback from the riders. When we did start having accidents, I requested that I be able to go up to the stewards' box and watch the replays, and we watched them together, in slow motion, to try and figure out what went wrong. That's how much attention I've tried to pay to that racetrack,” Wright said.

Thistledown eventually ended up cancelling all of its racing this week (Monday through Thursday) to try and get the track back in order. Training is expected to resume Saturday, July 26, with racing to follow on Monday, July 28.

The post Thistledown Track Super Claims He Was Fired for Reporting Safety Concerns to Stewards and HISA appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Stivers Promoted, Motion Hired at McMahon and Hill

Wed, 2025-07-23 17:36

Central Kentucky-based McMahon and Hill Bloodstock has promoted Kristin Stivers to Controller and hired Mary Motion as Director of Business Development. In addition to offering bloodstock services such as portfolio management, insurance, and appraisals, McMahon and Hill also offers U.S.- and New Zealand-based racing, pinhooking, and breeding partnerships under the Bourbon Lane name.

Stivers, who has been with McMahon and Hill since 2016, will oversee finances for Spruce Lane Farm, the Bourbon Lane Retirement Fund, multiple partnerships, pinhooking LLCs, and single horse co-ownerships.

Motion, whose background includes time with trainers Graham Motion and Christophe Clement, as well as with bloodstock agent Chad Schumer, will focus on the partner and client experience within the partnerships, pinhooking LLCs, and co-ownership groups.

The post Stivers Promoted, Motion Hired at McMahon and Hill appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Saratoga Notebook, Presented by NYRA Bets: Shirreffs More Than Comfortable Having Berrios Back on Baeza

Wed, 2025-07-23 16:52

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – When he found out he was going to need a new jockey, John Shirreffs didn't blink. He knew who was going to ride Baeza (McKinzie) in Saturday's $500,000 GII Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. And the jockey isn't all that new, not to Baeza.

Baeza will be reunited with California-based Hector Berrios when he steps on the track to take on GI Kentucky Derby and GI Belmont Stakes winner Sovereignty (Into Mischief) and three others in the 1 1/8-mile traditional prep for the Aug. 23 GI Travers Stakes.

Shirreffs knew a few weeks ago that he was going to be jockey shopping when Flavien Prat informed him he would be unavailable. Prat is heading to California to ride 'TDN Rising Star' Nysos (Nyquist) in the $300,000 GII San Diego Handicap.

Prat rode Baeza in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont. Berrios was the rider for three of Baeza's first four starts, including a second-place finish in the GI Santa Anita Derby behind Journalism (Curlin).

“I don't think there was another rider that we were really considering because of Hector's experience with the horse,” Shirreffs said Wednesday morning on the Saratoga backstretch. “It's hard to continually change riders on a horse. I think a horse, especially a young horse, needs a little consistency.”

This will be the 37-year-old Berrios's first time riding at Saratoga.

“Oh yeah, very comfortable with him,” Shirreffs said. “Hector is a professional rider. He studies the Form, he watches film. He has lots of experience and he has lots of experience with Baeza. He knows him in and out.”

Baeza, owned by C R K Stable LLC and Grandview Equine, arrived in Saratoga on Friday night. After he walked on Saturday, he went to the track on Sunday.

Shirreffs is looking forward to another chance at Sovereignty. Baeza finished third behind him in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont. In the Derby, he was 1 1/2 lengths behind him, but only beaten a neck for second by Journalism.

Last month at the Belmont, run at Saratoga, Sovereignty beat Baeza by 6 1/2 lengths.

“We've all seen (Sovereignty) run,” Shirreffs said. “He is a very nice horse. My horse has to run his best race, and I think Baeza has a better race in him.”

Pressure Off Bauer After Halina's Forte Honorable Miss Win

When Halina's Forte (Mitole) surprised just about everyone–including her trainer–when she won the GII Honorable Miss at 24-1 on Sunday, the pressure was off the barn.

“Made our meet,” trainer Phil Bauer said at his barn on the Oklahoma training track Wednesday morning. “You don't want to set the bar too high coming up here because you will just get deflated. You hope to win one or two and we got our one. The longer the meet goes, and you haven't been able to get a win, it weighs on you a little bit.”

Haliana's Forte wins the Honorable Miss | Coglianese

Ridden by Irad Ortiz, Jr., Halina's Forte was the second-longest price in the Honorable Miss field of eight. It was her second start this year after finishing second in the Prairie Rose Stakes at Prairie Meadows as the 4-5 favorite. That was her first start since November.

Halina's Forte slipped up the rail and won the race by a half-length over R Disaster (Awesome Slew). 'TDN Rising Star' Scylla (Tapit), the 6-5 even-money favorite, was third.

Last year, Halina's Forte, owned by Rigney Racing, won the Galway Stakes at Saratoga.

“I was shocked when she did not win off the layoff,” Bauer said. “I thought that was kind of a walkover race. Sometimes they need one and I tried not to read into it too much and kept marching forward.”

Bauer said he was more surprised that his other horse in the race–5-year-old mare Little Prankster (Practical Joke)–finished last. She was 17-1.

Last year, Bauer had a successful summer at Saratoga with six wins in 17 starts.

He has 14 horses in his barn. There is a chance Halina's Forte could be seen again. That would be in the seven-furlong, $500,000 GI Ballerina on Aug. 23, Travers Day.

“We'll see how it comes up,” Bauer said. “('TDN Rising Star') Ways and Means (Practical Joke) might scare some horses away. If it's a position where you think you could get top three, it's probably worth running.”

Looking For a New York Sweep

The bonus is no more, but that doesn't mean a sweep of three New York-bred summer races doesn't mean anything.

And that is the position trainer Rob Atras is in with his 3-year-old Train the Trainer (Dialed In).

Train the Trainer wins the Mike Lee | Sarah Andrew

In his last two starts, Train the Trainer won the Mike Lee Stakes at Saratoga on June 4 and the New York Derby at Finger Lakes on July 14. The third leg of the series is the $200,000 Albany Stakes on Aug. 21 and Atras is hoping to be there.

From 1999 to 2015, the three races made up the Big Apple Triple and a horse that won all three legs would get a bonus of $250,000.

