Thoroughbred Daily News

Since its inception, the Real Rider Cup has brought together members from all corners of the Thoroughbred racing industry and extending across the equestrian community, to not only host events that highlight the athleticism of off-track Thoroughbreds, but also the importance of fundraising for and supporting racehorses as they transition to second careers.

This year, the Real Rider Cup will be held solely in Lexington, Kentucky, with the 10th running of the event returning to New Vocations at Mereworth Farm on Saturday, July 11.

Founded by Anita Motion, the unique charity showjumping event showcases riders—sporting some of the industry's most iconic silks—partnering up with retired racehorses to compete over a course of jumps, while each rider pledges to raise a minimum of $1,000 to support Thoroughbred aftercare. The beneficiaries of the Real Rider Cup are the Retired Racehorse Project, whose team has taken over organization of the event in recent years; Beyond the Wire; and New Vocations.

What began as an event consisting of teams made up of racing industry personalities, including trainers, jockeys, as well as members of the media, has expanded to host riders of off-track Thoroughbreds from all over. This has not only grown the exposure of the Real Rider Cup, but also helped to bridge the gap between those within the racing industry and those that compete with Thoroughbreds in the show world.

“One of our racehorses that we retired, Icabad Crane, was crowned America's Most Wanted Thoroughbred at the Retired Racehorse Project's 2014 Thoroughbred Makeover at Pimlico. The last time he was at Pimlico, he finished third in the 2008 [GI] Preakness to Big Brown,” said Motion, who is married to Kentucky Derby and Breeders' Cup-winning trainer Graham Motion. “Graham and I have always been cognizant of a Thoroughbred's life after the racetrack and aftercare has become a true passion of mine, more so than the racing.

“A highlight for me has been seeing people from the outside coming, watching, and enjoying the Real Rider Cup, and just seeing how much fun they can have when attending an event like this. It's amazing to show how versatile these horses are while bringing together the worlds of horse racing and showjumping.”

Jocelyn Brooks with Perpetual Optimism at the 2022 Real Rider Cup | Grace Clark

Jocelyn Brooks, the director of bloodstock for Flying Dutchmen Racing, is a long-time Real Rider Cup participant who has ridden in both legs of the event, in Maryland and Kentucky, throughout the years. Following the retirement of her previous mount, Perpetual Optimism (First Defence), from the show ring, Brooks will ride Happy Farm (Ghostzapper) in her fifth Real Rider Cup appearance this year.

“Unlike other fundraising events, this is something actually horse-involved where we get to show off how talented all of these retired racehorses are…and how talented and athletic all of us old equestrians are. We don't get to ride races, but we can still ride horses,” said Brooks with a laugh. “I've now moved up to being a team captain and rallying the troops, trying to get more people involved. I recruited a friend [Kaya MacLeod] who is a college student that now owns her first Thoroughbred and is very active in the equestrian community. She's a great example of someone that goes to the races and cares about Thoroughbreds, but I don't think she ever thought she'd be involved in this level of an event.”

The Real Rider Cup has no specifications for the Thoroughbreds that compete outside of them being registered retired racehorses that have at least one published workout or lifetime start. This has paved the way for many horse racing 'fan-favorites' to return to the spotlight.

“Unlike the Retired Racehorse Project, which focuses on Thoroughbreds that have recently retired, this is a flash forward to show how much these horses have grown and what they've been doing in their new chapters. It tends to be a group of more established horses and partnerships, since they're usually in their lifelong home by the time they're doing the Real Rider Cup, and it's cool to see,” said Brooks. “This event brings together a bunch of veterans, almost like the industry's all-star game.”

A fellow Real Rider Cup regular, Sergio de Sousa returns this year for his seventh appearance in the event where he'll be riding My High Roller (Bernardini). Since 2019, de Sousa has raised nearly $32,000 for the event's aftercare beneficiaries, an accomplishment that has earned him special recognition in the Real Rider Cup's Hall of Fame that highlights competitors whose lifetime total funds raised have surpassed the five-figure mark.

Sergio de Sousa with My High Roller at the 2025 Real Rider Cup | Amy Lanigan

“I grew up riding ex-racehorses in Brazil. We would go to the horses-in-training sales and buy the older geldings to be riding horses, so I know firsthand that there is a lot left in the tank. These horses, they're four, five or six whenever they finish racing, but that doesn't mean they're done,” said de Sousa, a partner and manager of Hidden Brook Farm in Paris, Ky. “It's always great when anyone has ideas like this to help improve the retirement for these horses. Not only the ones that go on and do other things, but for all of them, because they all deserve that.”

Among the horses entered in Saturday's Real Rider Cup, some of the recognizable contenders include multiple graded stakes winners Tower of Texas (Street Sense), ridden by Sarah Hamilton; United (Giant's Causeway), ridden by Madison Scott; graded stakes winner Happy Farm, ridden by Brooks; stakes winner Navy Armed Guard (Midshipman), ridden by Sidney Baughman; multiple graded stakes-placed Gray Magician (Graydar), ridden by Lindsay Gilbert; and graded stakes-placed Betweenhereandcool (Unbridled's Song), ridden by Mary Ormsby; Hozier (Pioneerof the Nile), ridden by Brooke Baker; K P All Systems Go (More Than Ready), ridden by Kate Stephenson; Runnin' Ray (Street Sense), ridden by Anne Czerwonka; The Black Album (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), ridden by Rodolphe Brisset.

“Our program [at Flying Dutchmen] is so young that this is the first year we have a group of retirees competing throughout the area. We've adopted out a bunch of retirees and having one of them [Navy Armed Guard] in the event is really cool. The [Boersma] family is very excited about it and they're coming out to support,” said Brooks. “It's even more meaningful for them to sponsor the event with one of their own racehorses participating. It means so much to the connections to be able to know where their horses are and see how well they're doing.”

This year, Real Rider Cup has partnered with Breeders' Cup Charities and Keeneland, each of whom have fielded a team of riders and committed to match their respective team's total raised up to $5,000. Overall, the 2026 event recruited a full slate of entries, with 33 competitors spanning seven teams.

Real Rider Cup participants have already raised over $51,000 this season, which has boosted the event's lifetime donations closer to the $835,000 mark.

“Most Thoroughbreds can do just about anything you ask them to do; you just have to find exactly what they want to do,” said de Sousa. “It's kind of a full circle thing for me, from the breeding to the sales and the showing. It's just a good feeling to do this.”

Though the fall event in Maryland will not be held this year due to the cancellation of the MARS Maryland 5 Star event at Fair Hill, Motion is hopeful the Real Rider Cup will return to the East Coast next year.

The 2026 Real Rider Cup in Lexington is open to the public and free to attend. The event will be held rain or shine with gates opening at 6 p.m. For more information, click here.

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It's not a terribly fair question, but it had to be asked. Which would be bigger for Reagan Swinbank: a Breeders' Cup World Championship win or a Texas A&M football national title for the 'Home of the 12th Man?'

“Well, I've already got a Breeders' Cup win last year with Cy Fair,” said Swinbank. “So, the icing on the cake would be for my Aggies to 'Gig 'Em' by sweeping the bracket come fall and getting their hands on that trophy.”

Point goes to the born-and-raised Houstonian who was nothing if not diplomatic when it came to that response.

