Thoroughbred Daily News

The Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority (MTROA), which was created in 2023 by the state to oversee the rebuilding of the 'Home of the Preakness' at Pimlico, will be terminated as of June 30, according to an article published in the Maryland Daily Record Apr. 4 .

The piece says that a provision tucked into the state budget bills during final negotiations put the authority on ice and shifts its responsibilities to the Maryland Stadium Authority and the Maryland Economic Development Corporation.

As previously reported by the TDN, the MTROA was tasked with overseeing the transition of the industry from a heavily-subsidized but privately run sport into an entity that was intended to be managed by the state.

The Stronach Group that owned Pimlico agreed to turn over the property to the state, which will soon embark on a massive, taxpayer-financed renovation once next month's Preakness is run. A state-created nonprofit that adopted the historic name Maryland Jockey Club took over the responsibility of running races in the state beginning in January, though no board was serving in an oversight capacity.

The Daily Record article goes on to state that the MTROA–a volunteer panel led by attorney Greg Cross from the Venable law firm–was expected to officiate racing until 2029. However, it will end operations this summer, which the piece says will remove nearly $3.5 million in annual salary and operating costs from the state budget.

The article relates that the change is not expected to have any impact on the state's renovation plans at Pimlico.

Maryland House Ways and Means Chair Vanessa Atterbeary was quoted in the Daily Record as saying, “We just wanted some more oversight to be able to understand and know what's going on in real time, which wasn't happening.”

Neither top lawmakers nor Gov. Wes Moore's office explained how–or why–the provision was inserted into the budget.

In an Apr. 6 article published by The Baltimore Banner, State Senator Guy Guzzone, a Howard County Democrat who is chair of the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee, said, “There is a belief that we will get a lot better results and more accomplished by shifting some of the authority to some known entities, and that's what we're doing,”

As for Greg Cross, he told The Banner that the timing was right because the MTROA had “almost totally completed” the tasks it had to accomplish.

The post Maryland Nixes Authority Charged With Pimlico Rebuild appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

by Sue Finley and Dan Ross

Few commercial sectors appear immune from the current administration's sweeping import tariffs, and that includes horse racing's biggest Saturday of the year, with Japan's participants in the GI Kentucky Derby potential targets of the trade war.

Stressing a general air of uncertainty surrounding the tariff specifics, Matt Haug, general manager of International Racehorse Transport (IRT), said that, as he and his customs broker understood the situation, the Japanese-trained Luxor Cafe (American Pharoah) is exempt from any tariff being a U.S.-bred runner.

For foreign-bred horses–like the Japanese-trained Admire Daytona (Jpn) (Drefong)–they would be subject to a tariff, said Haug. However, these foreign-born runners would be eligible to import on a “Temporary Import Bond,” Haug added.

“Technically there is not a deposit required, but rather a guarantor who is USA based. The horse must be exported out of the USA within one year. Once proper documents have been submitted to U.S. Customs, the bond will be closed out,” wrote Haug.

If a Japanese runner hit the board, would their earnings also be subject to an additional tariff?

According to Tom Rooney, president and CEO of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), he does not believe a horse shipping in from another country would have to pay an additional tariff on purse earnings.

“But there's a lot of uncertainty as to what qualifies as tariff and what doesn't. We've been having trouble getting answers from the administration itself. But once the tariffs go into effect, we'll have clarity at some point,” said Rooney.

As to the Temporary Import Bond, that is based on the horse's value when they cross the U.S. border, said Rooney.

A Japanese horse leaving the country after winning the Derby would not have to pay an extra bond, said Rooney, either based on a newly increased value, or on whatever part of the Derby purse they took home.

“One of the parties involved will have to pay the bond. The bond is refundable upon exit of the country. So, whoever posts the bond will get it back. It's just a matter of one of the parties involved being willing to do that,” explained Rooney.

“Customs really didn't get that far into the weeds as to how that value is established, and I know there's some thought that they might be simply treated as livestock. But if you have horses coming from Japan or the UAE for the Kentucky Derby, I think it would be harder to look at those horses as livestock,” he added.

More broadly, horses imported for sale would pay a tariff based on their sales price, Rooney said, though the NTRA was hoping to alleviate that.

“We have worked with Congressman [Andy] Barr's office to request an exception for horse sales, but that might be a very heavy lift. I wouldn't think that horse sales would be at the top of the list,” Rooney said.

In these early days of the trade war, are the tariffs already causing connections to think twice about shipping to the U.S. to race?

“Not so much to race,” said Haug. “But it will certainly have an impact on the importation of horses in general.”

The post Will Tariffs Impact Japanese Participants in the Derby? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

While eight horses tied for the fastest furlong of :9 4/5, a filly from the first crop of Grade I winner Yaupon (hip 181) distinguished herself with a bullet quarter-mile breeze in :20 2/5 during the second session of the under-tack preview ahead of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training Monday in Central Florida. Consigned by Tom McCrocklin, hip 181 is out of Moon Over Mag Bay (Malibu Moon), a daughter of stakes winner Believe in Charlie (Indian Charlie).

“She's just naturally fast,” McCrocklin said of the filly. “Typically when I get here, there are no surprises. You kind of know who is fast and who is not. But the interesting thing is, she kind of did a little zig-zag when she switched leads in the stretch, like she saw something, so I think she could have actually gone faster. Her gallop-out was really science fiction–:31 and change and :45 flat.”

McCrocklin purchased the filly for $62,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton July sale.

“She looked athletic and she had a great walk,” McCrocklin said of the filly's appeal last summer. “I am pretty happy with the purchase right now.”

The first yearlings by Yaupon (Uncle Mo), winner of the 2021 GI Forego Stakes, were popular in the sales ring last summer and fall, with 118 selling for an average of $169,830–good for fourth among U.S.-based first-crop sires.

“I have three [by Yaupon] and I wish I had more,” McCrocklin said. “They have been really, really athletic, very classy. They just act like they can run.”

David McKathan and Jody Mihalic's Grassroots Training and Sales, which sent out one of three juveniles to share the furlong bullet during Sunday's first under-tack session, sent out four of the eight to set that bullet :9 4/5 mark Monday.

The quartet was led off by hip 279, a filly by Temple City out of Possession of War (Midnight Lute); and included hip 234, a daughter of Authentic out of multiple stakes-placed Onebrethatatime (Brethren); hip 239, a filly by Army Mule out of Our Irish Lassie's (Yes It's True); and hip 332, a colt by freshman sire Leinster, whose first starter was a winner at Keeneland Sunday. The chestnut is out of Renovation (Alternation).

Also sharing the furlong bullet Monday: hip 190, a daughter of Curlin out of stakes-placed Motivated Seller (Into Mischief) consigned by de Meric Sales; hip 244, a colt by Maximus Mischief out of Overly Indulgent (Pleasantly Perfect) consigned by Cardozo's Brothers; hip 250, a filly by Munnings out of Palmilla Moon (Malibu Moon) consigned by Kings Equine; and hip 329, a filly by Not This Time out of Remarqued (Arch) consigned by Niall Brennan Stables.

McCrocklin said he felt conditions at the breeze show seemed to improve Monday after the opening session Sunday.

“I found the track [Sunday] to be very difficult,” he said. “I can't really put my finger on it, but I texted with Suzanne Smallwood with Equix and she was of the same opinion. She said horses were just kind of getting stuck in it–she used this biometric terminology, they couldn't launch behind. I thought it was better today. We had a crazy wind here today, it's kind of a diagonal crosswind out of the south, but we have seen some fast times today with my filly, obviously, being one of them. It seemed faster today, I thought.”

