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The Takarazuka Kinen (G1), set for June 15 at Hanshin Racecourse, has been moved up two weeks to duck the summer heat but the field is likely to provide enough hot competition on its own in the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series event.

James McDonald has been snapped up by Wathnan Racing to ride at Royal Ascot, with the jockey named as the world's best in the Longines rankings to feature on the first three days at the meeting.

The Belmont Stakes (G1) will be run at Saratoga Race Course for a third consecutive year in 2026, with plans for the classic to return to Belmont Park in 2027, according to an announcement June 13 by Gov. Kathy Hochul.

During the third day of the under tack show for the Ocala Breeders' Sales June 2-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age Sale, Hip 412, a filly by Leinster, worked a quarter in :20 3/5 to post the fastest time at the distance June 12.

While Fierceness continues to make his presence felt in the older male division, his younger half sibling Nonna's Love started making some waves of her own, graduating with a scintillating score over the Aqueduct Racetrack turf June 12.

The versatile John Cortez—Santa Anita Park's lead outrider, pari-mutuel clerk, and small-stable trainer—got his first training win in more than 3 1/2 years when Carver scored in the fifth race June 8.

Master 2-year-old conditioner Michael Freedman is confident Aerodrome is ready to put his best foot forward on firmer ground as he seeks to shore up the first-season stallions' title for his sire Ole Kirk in the June 14 J.J. Atkins Stakes (G1).

Trainer Bjorn Baker has second-hand star Robusto primed to cap a huge season for the stable and syndicators Darby Racing in a bold first-up bid to land the 1,400-meter (about seven-furlong) Stradbroke Handicap (G1) at Eagle Farm June 14.

Amongst a bevy of co-fastest furlong workers, Elenique, a filly from the first crop of multiple graded winner Leinster (hip 412), separated herself from the pack with a bullet quarter-mile work in :20 3/5 during the under-tack show for the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's June 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale Thursday. The Florida-bred chestnut is consigned by RiceHorse Stable and was bred by Aldo DeLuca's DeLuca and Sons Stables.

“She always showed us that she was a very fast filly,” DeLuca said. “I was preparing her to take her to the races at Gulfstream. She was working some bullet works at Nelson Jones [Training Center], she had a couple of :36s and :35 a change. The trainer told me that he never had such a fast horse there because it's such a deep track. And she wanted to go even further, it was not only speed.”

The juvenile is out of Cape Trios (Cape Blanco {Ire}), a mare DeLuca purchased privately. The mare's first foal, Greenfield Cougar (Breaking Lucky), was a debut winner at Gulfstream in March.

Of the decision to send Cape Trios to Leinster, De Luca explained, “I have loved Leinster since he came to Florida. I love horses that are from California or New York that are fast. They always hit home runs here in Florida. In my years of breeding, I always see that. Fast over there, but super fast over here.”

So with the filly turning heads with her early training and the success of her half-brother, coupled with her young sire's immediate success on the racetrack where his daughter Lennilu will go postward at the Royal Ascot meeting next week, DeLuca suddenly needed to reevaluate plans for the 2-year-old he had named Elenique.

“We decided to sell her because there were too many things happening,” De Luca said. “All the Leinsters are doing good–all of them–there is not one bad one around. There was one yesterday who did :9 4/5 [at OBS]. And the one is going to Royal Ascot, Lennilu. And all that out of a group of only 20 babies. Her super good works, the Leinster, plus the mother's first baby won a maiden special weight at Gulfstream first time out, we felt we had to sell her.

He continued, “She has shown us for six months, since working at Nelson Jones and today again, that she is a special horse, a real racehorse. And if she is sold, we have a better shot to see her compete in group races up north and that, as her breeder, would make us proud.”

DeLuca, who has a band of 12 broodmares at his Florida farm, admitted it wasn't an easy decision to make.

