Thoroughbred Daily News

In a unanimous decision, the State of New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division Third Judicial Department, has thrown out a 14-day suspension and a $2,000 fine that was originally handed down by the Commission to Todd Pletcher after a horse he trained tested positive for an overage of phenylbutazone (bute) following a July 30, 2022 race at Saratoga, and has remanded the matter back to the New York Gaming Commission for a rehearing.

The horse in question, Capensis (Tapit), finished sixth in the allowance race.

In affirming Pletcher's petition in part, and remanding the matter back to the Commission, the court acknowledged that there were “concerns regarding the fundamental fairness” of the original hearing and called the evidence presented by the New York Gaming Commission “hearsay proof.”

Both the original blood sample taken from the horse and a split sample sent to an outside lab allegedly showed that the level of the bute in the horse's system was above the specified threshold. That led to a fine and suspension from the New York Gaming Commission, which was later upheld by a hearing officer.

But Pletcher and his attorney, Drew Mollica, took the next step and brought an Article 78 petition to the New York State Supreme Court. Their argument centered around the contention that, according to the court ruling issued Thursday, “respondent (NY State Gaming Commission) failed to introduce competent evidence establishing the reliability of the testing that was conducted on the postrace samples that purportedly demonstrated the presence and concentration of bute.”

The panel agreed, noting that “the sole proof relied upon by the Commission to establish that the bute concentration from postrace samples exceed the permissible limit were letters from the New York and California laboratories, which lacked any scientific foundation or probative value.

“The letter from the New York laboratory indicated the overage in bute concentration but did not provide for the method of testing, and although the method of testing was provided in the letter from the California laboratory, neither letter gave any indication as to the reliability or general acceptance of the tests utilized to ascertain the presence and concentration of bute in the postrace samples.”

The ruling continued: “Thus, relying solely on hearsay proof in this case to establish the rule violation rendered the hearing fundamentally unfair under the circumstances presented and persuades us to remand the matter for a new hearing.”

“Mr. Pletcher is appreciative that the Appellate Division, Third Department, unanimously decided that the underlying hearing was unfair,” Mollica said. “It was unfair. That's what they said. Without the test results and lab packet, the Commission did not present any evidence of any probative value. In an era where regulators at all levels seek to overlook fairness and due process to achieve only the result they desire, it is refreshing that Appellate Court was clear that fairness and due process are important elements of the Justice System. This decision will have precedential value on other cases going forward.”

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At the OBS March Sale, trainer Michael McCarthy confirmed that his prize pupil Journalism (Curlin) continues to work well out in California as the colt prepares for his 4-year-old debut.

“He's training great,” McCarthy told TDN. “I don't see a whole lot of difference in him this spring compared to last. He's holding his weight well. Obviously, he's put some on since having a little bit of a break. He's training forwardly.”

McCarthy said that Journalism has drilled two good half-mile works at Santa Anita Park.

“We're going to work five-eights this weekend and then we'll kind of start mapping out a plan,” he said. “I'll get together with Aron Wellman and he'll get together with everybody else and kind of come up with some soft circles around some spots, but very pleased with the way he's trained right now.”

McCarthy also said that he has his eye fixed on a championship run.

“It's the whole reason behind keeping him in training,” Journalism's conditioner added. “Great news that Sovereignty is back. A couple of horses are starting to kind of rise from their 3-year-old performances and obviously a good performance by Magnitude the other day. So it's an exciting crop of 4-year-olds.”

The GI Preakness, GI Haskell, and GI Santa Anita Derby winner, Journalism also was the runner-up in the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Belmont Stakes. He capped his 2025 run with a fourth-place finish in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar.

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Serena's Song, the 3-year-old filly champion in 1995 and the winner of 11 Grade I stakes races, passed away peacefully Wednesday at Denali Stud, where she spent her entire post-racetrack career. She died 25 days before her 34th birthday, but was officially considered 34 at the time of her death.

Inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2002, she won 18 of 38 starts and recorded 17 grades stakes wins. Her finest hour came when she defeated males to capture the 1995 GI Haskell Invitational Handicap.

“She had the elegance of a Grace Kelly, she had the moves of a Ginger Rogers, and she had the charisma of a Marilyn Monroe,” her trainer, Wayne Lukas, said at the Hall of Fame induction ceremonies for Serena's Song. “For you people that are a lot younger and don't have a clue as to what I'm talking about, she had the moves of Janet Jackson and the charisma of Britney Spears.”

A daughter of Rahy out of the Northfields mare Imaging, she was bought for $150,000 at the 1993 Keeneland July Sale of Selected Yearlings. She began her career for Lukas and owners Bob and Beverly Lewis with a fifth-place finish in a May 28, 1994 maiden special weight race at Churchill Downs. In her fourth career start, she won her first stakes race, the GII Landaluce Stakes at Hollywood Park. She would prove to be one of the best 2-year-old fillies in training that year, winning the GI Oak Leaf Stakes and the GI Starlet Stakes. She also finished second in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, losing to stablemate Flanders.

Serena's Song takes the Haskell | Equi-Photo

But her 3-year-old year was the one in which she became a superstar. After his filly kicked off her season with three straight wins, Lukas got bold and ran her against the boys in the GII Jim Beam Stakes, a major prep for the Kentucky Derby. With Corey Nakatani aboard, she won by 3 ½ lengths. Lukas originally said after the Jim Beam win that Serena's Song would be pointed for the GI Kentucky Oaks, but changed course and ran her in the Kentucky Derby. After setting blistering early fractions, she finished 16th.

It didn't take her long to rebound, and, with a new jockey in Gary Stevens aboard, she won two of her next three starts. She then headed to the Jersey Shore to take on the boys again in the Haskell. She was tiring in the stretch, but held on to win by three-quarters of a length. Serena's Song became the first filly ever to win the prestigious Grade I event.

“We came, we made history and we stamped her as one of the great ones,” Lukas said after the win. “I rank her right up there with any of the great fillies we've had.”

Serena's Song would go on to win two more major stakes that year, the GI Gazelle Handicap and the GI Beldame Stakes. But she could do no better than fifth in the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff.

She slowed down a bit as a 4-year-old, winning five of 15 starts, but still managed to capture three more Grade I races that year, the GI Santa Monica Handicap, the GI Santa Maria Handicap and the GI Hempstead Handicap. In her final career start, she finished second in the GII Churchill Downs Distaff Handicap, which increased her career earnings to $3,283,388.

“It's not what we can see that counts, it's ultimately what we can't see that makes them great,” Lukas also said during Serena's Song's Hall of Fame induction speech. “It's the inside, the heart, and she had plenty of that. She was tough.”

Bob Lewis was so fond of his Serena's Song that he told the Los Angeles Times in 1995 that it almost felt like the filly was part of his family.

“I tell people we've been fortunate to have two sons and a daughter, but I almost feel as though we have two daughters when you count Serena's Song,” he said. “We realize how fortunate we are to have her. She's the epitome of a racehorse. She just flows.”

Serena's Song wins the Mother Goose | Coglianese

Upon retirement, Serena's Song was sent to Denali. She was considered the first high-profile broodmare to land there.

“We call her the 'Queen of Denali,' just because she is really our foundational mare and the fact that she's still with us,” Denali Director of Marketing and Hospitality Claire Bandoroff told the TDN's Jill Williams in 2025. “She put us on the map. I don't think anyone on the farm remembers a day without her here.”

Serena's Song produced 12 foals, 11 that raced, and nine who have won. She was the dam of Sophisticat, a filly by Storm Cat, who won the GI Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2002.  She also produced the Storm Cat colt Grand Reward, who won the GII Oaklawn Handicap in 2005.

“Serena had such a profound impact on many people's lives, especially the Lewis family, our family, and the staff who worked with her during her time at Denali,” said Conrad Bandoroff. “We are incredibly blessed and honored that Bob and Beverly, and eventually their son Jeff chose to keep her with us and trust us with her care for three decades. She is and always will be the Queen of Denali Stud. I would like to think that Wayne had a stall ready for her up there, and that he, Bob, and Beverly welcomed her with open arms.”

In 2014, the Lewis Family and Denali Stud announced that Serena's Song, then 22, was being retired as a broodmare. She enjoyed the rest of her days eating peppermints and helped raise thousands of dollars for Thoroughbred charities through her halters.

“I know that there will never be another broodmare like her for me,” Craig Bandoroff said. “It has been a great honor to work with the Lewises for the entirety of her breeding career. She has had a profound impact on the growth and development of Denali Stud.

“I very rarely can't find the words, but that is where I find myself,” he said. “There are times in our lives where the Good Lord takes care of you. He did that when Bob and Beverly Lewis became our clients and again when Serena came into our lives. Some things can't be replaced. You just have to be thankful they came your way. Serena meant more to Denali than I can describe. We were just blessed to have her. Hopefully Bob, Beverly and Serena are reunited.”

The post Champion Serena’s Song Passes Away appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Mark Casse has mapped out next-race plans for a trio of his 3-year-old fillies.

Counting Stars (Honor A. P.) and Search Party (Gun Runner), second and fourth in the GIII Honeybee S. Mar. 1, are headed to the $1-million GII Fantasy S. Mar. 27 at Oaklawn. Unbeaten Dixie Belle S. winner French Friction (City of Light), meanwhile, will stretch to two turns for the first time in the $750,000 GI Ashland S. Apr. 3 at Keeneland. Both races are 1 1/16 miles.

“That was definitely one of the bright spots of the weekend,” Casse said of Counting Stars runner-up effort at 11-1. “I've kind of always held her in high regard. I thought for a long time that she was an Oaks filly.”

Martha Washington S. winner Search Party was beaten 3 1/2 lengths in the Honeybee.

“Actually, I was OK with Search Party,” Casse said. “You have to remember now that we were at a little bit of a disadvantage. We were coming back in a shorter amount of time. We lost a week, again, with the weather. I didn't even breeze her back.”

The post Casse Maps Out Plans for Sophomore Fillies appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Code Review (Uncle Mo) was the subject of much pre-race chatter and lived up to the hype on Gulfstream debut Jan. 25, making all the running en route to a 1 1/2-length victory and 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard plaudits. The bay was given an entry for Saturday's Virginia Derby, but connections opted to ship in for this considerably softer spot, for which he was made the 1-5 mortal.

