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NYRA Partners with Stewart’s Shops to Offer ‘The Bel-Mint Stakes’

Mon, 2025-04-28 15:09

“The Bel-Mint Stakes,” a tribute version of Mint Cookie Crumble ice cream, has been re-branded by Stewart's Shops in honor of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, the New York Racing Association announced Monday.

The Bel-Mint Stakes will be available at more than 175 Stewart's Shops ice cream counters for a limited-time only, from Apr. 28 through June 8.

The GI Belmont Stakes will be run for the second time at Saratoga Race Course June 7.

The post NYRA Partners with Stewart’s Shops to Offer ‘The Bel-Mint Stakes’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

America’s Best Racing’s ‘A Stake in Stardom’ Wins National Marketing Awards

Mon, 2025-04-28 14:32

America's Best Racing, a multimedia fan development and awareness platform initiated and funded by The Jockey Club, has received two 2025 Stevie Awards, presented by the 2025 American Business Awards, winning in the categories for Marketing Campaign of the Year–Entertainment & Sports and for Influencer Marketing Campaign of the Year. ABR has also been named a finalist in the 2025 Shorty Awards “Sports” category.

All of the awards are for ABR's ground-breaking campaign, “A Stake in Stardom,” which this week will be represented in the 2025 Kentucky Derby by social media influencer and entrepreneur Griffin Johnson.

Launched in 2022, “A Stake in Stardom” seeks to modernize the perception of Thoroughbred racing by marketing the sport to a new generation of fans. Through the campaign, ABR empowered influencers to become actual owners, allowing them to authentically share the sport's thrills and challenges with their audiences. Participants in the program have included media powerhouses such as NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport, comedian and actress Heather McMahan, and Indy Car driver Alexander Rossi.

In the first four months of 2025, the program has generated more than five-million video views. Much of that has been driven by Johnson, who was paired with GI Arkansas Derby winner Sandman (Tapit) via a partnership with West Point Thoroughbreds.

“We are incredibly honored to receive two more awards for “A Stake in Stardom” and to be a finalist for another,” said Dan Tordjman, vice president of TJC Media Ventures/America's Best Racing. “Through long-term storytelling and deeper emotional investment, “A Stake in Stardom” is not only reshaping how racing is marketed, it is redefining who gets to be a part of it. We want to thank our marketing agency Branch & Bramble for launching this program with us, along with our partners at West Point Thoroughbreds.”

The post America’s Best Racing’s ‘A Stake in Stardom’ Wins National Marketing Awards appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Once Part Of A Racing Archipelago, Emerald Downs Survives As Lone Island

Mon, 2025-04-28 14:00

AUBURN, Wash.–The headline in the local edition of The Seattle Times on Wednesday, June 19, 1996 was full of elan as it fired off a bold prediction the day before the opening, “Racetrack Will Help Put Auburn On The Map.”

The building of Emerald Downs, which replaced the venerable and beloved oval at Longacres, was set to anchor development in the region and usher in a new era for the city which the paper said would attract “gamblers, shoppers and spectators.”

Some folks quoted were optimistic about the wiping away of a “blue-collar and backward” past in Auburn, while others were concerned about “traffic and pollution.” An adjoining article offered suggestions about the best ways to get to Emerald Downs. How did they do it back in the dark ages before smartphones?

One source who was a bit tongue-and-cheek said about the building boom, “I'm waiting for the blue herons. When they start leaving, I'm going.”

On Sunday, Emerald Downs celebrated a pearl milestone event with the opening of its 30th season. The total handle came in at $894,464, which was the highest in two years, and the seven-race card with five and six-horse fields did nothing to dampen the spirits of the crowd that assembled. The base who clearly love coming out to the paddock and bellowing at the top of their lungs as runners reached the stretch, proved once again that this sport is far from dead and buried.

“Through our promotions and the experiences we offer here it's so gratifying to see people coming out for our 30th season because their support is essential and so is having the horses to put on the track,” Emerald President Phil Ziegler said.

Dean Mazzuca, who operates an Emerald syndicate, added, “I'll haul people I meet for the first time down to the winner's circle to get their picture taken and they have the time of their lives. All of them come back after that.”

 

Headwinds At 30

Despite being a beautiful facility where you can see bald eagles nest on light poles, there are headwinds at Emerald Downs and some complicated sailing ahead. The once robust state-bred breeding program is now in tatters. At one point not so long ago, it was ranked fifth in the nation and touted some 40-plus sires for its stallion series. Now, there are eight and filling a Washington-bred race is difficult.

Then there is the much-publicized situation with the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA). As TDN's Dan Ross reported on the recent HISA Budget Town Hall, the regulator has changed its methodology when it comes to assessing costs to racetracks, and the move will shift next year to one based solely on the percentage of annual racing starts. As HISA officials visited Emerald over the weekend, the story is ongoing and is full of uncertainty when it comes to paying the bill when it comes due.

Blaine Wright | JN Campbell

What is known is that long gone are the days when a powerful racing archipelago linked the sport year round. The same story has played out in other locales that lost key portions of their circuit. Now, the Auburn track survives on its own. Like the Baltimore Colts, Longacres disappeared in the night and was suddenly sold. Out east, Yakima Meadows and Playfair Race Course were shuttered along with the fair circuit tracks like Sun Downs.

“We are on an island here,” said trainer Blaine Wright. “With the closure of California racing in the north, it has really made that trek to Santa Anita and down to Turf Paradise a challenge. The number of racing days is fixed at 51 here because purses can't support additional days, so this season lasts through Sept. 7, but the days are spread out. I am considering just taking the winter off. I'm going to have to make a tough decision about where to go next. Simply heading down to these other tracks is not easy to pull off.”

 

Island Life At 30

Other stalwart trainers who have been successful at Emerald like Frank Lucarelli and Tom Wenzel also echoed how tough shipping and uprooting your family can be.

“When you are from Washington and it's your home you want to be there,” said Wenzel. “We all have families and leaving them behind is not that easy. Maintaining separate residences is costly and I can tell you right now that everything across the board is 30% more expensive. The economics of this doesn't make any sense. We need to raise our purses to make this more competitive and that just hasn't happened.”

Tom Wenzel | JN Campbell

As the Turf Paradise meet winds down this next week, Lucarelli is making preparations to transition his string back to Emerald Downs. One of the positives for him is having a string that is already in shape. Instead of wasting valuable time conditioning his runners in Auburn all will arrive ready to run. The veteran conditioner said that Turf Paradise has become a winter refuge, but the costs are high. Even thinking about Santa Anita or Del Mar isn't as easy as it might seem.

