Thoroughbred Daily News

Graded winner Magnitude (Not This Time) prepped for Saturday's GI Travers Stakes with a half-mile breeze over the Oklahoma dirt training track Sunday morning.

Clocked in :50.22 (31/49) while working through a blanket of fog, the Steve Asmussen charge has been training up to the feature race this weekend after producing a 9 1/4-length masterclass last out July 5 in the Listed Iowa Derby. The son of Not This Time missed the Triple Crown series with an ankle chip, but has been moving forwardly since his return to the races last month.

“He worked good,” said Scott Blasi, assistant trainer to Asmussen on-site for the work. “They [the instructions] were just to go a half-mile. We feel like he's really fit. We were just letting him stretch his legs over the track and he's doing well.”

The Asmussen and Winchell Thoroughbreds combination is no stranger to winning the Travers as they last took home the spoils in 2022 with MGISW Epicenter, coincidentally also by Not This Time.

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1st-Saratoga, $100,000, Msw, 8-17, 3yo/up, f/m, 1 1/8mT, 1:48.60, fm, 7 3/4 lengths.
READY FOR CANDY (f, 3, Twirling Candy–Enoree {SP}, by More Than Ready), who began her career as a juvenile in the care of trainer Michael DePaulo, was the runner-up last summer in the Catch A Glimpse Stakes at Woodbine. The filly's campaign ended in November when she was third in the GIII Mazarine Stakes and finished second in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes–both in Toronto.

Making the switch to Philip Antonacci's shedrow, the dark bay made her seasonal bow as the even-money favorite here. The chalk was keen from the bell and established her lead heading into the first turn. Controlling the pace throughout, Ready for Candy hit the accelerator down the lane and won convincingly to break her maiden by 7 3/4 lengths over Inesperee (Flintshire {GB}). The winner's dam is responsible for several runners currently in-training, including 5-year-old gelding Tiburon (Good Magic), 4-year-old filly Bolt Enoree (Bolt d'Oro) and 2-year-old colt Mister Blue (Maclean's Music).

Enoree was bred to Essential Quality for next term. Out of an extended female family which includes Canadian champion 3-year-old colt Woodcarver (Woodman), Ready for Candy's second dam is Canadian MSW Woodsmoke (Langfuhr) who produced GSW Grand Bili (City Zip). Sales History: $70,000 RNA Ylg '23 KEESEP; $62,000 Ylg '23 FTKOCT; $60,000 2yo '24 OBSAPR; $400,000 3yo '25 FTKFEB. Lifetime Record: GSP-Can, 8-1-3-2, $162,171. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O-Lindy Farms; B-Mark Dodson (ON); T-Philip Antonacci.

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The right-hand man to Christophe Clement for nearly three decades, assistant trainer Christophe Lorieul will be presented with the inaugural D. Wayne Lukas award, the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (NYTHA) announced Saturday.

Created this year and to be given annually, the D. Wayne Lukas Award is presented to a New York-based assistant trainer who demonstrates qualities that the late Hall of Famer himself exemplified–dedication, a strong work ethic, and a high commitment to excellence. In addition to a trophy, the winner will receive a $10,000 award. The presentation will be held Monday, Sept. 1 on the closing day of the Saratoga meet.

Lorieul, a native of Normandy, France, has been part of the Clement organization since 1994, and is now assistant trainer to Miguel Clement.

“I worked with Christophe over half, maybe two-thirds of my life,” Lorieul reflected. “Everything that I know is because of him; I wasn't even 20 when I started working for him. I could come to him about anything and learned many life lessons. I learned a lot and had many opportunities to travel, to Japan, Dubai, Hong Kong. He always said, 'be patient with the horses. Take care of them, and they will take care of you.'

“It has been a rough year for us and we are just trying to continue his legacy. We are lucky enough to have good horses in our stalls. Miguel is doing a great job and I'm just trying to assist him the best I can, the same as I did with Christophe. Miguel had mentioned to me that I would be nominated, and I'm very thankful.”

Miguel, who credits Lorieul with teaching him to understand the Daily Racing Form as a child, is now at the helm of Clement Racing. Lorieul supervises the Belmont string, as is his custom.

“He is the backbone of our stable,” said Miguel Clement. “He is amazingly reliable, talented, and devoted to his profession. We are all very lucky to have him, especially when it was so tough, and he really stepped up when we needed him the most.”

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6th-Gulfstream, $40,000, Msw, 8-15, 2yo, f, 5f, :59.51, ft, 9 3/4 lengths.
EPIGRAM (f, 2, Code of Honor–Rockin, by Hard Spun) ran her rivals off their feet to become her late freshman sire's third winner at 7-2 odds. Breaking in at the start but recovering well to lead the pack, they were never given a second opinion as she put up an opening quarter in :22.95 and was on a clear advantage entering the stretch. From there it was how much she wanted to win by and the answer was 9 3/4 lengths over Authentic Wave (Authentic).

