Skip to:

Thoroughbred Daily News

Subscribe to Thoroughbred Daily News feed
Thoroughbred Horse Racing’s Leading Worldwide Source of News & Information
Updated: 1 week 4 days ago

‘He Looked Smooth’: Sovereignty Tunes Up for Belmont

Sun, 2025-06-01 13:31

GI Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty (Into Mischief) tuned up for his rematch with Derby runner-up and GI Preakness Stakes winner Journalism (Curlin) in Saturday's GI Belmont Stakes with a four-furlong work in :48.84 (3/17) over the Oklahoma training track in Saratoga Sunday. The Godolphin homebred, working solo under exercise rider Neil Poznansky, was caught by NYRA clockers through splits of :12 3/5, :24 2/5 and out in 1:02 flat and 1:16 3/5.

“He went well,” trainer Bill Mott said of the work. “We just wanted a nice breeze, in :48, :49, which is what we got. He galloped out good. He looked smooth. He came back good. It was a maintenance-type breeze, and that is what we got.”

Sovereignty made his racetrack debut at Saratoga last summer, finishing fourth Aug. 24. Sunday's work was the colt's third straight breeze at the upstate New York venue since winning the May 3 Derby. He worked four furlongs in :49.76 (13/32) May 17 and five furlongs in 1:02.54 (4/5) May 24.

The post ‘He Looked Smooth’: Sovereignty Tunes Up for Belmont appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Journalism A Go For Belmont Stakes After Saratoga Work

Sun, 2025-06-01 10:11

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – It didn't take long for trainer Michael McCarthy to make the decision. After watching his long-striding colt Journalism (Curlin) gobble up the ground at Saratoga Race Course Sunday morning, McCarthy gave the thumbs up sign.

Journalism is going to run in Saturday's 157th edition of the $2-million GI Belmont Stakes.

“Based off what I saw here this morning, I would be hard-pressed to find a reason not to enter,” McCarthy said after Journalism worked four furlongs in :47.54 on the main track with regular jockey Umberto Rispoli on board.

McCarthy said Journalism would be entered Sunday when entries were due. The draw will take place Monday at 5 p.m. at Universal Preservation Hall in downtown.

Journalism, who won the roughly run GI Preakness Stakes in his last start, was second in the GI Kentucky Derby. If he starts in the Belmont, he will be the only horse to run in all three legs of this year's Triple Crown.

“I want to do this because I felt like the horse was telling me he could handle running three times in five weeks,” McCarthy said.

Journalism and Rispoli made the walk from the Oklahoma Training Track and stepped on the main track at 8:45 Sunday morning under cloudy skies and an unseasonable temperature in the low 50s.

Once the horse got back to his barn on the Oklahoma, it was evident that the Belmont would be the target. McCarthy was especially impressed with how strongly Journalism galloped out: five furlongs in 1:00.10 and six furlongs in 1:12.60.

The work was originally planned for Saturday, but those plans were scrapped after a steady rain late Friday night lasted most of Saturday. Over two and a half inches of rain fell, but Journalism saw a good-looking track on Sunday. And he relished it.

“He is a wonderful mover; he gets over the ground very well, has an incredible stride,” said McCarthy, who arrived here from California Thursday night.

If you were looking at any other clues that would signal Journalism starting in the Belmont, consider this: Aron Wellman, president and founder of Eclipse Thoroughbreds, the colt's owner, was also in town from California. Rispoli, who regularly rides in California, said he was here with his family for the week.

“This is an American Classic,” Wellman said. “You only get three shots at them. We have been fortunate to participate and compete in the first two. It would mean a lot. There is a lot of importance and prestige associated with this race. We feel like we have the goods.”

The Belmont is expected to have a field of eight. The presence of Journalism means a rematch of the Kentucky Derby where he was defeated by Sovereignty (Into Mischief) by a length and a half in the slop at Churchill Downs.

Both camps are looking forward to the rematch.

“I am sure there are people that will probably favor Journalism, and some will probably favor Sovereignty,” said Bill Mott, Sovereignty's Hall of Fame trainer. “They are two very good horses.”

“It will be really great for the sport,” said Rispoli, who has ridden Journalism in six of his seven starts. “I always say the best horse is going to win. Hopefully, it will be our time this time. Both of us had good trips in the Derby; he beat me.”

Journalism and Sovereignty are the Belmont headliners, but six others will attempt to crash the party. They include Baeza (McKinzie), who was a neck behind Journalism in Louisville, GII Wood Memorial winner Rodriguez (Authentic), GIII Peter Pan winner Hill Road (Quality Road), Preakness fifth-place finisher Heart of Honor (GB) (Honor A.P.), and a pair from Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher: Crudo (Justify), winner of the Sir Barton Stakes at Pimlico on the Preakness undercard and Uncaged (Curlin), the sixth-place finisher in the Peter Pan.

The Belmont will be run at Saratoga for the second consecutive year as Belmont Park continues its large-scale renovation. And, for the second straight year, it will be run at 1 1/4 miles, rather than the traditional 1 1/2 miles because of the main track configuration at Saratoga.

Journalism, with Umberto Rispoli up, worked a half mile over the Saratoga main track. NYRA clockers caught him in 23 4/5, 47 2/5, 1:00 flat, and 1:12 4/5 pic.twitter.com/L6QGMmy8Mt

— Keith-TripleDeadHeat (@TripleDeadHeat) June 1, 2025

The post Journalism A Go For Belmont Stakes After Saratoga Work appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Excited For Churchill On Saturday? Who Could ‘Blame’ You?

Fri, 2025-05-30 15:58

Four weeks removed from the running of the GI Kentucky Oaks and GI Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs stages its second stacked weekend of the spring/summer meeting, with five Grade IIIs and one listed contest on 'Stephen Foster Preview' Day. The program serves as a steppingstone to Foster Day itself in a month's time.

A field of 10 has been entered for the GIII Blame Stakes, the course-and-distance prep for the $1-million GI Stephen Foster Stakes, a 'Win and You're In' qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic. Gary and Mary West's Most Wanted (Candy Ride {Arg}) is the one they'll likely have to beat, having posted a career-best 105 Beyer when second to 'TDN Rising Star' Fierceness (City of Light) in the GII Alysheba Stakes on the Oaks undercard 29 days ago. Never out of the top two in his seven starts, the homebred went four-for-four last season, topped by a victory in the GIII Oklahoma Derby. Trainer Brad Cox is a two-time winner of this race, including Highland Falls (Curlin) last spring.

