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Updated: 3 weeks 4 days ago

Items from the Estate of Virginia Kraft Payson on Offer via Bluegrass Auction in June

Fri, 2025-05-30 12:55

Items from the estate of the late Virginia Kraft Payson, proprietor of Payson Stud in Lexington and Payson Park Training Center in Florida, will be offered over the course of five auctions via Bluegrass Auction, Appraisal & Realty in June.

Showcasing Payson's extensive collections of fine jewelry, rare antiques, and numerous paintings and prints–some numbered and from limited runs–over 1,200 items will be put on offer June 15-22. Said works are by renown sporting artists like Henry Stull, Jenness Cortez, Fred Stone, and Peter Howell, and include topics such as her 1985 Travers Stakes winner Carr de Naskra and homebred St. Jovite, who would be crowned the European Horse of the Year in 1992. Other artwork includes numbered prints and paintings of horses such as Ruffian, A.P. Indy, John Henry, and Alysheba, to name a few.

All five catalogues, and online bidding, are available here along with more information on the condition of the pieces.

The post Items from the Estate of Virginia Kraft Payson on Offer via Bluegrass Auction in June appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Barn 85 at Saratoga Placed Under Quarantine Due to Strangles Positive

Fri, 2025-05-30 11:41

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) and the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) have placed Barn 85 at Saratoga Race Course under a 14-day precautionary quarantine until further notice due to a positive case of strangles in that barn.

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.

Barn 85 contains horses trained by Jeremiah Englehart and Jorge Abreu.

The 2-year-old [Tranquil Sea] who is trained by Englehart, was referred to Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital on Wednesday, after developing breathing issues. He was subsequently tested for a number of potential ailments, and a positive test for strangles was returned on Friday morning. The colt began treatment immediately and was moved to a barn offsite of Rood and Riddle.

Following official notification of the positive case by the NYS Department of Agriculture on Friday morning, NYRA and the NYSGC implemented standard infectious disease protocols including restricting access to the horses in the quarantined barn, 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 85.

Overseen by Dr. Sarah Hinchliffe, the director of NYRA's veterinary department, in consultation with the NYSGC, the Barn 85 quarantine is effective immediately.

Abreu has horses in both Barn 85 and Barn 86, and only the horses in Barn 85 are quarantined. The Abreu horses located in Barn 86 can train and race with the general population.

During the initial quarantine period, these horses will not be permitted to enter races or train among the general horse population. Afebrile/asymptomatic horses stabled in Barn 85 will have isolated training hours at the Oklahoma Training Track following the close of training for the general horse population at 10 a.m.

As of Friday morning, three additional febrile horses have been identified in Barn 85. These horses will be removed from the property to undergo further evaluation.

In an email follow-up, vice president of communications Patrick McKenna stated that other than the impacted barn, NYRA had not instituted any additional restrictions on shipping horses into, or out of, Saratoga Race Course.

NYRA will provide updates as appropriate.

The post Barn 85 at Saratoga Placed Under Quarantine Due to Strangles Positive appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Judge Denies Injunction In Serpe Suit Vs. HISA, But Leaves Door Open For Refile Of Key Seventh Amendment Claim

Thu, 2025-05-29 18:09

In a federal court case involving the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) that is being closely watched because it involves a trainer's allegations of a wrongful denial of Seventh Amendment rights to a jury trial, a judge in Florida on Thursday denied conditioner Phil Serpe's request for preliminary injunction in a lawsuit initiated last October against the HISA and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The civil complaint involves “banned substance” sanctions stemming from the alleged detection of clenbuterol in an Aug. 10, 2024, Saratoga Race Course winner from the 66-year-old trainer's stable.

Although Serpe's underlying lawsuit will proceed without any injunction being granted for the time being while his contested Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU) case separately plays out at the FTC arbitration level, Judge David Leibowitz of United States District Court (Southern District of Florida) wrote in his May 29 order that because that FTC arbitration process has not yet been completed, the court will leave open the opportunity for Serpe to refile his Seventh Amendment injunction claim at a later time.

“The FTC does not become involved or take any action until after arbitration is completed,” the judge wrote. “Plaintiff's arbitration is scheduled for June 2025. So, until the FTC's administrative law judge is called upon to review the Authority's sanction decision, if any, Plaintiff's claim as to the FTC is not ripe,” the judge wrote.

“While the merits of Mr. Serpe's Seventh Amendment claim may ultimately win the race, this Court will not grant extraordinary relief before the starter's gate has even opened,” the judge wrote.

So even though Serpe appears to have suffered a blow to his case on technical grounds with the denial of the injunction, the fact that the judge stressed Serpe's option to refile his Seventh Amendment claims later in the administrative process could be viewed as encouraging for the trainer.

TDN reached out to both Serpe's attorney and to HISA to get opinions from both sides on the denial of the injunction and the judge's seemingly telling words about the Seventh Amendment claim possibly prevailing in the long run.

Saratoga grandstand and main track | Sarah Andrew

But a HISA spokesperson wrote in a Thursday afternoon email that the Authority would have no comment, while Serpe's attorney did not respond to an emailed query prior to deadline for this story.

