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Zulu Kingdom returns June 7 in the Pennine Ridge Stakes (G3T) at Saratoga Race Course. He will face nine rivals including Kentucky Derby (G1) participant Flying Mohawk, who returns to turf after that main-track attempt.

Calandagan has one mission for 2025—to win a group 1—and his search for a first top-level success will continue in the June 6 Coronation Cup (G1) at Epsom.

Graded stakes-winning turf filly Thought Process begins her sophomore campaign with a return to the dirt for the first time since her debut in the $100,000 Summertime Oaks (G3) June 7 at Santa Anita Park.

There are all sorts of variables to consider when betting a race, and rain is again in the forecast for the Belmont Stakes. A wet track often plays a significant role in the outcome of a race.

Opting to face the boys instead of taking a chance with a speed-laden Astoria Stakes later in the card, the connections of Mythical chose wisely as the filly remained undefeated with a victory in Thursday's Tremont Stakes at Saratoga.

Wasting no time going to the front, Mythical rolled through an opening quarter in a crisp :22.2 with Mercilesanihilator (Audible) and favored Blinging It Back in hot pursuit. Still clear turning for home, the filly kept finding more to kept the favorite at bay, winning by a geared-down 3 1/2 lengths.

“This was the plan from the very beginning,” said winning jockey Emisael Jaramillo. “The idea was to take the lead and go all the way. These horses are just learning to run, so the horse that takes the lead usually is the one that gets the win.”

He continued, “She stumbled just a little bit at the break, but she recovered herself very easily and took the lead right away. She was moving perfectly. In the stretch I hit her twice just as a way of learning to race. All the way around she felt like a winner.”

In her career unveiling, the Florida-bred employed similar tactics, wiring a field of nine others by 8 1/2 lengths.

“It was actually an owner's decision [to run in this race],” said winning trainer Jorge Delgado. “Entry day, they were looking at what was a better spot [versus facing fillies in the Astoria]. They figured that this filly has tons of speed, there was a little more speed in the filly race. We wouldn't run away from anybody, but we wanted to find the easier spot for the way she runs and to develop that speed.”

The filly has been posting her most recent works at Monmouth Park, where Delgado set up shop for the first time this season.

“She does that [show speed] in the morning which is scary,” he said. “She does really well every breeze. She just wants to run. She is born to be a runner. Once she hears the bell, she wants to go.”

Asked if another date with the colts is in the cards for the speedy filly, Delgado explained, “We'll see when the time comes. I will discuss with the owners. Most likely, probably, sticking with the boys was a one-time thing [laughs]. We will probably go with girls, and decide with the owners. We are very happy she won and we'll enjoy this win.”

Out of GSW Dat You Miz Blue, Lailoni produced a Noble Bird colt last term and was bred back to Colonelsdarktemper.

Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

 

TREMONT S., $145,500, Saratoga, 6-5, 2yo, 5 1/2f, 1:03.57, ft.
1–MYTHICAL, 119, f, 2, by St Patrick's Day
1st Dam: Lailoni, by Brethren
2nd Dam: Dat You Miz Blue, by Cure the Blues
3rd Dam: Emma Loves Marie, by Wild Again
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O/B-Arindel (FL); T-Jorge Delgado;
J-Emisael Jaramillo. $82,500. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0,
$132,500.
2–Blinging It Back, 120, c, 2, Volatile–Ima Three Blinger, by
Too Much Bling. ($80,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE.
O-Barber, Gary and Deutsch, Peter; B-Forever Spring Farm
(KY); T-Mark E. Casse. $30,000.
3–Romeo, 122, c, 2, Honor A. P.–Fancy Love, by Not For Love.
($14,000 RNA Ylg '24 EASOCT). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Joseph
Lloyd; B-John C. Davison (MD); T-John J. Robb. $18,000.
Margins: 3HF, 7 3/4, NK. Odds: 1.85, 1.10, 3.95.
Also Ran: Baytown Dreamer, Mercilesanihilator.

 

MYTHICAL with an impressive victory in the Tremont Stakes to kick things off on Day 2 of the @BelmontStakes Racing Festival.

The daughter of St Patrick's Day broke on top and never looked back wiring the field for trainer Jorge Delgado and jockey Emisael Jaramillo. pic.twitter.com/UHzSV5h5nN

— NYRA Bets (@NYRABets) June 5, 2025

The post Mythical Romps Over The Boys In The Tremont appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

The number of race days was higher and so was wagering compared to a year ago in May, according to information released by Equibase on Thursday.

Total wagering of $1,445,615,184 on races during the month represented a 2.97% increase over the same period from 2024, while available purses of over $122 million were lower by 1.56%. The figure of over $118 million for paid purses in May was also down by 1.45%. As for the total number of race days, they increased from 359 to 365 (+1.67%) and the number of U.S. races was lower from 2,958 in May 2024 to last month's tally of 2,933 (-0.85%).

Average field size in May was down a tick from over a year ago when it was 7.10, and checked in at an average of 7.09 runners, a slight decrease of 0.14%. Average daily wagering increased by 1.28% to $3,960,590, but the average available purse number per race day was down 3.18% to $336,247 from the figure of $347,292 in 2024.

When it comes to the year-to-date figures, through May of 2024 wagering on U.S. races came in at $4.920 billion, while this year the amount is $4.829 billion (-1.85%). Those numbers include worldwide commingled wagering on U.S. races.

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

Maryland's Fair Hill Training Center will replace its seven-furlong Tapeta Footings track this summer, an upgrade from one of the synthetic surface's earliest installations to the company's newest iteration Tapeta 13.

Work is slated to begin in mid-July and take approximately six weeks, depending on weather and other factors. Fair Hill, home to approximately 700 Thoroughbred racehorses in 18 privately owned barns, was founded in 1983 with a seven-furlong wood-chip track and upgraded to include a one-mile dirt track shortly thereafter.