“It is emotional because we have had her since she was born,” he said. “And you don't get a horse like this every day. She had the best work of the whole week until now. And I took it easy with her. That's why she's in June. We weren't planning on putting her in the sale, so we weren't rushing her in February or March, so we could bring her to Gulfstream around this time because she is a May baby. We don't want to rush our babies. I never in my life put a May baby in a breeze sale. I would never do it, but this filly really needed to talk to tell me, 'Yes, I need to go into that sale.' And she did.”

Seven juveniles equaled the :9 4/5 fastest furlong of the week during Thursday's third session of the under-tack show. First to hit that mark was a colt by Modernist (hip 512) consigned by Omar Ramirez Bloodstock, followed quickly by a filly by Kantharos (hip 496) who is consigned by Wildheart Thoroughbreds.

Harris Training Center, which sent a filly by Frosted out to work the bullet during Wednesday's second session of the under-tack preview, had a second bullet worker Thursday with a filly by Maximus Mischief (hip 503).

A filly by Midshipman (hip 351) earned the bullet for New Hope AB; while Top Line Sales was represented by a filly by Charlatan (hip 459). A filly by Uncle Chuck (hip 476) worked the bullet for S G V Thoroughbreds and a colt by Authentic (hip 528) matched the mark for Wavertree Stables.

The under-tack show continues through Saturday with sessions beginning each day at 7:30 a.m.

The post ‘A Real Racehorse’: Leinster Filly Sets the Mark at OBS appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Walmac Farm's MGISW and 'TDN Rising Star' Locked (Gun Runner) fired a four-furlong bullet in :48.25 (1/21) over Saratoga's Oklahoma training track Thursday morning.

The GII Suburban S. going 1 1/4 miles at Saratoga July 4 will be next for this year's runaway GI Santa Anita Handicap winner. Locked was last seen finishing fourth behind his Todd Pletcher-trained stablemate and fellow 'Rising Star' Fierceness (City of Light), who set a new track record for 1 1/16 miles in the GII Alysheba S. at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Oaks day.

“After the Alysheba, we wanted to get him up to Saratoga to freshen him for the second half of the season and he's responded very favorably,” said Aron Wellman, president and founder of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners. “Our ownership group, which includes Gainesway Farm, who will stand Locked when his racing career concludes, decided we wanted to focus on races at nine furlongs and beyond.”

Locked's stacked resume also includes: wins in the GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland and the GII Cigar Mile H. at Aqueduct, a runner-up finish in the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. and a third-place finish in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

“If all goes as we anticipate in the Suburban, hopefully we'll be in position to consider races like the (GI) Whitney (at Saratoga Aug. 2) or another trip out west for the (GI) Pacific Classic (at Del Mar Aug. 30),” Wellman said. “For now, our main focus is on posturing Locked for a performance in the Suburban capable of propelling him back into Grade I company. He's an elite colt and we believe he'll be a candidate for the (GI) Breeders' Cup Classic in November.”

The post Locked Fires Bullet for Suburban appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

This summer, Valerie Buck and the off-track Thoroughbreds of ACTT Naturally are increasing the number of American veterans benefitting from its Hearts in Harmony program. On Saturday, June 14, in observance of Women Veterans Recognition Days, the New York State Department of Veterans' Services (NYS DVS), in partnership with ACTT Naturally, will host “Wrap Yourself in Wellness” at Long Shadows Farm in Cambridge, N.Y. Between 30 and 45 women veterans are expected to attend.

In addition to equine-assisted emotional therapy, participants in the day-long retreat will hear from “Patriot Hills of New York” CEO Jeannine Mannarino, focus on healing through movement with Laura Laz, and learn healing through mindfulness with Dr. Rachel Magnel of “Kairos Center for Change”. The organizers hope the event will bring more awareness and attention to the resources available to veterans and others suffering from PTS and the positive impact of working with Thoroughbreds.

“Connecting military members and first responders with therapeutic horse programs offers a powerful pathway to healing and reintegration for both the horses and the humans,” said Melissa Balan of NYS DVS. “Working with the horses allows the veterans to engage in a calming, non-judgmental environment where trust is built naturally and silently.”

