Skip to:

Feed aggregator

Santa Anita Classic Meet Posts Increases in key Metrics, Field Size and Safety Improve Again

Thoroughbred Daily News - Mon, 2025-04-07 10:16

With the Sunday conclusion to Santa Anita's Classic Meet, the 2024-25 season enjoyed significant gains in handle, attendance, field size, and safety, the track announced Monday morning.

The all-source handle topped $510-million with players from around the world responding favorably to the modifications to the wagering menu. The handle on just Santa Anita's races increased five per cent from the last Classic Meet. Opening day Dec. 26 brought the third largest opening day handle in the venue's 90-year history, and the final three-day weekend claimed more than $40.6-million in wagers on the local races with on track attendance drawing almost 50,000 people.

Field sizes bucked the overall national trend as the number of starters per race rose by 7% over last year, granted partially due to the influx of Northern California horses transitioning to the single circuit. Santa Anita offered 61 more races during this season's Classic Meet as a result.

In the realm of safety, the track saw 99.9715% safe trips which translate to a fatality rating of .285 per 1,000 starters. It was a 17I improvement from the same time last year and the rating is less than a third of the national average of .90 per 1,000 starters. Those figures are as reported by tracks covered by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA).

Racing returns for the Hollywood Meeting Friday, Apr. 18 and will continued to Sunday, June 15. On the back of the successful Classic Meet, the purses for the upcoming Hollywood meet will increase.

“The value proposition and positive momentum carries forward to the upcoming 29-day Hollywood meet with a 10% increase to overnight purses,” said Bill Nader, president & CEO of the Thoroughbred Owners of California. “California racing is showing renewed life and the transition to a single circuit is fulfilling its purpose.”

The post Santa Anita Classic Meet Posts Increases in key Metrics, Field Size and Safety Improve Again appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Trio Share Furlong Bullet at OBS Under-Tack Show Sunday

Thoroughbred Daily News - Sun, 2025-04-06 19:16

Three juveniles shared the fastest furlong time of :9 4/5 during the first session of the under-tack show for the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training Sunday.

A filly by Upstart (hip 75) was first to hit the bullet mark just minutes into the day's session. The dark bay is out of Lovely Marissa (Proud Citizen), a daughter of Grade I-placed Valiant Passion (Lion Heart) and a half-sister to graded-placed Nasty (Street Sense). She was consigned by Grassroots Training & Sales, which acquired her for $60,000 at last year's OBS October sale.

“She's been a really nice filly all year, we expected her to do well,” said David McKathan of Grassroots Training and Sales. “She prepped well, so we're very happy with her. Physically, she's everything you want to look at when you look at a horse. She's very well balanced, she's just beautiful. She's been showing us all year that she's got ability.”

A few minutes later, a colt by Shancelot (hip 70) turned in his bullet drill for the Top Line Sales consignment. The juvenile was bred by Doug Arnold.

“I felt like the horse was fast, but this was beyond expectations,” Arnold admitted Sunday evening.

Arnold purchased the colt's unraced dam Loteria (Nyquist) from Godolphin for $11,000 at the 2022 Keeneland January sale. The 5-year-old mare is a full-sister to stakes-placed Snead and is out of Raffle Ticket (A.P. Indy) a full-sister to champion Bernardini.

“I liked everything about the mare,” Arnold said. “She is by Nyquist out of a full-sister to Bernardini. I was hoping I got a bargain.”

While Arnold often sells his foals as yearlings, he kept this Apr. 26 foal for the 2-year-old sales.

“He was a late foal and kind of a late bloomer,” Arnold said of the colt. “I loved him from the start. We've liked him a lot.”

The 2-year-old colt is Loteria's first foal and she produced a full-brother last year before being bred back to Speaker's Corner.

“Shancelot's first runners are three now and one thing I've noticed about all of the horses I've seen of his is that they all look extremely fast,” Arnold said. “It manifests in different ways, but they all have it. And a horse that has that is bound to have a freak.”