The under-tack show continues through Saturday with sessions beginning each day at 8 a.m. The Spring sale will be held next Tuesday through Friday with bidding starting at 10:30 a.m.

The post ‘Naturally Fast:’ Yaupon Filly Flies Quarter-Mile at OBS Monday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Tracy Farmer's homebred La Cara (f, 3, Street Sense–Cara Caterina, by Bernardini) closed out the Road to the Kentucky Oaks the same way she started it: with a win. Victorious in the first GI Kentucky Oaks points race of the season–the GIII Pocahontas Stakes at Churchill Downs last September–and the last, Monday's rescheduled GI Central Bank Ashland Stakes at Keeneland, La Cara heads to the Oaks with 151.75 points, second on the leaderboard behind Mar. 29 GII Fantasy Stakes winner Quietside (Malibu Moon). The Ashland awarded Oaks points on a 100-50-25-15-10 scale.

After the Ashland was postponed from its traditional Friday slot due to heavy rain in Kentucky, eight headed to post with last year's GII Demoiselle Stakes winner and last-out GIII Honeybee Stakes third, 'TDN Rising Star' Muhimma (Munnings), pegged as the 4-5 favorite. Despite all the rain, the Keeneland surface was listed as fast and La Cara, who had scored two of her three previous victories in a wire-to-wire fashion, broke like a shot. After she emerged from the Ashland's early fray with the lead, she never let it go. Ears flicking back and forth, La Cara set early fractions of :23.19 and :47.23 while Muhimma raced evenly midpack.

La Cara kicked clear on the turn as Muhimma advanced to second. They hit the quarter pole with La Cara in full flight and extending her advantage with every stride. There was no catching the winner as she sailed for home, even as Take Charge Milady (Take Charge Indy) charged up the rail late. The Jan. 25 Martha Washington Stakes winner passed Muhimma for the runner-up spot while still 1 1/4 lengths in arrears at the wire.

“She established dominance early,” said La Cara's rider Dylan Davis, “and then she just took control all the way through the wire. She was looking around a little bit [as we turned for home], so I just had to stay with her and keep her to task to the wire. She ran very well.”

After debuting last May at Churchill, La Cara broke her maiden by eight lengths in August at Saratoga, then returned to Churchill for that Pocahontas win. Fifth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, she kicked off her sophomore campaign with a runaway, 6 1/4-length triumph in the Suncoast Stakes at Tampa. She was last seen finishing second in the one-mile GII Davona Dale Stakes at Gulfstream Mar. 1.

“When she brings her A game, she's tough,” said trainer Mark Casse. “Dylan [Davis] said when he was coming down the backside, he thought, 'Oh, I have the filly I had in Tampa that day'. He said he could tell the difference. We knew the Davona Dale was just a prep. We brought her back a little quick [for that race] so I could have more time for this race, and it worked out. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't, but today was good.”

Casse said immediately following the Ashland that La Cara is fond of Churchill. The trainer brings a formidable duo to Louisville, as he also trains GI Arkansas Derby winner Sandman (Tapit).

#2 LA CARA ($20.16) goes gate-to-wire under @DavisJockey to win the $750,000 Ashland Stakes (G1) at @keenelandracing and earn 100 points towards the Kentucky Oaks. The daughter of Street Sense (@DarleyAmerica) is trained by @markecasse. pic.twitter.com/LGSjzrjnch

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) April 7, 2025

Pedigree Notes:

It bodes well for La Cara's connections if she's as fond of the Churchill surface as her sire was, as Street Sense won not only the GI Kentucky Derby there, but also the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile. The Darley stallion, now age 21, has since sired 43 graded winners as well as 102 black-type winners. La Cara is one of Street Sense's five graded winners out of Bernardini mares, including MGISW Maxfield and GISW Speaker's Corner, who have both joined their sire in the Darley stallion barn. The late Bernardini, a former Darley stallion, has 113 stakes winners out of his daughters.

La Cara's dam, the placed mare Cara Caterina, was a $500,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase by Farmer in 2018. The mare's only other foal is a yearling full-brother to the Ashland winner. Cara Caterina is herself a full-sister to MGISW To Honor and Serve and to GISW Angela Renee. The latter, second in the 2015 Ashland, was a $3-million Fasig-Tipton November purchase by Don Alberto Corp. in 2015, while their dam was a $1.95-million buy at the same sale in 2012, going to Borges Torrealba Holdings.

Monday, Keeneland
CENTRAL BANK ASHLAND S.-GI, $742,782, Keeneland, 4-7, 3yo, f, 1 1/16m, 1:45.10, ft.
1–LA CARA, 121, f, 3, by Street Sense
    1st Dam: Cara Caterina, by Bernardini
    2nd Dam: Pilfer, by Deputy Minister
    3rd Dam: Misty Hour, by Miswaki
   1ST GRADE I WIN. O/B-Tracy Farmer (KY); T-Mark E. Casse;
J-Dylan Davis. $447,563. Lifetime Record: 9-4-2-0, $866,083.
Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus.*
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Take Charge Milady, 121, f, 3, by Take Charge Indy
    1st Dam: Price too High, by Scat Daddy
    2nd Dam: La Capella, by Smart Strike
    3rd Dam: Venetian Glass, by Deputy Minister
1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE, 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($60,000 Ylg
'23 KEESEP). O-James Ball, Magdalena Racing (Sherri McPeek)
and Kenneth Rhodes; B-Merriebelle Stable, LLC (KY);
T-Kenneth G. McPeek. $144,375.
3–Muhimma, 121, f, 3, by Munnings
    1st Dam: Princesa Carolina (SW & GISP, $453,619), by Tapit
    2nd Dam: Pure Clan, by Pure Prize
    3rd Dam: Gather The Clan (Ire), by General Assembly
'TDN Rising Star' 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($700,000 Ylg '23
KEESEP). O-Shadwell Stable; B-Three Chimneys Farm, LLC (KY);
T-Brad H. Cox. $72,188.
Margins: 1 1/4, 3 1/4, 3 1/4. Odds: 9.08, 5.38, 0.97.
Also Ran: Supa Speed, Amarth, Look Forward, Admit, Running Away. Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

The post Street Sense’s La Cara Wins Postponed Ashland at Keeneland appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

In the first race of the Keeneland meet to stay on the grass after torrential rains throughout Kentucky, Amerman homebred Test Score (c, 3, Lookin At Lucky–Joy of Learning, by Kitten's Joy) captured Monday's rescheduled $600,000 GIII Transylvania Stakes and gave rider Manny Franco two consecutive black-type victories on the day after winning the Lafayette Stakes one race prior with 'TDN Rising Star' Colloquial (Vekoma).

Test Score broke forwardly in the Transylvania, settling into an unbothered fifth on the outside as three-straight stakes winner Mi Bago (Vekoma) showed the way through a :23.01 first quarter. Keeping just abreast of traffic behind the :47.25 half, the bay inched up on the turn before bumping hard with Chasing Liberty (Constitution) while about five wide as the field made the stretch. Test Score appeared to find another gear as he swapped to his correct lead, devouring the ground with exuberance as Mi Bago retreated, MSP Maui Strong (Kitten's Joy) charged up the rail, and SW and MGSP Scipio (Caravaggio) chased him home. Trained by Graham Motion, Test Score bested Scipio by 1 1/4 lengths with Maui Strong finishing third.

