Churchill Downs
Damon's Mound (c, 2, Girvin--San Antonio Stroll, by Stroll), a jaw-dropping 12 1/2-length debut winner at Churchill Downs July 2, is targeting the GII Saratoga Special S. at the Spa Aug. 13. "That's the goal, he's doing great," former jockey-turned-trainer Michelle Lovell said from her summer base at Colonial Downs. "We've got some weeks to go, so, hopefully all goes good. As long as he's doing great, he deserves the opportunity." Does he ever. Off as the well-backed, third choice at 4-1 in his unveiling, Damon's Mound was off to...
From the Thoroughbred Idea Foundation Bettors wagering on racing from Kentucky will enjoy returns paid to the penny beginning Friday, July 15. The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission confirmed to the Thoroughbred Idea Foundation (TIF) the shift will take effect this week, three months after legislation enabling the change to penny breakage was passed by the Kentucky General Assembly and signed into law. "This is a welcome and long overdue shift in pari-mutuel wagering to pay bettors the entirety of their duly deserved winnings," said Patrick Cummings, TIF's Executive Director. "Kentucky...
Just like riding a bicycle. Starting his first horses since serving a 90-day suspension issued by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, trainer Bob Baffert won the two races in which he had entered horses on the Saturday card at Los Alamitos. Baffert's victories included a win by High Connection (Connect) in the Los Alamitos Derby. It was Baffert's sixth straight win in the race that used to be known as the Swaps S. and his 12th overall in the mile-and-an-eighth contest. Baffert had last started horses on Apr. 2. Afterward,...
Every week, the TDN publishes a roundup of key official rulings from the primary tracks within the four major racing jurisdictions of California, New York, Florida and Kentucky. Here's a primer on how each of these jurisdictions adjudicates different offenses, what they make public (or not) and where. CALIFORNIA Track: Los Alamitos Date: 07/01/2022 Licensee: Diego Herrera, jockey Penalty: $1,000 fine Violation: Excessive use of the whip Explainer: Jockey Diego Herrera is fined $1,000.00 for violation of California Horse Racing Board rule #1688(b)(8)(d) (Use of Riding Crop - more than...
Wonder Wheel broke better and showed more speed than she did on debut to set strong splits and draw off impressively in Monday's Debutante S. at Churchill Downs. Having taken her local unveiling by 2 1/4 lengths from off the pace June 3, the $275,000 KEESEP acquisition emerged from between horses here to dole out an opening quarter of :21.52. Already well clear and threatening to run away from them after the half in :45.05, Wonder Wheel did just that as she cruised away to a facile score. Sabra Tuff)...
BASHFORD MANOR S., $173,000, Churchill Downs, 7-4, 2yo, 6f, 1:09.25, ft. 1--GULFPORT, 120, c, 2, by Uncle Mo 1st Dam: Fame and Fortune, by Unbridled's Song 2nd Dam: Stop Traffic, by Cure the Blues 3rd Dam: Save My Soul, by I'ma Hell Raiser 'TDN Rising Star' ($275,000 Ylg '21 FTKJUL). 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. O-L. William & Corinne Heiligbrodt, Jackpot Farm & Whispering Oaks Farm LLC; B-Diamond Creek Farm (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen; J-Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr. $107,070. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $176,530. *1/2 to Favor (Pioneerof the Nile), GSP, $116,500. 2--Owen's...
Winchell Thoroughbreds' Gunite, winner of last year's GI Hopeful S., scored a determined victory in the Maxfield S. at Churchill Downs Sunday. The 4-5 favorite raced along the rail just off the pace as longshot Overtaxed (Fed Biz) took the field through fractions of :23.08 and :46.25. He had nowhere to run nearing the stretch, but the rail opened at the top of the lane and the favorite snuck through before grittily holding off both My Prankster and Hoist the Gold to get the best of a three-way photo finish...
Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 4th-CD, $120K, Msw, 2yo, f, 6f, 2:13 p.m. Heider Family Stables' STUNNINGLY (Gun Runner) makes her first trip to the post Monday for trainer Steve Asmussen. Out of stakes winner Happy Mesa (Sky Mesa), the chestnut filly was a $675,000 Keeneland September acquisition. Trainer Mark Casse sends outs firster Forever Dixie (Quality Road). The John Oxley homebred is a daughter of graded winner Dixie Strike (Dixie Union). Ken McPeek saddles the debuting Aunt Mischief (Into Mischief), a daughter of Grade I placed Motown Lady (Uncle...
Cody's Wish (Curlin), winner of the GIII Westchester S. in his most recent start, is the morning-line favorite in a field of seven in Monday's Hanshin S. at Churchill Downs. The 4-year-old Bill Mott trainee is a homebred for Godolphin out of 2012 GI Gazelle S. victress Dance Card (Tapit), also the dam of MGSP Endorsed (Medaglia d'Oro). None of those details really matter much to Cody Dorman, a 16-year-old from Richmond, Kentucky who shares a special bond with the improving son of Curlin. Cody, an avid racing fan ever...
The streaking Olympiad (Speightstown) punched his ticket to the GI Breeders' Cup Classic in style with an ultra-impressive fifth consecutive victory in Saturday's 'Win and You're In' GII Stephen Foster S. at Churchill Downs. The 3-2 favorite raced in between rivals as five of them stacked up passing the grandstand the first time. Olympiad found a perfect spot rounding the clubhouse turn and raced in a tracking second behind Caddo River (Hard Spun) through sharp fractions of :23.05 and :46.45. He turned up the heat on the pacesetter on the...
Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil) returned to the scene of her greatest triumph for Saturday's GII Fleur de Lis S. and came home a winner for the first time since taking this venue's GIII Locust Grove S. in September. It was her sixth win from seven starts at Churchill Downs with one second. The slight second choice behind Pauline's Pearl (Tapit), who defeated her in the GI La Troienne S. May 6, Shedaresthedevil glided up to stalk from second as Super Quick (Super Saver) carved out early splits of :24.13 and :47.83. Turning...
Any worries that the first day under which horses had to be registered with the Horse Racing Integrity and Safety Authority in order to compete would create chaos were squelched early on in the day Saturday when a number of tracks reported that not a single horse had to be withdrawn from a race due to the new rules. The TDN sent out survey questions to a number of racing officials Saturday to determine how many, if any, horses had to be scratched because either the horses or their owners...