“Here's the thing, going to California isn't all it's cracked up to be because if you take a handful of horses down there and enter them at the level they belong then there is a really good chance they are going to get claimed off of you,” he said. “If they can't compete at higher levels then there is no point in going.”

All three Emerald-based trainers said they loved their home track and having almost 700 horses on the property now with the potential for the barns to reach their capacity at 1200 could certainly be interpreted as a positive.

“I am telling all my California folks that I have gotten to know at Golden Gate before it closed and down at Santa Anita to come to Washington. Maybe it will happen and we have a chance to create an even more competitive place in our own backyard.”

 

Emerald's Past At 30

Speaking of the spirit of competition, a carefully curated Hall of Fame to Washington racing stands inside the grandstand at Emerald. Walking by it and seeing the names of horse and human alike that gave it their all is a reminder that time can stand still if we are patient enough to take it in. Certainly change is always in the offing and much that goes on is probably not what we expected. There is something else though that is important at Emerald Downs on the start of its 30th season and it has to do with the people who love the horses.

Hugh Wales (left) with Frank Lucarelli | JN Campbell

The spirit of racing lives in Auburn just like it does at any racetrack, but it is flesh and blood too. Walking around the place you could run into former founders like Jack Hodge who fondly remembers designing the building in the early 1990s and carries such pride that the horsemen in the state came together to save the industry. Or you could converse with Doug Moore, who has spent over 50 years in the business–first as a jockey–and is currently the Washington Horse Racing Commission Chair.

If you go to Emerald you have to marvel at the aura that surrounds the Director of Publicity Joe Withee, whose passion for the place seeps out of his pores. You know when he talks about racing in this part of the world he really cares.

How about sitting and listening to Steward Donny Smith. His stories of how his father rode with George “The Iceman” Woolf at Santa Anita and the days of record-keeping by hand channel something out of a Laura Hillenbrand book. Finally, if you want a crash course in the perils of jockeying and a good anecdote about the inner workings of a jocks' room then senior investigator for the commission Hugh Wales is your man.

The people who lived the history are there.

Emerald Downs is an island, but it is still currently on the map. There is time to visit since–like the blue herons–the Thoroughbreds haven't left yet.

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One Year Later, Mystik Dan Will Look to Return to the Winner’s Circle

Mon, 2025-04-28 13:45

It was on the first Saturday in May, 2024 that Mystik Dan (Goldencents) ran the race of his life to win the GI Kentucky Derby by a nose over Sierra Leone (Gun Runner). One year and four starts later, he hasn't won again, but will hope to end the losing streak on the anniversary of his greatest triumph.

On Saturday, Mystik Dan will take on seven others in the Lake Ouachita S. at Oaklawn Park. It will be his first start since he was beaten 20 3/4 lengths in the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational Jan. 25 at Gulfstream Park.

The Oaklawn race is scheduled to go off about 18 minutes after the Derby.

In what was otherwise a magical year for trainer Kenny McPeek, about the only thing that went wrong was that Mystik Dan never ran back to his Derby performance. The next stop was the GI Preakness Stakes, where he finished second, beaten just 2 1/4 lengths. From there, it just unraveled. He was eighth beaten 15 3/4 lengths in the GI Belmont S. and then finished sixth in the GI Malibu S., which he lost by 11 1/4 lengths.

It would only get worse. In his first start as a 4-year-old, he finished ninth in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational, 20 3/4 lengths behind the winner, White Abarrio (Race Day).

McPeek said blame him and not the horse.

“I made some mistakes bringing him back,” he said. “I shouldn't have taken him to California [for the Malibu]. In hindsight, I shouldn't have trucked him out there. I should have waited for another spot. Then we thought we had him good to go for the Pegasus. It was too much too soon. I might have mismanaged him a bit, if you want to call it that. I'm more critical of myself than anyone else.”

McPeek went against conventional wisdom and ran Mystik Dan in all three Triple Crown races. It worked out fine for the Derby and there was nothing wrong with his performance in the Preakness. But he looked like a spent horse in the Belmont.

“Was he taxed by the third one? Probably,” McPeek said. “We thought he was okay going into the Belmont, but he didn't handle the track at Saratoga. I don't think that's the case, that the Triple Crown took too much out of him. Every horse is different. You can't blame it completely on the Triple Crown.”

McPeek's plan this year is to try to pick some fairly easy spots to see where he's at with Mystik Dan. If he fares well in races like the Lake Ouachita, he will start looking for tougher challenges.

“I need to 'step-ladder' him,” he said.  “We need to start at the bottom and work our way back up. I think this race is a really good stepping stone. But it's not such an easy race with Saudi Crown in there. But this is a race he could and should win. Then we'll take it from there. He's healthy and doing well. He's doing super. He looks great, has been working great and doing everything right.

“It's never easy,” McPeek said. “For a horse to transition from two to three to four is hard. I wish I could undo some decisions I made. At that time, I thought they were the right moves. He's not the first Kentucky Derby winner that struggled coming back after the Derby and a tough Triple Crown series.”

Mystik Dan will not have the services of regular rider Brian Hernandez, Jr., who will be riding Burnham Square (Liam's Map) in the Derby for trainer Ian Wilkes.

Francisco Arrieta will substitute for Hernandez.

“Francisco is a good rider and he's the leading rider down there at Oaklawn,” McPeek said. “He's hitting on all cylinders and I know he's excited about getting on him.”

McPeek is not going to rush things and said he will also consider entering Mystik Dan in a turf race. But first he's got to show that he's the same horse who won one of the more thrilling Derbies in history.

“I'd like to think he can work his way back up,” McPeek said. “He hasn't beaten older horses and he has to do that. If he wins this race, the next spot will probably be a Grade II or Grade III somewhere. We're going to need him to take us there. We certainly know he has the talent. He just has to put it all together.”

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‘Just Messin’ Around:’ Bullet Drill for Derby Hopeful Citizen Bull

Mon, 2025-04-28 13:33

Citizen Bull (Into Mischief), last year's Eclipse champion juvenile, completed his major preparations for Saturday's GI Kentucky Derby with a bullet five-furlong work in :58.40 (1/15) Monday at Churchill Downs. Churchill Downs clockers caught Citizen Bull in fractions of :11.60, :23, :45.80, :58.40 and out six furlongs in 1:12.40 and seven-eighths in 1:27.20.

“He worked really good out there,” said jockey Martin Garcia, who was aboard for the work. “But he was just messin' around. He did it easy.”

Garcia also revealed that trainer Bob Baffert, who has radio contact with his riders as they go through their exercises, called an audible for Monday's work.