What is definitely the case is that the owner of Swinbank Stables–whose silks are fittingly maroon and white–is just as die hard a fan when it comes to horses as he is about being a multi-generational alum.

As he tells it, whether it's Aggieland sports or racing, it's all about being tied in emotionally, spiritually and financially–just like family.

“It's been a challenging year since last July,” said Swinbank. “The Central Texas flooding hit our family hard and we've been really tested. Having a horse like Cy Fair brought us so much joy at a very, very intense and sad time. The fact that this horse progressed so well was exciting for us. We are hoping to get back to the Breeders' Cup, Lord willing.”

Swinbank's wife, daughter and son hooted and hollered when Cy Fair (Not This Time) broke her maiden on debut at Saratoga July 10, 2025, which earned the 2-year-old a 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard,' for her effort. The bookend to the season was a major score in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Del Mar in late October and an Eclipse nomination for champion 2-year-old filly.

Aggie maroon homeward: Cy Fair breaks her maiden at the Spa and earns a 'TDN Rising Star' last summer | Sarah Andrew

Cy Fair returned to training for George Weaver this past spring and the turf sprint specialist took home the GIII Mamzelle Stakes at Churchill Downs Apr. 30. A trip to Royal Ascot was in the offing, but that was cut short according to Swinbank.

“Cy Fair got sick and that derailed any shot that she had at going over to England,” he said. “I wanted people to see me in that long coat and top hat, but what's most important is that we gave her time and she is ready to get back to it at Saratoga. She's been working really well for George.”

The Texan, whose Cy Fair partners include Medallion Racing, Joey Platts and Mark Stanton, said that her next start will probably come in the GIII Coronation Stakes at the Spa July 18.

Speaking of Saratoga, Swinbank added that it's always great to go to a racing town where you can talk horses at the donut shop and get tips from nearly everyone.

“I'm from Houston and escaping the Texas heat is a must this time of year,” he said.

In a toasty opening allowance race at the Spa July 3, Swinbank was over the moon when 4-year-old colt McAfee (Cloud Computing)–who he co-owns with Black Type Thoroughbreds, Judy Hicks and Scott Rice–went gate to wire and won by 6 1/4 lengths over the main track. It was a great way to start the meet.

“McAfee had a pretty challenging campaign last year and ran great in the [GIII] Peter Pan, [GIII] Ohio Derby and in the [GIII] West Virginia Derby,” Swinbank said. “He needed a break, but when he came back in a starter at Churchill last month, he just didn't run all that well. George wanted him to come up to Saratoga and it's done wonders. We like the direction he is headed in.”

The owner said that winning at Saratoga or at his home track, Sam Houston Race Park, is special.

“I love sports and I'm a competitor,” Swinbank said. “I'm also a gambler. I've had graded winners all the way down to $5,000 claimers. It doesn't matter to me because I am going to yell all the way to the winner's circle.”

When it comes to merging his two loves of Aggie sports and horse racing, Swinbank said he is planning on getting the current A&M football coach Mike Elko and basketball coach Bucky McMillan involved in some ownership opportunities.

“Both those two follow horse racing and they will come to Saratoga with me at some point,” he said.

After all, a little more 'Gig 'Em Aggies' alongside some winners at the racetrack can't hurt at all.

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Listed-placed Radiant (Fr) has been purchased by Madaket Stables and will join the U.S. stable of Chad Brown, Jour de Galop reported on Friday.

The daughter of City Light (Fr) raced for co-owners Alain Klodawski and Eric Harivel. The deal was brokered by Nicolas de Watrigant, Klodawski told the French publication.

Bred by Haras d'Etreham and Riviera Equine, the bay was bought out of the 2024 Arqana October Yearling Sale for €55,000.

Trained by Sandrine Gavilan in France, Radiant has won four times in 15 starts. In May, she ran seventh in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches behind Diamond Necklace (Ire) (St Mark's Basilica {Fr}). Wheeled back June 7, she reported home third in the Listed Prix Volterra over a mile on firm turf.

The half-sister to listed winner and G3 Prix Imprudence second Ritournelle (Fr) (Camelot {GB}) is a daughter of the G3 Oh So Sharp Stakes third Robanne (GB) (Paco Boy {Ire}).

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Saturday's second race at Saratoga promised to showcase a number of well-regarded maidens looking to get the job done, but landed on radars for a different reason–the series of unfortunate events before and during the race. Still, despite the drama in front of her, Pros and Cons (Justify) found her best stride in the lane to win confidently in her second career start.

The unfortunate luck kicked off during the loading process when Bittersweet Memory (The Factor) shied away from the gate, and fell to the course after flipping over. On recommendation from the vets, she was scratched. She went back to the barn under her own power.

The field reloaded and they seemingly broke well enough with Fire Angel (Fire At Will) eagerly heading to the front, but something was soon amiss with her as well. Blowing the first turn to push even-money favorite Mary's Gunna Run (Gun Runner) out with her, she was pulled up along the bend. Horse and rider were accompanied back to be unsaddled by an outrider. Jockey Manny Franco later reported that the bit had broken.

As for the field, the race continued on with Golden Siren (Bolt d'Oro) taking up the mantel as pacesetter with Mary's Gunna Run right behind her. Pros and Cons had avoided the trouble from her spot as the caboose, and was enjoying a ground saving trip along the fence before being called on for more heading for the far turn. Quickly making up ground as they swung into the lane, Pros and Cons overtook Golden Siren outside the sixteenth pole and cleared her under a mild hand-ride to win by three lengths. The betting choice valiantly held on for third after taking the brunt of the trouble.

This maiden-breaking score came on the back of a stakes placing at Gulfstream Park May 9 in the Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies Stakes. Pros and Cons similarly closed from the back, but could not close the gap on long-gone victress Liberty Rings (Awesome Slew). The race guaranteed an automatic berth into one of Royal Ascot's six juvenile stakes races to the winner.

Pros and Cons is the first to the races for Celestial, a full-sister to champion juvenile filly Caledonia Road and a half to MGSW Officiating (Blame). The mare's youngest offspring is a yearling colt by Arabian Lion. In addition to the aforementioned siblings, Celestial also claims the dam of GSW Lord Miles (Curlin) as a half-sister.

The third dam, Twilight Service (Horse Chestnut (SAf), enjoyed similar success in her broodmare career. Her daughter, MSW & GSP Citizen Advocate (Proud Citizen), went on to produce multiple English Group winner Crimson Advocate (Nyquist)–a winner of the Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies herself. Both of her group wins in England came during Royal Ascot–the G2 Duke of Cambridge and G2 Queen Mary Stakes.

Twilight Service is also the granddam of GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf champion Cy Fair (Not This Time). This is the distant female family of Grade I winners Hymn Book and Data Link.

storms home late down the center of the turf course in R2 at Saratoga to break her maiden at 2nd asking for trainer Mark Casse.

