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Bernietakescharge dominates Saturday’s Heavenly Prize Invitational. Coglianese Photo.

Robert Rosenthal’s and Bradford Bernstein’s homebred Bernietakescharge took control from the start and didn’t relinquish the lead en route to her first stakes victory in Saturday’s $145,500 Heavenly Prize Invitational at Aqueduct.

The 4-year-old daughter of Take Charge Indy overcame a bump at the start from odds-on favorite Weigh the Risks and led throughout the 1-mile trip of the Heavenly Prize for a 6 1/4-length victory over that foe under Romero Maragh. Trained by Domenick Schettino and sent off as the second longest shot of the five runners at 17-1, Bernietakescharge picked up her second straight victory in third in her last four starts. She won in 1:38.53 over the fast track.

“It was fast up front, but she runs like that. That’s the way she likes to run,” Schettino said. “When she gets to the quarter pole, if she’s still in front, a lot of times she’ll kick away and she continues to go forward.

“I [saw] the favorite [Weigh the Risks] sitting there third, I was like, ‘well with his half a mile, maybe the favorite’s going to come.’ But then when I saw the quarter pole and I [saw] the favorite start to really, the jockey was working on her, I [saw] my filly just taking a little breather, I knew we had a good shot once we turned for home.”

Maragh said taking the lead from the start was always the plan. He’s ridden the half-sister to recent stakes winner Bernieandtherose for her last four starts, including a nose victory and a 6 1/4-length score going 9 furlongs, and that knowledge and time in the morning paid off.

“The goal was definitely to get the lead with her because she’s a quirky filly,” Maragh said. “As long as she’s clear or on the lead, she’ll give her honest, best effort. When horses come up to her, it pushes her even more and that was the game plan to establish the lead early.

“I’ve worked her in the mornings, too, and when she works by herself, you wouldn’t think she would win a stakes. She just goes by herself at a nice galloping speed. When she’s with company, she’s a completely different horse. So, I could tell by how she is in the morning that the afternoons are different with her.”

Bernieandtherose, also a homebred for Rosenthal and Bernstein trained by Schettino, won the East View Stakes February 8 at Aqueduct. The same ownership and trainer tandem campaigned the dam of those two fillies, the Freud mare Berning Rose.

Berning Rose won two of three starts, including the 2017 Maid of the Mist Stakes on Empire Showcase Day at Belmont Park.

“It’s great,” Schettino said. “Bob Rosenthal and his family, I trained every horse; the mom, all the siblings. Jan Durrschmidt, where we raise the horses at Indigo Farm. It’s a special feeling.”

Berning Rose’s first foal, Berning Honor, went 1-3-1 in 10 starts and earned $82,573. Bernietakescharge improved to 5-for-15 with two seconds and two thirds and earnings of $354,580 in the Heavenly Prize. Berning Rose is also the dam of the 2-year-old Always Dreaming filly Roseberns Dream and a yearling colt by Central Banker. She was bred to Americanrevoluation in 2024.

Bernietakescharge was entered in Sunday’s Broadway Stakes at 7 furlongs, but Schettino liked the distance and setup of the open-company Heavenly Prize better for the filly.

“The distance and a shorter field, and seeing the horse on the outside [Aussie Girl] had never been on the dirt, that’s a question mark there. ,” he said. “She was training super, and once she was training the way she was, I told Bob Rosenthal, ‘let’s take a shot in this race here.’ Plus, she had a better post position in this race than she does tomorrow.”

The post Bernietakescharge earns first stakes win in Heavenly Prize appeared first on New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. News.

5th-Gulfstream, $70,000, Msw, 2-22, 3yo, 5fT, :54.74, fm, 4 lengths.
PIVOTAL MOMENT (c, 3, Bolt d'Oro–Tipping Point, by Speightstown), third as the favorite after getting steadied at the start in his unveiling sprinting over the Aqueduct turf June 23, proved well worth the wait as the 9-5 favorite here. Adding blinkers and Lasix for this, he was outsprinted in sixth early, launched an eye-catching, sweeping move on the far turn and continued on in very impressive fashion down the stretch to win by a geared-down, four lengths. Proudly Hailed (GB) (Mehmas {Ire}) was second. The winner is a half to Blame J D (Blame), SW, $300,919; a 2-year-old filly named Missy Moosey (Mendelssohn); and a yearling filly by Mo Town. Tipping Point was bred to Maximus Mischief for 2025. Sales history: $90,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP; $330,000 2yo '24 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-1, $52,800. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O-Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Steven Bouchey & Steven Rocco; B-James W. Matheney (KY); T-Christophe Clement.