The wood chips were replaced 19 years ago with Tapeta, a synthetic training surface consisting of silica sand, wax and fibers created by former trainer Michael Dickinson, who established Tapeta Footings in 2005.

Funds acquired via condominium fees, state grants and a business loan will pay for the project.

“It's been a 2 1/2-year project,” said Buddy Jones, co-owner of two barns on the property and spearheaded the funding effort. “A lot of people did a lot of work to get here, and we're excited about the future. Fair Hill has a big economic impact in Cecil County and the state, and that was an important point to keep in mind. We're grateful to the barn owners, the state of Maryland, Tapeta Footings and everyone who helped make this a reality.”

Construction steps will include removal of the existing footing, a thorough examination of and repairs to the porous asphalt base, blending of the new material on site and finally installation of the new surface on the same footprint inside the dirt oval. Unlike the nearly black Tapeta 1, the new version is lighter in color and does not use rubber as part of the formula.

“The Tapeta has held up well and we've been pleased with it, but we felt it was time to replace it,” said trainer Graham Motion, a Fair Hill barn owner and a member of the association board. “We breezed a lot of good horses on that track. We're excited about it. It will be one more piece to training at Fair Hill.”

The Tapeta replacement also comes with the recent re-opening of the Fair Hill turf course for training on state-owned property adjacent to the training center. The one-mile course, rebuilt and redesigned in 2019-20.

“I think it's spectacular,” Motion said of the turf. “It will be great to have it when we're replacing the Tapeta, but I think it's genuinely exciting for Fair Hill as a whole. To add access to that to everything else here is great. It's already a great place to train horses and it's getting better.”

The post Fair Hill Training Center to Upgrade Tapeta Surface appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Fasig-Tipton has catalogued 261 selected yearlings for The July Sale, to be held Tuesday, July 8, at Newtown Paddocks in Lexington, Kentucky. The sale will begin at 10 AM. To view the catalog, click here.

“We are excited to lead off yearling sales season with a quality catalogue of precocious, selected yearlings,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “July continues to be at the top of all major North American yearling sales in a variety of performance statistics. It's a sale all yearling buyers need to focus on or risk missing major opportunities.”

The sale's graduates include Chancer McPatrick, winner of last year's GI Hopeful S. and GI Champagne S. and Carson's Run, who captured last year's GI Saratoga Derby Invitational S. The sale is also responsible for GSWs Black Forza, Chop Chop, Federal Judge, Maysam, Non Compliant, Shisospicy, Taking Candy and Three Technique.

The sale opens with the Freshman Sire Showcase (Hips 1-93), highlighting the offspring of first-crop yearling sires.

This year's first-crop roster include Mystic Guide, Cyberknife, Early Voting, Happy Saver, Drain the Clock, Nashville, Pinehurst, Mo Donegal, Greatest Honour, Mandaloun, Jackie's Warrior, Golden Pal, Epicenter, Olympiad, Highly Motivated, Idol, Jack Christopher, Aloha West, Corniche and Speaker's Corner.

“This year's crop of Freshman sires is a very exciting group, and they are well represented by some outstanding individuals in July,” noted Browning. “There is also a great mix of proven sires as well, making this a very attractive catalogue.”

Nominations are also now open for the July Selected Horses of Racing Age sale, which will be held immediately following the conclusion of the yearling sale, Tuesday, July 8. Fasig-Tipton will accept nominations up until sale time; however, to be included in the catalogue's initial release, entries should be finalized by June 13.

The July Sale catalogue will also be available via the Equineline sales catalogue app. Print catalogues will be available by June 9.

The post 261 Yearlings on Offer, Catalogue for The July Sale Available Online appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

'TDN Rising Star' Colloquial (Vekoma), the 6-1 fourth choice on the morning line for Saturday's $500,000 GI Woody Stephens at Saratoga, will be withdrawn from the race, according to his trainer, George Weaver.

“Since his last breeze, he hasn't been moving on the track to our satisfaction,” said Weaver. “He's been jogging and galloping but just not moving 100%. He's not hitting the ground the way we would like. We don't have time to get really concrete diagnosis done [before the race]. We're going to get it done, but we don't feel he should run this weekend.”

Weaver was asked if he was disappointed in the turn of events.

“He is one of the most talented horses I have ever had,” said Weaver, who also trained the colt's sire, dual Grade I winner Vekoma. “We have been looking forward to this race for a long time. It's a disappointment, but I have been doing this long enough that I have been disappointed before and I can take it. He's one of the best horses I have ever trained. He reminds me a lot of his sire, Vekoma.”

Owned by Harrell Ventures LLC and Starlight Racing, the three-year-old Colloquial has won both of his 2025 starts, an Aqueduct maiden special weight on Feb. 7, and a wire-to-wire score in Keeneland's Lafayette Stakes on Apr. 7. The margin of victory in his maiden race was seven lengths, and he earned a 106 Beyer Speed figure, the third-fastest 3-year-old Beyer this year. He was given a Ragozin figure of 3 3/4, currently the fastest of any 3-year-old in North America.

He was second in his debut on June 15, 2024 at Aqueduct, to Mentee (City of Light), the full-brother to Fierceness, before an eight-month absence from the races.

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Spinning Colors and John Velazquez cruise to the finish of Wednesday’s Mount Vernon at Saratoga. Coglianese Photo/Susie Raisher.

Spinning Colors may not like doing what she’s told, but when she’s tasked with running on the turf at Saratoga Race Course, she typically delivers.