In a civil complaint filed seven months ago, Serpe's legal team had asked the court to “declare HISA and the HISA Rules to be unconstitutional, preliminarily and permanently enjoin Defendants from enforcing HISA and the HISA Rules against Serpe, and dissolve and vacate the Authority's provisional suspension against Serpe.”

Some of Serpe's “private nondelegation doctrine” allegations of unconstitutionality share common legal underpinnings with at least eight other lawsuits spawned in the federal court system over the past four years in which the powers of HISA, HIWU and the FTC and have been challenged by various individuals and entities representing horsemen and other HISA-regulated parties.

But Serpe's Oct. 17, 2024, complaint was unique in that it stated that, “HISA and the HISA Rules violate the Seventh Amendment's right to a jury trial.”

Initially, Serpe was facing a provisional suspension, plus a two-year period of ineligibility and a fine of up to $25,000 if HISA's clenbuterol allegations were proven against him.

But HISA had announced on Nov. 4, 2024, that it was directing HIWU to impose provisional suspensions only in limited circumstances, thus lifting all in-effect provisional suspensions (including Serpe's) while the Authority reviewed whether any “modifications to the current rules are appropriate.”

And on Apr. 23, 2025, HIWU informed Serpe that it would be dropping its pursuit of the $25,000 penalty–a move that Serpe's legal team termed in a court filing was actually part of “a concerted effort with HIWU to prejudicially moot Serpe's [Seventh Amendment] claims during the pendency of this case.”

In his May 29 order on the injunction denial, Judge Leibowitz wrote that he was well aware of the number of other constitutionality cases that have been brought against HISA in the federal court system, although he noted that Serpe's case stands out because of its Seventh Amendment aspect.

Three of those other cases have already been decided at the federal appeals court level (two in favor of HISA's constitutionality and one against). And in each of those three lawsuits, the losing party at the appeals court level has initiated legal action in the U.S. Supreme Court that could lead to the nation's highest court deciding once and for all whether the 2020 law that governs the sport in America is constitutional or not.

“Plaintiff Philip Serpe's challenge to HISA's constitutionality is not the only one making its way through the federal courts,” the judge stated in his order. “Plaintiffs residing in horseracing country have lodged challenges to both HISA's delegation of rulemaking authority to [a] private-entity [as well as to] HISA's enforcement scheme.

Phil Serpe | Sarah Andrew

“Plaintiffs' Seventh Amendment challenge to HISA has been asserted (albeit tangentially) at the district court level, but no district court or court of appeals has squarely addressed the Seventh Amendment challenge to date,” the judge wrote.

“Because the United States Supreme Court has yet to decide the private nondelegation question, this Court stayed that issue in [Serpe's] case and directed the parties to brief only Plaintiff's Seventh Amendment challenge,” the judge wrote.

While the judge denied the injunction against the FTC for the “ripeness” reasons explained above, Leibowitz also wrote that, “as for a preliminary injunction against the Authority, Plaintiff fails to show irreparable harm.”

The judge continued, in a different part of the order: “Serpe contends that Defendants' ability to impose a civil monetary penalty against him in the absence of a jury violates his Seventh Amendment rights…. The Authority responds that there is no violation here because HISA's enforcement scheme falls 'plainly under the “public rights” exception,' to the Seventh Amendment.

“Serpe points to several types of harm that he says are 'irreparable' such that a preliminary injunction is warranted,” the judge wrote. “First, Serpe points to his provisional suspension from horseracing. However, since Serpe filed the instant Motion, 'the Authority has lifted all provisional suspensions (including Plaintiff's) outside a narrow category of circumstances inapplicable here.'

“Nevertheless, Serpe argues the Authority's lifting of provisional suspensions was without lawful effect because the Authority lacks authority to lift suspensions and its pronouncement doing so violated its own rules governing rulemaking,” the order stated. “As a result, Serpe says his horseracing status remains uncertain and his harm is, therefore, irreparable.

“The Court disagrees with Serpe on this point. Serpe continues to be allowed to train horses to compete in races. Consequently, his reliance on the now-lifted provisional suspension does not show 'irreparable harm,'” the judge wrote.

“Apart from the now-lifted provisional suspension, Serpe says his lost business and consumer goodwill as well as his subjection to an alleged 'unconstitutional proceeding' constitute irreparable harm,” the judge wrote.

“Although lost business and customer goodwill may constitute irreparable harm in certain circumstances, subjection to an unconstitutional process in-and-of-itself does not,” the judge wrote.

“Serpe's claimed harms are not irreparable because he may pursue a remedy against the Authority for money damages in the event of a constitutional violation that causes harm,” the judge wrote.

Quoting from a legal precedent, the judge continued: “The key word in this consideration is irreparable. Mere injuries, however substantial, in terms of money, time and energy necessarily expended in the absence of a stay, are not enough. The possibility that adequate compensatory or other corrective relief will be available at a later date, in the ordinary course of litigation, weighs heavily against a claim of irreparable harm.”