The victress is the most recent to the races for Rockin, who now has four offspring to get a picture taken from as many to the track. The mare claims a 2025 filly by Zandon and went to Charge It for 2026. Sales history: $7,000 Ylg '24 FTKOCT; $38,000 2yo '25 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $24,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O-JC Racing Stable (Jose Castro); B-Mercedes Stables LLC (KY); T-Jose M. Castro.

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SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY — She would have been the likely favorite in next Saturday's $500,000 GI Ballerina Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. But that point is moot now.

'TDN Rising Star' Ways and Means (Practical Joke) won't run.

Trainer Chad Brown delivered the news Thursday morning at his barn on the Oklahoma Training Track.

“Unfortunately, she got sick,” Brown said, sitting at his desk in his office. “She's sick, she's not running. Next question. There is nothing to talk about. She's going to miss the race.”

Brown was forced to miss a work last week with Ways and Means after she spiked a temperature.

Brown's glumness over the situation is understandable. Ways and Means, who is owned by Seth Klarman's Klaravich Stables, has done some of her best work at Saratoga.

She has won four of five career starts at Saratoga, including last year's GI Test Stakes and her latest start, the GII Bed of Roses Stakes on June 6.

Both of those races came at seven furlongs, the same distance as the Ballerina.

Ways and Means has earned $997,500 in her career and $618,250 has come in her Saratoga starts.

The only time Ways and Means got beat at Saratoga was in last year's GI Spinaway Stakes when she was defeated by Brightwork (Outwork) by a half-length. Brightwork is expected to run in the Ballerina.

In her 10 race-career, Ways and Means has five wins, two seconds and a third. She has gone off the favorite in nine of those starts. The only time she was not the favorite was in last year's GI Kentucky Oaks when she went off at nearly 6-1.

She finished fourth in that race.

Despite this setback, Brown will be busy enough on Travers Day.

He is pointing 'TDN Rising Star' Strategic Focus (Gun Runner) to the $1.25-million GI Travers Stakes. He finished third in his last start, the Curlin Stakes, as the 3-5 favorite. He is also owned by Klaravich.

'Rising Star' Chancer McPatrick (McKinzie), who won the Curlin at 4-1 odds for Flanagan Racing, is being targeted to the $500,000 GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes at seven furlongs.

Brown has two 5-year-old mares being pointed to the $500,000 GI Personal Ensign Stakes at 1 1/8 miles. Raging Sea (Curlin), the beaten favorite in the GII Shuvee Stakes at Saratoga on July 18 and Randomized (Nyquist), winner of the GIII Molly Pitcher at Monmouth on July 19, will represent his barn.

Raging Sea is owned by Alpha Delta Stables LLC and Klaravich owns Randomized. Both of those horses have won three races at Saratoga. Raging Sea won the Personal Ensign last year and Randomized finished fourth.

If the sun had shone brightly all day on Belmont Stakes Day back in June, chances are we would not be seeing Nitrogen (Medaglia d'Oro) in Saturday's $600,000 GI Alabama Stakes at Saratoga.

“Probably not,” dual Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse said outside his barn on the Saratoga backstretch.

When the rains came on Belmont Day, it washed the GIII Wonder Again Stakes off the turf and Nitrogen ran a mile on a sloppy track, winning by a whopping 17 lengths over two overmatched rivals.

It gave Casse an idea that maybe his talented 3-year-old filly, owned by D J Stable Inc., might have a future on dirt. Casse kept that in mind, even when Nitrogen's next start was back on the grass in the GI Belmont Oaks Invitational on July 5. She was second that day, beaten a nose by Fionn (Twirling Candy).

Had she not excelled in the off-the-turf Wonder Again, or if the race had stayed on the grass, she most likely would have run in the GI Saratoga Oaks Invitational last weekend.

Nitrogen | Sarah Andrew

But here she is and Nitrogen is the 9-5 second choice on the Alabama morning line set by NYRA oddsmaker David Aragona. Champion Good Cheer (Medaglia d'Oro), who had her seven-race winning streak snapped when she finished fifth in the GI Acorn Stakes to La Cara (Street Sense) on June 6, is the 8-5 morning-line favorite.

La Cara is also trained by Casse. She is further along than her stablemate in terms of the 3-year-old filly division as La Cara has a pair of GI wins on the dirt this year: the Acorn and the Ashland Stakes.

If Nitrogen makes some noise in the Alabama, it would be her first Grade I on dirt; overall this year she has five wins in six starts.

“I honestly think it's a no-brainer,” Casse said or running Nitrogen on the dirt. “We want to be champion 3-year-old filly and, to do that, we need to win a big one on the dirt. There are not many bigger than this one.”

Casse knows the Wonder Again could be viewed as the sloppy track and inferior competition, but he was more impressed with how fast she ran and how impressive she looked.

He has also liked the way she has worked for the Alabama–the last two breezes have been on dirt.

“I don't think there is any doubt she likes the dirt,” Casse said. “If she wins the Alabama, it puts her in a whole different atmosphere, a different league for everything.”

