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Oliver Cole said he is "looking forward to the future" after his Derby-winning father, Paul, announced his retirement with immediate effect June 25.

The Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation announced amendments to its veterinary examination rules June 25, to take effect July 1, two days before the opening of Ellis Park's summer meeting.

The Ed Brown Society and 1/ST are now in the fourth year of their partnership and during that time, five Ed Brown Scholars (undergraduates) and three Ed Brown Fellows (post-graduates), have completed spring internships, 1/ST said via a Thursday press release.

The Spring 2025 cohort included Ed Brown Fellow Joshua “JC” Berry and Ed Brown Scholar Chris Morales–both Louisville, Kentucky natives with limited prior exposure to the Thoroughbred industry.

The experience allowed Berry and Morales to see firsthand how various departments at Gulfstream, Santa Anita and Pimlico operated. The pair also had the chance to work with the 1/ST team during Preakness 150.

Jodie Vella-Gregory, VP, Industry Relations at 1/ST said, “Our partnership with the Ed Brown Society has been nothing short of transformative. These students and fellows bring talent, passion, and fresh perspective to every corner of our organization.”

The post Ed Brown Scholar And Fellow Complete Spring Internships with 1/ST appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

The Camino Real Turf Course at Santa Anita Park is currently undergoing its annual renovation after regular use during the Classic and Hollywood Meets, according to a press release from the track on Thursday.

Superintendent Jesse Martinez and his team stripped the existing course in its entirety and new sod is on the way, which is composed of Bandera Bermuda hybrid grass.

The entire project, which usually takes from three to four weeks, is scheduled to be completed by next Friday, July 4.

During Santa Anita's Classic and Hollywood Meets, 47.5 percent of all races were run on the turf course.

For the entire six-month season, only seven races scheduled for the turf had to be moved to the main track because of inclement weather.

The post Santa Anita Turf Undergoes Annual Reno appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

It will be a hugely important weekend for trainer Kenny McPeek as Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) and Mystik Dan (Goldencents) will be in action Saturday at Churchill Downs. Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna will be heavy favorite in the GII Fleur De Lis Stakes, while 2024 GI Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan faces a tough assignment in a loaded GI Stephen Foster Stakes. To talk about the two biggest stars in his barn, his hiring of Jimmy Jerkens and even his new tattoo, McPeek was the Gainesway Guest of the Week on this week's TDN Writers' Room podcast Presented by Keeneland.

“These horses are doing superb,” McPeek said. “It's been a real honor to be around two horses of such talent level and they've remained consistent. As for Thorpedo Anna, her race is hers for the taking if she'll go back to her previous form, and I expect her to. Mystik Dan's race is a tough race. I mean, it probably is the race of the year. That is really deep water. The horse that comes out of this race victorious is going to be, I would assume, the early favorite for the Classic. They've all got their work cut out for them. For Mystik Dan, it's just been a fantastic month. We feel like we've got a huge chance.”

Thorpedo Anna is the horse to beat in the Fleur de Lis and will be the favorite. But what happened to her in her last start when she was seventh as the odds-on favorite in the GI La Troienne Stakes?

“I think she got the breath knocked out of her in that first turn with all the bumping,” McPeek said. “Actually, Johnny Velazquez probably was the most informative about it all. I asked him his take on it and he said that when [Joel] Rosario came over on us, he knocked Torpedo Anna into Dorth Vader and then Dorth Vader hit the rail. And then when she hit the rail, her hind end came back over and broadsided Thorpedo Anna. That was pretty extreme. If she has a similar performance this weekend, I'll be shocked. Horse racing, it's a very humbling business. Right now, she's done everything right, like she's always done. ”

Starting with the GI Preakness Stakes, Mystik Dan lost five straight and some of his form was terrible. He looked more like his old self when winning the GIII Blame Stakes last out.

“I think we got too ambitious,” he said. “I'll take the bullet on that. We got too ambitious coming out of the Triple Crown. We thought that the [GI] Malibu [Stakes at Santa Anita] was a good spot. It didn't look like too tough a race. We actually wanted to showcase him sprinting a little bit as a sire to attract people to him as a stallion. It completely backfired. We really needed to step-ladder him. Training horses is so inexact and it's never black or white, it's always gray.”

