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Updated: 1 week 5 days ago

Ballerina d’Oro Works For Oaks Start, Brown Also Offers Plans For Hill Road, Sierra Leone

Sat, 2025-04-19 16:16

Rodeo Creek Racing's GIII Gazelle-winner Ballerina d'Oro worked a half-mile on Saturday over the Belmont Park training track in preparation for the GI Kentucky Oaks, NYRA said in Saturday press release.

Trained by Chad Brown, the daughter of Medaglia d'Oro breezed under jockey Dylan Davis and was caught by NYRA clockers covering the distance in 48 seconds flat outside of 'TDN Rising Star' & GISP Hill Road (Quality Road), who the conditioner said is pointing to the GIII Peter Pan Stakes during the Belmont at the Big A meet May 10. Hill Road was forced to miss the GII Wood Memorial Stakes in early April after he spiked a fever on the Thursday before the race.

“She [Ballerina d'Oro] worked super and is cooling out good, so she'll ship over to Churchill and leave tomorrow,” said Brown, who added he was also pleased with the way Hill Road galloped out. “She's been pretty uncomplicated in her races, so I'm not sure she what happened coming off the turn in the last race.”

Ballerina d'Oro was a hard-fought nose winner over Early On (Union Rags) in the Gazelle Apr. 5, but she drifted out considerably down the lane. Brown said the talented grey reminds him of champion 3-year-old colt & 'TDN Rising Star' Sierra Leone (Gun Runner), who has been working at Payson Park throughout April and is expected to arrive at Belmont Park soon to train towards the GI Stephen Foster Stakes at Churchill Downs June 28.

“I'm not going to react to that. It was such an isolated thing for me,” Brown said of the Gazelle stretch run. “She has enough steering equipment on her between her bit and a small blinker. I'm not going to overreact here.

“She cruised around there with Hill Road and Dylan gave us good feedback and said, 'Chad, I don't know where that came from, because she was straight for me today.' She might hold her head in a little bit, but she's a lot like Sierra the way she trains. He [Sierra Leone] might cock his head a little bit, but in the mornings, we have never seen him on one line or had a rider complain about him–same as her.

“I think with more going on in a full field of the Oaks, she's not going to come off the turn six-wide with no one in either five lanes of her,” Brown said. “That's kind of the way she was [in the Gazelle], and she's going to have horses near wherever she is in this race.”

The post Ballerina d’Oro Works For Oaks Start, Brown Also Offers Plans For Hill Road, Sierra Leone appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Into Mischief Keeneland September Topper Vibe Romps at Gulfstream

Sat, 2025-04-19 16:13

6th-Gulfstream, $44,770, Msw, 4-19, 3yo, 1m, 1:38.45, ft, 9 3/4 lengths.
VIBE (c, 3, Into Mischief–Nonna Mia {GISP, $127,150}, by Empire Maker) ran a disappointing and money-burning fourth on career debut over six furlongs of this main track Mar. 15. With the addition of blinkers here, the colt stretched out to the one-turn mile and put it all together en route to an easy victory at Gulfstream on Saturday afternoon.

Away without incident, the 3-2 favorite took up a stalking position behind pacesetting Mahovlich (McKinzie). The leader posted an opening quarter-mile in :23.92 and began to pour on the pressure through a very quick next internal sectional that was timed in :22.69. Sent into the lead by Emisael Jaramillo with fully three-eighths of a mile to run, the $3-million topper out of the 2023 Keeneland September Sale opened up a sizeable advantage passing the quarter pole, felt the crop in upper stretch, failed to swap his leads until deep inside the final furlong, but was too far in front to make any difference. The winning margin over 6-1 Radical Rhetoric (Always Dreaming) was 9 3/4 lengths.

“We felt like in his debut he got swept off his feet a little bit sprinting, so we wanted to stretch him out. We also worked him back in blinkers and it seemed to work really well,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “I think the combination of the stretch-out, the experience and adding the blinkers made for a much-improved performance today.”

His dam's last registered foal of record, the winner is a half-brother to current sire Outwork (Uncle Mo), GISW, $701,800 and Nonna's Boy (Distorted Humor), MSP, $299,044. A half-sister to current sire Cairo Prince (Pioneerof the Nile), Nonna Mia is also responsible for Nonna Bella (Stay Thirty), who herself produced champion 2-year-old colt & 'TDN Rising Star' Fierceness (City of Light) and his full-brother GSW Mentee. Sales History: $3,000,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $29,300. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV .
O-Repole Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds, CJ Stables, Woodford Racing, Lane's End Racing and Patrick K. McGee; B-Repole Stable, Inc. (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher.

Vibe and @JaramilloJockey win by a daylight in race 6, first leg of the Rainbow Pick6. #GulfstreamPark #RoyalPalmMeet pic.twitter.com/X4oTjRC5YM

— Gulfstream Park (@GulfstreamPark) April 19, 2025

The post Into Mischief Keeneland September Topper Vibe Romps at Gulfstream appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

1/ST TV: ‘Triple Crown Trail’ Portal Has Array Of Derby Works

Sat, 2025-04-19 15:28

1/ST TV has curated the workouts by contenders for the 151st Kentucky Derby in one location on their website under the heading “Triple Crown Trail,” the platform said via a release on Saturday.

With the Kentucky Derby just 14 days out, fans, horsemen and horseplayers alike will have free access to not just the penultimate workouts of those looking for a spot in the starting gate, but previous drills for the contenders as well.

The “Triple Crown Trail” portal is part of the thousands of workouts that the 1/ST TV teams around the country capture, log and upload each year.

Click here to sign-up and access the library.

The post 1/ST TV: ‘Triple Crown Trail’ Portal Has Array Of Derby Works appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Gun Runner Firster Bests Elders Stylishly, Becomes a ‘Rising Star’

Sat, 2025-04-19 15:19

Part of a favored Klaravich Stable entry favored at 70 cents on the dollar, Strategic Focus (c, 3, Gun RunnerCurlin's Mistress, by Curlin) turned in a highly polished debut effort, outfinishing a pair of older rivals to become the newest 'TDN Rising Star' for his boom sire.

Drawn widest in a field of eight, the $500,000 Keeneland September purchase broke fractionally to his right and was taken in hand by Dylan Davis to race in the second half of the field behind fractions of :23.38 for the opening quarter and :46.23 for the half.

Kept out in about the six path passing the half-mile marker, the clean chestnut was asked to go a bit on the turn and tracked into it nicely three wide, following the move of his more-experienced entrymate Duration (Mitole). Steered out to the grandstand side in upper stretch, Strategic Focus sustained his run to hit the front five off the inside at the entrance to the final furlong and edged clear late to best the well-backed 4-year-old Hop Sing (Curlin), a big-figure second at Gulfstream Park Feb. 27 where he was more or less on even terms at the wire with Duration, who was officially fourth.

Strategic Focus is a full-brother to Klaravich's Headline Numbers, a $325,000 KEESEP grad who earned the first stakes victory of her career in the Top Flight Stakes at Aqueduct on Apr. 12. The winner's dam is a full-sister to three-time graded winner Curlin's Approval, the dam of the Brown-conditioned Praetor (Into Mischief), recently third in the GIII Stonestreet Lexington Stakes. Curlin's Mistress is also a half-sister to one-time MGSP 'TDN Rising Star' Apologynotaccepted (Fusaichi Pegasus).

Bred on a similar cross to GI Churchill Downs Stakes winner Gun Pilot, Strategic Focus has a yearling half-brother by Authentic and Curlin's Mistress is also the dam of a filly foal by Authentic foaled Feb. 14 already named Valentine Mistress.

4th-Aqueduct, $80,000, Msw, 4-19, 3yo/up, 1m, 1:34.99, ft, 1 1/4 lengths.
STRATEGIC FOCUS, c, 3, by Gun Runner
1st Dam: Curlin's Mistress, by Curlin
2nd Dam: Withmom'sapproval, by With Approval
3rd Dam: Wonderful Mom, by Rexson
Sales history: $500,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $44,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O-Klaravich Stables Inc; B-Alter's Racing Stables Inc (KY); T-Chad C Brown.

The post Gun Runner Firster Bests Elders Stylishly, Becomes a ‘Rising Star’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Gin Gin Reverses Form for Walsh, Strolls Home in the Doubledogdare

Fri, 2025-04-18 19:50

Good first impressions are a must in most professional situations, and Gin Gin (Hightail) stepped up in a big way for new trainer Brendan Walsh when she dominated the GIII Baird Doubledogdare Stakes at Keeneland Friday evening.