In his first start, 2-year-old colt Bobrovsky (Daredevil) got beat by a nose at Churchill Downs going five furlongs on June 22.

A month later, he rolled, breaking his maiden by 10 1/2 lengths in a six-furlong race at Saratoga.

Both those races were on the dirt.

Start number three comes Saturday in the $150,000 Skidmore Stakes. Here is the rub. This race will be run on the Mellon Turf Course at 5 1/2 furlongs. Bobrovsky has never set foot on it.

Dale Romans trains the colt, who is named for Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky. He co-owns him along with Steve Berg.

Bobrovsky | Sarah Andrew

“He is a very good horse,” Romans said outside his barn, sitting in a golf cart with Berg. “The question is will he like the grass?”

Berg and Romans are friends and the idea to name the horse after the Stanley Cup-winning goaltender came easily enough. Berg's full-time residence is in Florida and Romans spends the winter there.

They have both become fans of the Panthers, partly because owner Vinnie Viola also owns horses.

“I've been to a lot of games … one game every playoff series last year,” Berg said.

Neither Romans or Berg knows whether or not Bobrovsky the skater knows about Bobrovsky the horse.

“Let him win a couple more times,” Berg said about the horse, “then (Bobrovsky the hockey player) will know all about him.”

Bobrovsky is listed as 6-1 on the morning line in the eight-horse Skidmore.

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Now inside the three-month mark until the start of the upcoming 102-date meet, management at Turf Paradise is checking off projects on its list of off-season improvements prior to the arrival of horses in October for the Nov. 10-May 2 season.

Turf Paradise general manager Vincent Francia said at Thursday's Arizona Racing Commission (AZRC) meeting that Sept. 16 is the target date for the beginning of the annual main-track renovation.

“It may take anywhere from 10 days to two weeks because we take all the old dirt off and then put the new dirt down to get ready for the horses to come in in the beginning of October,” Francia said.

“And prior to them coming in, there will be a representative from the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) to come out and look over all the work that's been done on the main track and to give us approval to be open for training,” Francia said.

Francia also said Turf Paradise will be shoring up structural aspects of the property based on recommendations from an outside engineering firm's recent report. A focal point will be 10 barns on the backside that have not been significantly overhauled since they were built in 1955.

Brian Duncan, the AZRC's racing enforcement and operations manager, said he visited the track Aug. 12 and will be there again Aug. 15 to check on progress of the work that is already underway.

“I did look at the main rail and the quarter chute,” Duncan said. “They are complete with the exception of just being painted now. The three-quarters chute still needs everything–panels put down, all the caulking and painting as well. I did not check the turf rails. They were watering and cutting it, so I will be checking that [Friday] when I do this as well. I did visit the paddock stalls. The ceiling is complete–painted, redone.”

Duncan said he did not personally see the updated sauna in the jockeys' quarters, but that track management had provided him with photographs showing its completion.

Francia said the work on the rails will be finished in the following order: inner rail on the main track, outer rail on the main track, then the outer rail on the turf course.

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Renovations to the E.P. Taylor Turf Course at Woodbine will begin the week of Aug. 18, 2025. The project will restore a five-furlong section of the backstretch run and install a modern drainage system and new Kentucky Bluegrass. For the remainder of the season until the completion of the project in September 2026, turf racing will be conducted on the bet365 Inner Turf Course.

“The E.P. Taylor Turf Course has played host to some of the most memorable moments in Canadian racing, and this renovation ensures it remains one of the finest turf courses in the world,” said Michael Copeland, CEO, Woodbine Entertainment. “This project is about more than infrastructure–it reflects our long-term commitment to delivering a world-class racing experience for our horses and riders, horseplayers and fans, and the entire racing community.”

The fall turf stakes traditionally contested over the E.P. Taylor will be relocated to the inner turf, including the GI Woodbine Mile, the GI Summer Stakes and GI Natalma Stakes all at a two-turn mile on Sept. 13. The Breeders' Stakes on Sept. 28 and the GI Canadian International on Oct. 4 will also be run over the inner turf course. The latter two events will be held over their traditional mile-and-a-half distances, but will be three-turn races instead of two.

To support the project timeline, post times at Woodbine will be adjusted beginning the week of Aug. 18. Thursday post time will shift from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., while Friday's first race will be moved to 4:30 p.m. from 1:05 p.m. Saturday and Sunday post times remain unchanged.

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The sixth installment in the 2025 OwnerView webinar series was held Aug. 12 and covered buying horses at sales and on digital platforms, according to a press release on Thursday from the series.

Guests included Leif Aaron, director of digital sales, Fasig-Tipton; Conrad Bandoroff, vice president of Denali Stud; Cormac Breathnach, director of sales operations, Keeneland; and Jon Green, owner of D.J. Stable LLC.

Hosted by The Jockey Club and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, and presented by Bessemer Trust, Keeneland, and Stoll Keenon Ogden, the panel was sponsored by Centennial Farms and Walmac Farm. The Q&A portion of the event was sponsored by West Point Thoroughbreds.