Meet leading rider @jose93_ortiz was aboard the 2yo filly by @spendthriftfarm stallion Bolt d'Oro. pic.twitter.com/mBJJzj6LUn

— TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) July 10, 2026

2nd-Saratoga, $111,550, Msw, 7-10, 2yo, f, 1mT, 1:36.90, fm, 3 lengths.
PROS AND CONS (f, 2, Justify–Celestial, by Quality Road)
Sales history: $375,000 Ylg '25 FTSAUG. Lifetime Record: SP, 2-1-1-0, $92,750. O-D. J. Stable LLC; B-Vegso Racing Stables, Inc (FL); T-Mark E. Casse.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

The post Saratoga Maidens, Presented by Keeneland: Pros and Cons Outclasses Saratoga Competition appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Nick Santagata, a retired Grade I-winning jockey and long-time jockey valet, is the 2026 recipient of the Mike Venezia Memorial Award, officials at the New York Racing Association (NYRA) announced July 10.

A winner of 4,144 races for purse money in excess of $74 million in a career that spanned better than 30 years, Santagata was chosen by a committee comprised of members of the Venezia family, representatives of The Jockeys' Guild and retired Eclipse Award-winning jockey Richard Migliore.

Santagata, the first retired jockey to earn the Venezia Memorial Award, will be recognized in a winner's circle presentation on Sunday, Aug. 2 at Saratoga.

“As a jockey and throughout my career, I have always tried to represent the sport to the best of my ability,” said Santagata. “This award means so much because Mike Venezia was someone I really admired. My family and I look forward to celebrating this award and thanking the Venezia family here at Saratoga Race Course.”

The Mike Venezia Memorial Award is presented annually to a jockey who displays the extraordinary sportsmanship and citizenship that personified Venezia, who died as the result of injuries suffered in a spill in 1988. Venezia, like Santagata, was from Brooklyn, and won more than 2,300 races in his 25-year career.

“Nick was a 'jockey's jockey'–tough, dedicated and with an enduring love for our sport,” said Terry Meyocks, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Jockeys' Guild. “As the winner of the Venezia Award, he joins an elite group of riders, many of them Hall of Famers, who are distinguished as great riders and as role models. We're proud to welcome Nick to this group.”

Migliore, the 2003 Venezia Award recipient, also reflected on the honor being bestowed up on his good friend.

“Like Nick, I sat in the jockey's room as a young rider and learned a lot about how to be a professional from Mike Venezia,” said Migliore. “That Nick is this year's Venezia Award winner is a testament that the qualities of what it takes to be a top jockey, a horseman and a mentor are timeless. I can't count the times I've walked into the jockey's room and found him advising a young rider. On behalf of the past winners of this prestigious award, I congratulate Nick. He richly deserves this honor.”

In addition to honoring his accomplishments as a jockey, the award acknowledges Santagata's decades-long contribution in mentoring and supporting a generation of riders. He remains a familiar presence at the New York tracks; Santagata galloped horses in the mornings until 2024, and he continues to work closely with riders as a NYRA valet.

The Venezia Memorial Award is a 13-inch bronze sculpture with a title that reads, “The Jockey, A Champion.” Santagata joins a legendary group of riders who have won the award previously, led by Venezia, who posthumously earned the inaugural award in 1989. Other winners include Bill Shoemaker, Chris McCarron, Angel Cordero, Jr., Jerry Bailey, Mike Smith, Pat Day, Laffit Pincay, Jr., Robbie Davis, Eddie Maple, Gary Stevens, Jorge Chavez, Mike Luzzi, Dean Kutz, Richard Migliore, Patti Cooksey, Edgar Prado, Ramon Dominguez, John Velazquez, Jon Court, Mario Pino, Kendrick Carmouche, Joe Bravo, Javier Castellano, DeShawn Parker, Julien Leparoux, Junior Alvarado, Brian Hernandez, Jr. and the 2025 winner, Irad Ortiz, Jr.

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Wathnan Racing's Leading Change (Gun Runner), a 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' debut winner at Churchill Downs June 7, heads straight to the big leagues for Brad Cox in Saturday's GIII Indiana Derby.

The $800,000 Keeneland September graduate and half-brother to GI Kentucky Oaks heroine Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil) romped by 6 1/2 lengths in his unveiling going seven furlongs, good for a 92 Beyer Speed Figure. He makes his two-turn debut with Irad Ortiz, Jr. in the irons at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

“Before he ran, he's one that had me dreaming a little bit about what he could do,” said Cox, who will also saddle 9-5 morning-line favorite and fellow 'Rising Star' Prom Queen (Quality Road) on the undercard in the GIII Indiana Oaks.

“Obviously, this is a big ask from winning your maiden first time out to a graded stakes around two turns. But I just like the idea of getting him around two turns. I think it's what he's meant to do.”

The Indiana Derby field also includes: GIII Matt Winn S. runner-up Our Moneyman (Mr. Money); Delaware Derby runner-up Out of the Woods (Constitution); and 18-length Louisiana Legends Cheval S. winner Creole Chrome (Volatile).

Morning-line favorite Desert Gate (Omaha Beach) will scratch in favor of Saturday's $250,000 Iowa Derby at Prairie Meadows.

Saturday's graded stakes action also includes: the GII Caress S. and GII Bowling Green S. at Saratoga; and the GIII Prairie Meadows Cornhusker H.

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The 2023 Triple Crown series will have a relitigation of sorts when the Fasig-Tipton July Selected Yearlings Sale kicks off the yearling sales season Tuesday in Lexington. GI Kentucky Derby winner Mage (Good Magic) and GI Belmont Stakes winner Arcangelo (Arrogate)–as well as Two Phil's (Hard Spun) and Forte (Violence), runners-up, respectively, in both Classic races will be represented by their first yearlings through the ring at the one-session auction which begins at 10 a.m.

Mage, who stands at Airdrie Stud for a fee of $15,000, has six yearlings catalogued to the July sale, while Arcangelo, who stands at Lane's End for $30,000, has two.

Each stallion has a representative in the July sale from the C & S Thoroughbreds consignment of Sarah and Carlos Estrada.

“I think people will like the Triple Crown horses because they possess speed at a Classic distance and maturity mentally,” Sarah Estrada said of the appeal of progeny of Triple Crown veterans. “They are just overall well-rounded horses and hopefully they throw themselves.”

The Estradas purchased the filly by Arcangelo (hip 121) for $67,000 earlier this year at the Fasig-Tipton February sale. The gray yearling is out of Morea (Indian Charlie), who is a half-sister to GI Ashland Stakes winner Weep No More (Mineshaft) and she is the dam of graded-placed Half is Enough (Frosted).

Hip 121 | Thorostride/Jamie Newell

“There was a frame there and she had a lovely walk,” Estrada said of the filly's appeal in February. “She was plenty correct and we figured she would fit in perfect for the July sale.”

In addition to his victory in the Belmont Stakes, Arcangelo also won the GI Travers Stakes and GIII Peter Pan Stakes.

Estrada said the stallion's first foals seemed to improve throughout the weanling sales season.

“There were several that we were starting to like in January,” she said. “There was another one in the February sale that was amazing, but she sold really well as well. They were maturing and developing into nice horses in the later weanling sales. I think we picked her up at a decent price and I think she will show well and present well at July. She is a nice filly who has really grown up nice and she still has a lovely walk.”

C & S Thoroughbreds will be selling the Mage filly (hip 132) on behalf of a client who purchased her for $35,000 at the February sale.

“The first time I saw her was in March when we went out with Fasig-Tipton and since then she has improved,” Estrada said. “She looks fast and has a beautiful shoulder. I think she will be really popular.”