Previously in the barn of Brad Cox, she had a stakes win in New York to her credit in 2024 by way of the Busanda Stakes at Aqueduct in mid-January, but went winless for the rest of the season including a start in the GI Kentucky Oaks. Running 12th in the premier spring Classic for American 3-year-old fillies, she was gone from that effort until Jan. 17 this year, where she ran a flat fifth against optional claimers at Fair Grounds on first-time Lasix.

Going without the medication here and a chilly 38-1 for her first jump in the Walsh program, she pressed MGISW Just F Y I (Justify) as that one put up :23.19 and :47.70 early splits. Inheriting the lead entering the far turn when the leader faltered and steadied at the five sixteenths pole, Gin Gin still had the advantage as a hopeful came up to apply outside pressure. Shaking clear of that one and drawing away, she was 5 1/4 lengths ahead of deep closer MGSW & MGISP Tarifa (Bernardini) as GISW Candied (Candy Ride {Arg}) held on for third.

After she faltered on the far bend, the chart notes say that Just F Y I was pulled up in the lane and transported off the track in an equine ambulance. The official Keeneland Racing account on X tweeted that she was examined by attending veterinarians and was walking the shed row and cooling out after the race.

 

Just F Y I was given a courtesy ride back to the barn after the Baird Doubledogdare. She was examined by the attending veterinarian and is currently walking the shed row and cooling out. She'll continue to be monitored for any changes.

— Keeneland Racing (@keenelandracing) April 18, 2025

“I wasn't sure what to expect, to be honest with you,” said Walsh. “Eddie Kane and Mr. [Brad] Kelley [respective farm manager and owner of Calumet Farm, the winning owner] asked me to take her and give her a shot to see if she still had an appetite for [racing] anymore.”

“To be fair to her, she's done nothing wrong since she came to us. She kind of lost her form at the end of last year, and I think she got a freshening. They did a fantastic job at the farm, actually. But she's got some good back class, and it's nice she showed it today. [Jockey] Jose [Ortiz] did a great job too.”

Regarding plans for the rest of the year, Walsh said, “I think they wanted to see if it was worth keeping her in training or not, but off [her performance today], you'd have to say it is. She's a graded stakes winner now, too, and that's fantastic. Hopefully, she can build on it. [A graded stakes win at Keeneland] is always nice.”

 

Watch the full replay as GIN GIN pulls off an upset in the Baird Doubledogdare (G3)! pic.twitter.com/MdqbxyYokF

— Keeneland Racing (@keenelandracing) April 18, 2025

 

Pedigree Note:

Gin Gin is the most accomplished racehorse for her dam but only her third to survive in a string of poor breeding luck between her first winner Know It Now (American Pharoah) and the Doubledogdare victress. The 2022 half-brother Quick City (City of Light) died as an unraced juvenile last year and she was barren in 2023 after a visit to Lexitonian. She did produce a now yearling full-sister to Gin Gin and is due to Cody's Wish for 2025.

Dam Before You Know It (Hard Spun) is a half-sister to MGSP Tarantino (Pioneerof the Nile), and GSP Instant Reflex (Quality Road), who would garner her claim to fame via her daughter, GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf victress Hard to Justify (Justify). This is the immediate female family of globetrotting Group winner and multiple group-placed Slow Pace (Distorted Humor) as well as unraced Jolie Chanson (Fr) (Mount Nelson {GB}). The latter mare would create a family branch which yielded the likes of multiple group-placed Majestic Dawn (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}); GSW & GISP King Guillermo (Uncle Mo); and G1 Darley July Cup hero turned popular European sire Starman (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) and his half-sister MGSP-Eng Sunday Star (GB) (Kodiac {GB}).

Friday, Keeneland
BAIRD DOUBLEDOGDARE S.-GIII, $350,000, Keeneland, 4-18, 4yo/up, f/m, 1 1/16m, 1:45.15, ft.
1–GIN GIN, 118, f, 4, by Hightail
      1st Dam: Before You Know It (GSP, $313,083), by Hard Spun
      2nd Dam: Without Delay, by Seeking the Gold
      3rd Dam: Slow Down, by Seattle Slew
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. O/B-Calumet Farm (KY); T-Brendan Walsh; J-Jose L. Ortiz. $214,288. Lifetime Record: 10-3-2-2, $461,596. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Tarifa, 120, f, 4, Bernardini–Kite Beach, by Awesome Again. 'TDN Rising Star' O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. $69,125.
3–Candied, 118, f, 4, Candy Ride (Arg)–Toni Tools, by Roaring Fever. ($165,000 Ylg '22 FTKJUL). O-Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners & B Flay Thoroughbreds; B-Buck Pond Farm, Inc. (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $34,563.
Margins: 5 1/4, HF, 3/4. Odds: 38.88, 3.48, 2.36.
Also Ran: Occult, Neon Icon, Dreaming of Mo, Just F Y I.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

The post Gin Gin Reverses Form for Walsh, Strolls Home in the Doubledogdare appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

American Promise Motors Through His Paces, Ships to Kentucky Sunday

Fri, 2025-04-18 19:15

In his penultimate work for the GI Kentucky Derby, American Promise (Justify) went fast by design for trainer D. Wayne Lukas, and will ship to Kentucky Sunday.

The breeze Friday morning at Oaklawn Park, shortly after the renovation break, was a seven furlong trip from the gate in 1:25.20 under Nik Juarez, who will also have the call in the big race.

According to Oaklawn's lead clocker Jim Hamilton, American Promise rolled through :22 for the opening quarter, :33.60 for three furlongs, a half in :45.80, five furlongs in :57.80, and six in 1:11 in company with seven-race maiden Bon Temps (Bravazo). That workmate dropped back on the turn with his five furlongs credited in :59.60.

Despite the look of it, Lukas says the workout unfolded as planned because he wanted the colt on his toes early.

“What I'm trying to do is get him focused on getting into his races quicker because with a 20-horse [Kentucky Derby] field, there's always a problem,” Lukas said. “Put yourself in a place where you can [avoid trouble]. I'm training him a little bit different.”

“He did a half-mile from the gate in :45 seconds. He doesn't have to do that, but at least he's got that in mind now. The other horse worked with him just to give him a little interest.”

Barring any hiccups, the son of the 2017 Triple Crown winner will have his final Kentucky Derby workout at Churchill Downs Apr. 26. With two weeks left before the race, Lukas says he would not trade places with anyone.

“I really feel like he's coming around. He's improving every single day. He's still a 2-year-old [American Promise's actual birthday is May 1] and still growing into that frame. The last two weeks have been the best two weeks he's had here.”

The post American Promise Motors Through His Paces, Ships to Kentucky Sunday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Florida Breeders’ Incentive Fund Restructured, To Provide $2-Million to Owners

Fri, 2025-04-18 18:50

The Florida Breeders' Incentive Fund (FBIF) has been restructured to be open to all races regardless of value, and is projected to provide over $2-million in awards to owners, Gulfstream Park announced via press release.

The FBIF race incentives, which were offering $5,000 per race for claiming races of $25,000 and up or higher conditions, will be raised to $6,000 per race in maiden special weights, allowance, and overnight handicaps. The only exception will be state-bred races. Changes to the fund will reflect beginning May 1.

“The restructuring of the Florida Breeders' Incentive Fund will provide additional incentives to Florida owners,” said Bill Badgett, executive director of Florida racing operations at Gulfstream Park. “We look forward to continuing working with horsemen to make Gulfstream's summer meet a success.”

The post Florida Breeders’ Incentive Fund Restructured, To Provide $2-Million to Owners appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Graded Cast From ‘Skippy’ Defense At Oaklawn To Endlessly Going On At Santa Anita

Fri, 2025-04-18 18:07

The sun is shining and the birds are singing, which means that spring has sprung and hopefully cold blasts are fixed over yonder. This kind of weather propagates the condition known to many as Derby fever, which technically has no definable cure.

So, while you're tinkering with mint julep recipes or heading to the dry cleaners with your seersucker to keep the vapors in check, maybe what you need is to take a look at the weekend's graded stakes slate. The races are chock full of options, so let's not spare the horses and get to it.

 

Like Peanut Butter & Jelly

The meet in Hot Springs is coming to a close rapidly, but on Saturday the track off Central Avenue is ready to put on another edition of the GII Oaklawn Handicap. In his latest piece, TDN Racing Editor Steve Sherack admirably covers the preparation behind 'Rising Star' First Mission (Street Sense). The Brad Cox trainee was made the 2-1 morning-line favorite by Rick Lee.