Click here to access the webinar.

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Amy Gregory, a prominent member of the Keeneland team for nearly two decades, will receive the Jane Goldstein Exemplary Leadership Award at the Horse Racing Women's Association's fourth annual Conference, Oct. 8-9, in Lexington, Kentucky, according to a press release from the organization on Thursday.

Within her 45-year career in the Thoroughbred industry, Gregory joined Keeneland as media relations manager in 2006 and was named director of communications in 2013. Earlier this summer, Gregory retired from her role, though she will continue to provide communications support to Keeneland and consult on special projects for the company.

“I am incredibly honored and humbled to receive the Jane Goldstein Leadership Award,” said Gregory. “I am so grateful to the Horse Racing Women's Association for this very special recognition, and thankful for its continuing work to engage and inspire women in racing.”

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Keeneland has supplemented a filly by Tapit and a colt by Uncle Mo to Book 1 of the September Yearling Sale Sept. 8-9, the company said via a Thursday release.

Opening day of the auction, which begins at 1 p.m. ET will include:

• Hip 183, a daughter of Tapit who is from the family of current sire Life Is Good, MGISW Diamondrella (GB) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}). Consigned by Paramount Sales, agent, she is out of She'samericanmade (American Pharoah).

Supplemented to the second day is:

• Hip 374, a colt by Uncle Mo who is a half-brother to current sire Pinehurst. He is out of the Giant's Causeway mare Giant Win, a full-sister to GSW First Passage. From the family of GISW Harmony Lodge (Hennessy), the colt is consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent.

Click here to access the catalogue.

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Neil Pessin, who abruptly left the training business in mid-May, has landed a new position as an assistant to trainer Michelle Nihei on the Kentucky circuit, the conditioner confirmed Thursday.

The conditioner of Grade I winner Bell's the One (Majesticperfection), Pessin saddled his final runner at Keeneland at the end of April and took some time to sell off some of his tack and other gear. But Pessin admits that sitting idly by isn't something he does especially well, and he ultimately accepted an offer from Nihei to oversee a string of about 10 horses at Churchill's Trackside training center around the beginning of June.

“I had a few people ask to evaluate horses for them, but that took about 30 minutes and I found I still had 23 hours and 30 minutes to kill,” Pessin quipped. “A few people asked about going to work for them, but Michelle made me a good offer and what's especially nice is that I will get to winter in New Orleans, so it all made sense.”

Pessin has long spent the winter months at the Fair Grounds.

The conditioner has made the two-hour journey across to Ellis Park with the odd Nihei entrant and he said that plans remain for the barn to remain at Trackside or the track proper, depending on the acceptance and approval of their stall application.

Pessin anticipates that the size of the barn will increase beginning in 2026.

“Michelle has about 30 horses at present, but her husband, Tony, is putting together a group of investors to buy horses of all ages,” Pessin said. “They have about 30 yearlings turning right now, and they also buy horses of racing age and breeding stock.”

Pessin admits that it's nice to 'be back.'

The work thing is overrated,” he said with a chuckle, “but it does feel good to be back doing something with the horses instead of just sitting around. I do like what I'm doing and eventually we'll have maybe double the horses that we have now, so looking forward to that.”

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Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa has acquired a half-interest in 2024 Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) in a deal which includes former NFL star Marshawn Lynch, according to a press release from the farm.

Trained by Kenny McPeek, who selected her as a yearling, she is one of only seven distaffers in the history of the American turf and only the second 3-year-old filly, along with the fabulous Rachel Alexandra (Medaglia d'Oro), to claim the coveted title.

A six-time Grade I winner with victories in the GI Kentucky Oaks, the GI Acorn Stakes, the GI CCA Oaks, the GI Cotillion Stakes, the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff and the GI Apple Blossom Handicap, the mare has compiled a record of 11 wins and two seconds from 14 starts, with earnings over $5 million.

“It is extremely rare, if not impossible, to acquire an interest in a mare of this caliber,” said John G. Sikura, owner of Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa. “A Horse of the Year, out of a Broodmare of the Year is beyond a unique commodity. A consummate Champion, Thorpedo Anna hails from a pedigree that I have been involved in and respect as foundational to the modern breed. Deep in her pedigree are the names of Cosmah, Almahmoud and the great sires Halo and Northern Dancer who is perhaps the greatest sire ever.

“Kenny has managed her career to perfection and I am excited to be part of the team,” added Sikura. “We have a shared responsibilty to expose our sport to a new audience, as such, NFL superstar and actor Marshawn Lynch is participating in the deal. Mr. Lynch came to Saratoga and experienced our sport and was utterly enthralled.”

Thorpedo Anna will race the remainder of 2025 and plans are for her to continue next year.

“It has been an amazing journey being around Thorpedo Anna,” said Kenny McPeek. “Judy Hicks, Mark Edwards and Sherri McPeek's Magdalena Racing will continue to retain their percentage ownership of Thorpedo Anna and we are all excited to continue with such a great partner as John Sikura and Hill 'n' Dale.”

