Thoroughbred Daily News

With the marathon Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training just hitting its 11-hour mark Tuesday, the auction had its fourth million-dollar juvenile when bloodstock agent Donato Lanni bid $1.05 million to acquire a colt by Violence (hip 544) on behalf of Amr Zedan. The chestnut, who galloped during Sunday's session of the under-tack preview, was consigned by Top Line Sales. A $280,000 purchase at Keeneland last September, he is out of A Taste of Red (Street Boss).

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The NFL's Chicago Bears have shifted their focus back to Arlington Heights, the site of the old Arlington Park racetrack, for a new stadium, the Sports Business Journal reported Tuesday. According to the report, the team will not seek state funding for the stadium itself but would “likely seek state funding for infrastructure”. The Bears, who currently play at Soldier Field, were previously looking at a site on the Chicago lakefront. New Arlington Heights Mayor Jim Tinaglia told the SBJ that “much work remains to ensure that the village's and team's goals can be met,” but “discussions that have ramped up in recent months are 'headed in the right direction.'”

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'TDN Rising Star' Shisospicy (Mitole) will make her next start at Royal Ascot in the June 20 G1 Commonwealth Cup, according to Morplay Racing's post on X Tuesday. The X post also confirmed that the dual stakes winner will run for Morplay in partnership with Qatar Racing.

Trained by Jose D'Angelo, the grey won her career debut at Gulfstream by 16 1/4 lengths last season before finishing third in Churchill's Fern Creek Stakes. This term, she was runner-up in Oaklawn's Mockingbird Stakes before winning her next three, including Keeneland's Limestone Stakes in April and the GIII Mamzelle Stakes at Churchill May 10.

A $100,000 Keeneland January purchase is 2023, she resold for $200,000 at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Select Yearling sale later in the season.

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April Mayberry, bidding on behalf of an undisclosed partnership, went to $1 million to secure a colt by Nyquist (hip 79) early in Tuesday's Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. The chestnut colt, who worked a furlong last week in :10 2/5, is out of Deja Vu (Giant's Causeway) and is a half-brother to stakes winner and Grade I placed Crystal Ball (Malibu Moon). He was consigned by Ciaran Dunne's Wavertree Stables and was purchased as part of Dunne and Paul Reddam's Red Wings pinhooking partnership for $200,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale.

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Larry Demeritte, whose inspiring story of battling cancer and making it to the 2024 GI Kentucky Derby captivated racing, passed away Tuesday evening after a lengthy battle with blood cancer. He was 75.

A native of the Bahamas, Demeritte was the first Black trainer to saddle a horse in the race for 35 years.

Demeritte's father was a trainer in the Bahamas and his son was often at his side when he was running or training horses. Demeritte said that he watched the Kentucky Derby every year on television and that is what inspired him to come to the U.S. to train.

With the dream of someday running in the Kentucky Derby, he moved to the U.S. in 1976 and began training in 1991. He made that dream come true when he saddled West Saratoga (Exaggerator) in last year's Derby. The horse finished 12th, but Demeritte was fond of telling people that just making it to the Derby was a huge accomplishment.

“It was incredible,” said family friend Tony Mitchell. “Larry used to talk about when he was a kid in the Bahamas and watched the Derby on TV. He said his goal was to one day run in a Triple Crown race. That horse getting to the Derby was very instrumental in keeping him going. He was an incredible, incredible guy.”

West Saratoga was an unlikely candidate to take his trainer to the Derby. Demeritte bought him as a yearling at Keeneland September for just $11,000.

“I have champagne tastes with a beer budget,” he often told reporters.

But West Saratoga was not your average $11,000 horse. He broke his maiden in his fifth career start and then won the GIII Iroquois S. at Churchill Downs. With a third-place finish in the GIII Sam F. Davis S. and a second-place finish in the Jeff Ruby Steaks S. as a 3-year-old, he had amassed enough points to get into the Derby.

Demeritte was very religious, which came in handy while he was battling his illness.

“I never leave my house without giving thanks in the morning,” he told NBC prior to the Derby. “Just waking up is a gift and that is very important to me.”

During the same interview he talked of how his daily routine and his love for his horses and the sport, kept him going.

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“Why lay in bed and feel sorry for yourself when you can watch a horse gallop around the track. That gives you a rush you can't get anywhere else,” he said.

Mitchell said that Demeritte was surrounded by friends and relatives when he passed away.

“He went peacefully, Mitchell said. “As sad as it was, Larry was prepared to meet his maker. He was a very religious guy. I don't know anybody who had a bad word to say about him.  There was no reason to. He was such a good guy and a very dear friend of mine, as he was with a ton of people.”

Thanks to a horse named Maximus Pride (Maximus Mischief), it looked like Demeritte might return to the Derby in 2026. Maximus Prime ran second in the Kentucky Juvenile S. in his most recent effort.

Demeritte had 184 winners from 2,138 starters.

Kentucky HBPA: “Larry Demeritte epitomized the best in horse racing with his horsemanship and love and passion for the game and its equine athletes. We're all so glad and proud that Larry achieved his dream of being in the Kentucky Derby with West Saratoga. It showed yet again that the little guy, with some luck and a lot of skill, can compete with stables with far greater numbers and bankroll. Larry, with his backstory, engaging personality and wide smile, was a terrific ambassador for horse racing, and the industry lost one of its bright lights with his passing. Our heart goes out to Inga. We hope she takes comfort knowing how many people loved Larry and will continue to get inspiration from him.”

Joe Bealmear, jockey: “Rest in peace to a legend that I had the honor of knowing since my first memories. I thank God for allowing me to know and win for such a great man that watched me grow up from a little kid running around the Thoroughbred Center to the jockey I am today. I know he's happy in the company of his Creator.”

Steve Byk, host of “At the Races with Steve Byk”: “Larry Demeritte successfully plied a craft quietly for decades and was inspirational to those that got to know him. The limelight and adoration he received from West Saratoga's Derby couldn't have been more perfectly timed or deserved.”

Kaitlin Free, Churchill Downs racing analyst: “The world's light is much dimmer following Larry's passing. Just saw him two weeks ago–unless you knew his private battle with cancer, you could never tell. He always had a smile on his face and kind words to spare.”

Sarah Hamilton, trainer: “What a lovely human to be around–always positive, would make you laugh every time you spoke with him. He was always smiling with a twinkle in his eye. My condolences to his friends and family. Grateful I got to meet such a beautiful soul.”

Mark Taylor, president and CEO of Taylor Made Farm: “Larry was so kind and positive. He had his priorities right and had faith in God. What a wonderful human being. God bless his soul.”

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On the verge of demolition, Pimlico Race Course's 150 Preakness day card drew $110 million in wagering, an increase of 11.3% over $98,858,918 bet on last year's Preakness program. The May 17 card had 14 races carded, anchored by the Preakness, was won by Journalism (Curlin).

The record high for the day is $112,504,509 established in 2021, when Rombauer, trained by this year's winning trainer Michael McCarthy, won the second jewel in the Triple Crown.

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The 2025 Thoroughbred racing season draw to a close May 14 with the last of a 28-day racing season that saw an increased average field size and strong competition across the board.

Mister Omaha, a 3-year-old son of Omaha Beach, was named the 2025 horse of the meet at the Claremont, Oklahoma, oval with a four-length victory in the six-furlong Welder Stakes (NBT) in March and an 18 1/4-length romp in the Will Rogers Downs Handicap (NBT) over a mile on Kentucky Derby day May 3. His trainer Joe Offolter took home honors as the leading trainer of the meet with 14 wins from 67 starters, while Bryan Hook, owner and breeder of Mister Omaha, was the meet's leading owner with a mark of 10-13-4 from 48 starters and earnings of $276,000. Alfredo Triana, Jr. was the leading jockey with 27 wins from 164 rides, six better than Richard Eramia and Elvin Gonzalez.