“He broke so good and put me right into the race,” said Franco. “He was traveling really well in the beginning of the race. He handled the ground really well, too. I was happy where I was, and when he was feeling the horses coming, he just gave me another gear. He was competitive in the race and got it done.”

Although the Transylvania was his first black-type victory, Test Score previously dipped his toes in graded waters last August at Saratoga, finishing fifth in the GIII With Anticipation Stakes as a maiden. A little more than a month later, he broke his maiden in his third start in a one-mile contest over the Keeneland lawn. From there, it was on to Del Mar, where he finished second to fellow Transylvania entrant Chasing Liberty in the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes Nov. 1. After a brief freshening, he reappeared Feb. 1 with a third at Gulfstream in the Kitten's Joy Stakes before making it two-for-two at Keeneland Monday.

Pedigree Notes:

Long-time Ashford Stud sire Lookin At Lucky, who shuttled to Chile for a number of years, has remained in that country at Haras Don Alberto since the 2023 Southern Hemisphere season and has no return to the U.S. scheduled. Test Score is one of 52 graded winners and 79 black-type winners worldwide for Lookin At Lucky, who was named Eclipse champion at both two and three. He has been Chile's leading sire twice.

The winning Joy of Learning, dam of Test Score as well as 2-year-old filly Screen Test (Not This Time) and a yearling colt by War of Will, is a half-sister to both GISW Coffee Clique (Medaglia d'Oro) and to MGSW Admission Office (Point of Entry), while MGSW Endlessly (Oscar Performance) is a member of her extended family. Oscar Performance, who stands at Mill Ridge, was–like Test Score–bred by the Amermans, who have long been associated with Mill Ridge. Oscar Performance is a son of Kitten's Joy, while Joy of Learning is one of the late stallion's daughters. Test Score, a third-generation Amerman-bred, is Kitten's Joy 63rd stakes winner as a broodmare sire. His dam was bred to Liam's Map for this term.

Monday, Keeneland
TRANSYLVANIA S. PRESENTED BY KEENELAND SELECT-GIII, $597,500, Keeneland, 4-7, 3yo, 1 1/16mT, 1:43.84, gd.
1–TEST SCORE, 118, c, 3, by Lookin At Lucky
                1st Dam: Joy of Learning, by Kitten's Joy
                2nd Dam: Miss Chapin, by Royal Academy
                3rd Dam: Society Dream (Fr), by Akarad (Fr)
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. O-Amerman
Racing LLC; B-Jerry Amerman (KY); T-H. Graham Motion;
J-Manuel Franco. $339,450. Lifetime Record: 6-2-2-1,
$477,725. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus.*
   Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Scipio, 118, r, 3, Caravaggio–Soul Spirit, by Quality Road.
($60,000 2yo '24 OBSMAR). O-Calvin Nguyen &  Joey C Tran;
B-Don Alberto Corporation (KY); T-Richard Baltas. $109,500.
3–Maui Strong, 118, c, 3, Kitten's Joy–Legal Tender, by Giant's
Causeway. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($275,000 Ylg '23
FTSAUG). O-West Point Thoroughbreds, Blue Devil Racing
Stable (Holliday) & Edwin S Barker; B-Blue Devil Racing Stable,
LLC (KY); T-Dale L. Romans. $54,750.
Margins: 1 1/4, 1 1/4, 3/4. Odds: 9.74, 8.41, 18.85.
Also Ran: Reagan's Wit, Chasing Liberty, Hammerhead, Versus, Clock Tower, Tom's Magic, Mi Bago, Golden Afternoon, Barricade. Scratched: Pretty Capable, Sabertooth, Septarian, Valentinian. Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

It was an A+ performance by #7 TEST SCORE ($21.48) in the $600,000 Transylvania Stakes (G3) at @keenelandracing. The son of Lookin at Lucky was ridden by @jockeyfranco, trained by @GrahamMotion, and owned by Amerman Racing. pic.twitter.com/qaSCKf5Bre

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) April 7, 2025

The post Test Score Passes Exam in Transylvania Stakes appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

LAFAYETTE S., $380,000, Keeneland, 4-7, 3yo, 7f, 1:23.92, ft.
1–COLLOQUIAL, 118, c, 3, by Vekoma
                1st Dam: Terminology, by Bernardini
                2nd Dam: Her Own Terms, by Storm Cat
                3rd Dam: Gal in a Ruckus, by Bold Ruckus
($240,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Harrell
Ventures, LLC and Starlight Racing; B-Michael & J.B. Orem (KY);
T-George Weaver; J-Manuel Franco. $248,000. Lifetime
Record: 3-2-1-0, $310,000.
2–Smoken Wicked, 118, c, 3, Bobby's Wicked One–Street
Smoke, by Street Boss. ($38,000 Ylg '23 BSLY&M). O-Valene
Farms LLC; B-Tom Curtis & Wayne Simpson (LA); T-Dallas
Stewart. $60,000.
3–Touchy, 118, c, 3, Nyquist–Touch the Moon, by Malibu
Moon. O/B-Three Chimneys Farm LLC (Goncalo B. Torrealba)
(KY); T-Wesley A. Ward. $40,000.
Margins: 2 1/4, 2 1/4, 6HF. Odds: 0.35, 4.47, 10.02.
Also Ran: Rolando, Itsmybirthday. Scratched: Gate to Wire, Gunmetal, One True Shance.
'TDN Rising Star' Colloquial followed up his brilliant maiden score at Aqueduct in February with a wire-to-wire victory in the Lafayette Stakes at Keeneland Monday. The 1-4 favorite was pressed by Smoken Wicked through a quarter in :22.62 and a half in :44.96 and began inching away from that pesky foe in upper stretch en route to a 2 1/4-length victory.
“My horse was the best horse in the race,” said winning jockey Manny Franco. “He broke so good. I didn't take anything away from him. I just let him roll out of there and see what the guys outside me wanted to do. Nobody cleared me, so I held my position and after that he took me all the way to the wire.”
Trainer George Weaver trained Vekoma and was gratified to come back to Keeneland with a stakes winner by that 2019 GI Toyota Blue Grass Stakes winner.
“We're always eternally grateful to Vekoma and what he did for us and our barn,” Weaver said. “To see him carry on as a stallion and come up with all these runners–it's a lot of fun. I'd say [Colloquial] is really good. It's his first time against winners today, and there were some nice horses in here. It was a change of tactics. I didn't really anticipate being on the lead, but I trust Manny to make decisions that he needs to based on how things are unfolding. He put him on the lead and the horse ran great.”
Colloquial, a nose runner-up on debut at Aqueduct last June, resurfaced at the Big A Feb. 7 with a towering maiden score which earned him a 106 Beyer figure.
Looking ahead for the talented colt, Weaver said, “I would like to run in the GI Woody Stephens [at Saratoga]. I need to talk to the ownership. Obviously, I want to do what we all think is best for the horse together. I'd like to make the Woody Stephens from here; it makes sense to me. After that, I'm game to stretch him out.”
Terminology has a 2-year-old filly by Bolt d'Oro who sold for $275,000 to Glen Hill Farm at last year's Keeneland September sale, and a yearling colt by Girvin. She was bred to Taiba last year. The winner's third dam is GI Kentucky Oaks winner Gal in a Ruckus. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

