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Godolphin homebred Immersive (Nyquist) ran the table in her four appearances at two, with three wins at Grade I level capped by a dominating 4 1/2-length victory on Breeders' Cup Friday. Immersive is the second Eclipse Award winner and third champion for Nyquist, himself the champion of his generation in 2015. Nyquist is also represented by Sovereign Award winner Gretzky the Great. One of 16 graded stakes winners for Nyquist, who was himself a champion juvenile, Immersive was also one of four Grade I winners for her sire in 2024–joining Johannes (who was a finalist this year for Champion Turf Male), Tenma and Randomized.

Early Impressions… “I think 2-year-old fillies, she's the best we've had. To accomplish what she has, we've not had one win three Grade Ones at two. Excited about what she accomplished, proud of her, and looking forward to next year.”–Brad Cox following Immersive's Breeders' Cup win.

The post Immersive Gives Nyquist A Second 2-Year-Old Filly Champion appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Riding professionally since late 2023, Erik Asmussen took home the Eclipse as the nation's leading apprentice in 2024. The young rider collected his first jockey's title at the Grand Prairie, Texas track where he topped the standings with 48 wins. In his early twenties, Erik is the younger brother of fellow Oaklawn-based rider Keith J. Asmussen, but lest we forget that their father Steve rode and so did their grandfather Keith. Cash Asmussen had a celebrated career himself during the 1980s and 1990s, which included being named a five-time champion in France.

Riding professionally since November 2023, Erik posted his first career win Jan. 5, 2024 at Sam Houston Race Park where he finished the meet in the colony's top 10. Erik earned Jockey of the Week honors in early July after he won three stakes races in a row at Lone Star Park on closing weekend last summer.

“I just wanted to get away as smoothly as possible,” said Asmussen about one his winners. “I've been getting on the horse in the mornings and I knew he was more than capable.”Primarily in the irons for his father Steve–the all-time winningest trainer in the history of North American Thoroughbred racing–Erik also got his picture taken at Horseshoe Indianapolis, Ellis Park and Churchill Downs in 2024.

The post Erik Asmussen Does Family Proud, Named Outstanding Apprentice appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Soul of an Angel (Atreides) came from the clouds to light up the Del Mar tote to the tune of 19-1 beneath Drayden Van Dyke, an effort good enough to take home the Eclipse Award for the nation's top female sprinter. Sixth for co-owner/trainer Gerald James and co-owner Hall Performance in the GII Azeri Stakes at Oaklawn Mar. 9, Soul of an Angel was purchased privately by C2 Racing Stable LLC, Agave Racing Stable and Ken Reimer and turned over to trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. The dark bay 5-year-old, who ran Idiomatic (Curlin) to a head in the GIII Molly Pitcher Stakes over the summer, proved best over seven panels, winning the GIII Princess Rooney Stakes ahead of her Breeders' Cup surprise. Medaglia d'Oro's son Atreides was being represented by his initial champion. Soul of an Angel could make her seasonal reappearance in the G1 Saudi Cup in Riyadh in about four weeks' time. Soul of an Angel is the lone graded winner for the well-related Stonestreet homebred Atreides, who stood the 2024 breeding season at River Oaks Farms in Oklahoma

The post Angel Eyes: Atreides’s Soul of an Angel Captures Female Sprinter Eclipse appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Canadian-based Moira (Ghostzapper) was given an A-plus steer by Flavien Prat and outlasted Godolphin's fast-finishing Cinderella's Dream (GB) (Shamardal) to scoop the statuette as the nation's leading Turf Distaffer for 2024. Kept in training after being purchased or $3 million at Fasig-Tipton November in 2023, Moira was also victorious in the GII Beverly D. S. and was a cracking second first off the layoff in the GI Diana Stakes at Saratoga. Ghostzapper is the sire of nine champions (Moira is a previous Canadian Horse of the Year). In between her sale as a yearling during pandemic-stricken Keeneland September in 2020 and the crown jewel to a fabulous career, she changed hands twice at the Fasig-Tipton Night of the Stars, including when selling for $4.3-million to “Bayles” to start the next chapter of her life for Yulong Stud. What that will look like has yet to have been decided. “She was a Horse of Year in Canada and is a Breeders' Cup winner,” Yulong's general manager Vin Cox said after her sale in 2024. “She's the sort of horse we like to add to our breeding band. We are putting together a very good broodmare band and she'll fit right in.”

The post More Hardware For Moira, Named US Champion Turf Female appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Snap Decision (Hard Spun), making a remarkable fifth straight appearance as a finalist in this category, finally took home that elusive Eclipse statue. The 10-year-old veteran secured the championship with a gritty victory in the G1 American Grand National. Making his fourth straight appearance in the Far Hills race and still looking for his first win, Snap Decision was headed late, but battled back, refusing to be denied in a thrilling finish. Snap Decision opened 2024 with his third straight win in the G2 Temple Gwathmey Hurdle Stakes in April before adding a third win in the G1 Iroquois Stakes in May. On the shelf for the Saratoga meeting where he was precluded from running due to his age, the 10-year-old gelding prepped for the Grand National with a third-place effort in the G3 Mariann de Tejeda Stakes. He concluded his year with a third-place effort in the Nov. 17 G1 Colonial Cup, but earned the Eclipse award as the year's only two-time Group 1 winner.The championship was made even more poignant by the presence of Snap Decision's groom, Jenna Elliott, whose name was randomly selected from 340 entries to win the Resolute Racing Eclipse Awards Sweepstakes. Elliott was guest of the NTRA and Resolute Racing at the Eclipse Award ceremony Thursday.

