Banishing

With a smashing five-length victory in the G3 Capella Stakes at Nakayama in December, Tomoya Ozasa's T O Elvis (Volatile) earned a place in the field for the G2 Riyadh Dirt Sprint in February. Connections elected to take a pass on that 1200-meter test--won by Imagination (Good Magic)--to give the colt more time to prepare for the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen at the back end of March. But owing to the ongoing hostilities in the region, T O Elvis's trip to Meydan was called off at the 11th hour and...

An additional quartet of Grade I contests and a Grade I-quality renewal of the GII Pat Day Mile highlight Saturday's Kentucky Derby undercard races at Churchill Downs. Knightsbridge Rates Top Billing In Churchill Downs S. A field of 11 comes together for yet another compelling renewal of the $1-million GI Churchill Downs Stakes, a seven-furlong contest in which Godolphin's 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Knightsbridge (Nyquist) goes in search of a maiden top-level success while looking to extend his current winning streak to five. A half-brother to Grade I-winning...

Ghostzapper's Banishing capitalized on the early exertions of Commissioner King (Commissioner) to run out a 2 1/4-length winner of the G2 Godolphin Mile Sponsored by EMAAR at Meydan on Saturday. The David Jacobson trainee was coming off an eighth-place run in the G1 Saudi Cup for Sharaf Mohammed Al Hariri, Jacobson and Larry Roman. The final time for the 1600 meters was 1:38.23. Finding space next to Mendelssohn Bay (Mendelssohn) just off the rail, the duo shadowing Commissioner King from the bell. The pacesetter scorched an internal quarter of :21.4...

Saturday, Meydan, UAE, post time: 5.30 p.m., UAE DERBY SPONSORED BY JUMEIRAH-G2, $1,000,000, NH/SH3yo, 1900m Field: Pyromancer (Jpn) (Pyro), Wonder Dean (Jpn) (Dee Majesty {Jpn}), Six Speed (Not This Time), Go Man (Fr) (Goken {Fr}), Salloom (Authentic), Brotherly Love (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}), Devon Island (Practical Joke), Rammaas (Speightstown), Union Security (Maximum Security), Duke Of Immatin (Gun Runner), Lino Padrino (Uncle Lino), Labwah (Charlatan). TDN Analysis: Listed winner Brotherly Love is hunting for his first GI Kentucky Derby points in the UAE Derby here. Breaking 11th of 12 in the 1900-metre...

A major percentage of multiple graded winner Banishing (Ghostzapper) was purchased by Sharaf Alhariri and he will run in Saturday's $20-million G1 Saudi Cup in Alhariri's silks, according to agent Ron Anderson. Connections said in a statement, "We are pleased to announce the purchase of the horse Banishing for Mr. Sharaf Alhariri. Mr. Alhariri, who won the Saudi Cup 2024 with Senor Buscador, continues to make strategic moves in the racing world with this exciting new addition to his stable. "Banishing will be ridden by Saudi champion jockey Adel Alfouraidi,...

DEL MAR, Calif. - Bentornato (Valiant Minister) avenged his too-good-to-lose second at last year's Championships with a powerful, front-running performance in Saturday's GI Breeders' Cup Sprint at Del Mar. Imagination (Into Mischief) just held off Dr. Venkman (Ghostzapper) for second. Last year's Sprint winner Straight No Chaser (Speightster) tired to seventh. The 8-5 favorite provided back-to-back Breeders' Cup winners for trainer Jose D'Angelo and jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr., who also teamed up for a popular win with 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Shisospicy (Mitole) one race earlier on the...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Last Friday, trainer David Jacobson watched as his ultra-consistent 5-year-old gelding Banishing (Ghostzapper) won the $1-million GII Charles Town Classic Stakes by 2 1/4 lengths. Jacobson is toying with the idea of bringing Banishing back to the races on Sunday to run in the $1-million GI Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes at Saratoga. All signs are pointing that way: the horse has already shipped up to the Spa and Jacobson entered Banishing in the race. He is among the nine horses that were entered Wednesday, which...

In fairness, an authentic Triple Crown was never available to Sovereignty even if his connections had deigned to seek one. We must still wait and see, then, whether Into Mischief can someday crown his evolution into a Classic influence with the winner of a 12-furlong Belmont Stakes. As and when that happens, it will feel much as when Justify-representing another Storm Cat speed brand, Scat Daddy-set off fast and just kept going. That ability to carry speed is the dirt grail and perhaps we can give some credit for the...

Banishing (Ghostzapper) spoiled a bid by Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator) to win the GII Charles Town Classic for the third year in a row when he successfully shipped in for West Virginia's biggest night at the races on Friday. The veteran who is co-owned by trainer David Jacobson scored his biggest triumph in the GIII Oaklawn Mile in Hot Springs Mar. 29 when he dueled and then defeated GISW Saudi Crown (Always Dreaming). Banishing was bested by First Mission (Street Sense) in the GII Oaklawn Handicap the next month, but he did...

In the Hanshin Stakes at Churchill Downs on Sunday, Will Take It (Tapit) was up in the nick of time to take the race for owners Willis Horton and Mandy Pope. Since coming over from the care of trainer Eddie Milligan, Will Take It has become a mark of consistency. His 2025 campaign has included clearing an allowance condition at Fair Grounds Jan. 4 and a runner-up finish against optional claimers in New Orleans Feb. 1. The colt then won at that level next out at the track Mar. 8...

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - A frustrating runner-up in last year's GI Belmont Stakes and GI NYRA Bets Haskell S., 'TDN Rising Star' Mindframe (Constitution) put it all together for a much-deserved first Grade I victory in a heart-stopping and completely stacked renewal of the GI Churchill Downs S. on the Kentucky Derby undercard. Favored 'TDN Rising Star' Nysos (Nyquist), making his first start for Bob Baffert since running his record to three-for-three in the GIII Robert B. Lewis Stakes some 15 months ago, dead-heated for second with the David Jacobson-trained, co-owned...

Despite a frustrating conclusion to 'TDN Rising Star' First Mission (Street Sense)'s 4-year-old season last year, trainer Brad Cox never lost any confidence in the Godolphin homebred. "Look, we've always thought he was a Grade I talent," Cox said in these pages earlier this week. You can certainly see why now. Pounded late into 7-5 favoritism, First Mission sat the trip of the race beneath Flavien Prat in Saturday's $1.25-million GII Oaklawn Handicap and powered clear to a two-length victory over the in-form Banishing (Ghostzapper). The final time of 1:49.09...