Put yourself in @jockeyfranco's irons as he rides COLLOQUIAL to victory in the $400,000 Lafayette Stakes at @KeenelandRacing. @JockeyCam pic.twitter.com/5UQQmbUCaT

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) April 7, 2025

The post Vekoma’s Colloquial Wires the Lafayette appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

1st-Keeneland, $82,854, Msw, 4-7, 2yo, 4 1/2f, :52.56, gd, 7 1/2 lengths.
PINKY FINGER (f, 2, Army Mule–Bird Map, by Liam's Map), the lone filly in the field, was sent off at even money and never gave her backers any doubts. The bay shot out to the early lead and had a clear advantage in a matter of strides. She was some three lengths in front at the top of the stretch after a quarter in :22.10 and, with jockey Joel Rosario glancing back for challengers more than once, extended her advantage down the lane without being asked and crossed the line geared down and 7 1/2 lengths in front. Happyhappyboy (Runhappy) was second. Pinky Finger was a $90,000 KEENOV weanling. Bird Map, who sold for $40,000 while carrying the winner at the 2022 Keeneland November sale, sold for that same price while in foal to Aloha West at that auction in 2023. She produced a filly last year and was bred back to Hard Spun. The mare is a half-sister to the dam of graded winner Pretty Birdie (Bird Song), who sold for $700,000 at this year's Keeneland January sale. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $50,918.
O/T-Wesley A. Ward; B-SpearmaCo (KY).

The filly, #8 PINKY FINGER ($4.16) by Army Mule was way too fast for the boys in the opener at @keenelandracing. That is another 2-year-old debut winner trained by Wesley Ward as @JRosarioJockey was in the irons.

Watch more on @FanDuelTV. pic.twitter.com/aPyjioHV6o

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) April 7, 2025

The post Army Mule’s Pinky Finger Airs in Keeneland Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

It's exceedingly rare to see a Kentucky Derby point race run on a Tuesday, but thanks to a week of catastrophic weather in the Commonwealth, that's what is happening at Keeneland as a field of seven line up to contest the last of the major Derby preps–the GI Toyota Blue Grass Stakes.

On the rail, and fortuitously drawn to the inside of a closer, is 'TDN Rising Star' River Thames (Maclean's Music). With the small field, the speedster will likely encounter considerably less traffic trouble than that post position would sign him up for in the GI Kentucky Derby, but stranger things have happened. With a strong debut victory Jan. 11 at Gulfstream to his credit and a 6 1/2-length masterclass follow-up Feb. 1 against optional claimers, he entered the Mar. 1 GII Fountain of Youth as one of the favorites. River Thames pressed the fractions from the jump, and looked home free in the lane, only to be run down in the final strides by MGSW & GISP Sovereignty (Into Mischief). That rival would run second at the end of March to GISW Tappan Street (Into Mischief) in the GI Florida Derby.

The 'Rising Star' brings the field's co-best Beyer of 95 into this race, and with sunshine forecasted on Tuesday, might have a somewhat dry track to traverse for this Grade I debut.

Drawn three to the outside of River Thames is Owen Almighty (Speightstown), the GIII Tampa Bay Derby winner who went to the front and never came back–defeating three 'TDN Rising Stars' in the process, namely MGISW Chancer McPatrick (McKinzie), GISP Hill Road (Quality Road), and Patch Adams (Into Mischief). Owen Almighty posted a bullet move at Palm Meadows Mar. 29, covering five furlongs in 1:00.75 (1/7), in preparation for this race. Crossing the line never worse than second in his career–he was disqualified to fifth in his 2025 seasonal bow in the Listed Pasco Stakes–the son of the late great Speightstown brings a 93 Beyer from that Tampa Bay Derby win and picks up Jose Ortiz as his brother opted to ride River Thames.

The aforementioned multiple Grade I-winner Chancer McPatrick draws the six hole, looking to improve here from that loss to Owen Almighty in his second start of 2025, and will be eyeballing fellow 'Rising Star' GISW East Avenue (Medaglia d'Oro). While the former has remained consistent, off the board only once when running sixth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile, the latter has fared worse. East Avenue faded to ninth in their mutual championship race, and again faded from second to tenth Feb. 15 in his seasonal return in the GII Risen Star Stakes. He's posted two bullet works and a series of strong breezes since then, including one at Keeneland, so his return to a favored surface might prove to be the wake up call he needs. His victory in the 2024 GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity at this venue garnered him the co-best Beyer of 95. Trainer Brendan Walsh adds blinkers for the first time.

Post time for the Derby qualifier is 5:52 p.m. eastern.

Scylla tops a very tough field in the GI Madison at Keeneland | Coady Media

The second of two Grade I races at Keeneland for the rescheduled Blue Grass card, the GI Madison Stakes will be a showdown of the frequent fliers as the entire field will have made starts in at least five different tracks and some enter this race with passport stamps from Canada. All things considered, Juddmonte's MGISP Scylla (Tapit) stands at the head of a salty crew and looks to finally break through for her first elite score. On the board seven times from eight jumps last year, her lone off the board effort came in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, which was arguably her toughest ask to date. Gone since that Nov. 2 effort, but working steadily toward this 2025 debut, Scylla will be fresh and ready to fire with the flexibility to make her own trip.

To her outside is a fellow 'Rising Star' in MSW & MGSP Justique (Justify), who has recaptured her form on a return to dirt sprints after a long stint at turf mile contests. Since moving to the barn of Cherie DeVaux and coming east, she's strung together back-to-back victories against optional claimers at Fair Grounds Jan. 2 and Feb. 23 in the Listed Carousel Stakes at Oaklawn. She made her morning showing at Keeneland Mar. 28 a very strong one, producing a co-bullet four panel move in :46.20 (1/48) matched only by stablemate GISW & MGISP Vahva (Gun Runner).

Also in the field is the quickly improving GSW & GISP Emery (More Than Ready); MGSW & GISP My Mane Squeeze (Audible), who will be making her 2025 bow in the Madison; and MGSW Mystic Lake (Mo Town), who comes up from Florida after a neck victory over Emery in the GII Inside Information Stakes.

Graded turf action at Keeneland kicks off with a pair of races sporting a similar theme as the others in terms of quality, and the ladies will take to the lawn first for the GII Appalachian Stakes going a mile.

A 10-strong field of 3-year-olds are led by GSW & MGISP Nitrogen (Medaglia d'Oro) and European import Lush Lips (GB) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}). The former debuted at Woodbine on the turf course in late August against the boys, and was beaten only a neck. From there, she skipped all of her conditions and jumped into elite company in the GI Natalma at that venue. She begrudgingly faded to third as her stablemates And One More Time (Omaha Beach) and GSW Vixen (Vekoma)–who returns here–overtook her for the top spots. The runners behind that trio included MGSP-Eng Mountain Breeze (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), GSP Italian Soiree (Uncle Mo), SP Annascaul (American Pharoah) and MSP Ready for Candy (Twirling Candy).

In her 2024 campaign cap, Nitrogen took an even larger step up into the World Championships to roar home from the back and claim third as unbeaten European titan, multiple Group 1 winner 'TDN Rising Star' Lake Victoria (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) led the procession home. The Mark Casse runner left the maiden ranks Jan. 4 when winning the Listed Ginger Brew Stakes at Gulfstream and picked up her first graded victory last out Mar. 8 in the GIII Florida Oaks at Tampa Bay Downs.

