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Jockey Manny Franco had a banner day at Keeneland April 7, earning back-to-back stakes victories in the rescheduled $400,000 Lafayette Stakes aboard Colloquial and the $600,000 Transylvania Stakes (G3T) with Test Score.

On day 2 of the under tack show for the Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale, Hip 181, a filly by Yaupon, breezed the fastest quarter in :20 2/5. A total of eight juveniles breezed an eighth of a mile in :09 4/5 to tie for the fastest time at an eighth.

The $750,000 Ashland Stakes (G1) was essentially over as soon as it started as La Cara bounced beautifully from her No. 2 post position, took command, and never looked back en route to victory by about a half-length at Keeneland April 7.

Trainer Mark Casse joins the April 7 BloodHorse Monday podcast to discuss Sandman and the fight against decoupling. Also, OBS president Tom Ventura previews the spring sale and co-hosts Louie Rabaut and Sean Collins recap recent Derby preps.

At the close of the Inglis Easter Sale April 7, the average was AU$451,913—smashing last year's record of AU$426,447. The gross stood at AU$150 million, only down AU$1.8 million on 2024 despite only 332 lots being sold.

Steve Luhn's 'Winning Colors' will grace the Preakness 150 merchandise after the piece was selected as the winner of the 'Art of Racing' competition celebrating the Preakness Stakes. Luhn beat out over 250 submissions to earn the honor.

“My representation of horse racing captures the dynamic energy and excitement of the sport,” said Luhn. “Bold, vibrant colors and striking visual elements convey the intensity of the race, with the horse mid-gallop, jockey leaning forward, creating a sense of speed and competition.”

As the winner of the fourth-annual competition, Luhn received a $4,000 prize and two VIP tickets to Preakness 150 to be held Saturday, May 17. Additionally, his work will be reproduced on a curated collection of Preakness 150 merchandise that will be available for purchase online and onsite during Preakness weekend. All proceeds from the sale of merchandise will be used to advance the activities of Park Heights Renaissance as it pursues affordable housing for families and provides employment opportunities to people of Park Heights.

“The platform given to artists, both amateur and professional, who have entered The Art of Racing competition over the past four years highlights the vibrance and legacy of The Preakness Stakes, especially as we celebrate the historic moment of Preakness 150,” said Audra Madison, Director of Marketing, The Maryland Jockey Club This year marks a significant milestone for submissions and voting, as we see greater engagement than ever before. It brings me joy to see the diverse array of artwork entered into the competition each year, and I hope the community feels the same sense of celebration and pride as we support and uplift our local talent during this remarkable year.”

The full piece can be viewed here.

The post ‘Winning Colors’ Piece Crowned Preakness Art Competition Winner appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Top stallion Ghostzapper leads the nominees for the 2025 Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame finalists which were unveiled Tuesday by the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame Standardbred and Thoroughbred Nomination Committees.

The Class of 2025 will be comprised of six inductees per breed (thoroughbred and standardbred) and provided the option for a Nomination Committee to use only five categories and induct two individuals in one category to meet the total of six inductees per breed. A 20-person Election Committee for each breed will determine, from the list of finalists, the individuals to be inducted in each of the categories, with the results to be announced on Wednesday, April 23rd. The individuals named to the CHRHF Class of 2025 will be formally inducted August 6th.

The six categories selected by the Thoroughbred Nominating Committee for the 2025 Thoroughbred ballot are Builder, Female Horse, Jockey, Male Horse, Trainer and Veteran–Person or Horse. Categories and finalist names in each are presented below in alphabetical order.

• Thoroughbred Builder – John Burness, Ivan Dalos, and Phil Kives.
• Thoroughbred Female Horse – Careless Jewel, Hard Not To Like and Marketing Mix.
• Jockeys – Richard Dos Ramos, Emile Ramsammy and Perry Winters.
• Thoroughbred Male Horse – Fatal Bullet, Ghostzapper and Rahy's Attorney.
• Thoroughbred Trainer – Michael (Mike) Doyle, Dale Saunders and Laurie Silvera.
• Thoroughbred Veteran – Bessarabian, Andy Smithers and Storm Bird.