In addition to his Kentucky Derby victory, Mage was second in the GI Haskell Stakes and GI Curlin Florida Derby and third in the GI Preakness Stakes.

Taylor Made Sales Agency will be well-represented by the 2023 Triple Crown class, with five of the 10 catalogued yearlings by Two Phil's at the Fasig-Tipton July sale, as well as fillies by Arcangelo and Forte.

The agency's Marshall Taylor agreed there is an added buzz around the offspring of veterans of the Triple Crown as buyers get an early start on Derby dreaming.

“Everybody wants to win the Derby, so when you have a horse whose sire was a two-turn horse and was competitive in Triple Crown races, it gives people belief that that stallion might be able to replicate that,” Taylor said.

In addition to his runner-up effort in the Derby, Two Phil's won the 2022 GIII Street Sense Stakes and the 2023 GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks and GIII Ohio Derby. He stands at WinStar Farm for $7,500.

“I have seen some of the Two Phil's we have in July and we have some really nice ones,” Taylor said. “From the handful of the ones I've seen, they don't really resemble Hard Spun as much. They tend to have good size to them. All of them are strong horses. The ones that we have are really strong, made horses who have really good substance to them and really good angles.”

Taylor Made will be in action right at the break, offering its first yearling by Two Phil's as hip 2, a colt out of Beach Beauty (Liam's Map). The consignment will also offer a filly by the Derby runner-up (hip 52) who is out of Fingerprint (Competitive Edge) and is a half-sister to recent GIII Sanford Stakes winner Booked (Yaupon), as well as a filly out of Harper's Road (Quality Road) (hip 66) from the family of Grade I winner Malibu Prayer.

Rounding out Taylor Made's Two Phil's offerings are colts out of Langers (Indian Charlie) (hip 96) and Siddal (Munnings) (hip 170).

Forte, who crowned his championship juvenile season with a win in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile, returned at three to win the GI Curlin Florida Derby, GII Jim Dandy Stakes and GII Fountain of Youth Stakes. He stands at Spendthrift Farm for $35,000.

Taylor Made will offer a filly by Forte (hip 60), who is out of Grade I-placed Goodyearforroses (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}). She was bred by Town and Country Farms.

“I love the Fortes,” Taylor said. “He is probably one of my favorites of the freshman group. Every one I see is nice. They have leg and stretch, they are pretty. I haven't seen many that I don't like. I see that Violence line coming through. I think they resemble their daddy, Forte. They are just really pretty horses.”

Arcangelo-Belmont-Stakes-2023-BELMONT23-SA6_8270-PRINT-Sarah-Andrew.jpg" alt="" width="1155" height="840" /> Arcangelo | Sarah Andrew

On behalf of D J Stable, Taylor Made will offer a daughter of Belmont winner Arcangelo (hip 81). The gray filly is out of Ice Cream (Bernardini) and is a half-sister to Braums Run (Golden Pal), who finished third in the Royal Palm Juvenile Stakes in his racetrack debut in May.

“She's really nice,” Taylor said of the filly. “I think with Arcangelo, you are seeing a lot of leg. They are a little more refined. They have more of the Unbridled's Song line in them. But they are very pretty horses and I've liked what I've seen.”

Taylor continued, “I did see [the Arcangelos] developing a lot. From the time they were foals to now, I think they've improved. I think as they have gotten older, I have seen them move forward from their weanling to their yearling year.”

The Warrendale Sales' consignment to the July sale also includes representatives from the 2023 Triple Crown class. The consignment will offer a colt by Mage (hip 223) who was bred by Sandra Sexton and is out of Winter Love (Cupid).

Hip 223 | EquiSport

“He is a spitting image of the sire,” said Warrendale's Hunter Simms. “He's got a nice big hip, good walk, correct, just an athletic type and an overall nice horse.”

Of the first crop by the Derby winner that he has seen, Simms said, “They look a lot like Good Magic. I love when all the progeny are kind of stamped by the sire. I think that's always a good thing to have a little bit of uniformity there. We had some weanlings by Mage in November and they sold very well across the board.”

Warrendale will also consign a filly by Forte (hip 161) out of Screaming Skylar (Smart Strike), who is a full-sister to graded winner Bel Air Beauty and dam of graded winner Final Boss (American Pharoah). The bay was purchased by Todd Frederick for $75,000 at last year's Keeneland November sale.

“She probably has a little more stretch than the Mage has,” Simms said of the filly. “And I have seen that with the Fortes. They are a little bit stretchier, maybe a little bit lighter over the back end, but super athletic with a great walk to her and very correct. We have another one in September that is different than this one, she's out of a mare named Gravy (Collected) and she's big and forward, with a big juicy shoulder, big juicy hip on her. But this one is a little bit lighter, more two-turn, more stretch to her. She's a nice filly that I think will be well-received by buyers during the July sale.”

Simms said buyers–both pinhookers and end-users–often seem to gravitate to first-crop sires.

“People like to get their hands on them because none of their progeny have hit the track yet, so they can't say, 'Oh, they aren't running' or 'He's only got one winner.' They are buying a physical. And I think you saw that with a lot of these first-crop sires, they were all very well-received it seemed like across the board in November.”

Despite the pull of the first-crop sire, Simms said he thinks the individual will always trump the buzz around new stallions with impressive race records.

“Buyers in general want a good conformed horse,” he said. “They want an athletic horse and a horse that walks well with a good mind on them. That's what they want. I think you see that with the sales in general. Whether it's a first-year sire or a proven sire, or maybe it's a sire that hasn't had a ton of luck at the track, but if you put a nice individual in front of somebody, they are willing to take a chance on it.”

The Fasig-Tipton July sale has built a reputation as a place to find just those types of individuals, according to Simms.

“I think Fasig does a nice job of selecting good physicals for this sale, not necessarily by Gun Runners or Into Mischiefs, or horses of that caliber. But this is a very selective sale for physicals. I think you will see that throughout the catalogue, just some very good physicals to put in front of buyers.”

Over the years, the July sale has also come to be seen as a launch pad for freshman sires. The auction has traditionally opened with a section of yearlings by those stallions, but this year the first-crop stallions are interspersed throughout the catalogue. For Estrada, whose C & S Thoroughbreds consignment also includes a colt from the first crop of Grade I-placed Loggins (Ghostzapper), it is a welcome change in format.

“I love that they are no longer separating the freshman sires at the beginning of the book and how they are spreading it all out,” Estrada said. “It gives everybody a more level playing field.”

Buyers will have to wait another year for the first crop of the final winner from the 2023 Triple Crown series, GI Preakness Stakes winner National Treasure (Quality Road). Named champion older horse of 2024, the bay entered stud at Spendthrift in 2025.

The Fasig-Tipton July Sale of Selected Yearlings will begin Tuesday at 10 a.m. and will be followed immediately by the company's Selected Horses of Racing Age Sale.

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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – If he is going to win his eighth riding title at Saratoga Race Course, Irad Ortiz Jr. is going to have to be a closer.

The perennial champion jockey at Saratoga has won the last four championships at the Spa, but the playing field has been leveled this year.

The 33-year-old Ortiz won't begin his Saratoga summer until Sunday, giving his competitors a six-day head start. Ortiz has been serving a six-day suspension which came about from Saratoga last summer and Delaware Park last month.