The post Judge Denies Injunction In Serpe Suit Vs. HISA, But Leaves Door Open For Refile Of Key Seventh Amendment Claim appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

TAA Onsite During Belmont Stakes Weekend

Thu, 2025-05-29 16:44

Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) will be onsite at Saratoga Race Course for Belmont Stakes weekend, according to a press release from the non-profit on Thursday.

To highlight accredited aftercare, the New York Racing Association, Inc (NYRA) will honor the TAA with a named race on the undercard on Friday, June 6, and a presentation will be made to the winning connections, which includes a gift bag.

TAA representatives will be present to host the winners of the VIP experience donated by NYRA that was auctioned off earlier in the year in the “Off to the Races” Campaign to support accredited aftercare.

The post TAA Onsite During Belmont Stakes Weekend appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Trainers Pledge Belmont Festival Earnings To Support TRF

Thu, 2025-05-29 14:50

A group of former Todd Pletcher assistant trainers have pledged to donate a percentage of their earnings from the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival to support the mission of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF), the organization said on Thursday in a press release.

Michael McCarthy, George Weaver, Jonathan Thomas, Whit Beckman and Amelia Green have each committed a portion of their festival earnings to the TRF, underscoring their dedication to the welfare of retired racehorses.

Click here to learn more about helping the TRF.

The post Trainers Pledge Belmont Festival Earnings To Support TRF appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

‘TDN Rising Star’ Outfielder Headed To Royal Ascot

Thu, 2025-05-29 14:30

After a sizzling win in a May 23 maiden on the grass at Churchill Downs, Wesley Ward confirmed what he already knew. 'TDN Rising Star' Outfielder (Speightstown) is among the best 2-year-olds he has ever trained. So it's no surprise that the colt will soon be on his way to Royal Ascot to compete in the G2 Norfolk Stakes June 19.

“I was nervous going into the race at Churchill, just because I was so excited and he's one of those colts who has so much ability, Ward said. “The race was five-eighths on the grass. But you just never know how it's going to turn out. If you ever get to see his workouts you can visually see that he breathes different air. He's a big colt but he's real agile and quick. He moves like a cat. Usually, big horses are kind of lumbery and they don't have the agility that this guy does.”

Outfielder was purchased at last year's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale for $850,000. Ward also bought a horse named Schwarzenegger (Not This Time) for $950,000 at the same sale.

“Both colts were my picks of the sale. We spent a lot for both,” Ward said. “Nobody picked him out but me. You know how bloodstock agents like to take credit for things. The guy who signed the ticket, me, is the guy who picked him out.”

Ward bought the horse before he was able to bring in any partners. He talked former major league outfielder Jayson Werth into buying 20% of the colt, but was uncomfortable owning the remaining 80% himself.

“I couldn't afford to spend that much money when we paid as much as we did. It was too much of risk,” Ward said.

The problem was solved when Kia Joorabchian's Amo Racing went in for 60%.

At first Ward thought that Schwarzenegger would turn out to be the better of the two and he was planning to run him at Saratoga. As for Outfielder, he thought he would need some time, but that didn't turn out to be the case.

“We started breezing them together in tandem,” Ward said “Outfielder came around a lot quicker than I expected because he's a bigger colt. Schwarzenegger [who is unraced] was the one I had planned on running early. But as we got through the workouts in April and May, Outfielder was just better in each and every work. It wasn't by a great margin, but if you watched their works you can pick out visually which of the two is better.

“Moving on the grass down in Florida he really took to it as far as just galloping on the grass,” he said. “We had him at Palm Beach Downs and at Payson Park. He just floated over it. Even though he hadn't had a breeze yet I thought he'd really liked the grass. The riders on him, one being David Flores, were elated when they got off of him.”

Outfielder wins on debut and earned a 'TDN Rising Star' | Coady Media

Outfielder won his debut by 6 1/4 lengths and covered the five furlongs in :55.93 seconds.

“In that race he widened the margin with effortless ease,” Ward said. “The thing about him is that he is so sound. He's got a big airway and a big throat. A lot of big horses have air issues, but I knew that wouldn't be a problem for him. There is a lot of excitement surrounding this guy.”

With Ward's affinity for Royal Ascot, it comes as no surprise that the colt is headed overseas. Ward has won the Norfolk twice, with Shang Shang Shang (Shanghai Bobby) in 2018 and with No Nay Never (Scat Daddy) in 2013. If all goes well, Outfielder's next start after the Norfolk will be in the GI Prix Morny in Deauville Aug. 24. The Kentucky-based conditioner has won that race three times, with No Nay Never, Lady Aurelia (Scat Daddy) and Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac ({GB}).

“He'll run in the Norfolk, which is a path I've been down a few times,” Ward said. “It comes up a little quick, especially with my 2-year-olds. I like a little more spacing. Being that he ran on the grass and he came out of the race great, the Norfolk looks like the best spot. There's no better grass course in the world than what they have at Royal Ascot. Keeneland might be as good. It is a very kind and safe surface for him to run back on. From there we'll go to the Prix Morny. I've run in it four times, and have won three times and had a second. It's a path I've been down before.”

As much as Ward has been impressed by the 2-year-old's works on the grass, he says he'd like to try him on the dirt.