“One of the biggest positives this season was how spread out the wins were across the board,” said John Lies (pronounced Lees), racing secretary, announcer and oddsmaker at Cherokee Casino Will Rogers Downs. “We didn't see only two or three big barns dominating the winners' circle–almost every one won more than a few races. Even the trainer division was contentious from day one and went right down to the last race in determining the season's leader.

“Mister Omaha is one to watch as he steps up to take on graded stakes outside of Oklahoma this year,” added Lies. “His win in the Will Rogers Handicap was a cut above the typical stakes-winning performances we expect in Claremore. Overall, it headlined our most shining moments in the stakes and handicap divisions this year.”

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Claiborne Farm and Lane's End Farm will return as the co-sponsors of the Former Broodmare division at the 2025 Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium Oct. 8-11 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington.

The Former Broodmare division offers a competition avenue at the Makeover for recently retired broodmares to compete alongside the traditional retiring racehorse division in all 10 offered disciplines. Broodmares are pinned and recognized separately, competing for their own pot of $10,000 in prize money.

“At Claiborne, we've always believed in supporting the full journey of a horse–from the foaling barn, to finish line, to retirement,” said Claiborne president Walker Hancock. “Supporting the Former Broodmare division is an extension of that commitment, helping ensure these mares have the visibility and opportunity they deserve as they begin a new chapter of their lives.”

Added Lane's End's Bill Farish: “Lane's End is proud to once again sponsor the Former Broodmare division at the Thoroughbred Makeover, and support the Retired Racehorse Project's tireless efforts to raise the profile of aftercare, showcasing the diverse talents of the off-the-track athlete. The concept of a broodmare division is a unique opportunity, giving more mares purpose, and helps to highlight their abilities beyond their breeding career.”

The 2024 class of former broodmares at the Makeover included 20 mares registered for competition, with an average age of 10. While close to half of the class was retired from breeding for reasons unknown to the participating trainers, about a third of the class retired due to reproductive issues, rather than advanced age or lack of success of offspring either commercially or on the track.

The Former Broodmare division is also supported by Maryland Horse Breeders Association. Eligible broodmares will have produced a foal or have been bred in the 2023 breeding season or after, as reported by The Jockey Club, and need to have had one lifetime start or published work. They may not have had prior shows or competitions before December 1, 2024, when training for the 2025 Thoroughbred Makeover opened across all divisions. Late applications are still being accepted through June 27 for the 2025 Thoroughbred Makeover; learn more about the Former Broodmare division, eligibility requirements and the Thoroughbred Makeover at TheRRP.org.

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Horse racing frequently talks about the importance of fan building, ownership development and growing our workforce. But imagine if the leading organizations in Thoroughbred racing truly joined forces to invest in tomorrow's fans, workforce, and owners.

That's exactly what the golf industry did in 1997. The USGA, LPGA, Masters Tournament, PGA of America, and PGA TOUR collaborated to launch First Tee, a youth development non-profit with a mission to make golf accessible and affordable for all children. The USGA alone committed $3 million in the program's first three years–an amount equivalent to $6 million today.

First Tee now reaches over 3.1 million youth annually through 150 U.S. chapters and international affiliates. Their programs don't just teach golf–they build character, promote healthy choices and foster lifelong connections to the sport. A 2015 survey found that 90% of First Tee alums are lifelong golfers. That's what strategic, unified investment in education looks like–and why it works.

Most major sports are already doing this:

• The NHL and NHLPA run Future Goals, a STEM program that uses hockey to teach science and math;

• The NBA supports Jr. NBA and Math Hoops, blending basketball with life skills and academic learning;

• The NFL runs programs like Character Playbook, NFL FLAG, and Youth Education Towns–and promotes this work to millions during Super Bowl commercials.

It's time racing caught up. Other equine sports are getting the message.

This spring, the United States Polo Association awarded a $1- million grant to Work to Ride, a Philadelphia non-profit that uses equine sports to create education and opportunity for youth. The grant will fund a major facility expansion, helping the program serve more students and broaden the reach of the sport of polo.

Meanwhile, the Thoroughbred industry–fragmented and without a national governing body–has yet to fully embrace youth education as a funding priority. Even for leading organizations, it's easy to take the stance of “it's not our job” or to believe that giving a little is enough.

Since early 2023, I've served full-time as the Executive Director of Amplify Horse Racing, a Kentucky-based 501(c)(3) non-profit founded as the national youth arm of the Thoroughbred industry. We provide opportunities for young people from all states to engage through education, mentorship, and career development. We pair students with mentors both virtually and in person, host immersive events, visit classrooms and create behind-the-scenes experiences that make careers in racing tangible and attainable. Our virtual outreach includes educational social media, a podcast, a website rich with blog content and industry resources, and an upcoming video series. We're developing a high school curriculum aligned with Next Generation Science Standards and Career & Technical Education. We strive to make the Thoroughbred industry as accessible and inclusive as possible for all youth, regardless of where they live or their prior experience with horses.

In 2024 alone, our tiny team of three paid employees–along with incredible support from passionate individuals who volunteer their time–reached over 28,000 people through school presentations, mentorship, community outreach and racetrack events. We accomplished this on a modest budget, using our personal vehicles to transport equipment, signage and all the tools needed to deliver programming across multiple states.

Several organizations are doing essential work to engage youth and young adults at the regional level. But the reality is this: Amplify Horse Racing is the only organization taking a unified, national approach to educate and connect young people with entry-level pathways into the sport. What's needed now is coordinated investment. We're doing the work, but we can't do it alone.

To make our programming more efficient and accessible as we expand nationwide, we launched the IMPACT Campaign. This campaign supports curriculum development and the creation of classroom-ready materials that educators can easily integrate into their teaching. It will also enable us to establish regional chapters and grow partnerships, offering more localized opportunities for youth to engage with the industry and access valuable resources.

Ultimately, the campaign will allow us to deliver consistent, high-quality programming to urban and rural communities–including those without direct access to racetracks or farms. It will expand our reach, increase efficiency and provide educators with better tools to bring horse racing to life in their classrooms.

Let's be clear: horses and horse racing are not going to magically appear in schools. Someone has to write the curriculum, make the calls, coordinate the tours, attend the career fairs and build the trust of educators. That someone is Amplify. And we need your help to ensure we are as successful as First Tee.

If we want young people to choose a future in horse racing–as stewards, veterinarians, grooms, owners, fans and more—we must meet them where they are.

Supporting Amplify isn't charity–it's strategy. Because without the next generation, there is no future.

So, do something for youth today. Share this message with industry organizations and their boards. Introduce us to someone who should hear it. I'd love to connect and share more about our programming and the impact Amplify is making–you can reach me directly at annise@amplifyhorseracing.org.

Donate.

Let's amplify the future of horse racing–together.

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The Amazing Mizzen (Mizzen Mast) has earned 'retirement for life' at Old Friends via her victory in Race 2, the Old Friends Purse, at Pimlico Saturday, May 18, the organization announced via press release Sunday afternoon.

Claiming victory as a 44-1 longshot, the grey will have an automatic entry at Old Friends upon her retirement or pensioning, should she require it. The Old Friends Purse benefits Old Friends and its 'Old Friends for Life' retirement program. If The Amazing Mizzen joins the farm in Georgetown, Kentucky, she will be accompanying three other 'Old Friends for Life' retirees–Next Shares, Kalamos, and Get Western. Two other winners of the Old Friends Purse, MGSP Desvio (Yoshida {Jpn}) and SW Be Better (Uncle Mo), are still racing.

“Today has been a special day for Old Friends in Maryland on Preakness Day,” said John Nicholson, president and CEO of Old Friends, who handed out the winner's trophy Saturday. “We are so grateful to Pimlico for making the Old Friends Purse possible and for giving Thoroughbred Aftercare such a large platform.”

