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A date with Wootton Bassett awaits Zougotcha after the triple group 1-winning mare was acquired by Coolmore Stud for a cool AU$5.25 million (about US$3,382,000) on a day of titanic trading at the Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale.

In Clover has died at the age of 23 following a short illness. George Strawbridge's homebred blue hen is the dam of nine winners, including four who struck in group 1 company, namely We Are, Call The Wind, With You, and Friendly Soul. 

Kyprios has been hailed "the most incredible horse with a concrete mind" by Aidan O'Brien following the retirement of one of the greatest stayers of all time May 27.

Excitement is building as the town of Saratoga Springs in New York prepares to host the Belmont Stakes for the second consecutive year.

Front-runners Skelly and World Record, respectively coming off rapid six-furlong victories in 1:08.15 and 1:07.84, square off at Churchill Downs May 31 in a seven-horse renewal of the $275,000 Aristides Stakes (G3).

After his hard-fought victory in the Claiming Crown Rapid Transit last November at Churchill Downs, Like a Saltshaker was named Claiming Crown Horse of the Year for 2024.

2024 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mystik Dan makes his first start at Churchill Downs since his successful Run for the Roses, but has a tough task entered against a deep field of graded winners in the $275,000 Blame Stakes (G3) May 31.

TJC Innovations announces several enhancements to TLore, a racehorse management service that offers web-based and app versions for trainers and owners.

Arriving stateside early last year, King of Gosford's steady rise up the ranks culminated in a powerful late move that carried the 4-year-old Zoustar colt to victory in the $302,000 Shoemaker Mile Stakes (G1T) at Santa Anita Park.

Right after winning the Gamely Stakes with Be Your Best, trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. added the Hollywood Gold Cup with Skippylongstocking.

A less-than-stellar start and a sloppy track did nothing to stop Komorebino Omoide (JPN) from proving he was much the best in the $400,000 Steve Sexton Mile (G3) May 26 at Lone Star Park.

Mike Ryan's homebred Be Your Best dominated the $300,000 Gamely Stakes (G1T) to win by 2 3/4 lengths, earning her first grade 1 victory and first ever win at Santa Anita for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.

Returning from a six-month layoff, Two Sharp rocketed out of the gate and saved enough energy for the wire as she won the $250,000 Winning Colors Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs May 26.

On the May 26 episode of BloodHorse Monday, Baeza's co-owner and breeder Robert Clay of Grandview Equine discusses the colt's chances and the legacy of Baeza's dam Puca, who has already produced two classic winners.

Zougotcha, the triple group 1-winning 5-year-old by prominent sire Zoustar, looks to be the likely standout at Magic Million's National Broodmare Sale that begins May 27. A total of 486 mares will be offered.

Brilliant Berti returns May 31 in the $275,000 Arlington Stakes (G3T) going 1 1/16 miles at Churchill Downs, a course where he is a perfect 4-for-4. He will take on Carl Pollard's Mercante, recently second in the May 3 Turf Classic Stakes (G1T).

Three-time grade 1 winner Carl Spackler is set to be an exciting addition to this year's Royal Ascot line-up after he was purchased by Yulong Investments and sent to be trained in Australia. 

Two Sharp, making her first start since last November, went wire-to-wire to earn her third straight victory in the GIII Winning Colors Stakes at Churchill Downs Monday. The bay filly went quickly to the early lead from her outside post and scampered away as favored Hope Road tried to go with her early. She was clear through fractions of :21.14 and :43.99–the fastest half-mile in the race that dates back to 2004. Hope Road attempted to reel her in down the lane, but Two Sharp kept finding more and was well in control to the wire as longshot Benedetta overtook the favorite late for second.

“It's not about how fast you're going, it's about how you're going when you're going fast,” winning jockey Junior Alvarado said. “She was incredible today. She broke sharp and just took me to the lead and did everything so easily.”

Two Sharp was tabbed a 'TDN Rising Star' following an 11 1/4-length maiden score at Saratoga last August. She was beaten just a neck by Brightwork (Outwork) in the Aug. 31 GIII Prioress Stakes, but returned to the winner's circle with a 6 1/4-length victory in an Oct. 12 allowance at Keeneland. She stretched her speed out to a mile when securing a 5 3/4-length triumph in the Nov. 23 GIII Chilukki Stakes last time out.

“She's so talented and to run that well fresh was really exciting to see,” winning trainer Phil Bauer said. “It's obviously a great starting point. She's ultra-talented. She's proved that she can handle at least a mile, so we'll see where we'll go from here.”

