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WinStar Farm's Life Is Good, winner of the 2021 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1), sired his first reported foal when a filly out of the graded stakes-placed Verrazano mare Shesa Mystery was foaled at Brookstone Farm in Paris, Ky., Jan. 13.

Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Storm Boy, the unbeaten son of global sire sensation Justify, could command international interest from stud farms as well as fierce competition from Australia's stallion operations.

Godolphin's newly turned 4-year-old First Mission continued serious preparations for the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) Jan. 27 with another five-eighths of a mile bullet work Saturday at the Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.

Although National Treasure has been nominated for the Feb. 24 Saudi Cup (G1), co-owner Tom Ryan of SF Racing indicated on the media platform X Saturday afternoon that the Jan. 27 $3 million Pegasus would be the colt's next start.

Three directors of the Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC) have resigned from their positions in protest of the board's co-signature on a proposal to the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) that would concretize racing operations in South California at the expense, they say, of a potential viable racing circuit in the North.

The former directors also claim the proposal was submitted without their prior knowledge.

“On January 5th a letter from the TOC and the Southern California racetrack operators was sent to the CHRB requesting the allocation of race dates for late 2024 and 2025. Of course, these race date allocations would pre-empt the opportunity for a racing circuit in the North. The key point here is that this letter was written without our knowledge and despite the fact that the entire board met two days prior,” write Lindsay LaRoche, Johnny Taboada and Ed Moger in a letter to the TOC dated Jan. 12.

“By no means are these the only times the interests of Northern California members have been ignored or subjugated by TOC leadership,” the letter adds. “It is clear to us that the current leadership is not being transparent and not working to represent the entire state of California.”

The resignations come at a fraught time for the California racing industry as it attempts to piece together a revised racing framework in the wake of Golden Gate's impending closure in June and amid declining economic benchmarks.

With the clock ticking, complicating matters is how the California Association of Racing Fairs (CARF) has yet to publicly submit a proposal as to a potential Northern racing circuit beyond its annual fair dates. This year's fair schedule is currently set to close out with a fall fair meet at Fresno from Oct. 2 through the 13.

According to TOC president and CEO, Bill Nader, the board members were indeed informed during its meeting earlier this month that the organization would be submitting a letter to the CHRB ahead of its Thursday board meeting, outlining plans for consolidated racing operations in the South as a contingency “in the event the North does not put forward a viable plan that gains CHRB approval.”

“As far as the details in the packet, I wanted that included for transparency so that everyone had a chance to look at it before the meeting commenced–it's a lot to take in on the spot,” said Nader.

In a joint submission to the CHRB, the TOC, Los Alamitos chairman and CEO Ed Allred, I/ST Racing and Gaming CEO Aidan Butler, and Del Mar president and COO Josh Rubinstein ask the regulator to allocate race dates for the last 14 weeks of 2024 and for 2025 with operations concentrated in the South–beyond the Northern fair meets–citing the tough economics of currently maintaining twin North-South racing circuits.

The submission outlines a set of proposals, including a possible legislative change to permit Los Alamitos to card night Thoroughbred races beyond 4 1/2 furlongs for $5,000 claimers and below, and $8,000 maiden claimers.

Los Alamitos vice president Jack Liebau recently told the TDN that a legislative fix to go into immediate effect–as opposed to the start of January 2025, like most bills passed this year–needs an “urgency clause” requiring a two-thirds vote by the legislature.

Nader said that no decision will be made during this Thursday's CHRB meeting about race-date allocations.

“I personally do not see this discussion on the 18th being contentious,” said Nader, about the upcoming CHRB meeting. “I think it's just stating the facts and opening eyes to where we've been in the last 20 years, where we are now, and where we're going. No decisions will be made–it's only background.”

Nader also said that at the behest of the TOC, track management at Del Mar, Santa Anita and Los Alamitos had pushed back the deadline for the allocation of race-dates–from what would have required an “emergency” CHRB meeting in February to the regular CHRB meeting in March.

“At our board meeting [earlier in January], all three tracks had the opportunity to be present and speak at the beginning of the meeting. We did speak to them and we did get them to relax their position, to say that they were willing to wait until the 21st of March, at the March CHRB meeting,” said Nader, who added that CARF executive director, Larry Swartzlander, declined an offer to attend the TOC meeting.