Four of the days were the first four of the Saratoga meet. He is also sitting out Friday after being suspended for one day by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA for a whip violation.

On Saturday, Ortiz is riding at Horseshoe Indianapolis where he will be the pilot of the Brad Cox-trained Leading Charge (Gun Runner) in the $300,000 GIII Indiana Derby. He is named to ride seven horses on the card, five of them for Cox.

He will make his 2026 Saratoga debut  on Sunday and is named on horses in seven of the nine races.

“We have a shot,” Ortiz said Thursday morning at the Oklahoma Training Track. “We still have the whole meet. It has only been two weeks. It won't be easy, but we have to take the challenge. I love challenges.”

Irad Ortiz Jr. | Sarah Andrew

He admits that he was not able to watch the Saratoga races during his exile. It was too hard for him. He arrived in Saratoga earlier this week and said he has been working horses on the Oklahoma.

Missing the competition has been hard.

“I love to be out there,” he said. “I ride all year; we don't have any breaks. I hate it when I can't ride.”

While Ortiz has been on the sidelines, his top two rivals for the crown–brother Jose and Flavien Prat–have been doing solid work early at the meet.

Jose Ortiz won three races on the Thursday Saratoga card and has nine winners for the meet. Prat, with one winner Thursday, has seven winners.

“It's a head start, of course,” Jose Ortiz said. “But Irad has a lot of business, and he can recover from it.”

Jose Ortiz has won the Saratoga riding title three times. Prat has never won but was third last year and second in 2024.

“Jose and Flavien have had good starts,” Ortiz said. “They are tough, they are winners. It's not going to be easy, but it's not impossible. I love to win here. I love the fans. We are ready.”

Trainer Chad Summers liked what he saw as he drove back to Saratoga from Belmont Park on Thursday. He was there to watch GI Preakness winner Napoleon Solo (Liam's Map) work four furlongs in 46.79 (1/58) as he prepares to run in the $1-million GI Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park July 18.

Working on the training track, Napoleon Solo went in company with 4-year-old filly Dry Powder (Gun Runner), who is being pointed to the $500,000 GII Molly Pitcher Stakes on Haskell Day.

“He went super,” Summers said by phone while driving north. “I was just looking for him to keep four feet on the ground. With him, I stopped looking at the times because the times he works are so ridiculous. We just want him happy and that's what he was.”

Summers is hoping that he will have Paco Lopez as his jockey in the Haskell.

Napoleon Solo wins the Preakness | Sarah Andrew

Lopez, who rode Napoleon Solo in the Preakness (and to a fifth-place finish in the GII Wood Memorial) was issued a 30-day suspension by the New York State Gaming Commission for “gross careless riding” following a four-horse spill on opening day at Saratoga.

Lopez has appealed the ruling and was granted a stay, which will allow him to keep riding pending a hearing. That has not been scheduled yet and Lopez has been riding at Colonial Downs.

“I am just as unsure as you are,” Summers said as to whether Lopez will be available July 18. “We want Paco to ride the horse; I thought he rode him perfectly in the Preakness. The Haskell is probably the race that he wants to win more than any other race in the world. He loves that track.”

Lopez has won 12 riding titles at Monmouth and the last eight. He is one shy of the all-time record of 13, held by Joe Bravo.

If Napoleon Solo runs well in the Haskell, the next stop for the colt, owned by ESPOIR USA Inc., which purchased him from Al Gold for an undisclosed amount after the Preakness, could be the $1.25-million GI DraftKings Travers at Saratoga Aug. 29.

“That will be a decision for the ownership and management,” Summers said. “The Travers is a historic race, and we know the 3-year-old championship goes through Golden Tempo (Curlin), we are aware of that. With us, it's just one step at a time.”

Ocelli (Connect) is going to win a race one of these days. Isn't he?

Whit Beckman, the trainer of the hard trying but never winning Ocelli, hopes that day comes in the Haskell Stakes. That looks to be the landing spot for the horse, who finished third in the GI Kentucky Derby and fourth in the GI Preakness Stakes.

In his most recent start, Ocelli, owned by Ashley Durr, Anthony Tate and Front Page Equestrian LLC, finished second in the GIII Ohio Derby.

Ocelli has started nine times and has two seconds and four thirds. He has earnings of $829,800. This year he has started seven times and has one win and three thirds.

Ocelli | Sarah Andrew

Beckman was also considering the GII Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga and the Curlin Stakes. The Haskell was more appealing to him because of field size. There are as many as 10 horses expected at Monmouth. The Saratoga races, historically, have drawn half that.

“He is better with more horses,” Beckman said at his office at the Oklahoma Training Track Thursday morning.

Ocelli has shown a willingness to take the lead in the stretch, but, once he does that, he begins to idle.

Beckman has seen in several times, in the Kentucky Derby and, most recently the Ohio Derby.

“Tyler [jockey Gaffalione] has to work where he doesn't make the lead too early,” Beckman said. “That is the biggest issue we are having. We are making the lead too far out from the wire. He'll put his head in front and then he'll idle. After the Ohio Derby, Tyler came back and said, 'Whit, if he would have kept the same speed that he had when we passed them, he would have won by 10.”

Beckman's ultimate summer goal is the Travers. Ocelli, who worked four furlongs in 49.20 (42/94) at Churchill Downs on Saturday, will have one more work there before shipping to Monmouth.

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Picking up where she left off in her latest start in Louisville, Twirling Aces (Twirling Candy) went to the front and never looked back, winning by 4 1/4 lengths at Ellis Park on Thursday afternoon.

A 2 3/4-length winner in a sales restricted race over six furlongs at Churchill Downs on June 3, she was installed the 6-5 favorite here. Taken to the lead straight away by Ben Curtis, she led throughout and proved best, scoring by 4 1/4 lengths over Bet the Gray (Essential Quality).

The victory gave trainer Brendan Walsh his fourth consecutive victory on the card.

The winner's dam, Kidoro, is a half-sister to a pair of stakes winners and graded placed runners. She has a juvenile filly by Nyquist and a yearling colt by Oscar Performance also in the pipeline. This season, she produced a filly by Arabian Knight.

8th-Ellis, $102,000, Alw, 7-9, (NW2L), 3yo, f, 7f, 1:22.91, ft, 4 1/4 lengths.
TWIRLING ACES (f, 3, Twirling Candy–Kidoro, by Medaglia d'Oro)
Sales history: $50,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $113,560. Click for the Equibase.com chart.
O-Pocket Aces Racing LLC; B-Dell Ridge Farm, LLC (KY); T-Brendan P. Walsh.

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Lindy Farms' Queen of Hawaii (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) split horses decisively deep inside the final furlong to defeat a stakes-quality field in her first start since finishing an even seventh in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf last Halloween.

A Leopardstown maiden winner at second asking for Joseph O'Brien last July, the €250,000 Goffs Orby graduate took out the G3 Irish EBF Stakes at the Curragh the following month, accounting for–among others–future Group 3 winner and recent G1 Investec Oaks third Sugar Island (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}).