Pedigree Notes:

One of 24 graded winners for her sire Twirling Candy, Two Sharp is the only foal out of Double Sharp, a daughter of multiple graded winner Bsharpsonata and a half-sister to graded-placed Play It Loud (Unbridled's Song). The mare was purchased by Woods Edge Farm for $255,000 at the 2017 Keeneland November sale.

Monday, Churchill Downs
WINNING COLORS S.-GIII, $250,000, Churchill Downs, 5-26, 4yo/up, f/m, 6f, 1:08.75, ft.
1–TWO SHARP, 118, f, 4, by Twirling Candy
1st Dam: Double Sharp, by Distorted Humor
2nd Dam: Bsharpsonata, by Pulpit
3rd Dam: Apasionata Sonata, by Affirmed
'TDN Rising Star' ($925,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Rigney Racing LLC; B-Woods Edge Farm LLC (KY); T-Philip A Bauer; J-Junior Alvarado. $151,520. Lifetime Record: 6-4-2-0, $518,218. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Benedetta, 118, f, 4, City of Light–Tessie Flip, by Grand Slam. ($290,000 RNA Ylg '22 KEESEP; $750,000 2yo '23 OBSMAR). O-Kaleem Shah Inc; B-Springhouse Farm & Dromoland Farm (KY); T-Steven M Asmussen. $49,200.
3–Hope Road, 118, f, 4, Quality Road–Marley's Freedom, by Blame. ($575,000 RNA Ylg '22 FTSAUG). O/B-Cicero Farms LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert. $24,600.
Margins: 3HF, 3/4, HF. Odds: 1.91, 23.48, 0.85.
Also Ran: Brightwork, Mink's Palace, Miss Arlington, Into Champagne. Scratched: Easy Red, Harbor Springs. Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

The post Twirling Candy’s Two Sharp Scampers off to Victory in Churchill’s Winning Colors appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Tacony Road and Emanuel De Diego rally on the outside to win Monday’s George W. Barker at Finger Lakes. SV Photography.

Tim Murphy’s homebred Tacony Road rallied from off the pace to upset the battling favored duo Looms Boldly and Lady’s Golden Guy in Monday’s $50,000 George W. Barker Stakes at Finger Lakes.

Sent off as the second longest shot in the field of six at 20-1, Tacony Road made a sustained run around the far turn and through the stretch to win the 6-furlong Memorial Day feature by a length over Lady’s Golden Guy. Multiple stakes winner and 1-2 favorite Looms Boldly finished another head back in third in his attempt to get back to the winning form that saw him land the John Morrissey Handicap last summer at Saratoga Race Course.

Tacony Road landed his first stakes victory in his third stakes attempt, after finishing sixth in the 2023 New York Derby and third in last year’s Leon Reed Memorial, both at Finger Lakes. The 5-year-old Klimt gelding came into the Barker off a third behind Lady’s Golden Guy and stablemate Rhymes Like Dimes in an open-company allowance May 6 at Finger Lakes.

Murphy also trains Tacony Road, who was ridden to victory in the Barker by Emanuel De Diego. Tacony Road won in 1:12.71.

Lady’s Golden Guy, the 2-1 second choice, came away quick from the gate and opened up on his five rivals early. Looms Boldly made up the deficit and joined the leader through the opening quarter-mile in :22.75 with Tacony Road and Rhymes Like Dimes chasing the top pair while racing side-by-side up the backstretch.

Looms Boldly put a head in front around the far turn and clicked past the half in :45.96 with a determined Lady’s Golden Guy hanging tough on the rail. The two leaders continued their battle into the stretch and past 5 furlongs in :58.93 before Tacony Road emerged on the scene late and won going away. Royal Suspect, Rhymes Like Dimes and Take the Gold completed the field.

Tacony Road is the first foal out of the multiple stakes-winning Nobiz Like Shobiz mare Fingerpainter, who Murphy also trained. Bred in New York by Richard and Kay Zwirn, Fingerpainter won six of 16 starts and earned $148,347. Second at 2 in the Shesastonecoldfox Stakes at Finger Lakes, she returned at 3 to win the Niagara Stakes and Arctic Queen Stakes.

Fingerpainter is also the dam of the winning New York-bred Firing Line gelding Paint the Line and the 2-year-old New York-bred Take Charge Indy filly Our Girl Indy. Fingerpainter is also the dam of a colt by Vekoma born February 21 and named Fly Vekoma Fly.

Tacony Road improved to 6-for-22 with the Barker victory and boosted his earnings to $149,683.

The post Tacony Road rallies to upset George W. Barker appeared first on New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. News.

Three-time grade 1 winner Carl Spackler is set to be an exciting addition to this year's Royal Ascot line-up after he was purchased by Yulong Investments and sent to be trained in Australia.