Completing the trio of bullet workers was a colt from the first crop of multiple graded stakes winner By My Standards (Goldencents) (hip 134). He is out of the unraced Momento (Nyquist), a daughter of multiple stakes winner Martha's Moon (Malibu Moon) and is consigned by AVP Training and Sales. A $9,500 purchase by Ramiro Salazar at the 2023 Keeneland November sale, the colt RNA'd for $19,000 at the 2024 OBS Winter sale.

A pair of juveniles shared Sunday's fastest quarter-mile work of :20 3/5. Hoppel LLC sent out a colt by Mendelssohn (hip 123) to set the bullet mark. The bay colt is out of Marvelous Spot (Archarcharch), a daughter of stakes winner and multiple Grade I-placed In Her Glory (Miswaki). Bred by Machmer Hall, the colt RNA'd for $32,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton October sale.

A filly by Battalion Runner (hip 163), consigned by Ortega Stables, also worked a quarter in :20 3/5 Sunday. The bay is out of Miss Monk (Blame), a half-sister to Grade I winner Wicked Strong (Hard Spun), and was purchased in utero for $12,000 at the 2023 OBS Winter sale. She was bred by Sherry Mansfield and Kenneth Davis.

The under-tack show continues through Saturday with sessions beginning daily at 8 a.m. The Spring sale will be held next Tuesday through Friday. Bidding commences each day at 10:30 a.m.

The post Trio Share Furlong Bullet at OBS Under-Tack Show Sunday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Not This Time’s Goal Oriented Ticks Maiden Box At Santa Anita, Earns ‘TDN Rising Star’

Thoroughbred Daily News - Sun, 2025-04-06 19:03

Goal Oriented (Not This Time), carrying powerhouse connections and a speedy work tab into his debut, made even-money look like a gift when he glided home a 3 1/4-length debut winner for trainer Bob Baffert and the partnership of SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert Masterson, Tom Ryan, Waves Edge Capital and Catherine Donovan Sunday evening at Santa Anita. The dark bay colt, a $425,000 Keeneland September yearling acquisition, trailed the field and was climbing up the backstretch, but once he got his mind on running, he made eye-catching progress, inhaling rivals on the far turn and storming to the lead with a four-wide move into the stretch. He strode home under a Juan Hernandez hand ride.

Goal Oriented is out of multiple graded stakes winner Bizzy Caroline (Afleet Alex), who is a half-sister to turf champion Lady Eli (Divine Park). Barren in 2023 and with a dead foal in 2024, Bizzy Caroline was bred back to Up to the Mark last year.

7th-Santa Anita, $66,000, Msw, 4-6, 3, 4,/5yo, 6f, 1:10.01, ft, 3 1/4 lengths.
GOAL ORIENTED, c, 3, by Not This Time
                1st Dam: Bizzy Caroline (MGSW, $347,935), by Afleet Alex
                2nd Dam: Sacre Coeur, by Saint Ballado
                3rd Dam: Kazadancoa (Fr), by Green Dancer
Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $39,000. O-SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Bashor, Dianne, Determined Stables, Masterson, Robert E., Ryan, Tom J., Waves Edge Capital LLC and Donovan, Catherine; B-Runnymede Farm LLC & CWC Investment 2, LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert. *$425,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored FanDuel.

 

He sure was GOAL ORIENTED ($4.20)!

The debuting colt by Not This Time (@TMStallions) came from off the pace in the 7th at @SantaAnitaPark under @JJHernandezS19. @BobBaffert conditions the three-year-old.

Can you hit the Late Pick 5: https://t.co/5VcRa4VxbO pic.twitter.com/EBAkit4nR1

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) April 6, 2025

The post Not This Time’s Goal Oriented Ticks Maiden Box At Santa Anita, Earns ‘TDN Rising Star’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Bank Frenzy extends streak to four in Haynesfield

New York Thoroughbred Breeders - Sun, 2025-04-06 18:44

Bank Frenzy collects his third straight stakes win – and fourth overall – in Sunday’s Haynesfield at Aqueduct. Coglianese Photo.