“It would be nice,” Atras said when asked about the Big Apple Triple. “But it's alright. If he makes it to the race and runs big and happens to win it, I would be fine with that, too.”

Train the Trainer began his career in California with trainer Mark Glatt.

“He ran a really good second in his first race and Mark called me and asked if I would take the horse in New York,” Atras said. “They did not really have anything mapped out for him.”

Train the Trainer, owned by Alipony Racing and Saints or Sinners, has won all three of his starts with Atras. He broke his maiden by five lengths, won the Mike Lee by 2 3/4 lengths and then the New York Derby by 4 1/2 as the 1-2 favorite.

The likely favorite in the Mike Lee, Mo Plex (Complexity), was not able to run because his barn was under quarantine at the time.

“After that race, we were not really sure what to do,” Atras said. “We weren't really pointing to the New York Derby; we were looking at maybe an allowance race.”

He ultimately decided to head to Finger Lakes and two turns and Train the Trainer passed the test.

Now, he'll try for the sweep. After that, who knows?

“It's a possibility,” he said when asked about trying open company. “For now, we're going to take it one race at a time.”

The post Saratoga Notebook, Presented by NYRA Bets: Shirreffs More Than Comfortable Having Berrios Back on Baeza appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Second Chances: Well-Related Counterbalance Outruns 37-1 Odds in Del Mar Debut

Wed, 2025-07-23 16:29

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar.

Counterbalance (f, 2, Caravaggio–Out of Balance, by Kitten's Joy) came flashing home to finish fourth in a race that held together quite well over opening weekend at Del Mar.

Overlooked at 37-1 in her debut going five furlongs on dirt for trainer Michael McCarthy, the Amerman Racing homebred broke alertly from her inside draw, but was quickly outfooted.

She was heading the wrong direction while under a ride in sixth as the highly touted, even-money favorite Cherry Cider (Tiz the Law) was hounded by Thank You India (Practical Joke) with eventual winner La Wally (Constitution) sitting the garden spot in third through an opening quarter in :21.97.

Still with plenty to do with positions unchanged at the top of the stretch, Counterbalance began to figure things out from there and came rocketing home in a field-best :12.05 to finish three lengths adrift the winner while powering on impressively past the wire.

La Wally was a nose better than Cherry Cider and it was another 2 1/4 lengths back to Thank You India in third. The final time for five furlongs over the fast going was :58.25.

Counterbalance received a 55 Beyer Speed Figure.

“I thought the race was very positive in that she accelerated in the lane going five furlongs to be fourth,” owner/breeder John Amerman said.

“Importantly, she galloped out ahead of all the other horses in the race. We are very pleased with this daughter of Caravaggio's performance.”

All 12 of Caravaggio's graded/group winners have excelled on grass, led by top-level winners Porta Fortuna (Ire), Whitebeam (GB) and Tenebrism.

Counterbalance's dam and two-time winner Out of Balance (Kitten's Joy) made all 18 of her career starts on grass. She was produced by Balance (Thunder Gulch)–a half-sister to the once-in-a-lifetime Zenyatta–who carried the navy silks of Amerman Racing to a trio of Grade I victories at Santa Anita.

Could a surface switch be in Counterbalance's future?

“At this point, our options are open,” Amerman said.

Since launching 'Second Chances' in 2017, 64 maidens have been featured in these pages (through 2024), producing 25% graded stakes winners, 34% stakes winners and 48% stakes horses.

The series has introduced eight future winners at the top level, led by this year's GI Kentucky Derby and GI Belmont Stakes winner Sovereignty (Into Mischief), 2023 Horse of the Year Cody's Wish (Curlin) and fellow two-time Breeders' Cup winner Golden Pal (Uncle Mo).

Did LA WALLY ($14.20) watch the Haskell earlier?

The two-year-old daughter of Constitution (@WinStarFarm) absolutely flew down the lane to just catch favored Cherry Cider in the 6th at @DelMarRacing. What a ride by @Antonio1Fresu for trainer Mark Glatt. pic.twitter.com/e6n6opQ5U8

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) July 19, 2025

The post Second Chances: Well-Related Counterbalance Outruns 37-1 Odds in Del Mar Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Saratoga Race Course to Host Kids Day on July 27

Wed, 2025-07-23 16:06

Kids Day will take place at Saratoga Race Course on Sunday, July 27. The celebration of racing and family fun will be presented in conjunction with the NYRA Students of Thoroughbreds and Racing (NYRA STAR), a signature program designed to welcome young fans to the sport of Thoroughbred racing.

The first 5,000 children, ages 12 and under, will receive a Saratoga headband, presented by NYRA STAR, along with a $25 gift card to Hildebrandt's Ice Cream for the perfect start to a day of engaging, hands-on activities at the Spa.

Kids Day will give children and families a special behind-the-scenes look at life on the track. Kids will accompany NYRA staff to perform various racing-day responsibilities, including announcing scratches and changes and the ceremonial call of “Riders Up” in the Paddock.

The post Saratoga Race Course to Host Kids Day on July 27 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Michael McCarthy Joins the TDN Writers’ Room Podcast, presented by Keeneland

Wed, 2025-07-23 15:30

Journalism (Curlin) won again, taking down the GI Haskell S. at Monmouth. But that's what we've come to expect from one of the sport's most consistent horses and the trainer, Michael McCarthy, who has pushed all the right buttons. To talk about Journalism and what's ahead for the 3-year-old, McCarthy joined this week's TDN Writers' Room Podcast, presented by Keeneland. McCarthy was this week's Gainesway Guest of the Week.

Journalism is a throwback, an iron horse who doesn't miss any dances. McCarthy noticed early on how tough this horse was.

“He was a horse early on that seemed to thrive on training and running as a 2-year-old, three races in seven weeks,” McCarthy said. “That kind of gave me the impetus that maybe he could handle something like the Triple Crown, if we were fortunate enough to get there, and we were. I thought his race in the Kentucky Derby was very good on a sloppy racetrack and he had a little bit of trouble early in the race. He came back and trained just as well for the Preakness and you saw what happened there. Then it seemed like to me like he may have even gotten better after the Preakness and had a very gutsy performance in the Belmont at Saratoga. We brought him back to California, tried to give him an easy 10 days, two weeks, and he didn't seem to be having it. So, we started back up with him lightly and he made it known pretty quickly that he wanted to get back to the work tab. So, I guess you could call him an iron horse. People call him a throwback. He's a horse that carries a lot of condition. He's a very smart horse and takes good care of himself.”