Last year, trainer Saffie Joseph won this race with MGSW Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator), who was a $37,000 OBS April grad for Daniel Alonso. With almost $3.5-million in earnings to his credit, the 6-year-old is back to try and do it again as he carries the top weight of 123. Last out, Skippylongstocking notched his third GIII Challenger Stakes at Tampa in early March.

“I think he's coming in in good form,” trainer Saffie Joseph said. “I expect a good run, hopefully. I do think he likes to be forwardly placed. Hopefully, he breaks well from there and puts himself in a forward position. There's some speed in there that he can stalk if he needs to. If he broke well enough, he can lead, also.”

Alexander Helios #4 surges late | Coady Media

At the Oaklawn gate, the 6-year-old will be joined by his stablemate and GIII Razorback Handicap hero Alexander Helios (Cairo Prince), who clearly like the local strip.

“Obviously, stepped up his game and ran well last time [in the Razorback],” Joseph said. “He beat Banishing, who came back to win the [GIII Oaklawn Mile]. He's in good form and he goes over there with a very good chance himself. We feel like we have two horses that are in good [form] and, hopefully, they run their best races on that day.”

Speaking of Banishing (Ghostzapper), the gelding will look to stretch back out for trainer David Jacobson after that Oaklawn Mile score on the Arkansas Derby undercard.

Also set for a start are a pair of Winchell homebreds trained by Steve Asmussen. The last time they hit the Oaklawn surface GSW Disarm won an optional claimer and MGSW Red Route One took home the GIII Essex Handicap. Both entries are on the Gun Runner-Tapit cross that ownership used to effect in the breeding shed with MGISW Society.

 

Cheerful In All Weathers

It was a wild start to the Keeneland Spring meet with all of the schedule changes, but horse racing is about adaptation. Keeneland rolled with the punches that were thrown by a serious round of storms.

On Saturday, the track has two graded races scheduled. First, the GII VisitLEX Elkhorn Stakes pits a good group of deep turf routers against one another. If there is any 'give' in the ground, then look for MGSW Balnikhov (Ire) (Adaay {Ire}) to outrun his 8-1 morning-line odds. The Phil D'Amato trainee will be making his 20th consecutive graded stakes start, which is quite an accomplishment.

“I was a little concerned about the 12 post, but he'll just drop over to the rail at the back of the pack and watch them all,” said Phil D'Amato assistant Glenn Brookfield.

Balnikhov like some 'give' | Horsephotos

“I think he can get a mile and a half,” he said. “The time he did, he just got a beat a half-length [in last fall's GII Hollywood Turf Cup].”

The ultra-consistent Limited Liability (Kitten's Joy) was tabbed by Nick Tammaro as the 8-5 morning-line favorite. Trained by Shug McGaughey, the 6-year-old only missed by a neck when third in the GIII William L. McKnight Stakes at Gulfstream Park Jan. 25.

Also drawn for the Elkhorn is Todd Pletcher trainee & MGSW Grand Sonata (Medaglia d'Oro), plus do not overlook the one-eyed wonder Rebel Red (GB) (Frankel {GB}) from the Cherie DeVaux barn.

Heading to the main track and going 1 3/16ths in the GIII Ben Ali Stakes is a group of seven, which includes 5-2 morning-line favorite Duke of Love (Cupid). The Josie Carroll trainee successfully fought an infection and after 18 months made it back to the track. The 6-year-old owned by MyRacehorse was fifth on return facing optional claimers at Gulfstream Mar. 1.

“That was a good comeback race with a solid group of horses and a genuinely tough race,” trainer Josie Carroll said. “He's an honest horse who shows up every time, and that race showed he was back at a good level.”

An entry looking to flip the script and pull off an upset is GISP Piroli (Battle of Midway). The gelding has a win over the track when he beat optional claimers last October for trainer Michael McCarthy.

 

Great Racing At That Place

Out at Santa Anita over the weekend you can find a couple of graded options.

The Saturday feature is the GII Santa Maria Stakes for older fillies and mares traveling 1 1/16th on the dirt. Trainer Bob Baffert holds a pair of aces in GISP Splendora (Audible) and GSW Richi (Chi) (Practical Joke). Do not be surprised if they run first and second, but maybe Sun Of Hill (Brz) (Camelot Kitten) can spoil the Hall of Famer's exacta.

Endlessly is back in California | Benoit

Spinning into Sunday the turf will take center stage as Endlessly (Oscar Performance) makes his return to California in the GIII American Stakes.

As a juvenile, the colt rattled off three wins to start his career, which included after his broke his maiden the GIII Del Mar Juvenile Turf Stakes and the GIII Zuma Beach Stakes.

Amerman Racing celebrated when the bay got his picture taken in the GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks the following spring. The Derby fever was strong and they rolled the dice on the first Saturday in May. Finishing a respectable ninth in the big race, the Michael McCarthy trainee then was fifth in the GI Belmont Derby at Aqueduct in early July. By August his conditioner sent him to the bench for a rest.

Now ready for his 4-year-old debut, Endlessly will face a formidable opponent in King of Gosford (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}). The chestnut might be coming off nearly a fourth-month break himself, but his class is undeniable. Last year the Phil D'Amato trainee ended his season with a front-running score in the GII Mathis Mile Stakes at Santa Anita in late December.

If neither layoff runner is prepared to fire, then GISP Zio Jo (Nyquist) or MGSW Cabo Spirit (Pioneerof the Nile) would be happy to head to the winner's circle.

For some expert handicapping analysis, download tonight's TDN and refer to the 'Graded Stakes Entries' section.

The post Graded Cast From ‘Skippy’ Defense At Oaklawn To Endlessly Going On At Santa Anita appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

$1.5-million Tiz the Law Colt Puts Exclamation Point on Record-Setting OBS Spring Sale

Fri, 2025-04-18 17:26

by Jessica Martini & Stefanie Grimm

OCALA, FL – The Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training had one more seven-figure juvenile up its sleeve with a colt by Tiz the Law bringing a sale-topping $1.5 million during the final session of the four-day auction which concluded with it third straight record average Friday.

“We are very appreciative and glad and happy–all of the adjectives you can apply to the week,” OBS Director of Sales Tod Wojciechowski said at the close of business Friday. “It was a great week for everyone.”

Through four days of selling, 637 horses grossed $88,761500 for an average of $139,343, up 7.1% from last year's previous record figure of $130,149. The median of $65,000 fell 7.1% from a year ago.

From a catalogue of 1,207, 765 horses were offered with 128 failing to meet their reserves for a buy-back rate of 16.7%.

Steve Venosa's SGV Thoroughbreds sold the top two lots at the auction, adding the $1.5-million colt by Tiz the Law purchased by the partnership of Spendthrift Farm, St. Elias Stable, and West Point Thoroughbreds Friday, to the $1.45-million son of Gun Runner purchased by Kerri Radcliffe Wednesday. In all, nine horses brought seven figures during the Spring sale, surpassing the auction's previous record of five to hit that mark. Three of the nine were by GI Belmont Stakes winner Tiz the Law.

The nine million-dollar juveniles were purchased by seven different buyers, with Radcliffe and Mahmud Mouni signing for two each.

De Meric Sales was the auction's leading consignor with 32 head sold for $7,869,000. Mouni, who purchased 10 head for $4,835,000, was the auction's leading buyer. Second leading buyer was Case Clay, who purchased the same number for $3,750,000.

“It's a pretty typical market,” said Clay. “It's pretty polarized, but it's strong at the top.”

In his operation's final offering at OBS, legendary horseman Eddie Woods was the auction second leading consignor with 25 sold for $5,251,000.

“As happy we are with the sale, knowing that we are not going to have one of our top consignors around is a bittersweet pill,” Wojciechowski said.

Among the Japanese buyers who were active at the Spring sale, Hideyuki Mori purchased five juveniles for $725,000, while North Hills Co. purchased the same number for $390,000. Korean interests acquired 16 head for $476,000.

While Mouni was purchasing for a new partnership of Middle Eastern clients, Pedro Lanz continued buying for Saudi clients. Lanz signed for eight horses for $1.535 million.

“The international buyers were here and were excited to buy horses and it looks like they did,” Wojciechowski said. “Certainly there was a broad spectrum of buyers from all over the world.”

More Seven-Figure Glory for Tiz the Law

Tiz the Law was represented by his third seven-figure juvenile of the week when Spendthrift Farm, St. Elias Stable, and West Point Thoroughbreds teamed up to acquire a colt by the GI Belmont Stakes winner (hip 1094) for a sale-topping $1.5 million Friday at OBS.