LSU Stables’ Bank Frenzy stretched his win streak to four – including three stakes scores – with a victory in Sunday’s co-featured $125,000 Haynesfield at Aqueduct.

The 5-year-old Central Banker overcame another ever-so-slight hesitation at start, took over after the opening quarter-mile and held off another son of Central Banker, General Banker, to win the 1-mile stakes by 2 1/4 lengths. Manny Franco rode the winner for trainer Rudy Rodriguez, who continues to marvel at the gelding bred by Chester and the late Mary Broman.

“He’s as game as they come,” Rodriguez said. “You put him in the right spot, he shows up. He doesn’t need to take his track with him. He can run in the slop, on fast dirt maybe even on the grass, who knows. He’s a solid horse.”

Bank Frenzy, a finalist for champion New York-bred older dirt male honors in 2024, added the Haynesfield to his victories in the Alex M. Robb Stakes in late December and the Stymie Stakes March 1. He also improved to 8-for-16 and earnings of $575,420.

“He can be a little challenging in the morning, but you have to put the work in,” Rodriguez said. “We’re very blessed that Mr. Larry and Randy [Sarf of LSU Stables] put that horse in our barn.”

Bet down to 1-2 in the field of seven, Bank Frenzy chased early leader Just Step On It through the opening quarter in :24 before taking over from that foe.

Franco led Bank Frenzy open up after he seized the lead and they were 1 1/2 lengths in front at the half in :47.10. Radio Red took up the chase while Just Step On It started to retreat on the far turn. Bank Frenzy sailed past 6 furlongs in 1:10.97, still up 1 1/2 lengths as the field turned for home.

“He’s not the quickest out of there,” Franco said. “He’s getting better every race, and I saw he’s cruising there with the field, I thought they were going to give some separation from me, but I was on the best horse. I just let him pass the chute and I ended up on the lead. It was easy enough. He was doing it the right way, so I was happy where I was.

“Like I said, when I broke, the field was bunched up. Everybody was together. My horse was doing it so easily, the right way, I let him go. We ended up on the lead and he was happy after that.”

Bank Frenzy stayed in command through the stretch, passed the eighth pole 2 lengths in front while drifting out slightly inside the final furlong. He won in 1:35.83 over the muddy and sealed track. General Banker finished a neck in front of Locke and Key for the runner-up spot, with Radio Red, Sheriff Bianco, Wynstock and Just Step On It completing the field.

Foaled at the Bromans’ Chestertown Farm in Chestertown, Bank Frenzy is out of the Tiznow mare Storm Now. The Bromans purchased Storm Now for $110,000 at the 2015 Keeneland January horses of all ages sale.

Storm Now is the dam of two other winners – the Into Mischief gelding City Mischief ($131,830) and the Awesome Again gelding Broadway Joe ($15,228). She’s also the dam of the 4-year-old Practical Joke filly Funny Forecast, who made three starts last year and returned to the worktab at Belmont Park Saturday; and the 3-year-old Instagrand filly Farm House, a $100,000 purchase by Final Furlong Racing Stable at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October sale. Farm House finished second, third and second in her first three starts, the latest in a maiden-optional March 28 at Aqueduct. She’s already earned $38,480.

The Bromans bred all of those runners in New York, along with Storm Now’s 2-year-old Instagrand filly named In Snows Way. Storm Now also delivered a colt by Jackie’s Warrior March 20 in New York.

The post Bank Frenzy extends streak to four in Haynesfield appeared first on New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. News.

Sterling Silver becomes a millionaire with Biogio’s Rose score

New York Thoroughbred Breeders - Sun, 2025-04-06 17:43

Sterling Silver surpases the seven-figure earnings mark with victory in Sunday’s Biogio’s Rose at Aqueduct. Coglianese Photo.

By Paul Halloran

Sterling Silver, who sold for $13,000 as a pandemic-era yearling, eclipsed $1 million in earnings Sunday with a workmanlike win in the Biogio’s Rose Stakes at Aqueduct.