Nitrogen en route to winning the Florida Oaks | SV Photography

Two from the outside is Lush Lips (GB), who was beaten a half-length by the aforementioned Nitrogen in the Florida Oaks, and has consistently improved since joining the barn of Brendan Walsh after making the initial trip over for Donnacha O'Brien in an unsuccessful tilt at Kentucky Downs. She's got the foot to lead this field, and has the advantage on paper over the other speed horse Good Temper (Collected).

Looking to make a successful swap from synthetic to turf is LNJ Foxwoods's Foxtastic (Speightstown), who was last seen locking horns with SW Bourbon Memory (Bolt d'Oro) at Turfway Park and running off the screen to win in a deadheat. Fionn (Twirling Candy) enters this contest on a three-race win streak and will look to capitalize if there's a pace meltdown.

In the turf dash GII Shakertown Stakes, a salty group of older horses convene to fight it out and several are well within their rights to claim this race. On the back of an already fruitful weekend, Wathnan Racing sends out Rogue Lightning (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), the last out winner of the G3 Dukhan Sprint at Doha. He's faced some of the best in Europe and will make his States debut with Flavien Prat in the irons for trainer Tom Clover.

To his outside is MSW & GSP Valentine Candy (Justify), who will curiously be making a turf debut after earning well over $1-million on the main track. This will also function as his 2025 bow as he's been off since winning the Steel Valley Sprint Stakes in late November. Veteran MGSW & GISP Arzak (Not This Time) holds the co-highest Beyer of the race with a 102 and looks to add yet another graded tally to his evergreen career.

To cap an already packed day, the GIII Commonwealth Stakes will go between the Appalachian and the Madison, and like many races on this card, it is not light on heavy hitters. Established class like MGSW & MGISP Hoist the Gold (Mineshaft), GISW Nutella Fella (Runhappy), and GSW & GISP Here Mi Song (Cross Traffic) will take on new faces like Whatchatalkinabout (Dialed In), who comes into the race sporting a monster 106 Beyer after annexing his last race by eight lengths. SW & GISP Epic Ride (Blame) has found his winning form again and enters this turf debut with a 5 3/4-length win at Turfway last out. Montalcino (Take Charge Indy) will eyeball that one in the gate as he makes his graded debut after stringing together back-to-back triple digit Beyer figures.

The post Keeneland’s Blue Grass, Madison Stakes Play Starring Roles on a Traditionally Quiet Tuesday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

It's one sentence among tens of thousands encompassing 900 pages, but when it comes to the future of and welfare of the nation's wild horses and burros, it is frightening and to be taken seriously.

“Congress must enact laws permitting the BLM to dispose humanely of these animals.”

The “BLM” is the Bureau of Land Management and “these animals” are the estimated 73,000 wild horses and burros under BLM control. The sentence appears in Project 2025.

According to its website, “Project 2025 is a historic movement, brought together by over 100 respected organizations from across the conservative movement, to take down the Deep State and return the government to the people. Its Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise, published in April 2023, is a product of more than 400 scholars and policy experts from around the country. The book offers a menu of policy suggestions to meet our country's deepest challenges and put America back on track…”

It was published in April, 2023 by the Heritage Foundation, an American conservative think tank, in anticipation of Trump winning the 2024 election.  It was not written by Trump and Trump is under no obligation to follow it. It is, nonetheless,  a road map for the President to follow as he pushes his conservative agenda.

The argument being made by The Heritage Foundation and others is that the wild horse population has gotten so big as to become a burden for the government.

Another passage from Project 2025: “There are 95,000 wild horses and burros roaming nearly 32 million acres in the West–triple what scientists and land management experts say the range can support. These animals face starvation and death from lack of forage and water. The population has more than doubled in just the past 10 years and continues to grow at a rate of 10 to 15 percent annually. This number includes the more than 47,000 animals the BLM has already gathered from public lands, at a cost to the American taxpayer of nearly $50 million annually to care for them in off-range corrals.”

“With this administration we're scared that wild horses will be slaughtered,” said Chris Heyde, the founder of Blue Marble Strategies LLC, the country's leading animal protection lobbyist. “Will this be encouraged as a way of getting rid of costs? That was put forward in Project 2025. This is very scary because (Trump) has actually followed it to the letter so far. Russell Vought, the guy who wrote Project 2025–even though they claimed there was no connection to Trump–was caught on tape admitting Trump knew about it and supported it. He's now the director of the office of management and budget. Did he write that section on the wild horses? I don't know that. But he was the author of the whole paper.  That's the concern because we are seeing a slash-and-burn approach to things. This could come up.”

The Office of Management and Budget serves the President of the United States in overseeing the implementation of his vision across the Executive Branch. OMB's mission is to assist the President in meeting his policy, budget, management and regulatory objectives and to fulfill the agency's statutory responsibilities.

“We are taking it very seriously,” said Celeste Carlisle, the biology and science program manager for the advocacy group Return to Freedom. “The way that Project 2025 frames the wild horse issue gives it the desperation. They say they've 'invaded private and permitted public lands,' and 'turned sod into concrete.' These are arguments that can easily be used to justify euthanasia.  As if there's no other way. What a tragedy.”

She says there are many inaccuracies in the way Project 2025 has framed the issue.

“Project 2025's section about wild horse and burro management isn't accurate,” Carlisle said. “We have used our public lands in lots of ways, through many extractive uses that have been hard on the land.  Making horses seem the only, and a desperate problem, with no way out other than euthanasia, for one thing isn't true, and for another thing, falls back onto a call for euthanasia for the sake of management that has been a stopping point for compromise and forward progress since the method was tried in the early 80's.  There are ways to manage wild horses and burros, even at this challenging juncture, comprehensively, sustainably, and non-lethally.  Not only that, but broad, bipartisan organizations support and embrace it.”

The group Friends of Animals suggests contacting Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum. When he was Governor of North Dakota, he was seen as a supporter of wild horses. He backed efforts to protect the herd at the Theodore Roosevelt National Park as said that  wild horses are “an iconic part of the Badlands experience.” They also suggest contacting your own elected representative.

What Trump and the authors of Project 2025 might not have taken into account is that the public at large would no doubt be outraged if the wild horses were euthanized. According to the group American Wild Horse Conservation,  A 2017 poll revealed that 83% of Trump voters and 77% of Hillary Clinton voters supported protecting wild horses and burros from slaughter.

“This is very alarming,” said Oscar Gonzalez, a member of the California Horse Racing Board and a horse advocate. “I never thought that I'd see something like this. Horses are the foundation of our nation in terms of what they've done. They've helped us win wars and build frontiers and create communities. True Americans honor horses. We have a lot of work to do when it comes to how best to manage the wild horses, but to even think about disposing of them is misguided. In my opinion, it's un-American. Whoever put this part of the document together has no understanding whatsoever about the beauty of horses and what they've done for our great nation. This should be a rallying cry to all horsemen and horsewomen around the country that we have to monitor this issue very carefully. I believe in engaging with members of Congress and other elected officials, especially where there are large concentrations of wild horses. I'll continue to do my share.”

Said Heyde: “I think the public backlash would be significant. The pubic is already on full alert when it comes to things that don't seem to be part of our American values and will push the clock back instead of moving progress forward. If you want to talk about an issue that can unify rural and urban, Democrats and Republicans, this is the kind of issue. We pay tribute to horses. There could not be a more unifying issue. I'm confident that when this is known people will bring this up to their members of Congress. Everyone needs to reach out to an equine organization and lend their resources and time. We have a lot of work to do to make sure our policy makers know what horses, wild or not, mean to us as a county. I guarantee you all hell will break loose if they even suggest killing these wild horses. That will be the most contentious issue of my career.”