“[Saturday's] race was very exciting! We congratulate the connections of The Amazing Mizzen on her impressive upset victory. A place awaits her at Old Friends when the time comes.”

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It may've started slow, but Firenze Flavor (Liam's Map) was flying late to contribute her part toward a thrilling finish in the GIII Honeymoon Stakes at Santa Anita, pulling a 7-1 upset in the process.

Last seen Apr. 25 when she defeated optional claiming company over this turf course, the Patrick Gallagher charge had broken her maiden Jan. 20 by three-quarters of a length, but ran a flat seventh in between her two victories Feb. 21. in her first attempt at beating the optional claiming condition.

In no rush after the jump here, the grey watched it all unfold as the caboose while 6-5 favorite Jungle Peace (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}) set the tempo through :23.84, :48.10, and 1:11.72 largely unchallenged. Three wide on both bends, and on the move in the final turn as Jungle Peace fought off the first challenger, Firenze Flavor took the overland route with Miso Phansy (Karakontie {Jpn}) trying to find space among runners from the inside. Closing the gap relentlessly but with the runner-up looming large in the final strides, the victress turned out to be Lady Luck's favorite here, claiming the top spot by the slimmest of margins. Miso Phansy nailed Jungle Peace by a similar margin in a wild photo for the top spots.

We've always liked the filly,” said Gallagher. “Her first race was good, her second race was good, her third was not so good. Then she came back and won last time.”

“I think there's more to come for her, but first I need to go to LensCrafters. I thought she finished third.”

Rider Drayden Van Dyke, who was riding Firenze Flavor for the first time, added, “My main thing was to get along with her. She likes to throw her head around, I saw, from her previous races and watching her in the morning. She likes to throw it down if you fight with her. So, I was just trying to get along with her the best I could and go from there.”

“I was a little worried, she kicked nice for me and was trying to shy away from the horse to my inside. As I got her closer to her, she dug in the last little part, and it just worked out good for me. I just want to thank Paddy and the connections.”

Three horses were practically inseparable at the wire in the $100k Honeymoon Stakes (G3) at @SantaAnitaPark, but the photo showed FIRENZE FLAVOR ($17.40) on top! This is the first graded win for the 3YO filly by @LanesEndFarms' Liam's Map. Patrick Gallagher trains, @DraydenV up. pic.twitter.com/E6ScOU1myB

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) May 18, 2025

Pedigree Notes:

Firenze Flavor is the fourth winner for her dam, and the most accomplished of her siblings with this black-type score. She has a juvenile half-sister named Ibiza Flavor (Game Winner) as well as a 2025 half-brother by Cyberknife. Dam Summer Escape is a half-sister to MGSW Swift Warrior (First Samurai) and MGSW Dice Flavor (Scat Daddy).

Sunday, Santa Anita
HONEYMOON S.-GIII, $100,500, Santa Anita, 5-18, 3yo, f, 1 1/8mT, 1:49.91, fm.
1–FIRENZE FLAVOR, 122, f, 3, by Liam's Map
                1st Dam: Summer Escape, by Giant's Causeway
                2nd Dam: Afleet Summer, by Afleet
                3rd Dam: Steal the Thunder, by Lyphard
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. O/B-Oda Racing and U.S. Equine (KY); T-Patrick Gallagher; J-Drayden Van Dyke. $60,000. Lifetime Record: 5-3-0-0, $134,180. Werk Nick Rating: D+. Click for eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Miso Phansy, 120, f, 3, Karakontie (Jpn)–Sandy Cheeks, by Souvenir Copy. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O-Ciaglia Racing LLC and Robin Christensen; B-Ciaglia Racing LLC (CA); T-Leonard Powell. $20,000.
3–Jungle Peace (Ire), 120, f, 3, Bungle Inthejungle (GB)–Peace Treaty (Ire), by War Command. (€14,000 Ylg '23 GOFOR2; £5,000 RNA 2yo '24 GOUKB). O-CYBT, McLean Racing Stables, McClanahan, Jerry, Nentwig, Michael and Peskoff, Jeremy; B-M. Brigid B. Ltd (IRE); T-Philip D'Amato. $12,000.
Margins: NO, NO, 3/4. Odds: 7.70, 5.00, 1.20.
Also Ran: As Catch Can, Schilflied, Atia.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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Brendan Walsh earned the top prize of $50,000 in 1/ST Racing's $100,000 trainer bonus offered to horsemen for their participation in stakes races over Preakness weekend at Pimlico, the group announced via press release Sunday afternoon.

Highlighted by runner-up efforts in the GI Preakness Stakes with GSW Gosger (Nyquist) and in the GII George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan Stakes with Paris Lily (City of Light), his charge Austere (Mendelssohn) came short of catching Charlene's Dream (Qurbaan) on the lead in the GIII Gallorette on the Preakness undercard. He started the May 16 card in the Listed Hilltop Stakes where he ran first and fourth respectively with Play With Fire (Oscar Performance) and Sign No More (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}). GSP San Siro (Classic Empire) would contribute to the tally when running fourth in the GIII Pimlico Special Stakes.

Walsh finished with a total of 37 points–six more than runner-up and four-time top prize winner Steve Asmussen. To be eligible for the bonus, trainers had to run a minimum of five horses in the 15 Thoroughbred stakes–seven graded–worth $4.35-million during Preakness weekend. Points were accumulated for finishing first (10), second (seven), third (five), fourth (three) and fifth through last (one). The trainer with the most points earned $50,000, followed by $25,000 for second, $12,000 for third, $7,000 for fourth, $4,000 for fifth, and $2,000 for sixth.

This was the ninth year that the trainer bonus program was offered. Asmussen earned the top prize in 2017, '18, '21, and '22. Brad Cox broke the streak in 2019, Make Maker in 2020, and Graham Motion in 2023. Last year's winner was Cherie DeVaux.

The 2025 results, from first to last were: Brendan Walsh, Steve Asmussen, Brad Cox, Saffie Joseph Jr., Graham Motion, and Brittany Russell.

A total of $50,000 in bonus money was also offered for trainers having the most points in non-stakes races during the weekend. Points accumulated in a similar fashion with $25,000 going to the leader, $10,000 to second, $7,500 to third, $4,000 to fourth, $2,500 to fifth, and $1,000 to sixth. Trainers needed a minimum of three starts to qualify. The four who did and earned bonus money were Mike Trombetta (24 points), Russell (21), Jose Magana (nine) and Jane Cibelli (five). Money for the remaining places reverted back to 1/ST.

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TIMONIUM, MD – After a two-day break, the under-tack preview of the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale resumed under sunny skies Sunday morning in Timonium in what was billed as a 'gallop only' session with no officially timed breezes. Originally scheduled for three days, the under-tack preview was delayed a day by weather before beginning with a first session last Wednesday. It was suspended about halfway through Thursday's second session when a fatal breakdown on the track was followed by an intense rain storm. With some 240 horses galloping through nine sets Sunday, the marathon session began at 8 a.m. and concluded at 4:30 p.m.

“I think they made the right decision,” bloodstock agent John Dowd said of foregoing timed workouts when the preview resumed Sunday. “As buyers, we buy yearlings on the end of the shank. We get to look at 2-year-olds that are trainining and see them move, they are already broke. They are further down the road than if we had bought them as yearlings, and invested the time and training.”

Dowd who was in attendance during all three days of the preview said the change did not interrupt his process for evaluating horses on the track.

“My process is more to see the way horses move and the way they gallop out, not totally because of how fast they go, but mechanically how they move. And we still get that opportunity today,” he said.

When the last horse in the last of nine sets walked off the track Sunday afternoon, buyers and agents faced the prospect of comparing horses who worked over the sloppy going last week and those that galloped Sunday.

