Cherie DeVaux

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Heads In Beds at Del Mar. Hello Youmzain Filly Wins At Del Mar    Heads In Beds (Hello Youmzain) broke her maiden at Del Mar for Phil D'Amato on November 28 (video). Owned by Bridlewood Farm, e Five Racing Thoroughbreds, Madaket Stables and Michael Dubb, the three-year-old filly was bred by Mette Campbell Andenaes. Mandore International Agency bought the winner on behalf of...

3rd-CD, 120K, Msw, 3yo/up, f, 6f, 1:56 p.m. John Gunther and Eurowest Bloodstock debut their homebred filly FIRE MOON (Justify), a half-sister to GI Hollywood Derby winner and young sire Mo Town (Uncle Mo). First dam Grazie Mill has also produced Fire Moon's full-sister in MSW/MGSP Justique who just sold earlier in the month at Keeneland for $2,000,000 to Whisper Hill Farm. Yet another half-sister, Vita Bella (Super Save), is responsible for Kentucky Juvenile Stakes winner West Memorial (Caracaro). Gunther picked up second dam Molto Vita for just $24,000 as...

The vet scratch is a baked-in component of the sport. It isn't going away. But is there a way to make the system better, more efficient? On the one hand is the regulatory vet world, arguing that criticism of their vital role is not only damaging to the sport but often misleading (the latter argument they back up with statistical support). On the other hand are the trainers and owners on the receiving end of a vet scratch decision who feel that too many sound horses are getting caught up...

$3.7-Million Lush Lips Tops Book 1 by Jessica Martini, Christina Bossinakis, & Alan Carasso LEXINGTON, KY - The Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale blitzed through its opening session Tuesday with 17 offerings--including a pair of weanlings--selling for $1 million or more and figures up dramatically from the auction's Book 1 session in 2024. "It was a really strong day," said Keeneland President Shannon Arvin. "The broodmare market was very, very strong. We had 15 who brought $1 million or more, seven of those brought $2 million or more. The weanling...

Vahva (m, 5, Gun Runner--Holiday Soiree, by Harlan's Holiday), winner of the 2024 GI Derby City Distaff S. and runner-up in last weekend's GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, brought $3.1 million from Killora/Linton, agent for Boyd Racing at Keeneland November Tuesday. The $280,000 Keeneland September graduate was campaigned in partnership by Belladonna Racing LLC, Lynne Hudson, Edward J. Hudson, Jr., West Point Thoroughbreds, Twin Brook Stables, W.S. Farish, LBD Stable LLC, Runnels Racing and Manganaro Bloodstock and trained by Cherie DeVaux. She was consigned as a Racing or...

7th-Churchill Downs, $116,774, Msw, 10-31, 2yo, f, 7f, 1:24.23, ft, 5 1/4 lengths. PAIGE TURNER (f, 2, Army Mule--Sophia Mia, by Pioneerof the Nile) drew in from the also-eligible list and made the most of the chance here as the 8-5 favorite. Stalking the dueling leaders as Raspberry (Medaglia d'Oro) pushed the tempo through :22.63 and four furlongs in :46.32, Paige Turner was the looming danger via the grandstand side as she swooped in to take command passing the furlong marker. In hand in the final sixteenth, she strolled home...

Crunched from a morning line of 5-1 into 8-5 favoritism while attempting to negotiate nine furlongs at first asking, C R K Stable's Remember Mamba (c, 2, Kitten's Joy--Gizmo, by Uncle Mo) turned in a performance as professional as the late NBA legend for whom he his named, streaking away through the final 100 yards to become a 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Saturday at Keeneland. Drawn gate three, the $270,000 Keeneland September yearling bounced well and was able to secure a prominent position just behind the speed with...

Future WinStar stallion Mullikin (Violence) put in his final local prep Friday ahead of next weekend's GI Breeders' Cup Sprint. Working solo at Keeneland, he breezed immediately following the first track harrowing at 7:30 a.m. and clocked four furlongs in :48.40 (6/65). "We were not looking for anything too fancy," trainer Rodolphe Brisset said. "We did all the bottom work the last three weeks. He showed good energy and the rider was very happy with him. We got what we need." It was his final work in Kentucky as Brisset...

Lael Stables's MGISW She Feels Pretty (Karakontie {Jpn}), considered the top American runner to challenge the Europeans in GI Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf Stakes, continued her steady pattern for trainer Cherie DeVaux by working a half-mile in :48 on Friday morning at Keeneland. Drilling with stablemate & GSW Taking Candy (Twirling Candy), the 4-year-old logged her fifth Friday half-mile breeze since winning the GI E.P. Taylor Stakes at Woodbine on Aug. 16, which offered the filly an automatic ticket to the Breeders' Cup at Del Mar....

Grade I winner Vahva (Gun Runner--Holiday Soiree, by Harlan's Holiday) has been entered in Book 1 of the November Breeding Stock Sale on Tuesday, Nov. 4. Lane's End, agent, will consign Vahva, who is cataloged as a racing or broodmare prospect. She will become the first Grade I-winning daughter of Gun Runner to be offered at public auction, according to a Keeneland release Tuesday. Vahva is nominated to the GII Thoroughbred Club of America on Saturday during Fall Stars Weekend on Keeneland's opening three days. "Vahva is a high-class competitor...

Owner Lee Searing, who, along with his wife, Susan, has had a lot of good horses and won a lot of big races, but never has he experienced anything close to the two days he had last week. On Friday at Churchill Downs, C R K unveiled a serious 2-year-old in 'TDN Rising Star' Englishman (Maxfield) and the next day the Searings won the GI Pennsylvania Derby with Baeza (McKinzie), a horse they own in partnership with Robert Clay's Grandview Equine. To talk about both horses, Baeza finally winning a...

5th-CD, 120K, Msw, 2yo, f, 6 1/2f, 6:59 p.m. SOARING HIGH (Curlin), the latest "baby bird" out of dual champion Songbird, debuts for Cherie DeVaux as a Whisper Hill Farm homebred Thursday at Churchill. Mandy Pope went to a sales-topping $9,500,000 to acquire the daughter of Medaglia d'Oro back in 2017 at Fasig-Tipton's November Sale. Of seven foals, she's had three to race and one winner being her 4-year-old daughter Rumours Have It (Tapit). Songbird has one other foal by Curlin, the 3-year-old colt McCorvey who is yet to break...