“So, we were being responsive and respectful to the North,” Nader said. “It's been six months, we still haven't seen a plan [from CARF]. There are people all through the state getting very anxious.”

In their resignation letter, the three former TOC directors also claim TOC leadership “does not represent the interests of Northern California owners,” highlighting the recently announced 25% cut in purses at Golden Gate Fields–a result of a $3-million deficit in the track's purse account.

“Recently, the Northern California Racing Committee unanimously voted to oppose the purse agreement proposal from 1/ST Racing for the final Golden Gate Fields race meets,” the letter states.

“The result of this vote was not deemed important enough by TOC leadership to effect the TOC's approval of the cuts or even to be presented to the TOC Board as a whole for a vote,” the letter adds.

“There are emails and board minutes that would suggest otherwise,” said Nader, when asked about these claims. He added in a follow-up text that the TOC “did discuss the GGF purse cuts” at the January Board Meeting.

“It's a struggle, North and South. It's just a difficult time,” Nader added. “I'm not being critical of anyone. It's just the environment we're in right now. Everybody's just a little teed up–it's unfortunate.”

Efforts to consolidate racing operations in the South were given a major fillip in September of last year, when California lawmakers passed legislation that means if Golden Gate Fields is not licensed to operate beyond July 1 this year, proceeds from simulcast wagering in the north are funnelled south when there is no live racing in the northern half of the state after that date.

Moger did not respond to a request for comment prior to publication.

The post Moger, LaRoche, and Taboada Resign from TOC appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Three directors of the Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC) have resigned from their positions in protest of the board's co-signature on a proposal to the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) that would concretize racing operations in South California at the expense, they say, of a potential viable racing circuit in the North.

The former directors also claim the proposal was submitted without their prior knowledge.

“On January 5th a letter from the TOC and the Southern California racetrack operators was sent to the CHRB requesting the allocation of race dates for late 2024 and 2025. Of course, these race date allocations would pre-empt the opportunity for a racing circuit in the North. The key point here is that this letter was written without our knowledge and despite the fact that the entire board met two days prior,” write Lindsay LaRoche, Johnny Taboada and Ed Moger in a letter to the TOC dated Jan. 12.

“By no means are these the only times the interests of Northern California members have been ignored or subjugated by TOC leadership,” the letter adds. “It is clear to us that the current leadership is not being transparent and not working to represent the entire state of California.”

The resignations come at a fraught time for the California racing industry as it attempts to piece together a revised racing framework in the wake of Golden Gate's impending closure in June and amid declining economic benchmarks.

With the clock ticking, complicating matters is how the California Association of Racing Fairs (CARF) has yet to publicly submit a proposal as to a potential Northern racing circuit beyond its annual fair dates. This year's fair schedule is currently set to close out with a fall fair meet at Fresno from Oct. 2 through the 13.

According to TOC president and CEO, Bill Nader, the board members were indeed informed during its meeting earlier this month that the organization would be submitting a letter to the CHRB ahead of its Thursday board meeting, outlining plans for consolidated racing operations in the South as a contingency “in the event the North does not put forward a viable plan that gains CHRB approval.”

“As far as the details in the packet, I wanted that included for transparency so that everyone had a chance to look at it before the meeting commenced–it's a lot to take in on the spot,” said Nader.

In a joint submission to the CHRB, the TOC, Los Alamitos chairman and CEO Ed Allred, I/ST Racing and Gaming CEO Aidan Butler, and Del Mar president and COO Josh Rubinstein ask the regulator to allocate race dates for the last 14 weeks of 2024 and for 2025 with operations concentrated in the South–beyond the Northern fair meets–citing the tough economics of currently maintaining twin North-South racing circuits.

The submission outlines a set of proposals, including a possible legislative change to permit Los Alamitos to card night Thoroughbred races beyond 4 1/2 furlongs for $5,000 claimers and below, and $8,000 maiden claimers.

Los Alamitos vice president Jack Liebau recently told the TDN that a legislative fix to go into immediate effect–as opposed to the start of January 2025, like most bills passed this year–needs an “urgency clause” requiring a two-thirds vote by the legislature.

Nader said that no decision will be made during this Thursday's CHRB meeting about race-date allocations.