No Derby winner has subsequently won a race beneath the Twin Spires since Silver Charm in 1998, and Mystik Dan (Goldencents) will look to put an end to that streak here. Off form after finishing runner-up in last year's GI Preakness Stakes, the bay bounced back to something resembling his best form when just nosed out by the classy Saudi Crown (Always Dreaming) in the May 3 Lake Ouachita Stakes at Oaklawn last time. He heads to post on Saturday with the full confidence of his connections.

“He couldn't be doing any better going into the race,”said trainer Ken McPeek, who won this in 2023 with Rattle N Roll (Connect). “I really like his chances by what he's shown us in the mornings coming back here at Churchill Downs.”

Brian Hernandez, Jr., who also rode Rattle N Roll, concurred, saying: “It's a good field on Saturday. There are some classy and accomplished horses in the race, but Mystik Dan has trained great going into this race.”

The connections of Post Time (Frosted) land here, bypassing a trip to Saratoga for the GI Met Mile, where he was a bang-up second last year. Subsequently third in the GI Whitney Stakes over this distance and second in the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, the gray thumped Laurel allowance foes by a baker's dozen on seasonal debut May 3.

The Aristides Stakes carries Grade III status for this running and looks all over a two-horse race. Skelly (Practical Joke) is one of the fastest sprinters in training and since beating just one home in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint, has a pair of eye-catching scores this season, a 5 1/4-length allowance romp (107 Beyer) at his beloved Oaklawn Apr. 11 and a towering 10 1/2-length tally in a sloppy renewal of the Lake Hamilton Stakes in Hot Springs May 2. 'TDN Rising Star' World Record (Gun Runner), all-the way winner of last year's GII Amsterdam Stakes, is no slouch where it comes to speed and he most recently made all the running to take a third-level allowance in style on the 'Thurby' program May 1.

It's an embarrassment of riches in the sophomore filly turf division for trainer Mark Casse, who keeps the very talented MGSW Nitrogen (Medaglia d'Oro) in the barn for Saturday's GIII Regret Stakes, but still saddles one of the leading lights in the form of Classic Q (Classic Empire), who thrashed local allowance rivals going a mile on Apr. 30. Lush Lips (GB) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) overraced early in the GII Edgewood Stakes May 2, but ran home nicely to claim second behind Nitrogen. Mechaya (Liam's Map) hasn't run a poor race in three tries on the turf and most recently passed 10 rivals in the late stages to finish third to the Royal Ascot-bound 'TDN Rising Star' Shisospicy (Mitole) in the GIII Mamzelle Stakes over 5 1/2 furlongs May 10. She has longshot claims if she handles Saturday's nine-furlong trip.

Brilliant Berti (Oscar Performance) and Lagynos (Kantharos) renew acquaintances in Saturday's GIII Arlington Stakes after finishing 1-2 in the May 1 Opening Verse Stakes, and they are joined by the sneaky Herchee (Twirling Candy), who has been given his chance in this considerably tougher contest in lieu of a Thursday allowance.

Gin Gin (Hightail) won the GIII Baird Doubledogdare Stakes in her first start for the Brendan Walsh barn Apr. 18, but will have to prove that effort is not an aberration while taking on GI Apple Blossom Handicap third Where's My Ring (Twirling Candy) in the GIII Shawnee Stakes.

Stars Come Out To Play At Woodbine

It doesn't take long for the action to heat up in Toronto on Saturday, where the GIII Jacques Cartier Stakes goes as the first of a 10-race program at Woodbine. That positioning on the card owes to a four-horse field headed by the outstanding Patches O'Houlihan (Reload). Canada's champion sprinter of 2023, the 5-year-old is 12-for-15 lifetime and 10-for-12 over the local synth, including a four-length success in the May 4 Thorncliffe Stakes. Siena Farm and WinStar Farm's Caitlinhergrtness (Omaha Beach) defeated her male counterparts in last year's King's Plate and makes her seasonal debut in the GIII Belle Mahone Stakes. LNJ Foxwoods' 'TDN Rising Star' Earhart (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) has won three of her four starts on synthetic surfaces and tries the turf for the first time in Saturday's GIII Royal North Stakes, but will face a good test in the form of Wertheimer homebred Toupie (Uncle Mo). The evergreen Get Smokin (Get Stormy), last seen leading throughout to take the GIII Valedictory Stakes through a driving snowstorm last December, will try to boss his rivals from the front while making his 8-year-old debut in the GII Eclipse Stakes.

The afternoon's 10th and final graded event is the GIII Triple Bend Stakes, where 'TDN Rising Star' Nysos (Nyquist), who just missed when dead-heating for second behind 'Rising Star' Mindframe (Constitution) first off a 15-month layoff in the GI Churchill Downs Stakes on May 3, figures a strong favorite over Dr. Venkman (Ghostzapper), runner-up at odds-on in last year's running. Like Post Time, Nysos's connections opt for the path of lesser resistance versus a ship to Saratoga for the Met.

The post Excited For Churchill On Saturday? Who Could ‘Blame’ You? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Baeza Ships In, Fierceness Works Ahead Of Belmont Stakes Weekend

Fri, 2025-05-30 14:07

GI Kentucky Derby third Baeza (McKinzie) arrived at Saratoga Race Course Thursday evening to prepare for his upcoming start in next weekend's GI Belmont Stakes.

Trained by John Shirreffs, the half-brother to both Dornoch (Good Magic) and Mage (Good Magic) arrived at 8:45 p.m. from California along with the Doug O'Neill-trained Raging Torrent (Maximus Mischief), who will likely enter the GI Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Handicap.

“He looks pretty bright coming off the van,” said Shirreffs on Thursday evening.

Of the colt's Derby effort, Shirreffs added: “I thought he ran really well. If you were to run it another time and with a little bit better luck… if he gets an opening a little sooner and gets to make his move a little earlier, it could have been a whole different story.”

Shirreffs said the Belmont Stakes should be an enticing spectacle for racing fans with potentially the top three finishes from the Derby set to run.