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Bidding commenced Aug. 14 and runs until Tuesday, Aug. 19 at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m PT for the major reduction of Harris Farms on Fasig-Tipton Digital, according to a press release from the platform on Thursday.

Ninety entries are catalogued as part of the reduction of leading California owner and breeder John C. Harris who participated in all aspects of the Thoroughbred business until his passing at the age of 81 in July.

The reduction consists of breeding and racing stock.  Included in the catalogue are:

• Nu Pi Lambda (City Zip) (Hip 50): She is a half-sister to MGISW Deterministic. Nu Pi Lambda is offered in foal to Deterministic's sire Liam's Map;
• Hennys Crazy Train (Epicenter) (Hip 51): GSP earner of more than $300,000 carries her first foal;
• 24 mares offered with foals at foot;
• 40 horses of racing age, including unraced 2-year-olds being prepared for their career debuts.

All offerings are being sold with no reserve.

“We are honored for Fasig-Tipton Digital to be entrusted with the reduction of Harris Farms,” said Leif Aaron. “Mr. Harris, a pillar of racing for more than four decades, spent his life developing these families, which have consistently produced top-quality runners since he assumed leadership of his family's stable in 1981.”

Since 2000, Harris runners have won 695 races for earnings of more than $22-million.

Prospective buyers may view the catalogue and register to bid by clicking here.

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Mike Renfro caught 28 touchdowns during his eleven seasons in the NFL playing for the Houston Oilers and the Dallas Cowboys. Like most athletes, even after all these years, he misses those Sunday afternoons, the camaraderie with his teammates and the thrill of competition.

But what would fill the void when he walked off the field for the last time in 1988? To Renfro, that's a very easy question to answer. He discovered horse racing. Thirty-seven years later, Renfro is part of the CJ Thoroughbreds ownership group, which has its sights set on Saturday's King's Plate at Woodbine with Tom's Magic (Justify).

To talk about his careers–in football and in racing–Renfro was the Gainesway Guest of the Week on this week's episode of the TDN Writers' Room Podcast Presented by Keeneland.

“Any ex-athlete that spent some time at least at the highest level for a while will tell you the same thing,” Renfro said. “There's been others before me and there'll be others to come. But any pro athlete that gets out of the game, it's hard. We have a lot of ex-teammates. We have a lot of teammates that struggle after a life of fame and the fortune, right? And whether it's Hollywood actors, pro athletes, whoever it may be, if they're in the spotlight and they've been exposed to that lifestyle, it can be very difficult. Thank goodness for horse racing. It's a wonderful sport.”

Tom's Magic was bought by CJ Thoroughbreds out of the 2023 Keeneland September sale. The podcast's very own Zoe Cadman helped pick out the horse along with partner Marette Farrell. Paying only $200,000 for a son of Justify, they got a bargain.

“I think Zoe said it right when she said we just got lucky,” Renfro said. “It's as simple as that. He needed a little time, not from anything that stands out in my memory or anything that put him on the vet's list, but he came to our farm instead of going directly to Florida. Normally, we send them to Ocala. He came to our farm and just chilled for about 60 days. And then he went on to Kevin Nolmeyer's at Silver Springs right there in Lexington. But bottom line is I think we just got lucky.”

Tom's Magic is 3-for-5 lifetime and won the Black Gold Stakes at Fair Grounds and the Tale of the Cat Stakes at Monmouth. He has raced only on the turf. Renfro said they began to think of Tom's Magic as a King's Plate horse almost from the start.

“We're all traveling for the first time to Woodbine Racecourse and to have an entry in the King's Plate is pretty special,” Renfro said. “We've been pinching ourselves. It's been a plan for several months. This plan actually worked out, which is somewhat rare in our industry as you know.

“We've been thinking about this race for a long time. We had an Ontario-bred. We knew he had some talent. Our friend Zoe was very involved in helping select this horse. But you know, things worked out. We got to run him late as a two year old and he showed some promise and won his second start. Since really the first of the year, we've been honing in on this race and he stayed sound as he can be and it's worked out. He's certainly a contender.”

In our “Fastest Horse of the Week,” segment which is sponsored by WinStar, the team went over the many reasons there are breed to WinStar stallion Life Is Good. The fastest horse of the week was GI Sword Dancer winner El Cordobes (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), who earned a 104 Beyer.

Elsewhere on the podcast, which is also sponsored by 1/ST Racing, the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders' Association,West Point Thoroughbreds, and 1/ST TV, the team of Cadman, Bill Finley and Randy Moss previewed the GI Alabama Stakes and the King's Plate. They reviewed the GI Sword Dancer Stakes and the GI Arlington Million Stakes.

Also on the docket, the group discussed the foul-up last Saturday at Saratoga where the last race on the card was run at the wrong distance.

To watch the Writers' Room, click here. To view the show as a podcast, click here.