“That's going to be difficult,” admitted bloodstock agent Alistair Roden. “It was hard to handicap in the first place because it was a sloppy track. So it was hard to get a handle on it, and then you go from a sloppy track to a fast track where they are galloping.”

Watching horses who have been readied for a breeze, but instead gallop down the lane presented its own challenges, according to Roden.

“You are looking for the stride, the movement and some of these horses get choked up and you don't get to see them move because they are trained to go to the pole and break off,” he said. “So if [galloping previews] is something to do in the future, it's something that consignors will probably have to have a different approach. Some of these horses have come from other sales and they get to the pole, they know what they are doing, they are breaking off and going fast.”

While there were no official times listed, stopwatches could be heard throughout the grandstand and, despite the advertised 'gallop only' session, many horses were breezing.

“A lot of these horses are breezing,” confirmed bloodstock agent Pete Bradley. “There are a lot of :10 2/5s and :10 3/5s. What I think is interesting is that a lot of them are going quick without the whipping and driving that we see on a regular day. And in some ways, I can see the horse's movement better because they are not scrambling down the lane.”

A gallop-only preview will force buyers to recalibrate their expectations, Bradley said.

“We are all one-trick ponies in a way, we get used to a certain system,” he said. “So now we have to step back and say, when we watch horses work at the racetrack and they go in :12, :24, :36, we say that was a good work. Here my brain isn't functioning right to get around that. Maybe by the time I watch the videos and I take in the whole day and who the consignors are and where they starting, I will make some changes in how I look at it. But it's still going to have a different feel then those who go in the standard style we do at 2-year-old sales.”

Bradley concluded, “Bad moving horses are easy to pick out. Is it going to be tough to differentiate the very good and the good ones? Yeah. I think it's going to make my job tougher. But I think it is an interesting exercise today and I might even learn something from it.”

Suzanne Smallwood of Equix still needed to provide her clients with the company's ProStride stride-length data even without official breeze times.

“There is still a lot to gain from watching them go today,” Smallwood said. “Because we do the stride-length calculations and we sell that, we still have to get a final time, a breeze time. I am having to clock them so we can put in the stride length calculations. So it's a little more work because usually Fasig-Tipton is clocking. It's an extra step.”

ProStride ranks each horse using its average stride length and breeze time. Smallwood said the calculations from Sunday's session would be adjusted based on what the horse was doing on the track.

“The data will be different because at a gallop the timing is different then it is in a breeze,” she explained. “But as long as you have your notes and you know the horse really did a slow gallop, or this consignor elected go more of an open gallop, and then a couple are doing a little bit more than that, then you know how to interpret everything. There is not anything easy. Everybody still has to do their homework. And that's the bottom line. Everybody out here is still doing their homework and still needs information to help them sort through the horses to decide what they want to go look at in the barns.”

Ocala horseman Jimmy Gladwell, along with his wife Martha, watched the action from high up in the grandstand throughout the preview.

“I think [Fasig-Tipton president] Boyd [Browning] has made the right decision to go with the gallop out with no timed workouts,” Gladwell said. “I think it's going to make it a little more difficult to sort through them. But at the end of the day, I think it's the best thing for the horses and the riders and the sale at this time.”

Gladwell is a patriarch of a family of pinhookers and said he still thought timed breezes were an important part of the 2-year-old sales process.

“When you take these horses to the next level, it is a race and the faster horses win the races,” Gladwell said. “We have seen Mucho Gusto work a bullet here and go on to be a graded stakes winner, we've seen Gamine work a bullet here and go on and be a Grade I winner. So it's nice to see them separate themselves. We've been doing it a long time, everybody wants to throw up, 'Well the horse went in :11 flat and was a stakes horse,' but that's the unusual situation. The faster horses and the better horses usually separate themselves on the racetrack. Which makes it easier for the buyers. But that's not going to happen here, so the buyers are going to have to be a little sharper.”

Of the additional homework buyers will have to put in ahead of the Midlantic May sale Tuesday, Gladwell said, “It turns into a conformation situation. If you go to the Saturday afternoon races, there are bad movers who win graded stakes. There are good movers who are slow. So it's going to turn more and more into conformation, more like a yearling sale. I think you've got a lot of great buyers and agents out here, so I think they will sort through them all and make the right decisions, but it will be a little tougher job.”

Gladwell has been pinhooking 2-year-olds for four decades. Of the evolution of the auctions and the increased safety measures, he said, “When we started out 40 years ago at Hialeah, the horses were breezing and there were maybe a mixture of them that were galloping. They were breezing in sets. So that really hasn't changed. There has been one speed at the 2-year-old sale and that's wide open, as fast as they can go. In the past five years, they have eliminated spurs, they've eliminated hitting horses behind the shoulder after they break off, no hitting them when they gallop out, much less medication than ever before. So everything is evolving in the right direction. We've always got more to do, just like at the racetrack. As HISA has come in, it's made a big different on the breakdowns, and I feel like these changes that we've made are going to be very positive in the long run. And we've still got work ahead of us.”

Asked if HISA should be policing the 2-year-old sales, Gladwell said, “I think if we can do a little better job self-governing, I think everybody is under the microscope right now, the industry leaders that I've spoken to, everyone is looking for more ideas and opportunities for making it safer for the horses and better for the riders. I think we can do a good job ourselves, without HISA's involvement.”

The Midlantic May sale will be held over one session to be held Tuesday at the Maryland State Fairgrounds. Bidding is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.

The post Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Under-Tack Preview Concludes with a Day of Gallops appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

GISW Scottish Lassie (McKinzie) continued her preparations for the GI DK Horse Acorn Stakes over the Oklahoma training track while 'TDN Rising Star' Shred the Gnar (Into Mischief) joined the discussion by officially being pointed for the contest set for June 6 during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga.

The former, trained by Jorge Abreu, breezed five panels alone Sunday morning in 1:04 flat shortly after the 8:15 a.m. renovation break. She was the only work at the distance on the day.

“It was good, and more than enough,” Abreu said. “She came out of her race with good attitude and is doing everything good, like her old self.”

The day prior, trainer Brian Lynch watched his 3-year-old charge Shred the Gnar breeze a half-mile in :47.60 (12/71) at Churchill Downs and liked what he saw as they inch closer to testing the waters at the elite level.

“She is pointing to the Acorn,” said Lynch. “I just got a maintenance half-mile into her as she is pointed towards the Acorn. She worked by herself. Her last effort was pretty self-explanatory. Everything seems to be going great with her.”

GSW & GISP Highway Robber (Hard Spun), a length back in third to MGISW Spirit of St Louis (Medaglia d'Oro) in the GI Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic Stakes May 3, is in consideration for the GI Resorts World Casino Manhattan Stakes June 7 at Saratoga in what could become a rematch with that familiar face. The gelding breezed a half-mile in :50.80 (67/71) Saturday.

“He's tentatively schedule to go into the Manhattan,” said Lynch. “He's an honest horse. It was just a maintenance work, first work back since his last race, letting him stretch his legs.”

Regarding GSW Owen Almighty (Speightstown), who finished fifth in the GI Kentucky Derby, Lynch has no immediate plans in mind for him beyond knowing that he will likely pass on any Belmont Stakes Racing Festival targets.

“He's not slated to do anything up there,” said Lynch, adding that the colt is doing well. “We are just giving him a little more time. No plans for him at the moment, just going to let him do his thing.”

The post ‘Rising Star’ Shred the Gnar Joins the Hopefuls as Acorn Preparations Continue appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Five of Chad Brown's Grade I-winning brigade hit the work tab at Saratoga over the weekend, led by MGISW Raging Sea (Curlin) and MGISW Spirit of St Louis (Medaglia d'Oro).