As is so often the case with Journalism, he looked like he was spinning his wheels in the Haskell. Then, 100 yards or so before the wire, he took off like he was shot out of a cannon.

“In the Haskell, going into the first turn, he had taken himself back a little bit farther than we're accustomed to,” McCarthy said.  “Then going around the first turn, Umberto (Rispoli) gave him a tap on the shoulder and he re-engaged and put himself in contention by about the five-eighths pole. Sometimes with good horses, until they get to the quarter pole, you just never know where they're at.”

What's next for Journalism? There are a number of possibilities, including the GI Travers S. and the GI Pacific Classic.

“We'll kind of watch him here over the next week and maybe come up with a game plan,” McCarthy said. “But, as of right now, I think everything needs to be on the table. It'll be interesting to see what happens in the Jim Dandy this weekend. He's been on the plane, off the plane. Part of the reason for us to go to Monmouth, outside of it being a Grade I, was it was just the easiest locale to get to. You can fly directly into Newark. Obviously, if you head back to Saratoga, you've got to go to Newark. Hopefully, that's a direct flight to Newark and then a four or five-hour van ride to Saratoga. So a lot of those factors will come into play. Some horses thrive on shipping and running. Sometimes it gets to them a little bit, but we're going to give him an easy couple of weeks here before we come up with anything.”

McCarthy served as a long-time assistant to Todd Pletcher. What did he learn from the Hall of Famer?

“Showing up was probably number one,” he said. “You do whatever it takes to get the job done, and that was number two. Organization was definitely number three. Anyone that walks into Todd's barn can see. They get things done in a timely fashion and everything is professional. So, there's a lot of things. I could start and we could talk about this for quite some time.”

In our “Fastest Horse of the Week,” segment which is sponsored by WinStar, the team went over the many reasons there are to breed to WinStar stallion Life Is Good. The fastest horse of the week was the Pride of New Jersey, Book 'em Danno (Bucchero). He got a 111 Beyer for his win in the GII Alfred G. Vanderbilt S.

Elsewhere on the podcast, which is also sponsored by 1/ST Racing, the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders' Association, West Point Thoroughbreds, the KTOB and 1/ST TV, the team of Zoe Cadman, Bill Finley and Randy Moss talked about Chad Brown's big day Saturday at Monmouth, where he won four races and increased his lead on his rivals in the trainer's standings. They looked at the blowout win by Scottish Lassie (McKinzie) in the GI Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga. The show wrapped up with a discussion of the interview that Kentucky Governor and 2028 Presidential hopeful Andy Beshear did with the TDN.

To watch the Writers' Room, click here. To view the show as a podcast, click here.

The post Michael McCarthy Joins the TDN Writers’ Room Podcast, presented by Keeneland appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Chesapeake Farm Adds Finn Green

Wed, 2025-07-23 14:47

Collier Mathes's Chesapeake Farm has added Finn Green to consult and handle client relations and business development, it was announced in a release Wednesday.

Chesapeake Farm operates on 2,000+ acres of leased land from Overbrook Farm and Wimbledon Farm in Lexington.

Green is a fourth-generation Kentucky Thoroughbred horseman. He was racing manager for GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner Mucho Macho Man and a consultant for champion Runhappy. He will continue to operate his deWaal Thoroughbreds, LLC consulting and management company while working at Chesapeake Farm.

“Collier and I have known each other for over 15 years,” Green said. “I'm humbled and excited to work with and for Collier. Collier has the capability to both increase and improve his business.”

The post Chesapeake Farm Adds Finn Green appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Precautionary Quarantine of Barn 28 at Saratoga Lifted

Wed, 2025-07-23 12:53

The precautionary quarantine of Barn 28 at Saratoga Race Course has been lifted by the New York State Department of Agriculture (NYSDA), effective immediately, the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) announced Wednesday.

As a result, all horses stabled in Barn 28 are once again permitted to enter races, as of today, Wednesday, July 23, and to train with the general horse population beginning Thursday.

Barn 28, which contains horses under the care of trainer Mike Maker and Mark Casse, was placed under a precautionary quarantine on Saturday, July 19, when the Maker-trained 4-year-old filly [Surprenant Cocca] presented symptoms of strangles and was transferred offsite to be tested for a number of potential ailments.

Three subsequent PCR tests and a subsequent culture all returned negative for strangles. Furthermore, no additional symptomatic horses were identified during the precautionary quarantine period.

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National Regulatory Rulings, July 17-23

Wed, 2025-07-23 12:41

Every week, the TDN posts a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) related rulings from around the country.

The following rulings were reported on HISA's “rulings” portal and through the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit's (HIWU) “pending” and “resolved” cases portals.

Resolved ADMC Violations

Date: 07/18/2025

Licensee: Joseph David Perez, trainer

Penalty: A fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission.

Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone—a class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Digits on 6/15/25.

Date: 07/17/2025

Licensee: Arthur Agostini, trainer

Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision of internal adjudication panel.

Explainer: Violation for the use or attempted use of a Class C controlled medication on Guaio during the race period, an event dated 12/27/24. Guaio did not make a start on that date.

Pending ADMC Violations

07/21/2025, Joe Toye, trainer: Pending vet's list medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine—a Class B controlled substance—in a sample taken from Valley Echo on 6/20/25.

07/21/2025, Ray Handal, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Dexamethasone—a Class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Valtellina, who won at Aqueduct on 4/10/25.

07/18/2025, Sergio Morfin, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Methocarbamol—a Class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Lady Dosia, who finished sixth at Santa Anita on 6/12/25.

Violations of Crop Rule

Colonial Downs

Weston Hamilton – violation date July 18; $1,500 fine, three-day suspension

Delaware Park

Carlos Eduardo Lopez– violation date July 17; $500 fine, two-day suspension

Monmouth Park

Umberto Rispoli – violation date July 19; $6,000 fine, one-day suspension

More on that story here.