Pivotal Moment and @bravoace impressively score in the 5th race for @clementstable. #GulfstreamPark #ChampionshipMeet pic.twitter.com/0GKVk2s0f3

— Gulfstream Park (@GulfstreamPark) February 22, 2025

The post Bolt d’Oro Colt Earns Diploma in Style Over Gulfstream Lawn appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Whitham Thoroughbreds LLC's Burnham Square (Liam's Map), who last captured the GIII Holy Bull Stakes Feb. 1, breezed five furlongs in 1:01.05 (2/13) Saturday morning at Palm Meadows in preparation for next Saturday's GII Coolmore Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park.

The Ian Wilkes-trained colt finished the workout at Gulfstream's satellite training facility in Palm Beach County on even terms with stablemate Into Champagne (Into Mischief), who finished second in the GII Davona Dale Stakes and third in the GII Gulfstream Park Oaks last year, before galloping out with energy.

“It was a solid five-eighths in 1:01,” said Wilkes. “He galloped out good. I loved the gallop-out. He galloped out really well. All good! He came off the track happy.”

At Palm Beach Downs, CHC Inc. and WinStar Farm LLC's 'TDN Rising Star' River Thames (Maclean's Music) and Donegal Racing's Gate to Wire (Munnings) breezed a half-mile in company in :49.50 (11/22) Saturday morning for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher. River Thames is scheduled to make his two-turn debut in the Fountain of Youth while Gate to Wire is also set to make his two-turn debut next Saturday after upsetting the seven-furlong Swale by nine lengths on the Holy Bull undercard.

St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds and CJ Thoroughbreds' Keep It Easy (Hard Spun) also tuned up for the Fountain of Youth with a half-mile breeze in :48.72 (37/115) at Gulfstream Park. The Dale Romans-trainee is slated to make his 2025 debut next Saturday after taking the Ed Brown Stakes to finish out 2024.

In New Orleans, reigning Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) tossed up a bullet work ahead of her expected start in the GII Azeri Stakes at Oaklawn March 8. The 4-year-old Kenneth McPeek trainee drilled five furlongs in 1:00.20 (1/32).

At Sanita Anita, Journalism (Curlin) and Romanesque (Practical Joke), both nominated to next weekend's GII DK Horse San Felipe Stakes for 3-year-olds, worked Saturday.

 

Work of the Day from @santaanitapark—Journalism (Outside), 1:01.00, and Phosphorescence, 1:01.20, worked 5 Furlongs on February 22nd, 2025, for trainer @mwmracing. #DKHorseSanFelipe pic.twitter.com/QOazBd8dNR

— 1/ST TV (@Watch1ST) February 22, 2025

Journalism, trained by Michael McCarthy, drilled five furlongs in 1:01 (17/30) and hasn't started since winning the GII Los Alamitos Futurity in December. Romanesque worked four furlongs from the gate in :47.20 (1/3) for trainer Bob Baffert.

Three horses nominated to the GI Frank E. Kilroe Mile–Mi Hermano Ramon (Creative Cause), Formidable Man (City of Light) and Grand Aspen (Dialed In)–also worked. Mi Hermano Ramon earned a bullet when working five furlongs on the training track in :59 (1/14) for trainer Mark Glatt. The 5-year-old gelding most recently finished fourth in the GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Jan. 25 at Gulfstream Park. Also exiting the Pegasus Turf,  Grade I winner Formidable Man worked four furlongs on the main track in :47.60 (5/40) for McCarthy. Grand Aspen, trained by Jonathan Thomas, worked four furlongs on the training track in :48.80 (7/8).

