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Fasig-Tipton has catalogued 143 offerings for its April Digital Sale, which includes a pair of broodmares closely related to Derby and Oaks contenders. Bidding is now open through Tuesday, Apr. 21, when the online event begins to close at 2 p.m. ET., the auction company said in a press release on Thursday.

“With more than 140 catalogued, up more than a third from last year's catalogue, the April Digital Sale catalogue shows the continued strength and popularity of our digital platform,” Fasig-Tipton Director of Digital Sales Leif Aaron said.

“Offerings include more than 65 horses of racing age, as well as stakes quality broodmare prospects, broodmares–including mares with foals at foot–more than 25 two-year-olds in training, and yearlings,” he added. “We're particularly excited to offer a pair of broodmares closely related to current Kentucky Derby and Oaks contenders.”

The hip with the Derby connection during the sale is Desert Illusion (Sky Mesa) (hip 5). Owned and consigned by Leo and Sarah Dooley of Norevale Farm, the 13-year-old mare is a full-sister to the dam of 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard,' and GI Toyota Blue Grass Stakes winner Further Ado (Gun Runner).

According to Sarah Dooley, the timing for the online auction could not have been better.

“Fasig-Tipton leaves no stone unturned and you can bounce ideas off of them as you navigate the world of digital sales,” Dooley said. “Once the catalogue goes live, you really see how much effort they put into the highlights. Leo did a video with Jesse [Ullery] and they are just really open when it comes to what we wanted to do.”

The Dooleys purchased Desert Illusion for $37,000 at the 2023 Keeneland November Sale while her third foal by Maclean's Music was in utero. Out of that trio, current 3-year-old Marsood ran third behind Six Speed (Not This Time) on debut at Meydan back in early December.

Desert Illusion's colt by Girvin (hip 5) | courtesy of Fasig-Tipton

Desert Illusion is being offered with her colt by Girvin, who was foaled at the farm Feb. 14. Dooley said that their mare is confirmed in foal to Locked (by Gun Runner).

“We have tried to use Girvin as much as possible and are eagerly awaiting his first-crop of Kentucky breds to hit the track this year,” said Dooley. “The foal has a huge walk, is really well-made and he's got a great engine. We chose to send Desert Illusion to Locked and take advantage of a similar Gun Runner cross that makes that potential produce very closely related to Further Ado.”

The attention that one of the leading Derby hopefuls has generated with that massive update was a welcome surprise to the owners of Norevale, but Sarah Dooley said that this is a deep family as well.

“This is the kind of mare you want with a deep page,” she said. “Her second dam is champion Beautiful Pleasure (Maudlin), and if you go look up and down it then you just say 'holy cow' that's got some depth. We are expecting a lot of traffic over the weekend, so if you give Leo a call he can set you up with a farm visit to see them both.”

Featured offerings include:

• Citizen Judy (American Freedom) (hip 15): Four-year-old half-sister to recent GI Central Bank Ashland Stakes winner and GI Longines Kentucky Oaks hopeful Percy's Bar (Upstart) is offered carrying her first foal by Girvin. Consigned by Eaton Sales, agent;
• X Y Prime (hip 2): Four-year-old son of Vekoma is a two-time winner this year, which includes clearing an allowance race at Gulfstream Park Mar. 28. Consigned as a horse of racing age by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent;
• Heavenly Melody (hip 9): Promising 3-year-old daughter by Charlatan was second last out in a maiden special weight at the Fair Grounds Mar. 21. Consigned as a racing/broodmare prospect by Heartwood Farm, agent;
• 65-plus horses of racing age;
• 25-plus 2-year-olds in-training;
• Stakes quality broodmare prospects;
• Yearlings.

Click here to create an account or register to bid for the April Digital Sale.