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In True North Rematch, Book’em Danno Wins Vanderbilt

Sat, 2025-07-19 18:38

Saratoga's GII Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap, downgraded for 2025, featured a rematch of the June 7 GIII True North Stakes between Book'em Danno (g, 4, Bucchero–Adorabella, by Ghostzapper) and Mullikin (Violence), who finished one-two last month over this surface, and Nakatomi (Firing Line), who had been fifth. All three showed up in a big way Saturday to fill out the trifecta with fan-favorite Book'em Danno on top once again.

Book'em Danno's biggest career win (the 2024 GI Woody Stephens Stakes), his biggest career Beyer (the 104 he registered when third in the 2024 GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes), and perhaps his most gritty career fight (when beaten just a neck and a head to Mindframe {Constitution} in the May 3 GI Churchill Downs Stakes) may have all been at seven furlongs, but he's unbeaten in four career tries at the Vanderbilt distance of six furlongs. This is the same horse who also ran international superstar Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) to a head at a mile last year in the G3 Saudi Derby.

Trainer Derek Ryan says the New Jersey-bred owned by Atlantic Six Racing LLC continues to improve.

“He's better this year than last, as you can see in his races. [Jockey Paco Lopez] has him where I want him to be, close enough that he doesn't have to overcome 10 lengths and trouble. He just rides him so good, gets along with him, breezes him all the time now.”

Lopez has been aboard Book'em Danno in all four starts this year, which kicked off with a win in a Mar. 14 handicap at Colonial Downs.

After two scratches in the Vanderbilt, Book'em Danno let 'TDN Rising Star' Damon's Mound (Girvin) and Mullikin slug it out early up front from a close-up fifth on the inside. Damon's Mound sped through the first quarter in :22.07 while pressured by Mullikin, with the two swapping roles for the :44.65 half. All the while Book'em Danno loomed threateningly behind before angling out on the turn. Pushed about five paths wide while Mullikin cut the corner to get the early jump, Book'em Danno inhaled Mullikin–last year's GI Forego Stakes winner and GI Breeders' Cup Sprint third–and briefly paid his respects alongside that rival, then sailed clear by 2 1/2 lengths as Lopez eased up late. Nakatomi, last year's Vanderbilt winner when it still carried a Grade I status, nosed out Damon's Mound for third. Book'em Danno stopped the click in 1:08.98

“I think that was one of his best efforts so far,” said Ryan. “He came into the race great. Paco [Lopez] worked him out last Sunday {three panels in :36 at Monmouth, 2/44}, I put a little bit more speed into him, just to be a little closer, like he was. I had 100% confidence coming in. I wasn't afraid of anybody, but at the same time, it is Saratoga and anything can happen.”

Ryan added that the Aug.23 GI Forego Stakes will most likely be Book'em Danno's next target.

Pedigree Notes:

It looks like an inspired move. When McMahon of Saratoga relocated Bucchero from Pleasant Acres Stallions in Ocala prior to the 2024 season, Book'em Danno was a 2-year-old who had won three of his four starts, including two black-type events. Now, with two New York breeding seasons under his belt–he moved from McMahon to Ironhorse Stallions at Questroyal North for 2025–Bucchero won't see his New York-bred progeny hit the track until 2027, but Book'em Danno is still flying the flag as one of what is now eight black-type winners for the son of Kantharos. In addition, two-time 2025 graded winner Queen Maxima has since joined Book'em Danno in the graded ranks. The latter is entered for Sunday's one-mile Osunitas Stakes at Del Mar.

Adorabella, the unraced dam of Book'em Danno and MSW Girl Trouble (Fast Anna), produced a Medaglia d'Oro colt Apr. 1 in Pennsylvania. She sold at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky November sale for $550,000 to LC Racing, while Girl Trouble sold for $300,000 to Penfolds Bloodstock at last year's Keeneland November sale and has since been exported to Australia. Adorabella's only other produce is the unraced 3-year-old gelding Coach Bennett (Classic Empire), who sold for $135,000, also to LC Racing, at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic yearling sale in 2023.

Saturday, Saratoga
ALFRED G. VANDERBILT S.-GII, $400,000, Saratoga, 7-19, 4yo/up, 6f, 1:08.98, ft.
1–BOOK'EM DANNO, 124, g, 4, by Bucchero
                1st Dam: Adorabella, by Ghostzapper
                2nd Dam: Alydorable, by Arch
                3rd Dam: Esprit d'Escalier, by Diesis (GB)
($475,000 RNA 3yo '24 KEECHA). O-Atlantic Six Racing, LLC; B-Gregory J Kilka & Bright View Farm (NJ); T-Derek S. Ryan; J-Paco Lopez. $220,000. Lifetime Record: GISW, 15-9-3-1, $1,580,425. *1/2 to Girl Trouble (Fast Anna), MSW, $288,540. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Mullikin, 124, h, 5, Violence–Tulira's Star, by Congrats. ($500,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-WinStar Farm LLC; B-Fred W. Hertrich III & John D. Fielding (KY); T-Rodolphe Brisset. $80,000.
3–Nakatomi, 124, g, 6, Firing Line–Applelicious, by Flatter. ($18,000 Wlg '19 KEENOV; $25,000 Ylg '20 FTKOCT; $205,000 4yo '23 FTKHRA). O-Qatar Racing LLC and Mrs. Fitriani Hay; B-Arnold Zetcher LLC & Crestwood Farm (KY); T-Wesley A. Ward. $48,000.
Margins: 2HF, 3 3/4, NO. Odds: 1.40, 1.90, 5.80.
Also Ran: Damon's Mound, Baby Yoda, Nash. Scratched: Full Moon Madness, Skelly.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

Book'Em Danno loves Saratoga.

Saratoga loves Book'Em Danno. pic.twitter.com/IpoKYM6BP1

— TDN (@theTDN) July 19, 2025

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Magnitude Works, Will Train Up To Travers

Sat, 2025-07-19 16:06

Winchell Thoroughbreds' Magnitude (Not This Time) went a leisurely half-mile in :51.68 (34/41) over the Oklahoma training track at Saratoga Saturday morning and is being pointed for the $1.25-million GI DraftKings Travers Stakes at the Spa on Aug. 23.