“He would be very good on the dirt,” he said. “I don't want to try him on the dirt until the fall of the year. I want to let him mature a little bit more. If we get that far and he accomplishes the things we think he will, we'll have to take a look at the dirt.”

For now, it's on to Royal Ascot, where Ward has won 12 races and will be in search of lucky number 13.

The post ‘TDN Rising Star’ Outfielder Headed To Royal Ascot appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Oaklawn Promotes Gillham, Milligan To Director Of Racing

Thu, 2025-05-29 13:55

Oaklawn Park is promoting Zack Gillham to Vice President of Racing & Wagering, while Jason Milligan will assume the role of Director of Racing, the track said via a press release on Thursday morning.

In his expanded position, Gillham will oversee all aspects of Oaklawn's racing and sports wagering operations. A member of the Hot Springs team for over eight years, he most recently served as Executive Director of Wagering.

Milligan, the former Vice President of Racing, has been with Oaklawn's equine operations for the past 28 years.

The post Oaklawn Promotes Gillham, Milligan To Director Of Racing appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Graded Winner, Mutliple Grade I-Placed Pyrenees Retired

Thu, 2025-05-29 13:26

Pyrenees (Into Mischief–Our Khrysty, by Newfoundland), winner of the GIII Pimlico Special Stakes and runner-up in the GI Stephen Foster Stakes and GI Jockey Club Gold Cup in 2024, has been retired from racing, according to Adam Corndorf, who bred and raced the horse in partnership with his mother Bonnie Baskin under their Blue Heaven Farm banner.

A homebred son of Grade III winner Our Khrysty, purchased by Blue Heaven for $600,000 in foal to Tiznow at the 2011 Fasig-Tipton November Sale, Pyrenees broke his maiden by 4 1/2 lengths off a one-year absence at the Fair Grounds in December 2023 and added open-length victories in allowance company at the Fair Grounds and at Keeneland in the spring of 2024 before charging home to take last year's Pimlico Special on Preakness weekend, defeating 'TDN Rising Star' Kingsbarns (Uncle Mo). The bay was runner-up to the latter in the Foster and was beaten four lengths into second behind Highland Falls (Curlin) in the Jockey Club Gold Cup before competing in a hot renewal of the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar. He retires with a record of 4-3-1 from 11 starts and earnings of $786,316 for trainer Cherie DeVaux.

In addition to his racetrack achievements, Pyrenees hails from an extremely active immediate female family. His half-sister Grace Adler (Curlin) won the 2021 GI Del Mar Debutante and was sold to Japanese interests for $2 million at Fasig-Tipton November in 2022. Grace Adler's first foal, a colt by Horse of the Year Flightline, made $1.3 million at the JRHA Select Sale last July.

Pyrenees, whose dam is a half-sister to GI Whitney Handicap hero Bullsbay (Tiznow), is also kin to the Grade II-placed Virginia Key (Distorted Humor), not only the dam of SP Distorted d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro), but also of Tappan Street (Into Mischief), who took down the colors of subsequent GI Kentucky Derby hero Sovereignty (Into Mischief) in this year's GI Curlin Florida Derby. A Curlin half-brother to Tappan Street fetched $1.4 million at Keeneland September last fall, while the current 2-year-old half-sister to Pyrenees, Glory Me (Gun Runner), was hammered down to Lael Stable for $975,000 at KEESEP. Pyrenees's half-sister Bay Harbor (Speightstown), is responsible for Miuccia (Mitole), a stakes winner in 2024.

Pyrenees is currently available for inspection at Blue Heaven Farm in Versailles, Kentucky for those interested in standing him at stud. Inquiries may be made to Adam Corndorf at info@blueheavenfarmky.com.

The post Graded Winner, Mutliple Grade I-Placed Pyrenees Retired appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Bidding For Fasig-Tipton June Digital Sale Now Open

Thu, 2025-05-29 12:34

A total of 97 entries have been catalogued for the Fasig-Tipton June Digital Sale, which can now be viewed online at digital.fasigtipton.com. Bidding has commenced and will remain open through Tuesday, June 3, beginning at 2 p.m. ET.

Among the entries are horses of racing age, breeding stock–including mares with foals at foot–2-year-olds in training and yearlings.

Some of the top offerings include:

 

  • Hip 2, Strada Del Sogno (Street Boss), a debut third in the May 10 Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies Stakes at Gulfstream behind Lennilu (Leinster), who is scheduled to make her next appearance at Royal Ascot next month;

 

  • Hip 92, Chasing Sunsets (Authentic), a 2-year-old full-sister to Reagan's Wit, impressive winner of the James W. Murphy Stakes at Pimlico May 17;

 

  • 40 horses of racing age eligible for a variety of conditions;

 

 

 

“We have a diverse catalogue with something for everyone, including a significant number of turnkey horses of racing age ready for summer racing,” said Leif Aaron, Fasig-Tipton Director of Digital Sales. “These include stakes horses as well as a several eligible for 'ship and win' programs on the West Coast.”

