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Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable's Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Golden Tempo will not run in the May 16 Preakness Stakes (G1) at Laurel Park and will instead await the June 6 Belmont Stakes (G1) at Saratoga, according to trainer Cherie DeVaux.

Trainer Wesley Ward opts to run Ten Broeck Farm's Skara Brae in the $125,000 Royal Palm Juvenile Stakes May 9 against males rather than against females in the co-featured $125,000 Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

Tampa Bay Down's 100th anniversary season was an overall success with gains in handle and on-track attendance, as well as purses paid to the horsemen and horsewomen who supported the stakes and overnight programs throughout the 90-day meet.

Having been set to enter his 13th season at Eureka, Spirit Of Boom was found dead in his paddock the morning of May 6 from a suspected ruptured bowel. As a stallion, the son of Sequalo was crowned the champion Queensland sire four times.

Klein will be taking over the announcer duties at Penn National Race Course starting June 3.

Fresh off a Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs that featured three horses with international credentials, top-level stakes action shifts May 9 to Percy Warner, where the $250,000 Iroquois Stakes (NSA-1) also lured foreign runners.

An At a Glance look at the Peter Pan Stakes (G3) from America's Best Racing.

The relaunch of OwnerView's website focuses on guiding new audiences into racehorse ownership at a time of significant growth in fan engagement.

Jockey Jose Ortiz earns Jockey of the Week title after winning the Kentucky Derby (G1) aboard Golden Tempo.

This week's Porter on Pedigrees looks at how Kentucky Oaks victress Always a Runner's bloodlines go back to the earliest United States-born mare, known as Janus Mare No. 1.

The TDN Writers' Room team had so much to say and so many people to talk to when it came to this year's GI Kentucky Derby, that we decided that one podcast was not enough. Our traditional podcast features winning trainer Cherie DeVaux (watch that here), but how could we overlook jockey Jose Ortiz or co-owner Daisy Phipps Pulito? We couldn't, so we gave each of them a podcast of their own.

It was a memorable couple of days for Ortiz, who won both the Derby on Golden Tempo (Curlin) and the GI Kentucky Oaks on Always a Runner (Gun Runner). In the Derby, he edged out his brother, Irad Ortiz Jr., who rode runner-up Renegade (Into Mischief).

“Honestly, when you are riding, normally, there's a killer instinct and you aren't thinking about who you are riding against,” Ortiz said. “But I knew it was (Irad) because I was following him almost every step of the way in the second half of the race. Afterwards, I felt bad for him because I know what it means to him to win the Derby.”

Though his brother had suffered one of the toughest beats of his career, Jose said that Irad could not have been more gracious.

“He told me he thought at one point that he was going to win, but then he felt something coming on the outside and when he looked, he saw the black and cherry and he said, 'Wow, that is Jose.' I mean, it's great because as close as he was, his first reaction was just being happy for me and congratulating me,” Ortiz said. “He didn't even think about him losing the race of his dreams. I think that was pretty remarkable. It speaks to the kind of person he is.”

 

https://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/WR332_Jose_Audio_v1.mp3

 

 

The Phipps Stable, which owns Golden Tempo in partnership with St. Elias Stable, is one of the most renowned stables in the history of the sport and its roots go all the way back to the formation of the Wheatley Stable in 1926. As the stable's racing manager Phipps Pulito is now in charge of what is a racing institution. To see the iconic cherry and black silks in the Kentucky Derby winner's circle was among the highlights of the day.

“I'm proud, really proud of what we accomplished,” she said. “Look at what my grandfather, my father, and my great grandmother built, and I got to reap the rewards of that on Saturday. That  is absolutely amazing. That is not lost on me in the slightest bit. And winning it for St. Elias and the Phipps Stable in the Phipps Stable silks is something really special.”