“I've watched Journalism all winter and we raced against him in the Santa Anita Derby–he's a very nice horse,” he said. “I hadn't seen Sovereignty until I saw him in the paddock, and he was a very impressive physical presence there. So, I think that's three really nice horses.”

 

BAEZA has arrived in Saratoga!
The half-brother to @KentuckyDerby winner MAGE and 2024 Belmont Stakes winner DORNOCH is here ahead of this year's Belmont Stakes, presented by @NYRABets! pic.twitter.com/3pYLFTR4a3

— Belmont Stakes (@BelmontStakes) May 30, 2025

Shirreffs indicated that following a walk day Friday, Baeza would return to regular training and also visit the paddock to get better acquainted with the Spa.

“We'll give him a chance to see everything, get a feeling for where he is and find his way to the track to develop a little security for him for him to know where he is at,” Shirreffs said.

Already on the work tab in New York Friday was MGISW 'TDN Rising Star' Fierceness (City of Light) who turned in his final breeze ahead of the GI Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Handicap when working in company with Tuscan Sky (Vino Rosso), going a half-mile in :49.74 before galloping out in 1:02 3/5 (10/45).

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher said the work was what he was hoping to see from the 2023 Champion 2-Year-Old Colt.

“I thought it was great,” he said. He's a very impressive horse to watch breeze and it seems like he does everything so effortless. He shipped in, and everything has gone according to plan. We got in three breezes and we're just trying to keep him in as good of shape as he was going into the Alysheba.”

 

Work of the Day from #Saratoga—Fierceness (Outside) and Tuscan Sky worked 4 Furlongs in 49.74 on May 30th, 2025, for trainer @PletcherRacing. pic.twitter.com/mz8pRA50Kf

— 1/ST TV (@Watch1ST) May 30, 2025

One horse Fierceness is doubtful to face in the Met Mile is his stablemate Mindframe (Constitution), who joined his stablemate on track Friday but is most likely heading to the GI Stephen Foster on June 28 at Churchill for owners St. Elias Stable and Repole Stable.

“I thought it was very good also,” Pletcher said of Mindframe's work. “I'll get with Mike [Repole] and St. Elias and we'll make a final decision, but we're probably leaning towards the Stephen Foster. He's a really fun horse to train.”

Pletcher also added that Bobby Flay and James Ventura's Sir Barton-winner Crudo (Justify) is “not completely ruled out” of the GI Belmont Stakes pending a Saturday work.

The Chad Brown barn sent out both Raging Sea (Curlin) and Randomized (Nyquist) for a half-mile breeze Friday over the Oklahoma dirt training track to prepare for next Friday's GI Ogden Phipps. The pair worked in company, with Randomized to the inside of Raging Sea, covering the half-mile in :49.66 (7/45).

“They went great in their work and are on schedule,” said Brown. “They are doing super. They've been training good and looked good.”

In California, Rodriguez (Authentic), also a candidate for the Belmont Stakes, plus stablemates Citizen Bull (Into Mischief) and Richi (Chi) (Practical Joke) were all on the work tab Friday.

Rodriguez worked five furlongs in 1:00.40 (5/31) while Citizen Bull also went five furlongs in 1:00.40 (5/31). Richi, winner of the GII Santa Maria last out, worked six furlongs in 1:12.20 (1/1).

 

Work of the Day from @santaanitapark—Rodriguez worked 5 Furlongs in 1:00.40 on May 30th, 2025, for trainer Bob Baffert. @BelmontStakes pic.twitter.com/w23N0g4vsQ

— 1/ST TV (@Watch1ST) May 30, 2025

The post Baeza Ships In, Fierceness Works Ahead Of Belmont Stakes Weekend appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Items from the Estate of Virginia Kraft Payson on Offer via Bluegrass Auction in June

Fri, 2025-05-30 12:55

Items from the estate of the late Virginia Kraft Payson, proprietor of Payson Stud in Lexington and Payson Park Training Center in Florida, will be offered over the course of five auctions via Bluegrass Auction, Appraisal & Realty in June.

Showcasing Payson's extensive collections of fine jewelry, rare antiques, and numerous paintings and prints–some numbered and from limited runs–over 1,200 items will be put on offer June 15-22. Said works are by renown sporting artists like Henry Stull, Jenness Cortez, Fred Stone, and Peter Howell, and include topics such as her 1985 Travers Stakes winner Carr de Naskra and homebred St. Jovite, who would be crowned the European Horse of the Year in 1992. Other artwork includes numbered prints and paintings of horses such as Ruffian, A.P. Indy, John Henry, and Alysheba, to name a few.

All five catalogues, and online bidding, are available here along with more information on the condition of the pieces.

The post Items from the Estate of Virginia Kraft Payson on Offer via Bluegrass Auction in June appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Barn 85 at Saratoga Placed Under Quarantine Due to Strangles Positive

Fri, 2025-05-30 11:41

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) and the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) have placed Barn 85 at Saratoga Race Course under a 14-day precautionary quarantine until further notice due to a positive case of strangles in that barn.

Strangles is a contagious bacterial infection that generally affects a horse's respiratory system and causes symptoms similar to those of strep throat in humans. When properly diagnosed and treated, strangles is not considered a life-threatening infection and horses recover fully.

Barn 85 contains horses trained by Jeremiah Englehart and Jorge Abreu.

The 2-year-old [Tranquil Sea] who is trained by Englehart, was referred to Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital on Wednesday, after developing breathing issues. He was subsequently tested for a number of potential ailments, and a positive test for strangles was returned on Friday morning. The colt began treatment immediately and was moved to a barn offsite of Rood and Riddle.

Following official notification of the positive case by the NYS Department of Agriculture on Friday morning, NYRA and the NYSGC implemented standard infectious disease protocols including restricting access to the horses in the quarantined barn, establishing a 24-hour security watch, mandating regular temperature checks for the horses in that barn and enacting biosecurity measures for all individuals requiring access to Barn 85.

Overseen by Dr. Sarah Hinchliffe, the director of NYRA's veterinary department, in consultation with the NYSGC, the Barn 85 quarantine is effective immediately.

Abreu has horses in both Barn 85 and Barn 86, and only the horses in Barn 85 are quarantined. The Abreu horses located in Barn 86 can train and race with the general population.