Heading out Friday in her first work since pulling the upset in the GI La Troienne on Kentucky Derby weekend, Raging Sea was clocked doing four furlongs over the Oklahoma training track in :49.25 (8/32) while in company with GSW & MGISP Occult (Into Mischief). She is being pointed to the GI Ogden Phipps June 6 during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival while plans for Occult are still in the works.

“Raging Sea is doing fine, and she's on target for the Ogden Phipps,” Brown said. “She came out of the race well and settled in here fine. She's had a good history here. For her to win a Grade I off the layoff, I was pretty impressed. She's had a great career so far. Hopefully she continues it.”

Also working that morning was Brown's Klaravich Stables-owned pair of GISW Ways and Means (Practical Joke) and MGISW Randomized (Nyquist). Both worked solo half-miles, the former clocked in :50.23 (8/24) and the latter in :51 flat (20/24), and showed Brown what he wanted to see from them. Randomized is on target for the Ogden Phipps as Ways and Means is pointed to the GII Bed O' Roses on the same day.

“Randomized might have needed her run, and in the past, she's done better with a race under her belt,” said Brown. “Ways and Means is doing fine.”

Spirit of St Louis led the procession Saturday morning, covering a half-mile alone in :49.25 (8/32) as he continued his preparations for an intended tilt in the GI Resorts World Casino Manhattan Stakes June 7.

“He did fine [in the work] and came out of his big win [in the GI Old Forester Turf Classic, May 3] in good shape, so he's headed to the Manhattan,” Brown said.

“He's certainly over-achieved, he's a very solid horse and I respect him a lot. He's developed into one of the top turf horses in the country, which would have been hard to believe a couple of years ago. He's doing good.”

Rounding out the five was 'TDN Rising Star' MGISW Chancer McPatrick (McKinzie) Sunday morning, who had his second work since going briefly to the sidelines after a dull effort in the GI Toyota Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland in early April. He also worked a half-mile alone in :51.50. Brown said there were no immediate plans for him, and that they were also in the process of figuring out a path for 'TDN Rising Star' MGISW Carl Spackler (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), who is also reportedly doing well.

With five of his seven Grade I winners currently stabled at Saratoga having gone out this past weekend, Brown is still eyeing a start in the GIII Pennine Ridge Stakes June 7 for Zulu Kingdom (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) despite the ridgling's absence from the work tab since his win May 3 in the GI American Turf Stakes.

“He missed a little bit of time with a foot issue, but I think we have it resolved,” Brown said. “He's back on the track now, so we'll see if we can still make the Pennine Ridge.”

The post Chad Brown’s Grade I Brigade Works at Saratoga appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

While no immediate plans for the GI Belmont Stakes have been made for Saturday's sensational Preakness 150 hero Journalism (Curlin), connections report that when their colt leaves the Pimlico grounds in a couple days, he will either go directly to Saratoga or to Michael McCarthy's Kentucky base at Churchill Downs.

With the son of Curlin under consideration for the GI Belmont Stakes June 7 at Saratoga, McCarthy and Eclipse Thoroughbreds' Aron Wellman spoke to the press Sunday morning and said the decision will be made in the next day or two, though the former made a straight ship to New York sound more likely.

“[Shipping to Saratoga] puts him in a position to run,” McCarthy said. “He could go back to Churchill Downs and hang out for a week or two, and then make his way to Saratoga. But it seems a little counterproductive to go 12 hours by van back to Kentucky to head back to New York, whether it be by plane or by van.”

Wellman reiterated that Journalism would ultimately decide their course of action regarding a start in the final jewel of the Triple Crown.

“We'll go through the same analysis as we went through between the Derby and the Preakness,” Wellman said. “That horse in Stall 33 will tell us whether he's ready to go back in three weeks.”

“It's something we'd like to do. It's something that we're going to prepare for logistically in the event he does give us the green light. But whereas from the Derby to the Preakness, we really had a week to make that decision, we'll have two-plus weeks to assess him.”

Regarding a potential rematch with GI Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty (Into Mischief), McCarthy admits it's a tempting prospect, but has said the intention was to proceed 'very carefully' when making their decision.

“I think I'd like to see what he's kind of telling us,” McCarthy said. “Now it's two races in two weeks. Ate up last night. Seems like he's pleased with himself. We'll weigh the pros and cons.”

“I said to Aron last night as we were walking down the stairs, 'Part of me, feels like we could have been here two-for-two.' But winning any of these three races is quite an accomplishment, so just happy to grab one of them. He's acting like he's wanting some more here. By going to New York, at least, it puts us in a position.”

An examination Saturday night and again Sunday morning showed the Preakness winner was no worse for wear after the well-documented incident at the top of the stretch. The Journalism team said they celebrated the 'impossible' comeback until the wee hours of Sunday morning.

“It really defied logic,” Wellman said. “I think anybody that's watched any number of races and has any appreciation for what these magnificent animals can do, what he did there as a matter of guts and courage and bravery to begin with. Then to have the physical ability to accelerate again and mow a good horse down like Gosger, you just don't see it happen.”

The list of potentials for the GI Belmont Stakes is a heady list with the likes of Sovereignty; Journalism; Gosger; 'TDN Rising Star' Baeza (McKinzie); 'TDN Rising Star' Hill Road (Quality Road); Preakness-fifth Heart of Honor (GB) (Honor A.P.); and 'TDN Rising Star' Rodriguez (Authentic) currently in the discussion. Trainer Rick Dutrow Jr.'s GIII Peter Pan runner-up McAfee (Cloud Computing)–the race won by Hill Road–is not Triple Crown nominated and would have to be supplemented for a $50,000 fee should his connections opt to nominate the half-brother to Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna). Nominations for the other Belmont Stakes Racing Festival stakes races close on May 24.

Trainer Brendan Walsh reports his Preakness runner-up Gosger (Nyquist) is already on a return trip to Churchill Downs. Walsh said he was proud of the effort, but added that Belmont Stakes plans remained undecided for the grey.

“We were obviously disappointed to not win, getting so close, but not disappointed in the horse,” Walsh said. “He ran a very good race.”

“I think he is still improving. I don't know about the Belmont yet. I'm going to give it a few days and talk to the owners to try to come to a decision pretty soon. I'm not sure which way we are going right now. He seems fine. We just shipped him back to Louisville today. We'll see how it all goes and come to a decision within the next few days.”

Hall of Famer Mark Casse had a bittersweet moment after he watched Sandman (Tapit) run a gutsy third in the Preakness. While he was proud of the effort, there was an element of frustration after speaking with his rider, Hall of Famer John Velazquez, at the conclusion of the race.

“Johnny [who was riding the grey for the first time] said that at the three-eighths pole, he thought he was going to win,” Casse remarked. “But then [Sandman] lost focus.”

With 10 starts in his career and five this season, Casse says a start in the GI Belmont Stakes is unlikely for Sandman, even as the horse ships to Belmont Park Sunday to prepare for his summer at Saratoga. The current target is reportedly the GII Jim Dandy Stakes July 26.

While he's not thrilled with the prospect, Casse also mentioned that an equipment change might be in order for the son of Tapit.

“I don't like doing it, but we may put blinkers on,” Casse said. “I have given him plenty of time to grow up. [Velazquez] said all the way down the lane, he wasn't focused.”

But before any future plans are made, Team Sandman intends to give their charge a little time to catch his breath.

“We want to give him a little break.”

'TDN Rising Star' Goal Oriented (Not This Time), part of the dramatic bumping at the head of the stretch Saturday, will head back to trainer Bob Baffert's Southern California home base at Santa Anita, and will not be making a start in the Belmont Stakes.

“I know he is a good horse,” Baffert said. “[Journalism] was the best horse. He showed it.”

“The way he is made, he reminds me of [2014 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner] California Chrome a little bit. He is nimble, light athletic and he moves that way in the morning when I watch him train. He just finds a way to get there.”