Making the 29th start of her career, and the seventh since being moved to Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, the 6-year-old grey mare sat behind a speed battle between Khali Magic and Bernietakescharge then ran down Sweet Brown Sugar to win by 1 3/4 lengths. The $68,750 winner’s share brought her earnings to $1,006,051.

“She’s very classy, a professional horse. We’ve had a lot of success together. I know her so well,” said jockey Javier Castellano, who has six wins in 14 starts aboard the daughter of Cupid. “She fit perfect today. It was a small field with a lot of speed and she came from behind and got it done.”

Sweet Brown Sugar and Bernietakescharge broke together, but Khali Magic rushed up the rail to take the lead. She and Bernietakescharge ran in tandem into the turn, with Sweet Brown Sugar, Caldwell Luvs Gold and Sterling Silver chasing through a quarter mile in :23.01 and a half in :45.63. Sweet Brown Sugar made the first move, looming on the outside through the far turn as Sterling Silver also hit her stride.

Sweet Brown Sugar took the lead at the quarter pole, but Sterling Silver had her in her sights and it was clear it was a matter of time before she went by, which happened inside the eighth pole. The winning time for the mile on the muddy track was 1:35.70.

“She’s a super cool horse – very consistent,” said Leana Willaford, Mott’s assistant. “I thought she ran really well today. They went pretty quick the second quarter, which was helpful, and she finished like she was supposed to.”

Sterling Silver, who was bred by Mallory and Karen Mort, became the 65th New York-bred millionaire. She was foaled and raised at Marlene Brody’s Gallagher’s Stud, where Mallory Mort serves as farm manager. Sterling Silver would have been in the ring at the 2020 Saratoga New York-bred sale but Fasig-Tipton held its yearling sales in Kentucky due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Sterling Silver was an RNA and was later purchased privately by Mark Anderson for $13,000.

Sterling Silver is the fourth foal out of the Distorted Humor mare Sheet Humor, whom Mallory Mort bought in foal to Midnight Lute for $14,000 at the 2015 Keeneland November breeding stock sale. The foal, Midnight Comedy, sold for $45,000 at the 2017 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-bred yearling sale. Sheet Humor is also the dam of the winning Central Banker mare Helene Jacqueline, who brought $35,000 at the 2018 Saratoga New York-bred sale; and Ortiz, an unraced son of Speighster that sold for $210,000 at the 2019 Saratoga New York-bred sale.

The Morts sold Sheet Humor, in foal to Central Banker, for $3,000 at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga fall mixed sale. Sterling Silver won her debut at Aqueduct and became a stakes winner in her second start in taking the 2021 Franklin Square Stakes. She has run in 10 graded stakes in her career, including the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. She crossed the line first in the Grade 2 Gallant Bloom in 2023, but was disqualified and placed second.

Not surprisingly, Sterling Silver has been a force to be reckoned with in races restricted to New York-breds, with a career line of 6-3-2 in 11 starts, all stakes except for her maiden score.

The last foal the Morts bred out of Sheet Humor was Rhetorical, a 3-year-old gelding by Not This Time who sold for $320,000 at the 2022 New York-bred yearling sale. He had a maiden win and ran third in an allowance at Saratoga last summer for owners Siena Farm and WinStar Farm and trainer Will Walden.

The post Sterling Silver becomes a millionaire with Biogio’s Rose score appeared first on New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. News.

Bellagio Opera Repeats in Osaka Hai in Record Time

Blood-Horse - Sun, 2025-04-06 14:34
Bellagio Opera ended a year-long win drought with a repeat victory in the Osaka Hai (G1) April 6 at Hanshin Racecourse.

Rodriguez Ships Cross-Country, Dominates Wood Memorial

Blood-Horse - Sun, 2025-04-06 14:34
The connections of Rodriguez are hoping they have a case of "like father, like son" on their hands after their colt, a son of 2020 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Authentic, won the April 5 Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Journalism Overcomes Trouble for Santa Anita Derby Win

Blood-Horse - Sun, 2025-04-06 14:34
Overcoming a troubled trip, Journalism ran down Baeza in the final strides to solidify Kentucky Derby (G1) favoritism with his victory in the $500,000 Santa Anita Derby (G1) at Santa Anita Park April 5.