 

https://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/WR332_Daisy_Audio_v1.mp3

 

The post Daisy Phipps Pulito And Jose Ortiz Feature In First Ever TDN Writers’ Room Overtime Podcasts appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Lighter (Constitution), sent off the 6-5 choice for this unveiling over a muddy track, wasn't particularly hurried off the blocks as Exodus (Not This Time) sprinted to the front while leading Playonwords (Thousand Words) through a quick opening quarter in :21.64. Starting to launch his rally leaving the far turn and heading to the quarter pole, Lighter swung out to the three path turning for home, took over from the fading pacesetter and drew off to score by an eye-catching 7 1/2 length margin over longshot Jr. Bartholomew (Danish Dynaformer). Exodus held on for third.

Lighter is out of Galina Point, purchased by WinStar for $145,000 at Keeneland January in 2018. A half to SW Overbore (Speightstown, $272,634), Lighter also has a year-younger sister by the WinStar stallion.

1st-Horseshoe Indianapolis, $32,000, Msw, 5-6, 3yo, 6f, 1:10.62, gd, 7 1/2 lengths.
LIGHTER (c, 3, Constitution–Galina Point {MSW & MGSP, $486,561}, by Saffir)
Sales history: $400,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $19,200. Click for the Equibase.com chart
O-Ann Harrison & Renata Hendrickson; B-WinStar Farm, LLC (KY); T-Rodolphe Brisset.

The post Constitution’s Lighter Debuts a Winner at Horseshoe Indianapolis appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

'Kentucky Roses,' a new Hallmark movie that premiered on their channel May 2 and began streaming through Hallmark+ May 3, is nothing short of a triumph for the sport of Thoroughbred racing.

Set on the grounds of iconic Churchill Downs during Kentucky Derby week, here's a film that has something for everyone. It's good, clean fun, but it also deals with myriad issues including class division, gender identity and the labyrinth that is family history.

Most of all though, if you are trying to hook someone that knows next to nothing about the sport, then this is one way to reel them in.

Directed by Clare Niederpruem with Jamie Pachino's hotly paced script, 'Kentucky Roses' stars Hallmark stalwart Andrew Walker.

The actor knows his way around horses and luckily has a best friend who is a relative of Churchill's CEO Bill Carstanjen. The racetrack was open to doing a movie and those involved cleverly rolled it out in time for Derby 152.

Walker stars as Ash Taylor, an architect who is trying to make a name for himself professionally without resting on his family's laurels. Taylor is the son of the CEO of Churchill Downs and goes to great lengths–even dropping his surname in favor of his mother's maiden name–so he can avoid any calls that he earned his stripes through nepotism.

As is prone in many a Hallmark tale, trouble in paradise comes two weeks prior to the running of the Derby. Walker's character is called on by his father to repair one of the Twin Spires that was damaged in a recent storm.

Opposite Walker is Odette Annable, who plays Sadie Moore. Her character works for Churchill's greenhouse and she is also trying to strike out on her own as a florist. Her ancestors worked diligently to supply the Derby with the famous garland of roses that is always draped across the winner.

As a budding romance blooms between Moore and Taylor, the pair discover that in 1932 their relatives were broken up because of class differences. A series of flashbacks are effectively used to give the viewers a window into that bygone era.

Back in the present, the modern day couple fight through issues like sourcing historic shingles and finding replacement roses for the Derby garland, which are juxtaposed against larger themes like duty and heritage.

Probably the most interesting character in the whole production is Abigail Esmena's Camila Ortiz. She portrays a racehorse trainer and Moore's closest friend. Ortiz has a longshot Derby entry named Angel Face. At the Derby draw–which includes a cameo from Churchill's Dan Bork–Angel Face is handed the post that no horse has ever won from, number 17. It was a clever nod to see that Angel Face's purple and white jockey silks sport the famous Hallmark crown.

Ortiz and Moore constantly support one another through trials and tribulations.

Spoiler alert! What is terribly ironic is that Angel Face and Ortiz win the Derby a la Golden Tempo and Cherie DeVaux. Hallmark must have one heck of a crystal ball.

Andrew Walker as Ash Taylor in 'Kentucky Roses' | courtesy of Hallmark

As for Taylor, whose sharp threads include a mean three-piece seersucker suit at one point, he does his bit to allow Moore access to his family's land which happens to be loaded with roses. It's Hallmark at its best, of course.