The post Under Project 2025, Will the Nation’s Wild Horses be Safe? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Multiple Grade I-placed 'TDN Rising Star' Ferocious (Flatter) has succumbed to laminitis after being sidelined with a foreleg injury, the connections announced Monday afternoon on X.

Twice a runner-up at the highest level in the GI Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga and the GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland in 2024, the son of Flatter emerged from his fourth place in the GIII Holy Bull Stakes Feb. 1 with a muscle tear. When first reported, the connections said it was a minor injury that just required time to heal, but also included that the time frame would knock him off the Triple Crown trail.

At some point afterward, the connections say he suffered from a 'terrible' cellulitis infection before ultimately losing his battle with laminitis.

“RIP Ferocious,” tweeted Ramiro Restrepo. “Talented, gorgeous, and noble. Loved by your partners, we never got to see you fulfill your true potential.”

RIP Ferocious
Talented, gorgeous & noble; Loved by your partners, we never got to see you fulfill your true potential.

Sidelined due to a very unique foreleg injury suffered in his last race, along with a terrible cellulitis infection. Ultimately succumbing to Laminitis today. pic.twitter.com/F1VbVvZoJD

— Ramiro A. Restrepo (@RamiroRestrepo) April 7, 2025

“Sidelined due to a very unique foreleg injury suffered in his last race, along with a terrible cellulitis infection. Ultimately succumbing to Laminitis today.”

Bred in Kentucky by Gentry Stable LLC, Ferocious sold for $1.3 million at the OBS March Sale in 2024 after turning in a furlong breeze in :9 4/5. He raced for JR Ranch, Marquee Bloodstock, High Step Racing and OGMA Investments, LLC and was trained by Gustavo Delgado.

The post Ferocious Succumbs to Laminitis After Foreleg Injury appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

With the Sunday conclusion to Santa Anita's Classic Meet, the 2024-25 season enjoyed significant gains in handle, attendance, field size, and safety, the track announced Monday morning.

The all-source handle topped $510-million with players from around the world responding favorably to the modifications to the wagering menu. The handle on just Santa Anita's races increased five per cent from the last Classic Meet. Opening day Dec. 26 brought the third largest opening day handle in the venue's 90-year history, and the final three-day weekend claimed more than $40.6-million in wagers on the local races with on track attendance drawing almost 50,000 people.

Field sizes bucked the overall national trend as the number of starters per race rose by 7% over last year, granted partially due to the influx of Northern California horses transitioning to the single circuit. Santa Anita offered 61 more races during this season's Classic Meet as a result.

In the realm of safety, the track saw 99.9715% safe trips which translate to a fatality rating of .285 per 1,000 starters. It was a 17I improvement from the same time last year and the rating is less than a third of the national average of .90 per 1,000 starters. Those figures are as reported by tracks covered by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA).

Racing returns for the Hollywood Meeting Friday, Apr. 18 and will continued to Sunday, June 15. On the back of the successful Classic Meet, the purses for the upcoming Hollywood meet will increase.

“The value proposition and positive momentum carries forward to the upcoming 29-day Hollywood meet with a 10% increase to overnight purses,” said Bill Nader, president & CEO of the Thoroughbred Owners of California. “California racing is showing renewed life and the transition to a single circuit is fulfilling its purpose.”

The post Santa Anita Classic Meet Posts Increases in key Metrics, Field Size and Safety Improve Again appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Three juveniles shared the fastest furlong time of :9 4/5 during the first session of the under-tack show for the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training Sunday.

A filly by Upstart (hip 75) was first to hit the bullet mark just minutes into the day's session. The dark bay is out of Lovely Marissa (Proud Citizen), a daughter of Grade I-placed Valiant Passion (Lion Heart) and a half-sister to graded-placed Nasty (Street Sense). She was consigned by Grassroots Training & Sales, which acquired her for $60,000 at last year's OBS October sale.

“She's been a really nice filly all year, we expected her to do well,” said David McKathan of Grassroots Training and Sales. “She prepped well, so we're very happy with her. Physically, she's everything you want to look at when you look at a horse. She's very well balanced, she's just beautiful. She's been showing us all year that she's got ability.”

A few minutes later, a colt by Shancelot (hip 70) turned in his bullet drill for the Top Line Sales consignment. The juvenile was bred by Doug Arnold.

“I felt like the horse was fast, but this was beyond expectations,” Arnold admitted Sunday evening.

Arnold purchased the colt's unraced dam Loteria (Nyquist) from Godolphin for $11,000 at the 2022 Keeneland January sale. The 5-year-old mare is a full-sister to stakes-placed Snead and is out of Raffle Ticket (A.P. Indy) a full-sister to champion Bernardini.

“I liked everything about the mare,” Arnold said. “She is by Nyquist out of a full-sister to Bernardini. I was hoping I got a bargain.”

While Arnold often sells his foals as yearlings, he kept this Apr. 26 foal for the 2-year-old sales.

“He was a late foal and kind of a late bloomer,” Arnold said of the colt. “I loved him from the start. We've liked him a lot.”

The 2-year-old colt is Loteria's first foal and she produced a full-brother last year before being bred back to Speaker's Corner.

“Shancelot's first runners are three now and one thing I've noticed about all of the horses I've seen of his is that they all look extremely fast,” Arnold said. “It manifests in different ways, but they all have it. And a horse that has that is bound to have a freak.”

Completing the trio of bullet workers was a colt from the first crop of multiple graded stakes winner By My Standards (Goldencents) (hip 134). He is out of the unraced Momento (Nyquist), a daughter of multiple stakes winner Martha's Moon (Malibu Moon) and is consigned by AVP Training and Sales. A $9,500 purchase by Ramiro Salazar at the 2023 Keeneland November sale, the colt RNA'd for $19,000 at the 2024 OBS Winter sale.

A pair of juveniles shared Sunday's fastest quarter-mile work of :20 3/5. Hoppel LLC sent out a colt by Mendelssohn (hip 123) to set the bullet mark. The bay colt is out of Marvelous Spot (Archarcharch), a daughter of stakes winner and multiple Grade I-placed In Her Glory (Miswaki). Bred by Machmer Hall, the colt RNA'd for $32,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton October sale.

A filly by Battalion Runner (hip 163), consigned by Ortega Stables, also worked a quarter in :20 3/5 Sunday. The bay is out of Miss Monk (Blame), a half-sister to Grade I winner Wicked Strong (Hard Spun), and was purchased in utero for $12,000 at the 2023 OBS Winter sale. She was bred by Sherry Mansfield and Kenneth Davis.

The under-tack show continues through Saturday with sessions beginning daily at 8 a.m. The Spring sale will be held next Tuesday through Friday. Bidding commences each day at 10:30 a.m.

The post Trio Share Furlong Bullet at OBS Under-Tack Show Sunday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Goal Oriented (Not This Time), carrying powerhouse connections and a speedy work tab into his debut, made even-money look like a gift when he glided home a 3 1/4-length debut winner for trainer Bob Baffert and the partnership of SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert Masterson, Tom Ryan, Waves Edge Capital and Catherine Donovan Sunday evening at Santa Anita. The dark bay colt, a $425,000 Keeneland September yearling acquisition, trailed the field and was climbing up the backstretch, but once he got his mind on running, he made eye-catching progress, inhaling rivals on the far turn and storming to the lead with a four-wide move into the stretch. He strode home under a Juan Hernandez hand ride.