A $310,000 Keeneland November weanling and $450,000 Keeneland September yearling, Magnitude led every step of the way to take the GII Risen Star Stakes by 9 3/4 lengths at the Fair Grounds on Feb. 15, good for a 108 Beyer and stamping himself as a leading contender for the GI Kentucky Derby. Ruled off the Triple Crown trail a short time thereafter with an ankle chip, Magnitude picked up where he left off, wiring the July 5 Iowa Derby by 9 1/4 lengths, earning a 105 Beyer.

Trainer Steve Asmussen told the NYRA notes team that the Travers makes more sense for his charge than next weekend's GII Jim Dandy Stakes.

“He's a beautiful mover and came out of the Iowa Derby in good shape. It was a beautiful morning today to work,” Asmussen said. “[The Jim Dandy] comes back too quick off that big of a race, so we plan on just training him up to the Travers. We're just concentrating on him, and I think it's obviously a very deep and talented group of 3-year-olds. Our responsibility is how Magnitude is doing, and we're just extremely excited about how he's traveling and how he looks right now.”

Asmussen is also now calling the shots with Bashford Manor Stakes hero Romeo (Honor A. P.), who was purchased by Mahmud Mouni for $1.7 million at the Fasig-Tipton July Horses of Racing Age Sale. The colt breezed an easy four furlongs in :51.89 Saturday morning, but Asmussen is inclined to not rush things.

“We're very fortunate to have him,” the Hall of Famer said. “He does not carry himself or act like a 2-year-old. He's very professional. We did go ahead and nominate him to the [GII] Saratoga Special [Aug. 2], but I think with the change after the sale, most likely that will be too soon.”

The trainer indicated the more likely return to action will be the GI Spendthrift Farm Hopeful Stakes going seven furlongs on Sept. 1.

Cox Runners On Target For Grade I Attempts

Juddmonte's Flying Gambit (Not This Time), a fast-finishing fourth when trying the dirt for the first time in the GI Kentucky Derby on May 3 and a latest fifth in the GI Belmont Derby Invitational July 4, went a half-mile in :49.81 (5/42) over the Oklahoma turf training track Friday morning. Trainer Brad Cox said that the GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks winner will remain on the grass for the $750,000 GI Saratoga Derby Invitational on Aug. 2.

“He had his first work over the turf here and it went well,” Cox said. “He ran OK last time, he was just a little reluctant to move forward around the turn. Once he figured things out, it was a little too late. He galloped out well and I think he showed in the Kentucky Derby he's a very good horse. We're hoping he can move forward a little bit in his next race.”

Cox also provided an update on 'TDN Rising Star' Patch Adams (Into Mischief), who returned to Churchill Downs a short time after his victory in the GI Woody Stephens Stakes at the Spa June 7. The bay, who most recently breezed a half-mile in :49 flat (71/167) in Louisville July 19, remains on track for the GI H. Allen Jerkens Stakes on the Travers undercard Aug. 23.

“He's had two works back since the Woody Stephens and he's doing great,” Cox said. “We'll probably keep him down there for the time being and he actually really, really likes it there. He does very well there.”

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Into Mischief’s Silent Dreamer Makes Turf to Dirt Swap, Wins Well at Second Asking

Sat, 2025-07-19 13:47

2nd-Monmouth, $51,975, Msw, 7-19, 3yo/up, f/m, 6f, 1:10.70, ft, 6 1/4 lengths.
SILENT DREAMER (f, 3, Into Mischief–Celestine {GISW, $1,148,055}, by Scat Daddy) debuted on the lawn at Aqueduct Sept. 19 last season, and ran a flat seventh after showing little. She transitioned from the Christophe Clement to the Miguel Clement program on her return to the barn, and left the blocks for this second jump with first-time blinkers, Lasix, and on the main track.

In the bit and taking the lead right from the jump, the 7-1 shot set the tempo in :22.25 and four furlongs in :45.33 with no pressure from her rivals. Roused to keep her mind on running as they entered the lane, she responded well and drew off to win by 6 1/4 lengths over tough-luck Risuko (American Pharoah). Silent Dreamer is the first winner out of Celestine–the victress of the GI Longines Just a Game Stakes, and a half-sister to MSW Haunted Heroine (Ghostzapper), herself the mother of GSW & GISP Law Professor (Constitution). The winner has an unraced juvenile half-sister named Jadorlinija (Curlin), a yearling half-brother by Gun Runner, and a 2025 half-sister by Curlin.

This is the immediate female family of MGSW Dreamfyre (Flameaway), who was purchased by Equus Bloodstock for $375,000 last season at FTKNOV, and was recently bred to Gun Runner for 2026. That filly's half-sister is GI Starlet Stakes third Nasreddine (Nyquist). Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $32,400. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O/B-Moyglare Stud Farm, Ltd. (KY); T-Miguel Clement.

 

#3 SILENT DREAMER ($16.60) was not quiet about her talent! The three-year-old filly by @SpendthriftFarm's Into Mischief was a dominant winner of the 2nd race at @MonmouthPark. @luissaezpty piloted her to this maiden win for trainer @clementstable. pic.twitter.com/6gslFSenxF

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) July 19, 2025

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Quarantine Issued On Barn 28 At Saratoga, CCA Oaks Entrant La Cara And Pair Of Casse Runners At Monmouth Scratched

Sat, 2025-07-19 11:35

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) and the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) have placed a group of horses located in Barn 28 at Saratoga Race Course under quarantine due to a suspected case of strangles, which includes La Cara (Street Sense) who was scratched from the GI CCA Oaks, the track said in a press release on Saturday morning.

The 4-year-old filly [Surprenant Cocca (Catholic Boy)], who is trained by Mike Maker and stabled in Barn 28, presented symptoms early Saturday, July 19 and has been transported offsite for additional testing.

Horses in Barn 28 will not be permitted to enter races or train among the general horse population at this time.

The barn, which also contains several horses trained by Mark Casse, will be placed under quarantine until test results are received and additional guidance is provided.

Besides La Cara, Casse's other horse at Saratoga that will be scratched on Saturday appears in race seven–first-time starter Our Magical Moon (Good Magic).