Code Review hopped slightly as the gates flew back, but he quickly stepped away to a clear lead before Tyler Gaffalione took a tug, allowing 22-5 second choice I Did I Did (Curlin) to slide up into a pace-pressing position. Clinging on to a narrow advantage on the turn, the heavy chalk looked to be making hard work of it on the inside of the rain-affected track, but he dug in determinedly when it looked as if he might be passed and held on to score narrowly.

A $200,000 Fasig-Tipton November weanling turned $575,000 Keeneland September yearling, Code Review is a full-brother to Laoban, GSW, $526,250; and a half-brother to the dam of Sovereign Award winner Mr. Hustle (Declaration of War), GSP Malibu Coast (Malibu Moon) and GSW Abientot (Not This Time). This is also the female family of dual Grade I winner I'm A Chatterbox (Munnings). Chattertown is also the dam of a yearling filly by Practical Joke and was most recently covered by Uncle Mo's son Golden Pal.

2nd-Colonial Downs, $78,400, Alw (NW1X), Opt. Clm ($62,500), 3-12, 3yo, 1m, 1:37.91, gd, neck.
CODE REVIEW (c, 3, Uncle Mo–Chattertown {SP, $104,332}, by Speightstown) Sales history: $200,000 Wlg '23 FTKNOV; $575,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $88,800. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O-C2 Racing Stable LLC, Ken T Reimer, JRM Stables LLC & Tami Bobo; B-Longfield Stables (KY); T-Saffie A Joseph Jr.

CODE REVIEW ($2.40) refuses to back down and is 2 for 2 after this @ColonialDowns victory. @Tyler_Gaff was in the saddle for trainer @SaffieJosephJr. Congratulations to the connections with this 3YO colt by Uncle Mo. pic.twitter.com/KoUBRSYwVk

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) March 12, 2026

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Caravel (Mizzen Mast–Zeezee Zoomzoom, by Congrats), who is owned by John Stewart's Resolute Bloodstock, lost her Frankel colt due to complications with her pregnancy, according to a tweet on X by the owner early on Thursday morning.

In the post Stewart said, “It It is with great sadness that we report that Breeders' Cup champion Caravel lost her 2026 FRANKEL colt due to complications with her pregnancy. It was a freak issue that could not have been avoided. The Resolute farm team monitors all the mares very closely.”

On X Stewart also reported that Caravel will visit Not This Time during the current breeding season.

A nearly $2-million earner and winner of the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint during her racing career, Caravel was purchased by Resolute in a private sale in 2024 and sent to Frankel (GB) for the following term. The result was a 2025 April colt who Stewart owns with Sheikh Fahad Al-Thani.

It is with great sadness that we report that @BreedersCup champion Caravel lost her 2026 FRANKEL colt due to complications with her pregnancy. It was a freak issue that could not have been avoided. The @resracingky farm team monitors all the mares very closely.

This picture is… pic.twitter.com/hIMr7d4FPL

— Jstewartrr (@jstewartrr) March 12, 2026

The post Resolute’s Caravel Loses Frankel Colt Due To Complications, Plans To Visit Not This Time appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

One day after the latest hearing in a federal Bankruptcy Court in Chicago over Hawthorne's insolvency dealings, a slight equipment delay puts a question mark over the start of training in preparation for a Spring Thoroughbred meet, but there appears to be movement over important simulcast signals going back online.

According to Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (ITHA) President Chris Block, the trucks to haul the dirt surface to the track have been rented, but the loaders needed to move the dirt into the trucks have yet to arrive.

“The conversion of [the track] is on hold until all the equipment arrives and then the project can start,” said Block, Wednesday. “We don't know which day that'll happen, but we're hopeful that will happen the next couple days.”

If the necessary equipment can be hired and in action by Friday, then the track could be ready for training by next Wednesday, Block speculated. A tentative start date for the meet has been pegged at Sunday, Apr. 19.

“That's just a very uncertain timeline, for sure,” said Block.

It's also the latest twist in a story that has unfurled since Hawthorne, and its related companies, filed for a Chapter 11 business reorganization at the end of last month.

The filing is built around a “debtor in possession” financing mechanism, which is when a debtor “keeps possession and control of its assets while undergoing a reorganization under Chapter 11.”

Hawthorne has secured temporary funding of around $16 million from JDI Loans, with a 120-day term limit on these funds.

During Tuesday's bankruptcy hearing, Judge Timothy Barnes agreed that Thoroughbred owners and trainers will soon have access to monies in their track bookkeeper accounts (previously frozen), which includes earnings as well as funds submitted in advance of the meet.

Block said he was unsure exactly when those accounts will be unfrozen. “We're going to stay on top of it daily,” he said.

According to Hawthorne's initial bankruptcy filing, the company's estimated assets are between $50 million and $100 million, while the estimated liabilities are between $100 million and $500 million.

The list of creditors who have the 20 largest unsecured claims are led by Fanatics LLC, a digital sports platform licensed in Florida, which has an unsecured claim of $8.75 million, according to the filing.

There are several entities that had stopped sending its simulcast signal to Hawthorne because of unpaid bills.

This includes The Stronach Group (TSG) owned Monarch Content Management with an unsecured claim of $7.13 million, Casears with a claim of roughly $750k, and Penn National with a claim of slightly more than $491k.

During Tuesday's bankruptcy hearing, said Block, it was discussed that these companies could turn their signals back on pending a written agreement with the track that would see a portion of these monies paid back.

Indeed, Block added that track management had told him Wednesday that on Thursday and Friday, the simulcast signals for Gulfstream Park, Santa Anita and Hoosier Park were scheduled to go back online.

Hawthorne is also responsible for a significant amount in bounced checks between dozens of individuals from the Harness racing world.

More than $1.6 million exists between the bounced checks and existing Thoroughbred accounts, said Block. But coming out of Tuesday's hearing, the funds owed to harness owners and trainers will remain withheld for now.

“The ITHA's attorney argued in court today that owners and trainers on both the Thoroughbred and harness sides should be made whole. But the judge accepted an argument, made by creditors, that the court should prioritize Thoroughbred racing with the limited funds available, given the impending start of our meet,” the ITHA wrote in a Tuesday press release.

If the necessary track renovations are conducted and a Thoroughbred meet is approved, there remain questions over what that meet might look like.

According to Block, there are about 200 Thoroughbreds currently stabled at the track. Other trainers are waiting to potentially ship in.

During last year's meet, there were roughly 640 horses stabled at Hawthorne. “And it was tough to maintain it at that,” said Block, about the meet.

Does he expect that same number of horses this year, if indeed the meet goes ahead?

“To be honest with you, I don't think so,” he said.

Since last year's meet, Illinois horsemen and women haven't reinvested in young stock like they used to, he said. “Not to mention all the negative talk around this. It's probably pushed some horsemen the other way.

“I'm sure there's some new ones here and there,” he added. “But I can't imagine that number's going to go up anywhere over 650. And from my thinking, it's probably going to be under that.”

The next hearing in Hawthorne's bankruptcy proceedings is scheduled for Mar. 17.

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by Jessica Martini & Christina Bossinakis

OCALA, FL – Brisk trade continued from start to finish of the second session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training Wednesday in Central Florida and the day concluded with figures well ahead of the auction's 2025 renewal. The session was topped by a filly by Nyquist who sold for $2 million to Boyd Racing from the Wavertree Stables consignment.

Through two sessions of the three-day sale, 295 horses have sold for $51,336,500. After two sessions in 2025, 269 horses had grossed $39,588,000. The two-day average stands at $174,022 and the median is $90,000. At the conclusion of the sale a year ago, the average was $152,351 and the median was $70,000.

With 94 horses reported not sold at the close of business Wednesday, the two-day buy-back rate is 24.2%. It was 21.8% at the same point in 2025.

The session-topping daughter of Nyquist was one of three to sell for seven figures during the session, bringing the total so far at the sale to six–one off the total number to hit that mark a year ago.

Two consignors celebrated their first seven-figure sales Wednesday. Jesse Hoppel sold a $1.05-million son of Mo Town and Susan Montanye's SBM Training and Sales sold a $1.85-million son of Into Mischief, while, with the session topper, Wavertree Stables had its second of the auction, both by Nyquist.

“The market is very strong. It's a blessing to see all of these people here,” said Tami Bobo, who sold the Into Mischief colt through the SBM consignment.

Bobo credited the strong results with the tax bill passed last year which provided buyers with a 100% depreciation bonus and helped lead to record results at the yearling sales last fall.

“The Big Beautiful Bill has done nothing but help all of us,” Bobo said. “So that is why the marketplace is where it is and I think it will continue to sustain itself.”

The OBS March sale continues through Thursday with sessions beginning each day at 11 a.m.

Maintaining the same spirited clip that was on display on day one, Wednesday's second session's action hit full tilt by the time hip 372, a filly by Nyquist, exited the ring.

Highlighting what turned out to be another banner day for consignor Wavertree Stables, the Mar. 26 foal jumped over the seven-figure mark in a flash, and when the dust had settled, Killora/Linton, acting as agent for Boyd Racing, had garnered the filly for $2 million.

The filly posted a brisk :9 3/5 eighth of a mile breeze at OBS last week.

“She was just an absolute queen the whole week,” said Hannah Jennings, who signed on behalf of Randy and Jenny Boyd. “She was super professional. Obviously, her stride was fantastic on the track and physically she's everything we could want.”

Bred by Cannon Thoroughbreds, the Kentucky-bred was a $300,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase by Forest Bloodstock.

The bay is the third foal out of Smooth and Savvy (Lucky Pulpit), a half-sister to Grade I winner Smooth Like Strait (Midnight Lute).

“Plans are to be determined on the trainer, but I think a lot of them will be happy to open a stall for her,” she added.

Darley stallion Nyquist is also responsible for another pair of Wavertree grads at OBS–Grade I winners Cavalieri, a $900,000 2023 OBS Spring Sale purchase, in addition to Tenma, an $850,000 Spring Sale buy in 2024.