Goal Oriented is out of multiple graded stakes winner Bizzy Caroline (Afleet Alex), who is a half-sister to turf champion Lady Eli (Divine Park). Barren in 2023 and with a dead foal in 2024, Bizzy Caroline was bred back to Up to the Mark last year.

7th-Santa Anita, $66,000, Msw, 4-6, 3, 4,/5yo, 6f, 1:10.01, ft, 3 1/4 lengths.
GOAL ORIENTED, c, 3, by Not This Time
                1st Dam: Bizzy Caroline (MGSW, $347,935), by Afleet Alex
                2nd Dam: Sacre Coeur, by Saint Ballado
                3rd Dam: Kazadancoa (Fr), by Green Dancer
Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $39,000. O-SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Bashor, Dianne, Determined Stables, Masterson, Robert E., Ryan, Tom J., Waves Edge Capital LLC and Donovan, Catherine; B-Runnymede Farm LLC & CWC Investment 2, LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert. *$425,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored FanDuel.

He sure was GOAL ORIENTED ($4.20)!

The debuting colt by Not This Time (@TMStallions) came from off the pace in the 7th at @SantaAnitaPark under @JJHernandezS19. @BobBaffert conditions the three-year-old.

Can you hit the Late Pick 5: https://t.co/5VcRa4VxbO pic.twitter.com/EBAkit4nR1

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) April 6, 2025

The post Not This Time’s Goal Oriented Ticks Maiden Box At Santa Anita, Earns ‘TDN Rising Star’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

The number of race days was lower and so was wagering compared to a year ago in March, according to information released by Equibase on Friday.

Total wagering of $931,202,013 on races during the month represented a 4.20% decrease over the same period from 2024, while available purses of almost $98 million were lower by 4.23%. The figure of over $93 million for paid purses in March was also down by 4.84%. As for the total number of race days, they decreased from 285 to 263 (-7.72%) and the number of U.S. races was lower from 2,403 in March 2024 to last month's tally of 2,266 (-5.70%).

Average field size in March was higher from over a year ago when it was 7.54, and checked in at an average of 7.71 runners, an increase of 2.33%. Average daily wagering increased by 3.82% to $3,540,692 and the average available purse number per race day was up 3.78% to $375,113 from the figure of $361,463 in 2024.

When it comes to the year-over quarterly figures (Jan.-Mar.), through wagering on U.S. races in 2024 registered at over $2.59-billion, while this year the amount is $2.505-billion (-3.28%). Those numbers include worldwide commingled wagering on U.S. races.

The post March Economic Indicators: Wagering Down Over Fewer Race Days appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Due to a forecast of severe storms and significant flooding expected in the Bluegrass region of Kentucky this weekend, Keeneland is rescheduling the first two days of its Spring Meet to ensure the safest environment for horses, participants and fans, according to a press release from the track late on Wednesday afternoon.

The decision was made following Gov. Andy Beshear's declaration earlier today of a state of emergency ahead of potentially historic amounts of rain and strong winds across the state during the next four days.

Keeneland's opening Friday, April 4 race card, including the GI Central Bank Ashland Stakes, now will take place on Monday, Apr. 7. The Saturday, Apr. 5 race card, featuring the GI Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, will be rescheduled to Tuesday, Apr. 8. Gates will open at 11:00 a.m. ET and first post is set for 1:00 p.m. ET. Mondays and Tuesdays are typically non-racing days.

Closely monitoring track conditions, Keeneland plans to run Sunday's card, which now will serve as opening day of the Spring Meet, as planned.

“The safety of our equine and human participants, as well as of our fans, is at the core of every decision we make at Keeneland,” said Shannon Arvin, Keeneland's CEO and president. “Our team has spent months preparing for opening weekend, and we recognize the significant impact of rescheduling our two biggest race days. While we have navigated challenging weather in the past, the conditions being forecast for the region are unprecedented for Keeneland. Ultimately, ensuring the safety of everyone involved is our top priority.”

“Keeneland takes its responsibility seriously to host these important racing events in the safest environment possible,” said Keeneland Vice President of Racing Gatewood Bell. “We have been in close communication with horsemen, industry officials and trusted meteorologists, and we believe rescheduling these race days is the best way to take care of each other. Keeneland appreciates the understanding of its fans, horsemen, jockeys, trainers and sponsors as we work to ensure the safety of all involved in our race meet.”

Information for Friday and Saturday ticketholders:

• For those patrons who purchased tickets for opening Friday and Saturday, previously purchased general admission tickets now will be valid for single entry on any race day during the Spring Meet, including dates that are currently sold out.
• All Grandstand reserved seating, dining reservations and parking will automatically receive a full refund including fees. This credit will appear to the original purchaser up to seven business days after the refund is processed.
• Previous Friday and Saturday ticketholders will have the opportunity to purchase new tickets for Monday and Tuesday race days through an exclusive pre-sale window. Eligible patrons will receive an email with instructions to access. Click here for remaining tickets for Monday and Tuesday which will be available to all fans at beginning 8 a.m. ET. on Friday.

Free admission for Monday and Tuesday race days:

• Free General Admission will be available to all guests on both Monday and Tuesday, and no ticket purchase is required.

Changes to scheduled opening weekend events at Keeneland:

• The Hill will be closed the first week of racing and resume normal operations on Friday, Apr. 11.
• Guests who purchased private tailgate experiences or Race Day Social tickets will be contacted by RevelXP regarding their reservations. Race Day Social tickets will be automatically refunded.
• Sunrise Trackside is canceled for opening Saturday and will resume Saturday, Apr. 12.
• Kids Club Family Day will be held as planned on Sunday, Apr. 6, with slightly modified activities

For more information and ongoing updates regarding Keeneland's opening weekend operations and Monday and Tuesday race cards, please click here.

The post Keeneland Reschedules Opening Friday And Saturday Cards Due To Forecast Of Severe Weather appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

A total of four horses sold for more than $100,000 at Wednesday's Texas 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale at Lone Star Park, with Hip 15 topping the sale at $150,000, the Texas Thoroughbred Association (TTA) said in Wednesday release.

All told, 58 of 85 juveniles offered sold for a total of $1,666,100. The average was $28,726 and the median was $18,000. The 2024 edition of the auction saw 66 head go for a total of $2,294,500, with an average of $34,765 and a median of $24,500. A total of 47 went unsold.

The sales topper was purchased by Clark Brewster from the consignment of Bryan Ford Training Center LLC, the Oklahoma-bred colt by Omaha Beach clocked :10 in Monday's breeze show to tie for the fastest time. The mid-April foal is out of the stakes-placed Into Mischief mare Natalie's Mischief, whose first registered offspring is a winner.

The high-selling filly was Hip 1, a Louisiana-bred daughter of Lone Sailor who went to Patricia's Hope LLC from Pike Racing at Highlander, agent. She also worked :10 and is out of a Yes It's True mare who has produced a pair of stakes winners from three starters.

“We had a Texas-bred sell for $265,000 last year, which really boosted the average and was one of the highest prices we've had in quite a while, so considering we didn't have one hit that lofty mark this year we are quite pleased to be close to $30,000 for our average,” said Sales Director Foster Bridewell. “I think this proves that the 2-year-old market is strong in the Southwest.”

Click here for complete results.

The Texas Summer Yearling Sale sponsored by the TTA is set for Aug. 26.