During the initial quarantine period, these horses will not be permitted to enter races or train among the general horse population. Afebrile/asymptomatic horses stabled in Barn 85 will have isolated training hours at the Oklahoma Training Track following the close of training for the general horse population at 10 a.m.

As of Friday morning, three additional febrile horses have been identified in Barn 85. These horses will be removed from the property to undergo further evaluation.

In an email follow-up, vice president of communications Patrick McKenna stated that other than the impacted barn, NYRA had not instituted any additional restrictions on shipping horses into, or out of, Saratoga Race Course.

NYRA will provide updates as appropriate.

The post Barn 85 at Saratoga Placed Under Quarantine Due to Strangles Positive appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Judge Denies Injunction In Serpe Suit Vs. HISA, But Leaves Door Open For Refile Of Key Seventh Amendment Claim

Thu, 2025-05-29 18:09

In a federal court case involving the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) that is being closely watched because it involves a trainer's allegations of a wrongful denial of Seventh Amendment rights to a jury trial, a judge in Florida on Thursday denied conditioner Phil Serpe's request for preliminary injunction in a lawsuit initiated last October against the HISA and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The civil complaint involves “banned substance” sanctions stemming from the alleged detection of clenbuterol in an Aug. 10, 2024, Saratoga Race Course winner from the 66-year-old trainer's stable.

Although Serpe's underlying lawsuit will proceed without any injunction being granted for the time being while his contested Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU) case separately plays out at the FTC arbitration level, Judge David Leibowitz of United States District Court (Southern District of Florida) wrote in his May 29 order that because that FTC arbitration process has not yet been completed, the court will leave open the opportunity for Serpe to refile his Seventh Amendment injunction claim at a later time.

“The FTC does not become involved or take any action until after arbitration is completed,” the judge wrote. “Plaintiff's arbitration is scheduled for June 2025. So, until the FTC's administrative law judge is called upon to review the Authority's sanction decision, if any, Plaintiff's claim as to the FTC is not ripe,” the judge wrote.

“While the merits of Mr. Serpe's Seventh Amendment claim may ultimately win the race, this Court will not grant extraordinary relief before the starter's gate has even opened,” the judge wrote.

So even though Serpe appears to have suffered a blow to his case on technical grounds with the denial of the injunction, the fact that the judge stressed Serpe's option to refile his Seventh Amendment claims later in the administrative process could be viewed as encouraging for the trainer.

TDN reached out to both Serpe's attorney and to HISA to get opinions from both sides on the denial of the injunction and the judge's seemingly telling words about the Seventh Amendment claim possibly prevailing in the long run.

Saratoga grandstand and main track | Sarah Andrew

But a HISA spokesperson wrote in a Thursday afternoon email that the Authority would have no comment, while Serpe's attorney did not respond to an emailed query prior to deadline for this story.

In a civil complaint filed seven months ago, Serpe's legal team had asked the court to “declare HISA and the HISA Rules to be unconstitutional, preliminarily and permanently enjoin Defendants from enforcing HISA and the HISA Rules against Serpe, and dissolve and vacate the Authority's provisional suspension against Serpe.”

Some of Serpe's “private nondelegation doctrine” allegations of unconstitutionality share common legal underpinnings with at least eight other lawsuits spawned in the federal court system over the past four years in which the powers of HISA, HIWU and the FTC and have been challenged by various individuals and entities representing horsemen and other HISA-regulated parties.

But Serpe's Oct. 17, 2024, complaint was unique in that it stated that, “HISA and the HISA Rules violate the Seventh Amendment's right to a jury trial.”

Initially, Serpe was facing a provisional suspension, plus a two-year period of ineligibility and a fine of up to $25,000 if HISA's clenbuterol allegations were proven against him.

But HISA had announced on Nov. 4, 2024, that it was directing HIWU to impose provisional suspensions only in limited circumstances, thus lifting all in-effect provisional suspensions (including Serpe's) while the Authority reviewed whether any “modifications to the current rules are appropriate.”

And on Apr. 23, 2025, HIWU informed Serpe that it would be dropping its pursuit of the $25,000 penalty–a move that Serpe's legal team termed in a court filing was actually part of “a concerted effort with HIWU to prejudicially moot Serpe's [Seventh Amendment] claims during the pendency of this case.”

In his May 29 order on the injunction denial, Judge Leibowitz wrote that he was well aware of the number of other constitutionality cases that have been brought against HISA in the federal court system, although he noted that Serpe's case stands out because of its Seventh Amendment aspect.

Three of those other cases have already been decided at the federal appeals court level (two in favor of HISA's constitutionality and one against). And in each of those three lawsuits, the losing party at the appeals court level has initiated legal action in the U.S. Supreme Court that could lead to the nation's highest court deciding once and for all whether the 2020 law that governs the sport in America is constitutional or not.

“Plaintiff Philip Serpe's challenge to HISA's constitutionality is not the only one making its way through the federal courts,” the judge stated in his order. “Plaintiffs residing in horseracing country have lodged challenges to both HISA's delegation of rulemaking authority to [a] private-entity [as well as to] HISA's enforcement scheme.

Phil Serpe | Sarah Andrew

“Plaintiffs' Seventh Amendment challenge to HISA has been asserted (albeit tangentially) at the district court level, but no district court or court of appeals has squarely addressed the Seventh Amendment challenge to date,” the judge wrote.

“Because the United States Supreme Court has yet to decide the private nondelegation question, this Court stayed that issue in [Serpe's] case and directed the parties to brief only Plaintiff's Seventh Amendment challenge,” the judge wrote.

While the judge denied the injunction against the FTC for the “ripeness” reasons explained above, Leibowitz also wrote that, “as for a preliminary injunction against the Authority, Plaintiff fails to show irreparable harm.”

The judge continued, in a different part of the order: “Serpe contends that Defendants' ability to impose a civil monetary penalty against him in the absence of a jury violates his Seventh Amendment rights…. The Authority responds that there is no violation here because HISA's enforcement scheme falls 'plainly under the “public rights” exception,' to the Seventh Amendment.