“I personally do not see this discussion on the 18th being contentious,” said Nader, about the upcoming CHRB meeting. “I think it's just stating the facts and opening eyes to where we've been in the last 20 years, where we are now, and where we're going. No decisions will be made–it's only background.”

Nader also said that at the behest of the TOC, track management at Del Mar, Santa Anita and Los Alamitos had pushed back the deadline for the allocation of race-dates–from what would have required an “emergency” CHRB meeting in February to the regular CHRB meeting in March.

“At our board meeting [earlier in January], all three tracks had the opportunity to be present and speak at the beginning of the meeting. We did speak to them and we did get them to relax their position, to say that they were willing to wait until the 21st of March, at the March CHRB meeting,” said Nader, who added that CARF executive director, Larry Swartzlander, declined an offer to attend the TOC meeting.

“So, we were being responsive and respectful to the North,” Nader said. “It's been six months, we still haven't seen a plan [from CARF]. There are people all through the state getting very anxious.”

In their resignation letter, the three former TOC directors also claim TOC leadership “does not represent the interests of Northern California owners,” highlighting the recently announced 25% cut in purses at Golden Gate Fields–a result of a $3-million deficit in the track's purse account.

“Recently, the Northern California Racing Committee unanimously voted to oppose the purse agreement proposal from 1/ST Racing for the final Golden Gate Fields race meets,” the letter states.

“The result of this vote was not deemed important enough by TOC leadership to effect the TOC's approval of the cuts or even to be presented to the TOC Board as a whole for a vote,” the letter adds.

“There are emails and board minutes that would suggest otherwise,” said Nader, when asked about these claims. He added in a follow-up text that the TOC “did discuss the GGF purse cuts” at the January Board Meeting.

“It's a struggle, North and South. It's just a difficult time,” Nader added. “I'm not being critical of anyone. It's just the environment we're in right now. Everybody's just a little teed up–it's unfortunate.”

Efforts to consolidate racing operations in the South were given a major fillip in September of last year, when California lawmakers passed legislation that means if Golden Gate Fields is not licensed to operate beyond July 1 this year, proceeds from simulcast wagering in the north are funnelled south when there is no live racing in the northern half of the state after that date.

Moger did not respond to a request for comment prior to publication.

The post Moger, LaRoche, and Taboada Resign from TOC appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

WinStar Farm's Life Is Good (Into Mischief–Beach Walk, by Distorted Humor) was represented by his first foal when graded-stakes placed Shesa Mystery (Verazano) produced a filly Saturday night at Brookstone Farm in Paris, Kentucky. The filly, whose dam finished second in the 2021 GIII Iowa Oaks, was bred by Wimberley Bloodstock and BWW Bloodstock. Wimberley Bloodstock acquired Shesa Mystery in foal to Life Is Good for $285,000 at the 2023 Keeneland November Sale.

“She's a great first foal with quality, bone, and strength,” said Archie St. George of Brookstone Farm. “It's encouraging for both the sire and the dam.”

Brendan Jacobson of Wimberley Bloodstock added of the filly, “She is a very good first foal with lots of quality and plenty of bone. She has a great personality, is super friendly, and has a lot of strength. We couldn't be happier with the result. Both mom and baby are happy, healthy, and doing well.”

Life is Good, whose four Grade I victories include the 2021 GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and 2022 GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational, bred 192 mares in his first season at stud in 2023. He stands at WinStar Farm for a fee of $85,000.

The post First Foal for Life is Good appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

WinStar Farm's Life Is Good (Into Mischief–Beach Walk, by Distorted Humor) was represented by his first foal when graded-stakes placed Shesa Mystery (Verazano) produced a filly Saturday night at Brookstone Farm in Paris, Kentucky. The filly, whose dam finished second in the 2021 GIII Iowa Oaks, was bred by Wimberley Bloodstock and BWW Bloodstock. Wimberley Bloodstock acquired Shesa Mystery in foal to Life Is Good for $285,000 at the 2023 Keeneland November Sale.

“She's a great first foal with quality, bone, and strength,” said Archie St. George of Brookstone Farm. “It's encouraging for both the sire and the dam.”