Baffert says he will be patient deciding what's next for Goal Oriented as the Preakness was only his third lifetime start.

While this 'Rising Star' won't be heading to New York, 'TDN Rising Star' Rodriguez will be carrying the banner for the connections instead after missing the first two legs of the Triple Crown with a lingering foot bruise. The GII Wood Memorial winner will be pointed to the June 7 marquee in place of his stablemate.

The post Journalism’s Belmont Status TBD, Final Jewel Starts Taking Shape as Some Bow Out for New Targets appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Baltimore, MD-Two weeks ago in the Kentucky Derby, Journalism (Curlin) endured a difficult trip and had to settle for second behind Sovereignty (Into Mischief). The colt's connections–Eclipse Thoroughbreds, Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Bob LaPenta, Elayne Stables, Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith and trainer Michael McCarthy–waited for more than a week to make the decision to pull the trigger on a start in the GI Preakness Stakes. Heading down the Pimlico stretch Saturday evening, it appeared that the GI Santa Anita Derby winner and jockey Umberto Risploi were going to have to play the bridesmaid yet again after getting brutally sandwiched between rivals, not to mention having to play catch up on the free-running leader Gosger (Nyquist) who didn't appear to be stopping.

However, the intangibles that people often talk about but are somewhat abstract concepts–class and heart–were on full display as both the colt and rider reeled in the front-runner, ultimately nailing that rival by 3/4 of a length at the wire.

“I still can't understand what this horse did today,” said Rispoli, who was winning his first American Classic. “I got in trouble at the quarter pole and, look, he made himself keep going. It's all about him, It's a privilege to ride a horse like him.”

Trainer Michael McCarthy, who had been quietly confident all week in the colt, was hoping for a cleaner trip for his colt in the second jewel in the Triple Crown. While the racing Gods would once again spin the wheel of adversity, Journalism did what few horses do in the face of challenge, dig deep and draw on their tenacity and athleticism to overcome an obstacle.

“It was basically more or less kind of what I thought coming to the 16th pole in the Kentucky Derby when I saw Sovereignty coming to us,” said McCarthy. “I thought it was just another fantastic effort. Couple things didn't work out well for us Derby Saturday, but this here was a little bit more drastic than just losing some ground at the start and having to deal with an off going on a muddy racetrack. This looked a little bit ugly there for a couple of jumps.”

He continued, “When I saw that [mid-stretch bumping], I thought it was another solid effort and, unfortunately, he was going to come up a little short again. For sure, he got the worst of it. Hats off to Umberto and Journalism for persevering, I think today you saw what it takes to be a champion. Today was his day. He had been telling us all along he was sort of ready for an effort like that.”

After a clean start, Clever Again (American Pharoah) cleared the field and shot to the front as Gosger and the rail-starting TDN Rising Star Goal Oriented (Not This Time) settled in right behind him in second and third, respectively. Meanwhile, favored Journalism tucked in a ground-saving sixth as the front-runner cut out an opening quarter mile in modest :23.19. With little change except for River Thames (Maclean's Music) who took over third to the outside of Gosger through a half in :46.66, the even-money choice was asked for some more gas and he started to up the tempo but was confronted by a wall of rumps approaching the quarter pole. Trying to capitalize on a gap between Goal Oriented to his outside and Clever Again to his inside, Journalism got swiped pretty good as Goal Oriented veered inward, pushing Journalism into the rail-riding Clever Again, who lost all chance and made a rapid retreat.

Meanwhile, Sandman (Tapit) began to unfurl his long grey legs from the back, and got on even terms with Journalism who almost instantly began to inch ahead of that oncoming grey. With Gosger still five lengths in front but starting to idle a hair, Journalism all of sudden made the impossible possible, closing with each stride to collar the pacesetter late and sweep past to 1/2-length victory. Gosger was 2 1/4-lengths clear of Sandman with Goal Oriented rounding out the Super. Heart of Honor (GB) was fifth while Clever Again never recovered and finished last of nine.

“On the backside, he wasn't traveling like he did travel in the Derby, and at that point you think two things: You have no horse or just too relaxed,” explained Rispoli of his mount's early position. “I think the second was the option, because as soon as I gave a smack on the shoulder he said, 'okay, I know what I got to do.'”

He continued, “On the turn, I thought Clever Again would go at least at the eight pole. At the quarter pole, he gets stopped and obviously Gosger had the jump on him. We were going that fast…A little gap was opened and I said, 'it's now or never.' From where I was, when I looked up, Luis [Saez on Gosger] opened up four lengths ahead of me, and it was the first time I used the crop on him. He switch his lead and, boom, he took off.”

Third in his career debut at Santa Anita in October, the $825,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select yearling purchase won his remaining two starts of the season–annexing a one-mile maiden at Del Mar Nov. 17 ahead of a 3 1/2-length score in the GII Los Alamitos Futurity Dec. 14. Sent off second choice behind the highly-regarded Barnes in the 8 1/2-furlong GII San Felipe Stakes Mar. 1, the Don Alberto-bred colt came home a 1 3/4-length winner before adding a win as the even-money choice in the Santa Anita Derby Apr. 5. Favored again for the Run for the Roses, the colt closed from well off the pace on a muddy track to finish just 1 ½ lengths behind Sovereignty.

“I think [his Preakness win] says a lot about him,” said McCarthy. “I think it's basically he has validated what we have thought about him all along. Last summer, he was getting ready a little bit faster than your average 2-year-old. We had to stop on him for some little aches and pains. When things got rolling, he was able to go ahead, annex three races in seven weeks, culminating with the Los Alamitos Futurity. I started thinking about [the Classics]. You certainly need the vehicle and we had it with him.”

With the victory, Rispoli becomes the first Italian-born jockey to win an American Classic. And that fact was not lost on him in the aftermath of the win.

“Having Frankie as my idol, you always thought you couldn't do anything Frankie ever done,” said Rispoli. “Zio, if you ever listen to me, I think you have to ride a couple more years to get one of the Triple Crown to equal me,” he quipped, addressing his fellow country man.

With all joking shelved for a moment, he said, “It's a privilege. When I crossed the wire, it looked like a flash of 20 years of my career went through my head. It's even difficult to describe the feeling when you cross the wire.”

“I'm proud of this and for my country, he said. “I wish everybody over there is proud of me.”

It's safe to say that there are likely many more who are also proud of the Italian.

“It took guts for Umberto Rispoli to get sideswiped and threading the needle and power on through,” said Eclipse Thoroughbreds' Aron Wellman. “And it took guts from an incredible horse to somehow will his way to victory.”

McCarthy, who did his best to stem the tide of emotion after his second Preakness win following Rombauer in 2021, explained, summed up the Triple Crown in succinct fashion.

“What happened today is almost surreal,” he said. “You don't see that happen. I don't know. It's hard to explain.”

LaPenta interjected, “He's a warrior.”

McCarthy, who is often known to play his cards close to his vest, wasn't about to leave anything on the table.

“Yeah, I think he showed today he's a gift from above.”

Living to Fight Another Day…
If there was anybody following the Preakness harboring a mixture of disappointment and satisfaction it might have been Brendan Walsh, trainer of the runner-up Gosger.

“We are delighted with him. He ran a super race,” said Walsh of Gosger. “I am not surprised. I knew the horse was good enough. He ran a bang-up race. Foe only his fourth ever start, it was great. Listen, it's disappointing to get collared, but the horse ran a super race. The fractions he put up, he ran a great race.”

With only three races under his belt prior to Saturday's Classic, Gosger won Keeneland's GIII Lexington Stakes in his most recent start Apr. 12.