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Off his late heroics in the GI Whitney Stakes at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 2, Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) once again cracked the LONGINES World's Best Racehorse Rankings.

Owned by Peter Brant, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg and Brook Smith, last year's Eclipse Champion 3-year-old rolled from the back of the pack as is his style to take the Whitney by a length. The Chad Brown trainee is now rated 120 on the 2025 list.

Topping the chart at 127 is still a three-way tie between Field of Gold (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) and Ombudsman (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}).

Since last month's release, Field of Gold was fourth in the G1 Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes at Goodwood and Ombudsman finished as the runner-up in the G1 Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park. Forever Young has not raced since he was third in the G1 Dubai World Cup.

Delacroix (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who bested Ombudsman in the Coral-Eclipse remains in the co-fourth position in the rankings with a rating of 126. Sharing that same mark is Hong Kong champions Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) and Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}).

As for the U.S.-based contingent, MGISW Sovereignty (Into Mischief) who is pointing to the GI DraftKings Travers Stakes remained at 125, and checking in again at 124 was MGISW White Abarrio (Race Day), who could ship west to run in the GI Pacific Classic Stakes at Del Mar.

The complete LONGINES World's Best Racehorse Rankings are available here.

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During this year's Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, Len and Jon Green's D.J. Stable will offer a curated reduction of its bloodstock portfolio consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, the auction house said in a press release on Thursday.

While their reduction represents a meaningful milestone, the Greens remain as committed as ever to the sport. D.J. Stable will continue to be active in racing and at future sales, with plans to invest in new opportunities and further grow their presence in the sport.

“This is a one-time offering–strategic and deliberate, not something we plan to do annually,” Len Green said. “From a business perspective, there's no better time to capitalize on opportunities in the breeding industry. The 'Big Beautiful Bill' is strategically crafted to offer compelling incentives for high net worth individuals to invest in broodmares, making it both a smart financial move and a savvy tax strategy.”

For more than four decades, D.J. Stable has earned more than 2,600 wins with more than 150 stakes victories; earned 14 leading owner titles across major racing jurisdictions; and raced Eclipse Award and Sovereign Award winners.

“D.J. Stable has been developing their broodmare operation for decades,” Taylor Made President and CEO Mark Taylor said. “This is a unique opportunity for buyers to access quality bloodstock and turnkey mares who can offer an immediate return on investment in 2026 and beyond.”

Details of the D.J. Stable consignment, including offerings, will be released in the coming weeks along with the November Breeding Stock Sale catalog.

“This reduction is a nice standard of quality,” Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy said. “D.J. Stable has always approached the sport with professionalism and purpose, and this consignment is no exception. It's a unique opportunity for buyers to invest in proven bloodlines from a first-class operation. Keeneland is pleased to sell these horses for the Greens, and we look forward to them remaining active buyers at future Keeneland sales.”

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SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY — Hindered at the start and helped at the end, when it counted the most, Quiet Street (Street Boss) launched her career Wednesday with a victory in the finale at Saratoga Race Course.

The chart shows that the Godolphin homebred trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott won the $100,000 maiden special weight for 2-year-old fillies by a neck over Lit Ship (Midshipman). She completed the 5 1/2 furlongs on the Mellon Turf Course in 1:03.72 and paid $15.60.

Getting to the wire first was an adventure. She was bumped leaving the gate by the 8-5 favorite Delightful Darling (Flameaway) and ended up last in the field of nine under Junior Alvarado. Rather than trying to rush the filly up into contention, Alvarado played a patient game. Coming off the turn he was able to move Quiet Street five or six lengths wide and commence what turned into a winning move.

“She was off a tad slow,” Mott said. “And then, naturally, when you're off a tad slow, the others have a chance to pancake you and she got pancaked a little bit. He let her settle into stride, and she found her way.”

On the front end, Delightful Darling was tiring after fractions of :22.34 and :45.96. Lit Ship pounced in the stretch and with plenty of momentum looked like she would snag the win. Moments later, though, she shied from the Irad Ortiz, Jr.'s left-handed crop and headed toward the outer rail and Alvarado guided Quiet Street into the gigantic opening. Ortiz managed to straighten out Lit Ship and got her back into the race, but she had surrendered too much ground.

Even when Quiet Street was last, several lengths behind the pace, Mott said he figured she might be able to get into contention.

“I wasn't ruling her out because I know she can run,” he said. “I didn't know if she was going to get up to win, but I didn't rule her out completely, that's for sure.”

Alvarado was following Lit Ship toward the front and managed to avoid any trouble when the filly moved to her right.

“He was headed out, but there was plenty of room,” Mott said. “We never got impeded. I guess he just had to angle in a little bit. I don't think it bothered us that much.”

Mott trained Quiet Street's dam, Serene (Tapit) early in her career and saddled her for her first race before she was moved to Eoin Harty. He said Serene was a “big, tall long filly”, a different physique than Quiet Street, her first foal.