Brendan Jacobson of Wimberley Bloodstock added of the filly, “She is a very good first foal with lots of quality and plenty of bone. She has a great personality, is super friendly, and has a lot of strength. We couldn't be happier with the result. Both mom and baby are happy, healthy, and doing well.”

Life is Good, whose four Grade I victories include the 2021 GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and 2022 GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational, bred 192 mares in his first season at stud in 2023. He stands at WinStar Farm for a fee of $85,000.

The post First Foal for Life is Good appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

My Mane Squeeze scores in sophomore debut, taking the Franklin Square at Aqueduct. Susie Raisher/NYRA Photo.

My Mane Squeeze solidified her credentials as one of the best New York-bred 2-year-old fillies in last season’s Maid of the Mist Stakes on Empire Showcase Day. A little more than two months later Buck Butler’s homebred daughter of Audible showed she’ll be plenty tough as a 3-year-old with a comeback victory in Sunday’s $100,000 Franklin Square Stakes at Aqueduct.

Off since the Oct. 29 Maid of the Mist at 1 mile, My Mane Squeeze returned with a 1 1/4-length victory over Bernietakescharge in the 6 1/2-furlong Franklin Square under Jose Lezcano. My Mane Squeeze won in 1:18.76 and gave Lezcano his third win on the card.

“I was jumping up and down and I’m not sure I saw it all,” Butler said. “I can’t say a whole hell of a lot except I love it and I’m praying that from what I’ve seen from her, it’s not the bottom of her yet. I’ve got my fingers crossed.”

The 8-5 favorite in the field of six reduced by the scratches of Soloshot and Unicorn Cake, My Mane Squeeze raced fifth early as Flight Control and Cara’s Time battled early and through the opening quarter in :22.63 over the fast track.

Lezcano guided My Mane Squeeze into third and outside of Bernietakescharge around the far turn as Flight Control continued to lead to the half in :46.76. My Mane Squeeze turned into the stretch at least five paths off the fence, engaged Bernietakescharge outside the eighth pole and eventually wore that rival down inside the final sixteenth for her third win in five starts. The first two finished well clear of the field, with 7-2 third choice Tricky Temper 10 1/4 lengths back in third. Flight Control finished fourth as Sweet Brown Sugar and Cara’s Time completed the field.

“She broke very good and I got a chance to put her outside in the clear,” Lezcano said. “She traveled very comfortable. In the stretch, I asked her to go on and she gave me what she’s got. …I was feeling good. In the clear, she jumped on the bridle and was galloping pretty nice. When I really had to ask her, I had plenty of horse and plenty of gas in the tank.”

My Mane Squeeze started her career with a third and a victory in maiden races at Saratoga Race Course, before a third in the Joseph A. Gimma Stakes in late September during the Belmont at the Big A meeting. She improved off that effort to win the Maid of the Mist by 3 lengths over Cara’s Time and Calwell Luvs Gold.

Maker and Butler gave My Mane Squeeze a short freshener after that victory and set sights on a sophomore campaign for the bay filly.

My Mane Squeezed breezed seven times on the Belmont training track for her return, including a bullet half in :48.25 Dec. 12 and a 3-furlong tightener in :38.21 three days before the Franklin Square. She pocketed $55,000 for the Franklin Square to boost her bankroll to $238.960.

Foaled at Keane Stud in Amenia, My Mane Squeeze is the fourth foal out of Butler’s Speightstown mare In Spite of Mama.

In Spite of Mama is also the dam of multiple stakes winner and $527,955-earner Rotknee, stakes-placed winner and $170,220-earner Lookin for Trouble, four-time winner and $166,181-earner Mama’s Gold and an unnamed 2-year-old filly by War of Will. In Spite of Mama is also the dam of a New York-bred yearling colt by Runhappy and was bred by popular young New York sire Honest Mischief in 2023.

The post My Mane Squeeze wins Franklin Square in comeback appeared first on New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. News.