McPeek is understandably proud of winning both the GI Kentucky Oaks and the Kentucky Derby last year. So much so that he got a large tattoo on his right arm honoring the feat,

“It's something I'm very proud of,” he said. “If you're gonna get a tattoo, make it represent something that you accomplished. Don't get just some arbitrary tattoo. I decided to do it. And then I started communicating with the tattoo artist and she was great and we kind of put some ideas together. This is something that I wanted.”

In our “Fastest Horse of the Week,” segment, which is sponsored by WinStar, we went over the many reasons there are breed to WinStar stallion Nashville. The fastest horse of the week was Vahva (Gun Runner), who earned a 97 Beyer figure when winning the GII Chicago Stakes at Churchill Downs.

Elsewhere on the podcast, which is also sponsored by the KTOB, Pennsylvania Horse Breeders' Association, West Point Thoroughbreds, 1/ST Racing and 1/ST TV, the team of Randy Moss, Zoe Cadman and Bill Finley reflected on the remarkable life and times of D. Wayne Lukas, who recently announced his retirement due to an undisclosed illness. They also discussed the GIII Ohio Derby and wrapped up Royal Ascot.

Another subject was disgraced trainer Jorge Navarro, who was released from federal prison last week only to be turned over to officers from the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which relocated him to a prison of its own in Colorado. Navarro is not a U.S. Citizen and is all but sure to be deported.

The team also previewed the big card this Saturday at Churchill where the Fleur De Lis and Stephen Foster are just two of six stakes on the program.

To watch the Writers' Room, click here. To view the show as a podcast, click here.

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

Fortino (Chi) (Midshipman), winner of the Chilean Triple Crown and the nation's Horse of the Year in 2023, was victorious in China on June 21, taking out a 1600-meter handicap at the Yulong Jockey Club.

Drawn one, the chestnut entire raced behind the speed while close up and held his spot at the fence into the final 800 meters. Sent through to challenge nearing the straight, Fortino wrested command and reported home about three-quarters of a length to the good (see below, SC 6). The final time for the contest, worth roughly US$22,000, was 1:37.72.

Bred and raced in Chile by the Solari family's Haras Don Alberto, Fortino won five of his six outings at two, capped by a championship-clinching victory in the G1 Alberto Vial Infante over a mile in June 2022. After finishing runner-up in his first two appearances as a 3-year-old, he was elevated to the win in the G1 El Ensayo MEGA at before adding the G1 St Leger–on the dirt–and completing the Triple Crown in the G1 El Derby in February 2023 (video, SC 8). He was named best of his generation for that season as well.

Acquired privately by Zhang Yuesheng's Yulong Investments in a deal brokered by Li Wen in early 2023, Fortino was unplaced in two runs at Group 3 level in England for John and Thady Gosden later that fall.

Fortino is one of four winners from as many to race out of Farreras (Chi) (Fusaichi Pegasus), a half-sister to treble group winner Facundo H (Chi) (Midshipman) as well as Group 3 scorers Flying Hearts (Chi) (Constitution) and Soy Invencible (Chi) (Mendelssohn).

The post Chilean Triple Crown Winner, HOTY Fortino Wins In China appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

A group of horses located in Barn 66 at Saratoga Race Course have been put under a 14-day quarantine by the New York Racing Association and the New York State Gaming Commission due to a positive case of strangles.

Tenacious Child (McKinzie), an unraced 2-year-old filly trained by George Weaver and stabled in Barn 66, was tested for a number of potential ailments over the weekend, and a positive test for strangles was returned Wednesday night.

In addition to Barn 66, horses under the care of Weaver stabled in Barns 60 and 63 will be monitored for symptoms as part of a precautionary quarantine protocol that will remain in place through Saturday, as directed by the New York State Department of Agriculture.

The standard infectious disease protocols implemented by NYRA and NYSGC include restricting access to the horses in the affected barns, establishing a 24-hour security watch, mandating regular temperature checks for the horses in that barn and enacting biosecurity measures for all individuals requiring access to Barns 60, 63 and 66.

Horses in those three barns will not be permitted to enter races or train among the general horse population at this time. NYRA is actively working to relocate quarantined horses to an alternate facility where they will have access to isolated training hours.

Beyond the quarantine protocols currently in place, NYRA has enacted no additional restrictions over shipping horses in and out of Saratoga.