The $1.5-million Tiz the Law colt | OBS/VidHorse

“We have now bought three Tiz the Laws at the 2-year-old sales,” said West Point's Terry Finley. “He has come forward like a whirlwind. We are very, very high on him. I remember the day he broke his maiden at Saratoga. Visually, I said he was going to be a superstar. He turned out to be a hell of a racehorse and I think he is going to have an impact on the breed for years to come.”

Consigned by Steve Venosa's S G V Thoroughbreds, the dark bay colt is out of stakes-placed Georgian Dancer (Souper Speedy), a half-sister to Canadian champion sprinter River Maid (Where's the Ring). He worked a furlong last week in :10 flat.

“They are very athletic,” Finley said of the offspring of Tiz the Law. “They are very intelligent. All of the pinhookers and farm trainers that I am talking to just say they have great minds and they carry themselves with some poise and some pizzazz. I wasn't as big a believer in him early, but he's got me hook line and sinker now.”

On Thursday, Spendthrift manager Ned Toffey acknowledged the team had found competition stiff for the top colts with stallion potential this week at OBS. The operation was underbidder on several of the auction's million-dollar colts before partnering up for the sale topper.

“It's called the power of partnerships,” Finley said. “When you are with the right partners, it really helps because you can come back at the next sale and you might get a horse that you wouldn't have gotten if you'd spent your budget at the first two sales. In that respect, I think people, even significant players who can do everything themselves, are smart when they say what group of good partners can we look to partner with. I think that structure is here to stay in our business. And I think, if anything, it helps the industry. I don't hear sellers talking that often anymore about you're taking buyers and it effects the upper end. When you see a horse that you wouldn't normally take a look at, but say, well all right, if we can get Spendthrift and the Violas in, we might be in play. All of a sudden you have more buyers instead of fewer.” @JessMartiniTDN

Tiz the Law Colt Tops Big Week for Venosa

The $1.5-million Tiz the Law colt gave Steve Venosa's S G V Thoroughbreds the top two offerings of the week at the OBS Spring sale. The operation sold a colt by Gun Runner for $1.45 million during Wednesday's second session of the auction.

Asked how it felt to have a pair of million-dollar results this week, Venosa said, “I don't know yet. Ask me again next week.”

Pushed to reveal how he would be celebrating the accomplishment Friday evening, he said, “Not sure yet. But without my team, we aren't able to do this. They take as much credit as I do.”

The sale topper was purchased by SGV Thoroughbreds for $125,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale.

“He was just a big, scopey-type horse that we felt would do the job at a 2-year-old sale,” Venosa said of the colt's appeal last fall. “That stallion has been doing really well. So we took a shot on him.”

Venosa continued, “The transformation has been amazing. He just kept getting better and better. As he was showing here, several people would come and look at him every day and every day they said he just blossomed and improved.”

In addition to his three million-dollar juveniles, Tiz the Law also had a colt sell for $825,000 during Friday's final session of the Spring sale.

“They just show up,” Venosa said of the Coolmore stallion's progeny. “They run on dirt, they run on turf, they are showing up at the 2-year-old sales. And the most important thing is they are sound. To bring a horse like that with that size over here to work the way he did, it was very impressive. And he vetted perfect.” @JessMartiniTDN

'It's a Bit Emotional:' Woods Signs Off at OBS

Eddie and Angela Woods watched on from their usual spot on the side of the pavilion as the final horse of their legendary consignment went through the sales ring at OBS Friday. Angela wiped tears from her eyes as the son of Twirling Candy entered the sales ring and, as bidding inched forward, auctioneer Justin Holmberg quipped, “Are you reconsidering your decision?” Ultimately, hip 1177 would sell for $560,000 to Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Sabby Racing and was led out of the ring to a round of appeals for the veteran horseman who has been a staple of the Ocala scene for three decades.

Eddie and Angela Woods | OBS

“It's a bit emotional,” Woods admitted afterwards with a tear in his eye. “It's great, it was fantastic how he sold. He was a beautiful horse. I expected him to sell well. And it was neat for a really nice horse to be my last horse and not some $5,000 type thing.”

Through the years, graduates of the Eddie Woods consignment have included GI Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown, as well as champions Lady Eli, Left Bank, Midnight Lute and Spring in the Air. Just last month, the consignment sold a son of Gun Runner for an OBS record $3 million at the March sale.

“We've been doing this a long time in this place,” Woods said. “It's going to be different.”

Asked for some of his favorite memories from the Ocala venue, Woods said, “I think my favorite memory from OBS will be that we had the first horse to work in :10 flat back in the day when :22 flat was still a good time and a :10 1/5, you were high-fiving everybody. And the first horse to work in :10 flat was notable.”

He continued, “I've been on the board here for a long time. We redeveloped this whole thing from nothing. Out there it was basically a hay barn, if you remember that. And it's changed and it's a beautiful place. To be a part of that development was really good. I am proud of that, too.”

As he left the pavilion for the last time as a consignor, Woods concluded, “We had some great days. We had some bad days here, too. That's part of it. But our record here has been very, very good for the number of horses we've had.” @JessMartiniTDN

Quality Road Colt Tops Clay's OBS List

Bloodstock agent Case Clay made the trek back from the Middle East, where he celebrated the victory of Wathnan Racing's Hit Show (Candy Ride {Arg}) in the G1 Dubai World Cup at the beginning of the month, to Central Florida for the Spring sale and he may have covered that same amount of ground walking the barns at OBS this week. Clay acquired 10 juveniles for $3,750,000 during the four-day auction and made his highest-priced purchase of the week Friday when going to $750,000 for a colt by Quality Road (hip 1081) from Julie Davies's consignment.

The dark bay colt is out of Fuhriously Kissed (Langfuhr), who was third in the 2018 GI Apple Blossom Handicap.

“Time will tell, but he looks to me like a Saturday horse,” Clay said of the colt who was purchased for the emir of Qatar's Wathnan Racing. “He's by a great sire out of a Grade I-placed mare. And he's just a beautiful mover. I really liked him a lot.”

Clay's purchases at the Spring sale also include a $600,000 son of Vekoma (hip 246), and a $500,000 daughter of City of Light (hip 1159).

“Some of them are for Wathnan and some of them are for a different client,” Clay said of his April purchases. “Wathnan is focusing a lot on dirt and the other client that I am purchasing for at this sale is focusing on turf.” @JessMartiniTDN

Gervais Racing Continues Racing And Breeding Expansion at OBS April

Now two years into the game, Randy Gervais continued to expand his and his mother's Gervais Racing brand with the addition of three purchases at OBS April this week. Striking early during Tuesday's opening session, he first went to $400,000 to secure a filly by Speightstown (hip 21) who Gervais claimed was  “a queen”.

“I knew she was the horse I wanted,” Gervais said. “She was the queen to me of the entire sale. I saw [her] and she was early on [in the sale]. I loved her when I saw her. I got here Sunday and I saw her then and I saw her again Monday. I wound up texting my mom to say we found a filly we can't leave without. She's coming [home].”

Purchased as a yearling at Keeneland September for $120,000 by Equinox for George A. Sharp and consigned at OBS by Niall Brennan Stables, the filly is a half to pair of winners and worked her furlong in :10.

“I looked at every single horse,” Gervais said. “My bloodstock agent is Clay Scherer and we're really good friends. He's a big addition to the team. We loved [hip 21], and not just because she was early. I loved her. I thought she was a queen so I was super excited to get her. She was number one on my list for fillies.”

Gervais noted he was happy to be stake his claim early.

“I was very happy that I was aggressive early on with her. I personally believe that if she was later on in the sale, she would've cost $200,000 more so I was happy with what we did.”

Gervais noted that, while he and his mother were especially keen on fillies as they are looking to establish a breeding operation, a good colt wouldn't be overlooked.

“I'm open to anything,” he said. “If the horse is right, the horse is right. You're buying the individual. I don't want to sell myself short by saying I'm only coming for fillies and have a colt that I pass on. But with a filly, you can win a black-type or a Grade III and have a really nice mare that you can then breed to.”

Keeping that open mind, Gervais Racing signed two days later for a colt by Maclean's Music (hip 704) from the Kinsman Farm consignment for $475,000. Out of a half-sister to champion 3-year-old filly Letruska (Super Saver), the colt also worked in :10. Similarly to the Speightstown filly, Gervais knew what he wanted when he saw it.