Also in the GII United Nations Stakes at Monmouth, Casse's Spa shippers Corruption (Medaglia d'Oro) and Get Smokin (Get Stormy) were scratched.

Co-owner Ironhorse Racing Stable said in a post on X that “Get Smokin, who is doing terrific heading into today's United Nations Stakes at MonmouthPark, has been scratched due to the quarantine situation at Saratoga, where he was shipping in from this morning. He is happy and healthy and looking forward to his next start.”

NYRA and the NYSGC implemented standard infectious disease protocols including restricting access to the horses in the affected barns, establishing a 24-hour security watch, mandating regular temperature checks for the horses in that barn and enacting biosecurity measures for all individuals requiring access to Barn 28.

Strangles is a contagious bacterial infection that generally affects a horse's respiratory system and causes symptoms similar to those of strep throat in humans. When properly diagnosed and treated, strangles is not considered a life-threatening infection and horses recover fully.

Beyond the quarantine protocols currently in place, NYRA has enacted no additional restrictions over shipping horses in and out of Saratoga.

NYRA will provide updates as appropriate.

Get Smokin, who is doing terrific heading into today's United Nations Stakes @MonmouthPark has been scratched due to the quarantine situation at Saratoga, where he was shipping in from this morning. He is happy and healthy and looking forward to his next start.

— Ironhorse Racing Stable (@racingwithihr) July 19, 2025

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Saratoga Updates: Mo Plex Tunes Up for Jim Dandy, Echo Sound on Track for Test

Fri, 2025-07-18 20:09

Multiple graded winner Mo Plex (Complexity) continued his preparations for the GII Jim Dandy Stakes Friday morning at Saratoga while MGSW Echo Sound (Echo Town) has her eyes on the GI Test Stakes with her own move over the Oklahoma training track.

New York-bred Mo Plex went out on Saratoga's main track Friday morning for a half-mile work in :48.84 (22/74) for trainer Jeremiah Englehart. The solo work under Manny Franco, who will have the call in the Jim Dandy, was exactly what the conditioner wanted to see.

“The plan was nice and easy this week into the race next week,” Englehart said of the work. “He's been uber aggressive, so I thought Manny did a pretty good job to get him to settle. At the quarter-pole he was wanting to go, go, go and he got him to relax a little bit. All in all I thought that was pretty good.”

The field for the major local prep for the GI Travers Stakes is mighty itself as the potential presence of 'TDN Rising Star' dual Grade I Classic winner Sovereignty (Into Mischief) looms large ahead of the confirmation stage. The likes of 'Rising Stars' MGISP Baeza (McKinzie); GSW & GISP Hill Road (Quality Road); and crowd favorite GISW Sandman (Tapit) are also potentials to make the gate.

“It's obviously going to be a challenge. It's always tough to run against a horse like Sovereignty, but when you have one that hopefully can compete with him, you look forward to these opportunities.”

Echo Sound Leads George Arnold Duo for Test

Echo Sound with Luis Saez up | Sarah Andrew

Echo Sound went out for a solo first work over the Oklahoma training track Friday morning, covering the half-mile in :50.49 (30/33) with Luis Saez aboard, as she continues her march to the GI Test Stakes Aug. 2 at Saratoga.

Having arrived from Keeneland before stablemate Kilwin (Twirling Candy), who will be making the trip up to New York Monday, the George Arnold trainee's move went all according to plan.

“Luis breezed her and said he was very happy with the work. Everything is on schedule,” said Arnold over the phone from Kentucky.

Arnold added that Kilwin would work at Keeneland Sunday before joining Echo Sound at Saratoga for the Test. The daughter of Twirling Candy started her career on the turf, including running second to 'TDN Rising Star' GSW Shisospicy (Mitole) in the GIII Mamzelle Stakes May 10, but so impressed her connections with her 1 1/4-length win last out June 8 in the Leslie's Lady Stakes that they opted to give her a shot at the elite level on the main track.

“It was a pretty good race,” said Arnold, with a laugh. “We decided to try her on the dirt once and it went the right way. She came out of it good, and she'll also run in the Test. I wish they weren't in the same spot, but they are–it's a good problem to have.”

Thorpedo Anna on Track for Personal Ensign, Future Targets Unknown for Mystik Dan

Having arrived at The Spa July 10, 'TDN Rising Star' Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) is settling into a routine as she preps for her anticipated start in the GI Personal Ensign Stakes Aug. 23.

“She's doing good and we're getting her into a routine here,” Kenny McPeek said, adding that it was good to see her return to the form he'd grown accustomed to. “I thought the race on Derby week was just a shame because she just got mugged. It wasn't her, and she came out of it fine, it's just what could go wrong did. She's certainly far from done.”

Last year's GI Kentucky Derby hero Mystik Dan (Goldencents) arrived on the same day as his most famous stablemate, but with less firm plans on his future. McPeek said that plans are to be determined for the Classic winner.

“He's training good and I haven't really decided where I'm pointing him to yet. He's going to run in something important later in the season.”

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Horses, The Tax Bill, And 2028: A Conversation With Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear

Fri, 2025-07-18 11:09

The TDN always strives to remain scrupulously non-partisan and confines its occasional attention to the world of politics to such opportunities and concerns that directly affect the Thoroughbred industry.

Recently, for instance, we spent time with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis as he stepped in to support the campaign against decoupling in that state. A few days ago, Chris McGrath was given the opportunity to sit down with the Governor of the Bluegrass State itself, Andy Beshear, a figure increasingly on the national radar as a potential White House contender in 2028.

Here are their exchanges on Governor Beshear's love of the horse, the importance of our industry to his home state, his views of legislation that appears to contain both significant advantages and anxieties for investors in Thoroughbreds, and the lessons that a Democrat Governor of a traditionally red state might take forward on a wider stage.

Chris McGrath: Horse country: for you, it's not just conceptual. I believe your own family and upbringing exposed you to horses.

Gov. Beshear: All my first jobs were around horses. I mucked stalls before school and through the summers. I taught horseback riding lessons. I even ran a camp in my teens. My mom is an equestrian. My brother's a vet in Virginia. My daughter is an eventer. So half of our family spend every moment with horses and I guess the other half of us are governors.

Chris McGrath: And do you feel that kind of exposure gave you a connection to rural America?

