Delightful Claire

She didn't have the greatest of beginnings, but 'TDN Rising Star' Ragtime (Union Rags) was flying late to nail the top flight and take home the hardware in the GIII Dogwood Stakes. Racing without blinkers here, Ragtime broke a touch awkwardly and it left her with a lot to do as she found herself at the back of the field as a result. 'TDN Rising Star' Delightful Claire (Vekoma) stepped out to dictate the pace through an opening quarter in :22.84 and a half in :45.55, and was well clear...

The cars scooting along on the nearby Pennsylvania Turnpike may have little from a speed standpoint on Saturday's GI Pennsylvania Derby in Northeast Philly, as the pace looks to be very much on and that could help those with stalking or closing ability in the final age-restricted Grade I of the season around two turns. But make no mistake: speed has been king--by and large--in the $1-million contest over the past dozen years or so. The Bob Baffert-trained Bayern (Offlee Wild)--next-out winner of a much-discussed GI Breeders' Cup Classic--future champion...

Starting Saturday's graded stakes action off in style, Praying (Vekoma), the longest shot on the board at 21-1, sprung the upset over 'TDN Rising Star' Delightful Claire (Thousand Words) in the GIII Prioress Stakes at Saratoga. Stakes-placed as a juvenile in the Myrtlewood at Keeneland as  a juvenile, this $410,000 OBS April grad came off a four-month layoff to grab another stakes placing in the Southern Hospitality Overnight Stakes at Oaklawn in March. The promise of that start went unfulfilled however when Praying broke through the gate in her most...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY -- It has been a bittersweet summer for trainer Miguel Clement. He has seen his horses perform at a high level during the 40-day Saratoga meet. Going into the final four days of the summer season, the 34-year-old Clement is in fourth place in the training standings with 16 wins in 70 starts. It has also been a summer of heartache Clement and his family. Christophe Clement, the patriarch and backbone of the stable, passed away in May at the age of 59. "The expectations and standards...

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...

Saturday's racing action at Saratoga and across the country saw not only an eye-catching number of new 'TDN Rising Stars' (the final tally stopping on five), but also current members of the club securing sensational victories against salty competition. With the runners emerging from their efforts with positive prognoses, their connections are now looking ahead. Of the established 'Rising Stars', GII Saratoga Special victor Ewing (Knicks Go) returned from that win in fine form and will now be tasked with stretching his abilities out. The Mark Casse trainee was one...

Second-time starter Delightful Claire (Thousand Words), third in her Churchill Downs debut as the favorite in early June, returned in emphatic fashion Saturday to become the first 'TDN Rising Star' for her young sire at Saratoga. Beaten just a length in that six-furlong affair behind Princess Proud (Into Mischief) who was a next-out winner facing allowance runners at Ellis by 3 1/4 lengths in July, the 3-1 favorite added an additional furlong to go the one-turn seven-eighths Saturday. One of the first from the blocks, Delightful Claire found herself sandwiched...