“Nyquist is one of our favorites,” said Jennings of the Kentucky Derby winner. “He can get you a really elite horse and Ciaran Dunne sold two Grade I-winning Nyquist fillies out of OBS sales. So hopefully she can be the third.”

The highest-priced juvenile through two days of selling at OBS, the filly was the sole purchase for the Boyds.

“It's been so tough,” commented Jennings on the day's activity. “We knew we'd need to stretch for her, but we never thought we'd have to stretch that far. But when the horse is the right one, everyone's on them.”–@CBossTDN

Ciaran and Amy Dunne's Wavertree Stables was an early believer in Nyquist, thanks to its frequent partnership with Paul Reddam, who campaigned the 2016 GI Kentucky Derby winner. The consignment continued to reap the benefits of that faith this week at OBS, warming up with a colt by the Derby winner (hip 88) who sold for $1.2-million during Tuesday's first session of the March sale and followed by a $2-million filly (hip 372) sold to Boyd Racing Wednesday. The colt had been purchased for $170,000 and the filly for $300,000 at Keeneland last September.

“He's put a lot of meals on the table,” Ciaran Dunne said of Nyquist. “We were very lucky in that we were associated with Mr. Reddam and he raced him. So, obviously from the outset we were exposed to a lot of them. And from day one, they were just good horses. So we kind of got a little bit of a leg up on everybody else. For us, he's the gift that keeps on giving.”

Ciaran Dunne | OBS/Photos By Z

In recent years, Wavertree has sold subsequent Grade I winners Cavalieri ($900,000 at the 2023 OBS April sale) and Tenma ($850,000 at the 2024 OBS April sale), both by Nyquist.

Of the filly who brought $2 million Wednesday, Dunne said, “She is by one of the top stallions in the country. She is a beautiful physical. She had an unbelievable work. She vetted clean. If you can't sell her, you need to quit selling.”

For Dunne, the moment lacked one thing with daughter Caitlin home in Kentucky where she is due to deliver her first baby in the coming days.

“It's a double-edged sword that Caitlin wasn't here to share it with us because she's been here for pretty much all of our big ones in the past,” Dunne said. “But she is at home doing something way more important.” @JessMartiniTDN

Bloodstock agent Donato Lanni capped a busy day at OBS Wednesday when he bid $1.85 million to acquire a colt by Into Mischief (hip 416) on behalf of Frank Fletcher. The juvenile, who worked a furlong last week in :9 4/5, was consigned by S B M Training and Sales and became the first seven-figure sale for Susan Montanye's consignment.

“He is by one of the leading sires in our generation,” Lanni said of the colt. “He's a fast horse. [Trainer] Bill Mott is going to get him and Bill really liked him. So he got a pretty good endorsement.”

The colt is out of graded-placed Sweet Diane (Will Take Charge) and is a half-brother to stakes winner Miss Martini (Curlin).

Tami Bobo purchased the colt for $75,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale.

Hip 416 | OBSVidHorse

“He had compressed hocks,” Bobo said when asked how she had acquired a colt by Into Mischief at that price point last fall. “You've heard me say it before. I am a firm believer in how God makes a horse. For me, it wasn't an injury from day one. I've had graded stakes winners in the past and I've never had a problem with it. Once they fused, you are always good to go.”

The colt sold out of Book 5 at Keeneland and Bobo said it was thanks to Denali Stud's Conrad Bandoroff that she became aware of him.

“Conrad Bandoroff is a great consignor, he keeps up with his buyers,” Bobo said. “He called me. I was actually in Florida when he told me about the horse. I am never at Keeneland in Book 5, so I was already home. So it was a true blessing. Susan Montanye signed the ticket for me and Susan and [Montanye's husband] Andy, I want to give them props, because they came into the business the hard way. So for her to sell her first million-dollar horse and for us to be able to do that together collectively, it means the world to me.”

Of the colt's seven-figure price tag, Bobo said, “I truly thought the horse would bring over $1 million. I really did. The horse has trained like the big horse all year. Susan nicknamed him King Kong early on in the training season. She is diligent in sending us videos, so we really know where we are with our horses. And this horse just continued to show up.” @JessMartiniTDN

A colt by Mo Town (hip 299) became the fourth million-dollar juvenile of the OBS March sale when selling to Charlie and Susan Chu's Baoma Corp. for $1.05 million Wednesday in Ocala. Bloodstock agent Donato Lanni, doing his bidding from the press box alongside the Chus and trainer Bob Baffert, signed the ticket on the colt who was consigned by Hoppel LLC. The juvenile worked a quarter-mile in :20 2/5 during last week's under-tack preview.

“He is just a big, beautiful, scopey horse,” Lanni said. “He looks like he will go two turns. He is very sound looking. He worked really good. It was a great time, a great gallop out. And he came back sound and good. The good ones are bringing good money. I thought that was plenty for him. But I am happy to get him.”

Baoma Corp's Susan Chu with hip 299 | Jessica Martini

The Chus were quickly back at the Hoppel barn to great their newest acquisition.

Susan Chu, asked what she liked about the 2-year-old, pointed to her husband.

“Charlie wanted this horse,” she said with a laugh. “He is the gentleman in charge. But we totally trust Donato, and of course Bob, and they make the best decision for us.”

Among the horses the Chus have purchased out of the OBS sales ring are last year's GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Nysos (Nyquist), who was most recently a game second behind Forever Young (Jpn) in the Feb. 14 G1 Saudi Cup.

“We are really so proud of him,” Susan said of Nysos. “He came home last week and he looks excellent.” @JessMartiniTDN

The usually stoic Jesse Hoppel, from a family which has been selling horses in Ocala for generations, appeared misty eyed after selling his first million-dollar horse Wednesday at OBS. Minutes after Donato Lanni made a $1.05-million bid to acquire a colt by Mo Town on behalf of Baoma Corp., Hoppel said the result, “Exceeded expectations. Period. That was unreal.”

The dark bay colt is out of the unraced Reckon (Into Mischief). He was purchased by the Hoppels for $40,000 as a weanling at the 2024 Keeneland November sale. The colt was signed for in the name 'Antigo,' an homage to the birthplace of Don Rice, Hoppel's grandfather, who along with his brother Clyde, were pioneers of the Ocala pinhooking scene.

“It would be easier if I just told you what I didn't like about him,” Hoppel said when asked what he had liked about the colt as a weanling. “But it wouldn't be much conversation.”

Hoppel recalled discussing the colt with his father, longtime pinhooker Pat, prior to sending him through the ring Wednesday.

“I grew up on the sales grounds,” he said. “I have a lot of horses I thought were really good. But me and my dad sat there yesterday and we looked at the horse and he said, 'I don't think I've brought a horse to sale this good before.' And I said, 'I know I haven't, dad.' From my dad, that's a huge compliment.”

The seven-figure result capped a profitable few minutes for Hoppel, who also sold a filly by Drain the Clock (hip 284) for $500,000. @JessMartiniTDN

Earlier in Wednesday's session, a filly by Upstart realized an $800,000 final bid from agent Marette Farrell bidding on behalf of Mo Speed Racing. Offered as hip 343 by Tom McCrocklin, the Florida-bred filly rounded out the session as the second-highest priced filly of the afternoon.

During last Thursday's breeze session, the filly posted a :20 4/5 move for a quarter mile.

“That was a great result,” said McCrocklin. “It was not a total surprise once the action started at the barn. She was extremely popular and was vetted a lot. She showed and showed and showed.”

Out of Shananies Song (Eltish), the Florida-bred filly was bred by the partnership of McCrocklin and Dr. Carolin Von Rosenberg.

Offered at Keeneland November in 2024, McCrocklin bought out Von Rosenberg, securing the filly for $60,000.

Tom McCrocklin | OBS/Photos By Z

“Carolin wanted to sell her as a weanling, so I bought her half and brought the filly back home,” he said. “She was kind of a superior all the way along. She was one of those types, just a nice filly all along.”

The 22-year-old mare is already responsible for seven winners and two graded stakes winners, including GII Swale Stakes winner Favorable Outcome (Flatter) and G3 Al Shindagha Sprint victor Mouheeb (Flatter). Stakes winners and graded placed Beguine (Gun Runner) and Bellamentary (Bellamy Road) are also listed among the mare's produce.

“There's so much satisfaction in breeding the mare, raising the the baby, preparing and selling them,” said McCrocklin. “It was very gratifying and I am very grateful for Marette Farrell [buying the filly].”

McCrocklin, who still retains the mare, indicated she is booked back to Taiba, who stands at Spendthrift Farm.

Did McCrocklin know this filly might be a star right from the beginning?

“As a foal, she was just a horse, with a plain brown wrapper. But that's typical of the mare,” he explained. “They are not big, imposing horses, but you can see from her produce record that she produces racehorses.”

On day two, McCrocklin also sold hip 453, a filly by Twirling Candy. Out of Tizway's stakes-placed Tizanillusion, the March foal recorded a :20 2/5 quarter-mile breeze last week. The Kentucky-bred was purchased for $600,000 by Alistair Roden Bloodstock, acting agent for Mark Breen.

Bred by Steve and Denise Smith's Mesingw Farm, the filly RNA'd for $75,000 at Keeneland last September.

“She was a homebred of [the Smiths],” said McCrocklin, “She didn't meet her reserve at Keeneland and they were kind enough to send her to me to get her ready.”

Offering his thoughts on the filly after her return from the sales last season, McCrocklin explained, “She was a very fast filly. She just got better and better with time. She started out just a horse and just got better and better the whole time. When she got over here, she prepped like a good horse.”–@CBossTDN

Scott Geiner, who said he generally pinhooks just a small number of horses a year, had his best success to date when he sold a colt from the first crop of Roadster (hip 320) to Lee Ackerley for $425,000 in Ocala Wednesday. The Louisiana trainer had purchased the colt for $62,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale.

“He was just a nice colt as a yearling,” Geiner said. “He had a pretty walk. I thought maybe this was one I could make a little money with and I wound up making a bunch of money.”

The dark bay colt is out of multiple stakes-placed San Antonio Stroll (Stroll) and is a half-brother to multiple graded winner Damon's Mound (Girvin).

From Keeneland, Geiner sent the colt to consignor Omar Ramirez for the winter.