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1st-Keeneland, $110,000, Msw, 4-8, 3yo, 7f, 1:23.51, ft, 2 1/2 lengths.
INVICTUS (c, 3, Into Mischief–Serengeti Empress {MGISW, $2,175,653}, by Alternation) had not been seen since finishing a well-beaten seventh in the 6 1/2-furlong Saratoga maiden race won in 'TDN Rising Star' style by Chancer McPatrick (McKinzie) last July. The 8-5 second choice was hustled out to the early lead, but allowed favored Camp Hale (Mo Town) to take control and then settled in third as longshot Ship Ship Hooray (Midshipman) shot up the rail to lead as the quarter went up in :22.43. Invictus looked to be going the wrong way as Camp Hale moved to challenge Ship Ship Hooray nearing the stretch after a half in :45.30. Camp Hale took the lead out of the turn, but Invictus was finding renewed energy, striding to the lead and powering clear to a 2 1/2-length victory. Camp Hale was second and Ship Ship Hooray was third. Invictus, the first foal out of GI Kentucky Oaks winner Serengeti Empress, was a $1.2-million Keeneland September yearling. The mare has a yearling colt by Curlin and was bred back to Not This Time. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $64,538.
O-CHC, Inc. and WinStar Farm LLC; B-Joel Politi (KY); T-Brad H. Cox.

#8 INVICTUS ($5.46) by Into Mischief (@spendthriftfarm) and out of Serengeti Empress breaks his maiden in his second career start in the opener today at @keenelandracing. Flavien Prat was up for @bradcoxracing.

The early pick 4 is up next! Wager here https://t.co/CPMab3CMlx pic.twitter.com/EmqaJy43lt

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) April 8, 2025

The post Invictus, First Foal Out of Oaks Winner Serengeti Empress, Graduates at Keeneland appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Two days after shipping in following a third in the GI Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn, Norman Stables' Coal Battle (Coal Front) began his preparation for the GI Kentucky Derby with a half-mile breeze in :48.40 Tuesday morning at Churchill Downs.

With trainer Lonnie Briley's assistant, Bethany Taylor, aboard, the GII Rebel winner clicked off an opening quarter-mile in :24 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:02.40, according to clocker Adam Wallace.

“He was too fresh in the Arkansas Derby,” Briley said of the four-time stakes winner. “I usually never have to saddle him on the walk, but I had to do that day. Then after he broke, and [TDN Rising Star] Cornucopian [Into Mischief] and [GIII Southwest winner] Speed King [Volatile] went blazing to the lead, we were in third. He was just too fresh. We have a plan now going forward for the Derby to get him in the right place.

“It was a long drive getting to Churchill but we're getting settled in. He's a pretty laid-back horse. If he's not lying down, he's usually at the back of his stall just relaxing. He knows when it's game time.”

Coal Battle, who is based in Barn 42, arrived at Churchill Downs around 6 p.m. Sunday with three stablemates, Dashin' Diva ((Caracaro), Go Captain (Mo Town) and True Passion (Audible), who are also scheduled to race during Kentucky Derby Week.

Briley confirmed Juan Vargas will ride Coal Battle in the Kentucky Derby.

 

The post Rebel Winner Coal Battle Preps for Kentucky Derby With Half-Mile Breeze at Churchill appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Journalism (Curlin), winner of last weekend's GI Santa Anita Derby, moved to the top of Week 11's rankings of the 2025 NTRA Top Three-Year-Old Thoroughbred Poll conducted by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA). Two-for-two this season, this year's GII San Felipe winner concluded the period with 269 points and 26 first-place votes by members of the national media. Racing performances run through Apr. 6. Journalism stands well ahead of GI Arkansas Derby scorer Sandman (Tapit), who has amassed 209 points.

Heading the NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll, last season's champion older mare Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) led with 251 points and 17 first-place votes. The 4-year-old filly is currently ahead of White Abarrio (Race Day), who has 243 points to date.

For complete rankings, click here.

 

The post Journalism Moves to the Top of the NTRA Thoroughbred Polls for Week of Apr. 7 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Churchill Downs and the Louisville Bats have joined forces to bring fans the Traveling Kentucky Derby Experience ahead of the 151st running of the May 3 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve. The event, which will be held Wednesday, Apr. 9, will also feature the Indianapolis Indians at Slugger Field. First pitch is scheduled for 12:05 p.m. ET.

Fans will have the opportunity to take a photo with the Kentucky Derby 151 trophy and enter to win tickets to Derby Week at Churchill Downs. Also featured, 1978 Kentucky Derby-winning jockey Steve Cauthen will throw out the first pitch. Select fans will compete in a stick horse race, with prizes for the top three finishers. Kids can enjoy “Design Your Own Jockey Silks” activity sheets from the Kentucky Derby Museum and photo opportunities with jockey silks, goggles and helmets.

