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Top Japanese 3-year-olds back off from longer distances try their luck in the NHK Mile Cup (G1T) May 10 at Tokyo Racecourse.

Silent Tactic, scratched days before the May 2 Kentucky Derby (G1) because of a bruised foot, remains on target for the May 16 Preakness Stakes (G1) if the issue does not resurface following a half-mile breeze in :48 4/5 May 8 at Churchill Downs.

Bob Baffert-trained Crude Velocity is no longer under consideration for the second jewel of the Triple Crown.

William Joseph (“Doc”) Solomon, beloved veterinarian, farm owner and mentor to many, has passed at the age of 84.

As founder and owner of Pin Oak Lane Farm, a full-service farm and equine veterinary clinic in York County, Pennsylvania, “Doc” Solomon was responsible for helping to raise a Kentucky Derby winner, Lil. E. Tee, the supposed supporting act who took a curtain call in the 1992 running of the race after favorite Arazi flubbed his lines.

Alongside the many talented horses that “Doc” Solomon helped nurture, he inspired many young veterinarians and other young horsemen and women whose careers intersected with Pin Oak Lane Farm, according to an online obituary.

“I am who I am today in part because of Dr. Solomon,” wrote Dr. Modesty Burleson, in an online profile for the University of Pennsylvania Veterinary School, where “Doc” Solomon had also pursued his veterinary training many years prior.

“I loved helping him with the breeding work and became fascinated with everything related to breeding horses,” Burleson added. “He helped me choose Penn Vet–all the veterinarians I knew went to the School–where I then found a new community of mentors.”

“Doc” was born on January 20, 1942, the youngest of four siblings, and grew up in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, baseball and basketball his twin passions.

It was when the family moved in 1956 to Gettysburg, to a farm with a stone home that formerly served as a Civil War hospital, that “Doc” Solomon developed his deep love of the horse, helping to care for the Arabians raised at the farm.

Alongside his responsibilities at Pin Oak Lane Farm, “Doc” Solomon served on multiple state, national and international veterinary and agricultural commissions.

“Among other things, he helped draft the first zoning ordinance to protect farmland in his area and travelled to Russia as part of an agricultural delegation,” the obituary reads.

“It was impossible to go to a restaurant without someone approaching him to introduce themselves as someone who had worked for him on the farm as a teenager–Doc was always ready to give a leg up to a young person who wanted to work and had an interest in horses or farm life.

“Doc knew how to do just about everything, and he generously shared his knowledge through his leadership and through his signature 'tips,'” the obituary reads.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, May 22, 2026 at 11am (viewing 10am) at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church (in the old church at the bottom of the hill) 315 N. Constitution Ave, New Freedom, PA 17349.

The post Beloved William Joseph “Doc” Solomon Passes Aged 84 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

William Joseph (“Doc”) Solomon, beloved veterinarian, farm owner and mentor to many, has passed at the age of 84.

As founder and owner of Pin Oak Lane Farm, a full-service farm and equine veterinary clinic in York County, Pennsylvania, “Doc” Solomon was responsible for helping to raise a Kentucky Derby winner, Lil. E. Tee, the supposed supporting act who took a curtain call in the 1992 running of the race after favorite Arazi flubbed his lines.

Alongside the many talented horses that “Doc” Solomon helped nurture, he inspired many young veterinarians and other young horsemen and women whose careers intersected with Pin Oak Lane Farm, according to an online obituary.

“I am who I am today in part because of Dr. Solomon,” wrote Dr. Modesty Burleson, in an online profile for the University of Pennsylvania Veterinary School, where “Doc” Solomon had also pursued his veterinary training many years prior.

“I loved helping him with the breeding work and became fascinated with everything related to breeding horses,” Burleson added. “He helped me choose Penn Vet–all the veterinarians I knew went to the School–where I then found a new community of mentors.”

“Doc” was born on January 20, 1942, the youngest of four siblings, and grew up in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, baseball and basketball his twin passions.

