Del Mar

I'm not going to apologise for saying it again: in the old days, before veterinary science released the shackles, quality was locked into stallion books. To reach a top sire, you had to earn the right. In 1962, Hirsch Jacobs requested access to Swaps for Searching, a granddaughter of La Troienne, winner of 25 races, meanwhile in the Hall of Fame. After all, she had got to Swaps for her first cover, two years previously, and there was a nice filly duly entering training named Affectionately. But John Galbreath told...

'TDN Rising Star' Himika proved that her impressive first-out victory at Santa Anita in June was no fluke, followed up with an equally effortless victory when taking Del Mar's GIII Sorrento Stakes Sunday. Of a touch slow from her inside draw, the bay bullied her way through the tightly-knit pack heading through an honest :22.11 quarter. Edging past longshot My Kat (Gato Del Oro) approaching the home turn, she fired all boosters late, drawing off to score by a geared-down 4 1/4-length margin over Mo' Em Down, clear of Thank...

After running headlong into 'TDN Rising Star' Brant (Gun Runner) in their mutual unveiling July 26, Balboa (Not This Time--Tap of War, by War Front) had his time in the California rays in Sunday's opener at Del Mar and earned his own 'Rising Star' honors while he was at it. A distant third in the aforementioned debut as the $3-million OBSMAR grad rolled away from that field, his stablemate earned a gaudy 101 Beyer for that victory while Balboa was still given an 80 despite being almost 10 lengths behind....

Make it an even dozen. On Saturday afternoon under the usual beautiful skies of a Southern Californian summer, Desert Gate (c, 2, Omaha Beach--Theogony, by Curlin) gave Hall of Famer Bob Baffert his 12th career win in the GIII Best Pal Stakes at Del Mar, in addition to the fourth consecutive victory in the race for the Baffert team. To make it even sweeter, Desert Gate also marked the third winner in the Best Pal for the ownership trio of Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman, as well as...

2nd-Del Mar, $81,000, Msw, 8-9, 2yo, f, 6 1/2f, 1:16.91, ft, 6 3/4 lengths. BOTTLE OF ROUGE (f, 2, Vino Rosso--Blues Corner, by Bluegrass Cat), a well-beaten second behind her Bob Baffert-trained stablemate and Sunday's GIII Sorrento S. morning-line favorite 'TDN Rising Star' Himika (Curlin) on debut at Santa Anita June 12, was favored at even-money to go one better at Del Mar Saturday. She forced the issue from an inside second and led narrowly through an opening quarter in :22.18. Continuing to exchange blows with Super Corredora (Gun Runner)...

MGISW Journalism (Curlin) put in his first work since arriving back from the Jersey Shore following his victory in the G1 Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park last month. The GI Preakness Stakes winner, who was the runner-up in the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Belmont Stakes, returned to trainer Michael McCarthy's barn on the Del Mar backside a few days after the Haskell. On Saturday, it was back to work for Journalism who went four furlongs in :48.40 with rider Tony Gutierrez in the saddle. McCarthy clocked his colt with...

1st-SAR, 100K, Msw, 3yo/up, 1m, 1:10 p.m. Pin Oak has been patient with LIMO (Uncle Mo), a colt they went to $1,000,000 to secure as a yearling two years ago at Keeneland September in 2023. First dam Flighty Almighty, a winner in England in her own career, is a daughter of Wall of Sound (GB) who was stakes placed twice on the turf in England and also hit the board in North America on the dirt in the GII Goldikova Stakes. He's drawn just inside of Fun to Tap (Tapit)...

A horse for course at Saratoga is a good thing to have, and that's exactly what the Miguel Clement stable has as Ozara (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) cruised home to collect the GII Ballston Spa Stakes. While her three wins from as many starts at the New York mecca will be a popular point, Ozara entered into the race with three victories already to her name this year alone--the two in Florida were against optional claiming company Jan. 3 at Tampa Bay Downs and Apr. 26 at Gulfstream Park...

Purchased privately following a maiden win, last year's overachieving Debutante S. winner and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies runner-up Vodka With a Twist (Thousand Words) hit the board in five straight graded stakes races for trainer Phil D'Amato in Southern California beginning with the GIII Sorrento S. at Del Mar. Taylor Made's Medallion Racing will look to follow a similar blueprint with impressive Laurel Park debut winner Dreaming of Alys (Upstart), who will face five rivals, led by the Bob Baffert-trained 'TDN Rising Star' Himika (Curlin), going six furlongs in...

   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 win of Luther (Frankel) in Saratoga's National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes. Frankel Colt Pens His Name Into The Hall Of Fame Paul Hickman and Nicholas Jones's Luther was put up via the disqualification of Zulu Kingdom (Ten Sovereigns) in the GII National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes at Saratoga on August 1 (video). The Frankel colt is trained by Charlie...

BLACKOUT TIME, ELP, 8/2, 1 mile, 'TDN Rising Star' Beyer Speed Figure- 83 (c, 2, by Not This Time--Beauty Parlor, by Elusive Quality) O-Brookdale Racing and Lance Gasaway. B-Newstead Corp (Ky). T-Kenny McPeek. J-Brian Hernandez Jr. McPeek has another promising juvenile and he's already gone a mile. Blackout Time--out of a Joe Allen owned-and-bred graded turf winner - debuted with a strong 2nd behind Dazzle d'Oro at Churchill and Saturday he sped 9 3/4 lengths ahead of a full field of juveniles that included two Asmussens, two Coxes, two Casses...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - For now, it looks like Baeza (McKinzie) is going to stay put in California. Trainer John Shirreffs said Wednesday that a cross-country trip to Saratoga and another shot at Sovereignty (Into Mischief) in the $1.25 million GI DraftKings Travers Stakes is unlikely. "I would say there is not a really good chance of doing that," Shirreffs said by phone from his summer base at Del Mar. Shirreffs said the reason for skipping the Aug. 23 Midsummer Derby has everything to do with getting to Saratoga. Baeza...