Wednesday, Spinning Colors improved her record over the Saratoga turf courses to 3-for-4 when she won the $200,000 Mount Vernon Stakes at 1 1/16 miles over the inner course. The 5-year-old mare entered the Mount Vernon off a seventh in the Sand Springs against open company at Gulfstream Park, a race in which she led the field through testing fractions that included a half-mile in :45.26. In the Mount Vernon, Spinning Colors led the field through a dawdling half in :50.33. Trainer Mark Hennig said that made a big difference.

“The pace helped her save a lot of that energy,” he said. “She tried hard last time in open company at Gulfstream. In spite of that pace, she still fought on. She gets a little bit of a break running against New York-breds and then, obviously, she loves Saratoga. This was her third win here.”

Spinning Colors took the field of 10 older fillies and mares gate to wire in the Mount Vernon under John Velazquez, setting a slow pace early and kicking on late to fend off the stretch runs by Silver Skillet and Awesome Czech, who finished second and third, respectively. Spinning Colors won the Mount Vernon by 2 1/2 lengths in 1:43.27.

“I nursed her along the best I could without taking too much hold of her,” Velazquez said. “After putting my hands down at the three-eighths pole, she was full of run. I hadn’t asked her to do anything, and she was very comfortable. After moving my hands a little bit, it was an instant response. Very nice.”

Hennig, who also co-owns the daughter of Hard Spun with Bourbon Lane Stable and HGS Thoroughbreds, remarked on what a difficult mare she can sometimes be to train.

“She’s not easy to do anything with, honestly,” Hennig said. “She’s a difficult filly, but she keeps herself fit because she’s athletic. Those kind are always easier. She dictates what we’re doing daily, basically. There are days we go out with the intent to gallop and she doesn’t gallop. Before she won the race at Gulfstream in February, the day she was going to work she got loose and went around the track twice. We didn’t end up getting to work her, but she worked herself that day.”

Despite the antics, Spinning Colors has won five of 14 starts and earned $362,210. Hennig said he’d likely bring Spinning Colors back to Saratoga at some point this summer.

“They’ve got another race here during the meet, but we’ll see,” he said. “They’ve got a decent program for the New York-bred fillies as the year goes on the turf, so we could keep her with her own kind, but I wouldn’t be opposed to trying her in open company in the right spot.”

Spinning Colors was bred by William Parsons Jr. and David Howe. She is out of the winning Elusive Quality mare Kaleidoscope, who has also produced multiple time winners Bartleby and Cartwheel. – Alec DiConza

Clear Conscience holds off Hush of a Storm in Wednesday’s Kingston Stakes at Saratoga. Coglianese Photo/Chelsea Durand.

• In the span of four weeks, owner Wachtel Stable’s Adam Wachtel experienced both ends of a tight photo with the same horse. On May 11, Clear Conscience lost an allowance-optional at Aqueduct by a nose after holding the lead mid-stretch. In Wednesday’s $200,000 Kingston Stakes, the 5-year-old gelding got involved in another nose finish, but this time, the son of Blame crossed the wire first.

“We did have a tough beat just the other day,” Wachtel said in the winner’s circle. “Better to win this one than that one, right?”

Wachtel privately purchased Clear Conscience during last year’s summer meet at Saratoga because he saw some potential in his past performances. He wasted no time, transferring the gelding to Mark Casse and winning an allowance race on Travers Day just weeks after the purchase. The Kingston victory is the second by Clear Conscience since the change in connections.

“I’m a Ragozin sheets person, and he had a great looking sheet,” Wachtel said about the decision to buy Clear Conscience. “He was very fast, and I thought he was maybe better than his results were. So, we’re very pleased and Mark has done a great job with him.”

In the Kingston, a 1 1/16-mile turf event for older New York-breds, Clear Conscience sat a stalking trip on the inside behind pacesetters Union Trail and Itsallcomintogetha. He switched outside turning for home under Jose Ortiz and mowed these leaders down before facing a menacing bid from favorite Hush of a Storm. Clear Conscience just held on to get the bob and win by a nose in 1:41.30.

“He’s a very good gate horse and we love that about him. He broke good and put me into a great position,” Ortiz said. “I was following the one horse, who was of course very live.”

The effort from Clear Conscience impressed Casse, who felt fortunate that the photo went his way this time.

“He showed some grit, because the other horse went by him and he battled back,” he said. “Jose said he thought he was beat. We did get lucky on the bob, but many times I don’t get lucky on the bob, so I’ll take it when I can get it.”

Wachtel, who co-owns Clear Conscience with Gary Barber and Pantofel Stable, said there’s a good chance his gelding will return to Saratoga for another stakes race this summer.

“As long as he’s healthy, he’ll definitely run back here,” he said. “There’s a New York-bred stakes in the middle of August. I’m sure we’ll point to that. He’s just a nice horse. We’ve got a lot of options with him.”

Clear Conscience was bred by Alan Quartucci and Sebastian Varney. He is the second foal out of the Gio Ponti mare Blank Slate, who has also produced the four-time winner Topic Changer and the recent maiden winner Cognoscenti. Clear Conscience is now a winner of three out of 15 starts with earnings of $294,988. – Alec DiConza

The post Spinning Colors improves Spa record in Mount Vernon; Clear Conscience wins tight photo in Kingston appeared first on New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. News.

Manny Franco celebrates Commentator victory aboard Bank Frenzy Wednesday at Saratoga Race Course. Coglianese Photo/Chelsea Durand.

Rudy Rodriguez gave Manny Franco a leg up on Bank Frenzy before Wednesday’s $200,000 Commentator Stakes and offered one final bit of instruction before the field of eight left the Saratoga Race Course paddock for the second stakes on the New York Showcase Day card.