“Luis [Saez] said if he had a little company a little longer, he may have taken him to the wire. Maybe he could have gotten a little bit more from him,” he explained. “He thought he idled a little but in the final furlong. It's just more greenness more than anything. He's a green horse and the crowd is screaming. And he got beat by a very nice. He's up there with these horses and he showed it today.”

Asked what might be next on the grey's dance card, Walsh said, “No idea. We'll look after him. he's a very good horse and we are couple of starts away from his best race. I think we have a very good horse on our hands.”

Mark Casse, who trains third-place finisher Sandman, felt the early fractions might have worked against his late-closing colt. Sandman previously finished seventh in the Derby.

“I was upset the first quarter because they were walking, but they picked it up,” he said. “I have to watch the replay, but he ran good. He made amends for the Derby, but a good horse won.”

Fourth-place finisher Goal Oriented, who appeared to cause much of the issues in the Pimlico stretch, finished about eight lengths behind the winner.

“He didn't get to run his race,” said Bob Baffert. “I wanted to see him on the lead, Maybe he would have stopped, I don't know. He is lightly raced. He ran well, but he is still green. He was not used to being behind horses and he got intimidated. The best horse won.”

Even in defeat, the eight-time winner of the Preakness was complimentary of the winner.

“I have seen that horse do it all winter long and he is a remarkable horse,” he said. “I saw him at Santa Anita and get in trouble and then come running. That is a really good horse.”

Pedigree Notes:
Eighteen years ago, Curlin placed in the Kentucky Derby before winning the Preakness, and now he has a second son who has repeated the feat. In fact, both of his Preakness winners had done more in their career–up to this point–than Curlin had, as Curlin didn't race at two and won his first Grade I in the Preakness. He, of course, made up for it as a two-time Horse of the Year. Curlin's first Preakness winner was Exaggerator, who won the GI Santa Anita Derby in 2016, following it up with a Derby second and a Preakness win, which is precisely the same path Journalism has taken. Exaggerator closed his career as a triple Grade I winner and now stands in Louisiana. Journalism will stand at Coolmore's Ashford Stud upon his retirement.

One of the elite stallions in the sport, Curlin is the sire of eight individual Eclipse champions, 64 graded winners, and 109 black-type winners. A perennial part of the leading sires list, he stands at Hill 'n' Dale near Paris, Kentucky for $225,000. Journalism is Curlin's only stakes winner out of an Uncle Mo mare, although his top sire son, Good Magic, had MGISW and 'TDN Rising Star' Muth, who is also out of a mare by the late Ashford sire, and Exaggerator has GSW West Saratoga on the same cross. Uncle Mo's 25 stakes winners out of his daughters include reigning Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna).

Journalism is the first foal for 2018 GII La Canada Stakes winner and four-time Grade I-placed Mopotism, who sold publicly as a weanling, a yearling, and a 2-year-old before going through the Fasig-Tipton November ring at the conclusion of her racing career, where she brought $1.05 million from Don Alberto Corp., who bred Journalism. Mopotism has an unraced 2-year-old colt named Nitro Tap (Tapit), who hammered for $1.5 million to Flying Dutchmen at last year's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale, as well as a yearling filly by Into Mischief. –Jill William

Congrats to the connections of #FasigGrad JOURNALISM, winner of the Preakness S. (G1) at @PimlicoRC!

O: @EclipseTBP, @bridlewoodocala, Don Alberto Stable, LaPenta, Elayne Stables 5, Magnier, Tabor, & Smith
T: @mwmracing
J: @umbyrispoli
Br: @hsdonalberto pic.twitter.com/dzgO9nERKV

— Fasig-Tipton (@FasigTiptonCo) May 17, 2025

Saturday, Pimlico
PREAKNESS S.-GI, $2,000,000, Pimlico, 5-17, 3yo, 1 3/16m, 1:55.47, ft.
1–JOURNALISM, 126, c, 3, by Curlin
     1st Dam: Mopotism (GSW & MGISP, $876,090), by Uncle Mo
     2nd Dam: Peppy Rafaela, by Bernardini
     3rd Dam: Peppy Lapeau, by French Deputy
($825,000 Ylg '23 FTSAUG). O-Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Robert V. LaPenta, Elayne Stables 5 LLC, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor and Derrick Smith; B-Don Alberto Corporation (KY); T-Michael W. McCarthy; J-Umberto Rispoli. $1,200,000. Lifetime Record: 7-5-1-1, $2,838,880. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Gosger, 126, c, 3, Nyquist–Gloria S, by Tapit. 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. O/B-Harvey A Clarke Racing Stable LLC (KY); T-Brendan P. Walsh. $400,000.
3–Sandman, 126, c, 3, Tapit–Distorted Music, by Distorted Humor. ($1,200,000 2yo '24 OBSMAR). O-D. J. Stable LLC, St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds and CJ Stables; B-Lothenbach Stables Inc (KY); T-Mark E. Casse. $220,000.
Margins: HF, 2 1/4, 4. Odds: 1.00, 15.50, 6.40.
Also Ran: Goal Oriented, Heart of Honor (GB), River Thames, Pay Billy, American Promise, Clever Again.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

The post Journalism, McCarthy Validated with Dramatic Preakness Win appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Reagan's Wit (Authentic), who like his older half-sister, 2020 GII Prioress Stakes and GIII Victory Ride Stakes runner-up Reagan's Edge (Competitive Edge), races out of the Cherie DeVaux barn, got his first black-type win Saturday in Pimlico's James W. Murphy Stakes.

The gutsy chestnut settled a half-dozen lengths back early and appeared to jostle with Barbadian Runner (Barbados) before the first quarter was marked in :24.07. In the clear but still well off the pace at the :48.69 half-mile, he split horses while in tight on the turn, swapped leads a number of times down the lane, lugged in dramatically, and still pulled clear to win convincingly by 3 1/4 lengths.

“He does that when he makes the lead,” said winning rider Jose Ortiz. “He doesn't slow down and he didn't brush the rail. He's pretty green. I was ready for it. I knew it was coming… I'm very excited about the way he ran today. Hopefully he matures a little after this.”

A $135,000 Keeneland September purchase by West Point Thoroughbreds and namesake Reagan Ingordo–stepdaughter of DeVaux–Reagan's Wit debuted with a second at Ellis last August and was promptly sent to the sidelines for five months when he injured himself soon after in a van. When he reappeared at Fair Grounds in January, it was to the tune of an eight-length victory and an 82 Beyer Speed Figure. Second in March in Tampa's Columbia Stakes to May 3 GI American Turf Stakes winner Zulu Kingdom (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}), he was last seen in fourth at Keeneland in the GII Transylvania Stakes behind Test Score (Lookin At Lucky), who was second in the American Turf.

“Really pleased with him,” said DeVaux. “He's kind of a goofy horse. He showed that in the stretch. Jose [Ortiz] did a really good job keeping him to task and staying on the horse, most importantly… He has always shown a lot of ability. He's taken some time.”

The winner's dam had one reported foal following Reagan's Wit, now a 2-year-old full-sister to the James W. Murphy victor named Chasing Sunsets. She was an $80,000 RNA as a weanling at Keeneland's November sale in 2023.