It was when the family moved in 1956 to Gettysburg, to a farm with a stone home that formerly served as a Civil War hospital, that “Doc” Solomon developed his deep love of the horse, helping to care for the Arabians raised at the farm.

Alongside his responsibilities at Pin Oak Lane Farm, “Doc” Solomon served on multiple state, national and international veterinary and agricultural commissions.

“Among other things, he helped draft the first zoning ordinance to protect farmland in his area and travelled to Russia as part of an agricultural delegation,” the obituary reads.

“It was impossible to go to a restaurant without someone approaching him to introduce themselves as someone who had worked for him on the farm as a teenager–Doc was always ready to give a leg up to a young person who wanted to work and had an interest in horses or farm life.

“Doc knew how to do just about everything, and he generously shared his knowledge through his leadership and through his signature 'tips,'” the obituary reads.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, May 22, 2026 at 11am (viewing 10am) at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church (in the old church at the bottom of the hill) 315 N. Constitution Ave, New Freedom, PA 17349.

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A group of GI Belmont Stakes contenders are beginning to assemble at Saratoga Race Course. Leading the contingent is GI Arkansas Derby-winner and recent GI Kentucky Derby runner-up Renegade (Into Mischief), who arrived upstate for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher on Wednesday.

The colt returned to training on Thursday, and again on Friday morning for some light exercise in his first on-track appearances since finishing a neck second to Golden Tempo (Curlin) in the “Run for the Roses” at Churchill Downs last Saturday.

Renegade is in Saratoga to prepare for an intended start in the Belmont Stakes on June 6.

“He got back to the track yesterday and seems to be in good form,” Pletcher said. “He seemed to bounce out of it [the Derby] well and shipped nicely. He's probably enjoying the cooler weather. He'll have a couple breezes between now and the Belmont, and I haven't really firmed up anything. We'll monitor him this week and see how he does.”

Pletcher said he was proud of Renegade's Derby effort after the trouble he endured at the outset.

“He was super game, and it was just unfortunate he got bounced around a bit,” Pletcher said. “He still finished great.”

Renegade would likely face a rematch with the Cherie DeVaux-trained Golden Tempo in the Belmont, and potentially Kentucky Derby fourth-place finisher Chief Wallabee (Constitution), who is also in Saratoga for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.

“We always love the Belmont, and we're excited for him, and just hoping everything goes smoothly,” said Pletcher, who has won the Belmont four times.

Kentucky Derby runner-up RENEGADE has arrived at Saratoga ahead of the Belmont Stakes! pic.twitter.com/bo1IqAoksV

— Belmont Stakes (@BelmontStakes) May 6, 2026

The post Renegade Settles In At The Spa To Train Up For The Belmont Stakes appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

A new Equine Health Advisory on the risk of fatal injury in Covered Horses previously placed on the Veterinarians' List as Unsound was revealed by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) on Friday.

The advisory, which is based on data drawn from the HISA Veterinarians' List, provides practical guidance, including on the use of wearable biometric sensors during training programs to provide additional insight into horses' condition and performance.

“Decisions to place a horse on the Veterinarians' List as Unsound are made with the utmost care and expertise by Regulatory Veterinarians, and it is crucial that they are supported in their work with as much data as possible, along with strong collaboration with trainers and attending veterinarians,” said Dr. Jennifer Durenberger, HISA Director of Policy and Industry Initiatives.

When horses are scratched, they may be placed on the Veterinarians' List or Stewards' List. In 2025, 3,297 unique horses were placed on the Veterinarians' List as Unsound by Regulatory Veterinarians at Covered Racetracks. As of March 31, 2026, 1,904 of those horses (nearly 60%) have not made a subsequent start.

Crucially, through the end of Q1 2026, approximately 20% of racing- and training-related fatalities involving Covered Horses at Covered Racetracks have occurred in horses who were either still on the Veterinarians' List as Unsound at the time of death, had been scratched by Regulatory Veterinarians prior to a recent race or removed from the Veterinarians' List as Unsound within the six months preceding the fatal injury.