Instead of relying heavily on set design, 'Kentucky Roses' uses the backdrop of Churchill Downs in effective ways. Viewers get to see the Spires, a shedrow, the newly designed paddock, the club levels, the Prohibition-style speakeasy and we get a glimpse over Ash Taylor's shoulder as he uses the Derby winner's circle pagoda as an office during the restoration work. What a treat!

The film reaches the Derby Day climax in the third act. There is a brief scene where Taylor convinces his father that partnering to build a new Thoroughbred aftercare facility is the right move. It's a moment to cherish where the past and present intersect with the future in a powerful way.

Teaming with a juggernaut like Hallmark was a brilliant move by Churchill Downs.

Yes, the shroud of marketing is present, but let's not forget that telling a good story and emphasizing how a community works together isn't pure fiction. As the movie reminds us, the generational racetrack exists from the front to the backside and from the Spires to the greenhouse. It does take a village to save the day.

The industry and race fans should encourage anyone and everyone to see 'Kentucky Roses.' It's time to download the app.

What a big win for a sport that needs to embrace different forms of media that reside 'out there' in the public's popular imagination.

There was one question though that wasn't answered by the time the credits began to roll. Is Angel Face headed to the Preakness?

____________________

Niederpruem, C. (Director). (2026). Kentucky Roses [Film]. Hallmark Media.

The post Movie Review: Hallmark’s ‘Kentucky Roses’ A Garland For The Sport appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Every week, the TDN posts a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) related rulings from around the country.

The following rulings were reported on HISA's “rulings” portal and through the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit's (HIWU) “pending” and “resolved” cases portals.

Among this week's rulings, owner and trainer Raul Beltran-Moreno has been suspended for 18-months and fined $12,500 after he was found in possession of Pitcher Plant Extract, a banned substance (which goes by the brand name Sarapin) due to its analgesic properties. The suspension began on April 30.

According to a brief explanation in the case resolution, the substance was found in Beltran-Moreno's possession at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino in Sunland Park, New Mexico on January 8. According to Equibase, Beltran-Moreno has been training since last year, making 49 starts and winning five races.

Resolved ADMC Violations

Dates: 05/05/2026
Licensee: Jose A. Gallegos, trainer
Penalty: 7-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on May 6, 2026; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $1,000; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Distinct, who finished ninth at Tampa Bay on 3/20/26.

Dates: 05/05/2026
Licensee: Mark S. Tubbs, trainer
Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horses' Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. The following are treated as one violation. Final decision of HIWU.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone–a class C controlled substance–in samples taken from C'S Lilly Dancer, who won at Turf Paradise on 2/28/26; and from Lotsa Kitty, who won at Turf Paradise on 3/16/26.

Dates: 05/04/2026
Licensee: S. Matthew Kintz, trainer
Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision of HIWU.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Dantrolene–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Busker, who finished 10th at Tampa Bay on 3/22/26.

Dates: 05/01/2026
Licensee: Juan Carlos Gotera, trainer
Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Patty's Having Fun, who finished fourth at Mahoning Valey on 3/26/26.

Dates: 04/29/2026
Licensee: Raul Beltran-Moreno, trainer
Penalty: 18-month period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on April 30, 2026; a fine of $12,500.
Explainer: Breach of rule 3214(a), concerning “Possession of a Banned Substance”–in this case Pitcher Plant Extract–for an event dated 1/8/26.

Pending ADMC Violations

05/06/2026, Todd Fincher, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Dantrolene–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Sunset Sizzle on 3/31/26.

05/05/2026, Leslielyn Hardesty, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Methocarbamol–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from That's My Cat, who finished fifth at Tampa Bay on 2/25/26.

05/01/2026, Eddie Kenneally, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Tramadol–a class B controlled substance–in a sample taken from Bowling Blue, who finished seventh at Turfway Park on 2/28/26.

04/30/2026, Rogelio Labra, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Cobalt Salts (e.g. CoCl2)–a banned substance–in a sample taken from Shallus, who finished third at Turfway Park on 3/12/26.