Trainer Bill Mott and jockey Junior Alvarado do their post-race debrief | Sarah Andrew

“Very high strung, kind of a flighty type, light-made filly, but very athletic,” Mott said. “She's been very, very honest every one of her works. She's always worked good every time. She's done what we've asked her to do.”

Mott said that Quiet Street is not a sprinter type because she is longer and leaner and not overly muscular.

The next step, Mott said, is to see what range she might have.

“I have to try her. I have to stretch her out and try,” Mott said. “If she'll stretch out and be effective, that will be what I want. I'm not looking to make her into a sprinter. If she is, she is. I'd like to see her go on. We prefer the longer races.”

In addition to the win, Quiet Street got a bonus: an education that isn't typically available in morning breezes on the Oklahoma turf training track.

“Well, when you pass the whole field, you do get some experience out of it, sometimes maybe as much or more than going long if you're up on the front end,” Mott said. “She should have learned something from it. I guess the big question will be how far is she going to go?

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9th-Saratoga, $100,000, Msw, 8-13, 2yo, f, 5 1/2fT, 1:03.72, fm, neck.
QUIET STREET (f, 2, Street Boss–Serene, by Tapit) overcame a rough start to win the Wednesday nightcap for the Sovereignty connections. A sneaky-live 6-1 from an 8-1 morning line, the homebred was pinched back from between horses at the break and was forced to travel from the rear, but was allowed to settle and was not ridden off her feet by Junior Alvarado. Last, but under a hold on the turn, Quiet Street swung into action seven or eight wide in upper stretch and she quickly zeroed in on favored Delightful Darling (Flameaway) and Lit Ship (Midshipman), who were at each other into the final furlong. The latter drifted out as Delightful Darling began to fade, and Quiet Street closed stoutly to hold off a re-rally from Lit Ship by a neck.

The winner's dam, an $800,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase by Godolphin, is out of Fascinating (Smart Strike), twice Grade I-placed at two. Fascinating's GSW & GISP dam Untouched Talent (Storm Cat) produced nine winners, including GI Arkansas Derby hero and multiple Classic-placed Bodemeister (Empire Maker) and MGSW Under the Stars (Pioneeerof the Nile). The first foal from her dam, Quiet Street has a yearling half-brother by Uncle Mo and a foal half-brother by Midshipman. Serene is due to Street Sense for her 2026 foal. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $55,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O-Godolphin LLC; B-Godolphin (KY); T-William I Mott.

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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert is sending a strong contingent to Saratoga Race Course for Travers Day next Saturday. But he won't have a runner in the marquee event, the GI DraftKings Travers Stakes.

Baffert said Wednesday that he is keeping 'TDN Rising Star' Goal Oriented (Not This Time) in California. He had originally been planning on shipping the lightly raced colt East but nixed that idea after Goal Oriented worked at Del Mar on Friday.

He went seven furlongs in a 1:23.80 (1/2).

“He breezed nice, but not to my standards,” Baffert said by phone Wednesday afternoon from California. “I decided I wanted to wait. I thought it was a little too much coming back.”

Goal Oriented, unraced as a 2-year-old, has started four times this year. After winning his first two starts, he was fourth in the GI Preakness Stakes at Pimlico after being involved in a bumping incident in the stretch and followed that up with a third in the GI Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park in his last start July 19.

Both of those races were won by Journalism (Curlin).

“[The Travers] is a very tough race,” Baffert said. “A mile and a quarter can be tough on them.”

The next likely start for Goal Oriented will be the GI Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Sept. 20.

Goal Oriented is owned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert Masterson, Tom Ryan, Waves Edge Capital LLC and Catherine Donovan.

Hope Road wins the GIII Torrey Pines Stakes at Del Mar | Benoit

Although he will be sitting out the Travers, Baffert's presence will be felt next weekend. He is pointing Hope Road (Quality Road) to the GI Resorts World Casino Ballerina Stakes and could have as many as four runners in the GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes.

Hope Road, owned by Cicero Farms, won four of five starts as a 3-year-old and is winless in three tries this year with a pair of seconds and a third.

Baffert said that Zedan Racing Stables's Barnes (Into Mischief), Madaket Road (Quality Road)–owned by SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert Masterson, Tom Ryan, Waves Edge Capital LLC and Catherine Donovan–and Edward Childs's Midland Money (Shancelot), were potential shippers.

A fourth possible Jerkens starter could be Gaming (Game Winner), who is owned by Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman.

Barnes would be making his first start since a fifth-place finish in the GI Santa Anita Derby in April. Madaket Road has one win in seven career starts, but has hit the board five other times, including a second in the GI Woody Stephens Stakes in his last start, which came at Saratoga in June.

Midland Money, the only one of the group that is on the grounds, is 2-for-2 in his career. He won an allowance here Aug. 3 by 3 1/4 lengths.

He worked four furlongs on Saratoga's main track on Monday in 48.83 (6/12)

“Right now, everything looks like a go,” Baffert said of the first three for the Jerkens. “I am debating what to do with Gaming. I go by the last works [this weekend]. I could change my mind and not bring any. You never know.”