“I thought I was working four furlongs,” Garcia said. “But then when I get into it, Bob tells me I'm going five. So I'd broken off at the half-mile pole, which meant I had to go past the wire and finish up at the seven [furlong marker]. We did it and it worked out OK.”

Norman Stables' Coal Battle (Coal Front) blew out three furlongs in :36.00 (7/16) Monday at Churchill. Bethany Taylor was aboard for trainer Lonnie Briley.

“He looks like he did it pretty easily,” Briley said of the work that produced fractions of :11.60, :36 and out a half-mile in :50.

The work was the fourth for Coal Battle since arriving three weeks ago from Oaklawn Park where he was third behind Sandman (Tapit) in the GI Arkansas Derby.

“The closer to the race, the tougher it gets,” said the 72-year-old Briley, who will be saddling his first Kentucky Derby starter. “He will walk tomorrow and then there will be some jogging and galloping. He's ready.”

C R K Stable LLC and Grandview Equine's Baeza (McKinzie), the lone also-eligible for the Derby, worked five furlongs in 1:02.00 (15/15) Monday at Churchill Downs for trainer John Shirreffs.

Clockers caught the bay in splits of :13.60, :26.40, :37.80 and then a final time of 1:02.  He went “out” in 1:16.

“He went good,” jockey Flavien Prat, aboard for the work, said. “He felt good and he did it easy.”

Shirreffs added, “I know 1:02 is a little on the slow side, but he's not an especially sharp work horse. We put a good work into him last week [seven furlongs in 1:28 at Santa Anita Apr. 20] and he's ready. We just need to get a little lucky and get him into the race.”

Scratch time for the Derby is Friday at 9 a.m.

The post ‘Just Messin’ Around:’ Bullet Drill for Derby Hopeful Citizen Bull appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

NBC Sports to Air ‘Run for the Roses’ and Kentucky Oaks Coverage, Preakness Schedule Revealed

Mon, 2025-04-28 12:11

NBC Sports will present coverage for both the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby May 2-3 on USA Network and Peacock as well as offer live streaming for all weekend races at Churchill Downs on Peacock, the outlet announced Monday afternoon.

Live coverage from Churchill Downs begins with five hours of Kentucky Oaks day Friday, May 2, beginning at 1:00 p.m. on USA Network and Peacock.

Derby day coverage features 10 races across 7.5 hours–five on NBC and Peacock on Saturday starting 2:30 p.m., which follows the opening 2.5 hours beginning at noon on USA Network and Peacock. Over the two days, NBC Sports will present 17 live races from Churchill Downs.

For coverage in Spanish, Telemundo Deportes will present live coverage of the 151st Kentucky Derby, beginning Saturday at 6:30 p.m. on Universo, and streaming on the Telemundo app.

Highlights will include a variety of interviews, catch-ups on past winners like Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, and profiles of the competitors for the 2025 Run for the Roses. NBC Sports will also introduce new camera angles, extended SkyCam coverage, and other technological changes to their coverage.

A similar arrangement was also presented regarding the upcoming airing of Preakness weekend, as Black-Eyed Susan day May 16 will be shown on Peacock starting at 4:30 p.m. on the platform. Preakness Day coverage will begin May 17 at 2:00 p.m. on CNBC and Peacock before moving to NBC at 4:00 p.m. for the marquee event. Live streaming will continue uninterrupted on Peacock for the duration that Saturday.

The post NBC Sports to Air ‘Run for the Roses’ and Kentucky Oaks Coverage, Preakness Schedule Revealed appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

General Admission Tickets to Derby Day at Keeneland On Sale

Mon, 2025-04-28 11:16

Keeneland will offer campus-wide enhancements for the community celebration of the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby, and tickets for that event are now on sale, the organization shared via press release Monday morning.

General admission for Derby Day at Keeneland is $10 and children 12/under are free when accompanied by an adult. Gates open at 10:00 a.m. and parking is free. Fans are welcome to bring their own seating or enjoy a variety of public seating areas including the grandstand as the broadcast of the race will be shown through the afternoon on the infield tote board as well as monitors around the track. There is no ticket or reservation requirement to tailgate on The Hill for Derby Day.

In addition to the usual programming, Keeneland will also offer enhanced campus-wide activities like live music, food trucks, family events, and more. Drive Thru Betting will also be offered near the Entertainment Center for the May 2 GI Kentucky Oaks as well as the May 3 Kentucky Derby via Gate 1. Signage with directions will be displayed to help with navigation.

To pre-purchase tickets for Derby Day at Keeneland, please visit the Keeneland website.

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Ken Freirich, Co-Owner of Derby Runner Sandman, to Make Donations to Four Aftercare Organizations

Mon, 2025-04-28 10:15

After the eighth race at Churchill Downs Thursday, May 1, horse owner and philanthropist Ken Freirich will make a $100,000 donation to four Thoroughbred retirement charities to be split evenly amongst them, it was revealed in a joint press release.

The four aftercare organizations are New Vocations, Second Stride, Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, and the Thoroughbred Charities of America. Freirich, who is a part of owner of Kentucky Derby hopeful Sandman via his involvement with West Point Thoroughbreds, will present the check in the winner's circle after the eighth race on the card, dubbed 'The Run for the Retired Racehorses'. Owners and fans are encouraged to do the same by going to this link to make their donations to Thoroughbred aftercare.

“The horses are the heart and soul of the sport, and they are also like family to all of us,” said Freirich. “It's so incredibly important to take care of them after their racing careers. I am thrilled to partner and contribute to these wonderful organizations, the 'After Caregivers;' they need our support to continue their amazing work.”

“When Ken approached us with his desire to donate, we jumped at the chance to help surprise our longtime partners, New Vocations, Second Stride, TAA and TCA,” said Cathy Shircliff, director of Equine Industry Relations for Churchill Downs Incorporated. “It's such an honor to facilitate this donation and give these organizations the recognition they deserve.”