The post Bidding For Fasig-Tipton June Digital Sale Now Open appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

National Regulatory Rulings: May 22-28, 2025

Thu, 2025-05-29 11:41

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: 05/28/2025

Licensee: Brad Cox, trainer

Penalty: A fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision by internal adjudication panel.

Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone—a controlled substance (Class C)—in a sample taken from Nyquick on 3/19/25.

Date: 05/27/2025

Licensee: Stephen Trevino, trainer

Penalty: 7-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on May 28, 2025; 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 $1,000; imposition of 2 Penalty Points. Admission.

Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine—a controlled substance (Class B)—in a sample taken from Miss Shady, who won at Mahoning Valley on 4/2/25.

Date: 05/23/2025

Licensee: Rodolfo Sanchez-Salomon, trainer

Penalty: 30-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on May 24, 2025; additional 30-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on June 23, 2025 for the accumulation of 6 Penalty Points within a two-year period; 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 $2,500; imposition of 3 Penalty Points. Admission.

Explainer: Medication violation for the Alkalinization or use/administration of an Alkalinizing Agent (TCO2) on Tik Tok Daddy, who finished third at Laurel Park on 12/13/24.

According to the case resolution, Sanchez-Salomon is suspended an additional 30 days—beginning on June 23, 2025, and continuing through July 22, 2025—for the accumulation of 6 Penalty Points within a two-year period. This relates to two prior positives involving Flunixin (in 2023) and Phenylbutazone (in 2024).

Date: 05/22/2025

Licensee: Juan Aguirre, trainer

Penalty: 18-month period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on May 23, 2025; a fine of $12,500. Admission.

Explainer: Violation of ADMC Program Rule 3216(b)(2), which prohibits a covered person from “assisting, encouraging, aiding, abetting, conspiring, covering up, or engaging in any other type of intentional complicity or Attempted complicity involving . . . a violation of Rule 3229 by another Covered Person.”

According to the case resolution, from at least June to September of 2024, Aguirre employed another licensee, Francisco Ramos, to work with his horses when Ramos was serving a provisional suspension for alleged medication violations. Ramos is in the middle of serving a suspension for those violations— in six different horses—that runs through May of 2036.

Pending ADMC Violations

05/28/2025, Annette Eubanks, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine—a controlled substance (Class B)—in a sample taken from I'm a Cutie Pie on 4/26/25.

05/28/2025, Roshan Samsundar, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Caffeine—a controlled substance (Class B)—in a sample taken from Carbon, who won at Aqueduct on 3/14/25.

05/27/2025, Maximino Quinonez, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine—a controlled substance (Class B)—in a sample taken from R U Joking on 4/26/25.

05/21/2025, Michelle Castillo, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Lidocaine—a controlled substance (Class B)—in a sample taken from Tootsie Toes on 4/18/25.

05/21/2025, Eric Reed, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Gabapentin—a controlled substance (Class B)—in a sample taken from She's a Saint, who won at Mahoning Valley on 4/8/25.

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Rain Forces Postponement of Cape Henlopen Stakes

Thu, 2025-05-29 11:16

The $200,000 Cape Henlopen Stakes, a mile-and-a-half turf event for older males, has been moved from its original date of Saturday, May 31 and will instead be run on the Saturday, June 14 program along with the GIII Delaware Oaks and Delaware Derby. The change was necessitated by heavy rainfall in the Midlantic region over the past week.

Nominations to the Cape Henlopen will be re-opened with a new closing date of Wednesday, June 4. The June 14 program will be drawn Tuesday, June 10.

The remaining seven races on the Saturday live card will be run as scheduled, including the featured $100,000 Rehoboth Stakes at six furlongs on the main track. The afternoon's promotional giveaway remains on the schedule, while the $10,000 guaranteed middle Pick Five has been canceled. First post is set for 12:35 p.m. ET.

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NYRA Details Belmont Stakes Racing Festival Policies

Thu, 2025-05-29 10:42

Officials at the New York Racing Association (NYRA) have laid out guest policies for the upcoming Belmont Stakes Racing Festival (BSRF) at Saratoga Wednesday, June 4 through Sunday, June 8.

Gates will open at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, with a first post scheduled for each program at 12:40 p.m. ET. Admission will begin at 10 a.m. on Friday (first post 11:40 a.m.) and at 9 a.m. on Belmont Day, with the first race set to jump at 10:45 a.m. ET.

While the Saratoga main track will be closed to the public for morning training during the BSRF, fans will be permitted to watch training at the Oklahoma training track from 7-10 a.m. on Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday by entering Gate 21 on East Avenue. There is no vehicular traffic permitted. The public is invited to return to the main track for 'Breakfast at Saratoga' on opening day of the summer meet Thursday, July 10.

As with the main summer meeting, fans are not permitted to enter the grounds with alcoholic beverages from Thursday, June 5 through Saturday, June 7. Each fan may carry one folding chair for personal use in the backyard area during each day of the BSRF. Pop-up tents, folding tables and wagons are not permitted Thursday through Saturday. Small bags and purses are allowed.

Cash will not be accepted for food and beverage purchases, admission, parking or programs (with the exception of the official Saratoga store) during the BSRF. Professional photography and/or videography equipment is also prohibited.