Strangles is a contagious bacterial infection that generally affects a horse's respiratory system and causes symptoms similar to those of strep throat in humans. When properly diagnosed and treated, strangles is not considered a life-threatening infection and horses recover fully.

The post Saratoga Barn Under Quarantine Following Strangles Positive appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

After collecting a breakthrough victory in the inaugural Delaware Derby June 14, 'TDN Rising Star' Admiral Dennis (Constitution) will be pointed to the GIII West Virigina Derby at Mountaineer Aug. 3.

The Albaugh Family Stables colorbearer sat much closer to the pace than usual in second and drew off in the stretch to score by an impressive 3 1/4 lengths, good for a career-high 95 Beyer Speed Figure.

He was previously a frustrating and late-running sixth after losing contact with the field in the GII Rebel S. at Oaklawn Feb. 23 and a rallying fourth, beaten three lengths, in the GI Blue Grass S. at Keeneland Apr. 8.

“After the Blue Grass, we decided that we were gonna give him 60 days and regroup for the year and see if we could hit some of these summer Derbies,” Albaugh Family Stable's General Manager Jason Loutsch said. “Initially, it looks like it was a good decision to freshen him up a little bit.”

Loutsch continued, “The plan was to get him involved early (in the Delaware Derby). I didn't expect him to be that close to the lead, obviously. It was a new dimension. I'm just hoping that he's a maturing 3-year-old that can keep developing and have a great 4-year-old year as well.”

Admiral Dennis, one of 77 stakes winners worldwide for leading sire Constitution, is the first foal out of the stakes-winning Gulf Coast (Union Rags), who hails from the extended female family of the legendary A.P. Indy. The $425,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase is trained by Brad Cox.

Admiral Dennis was profiled in our 'Second Chances' series following a debut third at Churchill Downs last September.

“We've always thought an awful lot of him,” Loutsch said.

The inaugural Delaware Derby goes to #3 ADMIRAL DENNIS!

A big win by the son of @WinStarFarm Constitution, who is trained by @bradcoxracing for @Albaughstables. @luanmachado85 in the irons. pic.twitter.com/bIBSbiisJm

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) June 14, 2025

The post Admiral Dennis Targeting West Virginia Derby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Simplification (Not This Time–Simply Confection, by Candy Ride {Arg}), winner of the 2022 GII Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes, will stand the Southern Hemisphere breeding season at Haras Carampangue in Argentina, Turf Diario reported. The 6-year-old, who will shuttle back to Pleasant Acres Stallions in Ocala where he began his stud career in 2024, was brought to Argentina under a partnership between Haras Juan Antonio, Stud RDI, and El Wing.

“We were approached by Roberto Vignatti, who really liked the horse and suggested we look into him,” Ignacio Pavlovsky of Haras Carampangue told Turf Diaro. “I watched all 16 of his races and was impressed by his speed, consistency, and durability–he never got an easy trip. We traveled to the U.S. with Endrigo Gennoni to see him in person, and his conformation and his foals blew us away. Then RDI joined in–we already share Ivar–and now the whole group is really excited. He's got the looks, the pedigree–being out of a Candy Ride mare–and I've always loved Not This Time. A new stallion brings fresh energy, and we're all very motivated for what's to come.”

In addition to his win in the Fountain of Youth Stakes, Simplification also won the Mucho Macho Man Stakes and was second in the GIII Holy Bull Stakes and third in the GI Curlin Florida Derby before a fourth-place effort in the 2022 GI Kentucky Derby. He also hit the board in the GIII West Virginia Derby and GIII Harlan's Holiday Stakes in 2022 and in the GII Gulfstream Park Mile in 2023.

On the board in nine of 16 lifetime starts, Simplification retired with three wins and earnings of $873,110. He stood the 2025 season at Pleasant Acres for $6,500.

The post Graded Stakes Winning Stallion Simplification to Shuttle to Argentina appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

The Inglis Digital USA June Sale closed Wednesday, topped by 4-year-old filly Tap the Champagne (Tapit–Champagne Royale, by French Deputy), who was owned, trained, and offered by Pavel Matejka. Sold as hip 6 and most recently placed second in a turf maiden special weight at Churchill Downs June 18 for Matejka, Tap the Champagne brought $350,000 in a final bid from Tropical Racing. The gray is a half-sister to GISWs Majestic Harbor and Danza.

