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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The post Hill ‘n’ Dale Acquires Half Interest In HOY Thorpedo Anna, Deal Includes NFL Star Lynch appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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

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

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

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

All offerings are being sold with no reserve.

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

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

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

The post Fasig-Tipton Digtal Opens Bidding For Major Reduction Of Harris Farms appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The post Retired NFL Receiver Mike Renfro Joins TDN Writers’ Room Podcast Presented By Keeneland To Talk King’s Plate appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The post Whitney Champ Sierra Leone Back Among World’s Best In Longines Rankings appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The post D.J. Stable To Hold Strategic Reduction Consigned By Taylor Made At Keeneland November appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The post Saratoga Maidens Presented By Keeneland: Godolphin’s Quiet Street Snags Eventful MSW Triumph appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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

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

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Trail of Gold, a daughter of McMahon of Saratoga’s Solomini, wins Wednesday’s Statue of Liberty division of the New York Stallion Series Stakes. Coglianese Photo.

By Julia Reedy

David Donk trainee Trail of Gold rewarded her connections handsomely in Wednesday’s $150,000 Statue of Liberty division of the New York Stallion Stakes Series going 1 mile on the inner turf at Saratoga Race Course.

Owned by Donk, John and Theresa Behrendt, Charles Marquis, Gerald Donk, William Punk Jr., Philip DiLelo, Peter Hayes and Suzanne Haslup, the New York-bred daughter of Solomini had more than a few expectations to live up to, but fulfilled each one with a 1 3/4-length win over the Chad Brown-trained Nonna Lynne. Trail of Gold won her first stakes in 1:36.66 over the firm turf.

“I loved to see just the way she finished,” Donk said. “She’s putting it together. She’s a little more professional today, and I know we haven’t gotten the best of her yet. I’m just hoping now we have some fun with her. It’s fun to have a New York-bred, especially on the grass.

“We had one a number of years ago, Hessonite, who won nine stakes. Those (New York-breds) are fun. Especially the way she runs, it’s easy on herself. I’m just happy for everybody, all the partners. It’s really fun. Irad (Ortiz Jr.) had a lot of confidence. And if he’s got confidence, we’ve all got confidence.”

America’s Pastime Stable’s Brian Spagnola, who bred Trail of Gold along with Spruce Lane Farm, Copper Beech Stable and other partners, felt a similar confidence in the filly as he watched her progress.

“We always loved her,” Spagnola said. “We were just showing the people that own her the pictures of her as a baby. We still own the mare and the weanling, so it’s really great for us. It’s great to see her develop.

Originally sold for $15,000 as a short yearling at the 2023 Keeneland January horses of all ages sale, Trail of Gold later sold for $100,000 to Punk at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-bred yearling sale.

“Every time we saw her, she looked more and more athletic,” Spagnola said. “When I saw her at the sale here (Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-bred yearling sale) after we had sold her at the mixed one, we were like, ‘Wow.’ She became really athletic. And David Donk’s done a great job with her. Every time I see him, he raves about her.”

Trail of Gold is the fourth foal out of the Bernardini mare Bene Pista. She’s the dam of the New York-bred winning Hightail filly High Track, 2023 Manitoba Derby winner Mano Dura and winner Dorita’s Happy. Bene Pista is also the dam of the 2-year-old New York-bred Daredevil colt Trail Blaze, who sold for $120,000 as a yearling at last year’s Saratoga New York-bred sale and is entered for his debut in the third race Saturday at Del Mar.

Trail of Gold improved to 3-for-10 with the Statue of Liberty victory and boosted her bankroll to $227,535.

Solomini, a 10-year-old son of Curlin out of the Storm Cat mare Surf Song, stands for $7,500 at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds in Saratoga Springs. The leader of New York’s freshman sire list in 2023, Solomini came into the day ranked third in the general sire list with more than $2.09 million in progeny earnings in 2025.

The post Solomini’s Trail Of Gold scores in NYSS Statue of Liberty appeared first on New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. News.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

No Travers For Gosger, Walsh Wants To Give Colt More Time

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

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

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

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

Gosger before the Haskell | Sarah Andrew

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Shug Feels Like A Million After Two Solid Performances At Colonial

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The post Saratoga Notebook, Presented By NYRA Bets: Goal Oriented Not Coming To Saratoga For Travers appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

John and Leona Velazquez were publicly recognized for their longstanding commitment to the New York Racing Association backstretch with the Marylou Whitney and John Hendrickson Award from the New York Race Track Chaplaincy.

Tickets for Keeneland's fall meet, to be held Oct. 3-25, will go on sale Aug. 19 at 9 a.m.

Cleo Cat, a group 3-winning daughter of American Pharoah, topped the Inglis August (Early) Digital Sale Aug. 13 selling for AU$355,000 to Yulong. She will be bred to 2024 Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T) winner More Than Looks.

Three spectacular auction items will be up for bidding Aug. 14-20 with proceeds to benefit the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, Permanently Disabled Jockeys' Fund, and Belmont Child Care Association.

After knocking heads against division heavyweights Mindframe and Sierra Leone in his most recent outing, Godolphin's First Mission faces softer company in his return to action in the $250,000 Philip H. Iselin Stakes (G3) Aug. 16 at Monmouth Park.

Trainer Aidan O'Brien has described Camille Pissarro as an "extremely classy colt" following the shock retirement of the French Derby (G1) winner due to a hairline fracture in his fetlock.

Multiple group 2 winner Diego Velazquez will stand at the National Stud next year after being purchased by Sam Sangster Bloodstock on behalf of a high-profile syndicate.

Tyler Gaffalione won four of the six stakes races on the card at Ellis Park Aug. 10 to cap a week of 10 wins and leading rider status. The panel of racing experts voted Gaffalione Jockey of the Week for Aug. 4-10.

During a panel at The Racing and Gaming Conference at Saratoga Aug. 12, industry leaders discussed the future of fixed-odds wagering in horse racing.

Multiple grade 1 winner Imperial Hint, who set a track record for six furlongs at Saratoga Race Course that still stands today, was euthanized following a lengthy struggle with laminitis, according to Clear Creek Stud in Louisiana where he stood.

Porter on Pedigrees