“Don’t let him steal the race, put some pressure on him,” Rodriguez said, encouraging Bank Frenzy’s regular partner to stay close to last year’s Empire Classic winner and expected frontrunner Mama’s Gold in the 9-furlong stakes for older New York-breds.

Franco followed suit, never letting the Central Banker gelding lost contact with Mama’s Gold before pouncing on the leader approaching the top of the stretch en route to a 1 1/4-length victory. Owned by Randy Sarf’s LSU Stables and the 7-5 favorite in the field of eight, Bank Frenzy improved to 9-for-18 with his latest stakes victory. He’s won his last three New York-bred stakes appearances, along with the Stymie against open company in March, after finishing 4 1/4 lengths behind Mama’s Gold in the Empire Classic Handicap last fall.

“Manny won that race,” Sarf said as he hugged Rodriguez walking out of the winner’s circle. “He put Romero (Maragh, aboard Mama’s Gold) to sleep. He put him to sleep.”

Sarf purchased Bank Frenzy privately from Phil’s Racing Stable last spring after a 5 1/4-length victory in a 1-mile state-bred allowance-optional at Aqueduct. He won the Evan Shipman in mid-August at Saratoga in his first start for LSU and Rodriguez, before back-to-back seconds that led to a four-race win streak.

Bank Frenzy came into Showcase Day off a fourth in the Grade 3 Westchester on a muddy track May 4 at Aqueduct. He rebounded in a big way in the Commentator, defeating not only Mama’s Gold but last year’s winner Drake’s Passage (third), Locke And Key (fourth) and General Banker (sixth).

“I knew he was going to be good,” Sarf said of the private purchase. “Once you see a horse win by that distance, if they stay sound, they can win these state-bred stakes. We love the state-bred game. We tried to see how good he was (in graded company last time), but state-breds hang out with state-breds. I guess that’s why you breed in New York, to hang out in New York.”

The Commentator didn’t go completely smooth for Bank Frenzy.

Typically outfitted with extension blinkers for his morning training, Bank Frenzy made the walk from the holding barn to the paddock without blinkers.

“He’s a little quirky but he does his job,” Rodriguez said. “He’s a little difficult in the morning so we put the extension blinkers on. Today he didn’t have them and was kicking all over the place. He’s more happy when we put the blinkers on and that’s all we can do.”

Bank Frenzy raced with his usual blinkers and Franco set up shop in second around the clubhouse turn behind Mama’s Gold through the opening splits of :23.79 and :47.84.

Mama’s Gold continued to lead past 6 furlongs in 1:11.53, with Bank Frenzy just a half-length back while in the three path on the bend. Bank Frenzy took over outside the quarter pole and eventually shrugged off a stubborn Mama’s Gold in the lane to win in 1:50 over the fast track. Mama’s Gold held second, 3 1/2 lengths clear of 2-1 second choice Drake’s Passage.

“My horse broke so sharp and Rudy told me he was going to break like that because he broke sharp in the mornings,” Franco said. “I just took advantage of my break and just put him right behind (Mama’s Gold). That was the horse that I thought I had to beat. My horse made the front a little earlier than I wanted, but he was running so nice and he kind of got lost a little on the front end, that’s why (Mama’s Gold) came back. I had a lot of horse under me. I was comfortable all the way around.”

Bred by Chester and the late Mary Broman and foaled at their Chestertown Farm in Chestertown, Bank Frenzy is out of the Tiznow mare Storm Now. He originally sold for $110,000 at the 2022 OBS April sale of 2-year-olds in training. Bank Frenzy picked up $110,000 for the Commentator victory and boosted his bankroll to $695,920. – Tom Law

Bernietakescharge (inside) holds off Sterling Silver to win Wednesday’s Critical Eye at Saratoga. Coglianese Photo/Chelsea Durand.

• Two races after her half-sister Bernieandtherose finished third in the Bouwerie Stakes, Bernietakescharge made the family even more proud by winning the $200,000 Critical Eye Stakes in front-running fashion.

Breaking from the outside post in the field of seven, Bernietakescharge took the lead going into the clubhouse turn and set moderate splits of :24.01 for the quarter-mile and :47.86 for the half. The filly owned and bred by Robert Rosenthal and Bradford Bernstein faced a major challenge from millionaire Sterling Silver nearing the quarter pole, but after a long duel with that foe through the stretch, Bernietakescharge prevailed to win by a neck for trainer Dominick Schettino and jockey Romero Maragh. The daughter of Take Charge Indy completed the 9-furlongs in 1:50.26.

“We had a very nice trip,” Maragh said. “I know she likes to be on the front. She gets very game when she’s on the front. So, that was the whole game plan to be on the lead and be pretty aggressive with her, and get her into her rhythm. That was the game plan. Everything honestly worked out super perfect, super great.”

Millionaire, multiple stakes winner and 3-10 favorite Sterling Silver made a run alongside Bernietakescharge and Schettino felt that maybe a runner-up finish was in the cards for his 4-year-old filly.

“When they got to the quarter pole and I saw her (Sterling Silver) coming, I said, ‘Well, second ain’t bad,’ ” he said. “Then I saw her in the stretch fighting again and I said, ‘Wow, she’s got a shot here.’ We wound up better today than her.”

Schettino wasn’t surprised by the grit Bernietakescharge showed Wednesday.

“That filly, when she gets to the quarter pole and the stretch, if she is in front, a lot of times, she will continue to grind it out,” he said. “That’s what she does. When that filly got to her, I figured ‘well, that filly is a graded winner.’ Like I said, if she finished second she ran a bang-up race. She was training forwardly and she ran to it today.”