The June sale closed with 21 horses sold from 29 offered for a total of $560,000 and an average of $26,666. Horses that finished under their reserves are still available to purchase on the Inglis Digital USA site. It marked the second consecutive Inglis Digital USA sale where a horse has traded for $300,000 or more.

“We've had a good run the last two months, but it all comes down to offering the right types at the right time,” said Kyle Wilson, Senior Director of Sales and Recruiting for Inglis Digital USA. “There was a feeling this morning that we were going to have some fun, but you never really know until the sale starts to close. A big thank you to everyone who participated in the sale. On to July now.”

Stuart Morris, Director of Bloodstock for Tropical Racing, added: “We were very happy with the process that was provided by Inglis Digital USA. Pavel Matejka was a delight to buy off of, and Inglis provided all the information and customer service you like to see as a buyer, very professional and a pleasure to work with.

“I was very happy to advise on the purchase of this lovely filly for Troy Levy of Tropical Racing and Circle 8 Ranch, and this marks another significant purchase in building a super exciting list of horses for Troy and trainer Michelle Nihei.”

Tralee Girl (Mendelssohn–Kerry Girl, by Pioneerof the Nile) also surpassed six figures during the sale, selling to James Ensom for $110,000 as hip 7. Consigned by trainer Miguel Clement, the 3-year-old filly broke her maiden June 5 during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga, winning by a neck on the lawn against New York-breds.

“I'm thrilled to get this filly,” said Ensom. “She'll head to Woodbine and be trained by Martin Drexler.”

Entries are now open for the Inglis Digital USA July Sale. Entries will close Monday, July 21, with the catalogue to be released Friday, July 25. Bidding will start Wednesday, July 30.

The post Tropical Racing Picks Up Tap The Champagne for $350,000 from Inglis Digital USA June Sale 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 (HIWU)'s “pending” and “resolved” cases portals.

Resolved ADMC Violations

Date: 06/20/2025

Licensee: Edward Barker, trainer

Penalty: 7-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on June 21, 2025; 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 2 Penalty Points. Admission.

Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Mepivacaine-a Class B controlled substance-in a sample taken from Cajunette, who finished second at Finger Lakes on 5/12/25.

Pending ADMC Violations

06/25/2025, Francisco Rodriguez, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Methamphetamine-a banned substance-in a sample taken from Driver's Ed on 5/9/25.

06/24/2025, Norm Casse, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine-a Class C controlled substance-in a sample taken from Lookster on 5/25/25.

06/24/2025, Brittany Russell, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Omeprazole (GastroGard)-a Class C controlled substance-in a sample taken from Magico on 5/20/25.

06/24/2025, Lynn Chleborad, trainer: Pending medication violation for the use or attempted use of a Class C controlled substance on Count de Monet during the race period dated 5/17/25. Count de Monet did not make a start that day.

06/24/2025, John Salzman, trainer: Pending medication violation for the use or attempted use of a Class C controlled substance on Had to Have Him during the race period dated 5/16/25. Had to Have Him did not make a start that day.

06/24/2025, Manuel Alejandro Chavez, trainer: Pending medication violation for the use or attempted use of Caffeine and Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO)-Class B and C controlled substances respectively-on Moringa during the race period dated 5/1/25. Moringa did not make a start that day.

06/23/2025, Scott Lake, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO)-a Class C controlled substance-in a sample taken from Texas Air Force, who finished second at Parx Racing on 5/19/25.

06/23/2025, Saffie Joseph, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Ranitidine-a Class C controlled substance-in a sample taken from Whiskey Park, who finished second at Gulfstream Park on 4/20/25.

06/23/2025, Dale Romans, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Methocarbamol-a Class C controlled substance-in a sample taken from Defiant Lass, who finished second at Keeneland on 4/11/25.

06/20/2025, Ruben Sierra, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Dexamethasone-a Class C controlled substance-in a sample taken from Juan Mo Time, who did not finish a race at Gulfstream Park on 5/16/25.

06/20/2025, Angel Sanchez-Pinero, trainer: Provisional suspension for a pending medication violation for the presence of bronchodilator Albuterol (Salbutamol)-a banned substance-in a sample taken from Gone Boy, who won at Aqueduct on 4/19/25.

