Brian DiDonato

Jackie's Warrior Dominates in the Champagne

Kirk and Judy Robison's Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music) slammed the door on second choice Reinvestment Risk (Upstart) and spurted clear in Saturday's GI Champagne S. at Belmont to increase his perfect record to four-for-four. The race was a “Win and You're In” qualifier for the Nov. 6 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile for which the Steve [...]

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KEESEP in the Books, but Numbers Slide as Expected

While there were bright spots and plenty of successes, Keeneland's bellweather September Yearling Sale saw significant drop-offs in trade from last year's strong renewal as the Thoroughbred industry and world at large reel from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Conducted over 12 days this year compared to 13 last term and with strict safety [...]

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TDN Q&A: WinStar's Elliott Walden

WinStar Farm has had many big years, but this one may prove its biggest to date. Kenny Troutt's operation has bred, raised and offered for sale four 2020 Grade I winners: Sept. 5 GI Woodward H. hero Global Campaign (Curlin); Paris Lights (Curlin), who led home a one-two for WinStar Stablemates in July's GI Coaching [...]

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More Baffert Magic in Derby 146

Bob Baffert's formidable GI Kentucky Derby line-up had continued to dwindle along this extended Triple Crown trail–with one of his entries even scratching in the paddock Saturday–but the last colt standing, Authentic (Into Mischief), provided the Hall of Fame conditioner with a record-tying sixth trophy in the “Run for the Roses.” Odds-on favorite Tiz the [...]

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A Devil of a Finish in the Oaks

Heavy favorite Gamine (Into Mischief)'s stiffest competition in Friday's GI Kentucky Oaks figured to come from a daughter of Daredevil–just not 15-1 Shedaresthedevil, who led home a one-two for her exported stallion over second choice Swiss Skydiver. The Flurry Racing Stables LLC, Qatar Racing Limited and Big Aut Farms representative covered the nine furlongs at [...]

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Bumpy Road to Derby Finally Reaches Louisville

LOUISVILLE, KY–After a four-month delay, the world spotlight finally shines again on Churchill Downs. While Saturday's GI Kentucky Derby has certainly lost some of its luster due to a number of high-profile defections along this seemingly never-ending Triple Crown trail, tensions remain extremely high in Louisville–which at times of late has felt like the epicenter [...]

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Getting to Know the Tiz the Law Partners

GI Kentucky Derby favorite and Quadruple Crown hopeful Tiz the Law (Constitution) would no doubt be almost any owner's horse of a lifetime–unless you're Jack Knowlton or Lew Titterton. Of Sackatoga Stable's 35 co-owners in on Tiz the Law, they're the only two who were around for the group's first horse of a lifetime, 2003 [...]

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Heavy Hitters Draw Outside for Derby

LOUISVILLE, KY–The likely top three wagering choices for the GI Kentucky Derby will break next to each other on Saturday, with heavy favorite Tiz the Law (Constitution) drawn in 17. GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby hero Honor A. P. (Honor Code) will be posted to his inside, and GI Haskell S. winner Authentic (Into Mischief) [...]

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Ketner Sweeps NJ Thoroughbred Festival Card

Dr. Mark Ketner was celebrating a rare feat at the conclusion of Monmouth's New Jersey Thoroughbred Festival Sunday–the Colts Neck-based vet foaled all 10 winners on the card. “It was pretty crazy,” Ketner said. “We have kind of an unusual practice. I have a farm practice with a racetrack practice based here in Monmouth County. [...]

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Tapit Rising Star Dominates Adirondack as Asmussen Hot Streak Continues

'TDN Rising Star' Thoughtfully (Tapit) continued a red-hot run with juveniles for trainer Steve Asmussen as she powered away a convincing winner of the GII Adirondack S. Wednesday at the Spa. Off since airing by 8 3/4 lengths at odds-on first out at Churchill June 11, the $950,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga purchase prepped for this by [...]

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Maclean's Music Colt Turns in 'Special' Performance at the Spa

J. Kirk Robison's Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music), the “other” Steve Asmussen runner signed on for Friday's GII Saratoga Special S., out-footed them all and never looked back en route to a powerful score at the Spa. The imposing bay took his Churchill debut by 2 1/2 lengths June 19, and was flattered when the runner-up [...]

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Upstart Colt Much the Best in Hot Spa Maiden; Garners Rising Stardom

The Saratoga opener Saturday was one of those vintage events in which virtually every firster was touted as a runner, and it was Klaravich Stables, Inc.'s Reinvestment Risk (Upstart) who emerged as the best of the bunch while becoming his freshman sire (by Flatter)'s third winner and first 'TDN Rising Star'. A $140,000 FTKJUL yearling [...]

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