“Serpe points to several types of harm that he says are 'irreparable' such that a preliminary injunction is warranted,” the judge wrote. “First, Serpe points to his provisional suspension from horseracing. However, since Serpe filed the instant Motion, 'the Authority has lifted all provisional suspensions (including Plaintiff's) outside a narrow category of circumstances inapplicable here.'

“Nevertheless, Serpe argues the Authority's lifting of provisional suspensions was without lawful effect because the Authority lacks authority to lift suspensions and its pronouncement doing so violated its own rules governing rulemaking,” the order stated. “As a result, Serpe says his horseracing status remains uncertain and his harm is, therefore, irreparable.

“The Court disagrees with Serpe on this point. Serpe continues to be allowed to train horses to compete in races. Consequently, his reliance on the now-lifted provisional suspension does not show 'irreparable harm,'” the judge wrote.

“Apart from the now-lifted provisional suspension, Serpe says his lost business and consumer goodwill as well as his subjection to an alleged 'unconstitutional proceeding' constitute irreparable harm,” the judge wrote.

“Although lost business and customer goodwill may constitute irreparable harm in certain circumstances, subjection to an unconstitutional process in-and-of-itself does not,” the judge wrote.

“Serpe's claimed harms are not irreparable because he may pursue a remedy against the Authority for money damages in the event of a constitutional violation that causes harm,” the judge wrote.

Quoting from a legal precedent, the judge continued: “The key word in this consideration is irreparable. Mere injuries, however substantial, in terms of money, time and energy necessarily expended in the absence of a stay, are not enough. The possibility that adequate compensatory or other corrective relief will be available at a later date, in the ordinary course of litigation, weighs heavily against a claim of irreparable harm.”

The post Judge Denies Injunction In Serpe Suit Vs. HISA, But Leaves Door Open For Refile Of Key Seventh Amendment Claim appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

TAA Onsite During Belmont Stakes Weekend

Thu, 2025-05-29 16:44

Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) will be onsite at Saratoga Race Course for Belmont Stakes weekend, according to a press release from the non-profit on Thursday.

To highlight accredited aftercare, the New York Racing Association, Inc (NYRA) will honor the TAA with a named race on the undercard on Friday, June 6, and a presentation will be made to the winning connections, which includes a gift bag.

TAA representatives will be present to host the winners of the VIP experience donated by NYRA that was auctioned off earlier in the year in the “Off to the Races” Campaign to support accredited aftercare.

The post TAA Onsite During Belmont Stakes Weekend appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Trainers Pledge Belmont Festival Earnings To Support TRF

Thu, 2025-05-29 14:50

A group of former Todd Pletcher assistant trainers have pledged to donate a percentage of their earnings from the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival to support the mission of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF), the organization said on Thursday in a press release.

Michael McCarthy, George Weaver, Jonathan Thomas, Whit Beckman and Amelia Green have each committed a portion of their festival earnings to the TRF, underscoring their dedication to the welfare of retired racehorses.

Click here to learn more about helping the TRF.

The post Trainers Pledge Belmont Festival Earnings To Support TRF appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

‘TDN Rising Star’ Outfielder Headed To Royal Ascot

Thu, 2025-05-29 14:30

After a sizzling win in a May 23 maiden on the grass at Churchill Downs, Wesley Ward confirmed what he already knew. 'TDN Rising Star' Outfielder (Speightstown) is among the best 2-year-olds he has ever trained. So it's no surprise that the colt will soon be on his way to Royal Ascot to compete in the G2 Norfolk Stakes June 19.

“I was nervous going into the race at Churchill, just because I was so excited and he's one of those colts who has so much ability, Ward said. “The race was five-eighths on the grass. But you just never know how it's going to turn out. If you ever get to see his workouts you can visually see that he breathes different air. He's a big colt but he's real agile and quick. He moves like a cat. Usually, big horses are kind of lumbery and they don't have the agility that this guy does.”

Outfielder was purchased at last year's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale for $850,000. Ward also bought a horse named Schwarzenegger (Not This Time) for $950,000 at the same sale.

“Both colts were my picks of the sale. We spent a lot for both,” Ward said. “Nobody picked him out but me. You know how bloodstock agents like to take credit for things. The guy who signed the ticket, me, is the guy who picked him out.”

Ward bought the horse before he was able to bring in any partners. He talked former major league outfielder Jayson Werth into buying 20% of the colt, but was uncomfortable owning the remaining 80% himself.

“I couldn't afford to spend that much money when we paid as much as we did. It was too much of risk,” Ward said.

The problem was solved when Kia Joorabchian's Amo Racing went in for 60%.

At first Ward thought that Schwarzenegger would turn out to be the better of the two and he was planning to run him at Saratoga. As for Outfielder, he thought he would need some time, but that didn't turn out to be the case.

“We started breezing them together in tandem,” Ward said “Outfielder came around a lot quicker than I expected because he's a bigger colt. Schwarzenegger [who is unraced] was the one I had planned on running early. But as we got through the workouts in April and May, Outfielder was just better in each and every work. It wasn't by a great margin, but if you watched their works you can pick out visually which of the two is better.

“Moving on the grass down in Florida he really took to it as far as just galloping on the grass,” he said. “We had him at Palm Beach Downs and at Payson Park. He just floated over it. Even though he hadn't had a breeze yet I thought he'd really liked the grass. The riders on him, one being David Flores, were elated when they got off of him.”

Outfielder wins on debut and earned a 'TDN Rising Star' | Coady Media

Outfielder won his debut by 6 1/4 lengths and covered the five furlongs in :55.93 seconds.

“In that race he widened the margin with effortless ease,” Ward said. “The thing about him is that he is so sound. He's got a big airway and a big throat. A lot of big horses have air issues, but I knew that wouldn't be a problem for him. There is a lot of excitement surrounding this guy.”

With Ward's affinity for Royal Ascot, it comes as no surprise that the colt is headed overseas. Ward has won the Norfolk twice, with Shang Shang Shang (Shanghai Bobby) in 2018 and with No Nay Never (Scat Daddy) in 2013. If all goes well, Outfielder's next start after the Norfolk will be in the GI Prix Morny in Deauville Aug. 24. The Kentucky-based conditioner has won that race three times, with No Nay Never, Lady Aurelia (Scat Daddy) and Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac ({GB}).