For more Information, visit www.milb.com/louisville to purchase tickets for Saturday's game. Tickets for the 151st Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby on May 2-3 are available by visiting www.KentuckyDerby.com and www.DerbyExperiences.com.

 

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With Western Canadian race meets kicking off in May, the 2025 Western Canadian Derby Series returns this season, highlighted by the $100,000 Derby Bonus. The series offers any 3-year-old that sweeps the Manitoba Derby, Canadian Derby and BC Derby a $100,000 bonus. Additionally, a $25,000 Owner/Trainer Bonus will further stoke the competition.

The 2025 series begins Aug. 4 at Assiniboia Downs with the $125,000 Manitoba Derby (1 1/8 miles), continues Aug. 23 with the $200,000 Canadian Derby (10 furlongs) at Century Mile, and concludes Sept. 13 with the $125,000 BC Derby (nine furlongs) at Hastings Racecourse.

Points for the Owner/Trainer Bonus are awarded per race: 6 for 1st, 4 for 2nd, 3 for 3rd, 2 for 4th, and 1 for 5th or lower. Horses must start in at least two races to qualify. Owners earn points based on each horse's total, while trainers tally points from all their starters' totals. A 3-point All Derby Bonus is added for horses that run in all three races. Following the BC Derby, the bonus will be split, with $12,500 awarded to the top three owners and $12,500 to the top three trainers:

• 1st Place: $7,000
• 2nd Place: $3,500
• 3rd Place: $2,000

 

For more information, click here.

The post Western Canadian Derby Series Returns in 2025 with $100K Derby Bonus; $25K Owner-Trainer Bonus appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Steve Asmussen, Stewart Elliott and owner Richard Chandler lead their respective divisions at the conclusion of the 42-day meet at Sam Houston Race Park that wrapped up Sunday.

Asmussen won his 17th training title at the northwest Houston racetrack. He was honored as top trainer here in 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005; 2014 -2025.

Asmussen started 210 runners, finishing with a record of 41 wins, 39 seconds, 24 thirds and earnings of $1,309,988. He added a record-setting sixth victory in Grade 3, $300, Houston Ladies Classic with Winchell Thoroughbred, LLC's Recharge.

Mindy Willis had an outstanding meet, finishing second in the standings with 26 victories.

Elliott, who rode first call for Asmussen and Willis, rode 56 winners from 223 mounts, earning $1,375,921 and finishing in the money at a 56% clip. DeShawn Parker returned to Sam Houston Race Park this year, finishing second with 36 wins.

In a competition that went down to the final race of the season, Dallas resident Richard Chandler secured his first leading owner title with nine victories.

Willis accepted the trophy on behalf of Chandler, who clinched the title with In Open Court in Sunday's second race, after the 5-year-old mare rallied for a neck victory under Elliott in the second race of the Apr. 6 program.

Karl Broberg, who announced his retirement as a trainer last year, finished second in the standings with eight wins Four owners: Carl Moore Management, LLC, Mansfield Racing, Century Acres Farm and Steve Asmussen tied for third in the standings with six wins each.

“We appreciate the Texas Horsemen and Horsemen for their support throughout our meet,” said Bryan Pettigrew, Sam Houston Race Park's Vice President and General Manager. “We had some challenges with weather and working on the new purses and stakes awards, but the Thoroughbred Industry came together and worked through the challenges. I would like to give a special shout out to our Sam Houston Team Members who implemented a new customer service program as we continue to attract new sports fans and horse racing fans. Sam Houston will continue to focus on safety for the horses, jockeys, and patrons. We look forward to welcoming back the Quarter Horses for our live racing season.”

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The Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority (MTROA), which was created in 2023 by the state to oversee the rebuilding of the 'Home of the Preakness' at Pimlico, will be terminated as of June 30, according to an article published in the Maryland Daily Record Apr. 4 .

The piece says that a provision tucked into the state budget bills during final negotiations put the authority on ice and shifts its responsibilities to the Maryland Stadium Authority and the Maryland Economic Development Corporation.

As previously reported by the TDN, the MTROA was tasked with overseeing the transition of the industry from a heavily-subsidized but privately run sport into an entity that was intended to be managed by the state.