Bernietakescharge is the second foal out of the stakes winning mare Berning Rose, who Schettino trained in 2017 to win the Maid of the Mist Stakes at Belmont Park. Berning Rose, a daughter of Freud, has also produced multiple stakes winner Bernieandtherose, winning mare Berning Honor and an unraced 2-year-old named Roseberns Dream. Bernietakescharge is now a winner of six of 17 starts and has earned $469,580. – Alec DiConza

The post Bank Frenzy bounces back in Commentator; Bernietakescharge does family proud in Critical Eye appeared first on New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. News.

Train the Trainer rolls to victory in Wednesday’s Mike Lee to kick off the New York Showcase Day portion of the card at Saratoga. Coglianese Photo.

Rob Atras picked up the phone to call fellow trainer Mark Glatt shortly after the 3-year-old gelding Train the Trainer showed up at his Belmont Park barn from California this spring with a short assessment.

“Geez, look at this horse. I love this horse,” Atras said, immediately impressed with the New York-bred son of Dialed In. “He was big, strong, (had) good bone on him. Big, tall and the way he carries himself. He has a lot of presence.”

Atras loved Train the Trainer a bit more when he romped to a 5-length victory in his first start in the Empire State and even more after a 2 3/4-length tally to open the New York Showcase Day portion of the card Wednesday at Saratoga Race Course.

Jon Taisey of Hibiscus Stable isn’t surprised by the love. He liked the then colt plenty when he and the Hibiscus team sent him down to Lexington for the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October yearling sale. Hip 590, the ninth foal out of the Forestry mare Heavenly View, attracted plenty of attention on the sales grounds but not a ton of action in the ring.

“I loved him ever since he was a baby,” Taisey said. “I never thought that he was a horse we could really afford to bring back and syndicate, so we brought him to the sale there and honestly was super disappointed when we only got $52,000 for him.”

Glatt purchased the colt, on behalf of Alipony Racing and Saints or Sinners. He eventually went to California, where he didn’t race at 2 before surfacing in a 6-furlong maiden race April 6 at Santa Anita Park. He finished second that day, splitting a pair of Bob Baffert-trained first-time starters Goal Oriented and Sierra Silver.

“He put in a heck of a race and I knew at that point he was the real deal,” Taisey said. “I called the owners and tried to get them to at least send him back or sell him to clients of mine. Well, they decided to send him but not sell him. Mark handed over the reins to Rob and obviously Rob has done a great job with the horse to this point.”

The job now includes back-to-back victories, the latter in 1:23.92 for the 7 furlongs over the fast track in the opening flat stakes of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga. Under Irad Ortiz Jr., Train the Trainer went to post as the 9-5 second choice behind Prince Valiant and five others in the Mike Lee.

Train The Trainer went to the lead from the start and clicked off an opening quarter-mile in :23.09 ahead of Prince Valiant, First Pitch and Soontobeking. He maintained that margin around the far turn and to the half in :46.30.

Ortiz stayed busy on Train the Trainer approaching the stretch and they widened from there, opening up a 2-length lead in midstretch on the way to victory. Soontobeking, second behind Prince Valiant last time out in the Times Square division of the New York Stallion Series Stakes April 13 at Aqueduct, finished a head in front of that same rival for the place spot with Calling Card, First Pitch and Smilensaycheese completing the field. Train The Trainer picked up $110,000 for the win, boosting his bankroll to $167,000.

“Everything you see now started out in California,” Atras said. “They started with him and did all the base work. He had the one race then when we had him we just led him over, stayed out of his way and let him progress. There’s nothing we really did any differently, just let him grow up and get bigger and stronger.”

Foaled at Waldorf Farm in North Chatham, Train the Trainer is a half-brother to six winners out of Heavenly Vision. She’s a half-sister to multiple graded stakes winner and sire Cairo Prince and the Grade 1-placed Empire Maker mare Nonna Mia, the dam of Grade 1 winner Outwork. – Tom Law

Kay Cup holds off her challengers in Wednesday’s Bouwerie Stakes at Saratoga. Coglianese Photo/Chelsea Durand.

• Dan Zanatta walked off the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sales grounds after a long few days of inspections of the New York-bred yearlings in the 2023 catalog. He put a filly from the first crop of Instagrand on the short list of potential purchases for NY Final Furlong Racing Stable, just not quite into the top five prospects.

NY Final Furlong, a partnership operation headed up by Zanatta and Vince Roth perhaps best known for campaigning New York-bred champion Venti Valentine and multiple stakes winner Espresso Shot, exclusively buys fillies to syndicate. Zanatta and Roth, along with members of the Rice family that helps with inspections, liked the filly out of the Lemon Drop Kid mare Gypso Go.

“She was probably a top six filly on our list and honestly, probably at the bottom of the list going into the final day of the selection process,” Zanatta said. “Then the last day she just kept showing better and showing better. She was a filly that every time we looked at her we upgraded her. We ended up upgrading her to the top of the list.”

Bidding through Ricehorse, NY Final Furlong landed the filly for $100,000. Now almost two years later and with Electric City Racing and Sportsmen Stable on board as partners, the filly named Kay Cup continued her ascent up the New York-bred 3-year-old filly ranks thanks to a victory in the $200,000 Bouwerie Stakes on New York Showcase Day.

Kay Cup improved to 2-for-3 with her 3-length win over Charlotte’s Heart in the Bouwerie. Irad Ortiz Jr., who rode two winners on the Showcase Day card, guided Kay Cup to victory for trainer Jorge Abreu in 1:23.79 for the 7 furlongs on the fast main track.

Abreu trained Venti Valentine, recently named 2024 New York-bred champion older dirt female after winning the 2-year-old filly title in 2021, and didn’t hesitate to compare the two after Wednesday’s Bouwerie.

“Since Day 1 we have liked the filly,” Abreu said. “Her presentation in the morning and the way she trains, she’s very professional. Everything about her. She’s never had a bad day and that’s important for fillies. They can go the wrong or right way and she’s always been the right way. She could be the next Venti Valentine.”