The post Oklahoma-Bred Colt Goes For $150K To Top Texas 2-Year-Old Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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: 03/28/2025
Licensee: Antonio Sano, trainer
Penalty: 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 $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission.
Explainer: Vet's list medication violation for the presence of Dexamethasone–a controlled substance (Class C)–in a sample taken from La Touche on 3/2/25.

Date: 03/28/2025
Licensee: Michael Simone, trainer
Penalty: A fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision by HIWU.
Explainer: Vet's list medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone–a controlled substance (Class C)–in a sample taken from The Bearrish One on 2/21/24.

Date: 03/27/2025
Licensee: Jabdiel Castillo, trainer
Penalty: 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 $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone–a controlled substance (Class C)–in a sample taken from Play Ball, who finished seventh at Mahoning Valley on 2/11/25.

Date: 03/27/2025
Licensee: Andrew McKeever, trainer
Penalty: A fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision of HIWU.
Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone-a controlled substance (Class C)-in a sample taken from Viley Lane on 2/10/25.

Pending ADMC Violations
04/02/2025, Juan Munoz Cano, trainer: Pending medication violations (including vets' list violations) for the presence of Clenbuterol–a banned substance permitted under certain circumstances–in samples taken from Outofnothingatall on 11/20/24; from Solidify, who won at Churchill Downs on 11/20/24; from True Jedi on 11/21/24; from Global Sensation on 11/21/24; from Protomagic on 11/21/24; and from Beer With Ice on 1/15/25.

03/31/2025, Miguel Ramirez, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Trichlormethiazide–a controlled substance (Class C)–in a sample taken from Five O Cocktail, who finished third at Santa Anita on 1/17/25.

03/28/2025, Devin Cook, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone-a controlled substance (Class C)-in a sample taken from Port Party, who finished sixth at Tampa Bay on 2/23/25.

03/28/2025, Stacy Campo, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Lidocaine–a controlled substance (Class B)–in a sample taken from Lucky Burglar, who won at Turf Paradise on 1/21/25.

03/28/2025, Carlos Caban, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Trichlormethiazide–a controlled substance (Class C)–in a sample taken from Jess's Moment, who won at Parx Racing on 1/14/25.

03/27/2025, William Martin, trainer: Pending medication violation for the potential breach of Rule 4221–Alkalinization or use/administration of an Alkalinizing Agent (TCO2)–on Pittsburgh, who won at Oaklawn Park on 2/28/25.

03/27/2025, Pablo Torres, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Methocarbamol–a controlled substance (Class C)–in a sample taken from Fort Charles, who finished third at Tampa Bay on 2/22/25.

03/27/2025, Tommy Carl Short, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Methamphetamine–a banned substance–in a sample taken from Accident, who finished third at Turfway Park on 1/4/25.

Violations of Crop Rule
Oaklawn Park
Jaime Torres–violation date Mar. 29; $1,000 fine, one-day suspension

The post Weekly National Regulatory Rulings, Mar. 27-Apr. 2 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

A joint HISA and HIWU virtual Town Hall is scheduled for Friday, April 11 from 1:00-2:00 p.m. ET, the pair of organizations said in a release on Wednesday afternoon.

Leadership will discuss and answer questions regarding the HISA 2024 Annual Metrics Report and the HIWU 2024 Annual Report. Attendees are welcome to submit questions about the annual reports in advance or live during the event.

Speakers include:

• Lisa Lazarus, HISA CEO
• Anjali Salooja, HISA Director of Operations & Compliance
• Jennifer Durenberger, HISA Director of Equine Safety & Welfare
• Ben Mosier, HIWU Executive Director
• Kate Mittelstadt, HIWU Chief of Operations

Click here to register and submit questions in advance.

The post HISA & HIWU Town Hall Scheduled For Apr. 11 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Alogo Analysis SA (ALOGO) will partner with the American Association of Equine Practitioners for the AAEP's pioneering wearable biometric sensor research project, which plans to track 100 2-year-olds until the end of the year, the tech company said via a press release on Wednesday.

The initiative aims to offer an early warning system for identifying racehorses who are at an increased risk of musculoskeletal injury. Critical data collected during both high-speed exercise and everyday activities, will establish new benchmarks for early injury detection and prevention.

“We are tremendously honored to have been selected by the AAEP to spearhead this transformative research initiative,” said ALOGO CEO David Deillon. “Protecting and enhancing equine health has always been our core mission since our founding.”

The supporting organizations include: Breeders' Cup, Fasig-Tipton, The Foundation for the Horse, Keeneland, KTA, NYRA, NYTHA, Oak Tree Racing Association, OBS and TOBA.

Click here to learn more.

The post ALOGO Partners With AAEP To Track 100 Thoroughbreds With Biometric Sensors appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

It's the busiest time of the year for Len Green of the Green Group, a tax consulting service specializing in the horse racing industry. With Apr. 15 approaching, he probably should have stayed home in New Jersey to work. Then again, when you are the part-owner of a horse that looks to be bound for the GI Kentucky Derby, all bets are off. Green couldn't stay away as 3-year-old Sandman (Tapit) faced eight others in the GI Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park. The trip was worth it as Green was there to witness a 2 1/2-length win over Publisher (American Pharoah) that proved Sandman is a serious Derby contender.

To talk about Sandman's triumph, and even to offer some tax tips, Green was the Gainesway Guest of the Week on this week's edition of the TDN Writers' Room podcast presented by Keeneland.

“I actually went to Oaklawn,” Green said. “But I can't say that here on the podcast because my clients are going to say, 'I thought you were back doing our tax returns.'”

Knowing that there are more than four weeks to go until the Derby and that a lot can go wrong during that period of time, Green is trying to stay pragmatic. Does he go to bed every night dreaming of a Kentucky Derby win?

“Wouldn't it be great if I said yes?” Green said. “You have to keep things in proportion, as you know. Right now, I'm working eight days a week in tax season. So that's part of it. But number two, I really believe that we did a strategy to try to get to this point in time, including how to pick out the horse. I don't think any of these things just happen. You have to at least plan for them. Now, obviously, you have to have luck run you over. But there are just so many things that have happened along the way. So yeah, I'm excited, but I'll be more excited after we win the Derby.”

Up until the Arkansas Derby, it had been a frustrating year for Sandman and his connections. He ran a terrific race in the GIII Southwest S., closing for second after a terrible start. He didn't have the same kick next out in the GII Rebel S. when finishing a non-threatening third. It finally came together in the Arkansas Derby.

For Green, the win was bittersweet, as his wife Lois was not there to share it with him. She passed away on May 21, 2023 at the age of 84.

“I would not be in this business if not for her and her encouragement,” Green said. “I have to tell you, she's still there with me.”

In our “Fastest Horse of the Week,” segment, which is sponsored by WinStar, the team of Randy Moss, Bill Finley and Zoe Cadman went over the many reasons there are to breed to WinStar stallion Two Phil's. The fastest horse of the week was Banishing (Ghostzapper), who earned a 102 Beyer in his win in the GIII Oaklawn Mile.

Elsewhere on the podcast, which is also sponsored by the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders' Association, West Point Thoroughbreds, the KTOB, 1/ST Racing and 1/ST TV, the team reviewed last weekend's major Derby preps and looked ahead to this week's action, which is topped by the GI Toyota Blue Grass, the GI Santa Anita Derby and the GII Wood Memorial.

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

The post Len Green Joins TDN Writers’ Room Podcast appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.