Sire Maclean's Music | Lee Thomas

“He was number one on my list for colts,” he said. “I liked 704, [hip 249] and [hip 727], those were my top three colts. And I thought [hip 704] was a notch above both of them. When I saw him walk out of the stall, he just spoke to me. He walked out of the stall like a man. I saw him before I got [hip 21] and I knew I had to wait around until Thursday. He came out of the stall on Monday before I even got to [hip 21] and I thought 'oh man, I've gotta leave with a filly and a colt'. Then I saw him on Tuesday and these horses, they're shown so many times and every single time that Kinsman brought him out, he just took it.”

Of the price, Gervais said he would've been willing to spend whatever was needed.

“I was prepared to go up high for [hip 704]. It helped me out that another Maclean's Music [hip 727] was 20 hips behind me. I knew they were going to battle each other. I knew people liked mine and people also liked that one. Everyone has a different taste.”

In his third and final purchase for the week, Gervais Racing picked up a Complexity filly (hip 295) who RNA'd in the ring and sold post sale for $45,000 from the Grade One Investments consignment.

“We got another little RNA horse,” Gervais said. “That's just fun and I'll send her to a new trainer whose a friend of mine.”

The three purchases made this week go along with a pair of colts who went the way of Gervais Racing during the OBS March sale last month.

“As an owner, I don't like being the owner that just says [to a bloodstock agent], 'hey, what do you like?'. I have to be there and see [the horses] myself. When I get there, we make a list like everyone else. We [Gervais and Scherer] go through and I picked who I liked.”

When it comes to the racing side of his operation, Gervais keeps that same open-mind mentality and lets the horses tell him when they're ready to join trainer Dallas Stewart's barn.

“I let them speak,” he said. “I sent [hip 21] to WinStar to just go relax. I think the fillies are better later on in the year so I'm not going to debut her until probably September. I'm going to move right on with [hip 704] and I'm hoping for a Saratoga debut.”

Additionally, several of Gervais's yearling purchases from last year are already at the track including a $150,000 Not This Time colt purchased at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale.

“I bought a Not This Time from the Saratoga Sale and he's going great,” Gervais said. “He's already with Dallas at Keeneland. He might debut at Saratoga. If he can make a Churchill race, great. But I've seen in my experience that the horses that really carry on are ones that are lightly raced as 2-year-olds. I want the horses to feel good in their bodies and be conditioned. I don't have to buy a horse and go run it.”

Even with OBS April concluding Friday, Gervais said he wasn't done shopping quite yet. Saying he has between 15 and 20 horses currently in training, Gervais doesn't have an ideal number saying with a laugh, “Call me in September.” He also added he'd be shopping at the [Fasig-Tipton] Timonium Sale.

“I'll look around [at Timonium],” he said. “I'll talk to Clay but I'm not really looking for anything, just window shopping. If I go and I see something I have to leave with, then that conversation will change. I'll have to sleep on it, pray on it, see if it feels right and that's when I'll make my move.” –@SGrimmTDN

De Meric Sells Tiz the Law Colt to Chris Hartman for $825K

A colt from the second crop by Coolmore stallion Tiz the Law (hip 970) went to trainer Chris Hartman on a final bid of $825,000 early in the final session Friday and Hartman noted that the colt would go to a Texas-based partnership named Flatland Racing Stable. Consigned by de Meric Sales Friday after they paid $110,000 for the him at Keeneland September, the colt worked his eighth in :10.

“We went through all the horses first while we're in the search like everyone else for a good racehorse,” said Flatland's Clay Carnes. “And he checked all of the boxes and stood out as an individual. So we said let's step up to the plate and see what happens.”

HIP 970 in the ring | OBS/VidHorse

The five-member strong Flatlands Racing Stable, who keep about five to ten horses in training with Hartman at a time, circled the colt early as the one they wanted and Carnes noted he fell right into their expected range.

“We had him between $800,000 and $1,000,000 so he was right there. The higher-end horses seem to be selling pretty well.”

Carnes was quick to attribute the purchase to Hartman who selected the horse on behalf of the partnership.

“We looked at everything in the book and had a couple that we really looked at. But he was the one we circled and the one we were going after. This is a horse that Chris picked out and identified.”

The colt was another strong result for de Meric Sales and wound up their third-highest priced sale of the week.

“He's always trained very well,” said Tristan de Meric. “The way he moved, the action and the angles. He always had great angles and moved really well. He's out of a Curlin mare which I loved. You could see some Curlin in him for sure. He always did everything right. We were lucky to have him and it seemed like everyone on the ground was talking about him. So we were very happy to get the result. Best of luck to Chris Hartman.”

Of the price, de Meric added: “It was starting to feel like the horse was going to sell very well with all the activity and vets in the barn on him. But you never expect a horse to sell that well. We're thrilled to be in the right place at the right time.” –@SGrimmTDN

Cortez Racing Pinhooks Justify Colt

Ocala-based pinhooker Alex Cortez enjoyed a successful pinhooking week when a colt by Justify (hip 1030) sold to SG Racing for $250,000 early in Friday's fourth and final session. His Cortez Racing and Sales purchased the colt as a yearling at Keeneland September for $110,000 last year.

“He was super racy,” Cortez said of what initially attracted him to the colt in Kentucky. “He looked really fast. I took a chance and called my brother and my other partner. I said, 'we gotta take a shot' and it worked out.”

Now in his third year of pinhooking, Cortez said he never asked his Justify colt for a thing coming into the sale.

“He's always trained super big in the mornings,” Cortez said. “He always acted perfectly and I never asked him to do too much because he was always giving [his best].”

His biggest sale of the week, Cortez also pinhooked a Tiz the Law filly (hip 819) during Thursday's third session for $150,000 after initially buying her at Keeneland September for $28,000. Of his eight-horse consignment, seven found new homes.

“For me, the most important thing is for [the horses] to go to good homes and go on to do well. To see them performing and doing well in the races is why I started doing this three years ago.”

Of the market, Cortez added: “It's been good to me. I'm always thanking God for all the success.” –@SGrimmTDN

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Madaket Road Reroutes From Kentucky Derby to Pat Day Mile

Fri, 2025-04-18 16:36

As first reported by the Daily Racing Form's David Grening, MGSP Madaket Road (Quality Road) will be pointed to the GII Pat Day Mile on the Kentucky Derby undercard instead of the marquee race that Saturday.

After working Friday morning at Santa Anita, where he posted a five furlong move in 1:00.80 (13.32), Madaket Road will now be pointed to the Pat Day and will ship to Churchill Downs with stablemates 'TDN Rising Stars' MGISW Citizen Bull (Into Mischief) and GSW Rodriguez (Authentic).

“That's sort of been our goal all along, that's a better distance for him,” Baffert told the DRF.

With Madaket Road being removed from the line up, the door opens for SW & MGSP Built (Hard Spun), but the connections are also reportedly considering the Pat Day Mile for that one as well. GISP Neoequos (Neolithic), MSP Render Judgment (Blame), and GISP Baeza (McKinzie) are next in line with the Neoequos and Baeza camps already confirming their intent to run if the spots open up.

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Tappan Street Ships to Churchill Saturday, Neoequos One Step Closer to Derby

Fri, 2025-04-18 16:16

Having produced a five-furlong breeze which pleased trainer Brad Cox and completed his winter season in Indiantown, FL Friday morning, GI Florida Derby hero Tappan Street (Into Mischief) is scheduled to ship to Churchill Downs Saturday morning.

Going the five panels in company in 1:01.40 at Payson Park Training Center, it marked the penultimate breeze on the sophomore's schedule in advance of his expected start in the GI Kentucky Derby May 3. Tappan Street worked with stablemate 'TDN Rising Star' Rapture (Uncle Mo) for the second straight week. The son of Into Mischief sits sixth on the leaderboard with 100 points and is tied with Florida Derby runner-up MGSW & GISP Sovereignty (Into Mischief).

“Overall, very pleased. [He] continued on around the turn very nicely and galloped out strong,” Cox said. “He looked great coming off the track. He's been very consistent, and it seems like with his works: the further, the better. He's in a good spot right now.”

Neoequos, Currently On Derby Bubble, Will Ship to Churchill As Defections Continue

Florida-bred GISP Neoequos (Neolithic) is on the outside-looking-in on the Kentucky Derby points board–21st in the standings with 40 points–and would need another defection to be included in the 20-strong field, but trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. continues to move forward with completing the colt's Derby preps in a timely manner.

Having gone from evicting his rider from the saddle on debut last July to being Grade I-placed via a third-place finish in the Florida Derby in late March, the colt worked five furlongs Friday morning in 1:00.51 in company with an older workmate, Mr. Narcissistic (Signature Red). With a start in the Derby still very much in the books, Neoequos is expected to breeze one more time at Gulfstream Park before shipping to Kentucky.