Click here for a comprehensive list of permitted and prohibited items.

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Regaled, 1/2 to Kentucky Oaks Runner-up Drexel Hill, Tops Inglis Digital USA May Sale

Wed, 2025-05-28 18:41

The 2025 Inglis Digital USA May Sale closed Wednesday with a pair of six-figure fillies leading the way with close relations to the top two finishers in this year's GI Kentucky Oaks.

Topping Wednesday's session with a $300,000 final bid, Regaled (Mohaymen–Ascot Walk, by Daaher), a Grade III-placed half-sister to Oaks runner-up Drexel Hill (Bolt d'Oro), sold to Legion Bloodstock, the same operation that campaigns Drexel Hill.

A three-time winner, the dark bay was third in last year's GIII Delaware Oaks. She entered the sale off a runner-up finish in the Heavenly Cause Stakes at Laurel Park on Apr. 12, and a third in the Allaire DuPont Distaff Stakes at Pimlico Race Course on May 16.

Bred in Kentucky by Chris Baccari, Regaled is out of the winning Daaher mare Ascot Walk, whose two foals to race are both black-type earners. In addition to finishing second in the

Ketnucky Oaks, Drexel Hill won the Busher Stakes earlier this year.

“She's a pretty filly with a solid race record to this point,” said Kristian Villante of Legion Bloodstock. “We're obviously partial to the family having Drexel Hill, and we were underbidder

on the 2-year-old out of Ascot Walk that sold last week [a Modernist filly that went to Repole Stable for $310,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May Sale]. We think all three fillies have bright futures and we're just happy our clients believe the same. She's going to head to Whit Beckman at Churchill Downs and we'll let him and his team do their thing. Hopefully, we can target some fun races with her this summer.”

Samuel G. Davis previously trained Regaled for owner Brittnee Caballero, and she was made available for inspection during the sale from her barn at Laurel Park. Paramount Sales consigned the filly, as agent.

“We are delighted to see the ownership of Drexel Hill pick up her half-sister Regaled,” said Paddy Campion of Paramount Sales. “We had confidence in being able to put her up for sale

just as everything was falling into place for her, and couldn't be happier to see her hammered down to these connections.”

The day's second-highest price came for a 4-year-old half-sister to the dam of Kentucky Oaks winner Good Cheer who sold to Machmer Hall for $220,000.

The unnamed More Than Ready filly is out of the unraced Coronado's Quest mare Golden Sheba, making her a half-sister to the MGISW Wedding Toast, herself the dam of the undefeated star Good Cheer. Her extended family features MGISW Congaree.

“A More Than Ready mare with exceptional good looks out of a half-sister to the dam of this year's Kentucky Oaks winner with a huge deep family? What's not to love?” said Machmer

Hall's Carrie Brogden. “Now just to come up with a good name.”

The filly was bred in Kentucky by Campo Oaks Management, and she was offered from her base at Santa Anita Park with consignor Leonard Powell.

“I'm delighted that a filly with such an active pedigree goes to a very astute breeder in Carrie Brogden,” Powell said. “I hope she finds success wither her progeny in the sales ring. This is our

first time consigning with Inglis Digital USA and couldn't have been happier with the process and the result.”

In total, Wednesday's auction saw 19 horses sold for revenues of $625,250, with an average sale price of $32,907.

“We're very pleased with the results from the May sale,” said Kyle Wilson, Senior Director of Sales and Recruiting for Inglis Digital USA. “The popular listings were just that–popular. There

was a lot of activity around the sale and I credit the team with assembling a quality catalog.

“We're going to keep working to move some of the horses that didn't get done on the day. There's certainly still some value out there. We appreciate all the sellers and buyers that supported us.”

Entries are now open for the 2025 Inglis Digital USA June Sale, and they will be taken through Monday, June 16. The catalog will be released Friday, June 20, and bidding will commence on

Wednesday, June 25.

To enter a horse in the June sale or to register as a bidder, visit www.inglisdigitalusa.com

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Canadian Horseman Paul Buttigieg Dies

Wed, 2025-05-28 16:42

Longtime Canadian-based trainer, breeder and owner Paul Buttigieg died, according to a Woodbine release Wednesday.

Over the course of his career at Woodbine, the horseman amassed 672 wins and more than $19 million in earnings as a trainer. Buttigieg also operated his own training center in Egbert, Ontario–Buttigieg Training Centre–where trainers such as Robert Tiller, Kevin Attard and Michael De Paulo were stabled.

Buttigieg's most significant horses were led by champion Phil's Dream, who he bred, owned, and trained. Phil's Dream captured the GI Nearctic Stakes in 2013 and was honored as that season's Champion Male Sprinter at the Sovereign Awards.

Buttigieg also notably campaigned multiple graded stakes winner Artie's Storm, who was a Sovereign Award finalist in 2022, Strait From Texas, who won the 2003 GII Nassau Stakes, and MSW and MGISP Gypsy Ring.