This is the fourth Equine Health Advisory that HISA has issued, following advisories on proximal forelimb fractures, exercise-associated sudden death and proximal hindlimb fractures. Sharing these insights from the HISA Portal supports better-informed care, promotion of best practices and reduction of the risk of equine injuries and fatalities.

Supplemental to the advisory, in December 2025, HISA announced a comprehensive review aimed at updating the Veterinarians' List and Stewards' List categories across U.S. Thoroughbred racing, with changes targeted for 2026. Through this initiative, HISA aims to modernize and harmonize these oversight tools, providing additional insights into national safety metrics.

Click here to access the full advisory.

The post HISA Issues Equine Health Advisory On The Veterinarians’ List appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

A new Equine Health Advisory on the risk of fatal injury in Covered Horses previously placed on the Veterinarians' List as Unsound was revealed by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) on Friday.

The advisory, which is based on data drawn from the HISA Veterinarians' List, provides practical guidance, including on the use of wearable biometric sensors during training programs to provide additional insight into horses' condition and performance.

“Decisions to place a horse on the Veterinarians' List as Unsound are made with the utmost care and expertise by Regulatory Veterinarians, and it is crucial that they are supported in their work with as much data as possible, along with strong collaboration with trainers and attending veterinarians,” said Dr. Jennifer Durenberger, HISA Director of Policy and Industry Initiatives.

When horses are scratched, they may be placed on the Veterinarians' List or Stewards' List. In 2025, 3,297 unique horses were placed on the Veterinarians' List as Unsound by Regulatory Veterinarians at Covered Racetracks. As of March 31, 2026, 1,904 of those horses (nearly 60%) have not made a subsequent start.

Crucially, through the end of Q1 2026, approximately 20% of racing- and training-related fatalities involving Covered Horses at Covered Racetracks have occurred in horses who were either still on the Veterinarians' List as Unsound at the time of death, had been scratched by Regulatory Veterinarians prior to a recent race or removed from the Veterinarians' List as Unsound within the six months preceding the fatal injury.

This is the fourth Equine Health Advisory that HISA has issued, following advisories on proximal forelimb fractures, exercise-associated sudden death and proximal hindlimb fractures. Sharing these insights from the HISA Portal supports better-informed care, promotion of best practices and reduction of the risk of equine injuries and fatalities.

Supplemental to the advisory, in December 2025, HISA announced a comprehensive review aimed at updating the Veterinarians' List and Stewards' List categories across U.S. Thoroughbred racing, with changes targeted for 2026. Through this initiative, HISA aims to modernize and harmonize these oversight tools, providing additional insights into national safety metrics.

Click here to access the full advisory.

The post HISA Issues Equine Health Advisory On The Veterinarians’ List appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

In theory, we're in the lull between Kentucky Derby and Preakness excitement, but the Belmont Big A meeting will host a chance for a spot in New York's marquee event in June as colts assemble Saturday for the GIII Peter Pan Stakes.

Chad Brown is no stranger to jumping a talented maiden winner straight into the graded ranks, and that's what he's doing with Growth Equity (Nyquist) for owner Klaravich Stables. The colt kicked off his career last July in Saratoga with a runner-up effort against a field which yielded MSP Stradale (Yaupon), SP Day One Starter (Upsart), and MSP Honey's to Blame (Blame). From there the distance increased and so did his Beyer numbers, with his Feb. 7 seasonal bow producing an 83 for another second-place finish trying seven panels and his graduation last out Mar. 20 at a mile earning him a field-best 89. He's been working steadily since then over the training track at Belmont Park, and the morning line has him tabbed early as the 6-5 favorite with Flavien Prat in the irons for the first time.