The likelihood of him securing a coveted spot in the gate became even more likely Friday afternoon when the Daily Racing Form's David Grening reported that trainer Bob Baffert would be sending MGSP Madaket Road (Quality Road)–who had been in that top 20 with 46 points–to the GII Pat Day Mile over the Kentucky Derby.

“Right now, we're going to the Derby,” Joseph said. “The distance is still a question mark, but he keeps running well enough and fast enough on the figures to keep going and try.”

“I'm probably leaning toward working him one more time and then head to Churchill. He might work next Thursday. Either Thursday or Friday next week. Probably next Thursday and then ship in [Friday].”

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Federal Judge Again Upholds Interstate Horse Act, Denies Stay in TwinSpires-vs-Michigan Lawsuit

Fri, 2025-04-18 15:37

A federal judge on Friday denied a request by the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) to stay a preliminary injunction that was issued two months ago in favor of the advance-deposit wagering (ADW) platform TwinSpires.

Back on Feb. 19, the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan had ruled that the MGCB was unconstitutionally violating the Interstate Horseracing Act (IHA) by requiring that ADW to partner with a brick-and-mortar racetrack in that state before accepting simulcast wagers from Michigan residents.

At the time of that earlier ruling, Judge Hala Jarbou had ordered the MGCB not to enforce the contested Michigan Horse Racing Law (MHRL) licensing requirement about partnering with an in-state racetrack or to issue any sanctions against TwinSpires, a Churchill Downs, Inc. (CDI) subsidiary, for accepting bets from Michigan residents on out-of-state simulcast races.

The court order from Apr. 18 only pertains to the Feb. 19 preliminary injunction. The underlying Jan. 12 lawsuit by Churchill Downs Technology Initiatives Company–plus a still-pending, entirely separate lawsuit brought five days later by the MGCB against TwinSpires–are both still active in the federal court system.

Both lawsuits stem from the fact that at the start of 2025, Michigan's law requiring ADWs to partner with a racetrack in the state couldn't be fulfilled by any ADW operator because there hasn't been any Thoroughbred racing in Michigan since 2018, and Standardbred races last ran in February 2024.

TwinSpires (and other ADWs) had previously partnered with the now-demolished and to-be-developed Northville Downs, whose license-holders as of Jan. 1 were planning to–but had not yet received at that time–approval for the required 30 days of Standardbred racing at a different location so that all parties could be eligible for ADW and simulcasting in 2025.

On Dec. 23, 2024, the MGCB notified all licensed ADWs to cease offering wagering for Michigan residents effective Jan. 1, 2025. The shutdown was to be temporary until the harness track's licensing issue got resolved.

While ADW operators Xpressbet, NYRA Bets, and TVG Network voluntarily complied with the order, TwinSpires did not. After a week of continuing to take bets against the order, the MGCB suspended the TwinSpires license Jan. 7.

On Jan. 31, Northville Downs received its licensing, allowing third-party facilitators to accept wagers in accordance with the MHRL license requirement. However, the MGCB continued to maintain its suspension against TwinSpires.

In the Apr. 18 opinion and order, the judge wrote that, “[The MGCB] Defendants have not met their burden to show entitlement to a stay. Their arguments are unpersuasive. Because Defendants are not likely to succeed on the merits, they have not demonstrated that the preliminary injunction has caused irreparable harm, and they have not illustrated that issuing a stay is in the public interest, the Court will deny their motion…”

The judge continued: “Michigan law is clear: 'a bet is made at the time and place where the offer of it is accepted.' The IHA requires TwinSpires obtain consent from only three entities: the horseracing association, the host racing commission, and the off-track racing commission. For races that take place outside of Michigan, TwinSpires does not need MGCB consent. The MHRL requirements seek to add an additional layer of consent when a wager is placed by individuals in Michigan. The IHA preempts these requirements…

“Defendants argue that the preliminary injunction prevents Michigan officials from effectuating the MHRL, which amounts to irreparable harm. While this sentiment is valid, the argument is not sound. The Court is not preventing Michigan officials from effectuating the statute in a manner that is consistent with the IHA. The preliminary injunction is limited to wagers that are accepted outside of Michigan for races that take place outside of Michigan. The MHRL remains in effect for wagers accepted in Michigan and for races that occur in Michigan.”

The opinion and order also stated that, “Defendants also argue that the Michigan horse racing industry [is] is reliant upon the fees generated from interstate off-track wagering. The Court will not comment on the policy choices that will best support a horse racing industry in Michigan. The Court will, however, uphold the charge of the IHA, which establishes the exclusive procedure by which entities can accept interstate off-track wagers.”

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Claiming Crown Qualifiers, Well-bred Maidens with Conditions Available Highlight Inglis Digital USA April Sale

Fri, 2025-04-18 14:54

The 2025 Inglis Digital USA April Sale catalogue is now online and showcases a diverse group of 20 individuals ranging from Claiming Crown qualifiers to Keeneland debuters with their maiden conditions still available to yearlings from active families, the online auction house announced via press release Friday afternoon.

A slate of racing age horses includes Sitka (Speightstown), eligible for the aforementioned Claiming Crown and who holds his N2X condition, hailing from the shed row of trainer Matt Williams. His career-best Beyer figure is an 88, which he matched in his Apr. 4 gate to wire win in a starter allowance at Oaklawn Park.

Buyers looking to add juveniles or lightly-raced 3-year-olds will find horses like Lilium (Flatter), a sophomore racing or broodmare prospect out of a half-sister to champion 3-year-old MGISW Maximum Security (New Year's Day) and from the immediate female family of MGISW Flat Out. The 2-year-old Baytown Dreamer (Mendelssohn) is offered on the back of his third-place effort Apr. 10 in a Keeneland maiden special weight. He is out of a stakes winning Munnings mare who herself is a half-sister to MGSW Appealing Tale (Tale of the Cat).

The catalogue also features a trio of yearlings from the consignment of Highlander Training Center in Texas. Interested parties must register to bid and request a limit to start placing them. To view the full catalogue and register, please go here.

“April is an exciting and busy time of year,” said Kyle Wilson, senior director of Sales and Recruiting for Inglis Digital USA. “We have established runners and some young horses ready to get a start. We're also offering some breeding prospects if anyone has late seasons to fill.”

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Stakes Winner Incanto Supplemented to Keeneland April Select HORA Sale

Fri, 2025-04-18 14:16

Two horses have been supplemented to Keeneland's April Select Horses of Racing Age Sale, set to begin Apr. 25, namely stakes winner Incanto (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) and the maiden-placed Happyhappyboy (Runhappy), the auction house announced Friday afternoon.

The former is trained by Jose D'Angelo and has two victories to his credit in 2025, including the Texas Glitter Stakes at Gulfstream Park Mar. 22, before he shipped out to Santa Anita for a try in the Listed John Shear Stakes. Finishing fifth there, the gelding will be selling remotely from Santa Anita. This is the immediate female family of GISP Responsibleforlove (Ire) (Duke of Marmalade {Ire}) and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Vale of York (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), who was also Group 1-placed in Italy.

Happyhappyboy hails from the shed row of owner/trainer Marcelino Torres, and was last seen finishing second on debut Apr. 7 at Keeneland behind the Wesley Ward owned and trained Pinky Finger (Army Mule). That filly facing the boys ran off the screen to win by 7 1/2 lengths while the Runhappy colt kept on to claim second by three-quarters of a length. The juvenile hails from the family of SW & MGSP Jazz (Quiet American) and SW & GSP Favored Lady (Fappiano).

Click here for the catalogue. A supplemental catalogue along with a consignment and barn order list will be produced and distributed roughly on Monday, Apr. 21 when the entries are close to being final. Keeneland will accept approved supplements until the sale date.

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New Topper At OBS April As Tiz The Law Colt Brings $1.5M

Fri, 2025-04-18 13:35

A colt from the second crop of Tiz the Law (hip 1094) set a new high-water mark during Friday's final session of OBS April, selling for $1,500,000 to the partnership of Spendthrift, St. Elias and West Point. Consigned by S G V Thoroughbreds (Steven Venosa), the colt is out of a half-sister to Canadian champion female sprinter River Maid (Where's My Ring) who herself produced GI Central Bank Ashland runner up Cocktail Moments (Uncle Mo). The Louisiana-bred worked an eighth in :10.