“Paul Buttigieg was the embodiment of dedication in Canadian racing,” said Jim Lawson, Executive Chair, Woodbine Entertainment. “Paul was a true horseman in every sense of the word as a breeder, owner and trainer. He did it all with passion for the Thoroughbred and was part of the fabric of our Woodbine racing community. His loss is deeply felt and he will be dearly missed.”

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Weather Forces Postponement of Penn Mile, Oaks

Wed, 2025-05-28 15:42

Friday's GIII Penn Mile has been posted postponed until June 20 due to inclement weather conditions impacting the eastern portion of the country, according to a Penn National release Wednesday.

Other existing stakes that will be moved to June 20 are the Lyphard Stakes, Alphabet Soup Stakes and Penn Oaks.

Horses entered in those four stakes are automatically re-nominated to their respective stakes races to be run June 20. Additional nominations are also being accepted until Wednesday, June 11. Entries for the entire June 20 card will be drawn June 13.

Penn National will proceed with the seven overnight races that were originally intended–all on the main track–for the May 30 card. Racing is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m.

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Canadian Horse of the Year Soaring Free Dies at 26

Wed, 2025-05-28 14:28

Canadian Horse of the Year Soaring Free (Smart Strike–Dancing With Wings, by Danzig) died due to complications of old age at Sam-Son Farm's Ocala, Florida division Wednesday.

Campaigned by his breeder Sam-Son Farm, the Ontario-bred won 15 of 27 career races for trainer Mark Frostad earning Canada's champion sprinter honor in 2003 followed by the champion grass horse title the following year, when he was also named that nation's Horse of the Year. Jockey Todd Kabel was aboard Soaring Free for 22 of 27 of his career starts.

During his racing career, he won eight races at the graded level, highlighted by a score in the 2004 GI Atto Mile at Woodbine before retiring with $2.1 million in earnings. Nicknamed 'Muffin', he was cared for by his longtime groom, Tracy Smith.

The gelding, who hails from a deep Sam-Son family, was out of Dancing With Wings, a half-sister to Canadian Horse of the Year Ruling Angel (Vice Regent), champion 3-year-old filly Tilt My Halo (Halo) and SW Tiffany Tam (Tentam), dam of champion sophomore colt and Canadian Classic winner Regal Intention.

The 26-year-old stallion will be interred at the Florida farm.

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Twirling Candy’s Two Sharp Scampers off to Victory in Churchill’s Winning Colors

Mon, 2025-05-26 16:37

Two Sharp, making her first start since last November, went wire-to-wire to earn her third straight victory in the GIII Winning Colors Stakes at Churchill Downs Monday. The bay filly went quickly to the early lead from her outside post and scampered away as favored Hope Road tried to go with her early. She was clear through fractions of :21.14 and :43.99–the fastest half-mile in the race that dates back to 2004. Hope Road attempted to reel her in down the lane, but Two Sharp kept finding more and was well in control to the wire as longshot Benedetta overtook the favorite late for second.

“It's not about how fast you're going, it's about how you're going when you're going fast,” winning jockey Junior Alvarado said. “She was incredible today. She broke sharp and just took me to the lead and did everything so easily.”

Two Sharp was tabbed a 'TDN Rising Star' following an 11 1/4-length maiden score at Saratoga last August. She was beaten just a neck by Brightwork (Outwork) in the Aug. 31 GIII Prioress Stakes, but returned to the winner's circle with a 6 1/4-length victory in an Oct. 12 allowance at Keeneland. She stretched her speed out to a mile when securing a 5 3/4-length triumph in the Nov. 23 GIII Chilukki Stakes last time out.

“She's so talented and to run that well fresh was really exciting to see,” winning trainer Phil Bauer said. “It's obviously a great starting point. She's ultra-talented. She's proved that she can handle at least a mile, so we'll see where we'll go from here.”

Pedigree Notes:

One of 24 graded winners for her sire Twirling Candy, Two Sharp is the only foal out of Double Sharp, a daughter of multiple graded winner Bsharpsonata and a half-sister to graded-placed Play It Loud (Unbridled's Song). The mare was purchased by Woods Edge Farm for $255,000 at the 2017 Keeneland November sale.

Monday, Churchill Downs
WINNING COLORS S.-GIII, $250,000, Churchill Downs, 5-26, 4yo/up, f/m, 6f, 1:08.75, ft.
1–TWO SHARP, 118, f, 4, by Twirling Candy
1st Dam: Double Sharp, by Distorted Humor
2nd Dam: Bsharpsonata, by Pulpit
3rd Dam: Apasionata Sonata, by Affirmed
'TDN Rising Star' ($925,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Rigney Racing LLC; B-Woods Edge Farm LLC (KY); T-Philip A Bauer; J-Junior Alvarado. $151,520. Lifetime Record: 6-4-2-0, $518,218. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Benedetta, 118, f, 4, City of Light–Tessie Flip, by Grand Slam. ($290,000 RNA Ylg '22 KEESEP; $750,000 2yo '23 OBSMAR). O-Kaleem Shah Inc; B-Springhouse Farm & Dromoland Farm (KY); T-Steven M Asmussen. $49,200.
3–Hope Road, 118, f, 4, Quality Road–Marley's Freedom, by Blame. ($575,000 RNA Ylg '22 FTSAUG). O/B-Cicero Farms LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert. $24,600.
Margins: 3HF, 3/4, HF. Odds: 1.91, 23.48, 0.85.
Also Ran: Brightwork, Mink's Palace, Miss Arlington, Into Champagne. Scratched: Easy Red, Harbor Springs. Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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Carl Spackler Sold, to Target Royal Ascot, Australian Campaign

Mon, 2025-05-26 13:51

Multiple Grade I winner Carl Spackler (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), who raced in the colors of his breeder Bob Edwards, has been sold to Yulong Investments and will target Royal Ascot before embarking on a campaign in Australia, according to a report in Daily Racing Form.