“I am thrilled, not just by the interest and enthusiasm from Melissa and the NYS DVS on behalf of women veterans, but also by the unique opportunity to present the horse-centered program together with other healing activities,” said Buck. “It deepens and expands awareness of what many of us already know is the special power of Thoroughbreds in emotional healing and how it should become a funded mainstream treatment.”

ACTT Naturally Thoroughbreds of all ages and experiences will be participating with the women on Saturday. Veteran therapy horses Three Lions '04 (Hennessy), Traffic Chief '00 (Colonial Affair), Fly Ride '09 (Street Sense) and Fuhrious Warrior '12 (Langfuhr) will be joined by newcomers Open Mic Night '22 (Practical Joke), Platform Company '20 (Cloud Computing) and Indemnify (FR) '19 (Invincible Spirit). In addition to providing the Hearts in Harmony program, ACTT Naturally focuses on retraining and adoption of sound former racehorses.

Working with the veterans, teens, first responders and other Hearts in Harmony participants has become an integral part of ACTT Naturally's training protocol.

“Connection is the most important part of a horse-human relationship and successful adoption match,” said Buck. “The programs teach the horses how to make a positive connection with the person in their presence and these interactions make the Thoroughbreds better partners for their adopters.”

For Buck and Long Shadows Farm, starting the 2025 summer season with a collaborative event– fostered by the NYS DVS and Patriot Hills of New York–is especially exciting because it brings government recognition, as well as new faces, to the well-established program. Launched in 2017, Hearts in Harmony has grown steadily in support and reach, despite losing a year during the COVID-19 pandemic. Buck is striving to help more people and horses.

“With people who have experienced trauma, the challenge has always been to facilitate that first visit,” said Buck. “Gaining trust and having the women and men feel comfortable and confident enough to come out and experience the joy is the first step. Partnering with organizations and leaders who have already established the relationship with the veterans needing the program is key to expanding our reach.”

Balan understands what the horses have to offer and is in a good position to facilitate program attendance among the veterans that NYS DVS serves.

“The intuitive nature of horses offers immediate feedback, encouraging mindfulness, patience, and a renewed sense of self,” said Balan. “For veterans who often carry invisible wounds, equine therapy is not just therapeutic–it is transformative.”

For more information about ACTT Naturally, including how to sponsor veterans and horses in the program, click here.

The post ACTT Naturally Kicks Off Summer Season With New Event For Women Veterans appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Royal Ascot-bound juvenile Miss Yechance sold to Royal Chance Bloodstock for 250,000 guineas (US$356,587) during the Tattersalls Online June Pop-Up Sale June 12.

Basher Watts and his syndicate have turned down a $2.5 million offer for Shes Perfect ahead of her bid for classic redemption in the June 15 Prix de Diane (French Oaks, G1).

The 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-old fillies features a George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) rematch with Paris Lily and Kinzie Queen, second and third, respectively, behind Margie's Intention, who enters as the 5-2 morning-line favorite.

The June 7 Epsom Derby (G1) resulted in turnover on World Pool bet types of HK$54,403,320 (approx. US$6,931,130) up on 2024's figure of HK$51,760,276, a 5% jump.

Following his victory in the Belmont Stakes (G1), Sovereignty (125) has joined the top 5 in the fourth edition of the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings for 2025 and is currently the highest-rated 3-year-old in the world.

Leading sprinter Satono Reve will carry the hopes of a nation as he looks to provide Japan with an historic first victory at Royal Ascot in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (G1) June 21.

A letter sent by CDI's Bill Carstanjen to the Louisiana Racing Commission and state political leaders, noting CDI's intention to surrender its racing license at Fair Grounds, appears unlikely to result in immediate regulatory or legislative relief.

Augustin Stables' Mrs. Astor, a three-time stakes winner in Southern California, faces the opposite sex for the first time in the June 15 $100,000 San Juan Capistrano Stakes (G3T) at Santa Anita Park.

Ramona S. Bass and Perry R. Bass II's Goliad will get a break from facing grade 1 milers when he drops in class and shortens in distance June 14 in the $100,000 Daytona Stakes (G3T) at Santa Anita Park.