4/30/2026, Maria G. Gonzalez, trainer: Pending alleged violation of rule 3229, regarding the “Status During Provisional Suspension or Ineligibility,” for an undescribed event (concerning the horses I'magambler and Warriors Mark) dated 2/9/26. Gonzalez is already serving an 18-month suspension (which began on Feb. 7) after one of her trainees tested positive in an out-of-competition test for the banned substance, Albuterol.

Crop Violations

Aqueduct
Kendrick Carmouche – reporting date May 4; $1,000 fine, two-day suspension
Omar H. Moreno – reporting date May 4; $250 fine, no other information
Dalila Rivera – reporting date May 4; $500 fine, one-day suspension
Kendrick Carmouche – reporting date May 4; $500 fine, one-day suspension

Fairmount Park
Emmanuel Giles – reporting date May 2; $250 fine, one-day suspension

Oaklawn Park
Luis Fuenmayor – reporting date April 30; $250 fine, no other information

Parx Racing
Jorge A. Vargas – reporting date May 1; $35 fine, no other information

Santa Anita
Victor Espinoza – reporting date May 1; $500 fine, one-day suspension

Tampa Bay
Cesar D. Gonzalez – reporting date May 1; $250 fine, one-day suspension

Thistledown
Jose A. Bracho – reporting date May 2; $250 fine, one-day suspension

The post Weekly Rulings: April 30-May 6; Raul Beltran-Moreno Banned 18 Months appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

There was little question as to who would be the primary Gainesway Guest of the Week on this week's edition of the TDN Writers' Room Podcast presented by Keeneland. Trainer Cherie DeVaux not only won the GI Kentucky Derby with Golden Tempo (Curlin), she also became the first female trainer to win the race.

But there were so many good storylines out of this year's Derby, that the podcast split off into three parts. In what we are calling the “TDN Writers' Room Podcast Overtime” we also featured in-depth interviews with winning Jockey Jose Ortiz and winning co-owner Daisy Phipps Pulito in separate podcasts. Stay tuned for those episodes in the coming days.

DeVaux has been a media darling since her victory and her appearances have included segments on the CBS Morning News and the Today Show. She understands why a victory in the Derby by a female trainer resonated with the public and the media, and that it is important to be a role model.

“To be honest, none of this, the enormity of it, has sunk in,” she said. “It's been a whirlwind. I wasn't really expecting to be whisked off to New York City and go all over different studios and get to be a representative for the industry. It's been fun, but I'm averaging about four hours of sleep a night. I am looking forward to a regular bedtime and getting some semblance of normalcy. It's not going to be normal for a while and I have to acknowledge that something happened in my life that is going to change it forever.

“I don't view my gender as being a female trainer as my whole identity, but I do acknowledge that being a female in the racehorse world is a big deal when big things happen,” she said. “I'm a person that just has always done my own thing. You guys have known me for quite some time. So if I can just be myself and be true to myself and that inspires others, then why not take advantage of that?”

Though Golden Tempo was sent off at odds of 23-1, DeVaux said she was growing increasingly confident as the week progressed.

“I was very confident in Golden Tempo,” she said. “He has trained so well throughout the winter. He trained even better when we freshened him a little bit and just gave him a little bit more time. And physically, he looked fantastic. He's kind of always been a little bit on the heavier side. He really started to trim up. And then the week of the Derby, he went from being a horse that was as quiet as a church mouse to something different. We're coming off the track and he's nickering at the pony trying to audition for his hopeful next career. So that gave me a lot of confidence.”

It has taken some quality horsemen decades to win a Kentucky Derby. Some of the very best have never won the race. DeVaux did it in just her eighth year as a trainer. How?

“Well, I don't think it's fair to say how did I make it happen?” she said. “It happened. In the beginning, we were just trying to persevere. We went almost a full year without winning a race. So it was almost seven years of training and winning races before we got here. I made a conscious effort and thought in the beginning of my career that my core principle was going to always be to put the horse first. And I'm going to surround myself with clients and a support team that had that same concept in mind. And I think that to do this and to be successful, the horses have to be the priority along with the care  of each individual horse. But you have to have the clients behind you. And I'm so grateful for these clients, St. Elias, the Violas and the Phipps family. I'm also thankful for every other client who has supported me in this journey.”