“Omar liked him the whole time,” Geiner said.

Scott Geiner | Jessica Martini

The colt worked a quarter-mile at last week's under-tack preview in :21 flat.

“After he worked last week and yesterday and today, he had the right people come look at him,” Geiner said of expectations for the sale Wednesday. “So we thought, $199,000, and I think we put $149,000 in the box.”

While the colt exceeded expectations, Geiner had a back-up plan, just in case.

“If I didn't get what I wanted for him, I would have raced him, but he worked good and I knew I'd get more money selling than keeping him,” Geiner said.

Geiner continued, “I do a couple pinhooks a year. And I've done pretty good, but this is the highest. I pinhooked one a couple of years ago in Texas for $72,000 and got $265,000. Last year in Texas, I bought one for $30,000 and got $135,000.”

Asked if this result might convince him to do more pinhooking, Geiner said, “I am kind of picky with what I want to get and I don't want to spend too much in case I've got to keep them.” @JessMartiniTDN

The post $2-Million Nyquist Filly Leads Vibrant Trade at OBS March Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Last year the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) approved the establishment of maximum statewide ages at which horses can race–10 years old for winners and five years old for maidens. On Wednesday, the CHRB voted unanimously to tweak that rule, raising the max age for maidens to six, with the stipulation that such horses would be receiving “increased scrutiny” from the state's regulatory veterinarians.

Prior to the codification of a maximum age for maidens at the state level, California's three currently active tracks had been operating under “house rules” that set the upper limits at either six (Del Mar Thoroughbred Club and Los Alamitos Race Course) or five (Santa Anita Park).

This max-age agenda item was originally up for a vote back in January, but the issue was tabled when commissioners at that time asked for more data before making their decisions.

Based on feedback from the public and the CHRB's informal polling of trainers, the board's staff came back at the Mar. 11 meeting with a revised recommendation of six years old as the upper limit for maidens.

Scott Chaney, the CHRB's executive director, said Wednesday that, “The public comments centered on the fact that, mostly, the maiden restriction was limiting opportunities for owners and breeders in California.”

But quantifying a precise number of affected horses was difficult.

“Inventory and participants are likely to be very insignificant due to increased costs of training a 6-year-old maiden,” Jeff Blea, the CHRB's equine medical director, told board members prior to the 7-0 vote.

“However, there will be some who will be afforded this opportunity if you pass this rule change,” Blea said.

Blea told the CHRB that, “I did an informal poll of about 10 Thoroughbred trainers, primarily. And all but one was in unanimous support of allowing 6-year-old maidens to race.

“The one who was opposed was opposed because he felt it diluted the racing product at Santa Anita,” Blea said.

“Moving it from five to six allows and encourages more rest periods without pressure on owners and trainers to keep these horses in training [and] allows this population to continue safely competing in California rather than leaving the state,” Blea said.

Yet Blea acknowledged there's very little age-specific safety data that relates to California's maiden horse population.

“There's a lack of scientific data looking at age of maidens and how it corresponds to catastrophic musculoskeletal injury,” Blea said. “There's a lot of data based on race, class, dirt, turf. But not very much scientific data to indicate [trends with maidens] where it's five versus six versus seven. In the literature that I provided in your staff report, it indicates that 6-year-old maidens would be safe to race from a musculoskeletal standpoint.”

Back when the CHRB last called upon Blea to address this topic, he described the situation like this at the January meeting:

“What's the magic number? Is it five, is it six, is it seven for maidens? Is it nine, is it 10, is it 11 for winners? I've had people tell me we should limit older horses to eight years old. I've had people suggest we limit maidens to four years old. It's a number. When you reach a certain age, you can't drive a car. When you reach a certain age, mandatory retirement. Age is not a disease, but at some point in time, we have to set boundaries and parameters,” Blea said.

The post CHRB Ups Max Age Limit For Maidens From Five to Six appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

When the details of Donald Trump's “One Big Beautiful Bill” were introduced, there was an unwelcome surprise for horseplayers as well as all gamblers. It included a provision whereby gamblers could only deduct 90% of their losses from their winnings. For example, if a gambler collected $100,000 in winning bets during a year while also losing $100,000, he or she would have to pay taxes on $10,000, even though no profit was actually made.

The new law went into effect on Jan. 1. Unless something changes, when gamblers file their 2026 tax returns next year they will not be allowed to deduct 100% of their losses.

Rep. Dina Titus, a Democratic Congresswoman from the gambling mecca of Nevada, sprung to action and introduced the FAIR BET Act, which would restore a gambler's right to deduct 100% of his or her losses from gambling winnings. Titus has called the policy change a “tax increase on Americans who gamble.”

She introduced her bill in July, but, despite partisan support, it has yet to pass. In the most recent development, The FAIR BET Act was officially rejected as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) by the GOP-controlled House Rules Committee.

To get the latest on the FAIR BET Act and insights into whether or not it will eventually pass, the TDN reached out to Titus's office with a list of questions. They were answered by her communications director Dick Cooper.

TDN: You introduced the Fair Bet Act on July 7, 2025. Can you please bring us up to speed regarding what has happened to the bill since you introduced it and where things currently stand?

DC: Since the bill was introduced, we have garnered 24 bipartisan co-sponsors. Representative Titus recently sent a letter to Ways & Means Chair Jason Smith and Ranking Member Richard Neal urging them to take up a legislative fix to restore the gambling loss deduction to 100% at their next markup. She also filed the FAIR BET Act as a discharge petition, to bypass committee inaction and bring the bill directly to the floor for a vote. While taxpayers will first feel the effects of the 90% gambling loss deduction when they file next year, many, in anticipation of potentially onerous tax liabilities, have already begun stopping or scaling back their gambling activity. This fix needs to get done sooner rather than later, and we have a broad coalition of support. The bill has picked up widespread industry support including: the American Gaming Association, MGM, DraftKings, FanDuel, Caesars, Wynn, the Nevada Resort Association and the National Thoroughbred Racing Association. Several outside groups have also expressed their support for the restoration of full deductibility including Americans for Tax Reform, The Tax Foundation, and The American Institute of CPAs.

   TDN: What now is the best way forward to get the bill passed?

DC: The next step is continuing to pursue multiple legislative vehicles–inclusion in a broader tax package, committee action in Ways & Means, or attachment to a must-pass vehicle like appropriations or a CR (Continuing Resolution). There is concern that if you fix this mistake from the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” that will open the floodgates for other members to want to fix other issues they had with the bill which was Trump's landmark piece of legislation. It is for that reason that attaching this provision to a must-pass vehicle remains the most likely option.

   TDN: Horse racing is a vital industry in Kentucky. Have you received support from your colleagues there? Kentucky Congressman Andy Barr has always been viewed as being very pro-horse racing. Has he weighed in with you regarding your bill? Have any other lawmakers from Kentucky offered their support?

DC: Yes, Congresswoman Titus and Congressman Barr are both cosponsors of each other's bills. Representative Morgan McGarvey (D-KY) is also a cosponsor of both bills.

   TDN: How frustrating is it to you that have been working on this for about six months and your bill still seems to be hanging in limbo? Do you still remain confident that you will eventually find a way to get the FAIR BET Act passed?

DC: Of course, it can be frustrating when something that has broad bipartisan support doesn't move as quickly as we would like. Legislative timing, however, is often driven by process and available vehicles, not the merits of the policy. The Congresswoman remains confident that this will ultimately get fixed. The goal is to ensure it is resolved before taxpayers begin feeling the full impact when they file.

   TDN: The National Thoroughbred Racing Association has come out in support of your bill. But has that been enough? Could the horse racing industry be doing more to help your cause?

DC: The racing industry has been a strong partner on this issue. The most important thing is education and engagement. Reach out to your members of Congress and explain how this issue affects you personally. Emphasize that this is about fair taxation, not special treatment. Lawmakers respond when they hear directly from constituents that a policy has real-world consequences. Continued engagement from industry stakeholders and bettors themselves is important because lawmakers respond when they hear directly from the people affected.

TDN: We have been told by many serious horseplayers that they will be forced to stop betting on the sport if they can no longer deduct 100% of their losses. This could be catastrophic for horse racing. Do you believe the industry is fully cognizant of what this could mean for its overall health?

DC: That is a very real concern. It unfairly burdens professional gamblers and casual players alike and will inevitably drive players toward offshore and unregulated markets where consumer protections are nonexistent, thereby undermining responsible gaming efforts nationwide. Recently, the Congresswoman spoke with one of the most accomplished and respected players in the history of professional poker, Erik Seidel, who explained how this tax change will put him in semi-retirement. Conversations like that reinforce why this matters for players and the broader gaming ecosystem.

TDN: To all horseplayers, this obviously seems extremely unfair. What do you hear from the elected officials on the other side of the issue regarding their support of these new tax/gambling rules? What, possibly, could be their justification for supporting what seems to be nothing more than an unfair tax on gamblers?

DC: In many cases, the issue stems from misunderstanding the policy. Some assume this only affects professional gamblers, but in reality, it impacts casual bettors and everyday players as well. Others are simply just anti-gaming.

   TDN: When it comes to racing, as well as other forms of gambling, could this force bettors to start doing business with unregulated offshore betting sites.

DC: That is certainly a risk. If legal, regulated wagering becomes tax-disadvantaged, bettors will look for alternatives in unregulated offshore markets. That would undermine consumer protections and divert activity away from regulated U.S. operators and jobs.

The post The Latest on the FAIR BET Act: A Q & A With Congressional Aide Dick Cooper appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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.

Among this week's rulings, trainer Angel Sanchez-Pinero has been banned a combined four years and fined a combined $50,000 for two out-of-competition positive tests involving banned substances.

Sanchez-Pinero is already serving a combined 10-year ban for a series of medication violations stemming from 2024 onwards. That cumulative ban started on July 24 last year. This additional four-year ban begins Nov. 25, 2035.

On Apr. 24 last year, HIWU personnel took out-of-competition hair samples from Miss Hard to Get and Surprise Boss when they were stabled at Westampton Farm in Westampton Township, New Jersey.

Subsequent testing detected the presence of Clenbuterol, a banned substance, in the hair sample taken from Miss Hard to Get, and the presence of Albuterol, a banned bronchodilator, in the hair sample taken from Surprise Boss.