The post Ken Freirich, Co-Owner of Derby Runner Sandman, to Make Donations to Four Aftercare Organizations appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Garamond Gate To Wire At The Big A, Cornucopian Second Best

Sun, 2025-04-27 16:43

7th-Aqueduct, $71,340, Alw (NW1$X)/Opt. Clm ($100,000), 4-27, 3yo, 1m, 1:36.58, ft, 3 1/4 lengths.
GARAMOND (c, 3, Uncle Mo–Blue Watch, by Tapit) broke his maiden by 1 3/4 lengths on debut at Tampa Bay Jan. 25. The colt ran third to Flood Zone (Frosted) in the GIII Gotham Stakes Mar. 1 before going off as the 5-2 second choice here in a field that scratched down from eight to three. The homebred rolled from the word 'go' and gave 'TDN Rising Star' Cornucopian (Into Mischief) a dose of his own medicine. The 3-year-old continued to carve out the fractions up the backstretch and around the far turn. Every time Cornucopian would get close before the quarter pole, Garamond kept finding. Down the lane the bay extended his margin and got his picture taken by 3 1/4 lengths over the favorite. The winner's dam is responsible for 2-year-old filly Padisha (Kitten's Joy), who was sent to Kazakhstan in 2024. Blue Watch was bred back-to-back to Munnings, which so far has yielded a filly in 2024. Garamond's extended female family includes SW Lambeth (Arrogate) and current sire Expert Eye (GB) (Acclimation {GB}). Lifetime Record: GSP, 3-2-0-1, $99,980. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O/B-Juddmonte (KY); T-Chad C. Brown.

#3 GARAMOND ($7.70) defeats Cornucopian in the 7th race at Aqueduct. The three-year-old @JuddmonteFarms homebred colt by Uncle Mo was last seen finishing 3rd in the Gotham Stakes (G3). Flavien Prat was aboard for trainer Chad Brown. pic.twitter.com/1BLhwvlGUw

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) April 27, 2025

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Hot Springs Winner Clever Again Works for Preakness

Sun, 2025-04-27 15:49

Oaklawn Park's Hot Springs Stakes winner Clever Again (American Pharoah) worked ahead of an intended tilt in the GI Preakness Stakes at Pimlico May 17.

Clever Again worked five-eighths of a mile in 1:00.40 at Churchill Downs Sunday morning.

“[It was a] solid work. The racetrack is in very good shape,” said trainer Steve Asmussen, who won the 2007 and 2009 Preakness with Horses of the Year Curlin and the filly Rachel Alexandra. “I think he'll actually do a little more next week.”

Asmussen also trains Kentucky Derby contenders Publisher (American Pharoah) and Tiztastic (Tiz the Law) in addition to Magnitude (Not This Time), winner of the GII Risen Star Stakes. The latter was forced to miss the Run for the Roses following his win in the GII Risen Star Stakes.

“I think Clever Again is like Publisher and Magnitude and Tiztastic,” Asmussen said. “He's been keeping that company his whole life. When you're afforded the opportunity to train horses like that you realize what they are capable of and what they should and shouldn't go in.”

Clever Again, runner-up going 4 1/2 furlongs in his career debut at Keeneland last fall, graduated in his 3-year-old bow going 1 1/16 miles in an Oaklawn Feb. 23. Trying a two-turn mile for the first time in the Hot Springs, the colt won by four lengths over Grade I winner Gaming (Game Winner).

“I think the farther he goes, the better he'll be,” Asmussen said. “He's very quick, but he has a tremendous cruising speed. I don't think we've been anywhere near the bottom of him. He ran a very fast race at a mile and a sixteenth. Don't think the distance will be any issue.”

Clever Again has the same ownership combination as GII Louisiana Derby winner Tiztastic, with Winchell Thoroughbreds owning 50% and the other half owned by the partnership of Mrs. John Magnier Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith.

“Off of the Hot Springs and the number that he ran and beating a Grade I winner in there, it was easy to make a decision on what would be next for him,” Asmussen said of Clever Again and the 1 3/16-mile Preakness.

 

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McPeek, Jerkens Embark on a New ‘Collaboration’ in New York

Sun, 2025-04-27 15:19

Trainer Jimmy Jerkens, a long-time New York based trainer before embarking on a two-year stint in Saudi Arabia, will oversee a fledgling New York-based string for Kenny McPeek, according to the Kentucky-based conditioner who announced the collaboration on X Sunday afternoon.

“Jimmy Jerkens is going to be anchoring a New York division for me, starting this week,” confirmed McPeek.

He explained, “I am based in Kentucky, and I have family here and my history has been with yearlings, working yearling sales, I have been fortunate enough to build my racing with yearling auctions and working with a lot of people over the decades. This will offer me more time to stay in Kentucky with less worries about a New York division. Jimmy is such a world-class horseman that I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to work with him.”

Jerkens, who announced his decision to leave the U.S. for Saudi Arabia in the spring of 2023, heralded his return early this season.

“He just transitioned back from Saudi Arabia after several years there. I'm sure he had an opportunity to rebuild his stable, but at the same time, we needed somebody who was going to be there for the new construction of Belmont Park,” said McPeek. “With the new grandstand and everything that is happening at Belmont Park, we really want to be there with a firm division of horses and with someone we can trust to be on top of things, and Jimmy is that guy.”

McPeek enjoyed a banner season in 2024, winning both the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks in addition to being named an Eclipse Award finalist as the nation's leading trainer.

“I am a little bit tentative in that I started as a little trainer, and this is a big-trainer move, but we are fortunate that we have this great base of clientele that will let us go to the yearling sales in the season and we can't runt hem all in one place,” he admitted. “I am lucky because I have people including Harold Lerner who are based in New York that are really excited about Jimmy helping us in this new collaboration.”

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Journalism Heads Kentucky Derby Workers at Churchill Downs Sunday

Sun, 2025-04-27 14:15

Kentucky Derby morning-line favorite Journalism (Curlin) topped a work tab of six entrants for the GI Kentucky Derby by working five furlongs over a fast track in 1:01.40 Sunday morning at Churchill Downs. Trained by Michael McCarthy, Journalism put in his morning breeze during the 7:15-7:30 EST training window for Kentucky Derby and Oaks horses.

Sunday morning the early favorite was reunited with rider Umberto Rispoli.  Journalism cut out splits of :13.60, :25.80 and :37.60, galloping out in 1:13.60 and 1:26.80.

“I was very pleased with the work,” said trainer Michael McCarthy. “Umberto was happy, so that's good. He'll just walk tomorrow. It's all good for now.”

Also working during that time were Sovereignty (Into Mischief), East Avenue (Medaglia d'Oro), Rodriguez (Authentic), Publisher (American Pharoah) and Tiztastic (Tiz the Law).

Sovereignty, winner of the GII Fountain of Youth Stakes and the second choice on the morning line behind Journalism, worked five furlongs in company in 1:01.80 for trainer Bill Mott.

Regular exercise rider Javier Cardona was aboard the colt, who posted internal fractions of :25.40, :37.80 before finishing up in 1:15.

“I liked what I saw,” Mott said, overseeing the activity trackside from his pony. “He looked good coming through the stretch.”

Mott has named Junior Alvarado to ride his charge and they'll start the proceedings from post 18 in the 20-horse Derby field.