Gov. Beshear: Absolutely. It's the hard work that occurs on a farm, but then there's also the love and the comfort of the animal itself. I'm comfortable around horses. I know what I'm doing around them, and I also appreciate them. You know, when you spend that much time taking care of these animals, you get to know them on a very different level, and there's something really special about horses and how they bond and connect with human beings. I still remember the last horse that I owned, and I would go off to college and I'd come back and it would actually follow me around in the field. Only one I've had that would do that though. Had one that if you didn't have food would try to kick you.

Chris McGrath: Food always helps. I don't know if you're as comfortable with bourbon, but these are our signature industries, right? And I'm sure you would say that anyone who holds your office, any form of leadership in Kentucky, you need to be an advocate for horseracing.

Governor Andy Beshear at Churchill Downs for the Derby | Getty Images

Gov. Beshear: Absolutely. The horse industry is so critical. It's over 60,000 direct and indirect jobs in Kentucky, billions of dollars in our economy, and it draws people in. And when you think of the horse industry, I actually think it's the intersection between agriculture, and now gaming, which is so important in it, and tourism. And for us to maximize it, what at least I try to do from a leadership perspective in Kentucky is to make sure we're maximizing each piece. It's understanding that it's farmers who bale the hay that are also a part of this industry. Family farms are supported by it. On the gaming side, how it's important to make sure that if that's what's bringing people in, we have a way at that track or at that parlor to introduce them to the sport itself. And finally, that tourism piece. I think bourbon is a good example of how you can develop a year-round booming tourism industry around something that people are passionate about. The Bourbon Trail 20 years ago was hardly a thing, and today it is one of the biggest draws in the country. So when you look at what Kentucky Downs is doing with their hotel and the attractions that they're putting up, when you look at what the Derby Museum means for Churchill, it means that those are year-round draws that bring people into the Commonwealth.

Chris McGrath: And when we speak of advocacy among political leadership, that extends across the divide. And a Republican congressman has worked very hard to get a great concession as part of this bill. And obviously, when everything is bundled together, it's going to contain good things and bad things. So I'm sure you welcome the depreciation scheme's extension, but there are other aspects of that bill that I know you find concerning.

Gov. Beshear: Well, there are some parts of that bill that help certain industries in Kentucky, and so I'm glad that they're there, but this is the reason that you don't put everything into one big bill, because for every good thing for an industry in that bill, the trillion-dollar-plus cut to health care is going to lay off 20,000 Kentucky health care workers. It's going to boot 200,000 people off their health care coverage. It may close up to 35 rural hospitals which are the second-largest employers in their communities and what that means is you're going to have fewer people that have the dollars in their pockets to be able to go to the tracks, to be able to go to the races. So understanding the health of the economy is important for the horse racing industry. It's important for people to be doing well, and we don't want to sacrifice the number of fans, the number of people that could be out there, you know, in a giant bill because it has some things that are good.

 

Gov. Andy Beshear meets storm victims in Pikeville, Kentucky last February | Getty Images

Chris McGrath: And it also contains elements of concern with the gambling taxation.

Gov. Beshear: It does, and then if you look at another side, the SNAP cuts are going to hurt some of the very farmers that bale the hay and support the industry. They're getting hit, especially family farmers, so badly over the last six months. You saw the tariffs, which hurt the exports of especially soybeans. You see the end of USAID, which was just a big client, a big export source for farmers, especially in Kentucky. you see the end of the farm-to-cafeteria program, and now you see this SNAP cuts will again be one less ultimate client for them. And so I think the horse industry is also served by having more family farms that aren't under the pressure to sell out to the bigger commercial farms that are less interested in supplying the horse industry.

Chris McGrath: You know horses, you know horsemen: you know they can be hard-headed, if not cynical. In big picture terms, your anxiety is that with tax breaks for the wealthy and so on, the emphasis is all wrong. But they're going to say to you, 'Well, guess what? My clients are wealthy people. This is good for my business.'

Gov. Beshear: Well, I think it's whether you put the industry first or other interests first. You look at how tariffs are hitting this industry. You look how they're going about immigration enforcement, which hurts this industry, you know, I believe that border security is national security. I believe we have to enforce the laws of the land, but how we enforce them shows our humanity. And so what I think the big influential players in this industry need to do is be vocal leaders on fixing our immigration problem. It's not, at the end, a political problem. It's a math problem. It's that we don't have enough visas or enough slots in our work programs to fill the jobs out there that Americans otherwise aren't going to fill. And what that does is create a demand for other labor. And we can ultimately fix this, get beyond the turmoil of the day, but we've got to sit down, be reasonable, and address the math. And I think horse farm owners could do a lot. I think that other industry players could do a lot, and they've typically been people that the very powerful people in Washington will listen to. But it'd be nice to not be having some of these issues every couple years or every eight years, but to actually get it right and to be driven by the math. Now what that does mean is all the industries out there that we see in hospitality and agriculture are going to have to be willing to pay the wages that come along with those programs.

Chris McGrath: Now our community, like the whole state, embraces people of many different opinions. And we're not here to tell them who's right and who's wrong, or that there's too much yelling going on, but what we have in our community is something that draws us all together, our love of the horse. And that keeps people with radically different opinions, good friends. That's something that we don't see enough on a wider scale. And the big question for this country and for the world, it seems to me, is how can we all do a bit more of that?

Gov. Andy Beshear at the Semafor World Economy Summit in Washington, DC | Getty Images

Gov. Beshear: I think what we have to do is put the goal first. We've got to care more about the horse industry than our political party. We've got to care more the country than our party. We've got to care about solving problems, who gets points for wins and losses, and it can't be a zero-sum game. A good thing that happens for the country can't just be viewed as a win for one party and a loss for another. And when we address the challenges in the horse industry, it can't just be one group that's gaining and another group that is losing. What we've ultimately got to do is lift the whole industry up and make sure that everyone does better. And I think when you approach problems that way, especially with a communal love for something like the horse, or I really wish we could get Congress to say we love the United States so much that we're going to do the hard things and we're going to compromise and we are going to find common ground. Because in the end it's not important that we move right or left. It's important that we move forward. And most times those forward steps aren't about politics at all. Now I believe that when most people wake up in the morning, they're not thinking about their party. They're thinking about their job, their next doctor's appointment, the roads and bridges they drive every day, the school they drop their kids off at, and whether they feel safe in their communities. And when you find those things, in the core parts of the equine industry you pull out, most of them don't just benefit one group or another group. If done correctly, they can benefit everybody.