His chief competition comes from Trendsetter (Modernist) along the rail, an easy winner of the GIII Stonestreet Lexington Stakes at Keeneland Apr. 11. So impressive was he that his connections ran him through the Keeneland April sale at the end of the meet, and while he did not reach his reserve, the bidding did stall at $725,000. With no immediate changes on his horizon, and with an 85 Beyer under his belt from that last race, Trendsetter posted a lights-out breeze May 1 at Keeneland, rolling through four furlongs in :47.80 (3/100). There's going to be a pace in front of him in the Peter Pan and he's likely to get an ideal set-up. He's 3-1 on the morning line.

The third of the likely betting favorites is runaway Withers Stakes winner Talk to Me Jimmy (Modernist), who inspired a lot of Derby talk after that victory Feb. 6. He was hard to handle and faded to eighth in the GII Wood Memorial Stakes Apr. 4, and ended up far outside the bubble as a result. Still, he regained the services of Manny Franco for this jump, who was the frequent rider aboard Growth Equity. The pace will not be kind to him though, and the Modernist colt will need to be at his best to pull a repeat of his February effort.

It's Youth vs. Experience in the Ruffian

On paper, this is going to be a tough race to win for any of these fillies and mares, but Irish Maxima (Maximus Mischief) rides a winstreak into this contest for trainer John Servis as well as bringing the highest Beyer in the field to the party.

The mare is a need-the-lead type who has run her competition off their feet in 10 of her 17 lifetime starts, so it's hard to argue with a successful formula. She's more than got the experience to keep going despite this being only her second time going a mile–the first was as a juvenile in the GI Frizette Stakes behind champion Just F Y I (Justify).

We can forgive her for that try.

Still, her last two races have been back-to-back masterclasses against optional claiming company, Mar. 21 at this venue and last out Apr. 14 at Parx, and when she's bold, it's impossible to reel her back in. She's a four-time black type winner, including in the GIII Distaff Stakes over this track last year, and produced her lifetime best 101 Beyer figure against stakes company in 2024. Her increasing figures with each subsequent start in 2026 say she's on the upswing once again here and is 5-1 on the morning line.

Eunomia and Alpine Princess in the Doubledogdare | Coady Media

To her far inside is Eunomia (Tiz the Law) for Saffie Joseph Jr.–a frequent flier with strong efforts under her belt this year. Second by a neck last out Apr. 17 in Keeneland's GII Doubledogdare Stakes, both she and winner Alpine Princess (Classic Empire) earned a 97 Beyer for their respective efforts. She won her division of the Sandy Bottom Stakes at Colonial Downs Mar. 14 over G3 UAE Oaks victress Queen Azteca (Sharp Azteca) after starting her season Feb. 14 in the GIII Royal Delta Stakes. That race produced quite the running line since, as GI Apple Blossom winner Clare Beret (Not This Time), GI La Troienne heroine Shred the Gnar (Into Mischief), and the aforementioned Alpine Princess all made an appearance in that spot. She's the 6-5 morning line choice in this spot.

In between the experience is the unbeaten two-time winner Inefficiency (Constitution) for the familiar combo of Klaravich Stables and Chad Brown. She's done nothing wrong from the front end at track and trip in both occasions–winning at first-asking Feb. 20 by six lengths and again Mar. 20 against local optional claimers. Her trainer isn't in the habit of putting his horses into spots they're not ready for, but she will have to contend with seasoned speed to her outside in Irish Maxima. While she was late to the races, there is more than enough reason to believe she could improve once again.

Elder Statesmen Square Off with Fresh Face in Nerud

His competition have two and three years on him in age, but lone 4-year-old One Nine Hundred (Dialed In) has the speed-of-the-speed to his advantage in his bid to claim a first graded victory in the GIII John A. Nerud Stakes. He produced the field-best 104 Beyer when taking optional claiming competition gate-to-wire two back Jan. 9 at track and trip, and was third beaten barely three-quarters of a length for it all last out Feb. 28 in the GIII Tom Fool Stakes. He's 7-5 on the morning line.