The post Holy Bull Winner Burnham Square Leads Busy Saturday Work Tab appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

RIYADH, KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA — The eleventh-hour defection of horses like 'TDN Rising Star' Sierra Leone (Gun Runner), reigning G1 Dubai World Cup hero Laurel River (Into Mischief) and GI Pegasus World Cup victor White Abarrio (Race Day) deprived the 2025 G1 Saudi Cup of at least some of its pre-race lustre. Remaining in the field of 14, however, were two of the world's top horses, having achieved their success heretofore in diametrically opposite ways.

Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) won the G3 Saudi Derby in 2024 in heart-stopping fashion, jockey Ryusei Sakai throwing him across the line to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. That was the beginning of a global invasion that saw the colt, trained by the master Yoshito Yahagi, finish a highly unlucky third in the GI Kentucky Derby after being hampered by Sierra Leone, and a more decisively beaten third to his close relative in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic in November. He earned a maiden top-level score in the Tokyo Daishoten in late December.

Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), already a Group 1 winner in Hong Kong, Australia and Japan, was imperious in making  the G1 Jebel Hatta his 10th elite-level score not far from here in Dubai on Jan. 24, and he had been programmed for the Saudi Cup as many as five months ago, an audacious plan given that he had never tried the dirt under race conditions. If any horse might be up to that particular task, it was Romantic Warrior, many reasoned, and he was favoured against his more accomplished dirt rival in overseas markets.

The Arabic announcer at King Abdulzaziz Racetrack whipped the crowd into a literal frenzy as the Saudi Cup field circled the starting stalls midway up the chute. The 109 seconds that followed the springing of the stalls nearly defies description.

Drawn widest in gate 14, Forever Young broke well and was angled down to the inside by Sakai, already victorious aboard Shin Forever (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) for the same connections in the G2 Neom Turf Cup a few hours prior. The JRHA Select Sale grad was part of a four-way scrum for the early lead with anticipated front-runners, G1 Al Maktoum Challenge winner Walk of Stars (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) to his inside and Al Musmak (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) to his right.

Romantic Warrior, customarily away quickly, bounced nicely from his low draw in three and James McDonald tucked the 7-year-old just in behind the leading group of four, showing no early signs that he might be struggling with the new surface.

Positions were mostly unchanged approaching the end of the back straight, and at that point, McDonald rolled the dice, angling out and around longshot Defunded (Dialed In) with fully half the distance yet to cover, and was therefore consigned to a five-wide run around the turn.

Romantic Warrior nevertheless continued to travel like a seasoned veteran and on the bridle, and he quickly moved up to the line of four and swept in front, looking every ounce a winner with Sakai and Forever Young left a bit flat-footed one off the fence turning in.

Romantic Warrior opened up on his rivals and they were partying in Wan Chai, but as he displayed when blousing out Book'em Danno (Bucchero) at the finish of last year's Saudi Derby, Forever Young loves a fight, and he began pegging back the margin with time ticking away. James McDonald was hard at work on Romantic Warrior and said post-race that his mount 'was not stopping', but Forever Young was kept after and proved narrowly better on the day in a race that won't soon be forgotten.

Previous Dubai World Cup winner Ushba Tesoro (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) trailed down the back, but closed off well for third–albeit a very distant one–picking up more Saudi prizemoney after just losing his own heartbreaker 12 months ago. The final time for the 1800 meters was 1:49.10, which breaks the previous record of 1:49.50 set by Senor Buscador (Mineshaft) last year. Japanese runners swept the last four races on the card and now own multiple victories in each of the six group races on Saudi Cup night since the inception of the event in 2020.

It was a second Saudi Cup in three years for Yahagi, who sent out Panthalassa (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) to victory in 2023.

“This is my second win in the Saudi Cup, but no matter how many wins you have in the Saudi Cup, it is still a great feeling. I didn't have confidence; I believed in him,” the trainer said. “You know, when he came here to run in the Saudi Derby, he was not in the best condition and he still won. Since that time, he has improved a lot and was in better condition today. We will go to the [Apr. 5 G1] Dubai World Cup.”

Added Sakai: “He jumped very well from the wide gate in 14 and got into a nice position without a problem. It was my tactics to be in that situation. I believe in Forever Young, I never thought I'd lose the race. This is the best moment in my life.”

