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The 13 horses to sweep the Triple Crown etched their names in horse racing's history books as the accomplishment elevated them to legendary status but a look at the list of horses to win two of the classics also reveals some of the sport's greats.

Hong Kong Horse of the Year Romantic Warrior underwent surgery on his left front leg at the Hong Kong Jockey Club's Equine Hospital May 28, the HKJC announced. He has since returned to trainer Danny Shum's stables at Sha Tin.

BH Daily Letters to the Editor, May 29 Issue

Dollars & Sense with Frank Angst

The Inglis Digital USA May Sale closed May 28 with a pair of six-figure fillies with close relations to the top two finishers in this year's Kentucky Oaks (G1) leading the way.

2004 Canadian Horse of the Year Soaring Free died the morning of May 28 at Sam-Son Farm's Ocala, Fla., farm due to complications of old age. He was 26.

There were late fireworks on the final day of the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale May 28 when Yulong acquired Call Di and Aristia for a combined AU$3.55 million.

A stakes winner from one mile to 1 1/2 miles, on turf and synthetic, and with more than $2.1 million in earnings, there isn't too much Get Smokin hasn't accomplished in his six seasons at the track.

Woodbine is joining the racing community in mourning the passing of longtime trainer, breeder, and owner Paul Buttigieg, a respected and accomplished figure in Canadian horse racing.

Aidan O'Brien believes the best is yet to come from Camille Pissarro , who is set to spearhead a strong Ballydoyle duo in the Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby, G1) June 1 at Chantilly Racecourse.

Due to anticipated wet weather, the Penn Mile Stakes (G3T) and three other scheduled turf races, which were carded for May 30 at Penn National Race Course, have been postponed three weeks until June 20.

Undefeated in two career starts, Lennilu has given trainer Patrick Biancone confidence that the 2-year-old filly is ready to take on Royal Ascot.

Races from "Stephen Foster Preview Day" May 31 at Churchill will be shown live on FanDuel TV.

The Triple Bend Stakes (G3) descended in grade and value this year, but the latest renewal of the seven-furlong sprint May 31 at Santa Anita Park still lured several notable but sparsely raced runners.

A group of former Todd Pletcher assistant trainers have pledged to donate a percentage of their earnings from the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival to support the mission of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF), the organization said on Thursday in a press release.

Michael McCarthy, George Weaver, Jonathan Thomas, Whit Beckman and Amelia Green have each committed a portion of their festival earnings to the TRF, underscoring their dedication to the welfare of retired racehorses.

Click here to learn more about helping the TRF.

The post Trainers Pledge Belmont Festival Earnings To Support TRF appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

After a sizzling win in a May 23 maiden on the grass at Churchill Downs, Wesley Ward confirmed what he already knew. 'TDN Rising Star' Outfielder (Speightstown) is among the best 2-year-olds he has ever trained. So it's no surprise that the colt will soon be on his way to Royal Ascot to compete in the G2 Norfolk Stakes June 19.

“I was nervous going into the race at Churchill, just because I was so excited and he's one of those colts who has so much ability, Ward said. “The race was five-eighths on the grass. But you just never know how it's going to turn out. If you ever get to see his workouts you can visually see that he breathes different air. He's a big colt but he's real agile and quick. He moves like a cat. Usually, big horses are kind of lumbery and they don't have the agility that this guy does.”

Outfielder was purchased at last year's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale for $850,000. Ward also bought a horse named Schwarzenegger (Not This Time) for $950,000 at the same sale.

“Both colts were my picks of the sale. We spent a lot for both,” Ward said. “Nobody picked him out but me. You know how bloodstock agents like to take credit for things. The guy who signed the ticket, me, is the guy who picked him out.”

Ward bought the horse before he was able to bring in any partners. He talked former major league outfielder Jayson Werth into buying 20% of the colt, but was uncomfortable owning the remaining 80% himself.

“I couldn't afford to spend that much money when we paid as much as we did. It was too much of risk,” Ward said.

The problem was solved when Kia Joorabchian's Amo Racing went in for 60%.

At first Ward thought that Schwarzenegger would turn out to be the better of the two and he was planning to run him at Saratoga. As for Outfielder, he thought he would need some time, but that didn't turn out to be the case.

“We started breezing them together in tandem,” Ward said “Outfielder came around a lot quicker than I expected because he's a bigger colt. Schwarzenegger [who is unraced] was the one I had planned on running early. But as we got through the workouts in April and May, Outfielder was just better in each and every work. It wasn't by a great margin, but if you watched their works you can pick out visually which of the two is better.

“Moving on the grass down in Florida he really took to it as far as just galloping on the grass,” he said. “We had him at Palm Beach Downs and at Payson Park. He just floated over it. Even though he hadn't had a breeze yet I thought he'd really liked the grass. The riders on him, one being David Flores, were elated when they got off of him.”