The Stronach Group that owned Pimlico agreed to turn over the property to the state, which will soon embark on a massive, taxpayer-financed renovation once next month's Preakness is run. A state-created nonprofit that adopted the historic name Maryland Jockey Club took over the responsibility of running races in the state beginning in January, though no board was serving in an oversight capacity.

The Daily Record article goes on to state that the MTROA–a volunteer panel led by attorney Greg Cross from the Venable law firm–was expected to officiate racing until 2029. However, it will end operations this summer, which the piece says will remove nearly $3.5 million in annual salary and operating costs from the state budget.

The article relates that the change is not expected to have any impact on the state's renovation plans at Pimlico.

Maryland House Ways and Means Chair Vanessa Atterbeary was quoted in the Daily Record as saying, “We just wanted some more oversight to be able to understand and know what's going on in real time, which wasn't happening.”

Neither top lawmakers nor Gov. Wes Moore's office explained how–or why–the provision was inserted into the budget.

In an Apr. 6 article published by The Baltimore Banner, State Senator Guy Guzzone, a Howard County Democrat who is chair of the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee, said, “There is a belief that we will get a lot better results and more accomplished by shifting some of the authority to some known entities, and that's what we're doing,”

As for Greg Cross, he told The Banner that the timing was right because the MTROA had “almost totally completed” the tasks it had to accomplish.

The post Maryland Nixes Authority Charged With Pimlico Rebuild appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

by Sue Finley and Dan Ross

Few commercial sectors appear immune from the current administration's sweeping import tariffs, and that includes horse racing's biggest Saturday of the year, with Japan's participants in the GI Kentucky Derby potential targets of the trade war.

Stressing a general air of uncertainty surrounding the tariff specifics, Matt Haug, general manager of International Racehorse Transport (IRT), said that, as he and his customs broker understood the situation, the Japanese-trained Luxor Cafe (American Pharoah) is exempt from any tariff being a U.S.-bred runner.

For foreign-bred horses–like the Japanese-trained Admire Daytona (Jpn) (Drefong)–they would be subject to a tariff, said Haug. However, these foreign-born runners would be eligible to import on a “Temporary Import Bond,” Haug added.

“Technically there is not a deposit required, but rather a guarantor who is USA based. The horse must be exported out of the USA within one year. Once proper documents have been submitted to U.S. Customs, the bond will be closed out,” wrote Haug.

If a Japanese runner hit the board, would their earnings also be subject to an additional tariff?

According to Tom Rooney, president and CEO of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), he does not believe a horse shipping in from another country would have to pay an additional tariff on purse earnings.

“But there's a lot of uncertainty as to what qualifies as tariff and what doesn't. We've been having trouble getting answers from the administration itself. But once the tariffs go into effect, we'll have clarity at some point,” said Rooney.

As to the Temporary Import Bond, that is based on the horse's value when they cross the U.S. border, said Rooney.

A Japanese horse leaving the country after winning the Derby would not have to pay an extra bond, said Rooney, either based on a newly increased value, or on whatever part of the Derby purse they took home.

“One of the parties involved will have to pay the bond. The bond is refundable upon exit of the country. So, whoever posts the bond will get it back. It's just a matter of one of the parties involved being willing to do that,” explained Rooney.

“Customs really didn't get that far into the weeds as to how that value is established, and I know there's some thought that they might be simply treated as livestock. But if you have horses coming from Japan or the UAE for the Kentucky Derby, I think it would be harder to look at those horses as livestock,” he added.

More broadly, horses imported for sale would pay a tariff based on their sales price, Rooney said, though the NTRA was hoping to alleviate that.

“We have worked with Congressman [Andy] Barr's office to request an exception for horse sales, but that might be a very heavy lift. I wouldn't think that horse sales would be at the top of the list,” Rooney said.

In these early days of the trade war, are the tariffs already causing connections to think twice about shipping to the U.S. to race?

“Not so much to race,” said Haug. “But it will certainly have an impact on the importation of horses in general.”

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While eight horses tied for the fastest furlong of :9 4/5, a filly from the first crop of Grade I winner Yaupon (hip 181) distinguished herself with a bullet quarter-mile breeze in :20 2/5 during the second session of the under-tack preview ahead of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training Monday in Central Florida. Consigned by Tom McCrocklin, hip 181 is out of Moon Over Mag Bay (Malibu Moon), a daughter of stakes winner Believe in Charlie (Indian Charlie).