Chris McGrath: To coin a phrase, united we stand?

Gov. Beshear: That's right, and even think about the Pledge of Allegiance. In the Pledge of Allegiance, we pledge to a flag and to a country, and then we pledge to keep our country indivisible. And so I think we violate that pledge when we try to divide people, when we try to create an us-versus-them. And what I've loved to see in the horse industry, especially recently, is embracing new audiences and new people. I think about Griffin Johnson and Sandman introducing horse racing to 10 million 20-somethings on TikTok. I think about the way that Coolmore works with us on economic development, introducing CEOs to Justify and American Pharaoh. I think how Barbara Banke, who supports people on both sides, really looks out for the industry, looks to use even her other ventures to lift up horse racing. Ron Winchell and all of his investments, but what he sends back to Kentucky. So I think that there's a lot of opportunity for our country. I think there's a lot opportunity for the racing industry, but I think we have to put the goal first, to step back and to say we've got to reevaluate who we support and how we support it because we can't be more worried about our friends saying whether we're a good Democrat or a good Republican as opposed to are we doing the best for Kentucky or are we doing the best for the horse industry.

Chris McGrath: So one final question. I'm not going to ask you about 2028.

Gov. Andy Beshear | Getty Images

Gov. Beshear (laughing): Everybody else does.

Chris McGrath: There aren't that many people talking common ground the way you do. So people are interested in you. People are viewing you like, you've won the Blue Grass Stakes, this guy should run in the Derby. So what I'd like to know is what you've learned from your experience, in your home state, that will animate you in whatever form of service you end up embracing?

Gov. Beshear: What I've seen in Kentucky is the temperature turned down as opposed to the rest of the country, and people generally getting along, people being excited about us breaking every economic development record in the books, and a real recognition that these good steps we've taken are good for Democrats, Republicans, and Independents. In Kentucky, I see a legislature that's dominated by one party and a governor that's of another party being able to get at least the most important things done. And then, just the ability to push beyond the rancor and to have pride in who we are. I mean, right now, I think the people of Kentucky are excited and encouraged, even in a country that maybe is more pessimistic. I mean we see the country finally looking up to us instead of looking down on us. And so I think that whoever our next leader is, is going to need to be somebody who can heal the country and can bring people back together. Again, who's not worried about the boxes people try to put you in–Democrat, Republican, Liberal, Conservative, Right or Left but it's more pragmatic; it says what's going to benefit everybody. And what I've seen–because I saw it between my last two elections–is if you work really hard to create a better life for everyone they come together, they're willing to cross party lines and you see less of this destructive partisanship.

Chris McGrath: We'll raise a glass of bourbon to that. Governor, thank you for your time.

The post Horses, The Tax Bill, And 2028: A Conversation With Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Dams of Stakes-Winning Romeo, Lennilu Feature In Fasig-Tipton July Digital Sale

Thu, 2025-07-17 13:05

A total of 190 horses have been catalogued for the Fasig-Tipton July Digital Sale, which is now open for bidding and will close Tuesday, July 22, beginning at 2 p.m. ET. The catalogue, featuring horses of racing age, breeding stock–including mares with foals at foot–one weanling and yearlings, may be viewed online at digital.fasigtipton.com.

Nearly 60% of those catalogued are racing stock, with more than 100 horses of racing age and 2-year-old racing prospects.  These include five recent debut winning 2-year-olds.

Among the featured offerings are hip 6, Fancy Love (Not For Love) from the consignment of Hartwell Farm, agent. The 13-year-old mare, offered in foal to Eclipse Award winner Arcangelo on a May 22 cover, is the dam of recent Bashford Manor Stakes hero Romeo (Honor A. P.), who sold for $1.7 million to top the Fasig-Tipton July Selected Horses of Racing Age Sale on July 8.

Produced by a half-sister to champion Midshipman (Unbridled's Song), GSW Fast Cookie (Deputy Minister)–the dam of GISW sire Frosted (Tapit)–and SW & GSP Regia Marina (Medaglia d'Oro), Fancy Rose is herself kin to SP Addison Run (Unbridled's Song), dam of MGISP 'TDN Rising Star' Gouvernor Morris (Constitution) and MGSP Final Jeopardy (Street Sense). Fancy Rose sells with her Oscar Performance filly foaled Apr. 11.

Taylor Made consigns hip 10, Lulu's Pom Pom (Pomeroy), to the July Digital Sale. The half-sister to the talented turf sprinter Disco Partner (Disco Rico) and SW Straight Arrow (Arrogate) is the dam of Lennilu (Leinster), winner of the Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies and a cracking third in the G2 Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot last month.

Other potential highlights include:

 

  • Hip 1, Day and Age (Omaha Beach), perfect in two starts since switching to the turf, including a June 13 Santa Anita allowance for which he was awarded an 86 Beyer Speed Figure. He holds an entry for Friday's Oceanside Stakes at Del Mar;

 

  • Hip 15, Orderofthephoenix (Ire) (Phoenix of Spain {Ire}), a racing/broodmare prospect who won a six-furlong allowance/optional claimer over the Woodbine Tapeta June 3;

 

  • Spectacular Grey (Not This Time) (Hip 30), who drew off impressively to win her maiden at first asking by nearly eight lengths at Monmouth Park on July 12 (video), earning 'TDN Rising Star' honors.

 

“This is a phenomenal catalogue,” said Leif Aaron, Fasig-Tipton Director of Digital Sales. “We have over 100 horses of racing age and racing prospects catalogued, eligible for a variety of conditions coast-to-coast as well as ship-and-win programs.

“Not to be overlooked, however, is the strength of breeding stock on offer,” added Aaron. “Buyers do not need to wait until November to find collector quality breeding stock, as we have it on offer right now, including graded stakes producers and a sibling to a current undefeated 2-year-old.”

The post Dams of Stakes-Winning Romeo, Lennilu Feature In Fasig-Tipton July Digital Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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