Wood Memorial winner Rodriguez, the co-fourth choice on the morning line, worked five furlongs in 1:00 for trainer Bob Baffert. East Avenue, runner-up in the GI Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, worked five furlongs in :59.40 for trainer Brendan Walsh.

Rodriguez was accompanied by Martin Garcia, who came off the track at the five and a half-furlong gap. The track's clockers caught the pair in :12.20, :24.20, :36.20 and :47.60 splits, then timed him “out” in 1:12.60 and 1:27.

“Amazing work; amazing,” the rider said shaking his head in a form of pleasing disbelief. “He was in hand all the way.”

Trainer Steve Asmussen's Derby duo of Publisher, with Wilson Fabian in the irons, breezed a half-mile in :49 and Tiztastic, ridden by Carlos Rosas, worked a half-mile in :50.20.

Scheduled to work Monday morning are Citizen Bull (Into Mischief), Coal Battle (Coal Front) and Baeza (McKinzie).

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Rail-Drawn Derby Horses Rarely Wear Roses, but Look Great in Carnations in June

Sun, 2025-04-27 13:46

It's an immense accomplishment to be one of the 20 Thoroughbreds out of the current sophomore crop of 17,146 to earn a coveted starting berth in the GI Kentucky Derby.

But the cruel fate of a random post-position draw annually assigns the dreaded No. 1 gate to a single member of that elite set.

Because the Derby is unmatched in American racing in its outsized stature and jumbo field size, so too is the stigma of breaking closest to the inside fence prior to the chaotic first-turn free-for-all, where primo positioning and a clean trip can take precedence over being the most talented.

The year the difficult (but not impossible) rail draw was conferred upon 2-year-old champ Citizen Bull (Into Mischief), adding another layer of complexity to his quest for a blanket of roses on the first Saturday in May.

But take heart, connections of Citizen Bull: In two of the past three years, the horse who has drawn the rail for the Derby has gone on the win the GI Belmont Stakes after running poorly at Churchill Downs.

The fact that inside-post losers in Louisville have recently been adorned with the Belmont's traditional white carnations is probably nothing more than an interesting but coincidental blip.

Yet in an anecdotal way, it does lend credence to the argument that post one has an adverse impact on Derby performance.

Last year, the rail-drawn Dornoch got bumped and brushed early, never settling while hemmed inside. Once he got free from cover, Dornoch launched a decent far-turn bid, but was forced to check hard when the hole he was aiming for closed.

Despite the momentum loss, Dornoch regrouped and boxed on with interest, but mid-stretch traffic cost him any chance of attaining a Derby placing better than tenth.

Trainer Danny Gargan bypassed the GI Preakness Stakes, and the 17-1 Dornoch forced the pace to win the 10-furlong third leg of the Triple Crown at its temporary home of Saratoga. He then won the GI Haskell Stakes in his next start.

In 2022, Mo Donegal came out of post one awkwardly and was relegated to the back of the pack.

Considering his come-from-behind style; nimble, athletic way of going, and the hot pace in that year's Derby, such positioning shouldn't have been a problem.

But Irad Ortiz, Jr., kept Mo Donegal in “wait” mode all the way to the five-sixteenths pole before asking for run, and by the time opportunity materialized at the head of the lane, they were fanned way out in the 13 path.

Even though he managed only fifth beneath the twin spires, his sneaky-good acceleration inside the eighth pole foretold a Belmont Stakes fortune reversal.

Trainer Todd Pletcher opted out of the Preakness, and Mo Donegal responded with a 5-2 favored win over 12 furlongs at Belmont Park (in what would turn out to be his final career race before a September retirement).

Sandwiched between those two years was Hit Show (Candy Ride {Arg}), a no-show fifth from the fence in the 2023 Derby. He ran fourth in that year's Belmont after skipping the Preakness, but deserves an honorable mention alongside Dornoch and Mo Donegal because of how he's since rounded into a world-class racehorse.

As a May 9 foal with only five starts, Hit Show was against the grain of seasoning even before getting burdened with the one hole for the Derby. He broke fluidly and the early part of his trip was uneventful, but Hit Show went from attack mode to being under siege and looking lost in the matter of a few strides in upper stretch.

Trainer Brad Cox didn't coax the best from this colt until ages four and now five, but Hit Show has since won five of seven stakes, most recently the G1 Dubai World Cup three weeks ago.

Since the advent of the use of a starting gate for the Derby in 1930, the aggregate record of horses starting 95 times from post one is 8-5-5 with an 8.4% win percentage and an 18.9% in-the-money ratio. The average finish is eighth.

It's an oft-cited fact that the last Derby winner from the inside gate was Ferdinand in 1986, who prevailed in a field of 16 after getting bumped to the back, rallying wide, then darting up the rail under a masterful ride by 54-year-old Bill Shoemaker.

The other Derby winners starting closest to the fence (again, only referring to 1930 onward from the gate) have been Chateaugay (1963), Needles (1956), Hill Gail (1952), Citation (1948), Gallahadion (1940), Lawrin (1938) and War Admiral (1937).

Field size can be a factor in how undesirably the one hole is perceived. Five of those Derby champs raced in fields of 10 or fewer horses, so post one was likely considered an advantage in those years, not a detriment.

The two Triple Crown winners among those rail-drawn Derby winners beat fields sized at opposite ends of the spectrum, with Citation prevailing over just five rivals and War Admiral besting 19.

Even though the gap back to the last Derby winner to break from the rail now exceeds the 37-year wait that the sport endured between Triple Crown champs, statistically speaking, the drought has been longer for post two, which has not sent out a Derby winner since Affirmed in 1978.

In fact, despite the rail's bad rap, posts two, three and four have all been less-productive draws in terms of wins. Over the same 95 Derbies since 1930, they have resulted in only seven, six and five Derby winners, respectively.

Neoequos (Neolithic), Final Gambit (Not This Time) and 'TDN Rising Star' Rodriguez (Authentic) were assigned gates two, three and four.

Gate five has been the sweet spot, the only post to yield double-digit winners from 95 editions (10-8-4 with a 10.5% win rate and 23.2% in the money). American Promise (Justify) landed that placement.

Post 10 is next-best from 88 Derbies, with a 9-6-11 record, 10.2% win-rate, and high-mark 29.5% in-the-money ratio. Grande (Curlin) snagged it this year.

Despite the favorable results out of those “five and dime” gates, how do you explain the bafflingly poor performances out of the neighbors right next door to those productive posts? Gate six is 2-for-95. Gate 11 is 2-for-84.