Zanatta and Roth actually hoped Kay Cup could follow in the early hoofprints of Venti Valentine and Espresso Shot.

“When we first bought her and after her first race, in my mind this was our Busher horse,” Roth said of the open-company 3-year-old filly stakes typically run in early March at Aqueduct. “We won the Busher with Espresso Shot, we won the Busher with Venti Valentine. She had a slight setback and needed some time off, so we couldn’t get her ready for that race. We brought he back and she won at Aqueduct (in an April 27 maiden) and now we have a new plan in mind.

“I don’t know if Jorge is going to like this but I told him there’s a couple pretty big races in August at Saratoga that I’d like to see her in.”

Bred by Caperlane Farm and sold at the 2023 Saratoga New York-bred sale by Hunter Valley Farm, agent, Kay Cup is the second foal out of the winning Gypsy Jo.

Kay Cup is also part-owned by ESPN Radio personality Anita Marks through America’s Best Racing’s “A Stake in Stardom” program made popular this spring thanks to social media influencer Griffin Johnson’s part ownership of Grade 1 winner and classics competitor Sandman. Kay Cup picked up $110,000 for the Bouwerie victory to boost her bankroll to $161,500. – Tom Law

The post Train the Trainer dominates Mike Lee; Kay Cup improves to 2-for-3 in Bouwerie appeared first on New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. News.

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.

Among this week's rulings, trainer Efren Loza Jr. has been suspended an additional four years and fined a total of $38,000 (including arbitration costs) for a Clenbuterol positive stemming from last September, adding to an 18-month suspension he is already serving, again for a Clenbuterol positive.

According to the arbitrator's final decision, an out-of-competition hair test taken from Lucago on Sept. 3 last year returned positive findings for the controversial bronchodilator Clenbuterol, which is banned under HISA except under certain circumstances.

At the time that sample was pulled, Loza was not the covered person responsible for Lucago, and was already serving his 18-month suspension. Loza had officially transferred responsibility for Lucago to trainer Luis Ramirez on June 20 last year.

But according to the arbitrator's ruling based on expert testimony, the Clenbuterol had been administered prior to the June 20 switch in responsibility. “Based on sound scientific reasoning-and common sense-Lucago's exposure to clenbuterol had to have occurred prior to June 3, 2024,” the ruling states.

In Loza's post-hearing brief, he argued that the most plausible explanation for the positive was accidental contamination. Loza's current 18 month suspension ends Oct. 16 this year. This additional four-year suspension begins the same day.

Resolved ADMC Violations
Date: 06/03/2025
Licensee: Samuel Valdivia, 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 Isoflupredone–a controlled substance (Class C)–in a sample taken from Computing Champ, who finished second at Will Rogers on 4/29/25.

Date: 06/03/2025
Licensee: Steve Williams, 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. Final decision by HIWU.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone–a controlled substance (Class C)–in a sample taken from Gospel Mark, who finished second at Will Rogers on 4/21/25.

Date: 06/03/2025
Licensee: Glenn Wismer, trainer
Penalty: 7-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on June 4; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $1,000; imposition of 2 Penalty Points. Admission.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine–a controlled substance (Class B)–in a sample taken from Ask Arthur, who finished fifth at Keeneland on 4/19/25.

Date: 06/02/2025
Licensee: Efren Loza Jr., trainer
Penalty: Four (4) year period of Ineligibility, beginning on October 16, 2025; $30,000 fine; payment of $8,000 toward the arbitration costs of the proceeding; and (14) month period of Ineligibility for the Covered Horse Lucago, beginning on April 3, 2024. Final decision by arbitral body.
Explainer: Out-of-competition medication violation for the use or attempted use of Clenbuterol–a banned substance except in strict circumstances–on the horse, Lucago.

Date: 05/30/2025
Licensee: Gregory Foley, trainer
Penalty: A fine of $500 per violation, for a total of $1,000; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points per violation, for a total of 3 Penalty Points. Final decision by HIWU.
Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Dexamethasone and Phenylbutazone–both controlled substances (Class C)–in a sample taken from Hard to Get on 4/15/25.

Date: 05/30/2025
Licensee: Dr. Margaret Smyth, veterinarian
Penalty: Three (3) month period of Ineligibility, beginning on Aug. 5.
Explainer: Possession of Pitcher Plant Extract (Sarapin), Levothyroxine and Hemo 15–all banned substances–for an event dated 10/4/23.

Date: 05/30/2025
Licensee: Dr. Barbara Hippie, veterinarian
Penalty: Three (3) month period of Ineligibility, beginning on May 30, with a credit of twenty-five (25) days for the Provisional Suspension served in 2023. Admission.
Explainer: Possession of Clodronate (Bisphosphonate), Pitcher Plant Extract (Sarapin), Levothyroxine, Isoxsuprine and Hemo 15–all banned substances–for an event dated 9/28/23.

Date: 05/29/2025
Licensee: Emmanuel Tzortzakis, trainer
Penalty: 15-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on May 30, 2025; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $2,500; imposition of 2 Penalty Points. Admission.
Explainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Cannabidiol (CBD)–a controlled substance (Class B)–in a sample taken from Whoosh on 3/18/25.

Pending ADMC Violations
06/03/2025, Jorge Abreu, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Dantrolene–a controlled substance (Class C)–in a sample taken from Curlin's Angel on 5/2/25.

06/03/2025, Luis Fernando Gonzalez, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone and Flunixin–a controlled substance (Class C)–in a sample taken from Swen on 5/2/25.

06/02/2025, Mike Miceli, trainer: Pending medication violations for the presence of Dexamethasone–a controlled substance (Class C)–in samples taken from Montauk Mystique, who finished second at Aqueduct on 3/28/25, and from Mighty Atlas who won at Aqueduct on 3/21/25.