The “Fastest Horses of the Week” was T O Elvis (Volatile), the Japanese import who won the GI Churchill Downs Stakes. He earned a 108 Beyer. The Fastest Horse of the Week segment is sponsored by WinStar, which stands the sire Life Is Good.

Elsewhere on the podcast, which is also sponsored by the PHBA, 1/ST TV, the KTOB and West Point Thoroughbreds, Randy Moss, Bill Finley, and Zoe Cadman gave their thoughts on the many stories that came out in the Derby. There was speculation that Renegade (Into Mischief) may have won the race if he had not been banged around at the start after breaking from the one hole. They talked of how successful the move to shift the GI Kentucky Oaks to primetime television turned out to be and discussed the massive late odds drops on T O Elvis courtesy of the CAW players and how that had to have left a bad taste in the mouths of every “regular” player who wagered on the horse.

Click here to watch the podcast or watch below.

 
 

The post Cherie DeVaux Joins The TDN Writers’ Room Podcast Presented By Keeneland appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

In a statement posted Tuesday afternoon on X, trainer Cherie DeVaux announced that the GI Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo (Curlin) will not be running in the GI Preakness Stakes. It's another blow to the race that has clearly become the weak link in the Triple Crown. The only horse who ran in the Kentucky Derby to commit to the Preakness at this point is the maiden, Ocelli (Connect), who was a surprising third.

“After much thoughtful discussion as a team, we have decided that Golden Tempo will bypass the Preakness Stakes,” read a statement attributed to Cherie DeVaux Racing.

“We are incredibly appreciative of the excitement and support surrounding the possibility of a Triple Crown run. The enthusiasm from racing fans, owners, and our entire team has meant more to us than we can properly express.

“Golden gave us the race of a lifetime in the Kentucky Derby, and we believe the best decision for him moving forward is to give him a little more time following such a tremendous effort. His health, happiness, and long-term future will always remain our top priority.

“We are looking forward to pointing him toward the Belmont Stakes and are excited for what lies ahead with this very special horse.

“Thank you again to everyone who has supported and believed in this journey alongside us.”

This will be the last Preakness run by the team at 1/ST Racing. Mike Rogers, the executive vice president of racing for 1/ST, said the news of 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Golden Tempo's defection was a blow.

“Initially, when I heard the news, it was a gut punch,” he said. “You're always hoping for the best. When someone like Cherie and (co-owner) Daisy (Phipps Pulito) put their horse first, you can't criticize that decision. You respect it and you move on.”

Sovereignty (Into Mischief) also passed the 2025 Preakness to point for the Belmont. In 2022, Derby winner Rich Strike (Keen Ice) also bypassed the second jewel of the Triple Crown and ran next in the Belmont.

The issue has become the spacing of the Triple Crown races. Most trainers are very wary of running their horses back in just two weeks, especially when there is the option of waiting five weeks and coming back in the Belmont.

“I've long been a proponent of spacing these races out and I think it is something that has to be done,” Rogers said.

NYRA, for its part, said that it was willing to entertain the discussion.

“We are always willing to engage with Churchill Downs and the Maryland Jockey Club to ensure the continued success of the Triple Crown,” said NYRA Vice President of Communications Patrick McKenna.

Efforts to change the spacing of the races have not yielded any results, but perhaps the defection of another Derby winner from the Preakness could reignite the conversation. If Derby winners continue to pass the Preakness, that also puts NYRA in a bad situation as it means losing out on the chance to present a race with the potential of crowning a Triple Crown champion.

With Golden Tempo out, the Preakness favorite could be 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Crude Velocity (Beau Liam), the impressive winner of the GII Pat Day Mile on Derby Day. Reached by text Wednesday, trainer Bob Baffert said: “It's very tempting, but no decision yet.” Not only would Crude Velocity be coming back in two weeks, but he would be stretching out from a mile to a mile and three-sixteenths.