Though classed a banned substance, Albuterol is permitted only if given as an inhaled bronchodilator, and only if prescribed by a licensed veterinarian in the context of a valid veterinarian-patient-client relationship, according to HISA rules.

Similarly, clenbuterol is classified by HISA as a banned substance, but it is permitted for use for a maximum 30 days (within a six-month period) if accompanied with a valid veterinary prescription. Following administration, the horse in question is placed on the vets' list and unable to work or race until it tests clear.

According to both written final decisions, these penalties were meted out by HIWU after Sanchez-Pinero had failed to respond to necessary procedural notifications for more than six months, leaving him in “default” in these two latest cases.

Elsewhere this week, New Mexico and Texas based veterinarian Dr. Jason Scott has been banned 18-months and fined a total $30,000 (which includes $5,000 in arbitration costs) for possession of banned substances. His suspension began on Feb. 13 last year.

Three HIWU investigators searched Scott's truck at Sunland Park on Feb. 13 last year and found two bottles of Pitcher Plant Extract (otherwise known as Sarapin) and two bottles of Adenosine Monophosphate (also known as AMP). Both are prohibited substances under HISA.

Last July, Scott filed a federal lawsuit against both HISA and HIWU with a legal question that had yet to be litigated:

What happens at a mixed meet where both Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses race, and a veterinarian who is a HISA “covered person” is found in possession of medications that are prohibited for use in Thoroughbreds, but the vet claims those substances were solely intended for Quarter Horses, whose regulation is outside of HISA's jurisdiction?

Indeed, in response to HIWU's official alleged violation notice, Scott wrote that he had not administered either substance to a “covered horse,” and that he possessed these drugs to treat “non-covered” Quarter Horses.

At the arbitration hearing, Scott further elaborated by stating how he “gave Pitcher Plant and AMP to non-Covered Horses as part of a pre-race routine that involved giving Pitcher Plant two days before a race, and AMP one day before a race, as a prophylactic measure to prevent tying up,” according to the final ruling.

In Hugh Hackney's (the arbitrator) case analysis, he also finds that Scott “followed the standard practices of the veterinarians in New Mexico at that time, and it was unclear, at best, if the [New Mexico Racing Commission] was following the rules set out for enforcement at HIWU. In fact, the commissioner of the NMRC was somewhat confused about what was covered before the investigation of Dr. Scott's truck.”

As part of HIWU's argument, they found several inconsistencies in the billing records he filed pre-hearing to explain the use of these drugs in Quarter Horses in his care, including 47 horses who appeared to have been administered Sarapin and AMP twice on the same day with no apparent justification.

These records also allegedly showed Scott had administered Phenylbutazone 17 times (on different dates and two different invoices) to Quarter Horses on the day before a race in violation of state rules.

HIWU asserted that “the billing record did not contain any medical impressions, diagnoses, or treatment records, and Dr. Scott did not provide any additional medical records,” according to the final ruling.

Scott blamed these inconsistencies on bookkeeping errors by his administrative staff.

“The basic facts are not in dispute, but the basis for the selection of Dr. Scott's van by Investigator Bennett remains questionable,” wrote Hackney, before meting out the penalties to Scott with the qualifier that they are “based on everything previously discussed and presented in this matter.”

The final ruling can be read here.

Resolved ADMC Violations

Dates: 03/10/2026

Licensee: Penny Rone, trainer

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

Explainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Methocarbamol—a class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Machico Madeira, who won at Mahoning Valley on 2/1/26.

Dates: 03/10/2026

Licensee: Miguel Penaloza, trainer

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

Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Dexamethasone—a class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Maliblue, who won at Parx Racing on 1/14/26.

Dates: 03/10/2026

Licensee: Daniel Hernandez, trainer

Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); the following cases are treated as one violation as under 09/08/23 HISA Guidance. Final decision of HIWU.

Explainer: Medication violations for the presence of Phenylbutazone—a class C controlled substance—in samples taken from Holy Bullet, who finished second at Sunland Park on 1/5/26 and again 1/18/26; and from Lovesunfair, who finished second at Sunland Park on 1/5/26 and sixth at Sunland Park on 1/19/26.

Dates: 03/10/2026

Licensee: Daniel Hernandez, trainer

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

Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone—a class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Julia's Promise, who won at Sunland Park on 1/4/26.

Dates: 03/09/2026

Licensee: Carlos A. David, trainer

Penalty: A written Reprimand; 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); imposition of 2 Penalty Points. Final decision of HIWU.

Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Caffeine—a class B controlled substance—in a sample taken from One Sweet Girl, who won at Gulfstream Park on 11/23/25.

Dates: 03/09/2026

Licensee: Dr. Jason Scott, veterinarian

Penalty: 18-month period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on February 13, 2025; a fine of $25,000; payment of $5,000 in arbitration costs. Final decision of arbitral body.

Explainer: Possession of Pitcher Plant Extract (Sarapin) and Adenosine Phosphate (AMP)—both banned substances—for an event dated 2/13/25.

Dates: 03/05/2026

Licensee: Angel Sanchez-Pinero, trainer

Penalty: Combined 4-year period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on November 25, 2035; 60-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Horses, beginning on April 24, 2025; a combined fine of $50,000 for the following two cases. Final decision of HIWU.

Explainer: Out-of-competition medication violations for the presence of Clenbuterol—a banned substance—in a sample taken from Miss Hard to Get on 4/24/25; and for the presence of Albuterol—a banned substance—in a sample taken from Surprise Boss on 4/24/25.

Dates: 03/05/2026

Licensee: William E. March, trainer

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

Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone—a class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Protest, who won at Tampa Bay on 1/14/26.

Dates: 03/04/2026

Licensee: Craig Lewis, trainer

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

Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Methocarbamol—a class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Kikuride, who won at Del Mar on 8/31/25.

Pending ADMC Violations

03/10/2026, Joe Toye, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone—a class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Roll Dem Bones, who finished fifth at Turf Paradise on 2/4/26.

03/10/2026, Arturo Chavez, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Albuterol (Salbutamol)—a banned substance—in a sample taken from She Mysterious on 12/9/25.

03/09/2026, Carla Gaines, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Diclofenac—a class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Royal Rumor on 2/8/26.

03/09/2026, Manuel Badilla, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone—a class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Coolwind on 2/4/26.

03/06/2026, Isaiah L. Ortiz, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Ketoprofen—a class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Riding By on 2/4/26.

03/06/2026, Danny Gargan, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Omeprazole—a class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Wine Money on 2/4/26.

03/06/2026, A Ferris Allen III, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone—a class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Misty Boss, who finished second at Laurel Park on 1/23/25.

03/05/2026, Luis Diaz, trainer: Pending out-of-competition medication violation for the presence of Albuterol (Salbutamol)—a banned substance—in a sample taken from Game to Play on 12/27/25.

Crop Violations

Mahoning Valley

Jason Simpson – violation date March 11; $1,500 fine, ten-day suspension

Oaklawn Park

Assael Espinoza – violation date March 8; $250 fine, one-day suspension

Parx Racing

Yedsit Hazlewood – violation date March 9; $500 fine, four-day suspension

Sunland Park

Keviin Carmona – violation date March 9; $500 fine, three-day suspension

Tampa Bay Downs

Israel Rodriguez – violation date March 8; $500 fine, two-day suspension

Wesley G. Ho – violation date March 7; $500 fine, two-day suspension

Turfway Park

Orlando Bocachica – violation date March 7; $1,500 fine, nine-day suspension

Juan Meza – violation date March 7; $250 fine, one-day suspension

Yedsit Hazlewood – violation date March 7; $500 fine, one-day suspension

Sammy Barnett – violation date March 7; $76 fine, horse disqualified (Barnett struck his mount 15 times), no other information available

Juan Gabriel Lagunes – violation date March 7; $250 fine, one-day suspension.

The post National Rulings Mar. 5-11: Sanchez-Pinero Banned Four Years, Vet Scott Banned 18 Months appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Frank Fletcher went to $1.85-million to secure an Into Mischief colt (hip 416) from the consignment of S B M Training and Sales.

“He's by one of the leading sires in our generation,” said Donato Lanni, who signed the ticket on Fletcher's behalf. “Fast horse. Bill Mott is going to get him and Bill really liked him. And so we got a pretty good endorsement. And Frank loves to run at Oaklawn and [he] looks like a dirt horse.”

Out of the graded stakes-placed Will Take Charge mare Sweet Diane, the colt worked his furlong in :9 4/5.

Bred in Kentucky by River Bend Farm, he is a half-brother to stakes winner Miss Martini (Curlin).

Tami Bobo purchased him for just $75,000 as a yearling at Keeneland September last season.

The post Fletcher Picks Up Into Mischief Colt For $1.85-Million appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Champion Nitrogen (Medaglia d'Oro) still has her sights set on her major spring objective, the GI Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park, despite a hiccup last weekend in Hot Springs, the track said via a press release on Wednesday.

Dual Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse said Nitrogen will make her next start in the Apr. 11 Apple Blossom following a third-place finish in Saturday's GII Azeri Stakes.

Tabbed as the 3-10 favorite under regular rider Jose Ortiz, the filly was beaten 1 3/4 lengths by Majestic Oops (Majestic Harbor) in the Azeri, that served as the final major local prep for the Apple Blossom.

Racing over a sloppy, sealed surface, Nitrogen appeared poised to take command late on the second turn, but she couldn't hold off Majestic Oops in the stretch and was caught late by Regaled (Mohaymen).

“Jose [Ortiz] said he thought she was much more tired this race than the last one, which, really, from a fitness standpoint, it doesn't make sense, right?” Casse said Tuesday afternoon. “We always thought she would need the first one. She's a big filly and the track was a little funny. Maybe she was just tired.”

The Apple Blossom is a “Win and You're In” for the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff. Nitrogen, in her final start at three, finished runner-up in the race at Del Mar back in November.

Nitrogen was North America's champion 3-year-old filly of 2025 and opened her 4-year-old campaign with a victory in the GIII Bayakoa Stakes Feb. 7.

