Brian Lynch

   In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar. What an effort from Boss Dylan (c, 2, Liam's Map--Sweet, by Blame)! Those were the words of track announcer Travis Stone as Boss Dylan rallied from last to finish a fantastic second in the nightcap at Churchill Downs Sunday evening. Off at odds of 9-1 in his 6 1/2-furlong unveiling for trainer Brendan Walsh in a very deep maiden special weight, Boss Dylan made a mess...

10th-Churchill Downs, $123,035, Msw, 11-23, 2yo, 6 1/2f, 1:17.34, ft, 1 1/2 lengths. MOB (c, 2, Gun Runner--Onslaught, by Street Sense), a $560,000 Keeneland September purchase for Flying Dutchmen last year, signaled his race readiness with 10 straight works since September at Churchill for trainer Brian Lynch. Facing a well-bred field which included a full-brother to MGISW Patch Adams (Into Mischief), Mob proved best on the day with a frontrunning score. Second choice at 5-1, the bay colt rushed to the front with Mumdoggie (Tiz the Law) glued to his...

Coming off a six-month layoff, 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Shred the Gnar (Into Mischief) showed no signs of fatigue Saturday, wiring the field in the GIII Chilukki to take her first graded stakes race. Beaten just a neck as the favorite on debut in Florida at Gulfstream Park for trainer Brian Lynch, the lightly-raced daughter of leading sire Into Mischief then rocketed into 'Rising Star'-dom in her second start going one mile in a 6 1/2-length romp while still in the Sunshine State March 16. Brought into prime...

'TDN Rising Star' Big Truzz was stout and fearless as he notched the first stakes win of his career when he took down the Ellis Park Derby on Sunday afternoon. Garnering the 'Rising Star' rosette on debut at Keeneland Apr. 12, he was tasked with taking on optional claiming company May 3 at Churchill Downs and ran a solid second to fellow 'Rising Star' Patch Adams (Into Mischief), who was most recently seen winning the GI Woody Stephens June 7 where Big Truzz ran third. On July 5 in the...

Mae Town (Mo Town) made it three wins in a row with her first stakes win in the Pea Patch Stakes Sunday at Ellis Park. The Cave Brook Farm homebred broke her maiden going five furlongs at Churchill Downs May 9, and repeated against allowance company under the Twin Spires June 11. After a good break from her far outside post, the filly found herself towards the rear of the field up the backstretch, several lengths off the swift early tempo set in :20.92. With plenty of work to do,...

Taylor Made Stallions resident freshman Knicks Go (Paynter) was represented by his first career winner Tuesday when Ziggity Zag came from off the pace to score at Horseshoe Indianapolis. Campaigned by Flying Dutchman, the Kentucky bred filly was installed the 3-1 second choice for this unveiling. Reserved in a stalking position as longshot Dreaming Collect (Collected) carved out an opening quarter mile in :22.50, the grey kept the pacesetter in her sights through a :47.26 half. Asked for more by Nic Juarez turning for home, she found the early leader...

4th-CD, $120,000, Msw, 2yo, f, 5f, 2:23 p.m. Flying Dutchmen's WHERE LUCK LIVES (Nyquist) gets a start for trainer Brian Lynch. A $725,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select yearling purchase, the dark bay is out of SW and GISP Holiday Soiree (Harlan's Holiday). The mare, who sold for $300,000 at Keeneland November in 2023, is already responsible for Grade I scorer Vahva (Gun Runner), who most recently won the GII Chicago Stakes at this venue last weekend in addition to GSP Signal From Noise (Arrogate). TJCIS PPs

GISW Scottish Lassie (McKinzie) continued her preparations for the GI DK Horse Acorn Stakes over the Oklahoma training track while 'TDN Rising Star' Shred the Gnar (Into Mischief) joined the discussion by officially being pointed for the contest set for June 6 during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga. The former, trained by Jorge Abreu, breezed five panels alone Sunday morning in 1:04 flat shortly after the 8:15 a.m. renovation break. She was the only work at the distance on the day. "It was good, and more than enough,"...

1st-Churchill Downs, $122,270, Alw (NW1X)/Opt. Clm ($125,000), 5-2, 3yo, f, 1 1/16m, 1:42.04, ft, 7 lengths. SHRED THE GNAR (f, 3, Into Mischief--Aspen Light, by Bernardini) just missed by a diminishing neck when debuted going six furlongs at Gulfstream Feb. 9 and was more than ready for her stretch out to one mile, wiring a field in Florida by 6 1/2 lengths March 16 to become a 'TDN Rising Star'. Trying two turns for the first time in the Oaks day opener Friday, the 4-5 favorite again flashed early speed...

Owen Almighty (Speightstown) and Built (Hard Spun) turned in five-furlong workouts Thursday morning over a fast track at Churchill Downs in preparation for the GI Kentucky Derby. Working during the 7:15-7:30 a.m. ET training window reserved for Kentucky Derby and GI Longines Kentucky Oaks horses, Flying Dutchmen Breeding and Racing's Owen Almighty breezed five furlongs in 1:01.60 with Antonio Orellana aboard for trainer Brian Lynch. Working in company with the maiden 3-year-old filly Nosleeptilbrooklyn (Ghostzapper), Owen Almighty started two lengths behind his workmate and posted fractions of :26, :37.60, 1:01.60 and...

Despite their horse running sixth in the GI Toyota Blue Grass S., the connections of Owen Almighty (Speightstown) have informed Churchill Downs that their colt will be pointed to the GI Kentucky Derby, after all. "Owen Almighty has re-entered the Kentucky Derby picture, according to trainer Brian Lynch," Darren Rogers, the senior director, communications and media services wrote within an email that he sends out regularly updating the points standings for the Derby. With 65 points, Owen Almighty is in 12th place in the standings. At deadline for this story,...

With paddock buzz in his corner and looks to match, Big Truzz (Justify) did not disappoint his backers as he strolled home to confidently break his maiden at Keeneland and earn 'TDN Rising Star' honors in the process. Coming into this unveiling, the striking son of Triple Crown winner Justify had a bullet work at Palm Meadows Mar. 28 [four furlongs in :47 flat, fastest of 52] and a work locally Apr. 9 to his credit. That most recent breeze was another four panel work clocked in :49.80 (67/121), and...