Trainer Whit Beckman had originally ruled out starting in the Preakness with Ocelli, but after reevaluating the situation he is ready to give the Triple Crown another try.

“I grew up watching the Preakness and it was all Derby runners in there,” Beckman said. “You never had a Preakness without a Derby runner. When you have a horse that is this fit, this healthy and giving you all the signs, I don't think there's anything wrong with running them back in two weeks. I understand it is challenging, but I don't think we're sacrificing anything. The Triple Crown is a prestigious thing to be a part of. Wayne (Lukas) never shied away from a Preakness and he won a ton of them.”

 

 

Preakness announcement pic.twitter.com/8JQu7VZlRC

— Cherie DeVaux (@reredevaux) May 6, 2026

The post Golden Tempo Will Pass Preakness, Aim for Belmont appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

We skipped last week as America focused on the Kentucky Derby, thus this slightly expanded list covering the last two weeks.

9) LOVELY EMMA, KEE, 4-22, Allowance, 5 1/2fT VIDEO
Beyer Speed Figure-95
(f, 4, Twirling Candy–Salsa Diavola, by Mineshaft)
O-C R K Stable. B-Nursery Place, Donaldson, Broadbent. T-Peter Eurton. J-Jose Ortiz.
The Searing family's $600,000 yearling purchase appears ready to tackle stakes company now. This was her third consecutive win and third straight career-best Beyer.

8) SHOOT IT TRUE, CD, 5-1, GII Unbridled Sidney Stakes, 5fT
VIDEO
Beyer Speed Figure-95 (2nd)
(f, 4, Munnings–To the Moon Alice, by Malibu Moon)
O-Ice Wine Stable and Smart Choice Stable. B-Old Tavern Farm (NY). T-Wesley Ward. J-Joel Rosario.
The first of two Ward trainees to appear on this week's list– both in defeat. Given a perfect rail trip by Rosario, she just missed earning graded stripes with her late kick against Moon Spun (below).

7) KATHYNMARISSA, CD, 5-1, GII Modesty Stakes, 1 1/8mT VIDEO
Beyer Speed Figure-96
(m, 5, American Pharoah–La Dalila {Chi}, by Milt's Overture)
O-Michael Caruso and Michael Dubb. B-Don Alberto Corporation (Ky). T-Chad Brown. J-Jose Ortiz.
Brown had the exacta covered with Breeders' Cup heroine Gezora and Kathynmarissa, but this American Pharoah/Chilean cross finished strongest to nab her first graded score.

6) REAGAN'S FLAME, WO, 5-2, GIII Whimsical Stakes, 6f VIDEO
Beyer Speed Figure-96
(m, 5, Flameaway–Mizzen Donald, by Mizzen Mast)
O-B A G Racing Stables, Turf Express and Watkins Diamond Stables. B-Jason Hall, Herschel Martindale & Stephen Mott (Ky). T-Saffie Joseph Jr. J-Sahin Civaci.
Flameaway started only once on Tapeta–a debut victory–but has sired four Tapeta SWs, this being the latest. Reagan's Flame is now 2-for-2 on the surface with markedly higher Beyers. The same figure as Kathynmarissa, but the tiebreaker? She carried one more pound.

5) COLD SPELL, KEE, 4-23, MSW, 6f VIDEO
Beyer Speed Figure-97 (2nd)
(f, 3, Gun Runner–Chalon, by Dialed In)
O/B-Lael Stables/Mr & Mrs Roy Jackson. T-Wesley Ward. J-John Velazquez.
The second foal of seven-time stakes winner and GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint runner-up Chalon was dialed in for her debut, but simply outgunned by Mashallah's historic 106 debut Beyer (below).

4) MOON SPUN, CD, 5-1, GIII Unbridled Sidney Stakes, 5fT VIDEO
Beyer Speed Figure-98
(m, 5, Hard Spun–Moonlit Bay, by Malibu Moon)
O-Town and Country Racing. B-Jack Liebau Sr (Ky). T-Brian Lynch. J-Javier Castellano.
Champion Shisospicy didn't have her usual sharpness off the bench, leaving 13-1 longshot Moon Spun to grab a clear lead–and that's the name of her game.