“He'll run in the Norfolk, which is a path I've been down a few times,” Ward said. “It comes up a little quick, especially with my 2-year-olds. I like a little more spacing. Being that he ran on the grass and he came out of the race great, the Norfolk looks like the best spot. There's no better grass course in the world than what they have at Royal Ascot. Keeneland might be as good. It is a very kind and safe surface for him to run back on. From there we'll go to the Prix Morny. I've run in it four times, and have won three times and had a second. It's a path I've been down before.”

As much as Ward has been impressed by the 2-year-old's works on the grass, he says he'd like to try him on the dirt.

“He would be very good on the dirt,” he said. “I don't want to try him on the dirt until the fall of the year. I want to let him mature a little bit more. If we get that far and he accomplishes the things we think he will, we'll have to take a look at the dirt.”

For now, it's on to Royal Ascot, where Ward has won 12 races and will be in search of lucky number 13.

The post ‘TDN Rising Star’ Outfielder Headed To Royal Ascot appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Oaklawn Promotes Gillham, Milligan To Director Of Racing

Thu, 2025-05-29 13:55

Oaklawn Park is promoting Zack Gillham to Vice President of Racing & Wagering, while Jason Milligan will assume the role of Director of Racing, the track said via a press release on Thursday morning.

In his expanded position, Gillham will oversee all aspects of Oaklawn's racing and sports wagering operations. A member of the Hot Springs team for over eight years, he most recently served as Executive Director of Wagering.

Milligan, the former Vice President of Racing, has been with Oaklawn's equine operations for the past 28 years.

The post Oaklawn Promotes Gillham, Milligan To Director Of Racing appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Graded Winner, Mutliple Grade I-Placed Pyrenees Retired

Thu, 2025-05-29 13:26

Pyrenees (Into Mischief–Our Khrysty, by Newfoundland), winner of the GIII Pimlico Special Stakes and runner-up in the GI Stephen Foster Stakes and GI Jockey Club Gold Cup in 2024, has been retired from racing, according to Adam Corndorf, who bred and raced the horse in partnership with his mother Bonnie Baskin under their Blue Heaven Farm banner.

A homebred son of Grade III winner Our Khrysty, purchased by Blue Heaven for $600,000 in foal to Tiznow at the 2011 Fasig-Tipton November Sale, Pyrenees broke his maiden by 4 1/2 lengths off a one-year absence at the Fair Grounds in December 2023 and added open-length victories in allowance company at the Fair Grounds and at Keeneland in the spring of 2024 before charging home to take last year's Pimlico Special on Preakness weekend, defeating 'TDN Rising Star' Kingsbarns (Uncle Mo). The bay was runner-up to the latter in the Foster and was beaten four lengths into second behind Highland Falls (Curlin) in the Jockey Club Gold Cup before competing in a hot renewal of the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar. He retires with a record of 4-3-1 from 11 starts and earnings of $786,316 for trainer Cherie DeVaux.

In addition to his racetrack achievements, Pyrenees hails from an extremely active immediate female family. His half-sister Grace Adler (Curlin) won the 2021 GI Del Mar Debutante and was sold to Japanese interests for $2 million at Fasig-Tipton November in 2022. Grace Adler's first foal, a colt by Horse of the Year Flightline, made $1.3 million at the JRHA Select Sale last July.

Pyrenees, whose dam is a half-sister to GI Whitney Handicap hero Bullsbay (Tiznow), is also kin to the Grade II-placed Virginia Key (Distorted Humor), not only the dam of SP Distorted d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro), but also of Tappan Street (Into Mischief), who took down the colors of subsequent GI Kentucky Derby hero Sovereignty (Into Mischief) in this year's GI Curlin Florida Derby. A Curlin half-brother to Tappan Street fetched $1.4 million at Keeneland September last fall, while the current 2-year-old half-sister to Pyrenees, Glory Me (Gun Runner), was hammered down to Lael Stable for $975,000 at KEESEP. Pyrenees's half-sister Bay Harbor (Speightstown), is responsible for Miuccia (Mitole), a stakes winner in 2024.

Pyrenees is currently available for inspection at Blue Heaven Farm in Versailles, Kentucky for those interested in standing him at stud. Inquiries may be made to Adam Corndorf at info@blueheavenfarmky.com.

The post Graded Winner, Mutliple Grade I-Placed Pyrenees Retired appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Bidding For Fasig-Tipton June Digital Sale Now Open

Thu, 2025-05-29 12:34

A total of 97 entries have been catalogued for the Fasig-Tipton June Digital Sale, which can now be viewed online at digital.fasigtipton.com. Bidding has commenced and will remain open through Tuesday, June 3, beginning at 2 p.m. ET.

Among the entries are horses of racing age, breeding stock–including mares with foals at foot–2-year-olds in training and yearlings.

Some of the top offerings include:

 

  • Hip 2, Strada Del Sogno (Street Boss), a debut third in the May 10 Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies Stakes at Gulfstream behind Lennilu (Leinster), who is scheduled to make her next appearance at Royal Ascot next month;

 

  • Hip 92, Chasing Sunsets (Authentic), a 2-year-old full-sister to Reagan's Wit, impressive winner of the James W. Murphy Stakes at Pimlico May 17;

 

  • 40 horses of racing age eligible for a variety of conditions;

 

 

 

“We have a diverse catalogue with something for everyone, including a significant number of turnkey horses of racing age ready for summer racing,” said Leif Aaron, Fasig-Tipton Director of Digital Sales. “These include stakes horses as well as a several eligible for 'ship and win' programs on the West Coast.”

The post Bidding For Fasig-Tipton June Digital Sale Now Open appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

National Regulatory Rulings: May 22-28, 2025

Thu, 2025-05-29 11:41

Every week, the TDN posts a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) related rulings from around the country.

The following rulings were reported on HISA's “rulings” portal and through the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit's (HIWU) “pending” and “resolved” cases portals.

Resolved ADMC Violations

Date: 05/28/2025

Licensee: Brad Cox, trainer

Penalty: A fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision by internal adjudication panel.

Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone—a controlled substance (Class C)—in a sample taken from Nyquick on 3/19/25.

Date: 05/27/2025

Licensee: Stephen Trevino, trainer

Penalty: 7-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on May 28, 2025; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $1,000; imposition of 2 Penalty Points. Admission.

Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine—a controlled substance (Class B)—in a sample taken from Miss Shady, who won at Mahoning Valley on 4/2/25.

Date: 05/23/2025

Licensee: Rodolfo Sanchez-Salomon, trainer

Penalty: 30-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on May 24, 2025; additional 30-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on June 23, 2025 for the accumulation of 6 Penalty Points within a two-year period; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $2,500; imposition of 3 Penalty Points. Admission.

Explainer: Medication violation for the Alkalinization or use/administration of an Alkalinizing Agent (TCO2) on Tik Tok Daddy, who finished third at Laurel Park on 12/13/24.

According to the case resolution, Sanchez-Salomon is suspended an additional 30 days—beginning on June 23, 2025, and continuing through July 22, 2025—for the accumulation of 6 Penalty Points within a two-year period. This relates to two prior positives involving Flunixin (in 2023) and Phenylbutazone (in 2024).

Date: 05/22/2025

Licensee: Juan Aguirre, trainer

Penalty: 18-month period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on May 23, 2025; a fine of $12,500. Admission.

Explainer: Violation of ADMC Program Rule 3216(b)(2), which prohibits a covered person from “assisting, encouraging, aiding, abetting, conspiring, covering up, or engaging in any other type of intentional complicity or Attempted complicity involving . . . a violation of Rule 3229 by another Covered Person.”

According to the case resolution, from at least June to September of 2024, Aguirre employed another licensee, Francisco Ramos, to work with his horses when Ramos was serving a provisional suspension for alleged medication violations. Ramos is in the middle of serving a suspension for those violations— in six different horses—that runs through May of 2036.

Pending ADMC Violations

05/28/2025, Annette Eubanks, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine—a controlled substance (Class B)—in a sample taken from I'm a Cutie Pie on 4/26/25.

05/28/2025, Roshan Samsundar, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Caffeine—a controlled substance (Class B)—in a sample taken from Carbon, who won at Aqueduct on 3/14/25.

05/27/2025, Maximino Quinonez, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine—a controlled substance (Class B)—in a sample taken from R U Joking on 4/26/25.

05/21/2025, Michelle Castillo, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Lidocaine—a controlled substance (Class B)—in a sample taken from Tootsie Toes on 4/18/25.

05/21/2025, Eric Reed, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Gabapentin—a controlled substance (Class B)—in a sample taken from She's a Saint, who won at Mahoning Valley on 4/8/25.

The post National Regulatory Rulings: May 22-28, 2025 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Rain Forces Postponement of Cape Henlopen Stakes

Thu, 2025-05-29 11:16

The $200,000 Cape Henlopen Stakes, a mile-and-a-half turf event for older males, has been moved from its original date of Saturday, May 31 and will instead be run on the Saturday, June 14 program along with the GIII Delaware Oaks and Delaware Derby. The change was necessitated by heavy rainfall in the Midlantic region over the past week.

Nominations to the Cape Henlopen will be re-opened with a new closing date of Wednesday, June 4. The June 14 program will be drawn Tuesday, June 10.

The remaining seven races on the Saturday live card will be run as scheduled, including the featured $100,000 Rehoboth Stakes at six furlongs on the main track. The afternoon's promotional giveaway remains on the schedule, while the $10,000 guaranteed middle Pick Five has been canceled. First post is set for 12:35 p.m. ET.

The post Rain Forces Postponement of Cape Henlopen Stakes appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

NYRA Details Belmont Stakes Racing Festival Policies

Thu, 2025-05-29 10:42

Officials at the New York Racing Association (NYRA) have laid out guest policies for the upcoming Belmont Stakes Racing Festival (BSRF) at Saratoga Wednesday, June 4 through Sunday, June 8.

Gates will open at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, with a first post scheduled for each program at 12:40 p.m. ET. Admission will begin at 10 a.m. on Friday (first post 11:40 a.m.) and at 9 a.m. on Belmont Day, with the first race set to jump at 10:45 a.m. ET.

While the Saratoga main track will be closed to the public for morning training during the BSRF, fans will be permitted to watch training at the Oklahoma training track from 7-10 a.m. on Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday by entering Gate 21 on East Avenue. There is no vehicular traffic permitted. The public is invited to return to the main track for 'Breakfast at Saratoga' on opening day of the summer meet Thursday, July 10.

As with the main summer meeting, fans are not permitted to enter the grounds with alcoholic beverages from Thursday, June 5 through Saturday, June 7. Each fan may carry one folding chair for personal use in the backyard area during each day of the BSRF. Pop-up tents, folding tables and wagons are not permitted Thursday through Saturday. Small bags and purses are allowed.

Cash will not be accepted for food and beverage purchases, admission, parking or programs (with the exception of the official Saratoga store) during the BSRF. Professional photography and/or videography equipment is also prohibited.

Click here for a comprehensive list of permitted and prohibited items.

The post NYRA Details Belmont Stakes Racing Festival Policies appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Regaled, 1/2 to Kentucky Oaks Runner-up Drexel Hill, Tops Inglis Digital USA May Sale

Wed, 2025-05-28 18:41

The 2025 Inglis Digital USA May Sale closed Wednesday with a pair of six-figure fillies leading the way with close relations to the top two finishers in this year's GI Kentucky Oaks.

Topping Wednesday's session with a $300,000 final bid, Regaled (Mohaymen–Ascot Walk, by Daaher), a Grade III-placed half-sister to Oaks runner-up Drexel Hill (Bolt d'Oro), sold to Legion Bloodstock, the same operation that campaigns Drexel Hill.

A three-time winner, the dark bay was third in last year's GIII Delaware Oaks. She entered the sale off a runner-up finish in the Heavenly Cause Stakes at Laurel Park on Apr. 12, and a third in the Allaire DuPont Distaff Stakes at Pimlico Race Course on May 16.

Bred in Kentucky by Chris Baccari, Regaled is out of the winning Daaher mare Ascot Walk, whose two foals to race are both black-type earners. In addition to finishing second in the

Ketnucky Oaks, Drexel Hill won the Busher Stakes earlier this year.