The Saudi Cup is a newly announced 'Win and You're In' qualifier for this year's Breeders' Cup Classic.

No Disgrace In Defeat For a 'Warrior'

Romantic Warrior's $3.5-million payday takes his career earnings to a staggering $26.3 million. Connections were certainly feeling the sting of a difficult defeat, but expressed their pride in their horse.

“It's a good run for his first time on the dirt, only beaten by Forever Young. He is a top dirt horse, and he was only beaten by a head–it's a good run,” trainer Danny Shum told the Hong Kong Jockey Club's Declan Schuster. “We all did our best. I hope to win every time, but racing is racing. As long as he tries his best and it's a really good race–I think most of the people enjoyed the race.

“James said it was a good run. James is happy and I am happy. It was a great run and he beat the third horse by lengths. It was a good run, and we will run in the [$6-million G1 Dubai Turf [back at Meydan Apr. 5].”

McDonald chimed in and said: “He ran incredibly well. I was very proud of him. He flowed into the race well and used his momentum nicely, so it was a terrific effort.

“He was gallant in defeat, the race worked out perfectly for us, he got a little bit of kickback, sidled round just beautifully. I didn't alter my stride pace at all. It just shows what great horse Forever Young is and what a race was.”

Joel Rosario was pleased with the effort from America's Rattle N Roll (Connect), who came from well back for fifth and believes his horse would be suited for a step up to a mile and a quarter. The 6-year-old is also nominated to the World Cup.

Pedigree Notes:

Winner of the 2016 GII Santa Ynez Stakes, Forever Darling is the dam of four winners from five to race, including Forever Young's 2-year-old half-sister Brown Ratchet (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), who carried the Sunday Racing colors to a victory in last year's G3 Artemis Stakes on the turf.

Given her female family, it is not entirely surprising that Forever Darling might end up in Japan. Her stakes-winning and multiple Grade-I placed dam Darling My Darling is responsible for 2017 GI Darley Alcibiades Stakes victress Heavenly Love (Malibu Moon), the dam of the aforementioned Sierra Leone, and Darling My Darling is a half-sister to Japanese Horse of the Year and G1 Japan Cup hero Zenno Rob Roy (Jpn).

The A.P. Indy stallion Congrats has been a broodmare sire of considerable importance in Japan. His daughters have produced 45 starters in the country, 34 of which are winners, including four group-level winners. Congrats is also the sire of Top Decile, whose son Danon Decile (Jpn) took out the 2024 G1 Tokyo Yushun, and he is also the broodmare sire of Group 2 winner Hartley (Jpn) in addition to the aforementioned Brown Ratchet.

Forever Darling is also the dam of a 2-year-old filly by Epiphaneia (Jpn) (Symboli Kris S), a yearling colt by Rey de Oro (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) this past April and is due to foal a full-sibling to Forever Young in 2025.

Saturday, King Abdulaziz (Riyadh), Saudi Arabia
SAUDI CUP-G1, $20,000,000, King Abdulaziz, 2-22, NH4yo/up, SH3yo/up, 1800m, 1:49.10, gd.
1–FOREVER YOUNG (JPN), 125, c, 4, by Real Steel (Jpn)
                1st Dam: Forever Darling (GSW-US, $217,545,
                                by Congrats
                2nd Dam: Darling My Darling, by Deputy Minister
                3rd Dam: Roamin Rachel, by Mining
(¥98,000,000 Ylg '22 JRHJUL). O-Susumu Fujita; B-Northern
Racing (Jpn); T-Yoshito Yahagi; J-Ryusei Sakai; $10,000,000.
Lifetime Record: G1SW-Jpn, MGISP-US, GSW-UAE, 10-8-0-2,
$14,248,207. *1/2 to Brown Ratchet (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}),
GSW-Jpn, $239,613. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the
free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Romantic Warrior (Ire),125, g, 7, Acclamation (GB)–Folk
Melody (Ire), by Street Cry (Ire). (300,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT).
O-Mr Lau Pak Fai Peter; B-Corduff Stud & T. J. Rooney (Ire);
T-Danny Shum; J-James McDonald; $3,500,000.
3–Ushba Tesoro (Jpn), 125, h, 8, Orfevre (Jpn)–Millefeui Attach
(Jpn), by King Kamehameha (Jpn). (¥25,000,000 Wlg '17
JRHJUL). O-Ryotokuji Kenji Holdings, Co., Ltd.; B-Chiyoda Farm
Shizunai (Jpn); T-Noboru Takagi; J-Akira Sugawara; $2,000,000.
Margins: NK, 10HF, 1 3/4.
Also Ran: Wilson Tesoro (Jpn), Rattle N Roll, Ramjet (Jpn), Facteur Cheval (Ire), Wait To Excel (GB), Wootton'sun (Fr), Defunded, Al Musmak (Ire), Walk Of Stars (GB), El Kodigo (Arg), Intense For Me (Arg). DNF: Scotland Yard. VIDEO.