05/29/2025, Carmelo Ortiz-Ruiz, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone–a controlled substance (Class C)–in a sample taken from Boxster on 4/6/25.

Violations of Crop Rule
Belterra Park
Antioco Murgia–violation date May 29; $250 fine, one-day suspension

Churchill Downs
Abel Cedillo–violation date May 29; $1,500 fine, three-day suspension

Gulfstream Park
Miguel Angel Vasquez–violation date May 30; $250 fine, one-day suspension

Hawthorne
Alexis Centeno–violation date May 29; $250 fine, one-day suspension

The post Weekly National Regulatory Rulings, May 29-June 4 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY — While the rematch between GI Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty (Into Mischief) and GI Preakness Stakes winner Journalism (Curlin) has received top billing, the camp surrounding the blue-blooded Baeza (McKinzie) sees a slightly different storyline ahead of Saturday's GI Belmont Stakes at Saratoga.

“They talk about the challenge of the two of them. I think it's more the challenge of the three of us,” said Lee Searing of C R K Stable, who campaigns Baeza in partnership with the colt's breeder Robert Clay of Grandview Equine.

“This horse can really run.”

Baeza rallied smartly for third at odds of 13-1–beaten 1 3/4 lengths by Sovereignty and just a neck for second by Journalism–after somewhat of an eventful journey on the first Saturday in May.

Widest of all in post 19 after drawing in off the also-eligible list, Baeza was bumped and steadied beneath Flavien Prat at a very crucial juncture at the five-sixteenths and came flying home while completely covered in mud to pass the top two shortly after the wire.

Baeza was previously a fantastic second to Journalism while making his stakes debut in the GI Santa Anita Derby.

Baeza in front past the wire in the Kentucky Derby | Coady Media

“We only got beat a neck for second, and we didn't have the greatest of trips, either,” Searing said. “We had one of the best riders in the world riding him and he blames himself for the path he took. The stretch he had to move him in and out and he finally got free.”

C R K Stable (those are the initials of Lee and Susan Searing's three adult children–Christina, Richard and Katherine) has also finished a rallying fourth with GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby winner Honor A. P. (Honor Code) in the COVID-delayed Kentucky Derby in 2020 and a troubled 13th with Candy Boy (Candy Ride {Arg}) in 2014. Skinner (Curlin) was scratched due to a fever from the 2023 Run for the Roses.

“When you start going to the racetrack when you're eight years old, which goes back to 70 years ago, you start hearing about the big races, the great jockeys and great horses, and the Kentucky Derby comes right up,” Searing said.

“Then you go through the years and think, 'Can I ever get a horse good enough to go?' We've had four and we haven't had a clean trip yet. It's a dream to win it. I have some really nice horses for next year and we'll try again. But the focus right now is on Baeza.”

And, of course, that pedigree page of his.

Hailing from the first crop of McKinzie, Baeza brought $1.2 million to top the third session of the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling sale.

Baeza strikes a pose at the Spa | Sarah Andrew

He can become an unprecedented third American Classic winner for Broodmare of the Year and 'TDN Rising Star' Puca (Big Brown), who has also produced 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mage (Good Magic) and last year's Belmont Stakes winner Dornoch (Good Magic). Only Better Than Honour has produced back-to-back Belmont winners–Jazil (2006) and Rags to Riches (2007).

The 13-year-old Puca, also responsible for a Good Magic colt of 2024 and a Good Magic filly of this year, sold to John Stewart for $2.9 million at the 2023 Keeneland November Sale.

“The quality of his breeding and the bloodlines that he comes from–I have a partner in Robert Clay that bred him and is sitting on the fact that mare would be the first to have three winners in Triple Crown races,” Searing said. “He's a great man, good partner and fun to be around. We're both gonna root really hard. God, if he gets it done it will be a tremendous feat.”

The purple-and-yellow colors of C R K Stable (Searing's silks pay homage to the Los Angeles Lakers and the late Kobe Bryant) have been carried by 1,713 starters (according to Equibase stats), including Grade I winners Beyond Brilliant, Express Train and Switch. Just never one at the Spa.

“I've never run a horse at Saratoga,” said Searing, who will also be represented by 'TDN Rising Star' Justique (Justify) in Friday's GII Bed o' Roses S. “That's an amazing statistic as many good horses as we've had.”

Lee Searing | Photos by Z

Searing, the CEO of Searing Industries, a California- and Wyoming-based, family-run business specializing in manufacturing steel-tubing products, will have another rooting interest of sorts via the aforementioned Honor A. P., who is the sire of Heart of Honor (GB), a 30-1 longshot in the Belmont Stakes. The sophomore sire stands at Lane's End.

Baeza is listed as the third choice at 4-1.

“It's gonna be fun going to Saratoga and it's gonna be fun watching the race,” Searing said. “I think with a good track–seven, eight horses–and a clean trip, it's gonna be a really really good horse race. But I think we got a really good horse.”

The post Baeza Gets Another Shot at Kentucky Derby Top Two in Belmont Stakes appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.–The sting of missing the GI Kentucky Derby has faded. Ditto for the GI Preakness Stakes.

Rodriguez (Authentic) is well rested, healthy and a ready to roll 'TDN Rising Star.' The colt, trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, will make his Triple Crown debut in Saturday's GI $2 million Belmont Stakes at Saratoga Race Course.

Owned by SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert Masterson, Tom Ryan, Waves Edge Capital LLC and Catherine Donovan, Rodriguez turned heads earlier this year when he rolled to a front-running 3 1/2-length win the GII Wood Memorial at Aqueduct Apr. 5.