Casse said he “definitely” has a second Apple Blossom candidate in Nerazurri (Protonico), who has won three of four starts at the meeting, including two stakes. Nerazurri's only loss this season at Oaklawn was a runner-up finish behind her stablemate in the Bayakoa.

The post Oaklawn’s Apple Blossom Still The Target For Champion Nitrogen appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

A filly by Nyquist (hip 372), who stopped the clock for a furlong in :9 3/5, hammered down at an even $2-million to Boyd Racing during Wednesday's OBS March Sale.

“She was just an absolute queen the whole week,” said Hannah Jennings, who signed the ticket. “She was super professional. Obviously her stride was fantastic on the track and physically she's everything we could want. Nyquist is one of our favorites. He can get you a really elite horse and Ciaran Dunne sold two Grade I-winning Nyquist fillies out of OBS sales. So hopefully she can be the third.”

Consigned by Dunne's Wavertree Stables, Inc., the filly is out of a Lucky Pulpit half-sister to GISW Smooth Like Strait (Midnight Lute).

Bred in Kentucky by Cannon Thoroughbreds LLC, she was sold last year at Keeneland as a September yearling for $300,000 to Forest Bloodstock.

She is the second seven-figure Nyquist sold by Wavertree Stables this sale joining a colt who brought $1.2-million during Tuesday's opening session.

The post Nyquist Filly Brings $2-Million From Boyd Racing appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Bloodstock agent Donato Lanni signed the ticket on a Mo Town colt (hip 299) for $1.05-million early in Wednesday's second session at OBS March.

“Beautiful, beautiful horse,” Lanni said after signing on behalf of Baoma Corp. “Breezed exceptional. Beautiful breeze. He came out of it really well. I think that's the toughest thing on these young horses, to come out of those breezes. He's going to go to Bob [Baffert], bought him for Baoma Corp. They've been very lucky here over the years, so glad we got him.”

The colt, out of the Into Mischief Reckon, worked a quarter-mile in a sharp :20 2/5.

He was bred in Kentucky by William Lussky and consigned Wednesday by Hoppel LLC, Agent V.

Hip 299 was initially purchased as a weanling at Keeneland in November 2024 for just $40,000.

The post Baoma Corp Adds Mo Town Colt For $1.05-Million appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

After finishing fifth and seventh, respectively, in Saturday's GII Azeri Stakes at Oaklawn Park, Tracy Farmer's La Cara (Street Sense–Cara Caterina, by Bernardini) and Shortleaf Stable's Quietside (Malibu Moon–Benner Island, by Speightstown) have each been retired.

La Cara, a homebred for Farmer conditioned by Mark Casse, won both the GI Central Bank Ashland Stakes and GI DK Horse Acorn Stakes in 2025, in addition to the 2024 GIII Pocahontas Stakes and last year's Suncoast Stakes. The now-4-year-old bay made two starts in 2026, finishing off the board each time. She retires with a record of 15-5-2-0 and earnings of $1,254,903.

According to Robert Yates on X, La Cara will be bred to Not This Time.

Quietside, named a 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' on debut, raced as a homebred for Shortleaf. She won the 2025 GII Fantasy Stakes and GIII Honeybee Stakes after placing in both the GI Spinaway Stakes and GI Darley Alcibiades Stakes at two. The John Ortiz trainee, whose other 2026 start resulted in a third in the GIII Bayakoa Stakes, retires at age four with a record of 12-3-4-2 and earnings of $1,051,575.

A post on X from Shortleaf states Quietside will be sent to Nyquist for her first mating.

The post La Cara, Quietside Both Retired After Disappointing in Azeri Saturday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

After breakdowns during the 2024 racing season forced the closure of the Clinton E. Phipps Sr. Racetrack on St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands in February 2025, yet another accident took place during Sunday's opening day Spring Stakes feature Mar. 8 that saw a Thoroughbred euthanized and a jockey taken to a local hospital.

The story covering the incident was first reported by Bill Kiser of The Virgin Islands Daily News Mar. 9.

The breakdown last Sunday is part of a larger story at the Phipps track, which reopened for racing in 2024 after two hurricanes hit the U.S. Virgin Islands in 2017.

In a report by the TDN Jan. 30, 2025 seven horses had to be euthanized from May 3, 2024 to December 22, 2024. Also, unregistered Thoroughbreds were also allowed to compete and two horses who were banned by Gulfstream Park appeared in a race.

A little over a week after the filing of that story, the U.S. Virgin Islands government closed the racetrack so that an investigation could take place.

Before the 2025 closure, the St. Thomas/St. John Horse Racing Commission (STT/STJ HRC) was regulating cards without anti-doping laws in effect and the local surface had not undergone professional testing.

Kiser reported in a piece in the Daily News Apr. 17, 2025 that after a four-month shutdown at Phipps that the STT/STJ HRC commissioned an inspection of the local surface by John Hubbs of the Phoenix-based Stabilizer Solutions Inc., who found the track up to code and not responsible for the breakdowns that occurred in 2024.

Kiser quoted STT/STJ HRC chairman Hugo Hodge Jr. who said, “It wasn't deemed that the surface was the root cause for the issues; it was more the condition of the horses.”

The report by Kiser also says that the Virgin Islands's Sports, Parks and Recreation Department and the STT/STJ HRC made changes to the course. They increased the height of the rails, and brought in 5,000 tons of new racing surface and underfill.

In that same Apr. 17 article, Kiser goes on to state that rule changes were made as well. For instance, the STT/STJ HRC's Dr. Laura Palminteri increased her efforts to conduct pre-race checks and alterations were made to the entry qualifications for the Governor's Cup.

Racing at the St. Thomas track resumed over the course of the summer and into the fall, but it is unclear if any breakdowns took place during this time period.

According to the Daily News article Mar. 9, the Phipps incident occurred during the fourth of six scheduled races on the card, which included a three-race field for Class A older females going a mile and 40-yards.

The piece cites an unnamed eyewitness who said that the trio was racing through the far turn when both 5-year-old Unrelentless (The Big Beast), ridden by jockey Joshua Navarro, and 7-year-old Raw Honey (Bal A Bali), with Jean Alvelo aboard, fell ahead of 7-year-old Family Band (Constitution), who had Sebastian Ortiz in the irons.

Unrelentless and Navarro went down first, according to the source, but the reason, Kiser said, is still undetermined by race officials. Raw Honey and Alvelo tried to avoid Unrelentless, but went down themselves.

The article says that the St. Croix's Truville Racing-owned Family Band went on to win the feature, which was the New York-bred's third victory in her last four starts. The piece did not state if the race was declared a no-contest.

The Daily News reported that Navarro suffered injuries that required he be transported to Schneider Hospital, while Alvelo was examined and treated at the track. The paper said that the injured rider's status at the medical facility was unknown.

However, it was reported that while Unrelentless–owned by Just For Fun Racing and a winner in her last four starts at Phipps–suffered just scrapes and bruises, the injuries to Raw Honey, who is owned by Boysie Tuff Racing Stables, were considered severe enough that the mare had to be euthanized.

According to Equibase, the majority of the horses that were entered last Sunday on the card were former claiming runners whose last recorded races outside of St. Thomas's track took place at Hipódromo Camarero in Puerto Rico during 2024 and 2025.

Before appearing in St. Thomas, Florida-bred Unrelentless finished sixth in a starter optional claimer at Gulfstream Park Jan. 31 of last year.

TDN reached out to the St. Thomas/St. John Horse Racing Commission for comment, but did not receive a response by the time this story was posted.

The post Safety Concerns Mount Once Again At U.S. Virgin Islands Track As Horse Suffers Breakdown On Opening Day appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Last week, Republican Representatives Matthew Koch and Michael Meredith introduced into the Kentucky state legislature a sweeping gambling bill with several key components, including legalized fixed-odds wagering in Kentucky along with efforts to essentially expand and modernize its gambling infrastructure.

Unlike the fluctuating odds that make up pari-mutuel betting, fixed odds is a form of betting in which the payout odds are set and agreed upon at the time the wager is placed. Crucially, they do not change.

Among other aspects of the bill, it requires tracks and tote companies to adopt new modern technologies to streamline and expedite betting cycle times. Right now, tote machines across the country update at varying times, and typically anywhere between 10- and 30-second cycles.

The bill also attempts to essentially decouple wagering providers from the prediction market, which is the ability for bettors to make speculative bets on the outcomes of future events.

On Tuesday, the TDN spoke with Koch about the bill, which goes before the standing committee on licensing and occupations Wednesday morning. The following has been edited for brevity and clarity.

TDN: What are you seeing in this industry that prompted you to write and introduce this bill?

MK: We've been talking about this for 10 years or more. [KY lawmakers] Damon Thayer and Adam Koenig were talking about this many years ago.

Although it's new to Kentucky, it's nothing new to the world of horse racing. We do it in other countries. Monmouth is doing this. West Virginia and Colorado. So, we would actually be the fourth state in the U.S. to do this if we're able to get it there.

A big part of this, I think the bettors love it.

Nothing gets somebody frustrated more than when they place a bet on a horse, it's 4-1. And, you know, at some point in the race they realize, 'Hey, we're going to win, we're going to do it.' And then they look down, the odds have dropped to 2-1 or whatever they've dropped to.

Fixed odds is a way to give the bettors just another avenue to place the wagers. We put it completely on the tracks to make the format on how they're going do it.

Talking with the tracks, there's some fear about what's going to happen with the purse account. And so, we've created an account [the “purse stabilization fund”], for tax dollars to come off and into there.

That way, we can look at it every few months and make sure that we keep the purse account whole, which is obviously very important to me and everybody else in the entire horse industry.

TDN: As a farm owner yourself of Shawhan Place, how do you see what's happening broadly in the industry trickling down and impacting your business?

MK: When I first ran for office, I thought I was running for my district on jobs, roads, schools, right? I never realized that I was going to get up here and be in the fight for the industry, with everything that's going on.

Since I've been up here, we had the HHR [Historic Horse Racing] fight a few years ago, and that has just greenlit so much for this industry. Kentucky is absolutely thriving because of the work we've done, not just with the HHR.

We followed that up with the banning of gray machines. We followed the banning of gray machines with the creation of the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation. We're now in charge of all the gambling in the state of Kentucky. That's like the ultimate protection for the horse industry.