3) WAYS AND MEANS, CD, 5-2, GI Derby City Distaff, 7f VIDEO
Beyer Speed Figure-98 (2nd)
(m, 5, Practical Joke–Strong Incentive, by Warrior's Reward)
O/B-Klaravich Stable. T-Chad Brown. J-Jose Ortiz.
She gave a valiant effort against R Disaster (below), and she'll undoubtedly be tough to handle in Saratoga's June 5 GII Bed O'Roses, which she won last year by 7 3/4 lengths. She is 5-for-6 in New York, but now 0-for-5 elsewhere.

2) R. DISASTER, CD, 5-2, GI Derby City Distaff, 7f VIDEO
Beyer Speed Figure-103
(m, 5, Awesome Slew–Making Havoc, by Gottcha Gold)
O-Averill Racing and ATM Racing. B-Ocala Stud & J Michael O'Farrell Jr (Fl). T-Saffie Joseph Jr. J-Tyler Gaffalione.
Allow her to control the pace and Richard Averill's speedy mare “R” very tough to beat, as she proved again against talented Ways and Means and defending GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint champ Splendora. In 16 career starts, she has 10 races in which she led by at least one length at an official point-of-call, and she has won nine of those.

1) MASHALLAH, KEE, 4-23, MSW, 6f VIDEO
Beyer Speed Figure-106
'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard'
(f, 3, Maxfield–All in With Aces, by Quiet American)
O-JR Ranch. B-Taylor Made Stallions, Louis Brooks Ranch and Baysore Stables et al (Ky). T-Brendan Walsh. J-Joel Rosario.
Updated historical Beyer stats courtesy of racing data guru Jerry Nicholson: Mashallah became only the 22nd horse to record a debut Beyer Speed Figure of 106 or higher since Beyers were first published in DRF in 1992, and the sixth female.

The post Nine Fleet Fillies: From Apr. 19 to May 3 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Back in February, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that President Donald Trump's suite of International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) tariffs were unconstitutional.

That decision opened the door to potentially hundreds of millions of dollars in refunds to businesses that had paid those tariffs since they went into effect a year prior, including those who shipped in Thoroughbreds from abroad.

“We just did it unilaterally, figuring our customers would want their money back,” said Charles “Chuck” Santarelli, president of Mersant International, licensed custom brokers and freight forwarders which ships Thoroughbred racehorses worldwide, about his company's approach to applying for the tariff refunds.

“Most of our clients have been contacted that we're doing this,” Santarelli added. “There are some one-offs that we have not contacted yet.”

The refund process is being done through the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) Automated Commercial Environment system, within which is the Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries (CAPE) functionality, what the CBP says is designed to “streamline the submission and processing” of valid refund requests.

Santarelli said before applying for the refunds, he went through every single customs entry that Mersant filed from Apr. 9 last year through Feb. 24 this year.

During that time, Mersant filed 202 custom entries. Each entry could contain as many as a dozen or more horses. And each horse, of course, could have multiple paying partners.

Not anyone can access the ACE system, which opened on Apr. 20.

“You have to be registered to utilize the portal,” Santarelli explained.

“What I've done is I've created internal spreadsheets of each portal upload to keep track of who paid us for each particular horse and added a column for the interest accrued so we have an idea of what the clients will get back,” said Santarelli.

“When we file a CAPE portal transaction, we get a claim number assigned to it for us to check the status of the refunds internally in the ACE Portal,” he added.

According to Santarelli, their customers paid around $5 million in IEEPA tariffs. He said he doesn't know exactly how many paying individuals that entailed, but suggested it could have been between 100 and 200 different entities.

The tariffs ranged in severity, from 10% from horses bred in the UK to 15% from horses bred in Japan and Europe.

Immediately following the Supreme Court's decision, President Trump enacted an additional global 10% tariff, similar in effect to the IEEPA tariffs. These are set to expire July 24, 2026. The refunds in the process of being issued do not relate to this new set of 10% tariffs.