To his inside is Full Moon Madness (Into Mischief), the runner up in said Tom Fool by a nose. He's a frequent face at this level for trainer Michelle Nevin and his increasing figures say he's rounding back into form at the right time. On the rail, Radio Red (This Big Beast) brings a two-race winstreak over this track after clearing $50,000 claiming company and coming right back to win the Haynesfield Stakes Mar. 29. He's got the stalking tactics to take advantage of a pace meltdown and get first jump on the closers.

European Imports and the Locals Lock Horns for Senorita Showdown

Classy European purchases making North American debuts at Santa Anita Park tends to be a successful angle more often than not, and it looks to be no different here for Bella Lyra (Ger) (Oasis Dream {GB}) in the GIII Senorita Stakes.

Her juvenile season overseas began last May in the barn of Richard Hughes, who unveiled the daughter of Oasis Dream at Haydock against a field which ultimately yielded Fitzella (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}). That filly came back later in the summer to win the G3 Princess Margaret Stakes at Ascot (where Bella Lyra finished third) and was eventually tried against Group 1 company that included the likes of Coolmore's G1 1000 Guineas titan True Love (Ire) (No Nay Never). In fact, several fillies who beat Bella Lyra also tried their luck in that European Classic. There is no Fitzella, nor a True Love, in the Senorita field for her to worry about this time.

After breaking her maiden in an allowance race at Windsor, Bella Lyra squeezed in a Listed placing at Newmarket before that Ascot tilt, and her final start for Hughes came in the Spring Cup Stakes Feb. 28 at Lingfield. She ran second by a length over a synthetic track. She missed her reserve in the 2025 Tattersalls December sale when bidding stalled at 270,000gns and privately changed hands afterward to the partnership of Rancho Temescal Thoroughbred Partners and Jay Matharu. Now in the barn of Mark Glatt, there are a lot of new experiences here for her to overcome, but she's faced some salty company in Europe. She's going to be tough to beat.

Having faced salty competition of her own, Light Won Up (City of Light) will draw a lot of eyes as well. The Doug O'Neill runner went east to Keeneland for the GIII Limestone Stakes, and ran a hard-fought fourth behind a trio that included Breeders' Cup champion Cy Fair (Not This Time). She earned an 83 Beyer for that effort while the winner posted a 91, which is far and away faster than anyone else in this contest. Mo'Em Down (Caracaro), who will be eyeballing Bella Lyra in the gate, flourished over this hillside turf course in her most recent effort, but like many in this field, she'll need to show more to win. The blinkers come off and she's 5-2 for this jump.

The post Coast-to-Coast Graded Preview: Belmont Spot on the Line in Peter Pan, Big Field for Senorita appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

On a busy Friday morning at Churchill Downs, 138 horses recorded a published workout with GI Preakness Stakes possible Silent Tactic (Tacitus) headlining a group which also included the G1 Dubai World Cup hero Hit Show (Candy Ride {Arg}).

The former, scratched from the Kentucky Derby due to an ongoing battle with a foot bruise, breezed four furlongs in :48.80 (48/111) for trainer Mark Casse.

“He worked at 5:29 [a.m.], and I saw the video at 5:30,” Casse said by phone from his main base in Ocala, Fla. “I thought he worked very well. I was happy. Had good energy galloping out. That's what I wanted to see. Now let's just see how he is. That's the first time we put pressure on that foot since it started bothering him. Right now, I'd say there's a decent shot he's going to go to the Preakness.

“I saw what I needed to see today, but I don't want to 100 percent commit,” he added. “I want to see what tomorrow brings and how he reacts to this work. I went ahead and gave him some company for that reason. He worked with a pretty nice older horse called Aristotle, a multiple allowance winner.”

Another Preakness probable Corona de Oro (Bolt d'Oro) posted a five-furlong work in :59.80 for Dallas Stewart.

Also out Friday morning was the aforementioned Brad Cox-trained Hit Show, who also worked a half-mile over the main track in :48.40.