 

 

FOREVER YOUNG #フォーエバーヤング!!!

He let Romantic Warrior go by and then ran him down late in the $20,000.000 @TheSaudiCup (G1)! The Real Steel colt takes the #WAYI @BreedersCup Classic race for trainer Yoshito Yahagi. Jockey Ryusei Sakai brings the big one home for Japan! pic.twitter.com/cEBhyw8g5Z

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) February 22, 2025

The post Duel In the Desert: Forever Young Pips Romantic Warrior In An Epic Saudi Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

In a race worthy of its title as the richest Thoroughbred horse race in the world with a $20 million purse, a resilient Forever Young edged Romantic Warrior in a thrilling Saudi Cup (G1) Feb. 22 at King Abdulaziz Racecourse.

Golden Vekoma led an American-sired 1-2 finish in the Saudi Derby (G3) Feb. 22 at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh.

Straight No Chaser's brilliance, on display in winning the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) last fall at Del Mar, shone similarly in the Saudi Arabia desert when he romped in the Riyadh Dirt Sprint (G2) at King Abdulaziz Racecourse on Saudi Cup day.

Jastar Capital, Polivka Equine Holdings, and Timothy Madden's White Rocks grabbed the lead at the break and never looked back, securing a victory in the $175,000 Cincinnati Trophy at Turfway Park Feb. 21 on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks (G1).

Saying "Mother Nature continues to win," Oaklawn Park canceled racing Feb. 22. Saturday's cancellation came after the Arkansas track postponed racing Feb. 21 following harsh winter weather in the area.

Godolphin's First Resort will scratch from the $175,000 John Battaglia Memorial Stakes Feb. 22 at Turfway Park after exiting a workout earlier this week with stiffness in his left hind leg, according to trainer Eoin Harty.

HISA and HIWU, in collaboration with the Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission, announced Feb. 21 that they are pursuing cases against one veterinarian and 13 trainers in connection with an alleged organized effort to evade HISA rules.

Fireworks ensued in the final stages of Book 2 of the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale Feb. 21 after a colt by Maschino, the final lot through the ring, became the day's top seller when he sold to local trainer Summer Dickson for AU$185,000. 

The Feb. 22 Saudi Cup (G1) joins the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In, offering an automatic berth to the $7 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Del Mar.

The UAE Oaks (G3) has twice in recent seasons produced fillies to run in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs and Queen Azteca could do the same after a thrilling win in this year's renewal.

Grade 1 winner Nakatomi, unraced since a sixth-place effort in the 2024 Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1), kicks off his 6-year-old campaign for trainer Wesley Ward in the Feb. 22 $140,000 Gulfstream Park Sprint Stakes.

In racing as in life, good things come to those who wait. And while we have had to endure an extra 24 hours for Sunday's rescheduled GII Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park, the wait may just prove worth it as a full, competitive field of 3-year-olds line up with 50 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby on the line.

The top three runners from the GIII Southwest Stakes face each other once again Sunday with Speed King (Volatile) taking top billing back on Jan. 25 over a hard-closing Sandman (Tapit) who caught the eye with his runner-up finish after breaking sideways and nearly dropping jockey Christian Torres at the start.