Outfielder wins on debut and earned a 'TDN Rising Star' | Coady Media

Outfielder won his debut by 6 1/4 lengths and covered the five furlongs in :55.93 seconds.

“In that race he widened the margin with effortless ease,” Ward said. “The thing about him is that he is so sound. He's got a big airway and a big throat. A lot of big horses have air issues, but I knew that wouldn't be a problem for him. There is a lot of excitement surrounding this guy.”

With Ward's affinity for Royal Ascot, it comes as no surprise that the colt is headed overseas. Ward has won the Norfolk twice, with Shang Shang Shang (Shanghai Bobby) in 2018 and with No Nay Never (Scat Daddy) in 2013. If all goes well, Outfielder's next start after the Norfolk will be in the GI Prix Morny in Deauville Aug. 24. The Kentucky-based conditioner has won that race three times, with No Nay Never, Lady Aurelia (Scat Daddy) and Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac ({GB}).

“He'll run in the Norfolk, which is a path I've been down a few times,” Ward said. “It comes up a little quick, especially with my 2-year-olds. I like a little more spacing. Being that he ran on the grass and he came out of the race great, the Norfolk looks like the best spot. There's no better grass course in the world than what they have at Royal Ascot. Keeneland might be as good. It is a very kind and safe surface for him to run back on. From there we'll go to the Prix Morny. I've run in it four times, and have won three times and had a second. It's a path I've been down before.”

As much as Ward has been impressed by the 2-year-old's works on the grass, he says he'd like to try him on the dirt.

“He would be very good on the dirt,” he said. “I don't want to try him on the dirt until the fall of the year. I want to let him mature a little bit more. If we get that far and he accomplishes the things we think he will, we'll have to take a look at the dirt.”

For now, it's on to Royal Ascot, where Ward has won 12 races and will be in search of lucky number 13.

The post ‘TDN Rising Star’ Outfielder Headed To Royal Ascot appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Oaklawn Park is promoting Zack Gillham to Vice President of Racing & Wagering, while Jason Milligan will assume the role of Director of Racing, the track said via a press release on Thursday morning.

In his expanded position, Gillham will oversee all aspects of Oaklawn's racing and sports wagering operations. A member of the Hot Springs team for over eight years, he most recently served as Executive Director of Wagering.

Milligan, the former Vice President of Racing, has been with Oaklawn's equine operations for the past 28 years.

The post Oaklawn Promotes Gillham, Milligan To Director Of Racing appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Pyrenees (Into Mischief–Our Khrysty, by Newfoundland), winner of the GIII Pimlico Special Stakes and runner-up in the GI Stephen Foster Stakes and GI Jockey Club Gold Cup in 2024, has been retired from racing, according to Adam Corndorf, who bred and raced the horse in partnership with his mother Bonnie Baskin under their Blue Heaven Farm banner.

A homebred son of Grade III winner Our Khrysty, purchased by Blue Heaven for $600,000 in foal to Tiznow at the 2011 Fasig-Tipton November Sale, Pyrenees broke his maiden by 4 1/2 lengths off a one-year absence at the Fair Grounds in December 2023 and added open-length victories in allowance company at the Fair Grounds and at Keeneland in the spring of 2024 before charging home to take last year's Pimlico Special on Preakness weekend, defeating 'TDN Rising Star' Kingsbarns (Uncle Mo). The bay was runner-up to the latter in the Foster and was beaten four lengths into second behind Highland Falls (Curlin) in the Jockey Club Gold Cup before competing in a hot renewal of the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar. He retires with a record of 4-3-1 from 11 starts and earnings of $786,316 for trainer Cherie DeVaux.

In addition to his racetrack achievements, Pyrenees hails from an extremely active immediate female family. His half-sister Grace Adler (Curlin) won the 2021 GI Del Mar Debutante and was sold to Japanese interests for $2 million at Fasig-Tipton November in 2022. Grace Adler's first foal, a colt by Horse of the Year Flightline, made $1.3 million at the JRHA Select Sale last July.

Pyrenees, whose dam is a half-sister to GI Whitney Handicap hero Bullsbay (Tiznow), is also kin to the Grade II-placed Virginia Key (Distorted Humor), not only the dam of SP Distorted d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro), but also of Tappan Street (Into Mischief), who took down the colors of subsequent GI Kentucky Derby hero Sovereignty (Into Mischief) in this year's GI Curlin Florida Derby. A Curlin half-brother to Tappan Street fetched $1.4 million at Keeneland September last fall, while the current 2-year-old half-sister to Pyrenees, Glory Me (Gun Runner), was hammered down to Lael Stable for $975,000 at KEESEP. Pyrenees's half-sister Bay Harbor (Speightstown), is responsible for Miuccia (Mitole), a stakes winner in 2024.