The post Churchill Worktab: Preakness Possibles Silent Tactic, Corona de Oro on Track During Busy Friday Morning appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

There is no truth to the rumor that T O Elvis (Volatile) stepped onto the Churchill Downs main track last Saturday to the Theme from 2001 Space Odyssey, the instrumental to which the horse's namesake took to the stage for wildly popular concerts in the 1970s.

But when Elvis–T O, that is–'left the building' following a defeat of no fewer than seven last-out graded winners in a renewal of the GI Churchill Downs Stakes that was widely heralded as one of the best races of the year, there will have been no 'suspicious minds' about the 4-year-old colt.

“We were just hoping he'd hit the board and then he took off right around the eighth pole. It was impressive,” said Jeff Prunzik, who bred T O Elvis in partnership with his wife Melissa.

The Prunziks own and operate Stone Bridge Farm east of downtown Lexington in an area between Interstates 64 to the north and 75 to the southwest. Stone Bridge was a division of the Courtney Family's Crestfield Farm and in its 80-some years of existence, has been graced by better than 50 black-type winners, including Fit To Fight, Meadowlake and his champion daughter Meadow Star–who remains in pedigrees to this day as the great-granddam of the late Arrogate–and champion Action This Day.

In the form of Stopshoppingdebbie (Curlin), Stone Bridge looks to have found its next superstar producer. Bred and raced by the Northwest Farms of the late Jerre Paxton and trained by Tom Wenzel, the daughter of two-time stakes winner Taste the Passion (Wild Again) was a sensation in the Pacific Northwest, winning her first nine starts, eight in stakes company.

A half-sister to multiple stakes winners Shampoo (Gulch) and closely related to MSW Smarty Deb (Smart Strike), Stopshoppingdebbie fetched $410,000 from Town & Country Farms and Pollock Farms in foal to Medaglia d'Oro at Keeneland November. But that mating, along with subsequent visits to American Pharoah and Pioneerof the Nile effectively yielded no fruit and the Prunziks acquired Stopshoppingdebbie privately in foal to Uncle Mo in 2019.

“We bought the farm in 2017 and we slowly built the business by boarding and then we eventually got into the ownership of some mares,” explained the 56-year-old Prunzik, who is in the commercial real estate business and owns the downtown Pittsburgh eatery Olive Or Twist. “Ever since we bought Stopshoppingdebbie, everything out of her has run.”

“She was fairly correct and obviously she was by Curlin,” Prunzik continued. “I thought her race record and physical and pedigree made her attractive.”

But the 16-year-old mare has proven that she is no one-hit wonder. Her current 5-year-old, Generous Tipper (Street Sense), was third in the GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity at two and won the Discovery Stakes at three in 2024 for Walking L Thoroughbreds and Ken McPeek before changing hands in a private purchase by Wathnan Racing.

The Prunziks elected to send Stopshoppingdebbie to Three Chimneys' Volatile for her 2021 covering.

Stopshoppingdebbie | Courtesy Stone Bridge Farm

“Our prior farm manager was a big fan of Volatile and thought it would be a nice mix to try to inject some speed into her,” Prunzik said. “And that's how it developed.”

A breed-to-sell operation with 29 mares they own outright or as part of a syndicate, Stone Bridge would have otherwise been preparing to offer the Volatile colt at the 2023 Keeneland September Sale, but things never got that far, as representatives of owner Tomoya Ozasa swooped in earlier in the year.

“I think they came in through Vinery, Derek MacKenzie,” Prunzik recollected. “They were clients of his and Derek comes out every year and looks at our yearlings and our babies. They put an offer in after they visited the farm and we sold the colt.”

Stone Bridge is still well positioned to take full advantage of the booming pedigree update from last weekend. The operation retains Stopshoppingdebbie's unraced 3-year-old half-sister Under Arrest (Tiz the Law) and they bought out their syndicate on the mare's current 2-year-old filly My Pal Al (Golden Pal), who hammered for $300,000 at Keeneland September last year.