Trained by Chad Brown, Carl Spackler won last year's GI FanDuel Fourstardave Handicap and GI Coolmore Turf Mile Stakes before ending the season with a sixth-place effort in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile. He returned this year to win the Apr. 11 GI Maker's Mark Mile Stakes at Keeneland.

“It is a business,” Edwards told DRF's Dave Grening of the decision to sell his homebred. “We've had a lot of luck with him, not sure how commercially he'd be received [as a stallion prospect] in the States. The timing worked out.”

Carl Spackler worked four furlongs in :49.95 at Saratoga Sunday. The 5-year-old is expected to ship to England this week ahead of a start in the June 17 G1 Queen Anne Stakes for trainer Ciaron Maher, Edwards told DRF.

Following his engagement at the Royal Ascot meeting, Carl Spackler is expected to ship to Australia where the Oct. 25 G1 Cox Plate will be targeted.

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Sandman Arrives in Saratoga; Aims for Jim Dandy

Mon, 2025-05-26 13:35

Sandman (Tapit), coming off a third-place effort in the GI Preakness Stakes, shipped from Belmont Park to Saratoga Race Course Monday morning and he is expected to make his next start in the July 26 GII Jim Dandy Stakes.

“I wanted to give him a little bit of time,” trainer Mark Casse said. “He ran all winter long and I knew when we decided to run him back in the Preakness that the Belmont was going to be out of the question.”

Sandman earned a spot in the GI Kentucky Derby with his win in the GI Arkansas Derby and, after finishing seventh in Louisville, he closed from last-of-9 and 12 lengths off the pace to finish 2 3/4 lengths adrift of Journalism (Curlin) in the Preakness.

“I thought he ran well,” Casse said of Sandman's effort in the Preakness. “He was caked in mud after the race. He struggled to keep his eyes open. When we scoped him afterwards, he had half the Pimlico racetrack in his trachea. Johnny [Velazquez] said he thought he lost focus a little. I'll probably put blinkers on him for the Jim Dandy because he has done some wandering down the stretch.”

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Colloquial on Track for Woody Stephens

Mon, 2025-05-26 13:17

Harrell Ventures and Starlight Racing's Colloquial (Vekoma), tabbed a 'TDN Rising Star' following a scintillating seven-length maiden victory at Aqueduct in February, continued preparations for his graded stakes debut in the June 7 GI Woody Stephens Stakes with a five-furlong work in 1:03.25 over the Oklahoma training track at Saratoga last Thursday.

“We've been happy with him,” trainer George Weaver said. “We've been waiting for this race for a long time, and now we're getting close.”

Colloquial followed up his 6 1/2-furlong maiden win with a 2 1/4-length victory going seven furlongs in the Lafayette Stakes at Keeneland Apr. 7.

“Good horses are [versatile], and they can adjust to situations,” Weaver said. “He's talented, so luckily he's good enough to have that versatility. I don't think he's tied to any one way of running. I'm sure this will be a competitive race, but I wouldn't trade places with anybody.”

Colloquial is one of several candidates for Weaver at this year's Belmont Stakes Racing Festival. The veteran conditioner also has Dorth Vader (Girvin), Sacred Wish (Not This Time), and Soontobeking (King for a Day) nominated to races during the five-day Festival.

Weaver said Dorth Vader, most recently a troubled fourth in the GI La Troienne Stakes, is likely being pointed to the GI Ogden Phipps Stakes, which offers a “Win and You're In” berth into the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff in November at Del Mar.

Last year's GI Matriarch Stakes winner Sacred Wish, who worked a half-mile in :51.25 over the Oklahoma dirt Saturday, has been nominated to the June 5 GI Just a Game Stakes, but Weaver said he is unsure if that will be her next start.

“We'll see how her next work goes,” the trainer said. “We're kind of up in the air about her next start.”

Soontobeking, co-owned by Our Blue Streaks Stable, SGV Thoroughbreds, and Weaver, is targeting the Mike Lee Stakes for New York-bred sophomores on the June 4 Opening Day of the Festival. The colt has put together a respectable 12-3-3-4 record with $363,428 in earnings, led by a stakes triumph in the state-bred Gander Stakes Mar. 8.

“We're looking forward to seeing him again,” Weaver said of Soontobeking, whose last effort was a runner-up finish in the Apr. 13 NYSSS Times Square. “You appreciate the horses that always show up, and he does. He just overcomes with try.”

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