Don't tell that to Admire Daytona (Jpn) (Drefong) or Flying Mohawk (Karakontie {Jpn}).

Post 17 has never generated a winner at 0-for-45. Enter Sandman (Tapit)!

(Technically, two other Derbies in the era since the starting gate have generated outer-post 0-fers, with gate positions 21 through 23 also being blanked. That happened only twice, when 21 horses ran in 1981 and when 23 went to post in 1974. The Derby is now limited to 20 starters.)

Among posts that have produced at least one victory, gate 14 (2-for-68) is on the longest current winless streak, dating to Carry Back in 1961. Tiztastic (Tiz the Law) got that draw this year.

The outside gates, although not considered as unfavorable as the inner posts, are no picnic, either. Posts 18, 19 and 20 combined are a collective 5-for-87.

This year, from 18 outward, those spots belong to Sovereignty (Into Mischief), Chunk of Gold (Preservationist) and Owen Almighty (Speightstown).

There have been 17 Derbies in which post 20 has been the outermost position in the starting gate. That widest draw gave us the much-the-best, 5-2 winner Big Brown in 2008, and the improbable 50-1 bomb Rich Strike, who drew in off the also-eligible list in 2022.

Of the gates that didn't get mentioned above, post seven (8-for-94) went to Luxor Cafe (American Pharoah); post eight (9-for-94) to Journalism (Curlin); post nine (4-for-91) to Burnham Square (Liam's Map); post 12 (3-for-80) to 'TDN Rising Star' East Avenue (Medaglia d'Oro); post 13 (5-for-78) to Publisher (American Pharoah); post 15 (6-for-63) to Render Judgment (Blame), and post 16 (4-for-52) to Coal Battle (Coal Front).

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Public Assembly Leads Home Long-Odds Trifecta in Royal Heroine Upset

Sat, 2025-04-26 20:37

In a surprising turn of events where none of the betting favorites finished better than seventh, Public Assembly (More Than Ready) gathered the rest and led home a pair of double-digit choices to score her first black-type in the GIII Royal Heroine Stakes at Santa Anita.

Coming into the race off a victory last out Mar. 30 against local optional claimers in her first jump for her new connections, the chestnut was bet down to 8-1 odds as 'TDN Rising Star' Raw Ability (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}) commanded the lion's share of attention as the 9-5 favorite. With that undefeated filly her immediate neighbor, Public Assembly settled well to the inside of runners after the gate break while the public choice stepped up to stalk the pacesetter.

Comfortable in midpack behind :22.71, :46.23, and 1:10.99 splits, she was patiently handled on the final bend as the field closed ranks and was set loose in upper stretch while the pace started to catch up to the leaders. Muscling clear of competition passing the eighth pole, Public Assembly surged away from any would-be challengers in the late stages to win by 1 3/4 lengths. Stablemate Sun Of Hill (Brz) (Camelot Kitten), who completely blew the break when she hopped in the air, put in a very respectable showing from dead last to claim second as Sneaker (Oscar Performance) overcame checking off of heels to claim third.

“Last time she won and she was coming off a layoff and was going long,” said winning rider Antonio Fresu. “She won really easily. I told Phil right after she should run in a stakes right away.”

“I was very confident today. The only bit of concern was it might be a little too short for her at a mile. I had a great break from the gate and a great trip saving ground. She felt, really, really comfortable, even better than last time. She was traveling beautifully all the way around. I was just waiting for a gap. As soon as she saw the gap, she took off. It was impressive.”

Co-Owner Bing Bush of Abbondanza Racing said, “Phil and his barn have done a wonderful job with her. After she won her last race, we were kind of thinking that she might want to go a little bit longer, but Phil said, 'You know what? I think a mile will suit her just great.' We thought we would give it a try and my gosh, I think she can go the distance and get a mile. I just can't believe it I am so excited.”

“She kind of put it on the last time. The pace this time wasn't quite as fast as I thought it be, but it was a decent pace and she was up closer to it this time. She had a bit coming home, and she was amazing to watch. Just unbelievable.”

 

#1 PUBLIC ASSEMBLY ($18.00) gets home on top in the $100,000 Royal Heroine Stakes (G3) at @SantaAnitaPark. @Antonio1Fresu was aboard the More Than Ready filly for trainer @PhilDamato11. pic.twitter.com/H7saN0NZC5

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) April 26, 2025

Pedigree Note:

Public Assembly is by the late great More Than Ready, who was a worldwide phenomenon as a stallion with champions on both hemispheres and 232 stakes winners. His prowess extended beyond just being a sire, but he's also counted as a sire of sires and leading broodmare sire.

Out of Enchanting Kitten (Kitten's Joy), a full-sister to MGSW Csaba and SW & GISP Kitten's Queen, the victress is the mare's first winner ahead of Advantes Road (Jpn) (Munnings) in Japan, who was sold in utero when his dam changed hands for $100,000 to JS Company at KEENOV in 2021. Since then, the mare has produced a now juvenile filly by Silver State (Jpn) named Brave Kitten (Jpn) and a yearling colt by Saturnalia (Jpn). Her full-sister Kitten's Queen has also been exported to Japan and is the dam of MSP Today Is the Day (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}).

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Headline Horse: Journalism Draws Post Eight, Favored at 3-1 for Kentucky Derby

Sat, 2025-04-26 19:58

Journalism (Curlin) was tabbed as the 3-1 morning-line favorite after drawing in a good spot in post position eight for next Saturday's 151st running of the GI Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Regular rider Umberto Rispoli will be at the controls.

The GI Santa Anita Derby winner, an $825,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling graduate, is campaigned in partnership by Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Elayne Stables 5, Robert LaPenta and Lessees Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith and Michael B. Tabor. He is trained by Michael McCarthy.

“No complaints,” McCarthy said at the draw. “With a horse like him, he gives you a lot of confidence. I really wouldn't have mattered where he had drawn.”

Godolphin homebred Sovereignty (Into Mischief), runner-up in the GI Curlin Florida Derby for Hall of Famer Bill Mott, will exit from post 18. He is the second-choice on the morning-line at 5-1.

Sandman (Tapit) drew one to the inside of that rival and is the third-choice on the morning-line at 6-1. The GI Arkansas Derby winner and $1.2-million OBS March breezer is owned in partnership by D. J. Stable, St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds and CJ Stables and is trained by Mark Casse.

The speedy Bob Baffert-trained duo of champion 2-year-old colt Citizen Bull (Into Mischief) and 'TDN Rising Star' Rodriguez (Authentic) both drew inside posts. Citizen Bull will exit from the rail while GII Wood Memorial S. winner Rodriguez will break from post four.