“And we have a nice Maxfield [colt] on the ground and she is back in foal to McKinzie,” Prunzik said of Stopshoppingdebbie.

Having returned to Japan earlier this week, T O Elvis could be destined for a return trip to the U.S. later this fall, this time in Prunzik's Bluegrass backyard at Keeneland.

“Oh, that would be really exciting for us, the farm and all our guys and girls on the farm,” said Prunzik when asked about a possible GI Breeders' Cup Sprint appearance. “To have it here in Lexington, yeah, that would really be exciting.”

Elvis really is everywhere. And Jeff Prunzik is loving every minute of it.

The post Breeder Prunzik Still On Cloud Nine After T O Elvis Romp appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

There is no truth to the rumor that T O Elvis (Volatile) stepped onto the Churchill Downs main track last Saturday to the Theme from 2001 Space Odyssey, the instrumental to which the horse's namesake took to the stage for wildly popular concerts in the 1970s.

But when Elvis–T O, that is–'left the building' following a defeat of no fewer than seven last-out graded winners in a renewal of the GI Churchill Downs Stakes that was widely heralded as one of the best races of the year, there will have been no 'suspicious minds' about the 4-year-old colt.

“We were just hoping he'd hit the board and then he took off right around the eighth pole. It was impressive,” said Jeff Prunzik, who bred T O Elvis in partnership with his wife Melissa.

The Prunziks own and operate Stone Bridge Farm east of downtown Lexington in an area between Interstates 64 to the north and 75 to the southwest. Stone Bridge was a division of the Courtney Family's Crestfield Farm and in its 80-some years of existence, has been graced by better than 50 black-type winners, including Fit To Fight, Meadowlake and his champion daughter Meadow Star–who remains in pedigrees to this day as the great-granddam of the late Arrogate–and champion Action This Day.

In the form of Stopshoppingdebbie (Curlin), Stone Bridge looks to have found its next superstar producer. Bred and raced by the Northwest Farms of the late Jerre Paxton and trained by Tom Wenzel, the daughter of two-time stakes winner Taste the Passion (Wild Again) was a sensation in the Pacific Northwest, winning her first nine starts, eight in stakes company.

A half-sister to multiple stakes winners Shampoo (Gulch) and closely related to MSW Smarty Deb (Smart Strike), Stopshoppingdebbie fetched $410,000 from Town & Country Farms and Pollock Farms in foal to Medaglia d'Oro at Keeneland November. But that mating, along with subsequent visits to American Pharoah and Pioneerof the Nile effectively yielded no fruit and the Prunziks acquired Stopshoppingdebbie privately in foal to Uncle Mo in 2019.

“We bought the farm in 2017 and we slowly built the business by boarding and then we eventually got into the ownership of some mares,” explained the 56-year-old Prunzik, who is in the commercial real estate business and owns the downtown Pittsburgh eatery Olive Or Twist. “Ever since we bought Stopshoppingdebbie, everything out of her has run.”

“She was fairly correct and obviously she was by Curlin,” Prunzik continued. “I thought her race record and physical and pedigree made her attractive.”

But the 16-year-old mare has proven that she is no one-hit wonder. Her current 5-year-old, Generous Tipper (Street Sense), was third in the GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity at two and won the Discovery Stakes at three in 2024 for Walking L Thoroughbreds and Ken McPeek before changing hands in a private purchase by Wathnan Racing.

The Prunziks elected to send Stopshoppingdebbie to Three Chimneys' Volatile for her 2021 covering.

Stopshoppingdebbie | Courtesy Stone Bridge Farm

“Our prior farm manager was a big fan of Volatile and thought it would be a nice mix to try to inject some speed into her,” Prunzik said. “And that's how it developed.”