With this bill, I view it as just a continuation of those things.

We need to keep improving. As the markets have evolved, you have predictive markets that are coming on board. Predictive markets, by the way, are absolutely cannibalizing other forms of gambling that are out there.

Fantasy sports is the other piece of this bill, regulating them. They've been out there for a while, but we've never regulated, never taxed them. So, we've got to make sure that we're doing all that while keeping these things operating on as fair a level as we possibly can.

TDN: From an industry standpoint, the fixed-odds component of the bill is obviously the key one. If the bill passes, that doesn't mean wagering companies will have to offer fixed odds. Do you think there's much appetite among tracks and wagering companies in Kentucky to offer fixed odds to their customers?

MK: I think it's fair to say there's hesitation.

I don't really want to speak for them, but I feel like there's just a little nervousness that comes with something new. How are you going to implement it? How are you going to make it work? And how are you going to keep the purse account whole?

So, I think they come with a lot of good questions on how to properly do this. And it's our job to make sure that we do it right.

TDN: Under this legislation, a new “purse stabilization fund” would be supported by a 15% tax on fixed-odds betting conducted on-track, online or via mobile apps. How much do you think this could funnel to the newly established fund?

MK: It's just a matter of how they set it up, when they set it up, etcetera. So, I don't have anything on that yet.

TDN: What have you seen and learned from how other states have rolled out fixed-odds wagering?

MK: That's the advantage. You can always pick and choose what works and what doesn't work. And I think the beauty here is we're giving it to the tracks and we say they 'may'–not shall, it's not a 'shall'–it's a 'may' [to implement fixed odds]. We're putting it in the hands of the tracks to make the decision on what can work for them to implement this.

TDN: In the parts of the bill requiring tote companies to adopt modern technologies to streamline and expedite betting cycle times, how much of that was driven by concerns over the impact of CAW teams?

MK: All of it.

There have been several bills filed in the legislature across the spectrum–people wanting to get rid of the rebates, etcetera. There's a whole line of thought out there about what to do.

But as you know, the CAW [wagering] feeds a lot into the purse account. So, you don't really want to do anything that's going to harm that, right? But at the same time, you have to have the perception for the bettors that they're getting a fair deal–that their odds aren't changing. That kicked off the first part of it, which was fixed odds.

The second part of that is, we learned that there is technology out there that our totes can operate and update faster than every 30 seconds. Right now, that seems to be the average speed these totes are operating.

But we've learned that there is technology out there for these things to operate at a much faster speed than that and give the bettors quicker information.

Look, there's Horseshoe Indianapolis, which has had the Daily Racing Form to project odds. There are things like that. And while that's not any part of this bill, it's kind of the conversation we've had with the tracks. We need to give the bettors the most information that we can, in the fastest way we can.

TDN: You've targeted prediction markets in the bill. How and why do you see the prediction markets as a threat to the horse racing industry?

MK: They're a threat to all gaming, right? Not just racing.

Just look at the Super Bowl. If you go back and look at the numbers, prediction markets ran 10 times the amount of wagering on the Super Bowl than Las Vegas did.

TDN: Tells you everything you need to know right there…

MK: I can't sum it up any clearer than that.

TDN: What other components of this sweeping bill are you keen to highlight?

MK: Another member came to us. If you're in arrears on child support, he didn't think you should be able to [engage in] online gaming. We're working on some of that language to put that in there, so, if you owe child support and it's in arrears, you're not out here blowing that money on gambling. I don't disagree with it. We thought it was a good idea.

Another part, we've increased [the age limit] on sports wagering from 18 to 21. And then, I guess the other big thing we need to highlight is no more proposition bets on Kentucky college athletes.

The reason for that, I was reading one article that said almost 30% of college athletes have already been impacted by this in some negative way, form or fashion.

I don't want to see a young college kid get in trouble because somebody approached them, trying to get them to miss a free throw or whatever because of prop betting. I think it's a way of protecting our young kids that are out there playing NCAA sports right now.

Look, it's not going to happen at your big schools. It's going to happen at a little school. It's going to be a kid that knows he's not going pro[fessional], and something like $10,000 or $20,000 looks like a lot of money to him. We have to have some consumer protections on this.

TDN: Will the standing committee on licensing and occupations be discussing this bill in tomorrow's (Wednesday's) scheduled meeting?

MK: Yes sir, 9:00 a.m.

TDN: And what do you see as the likely path of this bill? Are you going to try to pass it this session?

MK: Well, I hope so, but you never know. We're at that time of session, it's just like a horse race. That's why you run the race, to see how it's going to turn out. But I'd like to think we have a shot.

The post Koch Q&A on KY Fixed-Odds Bill: Predictive Markets ‘Absolutely Cannibalizing’ Other Gambling appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

by Jessica Martini & Christina Bossinakis

OCALA, FL – With brisk activity at the top of the market, the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training opened Tuesday with a lively day of trade topped by a $1.35-million son of Corniche. The colt was one of three to bring seven figures during the session. The entire 2025 March sale produced seven million-dollar juveniles.

“Certainly an excellent day,” said OBS president Tom Ventura. “We had a lot of activity in the barns during the week and expected that to translate in the auction ring, and it did. Hopefully, we can keep that going for the next two days. Everybody here is working hard trying to find a good horse and the sales results have shown that. You don't want to predict too much moving forward, we've got one day down and two to go. But very happy so far.”

During the session, 142 juveniles sold for $22,969,500. The average of $161,757 was up 19.0% from last year's opening session, while the median was up 5.8% to $90,000. Both the average and the median were up from the cumulative 2025 figures of $152,351 and $70,000, respectively. With 62 horses reported not sold, the buy-back rate was 30.4%.

“The market is very strong,” Legion Bloodstock's Kristian Vilante said after signing for the session topper, who was consigned by Pick View. “This is not the first horse we've tried to buy [Tuesday], but was the first horse we actually got to buy. The market is very strong and there is high demand for quality horses.”

The OBS March sale continues through Thursday with sessions beginning each day at 11 a.m.

With Tuesday's opening session of the OBS March Sale in Ocala already in full swing, hip 95, a colt by Corniche, drew a $1.35-million final bid from Legion Bloodstock. It was the sole purchase by the operation on Day 1.

During last Wednesday's breeze session, the top-priced juvenile of Tuesday's session breezed a quarter mile in :21 flat.

“We were trying to not leave here without him, we were hoping he wouldn't cost quite that much but that's what you have to pay for horses like that,” said Legion's Kristian Vilante, who signed the ticket.

Consigned by Pick View LLC, the May 8 foal is out of Canadian champion 3-year-old filly Leigh Court (Grand Slam), who was purchased by Speedway Stables for $1.1 million in 2014.

Kristian Villante | OBS/Photos by Z

“He's a beautiful colt, his dad was a champion,” said Vilante. “We've been following him since January. We saw him in January at Joe Pickerell's farm. He's been a standout all year.”

The Speedway-bred colt was secured by Pick View for $275,000 at last season's Keeneland's September Sale.

“Joe had to pay a lot for him as a yearling and we are fortunate that we have some clients that are willing to step up and try and buy a horse that might be a [Kentucky] Derby kind of colt.”

According to Vilante, the colt will head to Travis Durr Training Center in South Carolina for his early preparation.

“He'll eventually go to Whit Beckman,” added Vilante. “We'll let Travis play around and determine when it's time to move him on to Whit.”

Vilante explained that the colt's future trainer was equally high on the colt prior to the purchase.

“Whit actually came down here last month and he fell in love with this colt just like we all have,” he said. “He was here again [Tuesday] morning to see him.”

Hip 95 | OBS/VidHorse

Represented by his first crop of juveniles, 2021 champion 2-year-old colt Corniche stands at Ashford Stud.

“We bought a couple Corniches as yearlings and they're on Travis's farm and he loves them so far,” said Vilante. “We tried to buy a filly earlier in the day by Corniche. I think he stamps them, he's just putting out a beautiful horse. He should make it.”

Pick View sold three juveniles for a total of $1,390,000 on Tuesday.

“I have two [Corniches] and they're both awesome,” said Pickerell. “They love to train, they're sound and they seem to thrive off the work. That's something that separates good horses from great horses and he seems to thrive. Everything we've thrown at him, he's taken it in stride and loves to work. Loves to perform. I feel like he's a horse who is going to have some big things coming.” —@CBossTDN

Ramiro Restrepo of Marquee Bloodstock and Cam Dulgar of Morplay Racing partnered up to acquire a colt by Nyquist (hip 88) for $1.2 million during the first session of the OBS March sale Tuesday.

“We are working together to find ourselves a big horse,” Restrepo said after signing the ticket on the juvenile, who was consigned by Wavertree Stables.

Both of the new partners have experience on the Kentucky Derby trail. Marquee graduate Mage (Good Magic) wore the roses in 2023 and The Puma (Essential Quality) is on the road to Louisville after his win in the GIII Tampa Bay Derby Saturday. Morplay's No More Time (Not This Time) was second in the 2024 Tampa Bay Derby.

Cam Dulgar | OBS/VidHorse

“No More Time made it to the Derby. He unfortunately ended up getting injured, but we got hooked,” Dulgar said. “The success we've seen with [2025 Eclipse champion female sprinter] Shisospicy (Mitole) has us extremely excited to pick up this colt and hopefully experience something similar. Right now, we are Derby Dreaming and just happy to hopefully have gotten a good horse.”

Hip 88, purchased by Ange Bloodstock for $170,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale, worked a furlong in :9 4/5 during last week's under-tack preview. He is out of La Extrana Dama (Arg) (Catcher in the Rye {Ire}), a champion older mare in Argentina.

“He stood out on paper,” Restrepo said. “I love the Argentinian sturdiness. Obviously there are a couple champions in there. And Nyquist, what a season he had last year and the year before that. He stands above a lot of horses in this catalogue with that sire power. That's what we were chasing.”

Hip 88 | OBS/VidHorse

Just a few hips after acquiring the seven-figure juvenile, Morplay was back in action as sellers offering their homebred colt by Yaupon (hip 92). The bay, out of La Urbana (Into Mischief), sold for $100,000 to Sean S. Perl Bloodstock.