One of these days, Gosger (Nyquist) is going to win a big race.

It won't be a week from Saturday when the Travers.

His trainer, Brendan Walsh, confirmed what was pretty much expected when he said Wednesday that the colt would not be running in the Midsummer Derby.

“We are going to skip it and give him a little more time,” Walsh said from by phone from Kentucky Wednesday morning. “The Travers is too soon for him.”

Gosger before the Haskell | Sarah Andrew

Gosger has run back-to-back courageous races only to come up just short. In the Preakness and Haskell, he was run down late by Journalism. In the former, Gosger and jockey Luis Saez looked home free as they built a five-length lead in deep stretch but got run down.

Last month, Gosger and Goal Oriented engaged in a stretch duel at Monmouth and Journalism got past them both in the Haskell.

For his career, Gosger–named for former major league baseball player Jim Gosger–has two wins and three seconds in five starts. He won the GIII Lexington Stakes in April after breaking his maiden at Gulfstream Park in February.

“He hasn't done anything wrong since he started,” Walsh said. “His last two races have been very good; he just got beat by a very, very good horse. We have taken it nice and easy all year and have picked his spots. I think, mainly, he is going to be a horse for next year.”

Walsh said there is no immediate target for Gosger, owned by Harvey Clarke Racing Stables. The Pennsylvania Derby could be an option.

Gosger has worked three times since the Haskell, all at Churchill Downs. In his most recent work, he went five furlongs in 1:00.60 (7/52) last Saturday.

“We will see how he does in his next two works and go from there,” Walsh said. “Right now, everything [except the Travers] is in the cards. This is an exceptionally good year [for 3-year-olds] and there were three or four or five good colts around and I think he is one of them. He will have his time … hopefully before too long.”

Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey was still accepting congratulations as he stood outside his barn on the Oklahoma Training Track Wednesday morning.

Behind him, inside adjoining stalls at the barn, were his two heroes from last weekend's GI Arlington Million Stakes.

Fort Washington (War Front) won the 1 1/4-mile race on the Colonial Downs turf by a half-length over Grand Sonata (Medaglia d'Oro) at odds of 5-1; stablemate Integration (Quality Road) was third as the 3-5 favorite.

Owned by Magic Cap Stables, Fort Washington won for the third time in five starts this year. The 6-year-old won a pair of GIII races–the Dinner Party Stakes at Pimlico May 17 and the Canadian Turf Stakes at Gulfstream Park March 1.

“That horse had trained really well,” McGaughey said. “I thought he would have a big chance. His races had been really, really good.”

Fort Washington (outside0 of stablemate Integration working at the Spa Aug. 1 | Sarah Andrew

In his prior start, the GII Wise Dan Stakes at Churchill Downs June 28. He finished fourth, beaten only 1 3/4 lengths.

McGaughey was encouraged by Fort Washington's four-furlong turf work at Saratoga, which went in :49.97 (12/42) on Aug. 1.

“I wanted to work him before I made up my mind,” McGaughey said. “He worked well, and I decided to give him a chance.”

As far as what might be next for Fort Washington, McGaughey said he really does not know.

“I'm not evading the question,” he said. “I just have no idea.”

Integration, owned by West Point Thoroughbreds and Woodford Racing LLC, has three seconds and a third in five starts this year. All five of his starts have been in Grade I races this year.

He will be leaving Saratoga on Friday, bound for Kentucky.

“He is going to get a little time,” McGaughey said. “He's been going a long time and think he needs a little break.”

He said the goal for the 5-year-old will be to get a race into him before running in the 2026 GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational at Gulfstream, a race he lost by a neck to Spirit of St. Louis (Medaglia d'Oro) this year.

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John and Leona Velazquez were publicly recognized for their longstanding commitment to the backstretch community at Saratoga, Belmont and Aqueduct on Wednesday when they received the Marylou Whitney and John Hendrickson Award from the New York Race Track Chaplaincy at the 18th annual fundraising brunch at the Saratoga National Golf Club, the non-profit said in a press release on Wednesday afternoon.

On hand to assist with the award presentation was Marylou's Whitney's daughter, Heather Mabee. The brunch set a new record for fundraising.

“Anyone who has spent much time around the racetrack knows that the people who care for the horses are really the unsung heroes of our sport,” Velazquez said. “Leona and I are proud to support the various backstretch programs organized by the New York Race Track Chaplaincy and we are extremely honored and grateful to be recognized in this way.”

As is the custom, the pair were presented with a framed racing scene created by equine artist Tom Chapman from the New York Race Track Chaplaincy. The Hall of Fame rider and his wife have been active in various backstretch organizations for decades.

Previous honorees have included Len Green, Tracy and Todd Pletcher, Andy Serling, Irad Ortiz Jr., Anne Campbell, Edgar Prado, Michael Dubb, Fay and David Donk, Marylou Whitney and John Hendrickson, Letty and Kiaran McLaughlin, Lisa and Kenny Troutt, Debbie and Terry Finley and the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association.

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