The post A Pair Of Broodmares Closely Related To Derby, Oaks Contenders On Offer At FT April Digital appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Gary and Mary West's GII Gulfstream Park Oaks winner Prom Queen (Quality Road) continued her preparation for the GI Longines Kentucky Oaks with a five-furlong move in 1:01.40 Thursday morning at Churchill Downs, according to a press release from the track on Thursday morning.

Prom Queen, a 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard', breezed at 9:15 a.m. ET with Edvin Vargas in the irons. She completed an opening quarter-mile in :25.80 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:13.80, according to Churchill Downs clocker John Nichols.

“It was a solid move from her,” trainer Brad Cox said. “She did things very easily on her own and traveled well over the surface.”

The homebred is out of the Tapit mare Miss Bling Bling. Prom Queen scored a convincing 2 3/4-length victory in the Mar. 28 Gulfstream Park Oaks.

Friday's work tab at Churchill Downs is expected to include GI Kentucky Derby contenders Commandment (Into Mischief), Fulleffort (Liam's Map) and 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard', Further Ado (Gun Runner).

Also scheduled to work is Stark Contrast (Caravaggio), who appears more likely to run in the GI American Turf Stakes instead of the Derby.

Saturday's work tab is scheduled to include GII Wood Memorial winner Albus (Yaupon) and runner-up Right to Party (Constitution).

The Kentucky Derby Morning Works Show will return Friday with 14 consecutive days of live coverage. Airing daily from 6:45-7:45 a.m. (all times Eastern), the one-hour program will be streamed live on the Kentucky Derby Facebook Page, YouTube and X accounts.

At Keeneland, GI Central Bank Ashland Stakes winner Percy's Bar worked a half-mile in :47 over a fast track. The time was the fastest for 30 works at the distance on Thursday morning.

“It was a good work and she did it well within herself,” trainer Ben Colebrook said. “I am not worried about her bouncing off the layoff. We thought the best route [to get to the Kentucky Oaks] was to get the one prep and move on from there.”

The post ‘Rising Star’ Prom Queen Puts In Drill For Oaks At Churchill Downs appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Hip 437, a daughter of Omaha Beach bred by Charlie Engel, sold for $650,000 Wednesday at the OBS April 2-year-old sale. Photo courtesy of Harris Training Center.

Ten more New York-breds sold for $100,000 or more Wednesday at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co.’s April 2-year-old sale, including a colt by Central Banker that brought $325,000 and a filly by Honest Mischief that commanded $300,000 to highlight the second session.

The second session also saw the $650,000 sale of Hip 437, a filly by Omaha Beach foaled in New York and purchased by Alex and JoAnn Lieblong.

Bred by Charlie F. Engel and consigned by Harris Training Center, agent, the filly is out of the Distorted Humor mare Alma Llanera. She’s the dam of nine-time winner and $179,283-earner Holiday Jazz, the winning Freud mare Artistic Success and the unraced 3-year-old Tiz the Law colt Cop a Plea who sold for $110,000 at the 2024 Keeneland September sale.

Engel also bred Alma Llanera’s New York-bred yearling filly by Jack Christopher. The Omaha Beach filly originally sold for $120,000 at last year’s Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October sale.

OBS reported sales on 16 of the 21 New York-breds through the ring during Wednesday’s session for a total of $2,807,000, an average price of $175,438 and median of $145,000. Overall, 36 of the 42 New York-breds through the ring have sold for $5,119,000, an average price of $142,194 and median of $100,000.

Twenty New York-breds have sold for $100,000 or more including five that have brought $300,000 or more during the first two sessions, including the pair by New York-based sires.

Hip 508, a colt by leading New York sire Central Banker bred by Jillys Fillys Stable, brought $325,000 Wednesday at OBS April. Photo courtesy of McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds.

Hip 508, a colt by four-time leading New York sire Central Banker and full brother to four-time winner and $112,133-earner Lockbox, brought $325,000 from Kimmel/Salusto, agent for Winning Move Stable and IEE Racing.