06/18/2025, James Nicholson, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone-a controlled substance (Class C)-in a sample taken from Sheer Dominance, who won at Parx Racing on 5/17/25.

Violations of Crop Rule

Los Alamitos

Ricardo Ramirez – violation date June 21; $250 fine, one-day suspension

The post National Regulatory Rulings, June 19 – June 25 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

The two-for-two 'TDN Rising Star' Here Comes Francis (Improbable) will make his next start in the Carry Back S. going seven furlongs at Gulfstream Park July 4. He worked five furlongs in a bullet :58.62 (1/3) in Hallandale Beach June 20.

“After the Carry Back, my plan is to run him in the (GI) Allen Jerkens (Memorial S. at Saratoga Aug. 23),” trainer Victor Barboza, Jr. said.

“He's run two times and is a very fast horse. I think middle distances–seven furlongs, one mile–are perfect for him. Step by step, he's more focused now.”

Here Comes Francis posted a razor sharp, wire-to-wire debut win over next-out winner Pursuitneversleeps (Ghostzapper) going six furlongs at Gulfstream Mar. 15, good for a 97 Beyer Speed Figure. He earned his 'Rising Star' badge by 5 1/4 lengths, also in front-running fashion, in an optional claimer at Tampa Bay Downs Apr. 26. His final time of 1:16.09 for 6 1/2 furlongs that day was just 0.62 seconds off the track record.

Jeff Kresnak's Arcadia Michigan Stable went to $250,000 to acquire Here Comes Francis after powering through a :9 4/5 breeze on his left lead at last year's OBS April Sale. He was previously a $100,000 Keeneland September yearling.

Here Comes Francis hails from the first crop of the gone-too-soon Improbable. His unraced dam is a daughter of the talented Tar Heel Mom (Flatter), a three-time graded winner at sprint distances and runner-up to Hilda's Passion (Canadian Frontier) in the 2011 GI Ballerina S.

“Francis was always the best horse in my barn,” Barboza said. “He's a very professional and smart horse. His first and second workouts were impressive, you immediately knew you had a good horse on your hands.”

Barboza is also the previous trainer of this year's GIII Gotham S. winner Flood Zone (Frosted). The $45,000 OBS June graduate was purchased privately by Wathnan Racing and transferred to trainer Brad Cox after breaking his maiden for Barboza at second asking at Gulfstream Park for owners Big Frank Stable, Enrico Ascione, Guy Mancini and Veb Racing Stable Corp. Seventh in the G2 UAE Derby, Flood Zone is entered to make his next start in Sunday's Maxfield S. at Churchill Downs.

“Flood Zone is a very good horse,” Barboza said.

Here Comes Francis • Samuel Marín • Víctor Barboza, Jr. #TampaBayDowns pic.twitter.com/WD4PLunXn0

— Pascual Artiles (@artilespascualf) May 1, 2025

The post Carry Back Up Next for Unbeaten Here Comes Francis appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

California stewards suspended trainer Doug O'Neill seven days and fined him $2,500 for not having the required primary and secondary veterinary examinations of the horse Ivan the Great when the colt resumed training following a layoff this spring.

America's Best Racing takes a look at competitive group of nine turf horses ages 4 and older are set to face off in the Wise Dan Stakes (G2T) June 28 at Churchill Downs. 

Amendments to 810 KAR 4:030, Section 17, Entry Examination by Attending Veterinarian, take effect July 1.

Booth seeks his fifth straight win and fourth straight grade 3 victory in the $250,000 Kelly's Landing Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs June 28.

The catalog for Arqana's flagship August Yearling Sale was released June 25, and features 307 yearlings. One of the many notable offerings is Haras de Beaufay's St Mark's Basilica half brother to Coventry Stakes (G2) winner Rashabar.

Flint completed his training career officially with 3,551 victories, which ranks No. 28 all time in North America. That includes 501 at Churchill Downs, at the time making him the sixth trainer to reach 500 under the twin spires.

The one-day auction features 118 Thoroughbreds after withdrawals including weanlings by a host of proven and emerging sires, with opportunities for pinhookers and end users alike.

Fresh off a nose victory over 2024 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mystik Dan in the May 3  Lake Ouachita Stakes at Oaklawn Park, Saudi Crown pursues a second consecutive stakes victory in the $300,000 Hanshin Stakes June 29 at Churchill Downs.