“She's just naturally fast,” McCrocklin said of the filly. “Typically when I get here, there are no surprises. You kind of know who is fast and who is not. But the interesting thing is, she kind of did a little zig-zag when she switched leads in the stretch, like she saw something, so I think she could have actually gone faster. Her gallop-out was really science fiction–:31 and change and :45 flat.”

McCrocklin purchased the filly for $62,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton July sale.

“She looked athletic and she had a great walk,” McCrocklin said of the filly's appeal last summer. “I am pretty happy with the purchase right now.”

The first yearlings by Yaupon (Uncle Mo), winner of the 2021 GI Forego Stakes, were popular in the sales ring last summer and fall, with 118 selling for an average of $169,830–good for fourth among U.S.-based first-crop sires.

“I have three [by Yaupon] and I wish I had more,” McCrocklin said. “They have been really, really athletic, very classy. They just act like they can run.”

David McKathan and Jody Mihalic's Grassroots Training and Sales, which sent out one of three juveniles to share the furlong bullet during Sunday's first under-tack session, sent out four of the eight to set that bullet :9 4/5 mark Monday.

The quartet was led off by hip 279, a filly by Temple City out of Possession of War (Midnight Lute); and included hip 234, a daughter of Authentic out of multiple stakes-placed Onebrethatatime (Brethren); hip 239, a filly by Army Mule out of Our Irish Lassie's (Yes It's True); and hip 332, a colt by freshman sire Leinster, whose first starter was a winner at Keeneland Sunday. The chestnut is out of Renovation (Alternation).

Also sharing the furlong bullet Monday: hip 190, a daughter of Curlin out of stakes-placed Motivated Seller (Into Mischief) consigned by de Meric Sales; hip 244, a colt by Maximus Mischief out of Overly Indulgent (Pleasantly Perfect) consigned by Cardozo's Brothers; hip 250, a filly by Munnings out of Palmilla Moon (Malibu Moon) consigned by Kings Equine; and hip 329, a filly by Not This Time out of Remarqued (Arch) consigned by Niall Brennan Stables.

McCrocklin said he felt conditions at the breeze show seemed to improve Monday after the opening session Sunday.

“I found the track [Sunday] to be very difficult,” he said. “I can't really put my finger on it, but I texted with Suzanne Smallwood with Equix and she was of the same opinion. She said horses were just kind of getting stuck in it–she used this biometric terminology, they couldn't launch behind. I thought it was better today. We had a crazy wind here today, it's kind of a diagonal crosswind out of the south, but we have seen some fast times today with my filly, obviously, being one of them. It seemed faster today, I thought.”

The under-tack show continues through Saturday with sessions beginning each day at 8 a.m. The Spring sale will be held next Tuesday through Friday with bidding starting at 10:30 a.m.

The post ‘Naturally Fast:’ Yaupon Filly Flies Quarter-Mile at OBS Monday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Tracy Farmer's homebred La Cara (f, 3, Street Sense–Cara Caterina, by Bernardini) closed out the Road to the Kentucky Oaks the same way she started it: with a win. Victorious in the first GI Kentucky Oaks points race of the season–the GIII Pocahontas Stakes at Churchill Downs last September–and the last, Monday's rescheduled GI Central Bank Ashland Stakes at Keeneland, La Cara heads to the Oaks with 151.75 points, second on the leaderboard behind Mar. 29 GII Fantasy Stakes winner Quietside (Malibu Moon). The Ashland awarded Oaks points on a 100-50-25-15-10 scale.

After the Ashland was postponed from its traditional Friday slot due to heavy rain in Kentucky, eight headed to post with last year's GII Demoiselle Stakes winner and last-out GIII Honeybee Stakes third, 'TDN Rising Star' Muhimma (Munnings), pegged as the 4-5 favorite. Despite all the rain, the Keeneland surface was listed as fast and La Cara, who had scored two of her three previous victories in a wire-to-wire fashion, broke like a shot. After she emerged from the Ashland's early fray with the lead, she never let it go. Ears flicking back and forth, La Cara set early fractions of :23.19 and :47.23 while Muhimma raced evenly midpack.

La Cara kicked clear on the turn as Muhimma advanced to second. They hit the quarter pole with La Cara in full flight and extending her advantage with every stride. There was no catching the winner as she sailed for home, even as Take Charge Milady (Take Charge Indy) charged up the rail late. The Jan. 25 Martha Washington Stakes winner passed Muhimma for the runner-up spot while still 1 1/4 lengths in arrears at the wire.