Bred by Jillys Fillys Stable LLC, foaled at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds in Saratoga Springs and consigned by McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds, agent, the filly is the fourth foal out of the winning City Zip mare Barrier to Entry.

Central Banker, a 16-year-old son of Speightstown out of the stakes-winning Go For Gin mare Rhum, stands for $7,500 at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds in Saratoga Springs. He topped the New York general sire list from 2021 through 2024 and came into Thursday ranked third on this year’s list with more than $843,000 in progeny earnings.

Leland Ackerley Racing went to $300,000 for Hip 311, a filly by 2024 leading New York freshman sire Honest Mischief.

Bred by Sequel Thoroughbreds LLC and Lakland Farm, foaled at Sequel Stallions New York in Hudson and consigned by Sequel Bloodstock, agent, the filly is the third foal out of the winning Tiznow mare Tiz Bailee.

Honest Mischief, a 10-year-old son of Into Mischief out of the Grade 1-winning Seattle Slew mare Honest Lady, stands for $7,500 at Sequel Stallions New York in Hudson. New York’s leading freshman sire in 2024, Honest Mischief came into Thursday ranked fifth on the state’s general sire list with more than $591,000 in progeny earnings.

The four-day OBS April sale continues with the third session at 10:30 a.m. Thursday.

The post Juveniles by Central Banker, Honest Mischief among Day 2 top sellers at OBS April sale appeared first on New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. News.

1S/T president Aidan Butler implores the Thoroughbred industry to put its support behind the SAFE Act, showing a "firm commitment to equine welfare."

In this month's At the Track with Sean Collins: Prepared to host the long-anticipated third round of Sovereignty vs. Journalism April 18, Oaklawn Park's investment in its facility and fan base has set the stage for one of racing's premier events.

The 2026 Oaklawn Handicap (G1) feels like a throwback race to a bygone era in sport where true horse racing heavyweights of the handicap/older male division would meet regularly in marquee stakes across the country.

Hawthorne Race Course finalized plans April 15 to start its delayed 2026 Thoroughbred meeting April 19, its first day of operations since filing for bankruptcy protection.

As Day 2 of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale drew to a close, Machmer Hall celebrated a $1.2 million success when its colt by Cyberknife sold to John Sadler and L.E.B., agents for West Point Thoroughbreds and Mike Talla.

Although trade remained behind the giddy highs of last year, the April 15 second session of the Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up Sale did at least prove more solid than the first. 

The 6-year-old son of English Channel aims to be fourth horse to accomplish this feat at Keeneland.

Grade 1 winner King of Gosford seeks to reclaim his Santa Anita Park throne April 18 when he returns from a 7 1/2-month layoff in the $100,000 American Stakes (G3T).

Haulin Ice will make her next start on grass, pointing to the May 1 Unbridled Sidney Stakes (G2T) at Churchill Downs, which could be a potential turf showdown with reigning champion female sprinter Shisospicy.

Frosted, best known for a record-breaking performance in the 2016 Metropolitan Handicap (G1), was euthanized because of an acute episode of laminitis April 15 at Darley's Jonabell Farm.

Former stakes-winning jockey Nelson Arroyo's transition to pinhooking has been a major success, culminating in a standout performance April 15 at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale.

Nafisa looks for another graded stakes win in the April 19 Santa Maria Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park.

The Jackie's Warrior filly cataloged as Hip 570 breached the $2 million threshold, selling for $2.3 million on Day 2 of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale. During the under-tack show, she was one of six to work in :09 3/5.

Prominent sires surface deep in the female families of a pair of juveniles cataloged for the third session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale.

Resolute Racing's Volendam comes in off an impressive debut and leads a field of 10 in the $150,000 Federico Tesio Stakes at Laurel Park April 18.

Newgate announced its service fees for the year, with Extreme Choice leading the way. The farm is home to 15 powerful stallions.

Flying Fizz, a daughter of Street Boss, tops the Inglis Digital Early April Sale. She will be immediately retired and sent straight to stud.