“Take nothing away from the winner, but, yes, I think we would have won with a clean break,” trainer Mark Casse told the TDN Writers' Room this week of Sandman. “I knew going in that we were going to find out whether he was a man or a boy. I think he proved he was a man. We all know that a lot of horses, even a lot of good horses, are not able to be to overcome what he was able to overcome. So I don't know about everybody else, but I came away from the race extremely impressed.”

The trio rounds out with Tiztastic (Tiz the Law) who also came running at the end to earn his third straight graded stakes placing after coming second in the GIII Street Sense and third in the GII Kentucky Jockey Club last year. Trainer Bob Baffert ships in Madaket Road (Quality Road), a runner he thought so highly of that he debuted him in the GIII Bob Hope Stakes where he ran a game second to 'TDN Rising Star' Bullard (Gun Runner) (who will scratch from this spot due to a fever) before breaking his maiden next-time out and running third to Eclipse-winning stablemate Citizen Bull (Into Mischief). Rail-drawn Coal Battle (Coal Front) comes in off three straight wins including the first of the local preps at Oaklawn in the Smarty Jones Stakes Jan. 4 along with the Springboard Mile where he defeated Speed King Dec. 13.

“After the (Smarty Jones), we go to the test barn, get back to the barn with him, and he's bucking and kicking down the shed row,” trainer Lonnie Briley said of Coal Battle. “Next day, it was like he didn't even run.”

Another on a three-race streak is Louisiana-bred Smoken Wicked (Bobby's Wicked One) for Dallas Stewart while 'TDN Rising Star' Hypnus (Into Mischief) makes just his second start for trainer Kenneth McPeek after impressing over the Fair Grounds slop at long odds Jan. 18 while Brad Cox, who won the Rebel last year with 'Rising Star' Timberlake (Into Mischief), brings out another 'Rising Star' in Admiral Dennis (Constitution).

Muhimma | Sarah Andrew

Cox also features strongly in the GIII Honeybee Stakes, a Kentucky Oaks points race, earlier in the card with 'TDN Rising Star' Muhimma (Munnings) drawing the rail in an attempt to stay perfect off her win in last year's GII Demoiselle Stakes Dec. 7.

“Super talent,” said Cox. “Been good from Day 1. We'll see where she takes us, but she's obviously shown the ability to win from the 1 hole already, in a large field at Aqueduct.”

The top two finishers of Oaklawn's local prep, the Martha Washington Stakes, also reappear here as Kenneth McPeek's Take Charge Milady (Take Charge Indy) led in 'TDN Rising Star' and MGISP Quietside (Malibu Moon) over course and distance Jan. 25. Talented juvenile Quickick (McKinzie), last seen third behind Eclipse-winning filly Immersive (Nyquist) in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar, reemerges here off two straight Grade I placings to round out 2024 (she was also second to Immersive in the GI Darley Alcibiades). Look Forward (Bolt d'Oro) makes her third start for Michael McCarthy after debuting for the late Ben Cecil at Del Mar in November. She took the Santa Ynez Stakes Jan. 5 after running second to Tenma (Nyquist) in the GII Starlet Stakes last year.

Older horses feature in the GIII Razorback Handicap which includes the return of Godolphin homebred and 'TDN Rising Star' First Mission (Street Sense {Ire}) for Brad Cox. The 5-year-old last trailed home seventh in the GI Whitney Stakes at Saratoga last summer but previously took both the GIII Essex Handicap at Oaklawn and the GII Alyshebe Stakes at Churchill last year.

“He's training really well,” Cox said. “Obviously, he's proven over the racetrack. I'm excited about getting him started.”

He's drawn inside of Baddest Good Boy (Bernardini) for Norm Casse who makes his stakes debut Sunday and brings a perfect two-for-two record in both over the local surface. Readers will recognize plenty of familiar names in the field including: MGSW/GISP Red Route One (Gun Runner), GI Preakness third Creative Minister (Creative Cause), GSW/MGISP Skinner (Curlin) who makes his second start for Cherie DeVaux, and GSW/MGISP Crupi (Curlin) for the partnership of Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable.

First Mission | Horsephotos

“He's doing really well,” DeVaux said of Skinner. “Came out of his last race and trained forwardly. We didn't have him all that long, prior to his start. Hoping he puts in another good effort for us. His (speed) figures are kind of steady where they are, but I think there's room for improvement as he matures and he has matured.”