It's currently unclear how the funds will be reimbursed–whether it'll be done in chronological order, for example.

“In terms of order, I would assume they will pay out the entries that were liquidated already within the last 80 days. Those ones should be paid out first. And then they will break it out and go in submission order. That's the way I see it,” Santarelli guessed.

The first of the refunds are expected to be issued on or around May 11.

“One thing I will tell you is that until I actually see the funds in our account, I'm always skeptical,” said Santarelli. “But that's just my mentality.”

The tariffs, he said, have impacted Mersant's business, the majority of which comprises the movement of Thoroughbreds. At the 2025 October Tattersalls yearling sale, they shipped back around 30 horses to America.

“The previous year, we had close to 50,” he said. “Maybe they're just not buying 18, they're buying 15. They're just buying fewer.”

The tariffs have also impacted the way Thoroughbreds have been moved post purchase.

Rather than ship them to the U.S. to be broken in, “a lot of people have kept their horses there post sale to break them in England or with Europe,” said Santarelli.

Importantly, anyone interested in possible refunds should reach out to their shipping agent or whoever they used to ship horses, to see if they've applied for the tariff refunds on their behalf, said Santarelli.

Many of racing manager and bloodstock advisor Joe Miller's clients are having their refunds processed by Mersant. For the ones who didn't use the company, Miller is processing the refunds himself.

“It's a huge amount of paperwork that needs to be done,” said Miller, who explained that he's currently working with his clients to decide whether the refund process is worth it. “It's a lot of paperwork and a lot of follow-up and back and forth with them to get the funds back.”

Miller said, “We're always trying to do what's best for our clients,” but some of the potential refunds would be of such a small amount, “the juice might not be worth the squeeze,” he added.

When asked what advice he would give to others pursuing refunds, Miller pointed to an instructive February article by attorney and syndicate manager Bing Bush Jr.

“What I would tell people is speak with your shipping company,” said Miller. “Do the paperwork and be relentless and try to get the money back.”

The post Refunds on IEEPA Tariffs: ‘We Just Did it Unilaterally’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Kirsten Green, executive director of the Retired Racehorse Project, has been sworn in to serve on the Maryland Racing Commission, following an appointment by Governor Wes Moore and confirmation by the Executive Nominations Committee of the State Senate.

“On behalf of the Maryland Racing Commission, I am honored to welcome Kirsten Green as a commissioner,” said Chris Merz, executive director of the commission. “Kirsten's background in Thoroughbred aftercare and her passion for equine welfare will bring tremendous value to the commission's work. Her appointment reinforces a principle that must guide the future of our sport: horse welfare belongs at the center of every meaningful conversation about racing's growth, integrity, and sustainability. I am confident her leadership and perspective will help strengthen Maryland racing for horses, horsemen, and the public alike.”

Green said she was initially surprised when asked to join the commission.

“The extent of my involvement with racing as anything more than a fan is through my work over the last 12 years at the Retired Racehorse Project, but when Chris explained why he felt representation from the aftercare industry was essential, it immediately made sense,” she said. “In an era where scrutiny of racing is at an all-time high and preservation of its social license hangs in the balance, inclusion of aftercare perspective in regulatory bodies is a progressive, demonstrable commitment to the horses at the heart of the sport. I'm honored for the opportunity to represent the RRP in this capacity and to contribute more directly to a sport and industry I've come to love.”

The Maryland Racing Commission is comprised of nine members who serve on a volunteer basis. Three members must be knowledgeable in some aspect of Thoroughbred racing and another three members must be knowledgeable in some aspect of Standardbred racing. No more than six members may belong to the same political party. Members serve four-year terms which are renewable. The executive director of the commission is appointed by the Secretary of Labor.

The post Kirsten Green Appointed to Maryland Racing Commission appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

This week's Porter on Pedigrees looks at how Kentucky Oaks victress Always a Runner's bloodlines go back to the earliest United States-born mare, known as Janus Mare No. 1.