6th-Gulfstream, $70,000, Msw, 1-14, 3yo, f, 6f, 1:11.68, ft, 1/2 length.
MYSTIFYING (f, 3, Curlin–Puzzling {SP, $127,312}, by Ghostzapper) debuted with Lasix and as a 7-1 shot here. The homebred hustled for the lead to the inside of a pair of competitors up the backstretch. Poking her head in front around the far turn, the filly continued to pour on the speed at the top of the lane and she gamely held off the favorite Bedazzle 'Em (American Pharoah) to graduate by half a length. “Jose [Ortiz] worked her out of the gate one day at Payson and she worked really well,” said trainer Shug McGaughey. “I thought she was tactical enough to run three-quarters, but she's going to want to run farther. He told me she just took him there on her own. He was like, 'If you want to go, we'll go.' I think she's got a good future in front of her.” Puzzling is responsible for a newly-turned juvenile colt by Street Sense, who was purchased for $500,000 by Centennial Farms at last year's Keeneland September Sale. The stakes-place mare was covered by Oscar Performance for this year. Mystifying's second dam–GISP Dancinginmydreams (Seeking the Gold)–is a full-sister to champion 3-year-old filly Heavenly Prize, in addition to GI Matron S. heroine Oh What A Windfall. Dancinginmydreams is also responsible for GI Manhattan H. scorer Dancing Forever (Rahy). Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $42,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O/B-Phipps Stable (KY); T-Claude R. McGaughey III.

Shug McGaughey trained MYSTIFYING ($16.20) went up the pine, held off Bedazzle 'em, and seized victory in @GulfstreamPark race 6. @jose93_ortiz had the call to ride.

Jump on the Late Pick 4 on the @FDSportsbook: https://t.co/n8J7Nf7Wyh pic.twitter.com/SkN87AOX5I

— TVG (@TVG) January 14, 2024

The post Homebred Mystifying Holds On To Graduate At First Asking In Hallandale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

4th-Gulfstream, $70,000, Msw, 1-14, 3yo, f, 6f, 1:10.81, ft, 1 1/2 lengths.
ROSWELL (f, 3, Into Mischief–Acoma {GISW, $1,060,898}, by Empire Maker), receiving Lasix for this career debut, broke alertly and was shuffled back to the middle of the pack up the backstretch. Taking aim at the longshot pacemaker Far and Few (Omaha Beach) heading into the far turn, the 11-1 chance ranged up on the leader at the eighth pole while under an all-out drive and took control in the final jumps to get the win by 1 1/2 lengths.

“The filly's been working very nicely,” said trainer Bill Mott. “She's an aggressive type, but she really hasn't made any mistakes. She's put in some useful works and she's very athletic.”

Alongside her mother Helen Groves, who passed away in 2022, Helen Alexander bred and raced the winner's dam. A GISP/MGSP competitor whose signature win came in the GI Juddmonte Spinster S., Acoma hails from a deep female line which includes her dam SW Aurora (Danzig), who is out of champion 2-year-old filly Althea (Alydar). Aurora produced GISW Arch (Kris S.) in addition to Antics (Unbridled), the dam of dual Eclipse Award winner Covfefe (Into Mischief). Alexander bred Acoma to Nyquist, a colt foaled in 2022, and the mare visited Life Is Good last spring. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $42,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O-Helen C. Alexander; B-Alexander-Groves Thoroughbreds (KY); T-William I. Mott.

Into Mischief (@spendthriftfarm) first time starter ROSWELL ($25.00) ran a professional stalking trip to take @GulfstreamPark race 4. A perfect trip by jockey @JuniorandKellyA for trainer Bill Mott.

It's time for the Pick 6 on the @FDSportsbook: https://t.co/oYmxMv5Lmg pic.twitter.com/CeaClvntEc

— TVG (@TVG) January 14, 2024

The post Well-Bred Roswell Lands Debut Win At Gulfstream Park On Sunday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Godolphin's First Mission (Street Sense) continued preparations for the Jan. 27 GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational with a bullet five-furlong work in 1:00.00 (1/51) at Fair Grounds Saturday.

“He's a great work horse,” trainer Brad Cox said Sunday. “He's continued to do the same here at the Fair Grounds in preparing for the Pegasus. He looked fantastic this morning. We actually took him to the track today [jogging a mile Sunday] because we're due some cold weather in the next few days and we may miss a day of training. But overall, super pleased with how he's moving and how he physically looks and how he is acting. I think he's set up for a big run to start his 4-year-old season.”