American Pharoah (Luxor Cafe & Publisher), Curlin (Grande & Journalism) and Into Mischief (Citizen Bull & Sovereignty) will each be represented by two runners.

 

Coady Media

From the rail out, the entire 20-horse field, including morning-line odds, for the Kentucky Derby (Race 12, post time 6:57 p.m.):

1-Citizen Bull (Into Mischief) (20-1), 2-Neoequos (Neolithic) (30-1), 3-Final Gambit (Not This Time) (30-1), 4-Rodriguez (Authentic) (12-1), 5-American Promise (Justify) (30-1), 6-Admire Daytona (Jpn) (Drefong) (30-1), 7-Luxor Cafe (American Pharoah) (15-1), 8-Journalism (Curlin) (3-1), 9-Burnham Square (Liam's Map) (12-1), 10-Grande (Curlin) (20-1), 11-Flying Mohawk (Karakontie {Jpn}) (30-1), 12-East Avenue (Medaglia d'Oro) (20-1), 13-Publisher (American Pharoah) (20-1), 14-Tiztastic (Tiz the Law) (20-1), 15-Render Judgment (Blame) (30-1), 16-Coal Battle (Coal Front) (30-1), 17-Sandman (Tapit) (6-1), 18-Sovereignty (Into Mischief) (5-1), 19-Chunk of Gold (Preservationist) (30-1), 20-Owen Almighty (Speightstown) (30-1), AE-Baeza (McKinzie).

Post Positions for the 151st Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve. pic.twitter.com/CGyJn9rmy2

— Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) April 26, 2025

Unbeaten Good Cheer Favored at 6-5 for Kentucky Oaks

Unbeaten Godolphin homebred Good Cheer (Medaglia d'Oro), meanwhile, drew post 11 and has been installed as the 6-5 morning-line favorite in a full, 14-horse field for next Friday's GI Kentucky Oaks. Luis Saez will ride.

The last-out GII Fasig-Tipton Fair Grounds Oaks heroine is trained by Brad Cox, who has won the Kentucky Oaks two previous times with Monomoy Girl (2018) and Shedaresthedevil (2020).

“She's been incredibly impressive this year and we're expecting a big effort next week,” Cox said.

From the rail out, the entire 14-horse field, including morning-line odds, for the Kentucky Oaks (Race 11, post time 5:51 p.m.):

1-Early On (Union Rags) (30-1), 2-Simply Joking (Practical Joke) (30-1), 3-Fondly (Upstart) (30-1), 4-Drexel Hill (Bolt d'Oro) (30-1), 5-Quickick (McKinzie) (30-1), 6-Ballerina d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro) (10-1), 7-La Cara (Street Sense) (6-1), 8-Five G (Vekoma) (12-1), 9-Tenma (Nyquist) (12-1), 10-Take Charge Milady (Take Charge Indy) (12-1), 11-Good Cheer (Medaglia d'Oro) (6-5), 12-Anna's Promise (Promises Fulfilled) (30-1), 13-Bless The Broken (Laoban) (30-1), 14-Quietside (Malibu Moon) (8-1).

Post Positions for the 151st Longines Kentucky Oaks. pic.twitter.com/K38MylPbn0

— Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) April 27, 2025

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Monmouth Park Stabling Area Accepts Arrivals in Advance of May 10 Opening Day

Sat, 2025-04-26 17:32

The stabling area at Monmouth Park opened Saturday morning and trainer Mike Dini had the first horse to arrive for the second straight year as a juvenile from Tampa Bay Downs led the parade into the New Jersey fixture ahead of opening day May 10, the track announced Saturday afternoon.

Dini has 60 stalls to fill ahead of the 50-day meeting, and with his current string down in Florida, the trainer says practicality led the decision to start shipping early rather than any pointed intention to be the first on the scene.

Dini currently sits third in the trainer standing at Tampa Bay Downs as closing day May 4 bears down, and will be facing the likes of conditioner Claudio Gonzalez on the shift to the Jersey shore. Gonzalez is seeking a fourth straight training title at Monmouth Park. He will have a full string for the meeting as well as industry titans Todd Pletcher and Chad Brown with other big names set to join including Shug McGaughey–who is back for a second year, Jorge Delgado, Jose D'Angelo, and Kelly Breen, among others. Christophe Clement requested 20 stalls and Diane Morici reportedly plans to ship 44 horses from her usual Maryland-Delaware circuit for the first time.

Monmouth's 80th racing season features 50 stakes races worth $7.8-million and runs through Sept. 14 with the highlight being the track's marquee contest–the GI Haskell Stakes set for Saturday, July 19. Post time for Saturdays, Sundays, and holiday Mondays is 12:50 p.m. with Friday racing set to begin June 20. Post time those days will be 2:00 p.m.

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Sweet Azteca On Comeback Trail for New Trainer Richard Baltas, Baffert’s Hejazi Also Works Toward Return

Sat, 2025-04-26 17:09

GISW Sweet Azteca (Sharp Azteca), now in the barn of trainer Richard Baltas, was out Saturday morning to post her second workout at the Great Race Place as she continues progressing toward a racing return.

Gone since finishing fourth in the GIII Chillingworth Stakes for trainer Michael McCarthy, the grey worked five furlongs in 1:00 flat after going four furlongs last Saturday Apr. 19 in :47.60. The GI Beholder Mile victress was spotted back in mid-March when she resurfaced at San Luis Rey Training Center with a three-furlong breeze as her first posted work since last October.

Likewise, GISP Hejazi (Bernardini) is also inching closer to comeback as the Bob Baffert trainee put in his sixth work Saturday morning since being gone for almost a year and a half. Sidelined after running fourth Jan. 27 in the GIII Fred W. Hooper Stakes, a race after he was the runner-up in the GI Malibu Stakes to stablemate Speed Boat Beach (Bayern), the $3.55-million 2022 EASMAY topper was clocked doing five furlongs in 1:00.40 (11/50).

Speed Boat Beach too has been gone for all of 2024, and is slated to make his 2025 bow May 1 in the St. Matthews Overnight Stakes at Churchill Downs.

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Sunday Insights: ‘Rising Stars’ Hook Up In Stakes-Quality Allowance

Sat, 2025-04-26 16:59

7th-AQU, Alw (N1X)/OC ($100k), $82k, 3yo, 1m, 4:22 p.m. ET
The official feature of Sunday's program at the Big A is the Memories of Silver Stakes one race hence, but this one-mile contest is liable to produce multiple runners for age-restricted stakes over the coming weeks and months.