“She established dominance early,” said La Cara's rider Dylan Davis, “and then she just took control all the way through the wire. She was looking around a little bit [as we turned for home], so I just had to stay with her and keep her to task to the wire. She ran very well.”

After debuting last May at Churchill, La Cara broke her maiden by eight lengths in August at Saratoga, then returned to Churchill for that Pocahontas win. Fifth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, she kicked off her sophomore campaign with a runaway, 6 1/4-length triumph in the Suncoast Stakes at Tampa. She was last seen finishing second in the one-mile GII Davona Dale Stakes at Gulfstream Mar. 1.

“When she brings her A game, she's tough,” said trainer Mark Casse. “Dylan [Davis] said when he was coming down the backside, he thought, 'Oh, I have the filly I had in Tampa that day'. He said he could tell the difference. We knew the Davona Dale was just a prep. We brought her back a little quick [for that race] so I could have more time for this race, and it worked out. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't, but today was good.”

Casse said immediately following the Ashland that La Cara is fond of Churchill. The trainer brings a formidable duo to Louisville, as he also trains GI Arkansas Derby winner Sandman (Tapit).

#2 LA CARA ($20.16) goes gate-to-wire under @DavisJockey to win the $750,000 Ashland Stakes (G1) at @keenelandracing and earn 100 points towards the Kentucky Oaks. The daughter of Street Sense (@DarleyAmerica) is trained by @markecasse. pic.twitter.com/LGSjzrjnch

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) April 7, 2025

Pedigree Notes:

It bodes well for La Cara's connections if she's as fond of the Churchill surface as her sire was, as Street Sense won not only the GI Kentucky Derby there, but also the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile. The Darley stallion, now age 21, has since sired 43 graded winners as well as 102 black-type winners. La Cara is one of Street Sense's five graded winners out of Bernardini mares, including MGISW Maxfield and GISW Speaker's Corner, who have both joined their sire in the Darley stallion barn. The late Bernardini, a former Darley stallion, has 113 stakes winners out of his daughters.

La Cara's dam, the placed mare Cara Caterina, was a $500,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase by Farmer in 2018. The mare's only other foal is a yearling full-brother to the Ashland winner. Cara Caterina is herself a full-sister to MGISW To Honor and Serve and to GISW Angela Renee. The latter, second in the 2015 Ashland, was a $3-million Fasig-Tipton November purchase by Don Alberto Corp. in 2015, while their dam was a $1.95-million buy at the same sale in 2012, going to Borges Torrealba Holdings.

Monday, Keeneland
CENTRAL BANK ASHLAND S.-GI, $742,782, Keeneland, 4-7, 3yo, f, 1 1/16m, 1:45.10, ft.
1–LA CARA, 121, f, 3, by Street Sense
    1st Dam: Cara Caterina, by Bernardini
    2nd Dam: Pilfer, by Deputy Minister
    3rd Dam: Misty Hour, by Miswaki
   1ST GRADE I WIN. O/B-Tracy Farmer (KY); T-Mark E. Casse;
J-Dylan Davis. $447,563. Lifetime Record: 9-4-2-0, $866,083.
Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus.*
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Take Charge Milady, 121, f, 3, by Take Charge Indy
    1st Dam: Price too High, by Scat Daddy
    2nd Dam: La Capella, by Smart Strike
    3rd Dam: Venetian Glass, by Deputy Minister
1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE, 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($60,000 Ylg
'23 KEESEP). O-James Ball, Magdalena Racing (Sherri McPeek)
and Kenneth Rhodes; B-Merriebelle Stable, LLC (KY);
T-Kenneth G. McPeek. $144,375.
3–Muhimma, 121, f, 3, by Munnings
    1st Dam: Princesa Carolina (SW & GISP, $453,619), by Tapit
    2nd Dam: Pure Clan, by Pure Prize
    3rd Dam: Gather The Clan (Ire), by General Assembly
'TDN Rising Star' 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($700,000 Ylg '23
KEESEP). O-Shadwell Stable; B-Three Chimneys Farm, LLC (KY);
T-Brad H. Cox. $72,188.
Margins: 1 1/4, 3 1/4, 3 1/4. Odds: 9.08, 5.38, 0.97.
Also Ran: Supa Speed, Amarth, Look Forward, Admit, Running Away. Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

The post Street Sense’s La Cara Wins Postponed Ashland at Keeneland appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

In the first race of the Keeneland meet to stay on the grass after torrential rains throughout Kentucky, Amerman homebred Test Score (c, 3, Lookin At Lucky–Joy of Learning, by Kitten's Joy) captured Monday's rescheduled $600,000 GIII Transylvania Stakes and gave rider Manny Franco two consecutive black-type victories on the day after winning the Lafayette Stakes one race prior with 'TDN Rising Star' Colloquial (Vekoma).