The post Weather-Delayed Rebel Promises Southwest Rematch appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

RIYADH, KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA — For the second time in the last three runnings, America's reigning champion sprinter dominated in the desert, as MyRacehorse's Straight No Chaser (Speightster) asserted in the final furlong to prove a much-the-best winner of the Riyadh Dirt Sprint. The 1200-meter dash was upgraded to Group 2 status for the first time, had its purse hiked to $2 million and just this past Friday was named a 'Win and You're In' qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint. Champion Elite Power (Curlin) won the 2023 Riyadh Dirt Sprint.

It was that event at Del Mar nearly four months ago that capped off a championship season for Straight No Chaser, and the ownership group quickly decided on a trip to the Middle East at the front end of the season. The first part of that plan came together brilliantly on Saturday.

Away alertly from the nine hole, the $110,000 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic breezer led through the opening exchanges, but was soon overhauled by the bald face of the speedy Japanese galloper Jasper Krone (Frosted) and raced underneath that rival into the turn.

A horse with a well-documented 'light mouth', Straight No Chaser was under an easy hold traveling extremely well entering the final 400 meters and, as is his custom, he finished off his race with gusto en route to a convincing victory. The locally based Muqtahem (Ire) (Soldier's Call {GB}) raced reasonably handy to the pace and claimed second ahead of Japan's Gabby's Sister (Jpn) (Apollo Kingdom) in third.

“He broke really well and I was actually, after Jasper Krone came up on the outside, going to see if I could get him back a little bit and tried to grab him,” explained winning jockey John Velazquez. “He started to fight me, so I just said, 'OK, I'll leave him alone' and then he relaxed a little better. He broke so sharp and I was trying to get loose reins.

Then he was looking for the bit and I didn't want to touch him. I just wanted him to relax. All of a sudden [Jasper Krone] took back a little bit and my horse engaged and I said, 'Let's go'. Turning for home he was moving really well and then passing the sixteenth pole he idled a little bit and started looking around and I said, 'Oh no, no idling here' and he finished up well.”

Added winning trainer Dan Blacker: “I'm just really proud of the horse and I'm glad he gets to prove himself on the global stage against the fastest horses in the world.”

Straight No Chaser will in all likelihood get to take his show on the road to Dubai, where a potentially mouthwatering clash looms with defending champion Tuz (Oxbow) in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen Apr. 5.

Pedigree Notes:

The lone elite-level scorer for his sadly departed stallion, Straight No Chaser is one of six winners from eight to race from his dam, who is also responsible for the stakes-winning Hangover Saturday. Third dam Desireux was a half-sister to champion sprinter Housebuster (Mt. Livermore). Margarita Friday is the dam of a 2-year-old colt by Omaha Beach, a yearling colt by Practical Joke and was most recently covered by Authentic.

Saturday, King Abdulaziz (Riyadh), Saudi Arabia
RIYADH DIRT SPRINT-G2, $2,000,000, King Abdulaziz, 2-22, NH/SH3yo/up, 1200m, 1:11.16, ft.
1–STRAIGHT NO CHASER, 125, h, 6, by Speightster
                1st Dam: Margarita Friday, by Johannesburg
                2nd Dam: Smile Maker, by Capote
                3rd Dam: Desireux, by Fappiano
($110,000 2yo '21 FTIMAY). O-My Racehorse; B-John Eaton &
Steve Laymon (KY); T-Dan Blacker; J-John Velazquez;
$1,200,000. Lifetime Record: Ch. Male Sprinter-US, GISW-US,
11-7-0-1, $2,616,300. *1/2 to Hangover Saturday (Pomeroy),
SW-US, $106,875. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the
free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Muqtahem (Ire), 125, g, 4, Soldier's Call (GB)–Smooth Sailing
(GB), by Bated Breath (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE. 1ST GROUP
BLACK TYPE. (£27,000 Ylg '22 GOFAUG; £60,000 2yo '23
GOFAPR). O-Sheikh Abdullah Homoud Almalek Alsabah;
B-Ballyhane (Ire); T-Thamer Aldaihani; J-Muhammad Aldaham;
$400,000.
3–Gabby's Sister (Jpn), 121, f, 4, Apollo Kingdom–Ange d'Etoile
(Jpn), by Special Week (Jpn). O-Kazuhiko Nagashima; B-Apollo
Thoroughbred Club (Jpn); T-Kazutomo Mori; J-Christophe
Lemaire; $200,000.
Margins: 3 3/4, HF, 3.
Also Ran: Halaa, Saodad (KSA), Ancestral Land (GB), Remake (Jpn), Power Of Beauty (Ire), Jasper Krone, Chikappa (Jpn), Igniter (Jpn), Nonesense.