Settled behind midfield and riding the rails throughout on the back of favored Play With Fire (Oscar Performance), the 23-5 overlay continued to save ground into the lane. The bay continued to progress to be within striking distance at the furlong grounds and knifed through to score impressively over the favorite, giving Jose Ortiz three on the program. Brisbane (Fr) (Zelzal {Fr}) was a further neck back in third.

A half-sister to Up And Under (Fr) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), MGSP-Ire, $122,218, Queen of Hawaii is out of a stakes-placed full-sister to the late GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf hero Line of Duty (Ire) and GSW & MG1SP Jackie Oh (Ire) and a half to SW & GSP Onassis (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). Hibiscus's youngest produce include a 2-year-old colt by Lope de Vega (Ire) and a yearling colt by Too Darn Hot (GB). The mare was not bred for 2026.

6th-Saratoga, $125,000, Alw (NW2$X), Opt. Clm ($80,000), 7-9, 3yo/up, f/m, 1mT, 1:35.09, fm, neck.
QUEEN OF HAWAII (IRE) (f, 3, Kingman {GB}–Hibiscus {Ire} {SP-Ire}, by Galileo {Ire})  Sales history: €250,000 Ylg '24 GOFORY. Lifetime Record: GSW-Ire, 5-3-0-0, $137,536. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O-Lindy Farms; B-Mrs Susan Roy & Mr Nicolas Wrigley (IRE); T-Philip Antonacci.

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Turf Paradise, which spent recent years mired in a never-ending cascade of controversy, is enjoying a quiet, productive summer of projects and improvements, according to reports from both the Arizona Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (AZHBPA) and the Arizona Racing Commission (AZRC) during the commission's monthly meeting Thursday.

“The Turf team is doing a wonderful job, improving all the areas, not only inside, but outside as well,” said Brian Duncan, the AZRC's racing enforcement and operations manager. “The department does remain pleased with the steady progress they're making on the property.”

Duncan detailed some of the offseason work: “They continue to level all the areas in between the barns, adding in clean fill dirt to raise and improve the stall flooring.

“There was an electrical issue in K row, which was completed, along with the timer issues as well.

“There was buildup in the infield of debris. That has all been removed near the ponds.

“Sprinkler system is being added to the paddock, and there's many other backside areas that are being attended to as well,” Duncan said.

“What a difference a year makes,” quipped the AZRC's chairman, James Padish, after Duncan concluded his report.

The AZHBPA's executive director, Leroy Gessmann, agreed.

“It's a pleasant change from last year, definitely.”

Neither elaborated, but their remarks alluded to previous difficulties between the Arizona racing community and the track's former operator, Jerry Simms, who still retains ownership of the property.

For much of the last decade, conflicts involving Turf Paradise have played out in the courts and at highly charged AZRC meetings, with horsemen battling management over issues like race dates, purses, OTB privileges, simulcast signals and safety concerns.

Within a four-month period in 2023-24, two separate sales of Turf Paradise fell through.

Prior to the 2025-26 meet, Simms leased the track and its network of 38 off-track betting (OTB) facilities to a limited liability company headed by Gary Hartunian, a California-based real estate businessman who races horses under the stable name Rockingham Ranch. The lease was reported at the time as being for two years, with options to extend.

Both Hartunian and Tom Ludt, the general manager he hired, have since said the company is banking on a long-term future for Arizona racing, even if that means transferring the racing operation to another location if Simms eventually does sell the property.

Ludt kept his remarks brief when called to speak during the July 9 meeting.

“We're continually making improvements and working on getting ready for the upcoming meet,” Ludt said.

Added Gessmann, “We're just looking forward to finalizing the dates and the purses, and hopefully within the next 30 days we'll have that accomplished.”

The most recent Turf Paradise season–the track's 70th–spanned 102 dates over Nov.10-May 2.

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The impeccably bred Soaring High (Curlin) marked her return to the winner's circle with a convincing score in Saratoga on Thursday.

Seventh in her career bow sprinting at Churchill last September, she launched her 2026 campaign with a narrow victory in an 8 1/2-furlong test in Louisville on May 1. Let go at 10-1 going a mile at that venue last time, the bay filly was a well-beaten second. Installed the 3-5 choice in this return, Soaring High settled in a ground-saving fourth in :24.17. In contention while third through a half in :47,84, the Whisper Hill hombred needed racing room and soon found it leaving the far turn. Swung out wide turning for home, the favorite caught Hidden Rose (Connect) midstretch and drew off to score by 3 1/4 lengths.

Soaring High is a daughter of champion 2 and 3-year-old Songbird, who was purchased by Whisper Hill for $9.5 million at Fasig-Tipton November in 2017. A 10-time Grade I winner and earner of over $4.6 million, Songbird produced a colt by Gun Runner in 2024 followed by a filly by the sire last season. This term, she foaled a colt by Justify.

5th-Saratoga, $120,000, Alw (NW1$X)/Opt. Clm ($55,000), 7-9, 3yo/up, f/m, 1m, 1:37.60, ft, 3 1/4 lengths.
SOARING HIGH (f, 3, Curlin–Songbird {Ch. 2-year-old Filly, Ch. 3-year-old Filly, MGISW, $4,692,000}, by Medaglia d'Oro) Sales history: $375,000 RNA Ylg '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 4-2-1-0, $161,061. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O/B-Whisper Hill Farm, LLC (KY); T-Cherie DeVaux.

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Edited Press Release

Spendthrift Farm's Provenance, a graded-placed 3-year-old son of seven-time leading sire Into Mischief and the first foal out of dual champion mare Monomoy Girl (Tapizar), has been retired from racing and will enter stud for 2027 at Country Life Farm in Bel Air, Maryland, for a fee of $2,000.

As a 2-year-old for trainer Bob Baffert last year, Provenance debuted going a mile at Del Mar in August and finished third.

In his second start, going six furlongs at Santa Anita in September, Provenance again was the prohibitive favorite. He led every step to win by 1 3/4-lengths and garnered a 'Rising Star' for the effort.

His Hall of Fame trainer then pointed him for the GII Los Alamitos Futurity. Provenance set the early fractions, but dropped off the lead in deep stretch and finished third. Post-race X-rays revealed a career-ending condylar fracture.

Though he had earned points for the 2026 Kentucky Derby, he was off the trail. Following surgery, he returned to Spendthrift and was officially retired.

“We truly bred the best to the best to get Provenance,” said Spendthrift General Manager Ned Toffey. “His dam won the [GI] Kentucky Oaks, and his sire now has three Kentucky Derby-winning sons. Provenance was on target for the classics until his injury.”

Spendthrift purchased Monomoy Girl for $9.5 million at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton's “Night of the Stars” November Mixed Sale, the day after she won her second GI Breeders' Cup Distaff.

Retired to the Spendthrift broodmare band after her six-year-old season, her career earnings totaled $4,776,818, with 14 wins and three seconds in 17 starts. She won the Eclipse Award as champion 3-year-old filly of 2018 and a second Eclipse Award in 2020, as champion older dirt female.

Monomoy Girl foaled Provenance on Feb. 17, 2023. She produced a full sister in 2024; named Effusive, the 2-year-old filly is presently in-training at Keeneland for Spendthrift and trainer Brad Cox. Monomoy Girl foaled a 2026 colt by Gun Runner, and she is back in foal to that sire for next term.