Test Score broke forwardly in the Transylvania, settling into an unbothered fifth on the outside as three-straight stakes winner Mi Bago (Vekoma) showed the way through a :23.01 first quarter. Keeping just abreast of traffic behind the :47.25 half, the bay inched up on the turn before bumping hard with Chasing Liberty (Constitution) while about five wide as the field made the stretch. Test Score appeared to find another gear as he swapped to his correct lead, devouring the ground with exuberance as Mi Bago retreated, MSP Maui Strong (Kitten's Joy) charged up the rail, and SW and MGSP Scipio (Caravaggio) chased him home. Trained by Graham Motion, Test Score bested Scipio by 1 1/4 lengths with Maui Strong finishing third.

“He broke so good and put me right into the race,” said Franco. “He was traveling really well in the beginning of the race. He handled the ground really well, too. I was happy where I was, and when he was feeling the horses coming, he just gave me another gear. He was competitive in the race and got it done.”

Although the Transylvania was his first black-type victory, Test Score previously dipped his toes in graded waters last August at Saratoga, finishing fifth in the GIII With Anticipation Stakes as a maiden. A little more than a month later, he broke his maiden in his third start in a one-mile contest over the Keeneland lawn. From there, it was on to Del Mar, where he finished second to fellow Transylvania entrant Chasing Liberty in the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes Nov. 1. After a brief freshening, he reappeared Feb. 1 with a third at Gulfstream in the Kitten's Joy Stakes before making it two-for-two at Keeneland Monday.

Pedigree Notes:

Long-time Ashford Stud sire Lookin At Lucky, who shuttled to Chile for a number of years, has remained in that country at Haras Don Alberto since the 2023 Southern Hemisphere season and has no return to the U.S. scheduled. Test Score is one of 52 graded winners and 79 black-type winners worldwide for Lookin At Lucky, who was named Eclipse champion at both two and three. He has been Chile's leading sire twice.

The winning Joy of Learning, dam of Test Score as well as 2-year-old filly Screen Test (Not This Time) and a yearling colt by War of Will, is a half-sister to both GISW Coffee Clique (Medaglia d'Oro) and to MGSW Admission Office (Point of Entry), while MGSW Endlessly (Oscar Performance) is a member of her extended family. Oscar Performance, who stands at Mill Ridge, was–like Test Score–bred by the Amermans, who have long been associated with Mill Ridge. Oscar Performance is a son of Kitten's Joy, while Joy of Learning is one of the late stallion's daughters. Test Score, a third-generation Amerman-bred, is Kitten's Joy 63rd stakes winner as a broodmare sire. His dam was bred to Liam's Map for this term.

Monday, Keeneland
TRANSYLVANIA S. PRESENTED BY KEENELAND SELECT-GIII, $597,500, Keeneland, 4-7, 3yo, 1 1/16mT, 1:43.84, gd.
1–TEST SCORE, 118, c, 3, by Lookin At Lucky
                1st Dam: Joy of Learning, by Kitten's Joy
                2nd Dam: Miss Chapin, by Royal Academy
                3rd Dam: Society Dream (Fr), by Akarad (Fr)
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. O-Amerman
Racing LLC; B-Jerry Amerman (KY); T-H. Graham Motion;
J-Manuel Franco. $339,450. Lifetime Record: 6-2-2-1,
$477,725. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus.*
   Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Scipio, 118, r, 3, Caravaggio–Soul Spirit, by Quality Road.
($60,000 2yo '24 OBSMAR). O-Calvin Nguyen &  Joey C Tran;
B-Don Alberto Corporation (KY); T-Richard Baltas. $109,500.
3–Maui Strong, 118, c, 3, Kitten's Joy–Legal Tender, by Giant's
Causeway. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($275,000 Ylg '23
FTSAUG). O-West Point Thoroughbreds, Blue Devil Racing
Stable (Holliday) & Edwin S Barker; B-Blue Devil Racing Stable,
LLC (KY); T-Dale L. Romans. $54,750.
Margins: 1 1/4, 1 1/4, 3/4. Odds: 9.74, 8.41, 18.85.
Also Ran: Reagan's Wit, Chasing Liberty, Hammerhead, Versus, Clock Tower, Tom's Magic, Mi Bago, Golden Afternoon, Barricade. Scratched: Pretty Capable, Sabertooth, Septarian, Valentinian. Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