A breed-to-sell operation with 29 mares they own outright or as part of a syndicate, Stone Bridge would have otherwise been preparing to offer the Volatile colt at the 2023 Keeneland September Sale, but things never got that far, as representatives of owner Tomoya Ozasa swooped in earlier in the year.

“I think they came in through Vinery, Derek MacKenzie,” Prunzik recollected. “They were clients of his and Derek comes out every year and looks at our yearlings and our babies. They put an offer in after they visited the farm and we sold the colt.”

Stone Bridge is still well positioned to take full advantage of the booming pedigree update from last weekend. The operation retains Stopshoppingdebbie's unraced 3-year-old half-sister Under Arrest (Tiz the Law) and they bought out their syndicate on the mare's current 2-year-old filly My Pal Al (Golden Pal), who hammered for $300,000 at Keeneland September last year.

“And we have a nice Maxfield [colt] on the ground and she is back in foal to McKinzie,” Prunzik said of Stopshoppingdebbie.

Having returned to Japan earlier this week, T O Elvis could be destined for a return trip to the U.S. later this fall, this time in Prunzik's Bluegrass backyard at Keeneland.

“Oh, that would be really exciting for us, the farm and all our guys and girls on the farm,” said Prunzik when asked about a possible GI Breeders' Cup Sprint appearance. “To have it here in Lexington, yeah, that would really be exciting.”

Elvis really is everywhere. And Jeff Prunzik is loving every minute of it.

The post Breeder Prunzik Still On Cloud Nine After T O Elvis Romp appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Rich Strike’s first foal, a filly out of the winning Kitten’s Joy mare Dee Dee B, this week at Irish Hill Century Farm in Stillwater. Skip Dickstein Photo.

The first reported foal by Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike was born in late April at Irish Hill Century Farm in Stillwater.

Bred by Margaret Lynn Reed and Eric Reed – who trained Rich Strike to his 80-1 upset win in the 2022 Kentucky Derby – the filly born April 27 is out of the winning Kitten’s Joy mare Dee Dee B. Also trained by Eric Reed, Dee Dee B closed her career with three straight wins including a score in allowance company at Mountaineer exactly one year to the day she delivered her first foal.

The filly is also a product of Rich Strike’s syndicate team that has worked diligently to acqire mares to breed to the stallion in New York. The syndicate includes Kentucky owners and others who are new to the industry and bringing fresh faces to the New York breeding industry.

“The group is grateful to Irish Hill and Dutchess Views Stallions for all the work that goes into standing a stallion and caring for the mares,” Eric Reed said.

Dee Dee B’s first foal, a daughter of Rich Strike, takes a spin in her paddock at Irish Hill Century Farm. Skip Dickstein Photo.

Rich Strike, a 7-year-old son of the Curlin stallion Keen Ice out of the Grade 3 winner and Canadian champion Smart Strike mare Gold Strike, stands at Irish Hill & Dutchess Views Stallions for $6,500.

Rich Strike earned $2,526,809 during his career. Bred in Kentucky by Calumet Farm, Rich Strike achieved his Derby win with a rail-skimming trip and rally from 15th place at the quarter pole. He won by three-quarters of a length over subsequent Grade 1 winner and champion 3-year-old male Epicenter.

In addition to his Derby win, Rich Strike finished a close second to Grade 1 winner Hot Rod Charlie in the Grade 2 Lukas Classic Stakes at Churchill Downs and was third in the Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks over the Tapeta surface at Turfway Park.

Rich Strike’s dam, Gold Strike, is also the also the dam of Grade 2 winner Llanarmon and the granddam of Grade 1-placed and multiple Grade 3 winner Neecie Marie.

Help us celebrate your newest arrivals
The New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. encourages breeders and owners to submit photos and information on their new foals. Click here to use our form or email info@nytbreeders.org or nytbfoals@yahoo.com. Please include useful information such as foaling farm, foal’s breeder, sire, dam, foal’s gender, email and a photo.

The post Derby winner Rich Strike’s first foal born in New York appeared first on New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. News.

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