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Quietside Breezes in Lexington as Oaks Prep Continues, Ships to Churchill Next Friday

Fri, 2025-04-18 13:27

Shortleaf Stable's 'TDN Rising Star' MGSW & MGISP Quietside (Malibu Moon) breezed five furlongs alone Friday morning at Keeneland as her march toward Louisville continues for the first Friday in May.

With jockey Jose Ortiz in the irons, no relation to trainer John Ortiz, the filly rolled through her five panel work in :59 flat and galloped out six furlongs in 1:12.20. Her sectionals were :12.20, :36.20, :59 (end of her work), and 1:12.20.

“We wanted to give her a good five-eighths to get some air in her,” said trainer Ortiz. “Jose worked her in 58 and 4 at the Fair Grounds before the [GIII] Honeybee and wanted to do the same today. We know she will do 12s [second eighths of a mile] and then finish down the lane–which she did.”

“She had a strong gallop out. We were very pleased with the work. She is a filly that is peaking at the right time.”

His filly currently sits atop the Kentucky Oaks leaderboard and will likely not only be a main player but also one of the wagering choices for the May 2 headliner. That in mind, Ortiz also included that the travel itinerary for Quietside would be to remain at Keneeland for a while longer before shipping into the controlled chaos at Churchill Downs.

“I probably will keep her here because it is quieter. We'll work next Friday morning [Apr. 25 at Keeneland] and then ship over to Churchill that afternoon.”

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Owner And Trainer Incentive Program Offered For Belmont Stakes Racing Festival

Fri, 2025-04-18 12:28

The New York Racing Association (NYRA) is rolling out a participation incentive program for owner and trainers during the five-day 2025 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course in early June, the track said in a release on Friday.

Owners will be eligible for a starter bonus for horses finishing fourth through last with $1,500 awarded for stakes starters and $1,000 awarded to owners of starters in overnight races.

Trainers whose horses start in stakes races that week will receive a $750 bonus, while a $500 bonus will be awarded to trainers for starters in all overnight races.

The program is designed to assist owners and trainers in covering additional expenses incurred for shipping upstate earlier than the typical start of the summer meet.

Eligible horses must be declared an official starter and must not be placed on the poor performance list or veterinarian list. Trainers must comply with all NYRA, HISA and NYSGC racing and safety rules to remain eligible. NYRA reserves the right to determine eligibility for qualified starters. Steeplechase participants are not eligible.

Click here to access the condition book and complete purse schedule.

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Fresh Off Dubai World Cup Victory, Brad Cox Barn ‘In A Good Spot’ in Older Horse Division

Fri, 2025-04-18 10:41

With Hit Show (Candy Ride {Arg}) already back galloping following his upset victory in the $12-million G1 Dubai World Cup–more on him shortly–trainer Brad Cox will be well-represented by a pair of older horses on Saturday that could make some noise of their own in the handicap division this year.

Godolphin homebred and 'TDN Rising Star' First Mission (Street Sense), a fantastic third while launching his 5-year-old season off the bench in the GIII Razorback H. Feb. 23, is the 2-1 program favorite in the $1.25-million GII Oaklawn H. in Hot Springs.  Flavien Prat will be at the controls.

A late scratch from the 2023 GI Preakness Stakes after winning a live renewal of the GIII Stonestreet Lexington S. at Keeneland, that term's narrow GII Clark S. runner-up looked like he was on the cusp of stardom last spring, but failed to take the next step following powerful wins in the GIII Essex H. at Oaklawn Mar. 23 and GII Alysheba S. at Churchill Downs May 3. The latter was good for a career-high 106 Beyer Speed Figure.

Fourth as the 4-5 favorite in the GI Stephen Foster S. at Churchill Downs June 29, First Mission was given plenty of time to regroup following another head-scratching effort, this time finishing a well-beaten seventh in the GI Whitney S. over a muddy track at Saratoga Aug. 3.

“Look, we've always thought he was a Grade I talent,” Cox said. “He was able to win a graded stake (Stonestreet Lexington) off a maiden win at three. We felt very good about him leading up to the Preakness, but we had a small setback that just required time.

He came back, was narrowly defeated in the Clark as a 3-year-old, then he really got rolling last spring. We gave him an opportunity in two Grade Ones. Felt really good about him in the Stephen Foster, just didn't fire. We saw no reason to stop. We pressed on and went in the Whitney and just another flat effort. We gave him a break and brought him back.”

First Mission rallied nicely from third and was beaten just a neck behind the re-opposing duo of Alexander Helios (Cairo Prince) and Banishing (Ghostzapper) in a race dominated on the front end last time.

“I liked how he was doing leading up to the Oaklawn race,” Cox said. “I thought he ran against the bias a bit that day–I don't like too many excuses–but I thought he ran a winning race. Good run off the layoff. Good figures. We zeroed in on this race ever since. I think we got him primed and ready. He's really training well.”

Just a Touch | Horsephotos

Qatar Racing, Resolute Racing and Marc Detampel's highly regarded Just a Touch (Justify), meanwhile, will shoot for his second straight allowance victory at Keeneland Saturday. The $125,000 FTKOCT yearling turned $300,000 OBSAPR breezer is the 6-5 morning-line favorite and will face nine rivals, including GSW & MGISP Skinner (Curlin), going 1 1/8 miles. Regular rider Florent Geroux has the call.

A very sharp 3-year-old debut winner sprinting in the slop at Fair Grounds last January, Just a Touch earned a spot in the starting gate for the GI Kentucky Derby while still eligible for a first-level allowance following fantastic runner-up finishes in the GIII Gotham S. at Aqueduct and GI Toyota Blue Grass S. at Keeneland.

Last of 20 at a well-backed 11-1 after an eventful journey on the first Saturday in May, Just a Touch made just one more start last season, coming up a head short as the heavy favorite in the Iowa Derby at Prairie Meadows July 6.

“I would definitely say that we were trying to fast track him,” Cox said. “And listen, he responded. He broke his maiden and went right into graded stake company. Ran well enough in the Gotham and ran very well in the Blue Grass. He didn't get away well in the Derby. He got squeezed back. That show was over a couple of jumps out of the gate for him.”

Cox added, “It wasn't the greatest training job after the Derby or job of managing him and I'm to blame for that.”

The time off has served Just a Touch quite well. He returned to the races with a stylish, 10 1/2-length, front-running victory at Fair Grounds Mar. 1. That effort earned him a career-high 102 Beyer Speed Figure.

“He rebounded well with the freshening,” Cox said. “I thought he ran the way he was training in his one run this year. I wanted to give him plenty of time and space his races and hopefully get a full season out of him. This was the logical spot at Keeneland on Saturday. He's still lightly raced and trying to get some solid miles and experience underneath of him. Looking forward to this being a stepping stone towards graded stakes.”

The GI Stephen Foster S. at Churchill Downs June 28, a 'Win and You're In' for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic, “could be in play” for the aforementioned Dubai World Cup upsetter Hit Show, Cox said.

“As soon as we got him out of quarantine, he looked phenomenal,” Cox said. “I'll talk it over with the Wathnan group and Case Clay, but right now, I don't see a reason to pull him out of training. He bounced out of it really well.”

Cox concluded, “They're exciting horses. (Last year's GI Jockey Club Gold Cup S. winner) Highland Falls (Curlin) is back on the worktab, too. We have a nice group of older horses. We gotta have things go right, but we're in a good spot.”

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North-vs.-South Rift at CHRB Means Dates Allocations for Two Summer Fairs Meets Don’t Advance

Thu, 2025-04-17 18:52

Summer race-date allocations for meets at both Pleasanton and Ferndale failed to advance at Thursday's California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) meeting. The former request got voted down and the latter failed to garner enough votes to be decided either way, jeopardizing the prospect of any fairs-style racing in the state for 2025.

The commissioners who voted and stakeholders who testified were split on the best path forward for California racing as a whole, widening an existential Northern-vs.-Southern rift that opened nearly two years ago when The Stronach Group (TSG) announced plans to shutter Golden Gate Fields.

The central issue still revolves around whether the state's racing and breeding would be better off continuing the single-circuit method of nearly year-round meets situated in SoCal (Santa Anita Park, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club and Los Alamitos Race Course), or if NorCal venues should be given a shot to re-establish a foothold now that–all within the past 10 months–Golden Gate has closed, an entity called Golden State Racing failed to run a financially viable meet at Pleasanton, and the California Authority of Racing Fairs (CARF) has shifted away from supporting live meets at county fairs.