Baffert had to scratch Rodriguez from the Kentucky Derby due to a foot issue; that kept him out of the Preakness, too.

Rodriguez, who will be ridden by Hall of Famer Mike Smith, is 6-1 on the Belmont morning line.

“It was unfortunate we could not make the Derby,” Baffert said on the Saratoga backstretch Wednesday morning. “We tried to make the Preakness, and we just needed some extra time. We took him back home and felt if we could get him going good and get him back to where he was … his last works were good enough to bring him up here.”

Rodriguez looks sharp | Sarah Andrew

The Belmont strategy for Rodriguez is simple enough. Let the big horse roll.

“We know what his style is,” Baffert said. “He needs to be out there running. We tried rating him and he just doesn't like it; he wants no part of it. We will just let him do his thing. If he does it, he does it.”

Other trainers in the Belmont are well aware of Rodriguez's ability on the front end. It was some comfort to them when Crudo (Justify) was entered at the last minute. He has two wins in three starts (by a combined 14 1/2 lengths) and both of them came on the lead. He could keep Rodriguez company.

“You always have to be concerned with a Bob Baffert horse,” said Michael McCarthy, the trainer of Belmont 8-5 morning-line favorite Journalism (Curlin). “His works, from what I can tell, have been very good.”

Baffert said Rodriguez is a horse he thinks will get better as he gets older. Whether he is ready to jump up and be a major player in the Belmont remains to be seen.

“This is a good crop of 3-year-olds,” he said. “We just don't know how he is going to stack up. He won the Wood, but this is a different kind of field of horses. He is running against the best.”

Casse Hoping Nitrogen Still Has The Gas

Ask Mark Casse who the best 3-year-old grass filly in the land is and he'll point to his barn.

Of course, he'll tell you, that is Nitrogen (Medaglia d'Oro).

She has won all four of her starts this year–three of them graded stakes–and will shoot for No. 5 on Saturday. Nitrogen is the even-money morning-line favorite in the GIII Wonder Again, a 1 1/16-mile event on the inner turf course.

“I hope she remains at the top of the heap,” Casse said outside his barn on the Saratoga backstretch Wednesday morning.

Nitrogen turf move | Sarah Andrew

Casse admits the success of the filly, owned by D J Stable LLC, came as a surprise.

When she was two, Nitrogen was winless in three starts but the light came on in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar when she was third at 49-1.

She has won at four different race tracks this year, the latest win coming in the GII Edgewood Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Churchill Downs May 2. Jockey Jose Ortiz has been aboard for all four wins.

“She just runs faster than everyone else,” Casse said. “She is quiet and will shut off and you can place her wherever you want. If the pace is fast, she will be up close. If it isn't–if she needs to–she will sit off.”

Casse has trained some good fillies during his Hall of Fame career, the best being Tepin (Bernstein), who was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2022 after winning 13 of 23 career starts.

Casse was not about to compare the two horses but did offer this:

“At this point of her career, she is much better than Tepin was,” Casse said. “Tepin did not really take off until she was four. She struggled at three and excelled at four. This one has done a lot more at three than Tepin ever did. Excited? How can you not be excited?”

Pletcher Will Keep His Big Horses Separated As Long As He Can

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher has three of the best older horses in training in 4-year-olds Fierceness (City of Light), Mindframe (Constitution) and Locked (Gun Runner)–all are 'TDN Rising Stars.' His job is to keep them away from each other for as long as he can.

So far, so good.

Fierceness up close | Sarah Andrew

Fierceness will represent the Big Three on Saturday in the $1 million GI Metropolitan Handicap at Saratoga.  He is the even-money morning-line favorite.

Mindframe has won both his starts this year, the last being the GI Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby Day. He will head back to Louisville June 28 for the GI Stephen Foster.

Locked, winner of the GI Santa Anita Handicap earlier this year, is being pointed to the GII Suburban Stakes at Saratoga on the Fourth of July.

Eventually, the stablemates will meet, but the longer Pletcher can keep them apart, the better.

“After (the Suburban), we will see,” Pletcher said outside his barn on the Oklahoma Training Track.

Fierceness won his 2025 debut with a 1 1/2-length win in the GII Alysheba May 2 at Churchill. Owned by Derrick Smith, Repole Stable. Michael Tabor and Mrs. John Magnier, Fierceness is three-for-three at Saratoga, his biggest win being last year's GI Travers.

“He has put on weight, and he has gotten stronger,” Pletcher said. “He has always been a laid-back horse to train. He is kind of unassuming until you breeze him. When you breeze him, he will go as good as you want him to go. On his daily gallops he is more laid back.”

Hall of Famer John Velazquez, who has ridden Fierceness in his last eight starts, will ride.

The post Rodriguez Finally Gets His Chance In Triple Crown Finale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Nitrogen aims to keep her flawless 2025 record intact as she goes for her fifth straight victory in the June 7 Wonder Again Stakes (G2T) at Saratoga Race Course.

Outfinishing his rivals after jumping the final fence, Bruton Street-US's Proven Innocent drew clear under Freddie Procter to win the $150,000 Beverly R. Steinman Hurdle Handicap (NSA-G1) June 4 at Saratoga Race Course.

Think Big will look to continue his ascent up the ladder as the nation's top turf sprinter when he goes for grade 1 glory in the $500,000 Jaipur Stakes (G1T) June 7 at Saratoga Race Course.

WinStar Farm's Mullikin, winner of the 2024 Forego Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course, is the 2-1 morning-line favorite as he returns June 7 to the scene of his most important win in a very competitive edition of the $400,000 True North Stakes (G3).

Ocala Breeders' Sales Company announced June 4 that a total of 83 horses have been supplemented to the June Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training and Horses of Racing Age taking place June 17-18.