Provenance will stand as the property of Spendthrift and Country Life. The two farms first partnered with A.P. Indy's lightly raced son Malibu Moon 25 years ago. Malibu Moon sired 22 crops that included three champions and Kentucky Derby winner Orb among 141 stakes winners.

“Both Provenance and Malibu Moon were fast 2-year-olds sired by great stallions and out of top mares,” Toffey noted. “Their profiles entering stud are remarkably similar.”

Spendthrift Farm's former owner B. Wayne Hughes sent Malibu Moon to Country Life. Current co-owner Eric Gustavson and Toffey showed Provenance to Country Life co-owner Mike Pons two days before this year's Kentucky Derby.

“Provenance is a great physical,” said Pons. “He looks like a classic horse, yet he had early two-year-old form. He stands over a lot of ground. He's leggier than Into Mischief. Breeders are going to love him. He takes your breath away.”

Added Toffey: “We've been tracking the positive developments in the Maryland horse industry. Kentucky needs to support the regional breeding programs, and Maryland's is among the best. We've got a number of mares in our broodmare band heading to Maryland to support Provenance, just as we did with Malibu Moon.”

Country Life is Maryland's oldest Thoroughbred breeding farm. Said co-owner Josh Pons: “Our dream is to have the first Maryland-bred to win the Preakness Stakes at the new Pimlico. That lofty goal seems within reach given Provenance's promising racing form and his classic pedigree, by a Derby sire out of an Oaks mare.”

Bookings for Provenance are already being accepted for the 2027 breeding season.

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Godolphin homebred Talleyrand (Into Mischief), a full-brother to 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Pretty Mischievous (Ch. 3yo Filly, MGISW, $2,112,560, the 2023 GI Kentucky Oaks winner; and a half-brother to fellow 'Rising Star' Bella Ballerina (Street Sense, $561,525), a two-time winner at the Grade II level including this year's Rachel Alexandra Stakes, did just enough to open his account at first asking with a narrow victory at Ellis Park Thursday afternoon.

Off as the 13-10 chalk, Talleyrand showed a bit of early speed, but so, too, did three of the rivals drawn underneath him and that consigned the bay colt to a four-wide trip down the back and into the turn.

He worked his way into the race nicely while still trapped out at the quarter pole and at one point looked as if he was on his way to a daylight victory. But his inexperience was on full display just after overtaking the well-backed Town Man (Mo Town), as Talleyrand wanted to lug in badly while failing to put the race to bed and allowing Town Man to come back at him at the fence. But Ben Curtis kept the Godolphin runner up to his task and they were home a short head to the good.

An $825,000 Keeneland September yearling, Pretty City Dancer shared the spoils in this track's GI Spinaway Stakes in 2016 and was purchased by Godolphin for $3.5 million out of the 2018 Fasig-Tipton November Sale. A half-sister to GISW Lear's Princess (Lear Fan), runner-up in the GI CCA Oaks and GI Alabama Stakes at this venue 20 years ago, Pretty City Dancer was barren to Into Mischief for 2025 and produced a colt by Gun Runner this past Feb. 17.

6th-Ellis, $95,000, Msw, 7-9, 2yo, 5 1/2f, 1:05.44, ft, head.
TALLEYRAND (c, 2, Into Mischief–Pretty City Dancer {GISW, $286,344}, by Tapit) Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0,$59,512. Click for the Equibase.com chart.
O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Brendan P Walsh.

The younger brother to BELLA BALLERINA & PRETTY MISCHIEVOUS, wins on debut @EllisParkRacing! @_benacurtis was aboard for trainer @brenpwalsh and owner/breeder @godolphin.#TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/Rl5J1qAZgH

— TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) July 9, 2026

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Prom Queen (Quality Road) will be carrying a new pair of silks in Saturday's GIII Indiana Oaks at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

Previously campaigned by breeders Gary and Mary West, the GII Gulfstream Parks Oaks heroine and 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' was purchased privately Josh Isner's Delta Squad Racing. She has remained with trainer Brad Cox.

Isner's fledgling operation also co-owns the Cox-trained Margie's Intention (Honor A. P.), a last-out winner of Laurel Park's Allaire DuPont Distaff S. over Preakness weekend.

“I've had such a good experience with Margie's Intention over the last six months that the idea of investing in route fillies that one day will make great broodmares but for a couple of years will also be very competitive–we saw that exact thing in Prom Queen,” Isner said.

“It's been a lot of fun.”

Isner continued, “Brad Weisbord, who is my bloodstock agent, found the horse and approached the potential sellers. It was a great find by him.

We talked to Brad Cox a little about her and he's bullish on her prospects and how she's doing. We have so much respect for Brad and Blake (Cox) and their team that this was a pretty easy decision.”

Welcome to Delta Squad Racing, Prom Queen! pic.twitter.com/Csffjkgysm

— Josh Isner (@JoshIsner) July 6, 2026

Prom Queen, a rallying fifth from way-too-far-back in the GI Kentucky Oaks, was a disappointing fourth after finding some early trouble from her inside draw in the GI Draftkings Acorn S. at Saratoga June 5.

The half-sister to the unbeaten 4-year-old Money Game (Candy Ride {Arg}) is the 9-5 morning-line favorite in the Indiana Oaks. Irad Ortiz, Jr. takes over the controls.

“We have a lot of trust in Brad (Cox),” Isner said. “He identified the spot, and, looking at the race, certainly we think she's got a great chance, especially with Irad on her. We're excited to see where she's at. If she runs the type of race we think she's capable of, we should have an exciting August ahead of us.”

Isner has also recently partnered with Marcus Osborn of Cosmo Stables on the GI NYRA Bets Haskell S.-bound NYRA Bets Pegasus S. winner Baby Vino (Vino Rosso) and John Stewart on Woodburn (Good Magic), the Resolute Bloodstock-bred unraced 2-year-old full-brother to Classic winners Dornoch and Mage and half-brother to GISW Baeza (McKinzie).

“We have a little over 20 horses now,” Isner said. “We're excited for the summer.”

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Cold Spell (Gun Runner) lived up to her 1-5 billing to graduate in her third career start in a 6 ½-furlong test at Saratoga on Thursday.

The Wesley Ward-trainee finished runner-up behind ultimate 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Mashallah (Maxfield) in her career debut going six furlongs at Keeneland on Apr. 23 before filling the same position behind My Gun's Loaded (Gun Runner) in a seven-panel Saratoga test on June 6.

Installed the heavy favorite to go one better this time, the chestnut broke quickly and settled behind Collective Bargain (Maxfield) through quick early splits of :21.87 and :44.87. Overhauling that rival approaching the quarter pole, the homebred lugged out in early stretch, but proved good enough to score by 2 1/4 lengths over 7-1 chance Fletch's Rockette (Tiz the Law).

Cold Spell is out of MSW and GISP Chalon, who is also responsible for a juvenile colt by Gun Runner in addition to a yearling filly by Quality Road. In 2026, she dropped a colt by McKinzie.

3rd-Saratoga, $115,000, Msw, 7-9, 3yo/up, f/m, 6 1/2f, 1:17.85, ft, 2 1/4 lengths.
COLD SPELL (f, 3, Gun Runner–Chalon {MSW & GISP, $992,495}, by Dialed In)
Lifetime Record: 3-1-2-0, $107,975. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O-Lael Stables; B-M. Roy Jackson (KY); T-Wesley A. Ward.