CORNUCOPIAN (Into Mischief) blew the doors off a field of Oaklawn maidens on debut Feb. 23, earning no-brainer 'TDN Rising Star' status, but found himself in a suicidal pace battle in the Mar. 29 GI Arkansas Derby and the $1.1-million KEESEP yearling did exceptionally well to hang around for fourth. “He's a horse that has some potential lofty targets ahead, so we wanted to find the right race to entertain potentially prepping into the next Classic,” said SF Bloodstock's Tom Ryan, who campaigns the colt in partnership. “I think we'd look at the [May 17 GI] Preakness first, and a trip back to New York wouldn't be [out of the question] either,” he said, referring to the GI Belmont Stakes on June 7.

Sand Devil (Violence) was a debut winner in December and earned his own 'Rising Star' when taking a course-and-distance allowance by better than a dozen lengths Jan. 2. The homebred drops out of a sixth to fellow 'Rising Star' and Kentucky Derby-bound Rodriguez (Authentic) in the GII Wood Memorial Stakes Apr. 5.

The Chad Brown barn sends out two of Sunday's eight starters, including OXO Equine's Keewaydin (Instagrand), a close third in the Saratoga maiden won by 'Rising Star' Tip Top Thomas (Volatile) at Saratoga–in which Derby hopeful Sovereignty (Into Mischief) was fourth–and was a maiden winner over seven panels in October, but finished a disappointing fifth at odds-on in the GII Remsen Stakes Dec. 7. Juddmonte's Garamond (Uncle Mo) defeated Tampa maidens by 1 3/4 lengths on Jan. 25 debut and gave a good account of himself when third, a length and three-quarters behind Sand Devil, in the GIII Gotham Stakes on Mar. 1. TJCIS PPs

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Masmak Sells for $375,000 Post-Sale to Top Keeneland April Selected HORA Auction

Sat, 2025-04-26 16:54

Listed Excelsior Stakes-placed Masmak (Vino Rosso), consigned by ELiTE as agent, was sold for $375,000 after the conclusion of the Keeneland April Selected Horses of Racing Age sale, and is officially the auction topper, Keeneland announced Saturday afternoon.

Changing hands to Cromwell Bloodstock, the chestnut is out of GSP Nite In Rome (Harlan's Holiday), making him a half-brother to 'TDN Rising Star' MGSW Three Technique (Mr Speaker) and MSW & MGSP Stan the Man (Broken Vow). With the new sale, the results have been updated as follows: 47 horses sold for $4,329,000, up 7 per cent from last year's gross of $3,940,000 when 54 sold. The average rose 27 per cent from $72,963 to $92,106 while the media rose 69 per cent to $65,000 from last year's mark of $38,5000.

ELiTE was the auction's leading consignor with all 25 of their horses selling for a gross of $2.3-million–representing 53 per cent of the sale's total gross–and an average of $92,000 as well as a median of $65,000.

“Although digital sales might have impacted the entire sale's gross numbers offered at Keeneland's April live sale, we were able to offer and sell our biggest and best draft to date at this sale this year,” ELiTE's Brad Weisbord said.

“You can't beat the atmosphere of a live sale, and that will generally align with a very high clearance rate. It's safer and more fun to shop at and attend live sales. This was a win-win for everyone. It's what we are all about–pleasing both buyers and sellers.”

A recap of the sale, and ELiTE's results, may be found here.

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Improbable Colt Here Comes Francis Gallops At Tampa, Becomes a ‘Rising Star’

Sat, 2025-04-26 16:27

Arcadia Michigan Stable's Here Comes Francis, a son of the gone-too-soon Improbable, improved his record to two impressive victories from as many trips to the races, as the chestnut bossed a field of entry-level allowance rivals by 5 1/4 comprehensive lengths Saturday afternoon at Tampa Bay Downs, becoming the newest 'TDN Rising Star' for his efforts. He received an 89 Beyer Speed Figure.

Having cost $100,000 at the 2023 Keeneland September sale, the Feb. 23 colt breezed his eighth of a mile in a slick :9 4/5 ahead of last year's OBS April Sale–all while doing it greenly and on his incorrect lead–and was knocked down to owner Jeff Kresnak for a quarter-million dollars.

Despite the presence of $3-million 2023 KEESEP topper Vibe (Into Mischief) in a six-furlong maiden at Gulfstream Park Mar. 15, the money was very much on Here Comes Francis, as he jumped as the 19-10 second choice. Very quickly into stride, he galloped his rivals through lively fractions of :22.29 and :44.81 and despite having gone that hard, still managed to stop the clock in 1:09.57, good for a lofty 97 Beyer Speed Figure. The form of the race had already been…ehem…'franked' when Vibe returned to romp by nearly 10 lengths going a mile in Hallandale Beach Apr. 19, and Here Comes Francis was duly sent off the 1-5 mortal on Florida's Suncoast on Saturday.

After proving a bit stubborn to load, the Victor Barboza, Jr. trainee once again flew the gates and coasted through an opening quarter in :22.96 with Samuel Marin motionless in the saddle. Opening up on his rivals at will on the turn, Here Comes Francis cornered a touch wide after a half in :46.14 and covered his final five-sixteenths in a strong :29.95 while never asked a serious question. The final time was just 0.62 seconds off the track record.

The winner's dam is a daughter of the talented Tar Heel Mom (Flatter), a three-time graded winner at sprint distances and runner-up to Hilda's Passion (Canadian Frontier) in the 2011 GI Ballerina Stakes. I Know That Mom is a full-sister to Vorticity, a stakes winner at two and second in the GIII Jerome Stakes and in GIII Withers Stakes at three in 2016. Tar Heel Mom's half-brother Scrappy T (Fit to Fight) won the 2005 Withers, but is best remembered for nearly taking down Afleet Alex at the top of the stretch of that year's GI Preakness Stakes.

I Know That Mom is also the dam of a yearling colt by Global Campaign and she produced a filly by that WinStar-based son of Curlin this past Feb. 17.

6th-Tampa Bay Downs, $34,550, Alw (NW1X), Opt. Clm ($75,000), 4-26, 3yo, 6 1/2f, 1:16.09, ft, 5 1/4 lengths.
HERE COMES FRANCIS, c, 3, by Improbable
1st Dam: I Know That Mom, by Distorted Humor
2nd Dam: Tar Heel Mom, by Flatter
3rd Dam: Perpetual Light, by Sunny's Halo
Sales history: $100,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP; $250,000 2yo '24 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $61,500. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O-Arcadia Michigan Stable; B-Upson Downs Farm & WinStar Farm LLC (KY); T-Victor Barboza Jr.

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