“She's a pretty filly with a solid race record to this point,” said Kristian Villante of Legion Bloodstock. “We're obviously partial to the family having Drexel Hill, and we were underbidder

on the 2-year-old out of Ascot Walk that sold last week [a Modernist filly that went to Repole Stable for $310,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May Sale]. We think all three fillies have bright futures and we're just happy our clients believe the same. She's going to head to Whit Beckman at Churchill Downs and we'll let him and his team do their thing. Hopefully, we can target some fun races with her this summer.”

Samuel G. Davis previously trained Regaled for owner Brittnee Caballero, and she was made available for inspection during the sale from her barn at Laurel Park. Paramount Sales consigned the filly, as agent.

“We are delighted to see the ownership of Drexel Hill pick up her half-sister Regaled,” said Paddy Campion of Paramount Sales. “We had confidence in being able to put her up for sale

just as everything was falling into place for her, and couldn't be happier to see her hammered down to these connections.”

The day's second-highest price came for a 4-year-old half-sister to the dam of Kentucky Oaks winner Good Cheer who sold to Machmer Hall for $220,000.

The unnamed More Than Ready filly is out of the unraced Coronado's Quest mare Golden Sheba, making her a half-sister to the MGISW Wedding Toast, herself the dam of the undefeated star Good Cheer. Her extended family features MGISW Congaree.

“A More Than Ready mare with exceptional good looks out of a half-sister to the dam of this year's Kentucky Oaks winner with a huge deep family? What's not to love?” said Machmer

Hall's Carrie Brogden. “Now just to come up with a good name.”

The filly was bred in Kentucky by Campo Oaks Management, and she was offered from her base at Santa Anita Park with consignor Leonard Powell.

“I'm delighted that a filly with such an active pedigree goes to a very astute breeder in Carrie Brogden,” Powell said. “I hope she finds success wither her progeny in the sales ring. This is our

first time consigning with Inglis Digital USA and couldn't have been happier with the process and the result.”

In total, Wednesday's auction saw 19 horses sold for revenues of $625,250, with an average sale price of $32,907.

“We're very pleased with the results from the May sale,” said Kyle Wilson, Senior Director of Sales and Recruiting for Inglis Digital USA. “The popular listings were just that–popular. There

was a lot of activity around the sale and I credit the team with assembling a quality catalog.

“We're going to keep working to move some of the horses that didn't get done on the day. There's certainly still some value out there. We appreciate all the sellers and buyers that supported us.”

Entries are now open for the 2025 Inglis Digital USA June Sale, and they will be taken through Monday, June 16. The catalog will be released Friday, June 20, and bidding will commence on

Wednesday, June 25.

To enter a horse in the June sale or to register as a bidder, visit www.inglisdigitalusa.com

The post Regaled, 1/2 to Kentucky Oaks Runner-up Drexel Hill, Tops Inglis Digital USA May Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Canadian Horseman Paul Buttigieg Dies

Wed, 2025-05-28 16:42

Longtime Canadian-based trainer, breeder and owner Paul Buttigieg died, according to a Woodbine release Wednesday.

Over the course of his career at Woodbine, the horseman amassed 672 wins and more than $19 million in earnings as a trainer. Buttigieg also operated his own training center in Egbert, Ontario–Buttigieg Training Centre–where trainers such as Robert Tiller, Kevin Attard and Michael De Paulo were stabled.

Buttigieg's most significant horses were led by champion Phil's Dream, who he bred, owned, and trained. Phil's Dream captured the GI Nearctic Stakes in 2013 and was honored as that season's Champion Male Sprinter at the Sovereign Awards.

Buttigieg also notably campaigned multiple graded stakes winner Artie's Storm, who was a Sovereign Award finalist in 2022, Strait From Texas, who won the 2003 GII Nassau Stakes, and MSW and MGISP Gypsy Ring.

“Paul Buttigieg was the embodiment of dedication in Canadian racing,” said Jim Lawson, Executive Chair, Woodbine Entertainment. “Paul was a true horseman in every sense of the word as a breeder, owner and trainer. He did it all with passion for the Thoroughbred and was part of the fabric of our Woodbine racing community. His loss is deeply felt and he will be dearly missed.”

The post Canadian Horseman Paul Buttigieg Dies appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Weather Forces Postponement of Penn Mile, Oaks

Wed, 2025-05-28 15:42

Friday's GIII Penn Mile has been posted postponed until June 20 due to inclement weather conditions impacting the eastern portion of the country, according to a Penn National release Wednesday.

Other existing stakes that will be moved to June 20 are the Lyphard Stakes, Alphabet Soup Stakes and Penn Oaks.

Horses entered in those four stakes are automatically re-nominated to their respective stakes races to be run June 20. Additional nominations are also being accepted until Wednesday, June 11. Entries for the entire June 20 card will be drawn June 13.

Penn National will proceed with the seven overnight races that were originally intended–all on the main track–for the May 30 card. Racing is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m.

The post Weather Forces Postponement of Penn Mile, Oaks appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Canadian Horse of the Year Soaring Free Dies at 26

Wed, 2025-05-28 14:28

Canadian Horse of the Year Soaring Free (Smart Strike–Dancing With Wings, by Danzig) died due to complications of old age at Sam-Son Farm's Ocala, Florida division Wednesday.

Campaigned by his breeder Sam-Son Farm, the Ontario-bred won 15 of 27 career races for trainer Mark Frostad earning Canada's champion sprinter honor in 2003 followed by the champion grass horse title the following year, when he was also named that nation's Horse of the Year. Jockey Todd Kabel was aboard Soaring Free for 22 of 27 of his career starts.

During his racing career, he won eight races at the graded level, highlighted by a score in the 2004 GI Atto Mile at Woodbine before retiring with $2.1 million in earnings. Nicknamed 'Muffin', he was cared for by his longtime groom, Tracy Smith.

The gelding, who hails from a deep Sam-Son family, was out of Dancing With Wings, a half-sister to Canadian Horse of the Year Ruling Angel (Vice Regent), champion 3-year-old filly Tilt My Halo (Halo) and SW Tiffany Tam (Tentam), dam of champion sophomore colt and Canadian Classic winner Regal Intention.

The 26-year-old stallion will be interred at the Florida farm.

The post Canadian Horse of the Year Soaring Free Dies at 26 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Pages