Om N Joy First Stakes Winner for Harris Farms' Om

Blood-Horse - Sun, 2025-04-06 14:34
Om N Joy became the first black-type stakes winner for third-crop sire Om in capturing the April 5 Evening Jewel Stakes at Santa Anita Park.

Crazy Mason Unleashes Devastating Late Kick in Carter

Blood-Horse - Sun, 2025-04-06 14:34
As fog settled over Aqueduct Racetrack, Crazy Mason unleashed a furious rally from the clouds to nail his first graded victory in the $300,000 Carter Stakes (G2) April 5.

Carmouche Notches 4,000th Winner at Aqueduct Racetrack

Blood-Horse - Sun, 2025-04-06 14:34
Jockey Kendrick Carmouche captured his 4,000th career victory April 5 at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Baffert's Tenma, Silent Law Run 1-2 in Santa Anita Oaks

Blood-Horse - Sun, 2025-04-06 14:34
Trainer Bob Baffert is returning to Churchill Downs this spring with more than a Kentucky Derby (G1) chance. He has a further opportunity there in the May 2 Kentucky Oaks (G1) with California's top 3-year-old filly, Tenma.

Journalism Favored in Derby Future Before Final Preps

Blood-Horse - Sun, 2025-04-06 14:34
The final Kentucky Derby Future Wager closed April 5 a few hours prior to the final major prep races with Journalism as the 5-1 favorite. Champion Citizen Bull, who will face Journalism in the Santa Anita Derby (G1), was second choice at 8-1.

Ballerina d'Oro Prevails Late in Gazelle Stakes

Blood-Horse - Sun, 2025-04-06 14:34
Ballerina d'Oro justified trainer Chad Brown's belief that she wanted more distance, needing every inch of the 1 1/8 miles of the $200,000 Gazelle Stakes (G3) to secure the victory April 5 at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Admire Daytona Wins UAE Derby, Heading to Kentucky

Blood-Horse - Sun, 2025-04-06 14:34
Japan's recent dominance in the UAE Derby (G2) continued April 5 at Meydan Racecourse as Admire Daytona scraped home over Heart of Honor in a thrilling photo finish, earning a berth in the Kentucky Derby (G1).

Owners, Trainers to be Paid for Aqueduct Cancellation

Blood-Horse - Sun, 2025-04-06 14:34
Horsemen impacted by the March 30 cancellation of racing at Aqueduct Racetrack will be receiving compensation through the New York Racing Association purse account of $2,500 or $1,000 per horse for the lost racing opportunity.

Horses Evacuated as Oaklawn Training Center Floods

Blood-Horse - Sun, 2025-04-06 14:34
Crisis was averted at the Ten Mile Creek Training Center in Benton, Ark., April 5 thanks to the fast-moving and dedicated racing community. As flood waters began to fill the barn area, they managed to evacuate all 68 resident Thoroughbreds to safety.

American Promise to Await Start in Kentucky Derby

Blood-Horse - Sun, 2025-04-06 14:34
Altering his initial plan to run American Promise in the April 12 Lexington Stakes (G3) at Keeneland, trainer D. Wayne Lukas said April 5 the colt would instead await the May 3 Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs.

Nick Rockett Leads Mullins' 1-2-3 in Grand National

Blood-Horse - Sat, 2025-04-05 14:35
Ireland-bred Nick Rockett led home a spectacular and historic 1-2-3 finish for an emotional Willie Mullins in the Grand National as he denied stablemate I Am Maximus back-to-back victories.

Dark Saffron Defeats Elders in Dubai Golden Shaheen

Blood-Horse - Sat, 2025-04-05 14:35
A front-running Dark Saffron defeated the world's best sprinters with a stunning 65-1 upset in the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) at Meydan Racecourse April 5.

Pages

Subscribe to Thoroughbred OwnerView – Thoroughbred Owners, Thoroughbred Trainers, Thoroughbred Partnerships, Thoroughbred Retirement aggregator