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Over $10 million will be infused into the Ontario Thoroughbred horse racing industry as part of the regional government's plan in Canada to increase support to protect agriculture and rural jobs across the province, Ontario Racing said via a press release on Thursday.

The organization's representative board of directors voted to direct 83 percent of the additional funds toward Ontario's breeding sector and racing participants.

Highlights of how the additional funding will be allocated this year specific to the Thoroughbred industry include:

• An increase of $5 million for the Thoroughbred Improvement Program (TIP). The additional funds will be used to bolster Ontario Bred and Sired stakes races, increase breeders' awards and incentivize the breeding, raising and racing of Thoroughbreds in the province;
• An additional $4.5 million will be directed through TIP to restricted opportunities for Ontario-bred and sired horses at Woodbine Racetrack;
• At Fort Erie, the average per card purse level will rise 15 percent from nearly $127,000 in 2025 to more than $146,000 in 2026.

The funding is part of $35 million in additional funding for all three racing breeds for each of the next five years.

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Installed the 5-2 second choice get the job done in his second career start, Leland Ackerly Racing, James Sherwood, Jode Shupe and John Cilia's Generational (Collected) closed to score going 5 1/2-furlong on the Saratoga turf on Thursday afternoon.

Taken off the pace as Just a Holiday (Justify) and slight 5-2 choice Call Attendant (Speaker's Corner) punched out an opening quarter in :21.25, the Steve Asmussen trainee began to pick up the tempo through a :44.34 half. With the front-running pair joined by Excessif (Quality Road) straightening for home, the 5-2 second choice picked off his rivals through the stretch, took over late and was 3/4-of-a-length clear of Just a Holiday at the wire. Beach Sandals (Omaha Beach) rounded out the trifecta. The favorite was sixth.

“Honestly, he jumped well out of there,” explained winning rider Flavien Prat. “He could have been closer, but there was some speed and I was happy where he was.”

He continued, “I felt very confident around the turn. He came underneath me nicely and at that point I felt like he was going to make a good run and it was just a matter of if someone was going to make a run with me. I felt very confident at that point.”

Sent off 7-1 in his career bow going 5 1/2 furlongs over the Churchill Downs turf on June 18, the bay overcame a troubled start to finish a respectable fifth, beaten five lengths.

A $60,000 purchase by Jessie Longoria from the Knockgriffin Farm consignment at Keeneland last September, the Kentucky-bred colt, who was bred by Erv Woolsey and Ralph Kinder, developed into a $320,000 juvenile when selling to Leland Ackerly Racing at the OBS April Sale earlier this spring.

From the family of MGSW and MGISP Venetian Harbor (Munnings), You Flatter Me produced a colt by Fulsome in 2025.

2nd-Saratoga, $115,000, Msw, 7-9, 2yo, 5 1/2fT, 1:02.28, fm, 3/4 length.
GENERATIONAL (c, 2, Collected–You Flatter Me, by Flatter) Sales history: $4,500 Wlg '24 FTDDE; $60,000 Ylg '25 KEESEP; $320,000 2yo '26 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $66,850. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O-Leland Ackerley Racing, Sherwood, James, Shupe, Jode and Cilia, John; B-Erv Woolsey & Ralph Kinder (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen.

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Let go at odds approaching 16-1 for her career debut Thursday afternoon at Ellis Park, Mana Racing's Velvet Beretta (f, 2, Cyberknife–Make Me Laugh, by Distorted Humor) came from off the pace to register the upset en route to becoming the first winner for Spendthrift Farm freshman stallion Cyberknife (by Gun Runner).

Given a positive ride by Francisco Arrieta from an outside gate, the chestnut was a forward factor and had aim on pacesetting Summer Dream (Into Mischief) three deep entering the stretch.

To the front with better than a furlong to travel, the blinkered filly was always holding Sheza Go Getter (Jackie's Warrior) in the run to the line to top a 1-2 finish for Spendthrift freshmen. Summer Dream made it a clean sweep of the top three spots for the Lexington-area nursery, while odds-on favorite Tambelina (Into Mischief) failed to land a serious blow in fifth.

From the family of the versatile multiple Grade I winner Critical Eye (Dynaformer), Velvet Beretta has a yearling half-brother by Army Mule and a foal half-sister by Liam's Map.

The sire of 167 reported foals from his first crop, Cyberknife carried the colors of Al Gold's Gold Square to victories in the GI Arkansas Derby and GI Haskell Stakes ahead of a runner-up effort in the GI Travers Stakes. He later missed by a head behind Cody's Wish (Curlin) in the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.

4th-Ellis, $100,000, Msw, 7-9, 2yo, f, 5 1/2f, 1:05.34, ft, 3 lengths.
VELVET BERETTA (f, 2, Cyberknife–Make Me Laugh, by Distorted Humor) Sales history: $55,000 Wlg '24 KEENOV; $15,000 Ylg '25 KEESEP; $37,000 RNA 2yo '26 OBSMAR. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $59,884. Click for the Equibase.com chart.
O-Mana Racing; B-Stoneriggs Farm (KY); T-Michel Douaihy.

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Perfect in a pair of starts at Saratoga last summer, 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Tommy Jo (Into Mischief) makes her much-anticipated 3-year-old debut in Friday's GIII Victory Ride Stakes at the Spa.

Having defeated next-out 'Rising Star' Tennessee Belle (Yaupon) to graduate on her six-furlong debut last July 26, the homebred filly added an eighth of a mile and ran-out a very easy winner of the GI Spinaway Stakes over seven panels at the end of August. Promoted to the victory in the GI Darley Alcibiades Stakes in October, the bay was a wide-trip fifth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Oct. 31 and sprinting may just prove to be her sweet spot.

“I think [trainer] Todd [Pletcher] was still not 100% convinced she's not a two-turn filly, but I think she has to learn to relax a little bit more,” Toffey said. “She's a high-energy filly and that seems to work well for her [in sprints]. She's grown up and developed into a bigger and stronger filly than she was last year and we're pleased with what we're seeing from her. We're looking forward to it.”

The commonly owned Goodall (Yaupon) could prove the biggest fly in the ointment for Tommy Jo, as the $525,000 OBS April grad atoned for a fifth in the GII Eight Belles Stakes on May 1 to easily defeat the re-opposing Carmel Coast (Omaha Beach) and Mythical (St Patrick's Day) in the course-and-distance Jersey Girl Stakes July 4.

“Goodall has been running, and certainly you would think would have a fitness edge in there,” Toffey said. “She's a classy filly, and she's not quite a homebred, but it feels like that when she's by our own sire. She's very professional, and we're looking forward to good things from her.”

Mythical has won seven of her 10 career trips to the post, including last year's Listed Tremont Stakes and GIII Adirondack Stakes ahead of a distant fifth at skinny odds in the Spinaway.

New York-bred Iron Orchard (Authentic) ran the table in her first three career starts, including a nose success in the GI Frizette Stakes, but was a distant last of nine in the Juvenile Fillies after being acquired by Larry and Karen Doyle's KatieRich Stables for $2.5 million in a flash sale on the Fasig-Tipton Digital platform. She makes her first start for the Steve Asmussen barn in this spot.

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