“This is our second crop of homebreds,” Dulgar said. “We sold a McKinzie out of the mare last year and this is her second foal. We have only two broodmares, so we are light on the broodmare side. We have run both of our mares and because of their physicals, it just made sense to keep them.”

Asked if Morplay would be looking to increase its broodmare band, Dulgar said, “We'll leave it up to the boss man [Rich Mendez].” —@JessMartiniTDN

Juveniles from the first crop of Drain the Clock made plenty of noise on the OBS track during last week's under-tack preview and the Gainesway stallion was equally quick out of the blocks in the sales ring at OBS Tuesday when bloodstock agent Pedro Lanz went to $1.1 million to acquire a colt (hip 132) from the de Meric Sales consignment. Lanz, who was bidding on behalf of the Saudi-based KAS Stable, said the juvenile would stay in the U.S. and would be trained by Brad Cox.

Hip 132 | OBS/VidHorse

“His horses are fast and can sustain speed, they gallop out very fast,” Lanz said of the juveniles by Drain the Clock he saw work last week. “They are athletes. Incredible athletes. When you see them, they are sharp. And I think they can go the distance. I think this horse's stride is very long and they sustained their speed. So I think they can go long.”

Hip 132 is out of the unraced Making a Point (Freud) and worked a furlong last week in :9 4/5.

Lanz admitted he was prepared for the colt's seven-figure price tag.

“In the morning before the sale, I didn't think he would bring that much, but after what I saw–I tried to buy a filly by Nashville and I couldn't, I told Prince Abdullah we have to go very strong to get him,” Lanz said. “I told him, 'If you want this horse we have to fight.'”

Pedro Lanz | OBS/Photos by Z

The de Merics purchased the colt for $145,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton New York-bred Yearlings Sale.

“He's been a nice horse all year,” Tristan de Meric said. “We've always liked him a lot. He's done everything right.”

Drain the Clock, winner of the 2021 GI Woody Stephens Stakes, had bullet workers on three of the four days of the under-tack preview for the March sale.

“I've been high on Drain the Clock,” de Meric said. “The two we have are both here. They can both run. They both look like they should be early. And looking at the stallion on paper himself, it makes sense for him to have early, fast 2-year-olds.

“I knew this was a nice horse and I am happy all the stars aligned for him. He's a beautiful horse, he vetted clean and did everything right.” —@JessMartiniTDN

Heading into the opening session of the OBS March Sale, many eyes were sure to be on hip 139, a colt by Army Mule that recorded the fastest eighth of the March breezers when producing a blistering :9 3/5 move at OBS last Wednesday.

Hip 139 | OBS/VidHorse

On Tuesday, Cesar Loya had only that one to lead up, but what the pinhooking operation lacked in numbers at the sale, it more than made up for in quality as the Arkansas-bred colt brought $750,000 from Katsumi Yoshida.

“Time doesn't lie. We knew we were sitting on a very fast horse,” admitted Loya, who was sitting in front of his shedrow shortly after the colt's sale.

Bred by Mark Burdette, the March foal sold for a bargain $57,000 at last year's Texas Summer Yearling Sale.

“God bless Texas,” he said with a laugh when asked what his initial thoughts were after the colt's sale. “We were sitting high high high on this horse leading up to the final work here. The work didn't surprise me as much as the sale price.”

In regard to the final price, he added, “It more than exceeded my expectations. Any time you can double or triple your money you are making a good living in any business. But when it's that many times over what you paid, then that really exceeds expectations.”

The colt is out of minor winner Marching Fire (Midnight Lute), who sold for $30,000 at Keeneland November in 2023.

Cesar Loya | OBS/Photos by Z

Loya, who launched his pinhooking operation in 2023, has two more juveniles lined up for the March sale, a filly by American Pharoah (hip 496) who breezed in :10 flat on Friday and colt by Win Win Win (hip 403). The latter worked an eighth in :10 1/5 during last Thursday's breeze session.

“We are a small operation. Me and my wife [Danielle] usually pinhook seven to 10 horses of our own per season,” he said when asked if expansion was in his operation's future. “I'd like to maintain more of a boutique type of consignment. Maybe we'll grow a little bit more but not much. I'd rather remain selective.” —@CBossTDN

Ramon Minguet has been training at Gulfstream Park for the better part of a decade, but decided to make the move to Ocala two years ago. The move paid dividends Tuesday when his RM Stables sold a filly from the first crop of Nashville (hip 71) for $550,000 to William Werner. Minguet had picked up the filly for $45,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale.

“I liked her physical,” Minguet, with his son Gabriel interpreting, said. “She was a very big horse. And I liked her sire.”

Gabriel and Ramon Minguet | Jessica Martini

Of the filly's price last fall, Minguet admitted, “I was very surprised. But she came out very early in the day and there weren't that many people in the sales ring yet.”

The chestnut, out of Kencho (Fusaichi Pegasus), worked a furlong during last week's under-tack show in :9 4/5.

“She has grown exponentially,” Minguet said. “She is very intelligent and does everything very professionally.”

Minguet admitted the sale result Tuesday exceeded his expectations.

“I thought maybe $300,000 or $400,000. So she very much exceeded expectations,” he said.

Hip 71 | OBS/VidHorse

RM Stables had more success with Nashville later in the session when selling a colt (hip 234) for $260,000 to CHC, Inc. and Maverick Racing. The 2-year-old had been purchased by Deivy Ordonez, Abreu Sales, and D&D for $24,000 at Keeneland last September.

RM Stables still has three juveniles to send through the ring at the OBS March sale, but Minguet said his first-out success has him feeling confident.

“I am more at peace and settled now,” he said with a smile. —@JessMartiniTDN

The post Strength at the Top as $1.35-Million Corniche Colt Leads OBS March Opener appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

After another big week of Kentucky Derby preps and with the Dubai World Cup on the horizon, there was plenty to unpack in this week's TDN Writers' Room presented by Keeneland.

The trio of Zoe Cadman, Randy Moss, and T.D. Thornton broke down the weekend's biggest performances. Cadman made sure to school her American colleagues on the correct pronunciation of The Puma (Essential Quality), the winner of the GIII Tampa Bay Derby.

“He is named for Gustavo Delgado Sr., because apparently that's what they call him and I can kind of see why,” she shared. “He broke his maiden here and congrats to Ramiro Restrepo, the team that bought Mage, for purchasing him off Hidden Brook for just $150,000.”

The team also looked at Potente (Into Mischief)'s win in the GII San Felipe Stakes and Majestic Oops (Majestic Harbor)'s upset of champion Nitrogen (Medaglia d'Oro) in the GII Azeri Stakes.

Alex Lieblong was this week's Gainesway Guest of the Week. The Arkansas native and veteran horse owner joined the show to discuss his homebred Reef Runner (The Big Beast), who is currently in Dubai training up for a bid in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint Stakes on March 28 following his win in last month's G2 1351 Turf Sprint in Saudi Arabia.

Despite regional tensions, Lieblong confirmed he and his wife, JoAnn, are ready for the trip.

“Somebody said that they can hear missiles going over and this and that, but it hasn't bothered [Reef Runner],” Lieblong said. “They say he's actually training a tick better than he was in Saudi Arabia. We're planning on going if they open up the airspaces.”

“Seventy-five is the time to take chances,” he added. “At 75 years old, you don't want to leave things on the table.”

Reef Runner, who won last year's GII Eddie D. Stakes and was fourth in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, is out of a half-sister to multiple Grade I winner Paradise Woods (Union Rags). The 5-year-old gelding trained by David Fawkes is a son of Lieblong's Grade I-winning stallion The Big Beast (Yes It's True), who stands at McDowell Farm in Arkansas for $2,000. Lieblong is understandably proud of his latest stable star.

“It's fantastic,” said Lieblong. “What's so great about it is that I've got so many of my trainers who have all got something to do with this. [Steve] Hobby was the first trainer of The Big Beast, but I remember Hobby coming to me when he was a 2-year-old and he said, 'Hey, he's too fast. If we go in now, you're not going to have a horse.' Not a lot of trainers will tell you that anymore. We ran him I think in March of his 3-year-old year. And then as Oaklawn wound down, we thought, 'Okay, he'd fit better up in New York.' So Tony [Dutrow] took him up there and did a great job in the GI King's Bishop. [Richard] Mandella is actually the one that picked out the mare. Of course he was close to the family. And then Steve Asmussen ended up training the mare.”

As the chairman of the Arkansas Racing and Gaming Commission, Lieblong offered his take on the role of gaming in modern racing.

“There was an old guy that used to tell me when I was kid, 'I believe every tub ought to sit on its own bottom,'” he shared. “In a way, racing is not sitting on its own bottom. It's taking contributions from other areas. I'd like to be able to see it stand up on its own, but I think still at this stage, it's got to have some help. We're lucky at Oaklawn. We have been very fortunate with the purses and we're very fortunate because the ownership at Oaklawn truly likes racing. That's hard to find at this stage of the game.”

Also on this week's show, which is also sponsored by the PHBA, 1/ST TV, the KTOB, and West Point Thoroughbreds, Moss shared that the Fastest Horse of the Week, presented by WinStar, was Joe Sheisty (Air Force Blue), who earned a 104 Beyer Speed Figure in the Big Daddy Stakes.

The team took a look at the GI Santa Anita Handicap, won by British Isles (Justify). After several scratches, the Big Cap only garnered five entries.

“Clearly, the race is struggling for whatever reason,” said Moss. “It used to be a million dollars. 2016 was the last time Santa Anita gave away a purse of a million dollars. Now it's $300,000 and I know this is a little bit of a one-off because of Skippylongstocking scratching and all that. It's not usually this weak, but it's in grave danger of losing it's Grade I status after a field like this.”

“There are no easy answers,” said Thornton. “You can zero in and try to drill down what to do, to complain about or hopefully fix the Big Cap, but it's endemic for other Grade I races and it's accentuated in Southern California because the circuit essentially functions as an island right now.”

Turning to international waters, the crew debated the potential American contingent for the Dubai World Cup and reflected on the career of trainer John Kimmel following his recently announced retirement.

Watch or listen to this week's show below:

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