 

 

HOW IMPRESSIVE WAS STRAIGHT NO CHASER?!?!

He did not mess around in the $2,000,000 Riyadh Dirt Sprint (G2) at @TheSaudiCup. @dan_blacker trains the @MyRacehorse stallion. @ljlmvel piloted him perfectly. Congrats to all the connections!

Play the next: https://t.co/ebKi95dING pic.twitter.com/dvbN7cO4Z7

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) February 22, 2025

The post Champion Straight No Chaser Far Too Classy In Riyadh Dirt Sprint appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Racing at Oaklawn Park has been cancelled for Saturday, it was announced Friday evening.

The GII Rebel Stakes card remains on schedule for Sunday with first post at 12:00 p.m., gates and infield open at 10:30 a.m. The Monday card will also run as scheduled, first post 12:30 p.m., gates open at 11:00 a.m.

There was a winter storm in the Hot Springs area earlier this week.

The post Oaklawn Cancels Saturday Card appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Godolphin's First Resort (Uncle Mo) will scratch from Saturday's $175,000 John Battaglia Memorial at Turfway Park after exiting a workout earlier this week with stiffness in his left hind leg, according to trainer Eoin Harty.

The 2-1 morning-line favorite was set to make his 3-year-old debut following a victory in the GII Kentucky Jockey Club last fall at Churchill Downs. He worked a half-mile in :51.20 (8/11) at Turfway Tuesday.

“I worked him (Tuesday), and by Wednesday he was a little stiff behind,” Harty said. “He hasn't really improved, so we're erring on the side of caution to get him back to 100 percent before he runs again.”

The John Battaglia Memorial will award the top five finishers qualifying points on a 20-10-6-4-2 scale toward a spot in the starting gate for the GI Kentucky Derby.

The post First Resort to Scratch from Saturday’s John Battaglia Memorial appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

The world's richest horse race will serve as a qualifier for the richest race in North America, as the Feb. 22 $20-million G1 Saudi Cup joins the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In, offering an automatic berth to the $7-million GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar.

As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders' Cup will pay the entry fees for the winner of the Saudi Cup to start in the Breeders' Cup Classic.

Also on the Feb. 22 card, the $2-million G2 Riyadh Dirt Sprint will serve as an automatic qualifier for the $2-million GI Cygames Breeders' Cup Sprint.

“Breeders' Cup Limited is pleased to expand our international Breeders' Cup Challenge Series to Saudi Arabia with the addition of the Saudi Cup and the Riyadh Dirt Sprint,” said Drew Fleming, President and CEO of Breeders' Cup Limited. “This expansion underscores our commitment to fostering world-class competition and provides a fantastic opportunity for international horses competing at the highest level. We're grateful for the collaborative efforts that brought this partnership to fruition and eagerly anticipate crowning our first Breeders' Cup Challenge winners from King Abdulaziz Racecourse.”

“There is a natural synergy between the Breeders' Cup World Championships and The Saudi Cup,” said HRH Prince Bandar Bin Khaled Al Faisal, Chairman of the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia. “We are delighted to be part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series and very much appreciate being a member of the Breeders' Cup global family.

“The winner of the Group 1 The Saudi Cup and the Riyadh Dirt Sprint presented by Saudi National Bank will earn a spot in the Breeders' Cup Classic and the Breeders' Cup Sprint, adding an extra layer of intrigue and excitement to our race day.”

Breeders' Cup will also provide a travel allowance for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships.

The post Saudi Cup Added to Breeders’ Cup Challenge Qualifiers for Classic appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.