First Mission earned a spot in the GI Preakness S. last year with a win in the GIII Stonestreet Lexington S., but missed the second leg of the Triple Crown due to injury. He returned with an allowance win at Keeneland in October and is coming off a narrowly beaten runner-up effort in the Nov. 24 GII Clark S.

The Cox-trained GI Pennsylvania Derby winner Saudi Crown (Always Dreaming), another Pegasus invitee, also worked five furlongs at Fair Grounds Saturday, covering the distance in 1:00.20 (3/51). Owned by the Saudi-based FMQ Stables, the 4-year-old is entered in Saturday's GIII Louisiana S. as a prep for the Feb. 24 Saudi Cup in Riyadh, according to Cox.

Working for the Pegasus at Gulfstream Park Sunday, last year's GIII Smarty Jones S. winner Il Miracolo (Gun Runner) went five furlongs in 1:00.92 (5/11) with jockey Javier Castellano in the irons for trainer Antonio Sano.

“He went really good. I liked the way he did it today,” Castellano said. “He did it in good time and galloped out beautiful.”

Il Miracolo was third in the Pennsylvania Derby, a narrowly beaten second in the Oct. 28 GII Fayette S. and third in the Clark.

The post First Mission Fires Bullet for Pegasus appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

White Abarrio (Race Day) worked a half-mile in :50.60 at Santa Anita Sunday morning as he continues to prepare for the Feb. 24 $20 million Saudi Cup.

“We were very happy with his breeze,” assistant trainer Chip Dutrow told 1/ST Racing's Zoe Cadman. “He makes it look easy. We know just by watching Emily (Ellingwood) with her smile after the breeze that she's very happy with him. That's our cue, and we got that today, so everybody's happy. There were some times when we were going up to the Breeders' Cup that we were having feet trouble and she wasn't happy but those times are over.”

The winner of the Nov. 4 Breeders' Cup Classic will make his first start in Saudi Arabia since his Classic win.

Ellingwood, a jockey on the Southern California circuit, has been serving as White Abarrio's regular exercise rider since last fall.

How important is she to the operation, Cadman asked?

“These two are a great team,” said Dutrow. “It's like 1 and 1A, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. They know each other so well. They're in love with each other. It's a great story.”

Ellingood also pronounced herself pleased with the work.

“It was great,” she said. “He went a half, out five, he galloped out really strong. I went to pull up to jog him off and workers came by and he tried to take off again. That's a good sign, and if I had let him, he would have gone around again.”

“It's been quite a journey,” she said of the partnership. “I had just been galloping, trying to work hard and get mounts as a jockey and this opportunity came up and I couldn't pass it up. I'm really grateful for the connections and Doug O'Neill for recommending me as a rider for this wonderful horse. He's honestly a great horse to get on in the morning. He pretty much just trains himself and takes me along for the ride. I always look forward to riding him in the morning.”

 

The post White Abarrio Works for Saudi Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

The Chosen Vron proved too much for his California-bred peers in the $150,000 California Cup Sprint Stakes going six furlongs at Santa Anita Park.

Walmac Farm's Pinehurst, winner of the 2021 Del Mar Futurity (G1) and a millionaire son of Twirling Candy, sired his first reported foal when a filly out of the winning Klimt mare Lady Jewels was born at Southern Comfort Farm Jan. 12.

The Todd Pletcher barn had a busy morning Jan. 13 with Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) hero Fierceness and Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) hopefuls Dynamic One and Grand Aspen turning in works at Palm Beach Downs.

It was a day for favorites at Tampa Bay Downs, as both 1-9 Book'em Danno and 4-5 Mystic Lake scored stakes victories in the Pasco Stakes and Gasparilla Stakes, respectively, Jan. 13.

The first reported foal for 2022 champion 3-year-old male Epicenter arrived Jan. 13 at Twin Creeks Farm near Versailles, Ky., when two-time Saratoga Race Course winner and stakes-placed Peaceful produced a quality filly.

After earning a stakes placing as a 2-year-old last season, Gin Gin opened her 3-year-old campaign with a clear victory in the $97,000 Busanda Stakes Jan. 13 at Aqueduct Racetrack.

An AU$1.4 million colt by Extreme Choice proved too irresistible for big-time international investor Yulong as the curtain came down on Book 1 of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale Jan. 13.