It was an A+ performance by #7 TEST SCORE ($21.48) in the $600,000 Transylvania Stakes (G3) at @keenelandracing. The son of Lookin at Lucky was ridden by @jockeyfranco, trained by @GrahamMotion, and owned by Amerman Racing. pic.twitter.com/qaSCKf5Bre

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) April 7, 2025

The post Test Score Passes Exam in Transylvania Stakes appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

LAFAYETTE S., $380,000, Keeneland, 4-7, 3yo, 7f, 1:23.92, ft.
1–COLLOQUIAL, 118, c, 3, by Vekoma
                1st Dam: Terminology, by Bernardini
                2nd Dam: Her Own Terms, by Storm Cat
                3rd Dam: Gal in a Ruckus, by Bold Ruckus
($240,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Harrell
Ventures, LLC and Starlight Racing; B-Michael & J.B. Orem (KY);
T-George Weaver; J-Manuel Franco. $248,000. Lifetime
Record: 3-2-1-0, $310,000.
2–Smoken Wicked, 118, c, 3, Bobby's Wicked One–Street
Smoke, by Street Boss. ($38,000 Ylg '23 BSLY&M). O-Valene
Farms LLC; B-Tom Curtis & Wayne Simpson (LA); T-Dallas
Stewart. $60,000.
3–Touchy, 118, c, 3, Nyquist–Touch the Moon, by Malibu
Moon. O/B-Three Chimneys Farm LLC (Goncalo B. Torrealba)
(KY); T-Wesley A. Ward. $40,000.
Margins: 2 1/4, 2 1/4, 6HF. Odds: 0.35, 4.47, 10.02.
Also Ran: Rolando, Itsmybirthday. Scratched: Gate to Wire, Gunmetal, One True Shance.
'TDN Rising Star' Colloquial followed up his brilliant maiden score at Aqueduct in February with a wire-to-wire victory in the Lafayette Stakes at Keeneland Monday. The 1-4 favorite was pressed by Smoken Wicked through a quarter in :22.62 and a half in :44.96 and began inching away from that pesky foe in upper stretch en route to a 2 1/4-length victory.
“My horse was the best horse in the race,” said winning jockey Manny Franco. “He broke so good. I didn't take anything away from him. I just let him roll out of there and see what the guys outside me wanted to do. Nobody cleared me, so I held my position and after that he took me all the way to the wire.”
Trainer George Weaver trained Vekoma and was gratified to come back to Keeneland with a stakes winner by that 2019 GI Toyota Blue Grass Stakes winner.
“We're always eternally grateful to Vekoma and what he did for us and our barn,” Weaver said. “To see him carry on as a stallion and come up with all these runners–it's a lot of fun. I'd say [Colloquial] is really good. It's his first time against winners today, and there were some nice horses in here. It was a change of tactics. I didn't really anticipate being on the lead, but I trust Manny to make decisions that he needs to based on how things are unfolding. He put him on the lead and the horse ran great.”
Colloquial, a nose runner-up on debut at Aqueduct last June, resurfaced at the Big A Feb. 7 with a towering maiden score which earned him a 106 Beyer figure.
Looking ahead for the talented colt, Weaver said, “I would like to run in the GI Woody Stephens [at Saratoga]. I need to talk to the ownership. Obviously, I want to do what we all think is best for the horse together. I'd like to make the Woody Stephens from here; it makes sense to me. After that, I'm game to stretch him out.”
Terminology has a 2-year-old filly by Bolt d'Oro who sold for $275,000 to Glen Hill Farm at last year's Keeneland September sale, and a yearling colt by Girvin. She was bred to Taiba last year. The winner's third dam is GI Kentucky Oaks winner Gal in a Ruckus. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

Put yourself in @jockeyfranco's irons as he rides COLLOQUIAL to victory in the $400,000 Lafayette Stakes at @KeenelandRacing. @JockeyCam pic.twitter.com/5UQQmbUCaT

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) April 7, 2025

The post Vekoma’s Colloquial Wires the Lafayette appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Multiple grade-1 placed colt Ferocious died April 7 as a result of laminitis. Co-owner Ramiro Restrepo said it had been a downward slide for the son of Flatter since running in the Feb. 1 Holy Bull Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park.