Pyrenees is currently available for inspection at Blue Heaven Farm in Versailles, Kentucky for those interested in standing him at stud. Inquiries may be made to Adam Corndorf at info@blueheavenfarmky.com.

The post Graded Winner, Mutliple Grade I-Placed Pyrenees Retired appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

A total of 97 entries have been catalogued for the Fasig-Tipton June Digital Sale, which can now be viewed online at digital.fasigtipton.com. Bidding has commenced and will remain open through Tuesday, June 3, beginning at 2 p.m. ET.

Among the entries are horses of racing age, breeding stock–including mares with foals at foot–2-year-olds in training and yearlings.

Some of the top offerings include:

 

• Hip 2, Strada Del Sogno (Street Boss), a debut third in the May 10 Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies Stakes at Gulfstream behind Lennilu (Leinster), who is scheduled to make her next appearance at Royal Ascot next month;

 

• Hip 92, Chasing Sunsets (Authentic), a 2-year-old full-sister to Reagan's Wit, impressive winner of the James W. Murphy Stakes at Pimlico May 17;

 

• 40 horses of racing age eligible for a variety of conditions;

 

• Yearlings by Early Voting, Girvin, Golden Pal, Maxfield and Tiz the Law;

 

• Mares pregnant to Bolt d'Oro, Caracaro, Independence Hall, Mandaloun, Speaker's Corner and Yaupon

 

“We have a diverse catalogue with something for everyone, including a significant number of turnkey horses of racing age ready for summer racing,” said Leif Aaron, Fasig-Tipton Director of Digital Sales. “These include stakes horses as well as a several eligible for 'ship and win' programs on the West Coast.”

The post Bidding For Fasig-Tipton June Digital Sale Now Open 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.

Resolved ADMC Violations

Date: 05/28/2025

Licensee: Brad Cox, trainer

Penalty: A fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision by internal adjudication panel.

Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone—a controlled substance (Class C)—in a sample taken from Nyquick on 3/19/25.

Date: 05/27/2025

Licensee: Stephen Trevino, trainer

Penalty: 7-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on May 28, 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 Acepromazine—a controlled substance (Class B)—in a sample taken from Miss Shady, who won at Mahoning Valley on 4/2/25.

Date: 05/23/2025

Licensee: Rodolfo Sanchez-Salomon, trainer

Penalty: 30-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on May 24, 2025; additional 30-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on June 23, 2025 for the accumulation of 6 Penalty Points within a two-year period; 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 $2,500; imposition of 3 Penalty Points. Admission.

Explainer: Medication violation for the Alkalinization or use/administration of an Alkalinizing Agent (TCO2) on Tik Tok Daddy, who finished third at Laurel Park on 12/13/24.

According to the case resolution, Sanchez-Salomon is suspended an additional 30 days—beginning on June 23, 2025, and continuing through July 22, 2025—for the accumulation of 6 Penalty Points within a two-year period. This relates to two prior positives involving Flunixin (in 2023) and Phenylbutazone (in 2024).

Date: 05/22/2025

Licensee: Juan Aguirre, trainer

Penalty: 18-month period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on May 23, 2025; a fine of $12,500. Admission.

Explainer: Violation of ADMC Program Rule 3216(b)(2), which prohibits a covered person from “assisting, encouraging, aiding, abetting, conspiring, covering up, or engaging in any other type of intentional complicity or Attempted complicity involving . . . a violation of Rule 3229 by another Covered Person.”

According to the case resolution, from at least June to September of 2024, Aguirre employed another licensee, Francisco Ramos, to work with his horses when Ramos was serving a provisional suspension for alleged medication violations. Ramos is in the middle of serving a suspension for those violations— in six different horses—that runs through May of 2036.

Pending ADMC Violations

05/28/2025, Annette Eubanks, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine—a controlled substance (Class B)—in a sample taken from I'm a Cutie Pie on 4/26/25.

05/28/2025, Roshan Samsundar, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Caffeine—a controlled substance (Class B)—in a sample taken from Carbon, who won at Aqueduct on 3/14/25.

05/27/2025, Maximino Quinonez, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine—a controlled substance (Class B)—in a sample taken from R U Joking on 4/26/25.

05/21/2025, Michelle Castillo, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Lidocaine—a controlled substance (Class B)—in a sample taken from Tootsie Toes on 4/18/25.

05/21/2025, Eric Reed, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Gabapentin—a controlled substance (Class B)—in a sample taken from She's a Saint, who won at Mahoning Valley on 4/8/25.

The post National Regulatory Rulings: May 22-28, 2025 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.