Prior to the board considering both proposals Apr. 17, CHRB chairman Gregory Ferraro, DVM, warned the Pleasanton and Ferndale plan presenters that last autumn's Golden State Racing debacle was fresh in the minds of commissioners.

Ferraro said the decision by the board last year to greenlight that failed racing season was “unwise at best or disastrous at worst.” He explained that this time around, those who were advocating for an approval of race dates at fairs venues should “not to expect the board to give the same leeway” in being granted the opportunity to race because of the damage such a decision might do in terms of siphoning horses and revenue from the SoCal tracks, which are also struggling but remain more viable than any entity in the North.

First up was the proposal by a recently formed company called Bernal Park Racing. Backed by longtime California horse owner George Schmitt and the owner/breeder John Harris, that group was seeking 10 race dates at Pleasanton over three weekends spanning June 18-July 6.

Schmitt told commissioners that the entity was prepared to move forward with $2 million in initial capital, and that Bernal was aiming to put together an organization that might replace the functions of CARF in terms of making personnel, services, and a day-to-day racing infrastructure available to any fair in the state that wanted to use its resources to run a meet.

Schmitt advocated for NorCal racing by citing the risk of California's foal crop in the state dropping below 1,000 next year, and he underscored that fairs race meets do make big differences to their local economies while providing lower-class racing opportunities that strengthen California's overall racing.

“We're not in this thing to make a fortune. We're in this business to save horse racing in California,” Schmitt said.

Schmitt said he couldn't promise a horse population of 400, but that he believed Bernal could attract 200 horses to make the Pleasanton meet a go.

Bill Nader, the president and chief executive officer of the Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC), testified against the Pleasanton concept and then later against the Ferndale idea, too.

Nader pointed to what he said was a working single-circuit solution that concentrates all racing in SoCal bolstered by relocation perks for former NorCal outfits and a series of lower-level races restricted to horses from that region.

Nader said that the 385 horses that had relocated from NorCal to SoCal this year have “done well” in 73 such restricted races, with 15 other horses from former NorCal outfits winning against open company.

Nader said that meet-over-meet numbers at Santa Anita–which, like the now-shuttered Golden Gate, is also owned by TSG–has improved by “every metric” and that those increases have been “considerable.”

But several of Nader's comments about how well NorCal outfits were faring down South were met with verbal dissension from audience members.

Ferraro, however, seemed to concur with Nader's points when addressing the Pleasanton dates-seekers.

“Your application really has no definite outline of the structure of the organization; the depth and breadth of its capitalization; guarantees,” Ferraro said. “I mean, you can't run a race meet on 200 horses. You just can't. So to avoid the same disaster we had last year, I think any racing organization that is trying to make a go of it needs to have more meat on the bones and have considerably more time to investigate what's available.”

Horsephotos

Ferraro also questioned whether horsemen who have relocated their operations to SoCal would be willing to ship back North for another experimental race meet, or if bettors would turn out to wager on the product.

“We don't know if the public will support it. It's not that we don't wish to give you guys a chance. It's that it doesn't appear as if the public in Northern California is going to support racing. If it's going to be successful, it's going to take significant planning, careful analysis–a lot more than what's being presented here, I think. And that kind of information is going to take a year or two to put together. Better to wait a year or two and have a successful outcome than to fail because you don't have public support.”

CHRB vice chair Oscar Gonzales, who has often been at odds with Ferraro on the North/South issue over the past year, made a motion to approve the Pleasanton dates allocation. He noted that an allocation was not the same thing as granting an actual license to run the dates, which the CHRB traditionally handles as a separate step with another vote required at a subsequent meeting once it receives a more detailed application package.

Gonzales said he was making the motion to “save hundreds of breeders and actually save California racing.” But his motion to approve died for lack of anyone seconding it.

Ferraro then made an alternate motion to deny the application. After receiving a second, commissioners Dennis Alfieri, Brenda Washington Davis and Thomas Hudnut joined Ferraro in voting for the denial, while Gonzales cast the lone opposing vote in the 4-1 outcome.

Against this backdrop, Ferndale was next to present its case for an Aug. 13-Sept. 2 race meet over three weeks that sought un-overlapped simulcast host status.

This was the same arrangement under which Ferndale ran last year, but 2024 was different because there were other supporting NorCal fairs that preceded and followed it.

Andy Titus, the president of the board of directors for the Humboldt County Fair Association (AKA Ferndale), testified that last year Ferndale raised its purses and was intending to do so again this season. He noted that the meet drew “30-plus” California-based trainers in 2024, and that this year's Ferndale meet would be advantageously positioned between two fairs meets in Oregon, giving it the makings of a small two-state circuit.

“I feel like what we're talking about right now is fairly short-sighted,” said Titus, referring to the board's perceived tilt toward protecting SoCal interests. “Yes, the South is doing well. And that's great. But if you eliminate the [largely Northern-based] breeding, and the owners and trainers and staff, sooner or later [that success in the South] is going to dry up as well…

“What about five years from now? Ten years from now?” Titus asked rhetorically. “I understand about 2025. Right now [with Pleasanton not granted dates], we're the only venue in the North that is potentially going to be running. I think keeping something open in the North is very important for California racing. And I feel like the CHRB is supposed to represent the North and the South.”

After more pro-and-con testimony from stakeholders, commissioner Hudnut moved to deny the dates allocation for Ferndale. Alfieri and Ferraro voted in favor of that motion. Gonzales and Davis voted against it.

This set up a 3-2 statutory stalemate, because by California state law, the board's votes do not pass unless four commissioners vote one way or the other. (On Thursday, commissioner Damascus Castellanos was not in attendance, and there is also one current vacancy on the board.)

Ferraro wanted a recess at this point. But Gonzales interjected and called for a different vote, this time with the motion worded to approve the Ferndale allotment.

“Maybe there'll be a change of heart,” Gonzales said. “Maybe the board will look into the eyes of the men and women in this room and understand their responsibility to the state of California, and understand their responsibility that each and every one of us has [to the NorCal stakeholders].”

The voting ended up being the same 3-2 stalemate as on Ferraro's version of the motion, with no commissioners changing their support for or against Ferndale's allotment.

This meant that there was no officially recorded action taken on either version of the Ferndale motion.

Alfieri summed up the situation this way: “Why don't we study this for a year? We don't we take a pause and see? Because to me, this is very disjointed. You know, I'm hearing from people that say, 'Well, we're going to put up all the money.' Great! Where were you a year ago when we had this same discussion? We saw this happening a year ago. And then Golden State Racing, they didn't make it. CARF didn't make it. And this is very troubling. I'm more worried about racing in the state of California….Come back in a year. What's wrong with that? Come back with a plan.”

Gonzales urged the Ferndale supporters to return even sooner than that–like the next CHRB meeting in May.

“Because there's an impasse, I would encourage [Ferndale] to come back [next month],” Gonzales said, adding that by that time Castellanos would be back in attendance and the vacant board spot could be filled by an appointment.

“I think those two [board members] could be decisive [and] I would not lose hope or faith in any way,” Gonzales said.

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Quality Road Filly Clicquot Walks Stage At Keeneland

Thu, 2025-04-17 16:40

6th-Keeneland, $110,000, Msw, 4-17, 3yo, f, 7f, 1:28.04, ft, 6 lengths.
CLICQUOT (f, 3, Quality Road–Royal Obsession {GSP, $140,857}, by Tapit) ran a distant sixth in her first start at Gulfstream Park Mar. 1. Shipping to Keeneland from Brendan Walsh's Palm Meadows base, the filly put in a pair of solid drills locally before serving as the 7-5 choice here. The 3-year-old was in the mix early and vied for the lead up the backstretch alongside Mazayaat (Bernardini), who incidently finished as the runner-up in their debut race in Hallandale. In control at the quarter pole, Clicquot began to run up the score down the lane and she got her picture taken by six lengths over her opponent. The winner is her dam's last registered foal of record, but she was entered in Elite Power's book for this spring. Royal Obsession was a $1.8-million buy for Don Alberto at the 2017 Keeneland November Sale. Sales History: $375,000 RNA Ylg '23 FTSAUG. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $66,393. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O-X-Men Racing IV LLC, Madaket Stables LLC and SF Racing LLC; B-Don Alberto Corporation (KY); T-Brendan P. Walsh.

#2 CLICQUOT ($4.84) runs away from the field in the stretch to easily win race 6 at @Keenelandracing. The daughter of Quality Road (@LanesEndFarms) was ridden by @iradortiz and is trained by @brenpwalsh.

Watch more on @FanDuelTV. pic.twitter.com/Sbt8VpPnwf

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) April 17, 2025

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