REAGAN'S WIT ($3.00) was much the best in the $100,000 James W. Murphy Stakes at @PimlicoRC. @jose93_ortiz was aboard the Authentic (@SpendthriftFarm) colt for trainer @reredevaux. @westpointtbred pic.twitter.com/i7sfqk458J

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) May 17, 2025

JAMES W. MURPHY S., $100,000, Pimlico, 5-17, 3yo, 1mT, 1:40.25, gd.
1–REAGAN'S WIT, 118, c, 3, by Authentic
              1st Dam: Dayienu, by Sunday Break (Jpn)
              2nd Dam: Run In, by Dynaformer
              3rd Dam: Savina, by Nijinsky II
($135,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-West
Point Thoroughbreds, David Ingordo, and CJ Stables;
B-Deann Baer & Greg Baer DVM (KY); T-Cherie DeVaux;
J-Jose L. Ortiz. $60,000. Lifetime Record: 5-2-2-0, $155,883.
*1/2 to Reagan's Edge (Competitive Edge), MGSP, $182,896.
2–Soleil Volant, 118, g, 3, Karakontie (Jpn)–Valentine Wish,
by Lemon Drop Kid. ($25,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK
TYPE. O-Jacques Dupuis, Jr., Luke Bourque, and Bobby
Sutton; B-G. Watts Humphrey (KY); T-H. Graham Motion.
$20,000.
3–Twain, 118, c, 3, Kitten's Joy–Camila Princess, by Animal
Kingdom. ($80,000 Wlg '22 KEENOV). 1ST BLACK TYPE.
O-Stonelea Stable LLC and Bonnie Rye Stable; B-Kitten's Joy
Syndicate, A R Enterprises, Inc. & High Peak Farm LLC (KY);
T-Madison F. Meyers. $10,000.
Margins: 3 1/4, HF, 2. Odds: 0.50, 6.90, 13.50.
Also Ran: Barbadian Runner, Curahee, Stormy Flight, Studlydoright. Scratched: Clock Tower, End of Romance (Ire), Mission Artemis.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

The post Authentic’s Reagan’s Wit Impresses in James W. Murphy at Pimlico appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

3rd-Pimlico, $50,960, Msw, 5-17, 3, 4, 5/6yo, 1 1/16m, 1:43.80, gd, 5 1/2 lengths.
VARNEY (c, 3, Vekoma–Summer of Fun {SW & GISP, $306,671}, by Include), who cost a whopping $775,000 at the 2023 Keeneland September Sale, got the Preakness program off to a winning start for the Bob Baffert barn, leading every step of the way to break his maiden at career start number four late Saturday morning at Pimlico. Favored at 4-5 at post time stretching out to two turns off a fourth to his 'TDN Rising Star' stablemate and Preakness entrant Goal Oriented (Not This Time) in what has become a productive Santa Anita maiden Apr. 6, the dark bay colt had to be asked to go early on by Flavien Prat, but secured the lead passing under the wire for the first time, with third choice Energize (Medaglia d'Oro) doing the chasing. Last Man Standing (McKinzie), who was pulled out into the clear with about six furlongs to race, worked into the race nicely while covering ground four deep on the turn, but Varney was always firmly in front, and despite some wayward ways and gawking about in the stretch, came away to take it by 5 1/2 lengths. One of five winners from as many to race from his dam, a stakes winner and third in the 2012 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. Summer of Fun was acquired by Saudi Arabian interests for $35,000 in foal to Spendthrift's Rock Your World at Keeneland November in 2022 and produced a colt from the first crop by the Candy Ride (Arg) stallion in 2023. Sales history: $775,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 4-1-0-1, $42,800. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O-By Talla Racing LLC, Spendthrift Farm LLC & St Elias Stables LLC; B-Spendthrift Farm LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert.

Flavien Prat kept VARNEY ($3.60) on task and wins the 3rd at @PimlicoRC. @BobBaffert trains the three-year-old colt by @spendthriftfarm's Vekoma.

It's time for a Pick 4: https://t.co/ekE1MG5OIw pic.twitter.com/v28DMm2CdX

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) May 17, 2025

The post Expensive Vekoma Colt Goes Wire To Wire to Graduate at Old Hilltop appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Now a winner from six furlongs to 1 3/16 miles, Awesome Aaron continued his positive trend for trainer Norm Casse with an off-the-pace upset in the GIII Pimlico Special Stakes. After a career spent at nearly every level of racing, the 6-year-old gelded son of Practical Joke proved his 5 3/4-length roll in an allowance/optional claimer at Oaklawn last time out was no fluke (nor was the 104 Beyer Speed Figure that accompanied it). That win on Apple Blossom day Apr. 12, his first since getting claimed for $40,000 at Churchill Downs off a win going six furlongs last September, was the latest in an uptick of ability for Casse, marking his fifth-straight Beyer increase dating back to December.

Making his 34th overall start and just his second run in a graded stakes (he was sixth to Elite Power in 2023 GI Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap), the 7-1 shot had plenty of clear running room at the break and settled into a perfect stalking trip outside of the two favorites in Encino (Nyquist) and Phileas Fogg as the field passed the wire for the first time. Still widest of a host of pursuers as Encino put up an opening half-mile in :47.17, Awesome Aaron pulled away into a clear third into the far turn and was poised to strike from the top of the lane as Encino gave way up front. Phileas Fogg, second throughout, got first jump on the lead but Awesome Aaron always had his measure and pushed right on past inside the sixteenth pole to victory.

“Just from Day One since we got him, he acted like a really good horse,” said Casse. “It was pretty obvious to me, basically right away, at some point we were going to stretch him out. That was working; he was running really well stretching out, but there was just something missing. So last time we just took the blinkers off, and that allowed him to settle just a little bit more, let him finish a little bit better. And he beat a quality field of horses at Oaklawn that day. I knew he was going to run really well today, especially stretching out even a little more. So, we expected to go over there and run really well. And we did. Johnny rode him perfect. It's truly a gratifying win. That's a big-time race that anybody would like to win, so we're very proud of that.”

The 49th stakes winner for Practical Joke, Awesome Aaron is out of a stakes-winning first dam in Do the Dance who is herself a half-sister to Japanese stakes winner/MGSP Randonnee (Blame). A classy 2-year-old, Awesome Aaron brought $350,000 from Bradley Thoroughbreds from the Fasig-Tipton Florida Select 2-Year-Olds In Training Sale. Do the Dance has not been bred or produced a foal since her now 3-year-old Nyquist colt named King Dance was exported to Hong Kong.

Congratulations to the connections of #FasigGrad AWESOME AARON, winner of the Pimlico Special S. (G3)!

O: Turman Racing Stable & AJ Suited Racing Stable
T: Norm Casse
J: @ljlmvelpic.twitter.com/i8ZOuZ96t2

— Fasig-Tipton (@FasigTiptonCo) May 16, 2025

Saturday, Pimlico
PIMLICO SPECIAL S.-GIII, $250,000, Pimlico, 5-16, 3yo/up, 1 3/16m, 1:56.67, ft.
1–AWESOME AARON, 122, g, 6, by Practical Joke
   1st Dam: Do the Dance (SW, $198,980), by Discreet Cat
   2nd Dam: Loure, by A.P. Indy
   3rd Dam: Loving Pride, by Quiet American
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($130,000
Ylg '20 KEESEP; $350,000 2yo '21 FTFMAR). O-Turman Racing
Stable, LLC and AJ Suited Racing Stable LLC; B-Lester Kwok &
Dr. Naoya Yoshida (KY); T-Norm W. Casse; J-John R. Velazquez.
$150,000. Lifetime Record: 34-6-3-6, $571,263. Werk Nick
Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or
free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Phileas Fogg, 122, g, 5, Astern (Aus)–Merino, by More Than
Ready. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($55,000 3yo '23 KEENOV).
O-Jupiter Stable LLC; B-Godolphin (KY); T-Gustavo Rodriguez.
$50,000.
3–Star of Wonder, 122, c, 4, Uncle Mo–Starship Warpspeed, by
Congrats. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE.
'TDN Rising Star'. O-WinStar Farm LLC; B-WinStar Farm, LLC
(KY); T-Brad H. Cox. $25,000.
Margins: 3/4, 4 3/4, 1 1/4. Odds: 7.00, 2.50, 1.90.
Also Ran: San Siro, Cataleya Strike, Time for Trouble, Encino, Just Steel, Red Route One. Scratched: Pyrenees. Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

The post Awesome Aaron An Upset Winner Of The Pimlico Special appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.