The post Perseverance Pays Off For Team Snap Decision in Steeplechase Division appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Idiomatic (Curlin) joined a select list of dirt distaffers to win back-to-back Eclipse Awards Thursday evening. Though she had the target on her back for most of the season, she won three of her five tries, including a towering title defense in the GI Spinster Stakes at Keeneland, a race sponsored by her owners, Juddmonte. A scheduled showdown between Idiomatic and eventual Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) in the Distaff, one of the most anticipated races of the year, had to be scrapped when Idiomatic suffered a minor knee injury in late October. The dual champion retired with five Grade I wins, nine black-type wins, and earnings just shy of $4 million. Idiomatic's repeat win as Champion Older Female gives Hill 'n' Dale's Curlin–himself a two-time Horse of the Year–his 12th Eclipse Award as a sire. Idiomatic's late stakes-winning and multiple GISP dam, a descendant of 1982 Broodmare of the Year Best in Show, was a full-sister to 2014 Champion Older Female Close Hatches, herself dam of three graded winners. Hill 'n' Dale-based Curlin has now been represented by a dozen Eclipse winners. Among the other dirt distaffers to win multiple Eclipse Awards are Paseana (Arg), Bayakoa (Arg), Azeri, Zenyatta, Royal Delta and Beholder.

The post Idiomatic Repeats As Champion Dirt Female appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

On Thursday at Santa Anita, one of the leading GI Kentucky Derby prospects, Journalism (Curlin), worked for the first time since he got his picture taken in the GII Los Alamitos Futurity Dec. 14.

Out of graded-stakes winner Mopotism (Uncle Mo), the 3-year-old colt drilled a half mile in :49.80 seconds for trainer Michael McCarthy. In pool three of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager last weekend, Journalism closed at odds of 20-1 to win this year's 'Run for the Roses.'

Journalism rolled to a 3 1/2-length victory under Umberto Rispoli in the 1 1/16-mile Los Alamitos Futurity when facing winners for the first time. Previously, he broke his maiden when stretched out to a mile for his second start Nov. 17 at Del Mar. The McCarthy trainee currently has amassed $158,880 in earnings.

Earlier this week, McCarthy said Journalism is targeting the GII San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita Mar. 1, which serves as the final local prep for the GI Santa Anita Derby scheduled for Apr. 5.

Journalism was an $825,000 auction buy as a yearling. and is owned by Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Elayne Stables 5 LLC and Robert V. LaPenta.

Other notable workers Thursday included GISW Speed Boat Beach (Bayern), who has not started since winning the 2023 edition of the GI Malibu Stakes. The 4-year-old drilled four furlongs in 47 flat for trainer Bob Baffert. Last Thursday, Speed Boat Beach worked for the first time since late September.

The post Derby Hopeful Journalism Gets Back To Work At Santa Anita appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

In advance of the 2025 Pegasus World Cup day, 1/ST and the Ed Brown Society are pleased to announce the extension of their initial three-year partnership to provide opportunities for young people of color.

Early nominations for 3-year-old Thoroughbreds to become eligible for the 2025 Triple Crown close Jan. 27 with a $600 payment.

After a fever forced him out of a start in the 2024 Hong Kong Sprint (G1), Nobals will take his first steps toward a possible return to the Breeders' Cup when he launches his 6-year-old season in the Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint Stakes Jan. 25.

The son of English Channel was a grade 1-placed, three-time graded stakes winner. He stood at stud in Indiana and Oklahoma.

Multiple graded stakes-winning millionaire Unbridled Mo headlines the latest supplements to Fasig-Tipton's Winter Mixed Sale held Feb. 3. The daughter of Uncle Mo is offered as part of the dispersal of Red Oak Stable.

Finnegans Wake, who won the 2015 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic Stakes (G1T), is being relocated from Northern California to Wolfpaw Stables in Wyoming for the 2025 season. He is standing for a private fee.

Litigation brought by a private market investment company against prominent Thoroughbred owner John Stewart, and the private equity firm he founded, MiddleGround Capital, has been settled in principle.

As much as it is still a grade 2 test, the Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf Invitational Stakes (G2T) surely has a grade 1 feel.

The 2022 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner is entering stud at Mountain Springs Farm near Palmyra, Pa. His fee is $6,500.

About 230 horses were evacuated from San Luis Rey Downs to Del Mar when a fire broke out near the training facility, but it was mostly contained with 24 hours and the horses returned safely.

Ocala Breeders' Sales has cataloged 24 horses for its OBSOnline January 2025 auction taking place Jan. 23-30. The OBSOnline January sale features 2-year-olds and horses of racing age.

Shocking Grey, winner of the $126,500 Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint at Santa Anita Park Jan. 18, sold for $170,000 to top the CTBA Sale Jan. 21. In total, 83 horses sold for $1,228,200, an average of $14,798 and median of $8,000.

Romantic Warrior's assault on the desert riches starts on the Fashion Friday program Jan. 24 at Meydan Racecourse.