In an exhibition of pure sprinting prowess, Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum's Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) brought all his power to bear on his rivals on Friday to register back-to-back successes in Goodwood's G2 King George Qatar S. Despite the contrasting ground conditions to the easy turf he encountered 12 months ago and the obvious questions posed by defeat in the June 19 G1 King's Stand S. at Royal Ascot, the bay attracted heavy support as the 8-11 favourite and was in front before he had raced two...
The 17th edition of the Claiming Crown, held Saturday at Gulfstream Park, generated total handle of $10,118,000--up 0.57% from 2014 despite rainy conditions which caused four races to be taken off the turf. Gulfstream was hosting the event for the fourth year. "We're extremely pleased with the success of Saturday's Claiming Crown," said P.J. Campo, General Manager of Gulfstream Park and Vice President of Racing for The Stronach Group. "We had big fields and tremendous participation from horsemen throughout North America. We're confident the numbers would have been even more...
Lael Stable homebred Not to Worry (c, 3, Street Sense--Madame Milan, by Bernardini) came charging down the Fair Grounds stretch for a flashy debut win for Cherie DeVaux, good for 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' honors on the Louisiana Derby undercard. The 2-1 favorite was off to a slow start from his outside draw and was outsprinted in ninth through an opening quarter in :22.06. Still with a ton to do one from last on the far turn, he was tipped out and into the clear in the stretch...
Golden Tempo (Curlin), third in the GII Fasig-Tipton Risen Star S. Feb. 14, will race with first-time blinkers in Saturday's GII TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds. The Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable homebred and 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' was an eye-catching, come-from-behind winner of his first two career starts, including the GIII Lecomte S. Jan. 17. He rallied from seventh to complete the trifecta in the Risen Star, finishing six lengths behind Paladin (Gun Runner). "He made a really nice run in the Risen Star and...
1st-GP, $84K, Msw, 3yo, f, 7 1/2f, 12:50p.m. Tracy Farmer's homebred TAP THIS WAY (Tapit) kicks off for Mark Casse, who also trained this filly's illustrious brother, Sir Winston (Awesome Again), winner of the 2019 GI Belmont Stakes for Farmer. While dam La Gran Bailadora (Afleet Alex) never managed a win on the turf, she did register her biggest won on the synthetic in the GIII Kentucky Cup Distaff. Chiefwood Stables also unveils Not This Time, an Ontario-bred daughter of Cool Shadows (Munnings). Trained by Katerina Vassilieva, the dark bay...
The GII Pat Day Mile S. on Kentucky Derby day will be next for unbeaten 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Englishman (Maxfield), who romped in his highly anticipated return at Fair Grounds Thursday evening. The 1-9 favorite cleared from his outside draw and it was pretty much game over from there. He powered into the turn following a quarter in :21.33 and opened a five-length advantage approaching the quarter pole. With Jose Ortiz completely motionless in the saddle, Englishman was on cruise control down the stretch and reported home...
10th-FG, 125K, O/C, 3yo, 6f, 6:15 p.m. Thursday marks the return of 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' ENGLISHMAN (Maxfield) for Cherie DeVaux and C R K Stable. It will be the Triple Crown-nominated colt's first start since a 7 1/4-length romp in his first and only race which came six months ago in September under the Twin Spires. That gate-to-wire win over seven furlongs was just a hair off the track record and resulted in a 97 Beyer Speed Figure. "The target race for him is the [GII] Pat...
He was green, and a bit lost in the lane, but Fancy Fairlane (McKinzie) showed more than enough talent to put his rivals away and sail home to 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' honors at Oaklawn Park. Unveiled Dec. 20 at Fair Grounds in a six-furlong maiden special weight, he was run down late thanks in part to a sensational effort by fellow 'Rising Star' Golden Tempo (Curlin) when that one closed from a different zip code to win going away. Clocked producing a final quarter-mile in :23.57 in...