Eclipse Thoroughbreds

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- It took Teleport (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) a tad over 1:46.07 to break his maiden Sunday in the sixth race, which took a long time to start and even longer to go official. The $100,000 maiden special weight event at Saratoga Race Course provided an unusual situation in which Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher had to wait in the winner's circle to see which of his runners--Teleport or Scope (Gun Runner)--who bumped twice in the stretch, would come away with the victory. Scope and...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - It didn't take long for trainer Michael McCarthy to make the decision. After watching his long-striding colt Journalism (Curlin) gobble up the ground at Saratoga Race Course Sunday morning, McCarthy gave the thumbs up sign. Journalism is going to run in Saturday's 157th edition of the $2-million GI Belmont Stakes. "Based off what I saw here this morning, I would be hard-pressed to find a reason not to enter," McCarthy said after Journalism worked four furlongs in :47.54 on the main track with regular jockey Umberto...

Aron Wellman, the president and founder of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, has had big days, buy maybe nothing quite like the one he had last Saturday. Horses owned in part by Eclipse won the GI Santa Anita Handicap, the GII San Felipe and the GIII Herecomesthebride Stakes. And while that was going on he was putting the finishing touches on an agreement for his Big Cap winner Locked (Gun Runner) to stand at stud at Gainesway. With many subjects to cover, Wellman was this week's guest on the TDN Writers' Room...

'TDN Rising Star' Locked (Gun Runner) has always been highly regarded. By one of the nation's hottest sires and sold for $425,000 as a 2022 Keeneland September yearling, he affirmed that regard with a Grade I win at two. Sent to the sidelines for nearly a year before coming back to win the GII Cigar Mile Handicap in his only stakes start at three, he opened his 4-year-old campaign with a second to White Abarrio (Race Day) in the Jan. 25 Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park before shipping...

It was hard not to love the performance Selenaia (Ire) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) posted in the GIII Honeymoon S. at Santa Anita last weekend.  One man who loved it more than most was Derek Iceton of Tara Stud in County Meath. Iceton bought the dam [Dettoria (GB) (Declaration Of War)] of the Grade I-bound performer for just 12,000gns at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale in 2018.  Dettoria is still based at Tara Stud and has a Space Blues (Ire) colt at foot. She is happily reported to be back...

Marion Ravenwood (A.P. Indy), dam of multiple Grade I-winning sophomore filly Nest (Curlin); and Callingmissbrown (Pulpit), dam of Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo)--who beat his stablemate Nest in this year's GI Belmont S.--have been entered in Keeneland's November Breeding Stock Sale to sell on opening day, Nov. 7, during Book 1. Marion Ravenwood is carrying a full-sibling to Nest, while Callingmissbrown is carrying a full to the Belmont winner, who also took the GII Remsen S. last year and GII Wood Memorial S. in April. Ashview Farm, agent, will consign both...

Repole Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Michael House's Nest (Curlin) left little doubt who the best 3-year-old filly in the country is with a second straight tour-de-force victory over GI Kentucky Oaks heroine Secret Oath (Arrogate) in Saturday's GI Alabama S. at Saratoga. The overwhelming 1-5 favorite wasn't off to the smoothest of beginnings, bobbling slightly and bumping with longshot Nostalgic (Medaglia d'Oro) at the start. It didn't seem to matter one bit once the 1 1/4-mile journey was officially underway with Nest finding a perfect spot in a stalking...

5th-Belmont, $90,000, Msw, 7-2, 3yo/up, 1 1/16mT, 1:39.94, fm, 5 lengths. CAPENSIS (c, 3, Tapit--Tara's Tango {GISW, $806,004}, by Unbridled's Song), the $2-million topper at the covid-impacted 2020 Keeneland September sale, began repaying his powerful ownership group's investment Saturday with a dominant debut win on the grass. A bit chilly on the board at 5-1 having had all his recent preparations at Saratoga, the handsome grey was somewhat sluggish early and settled in second last off the inside. Ridden along on the turn for home, he got going in earnest...

Sean Tugel has joined Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners as the company's Vice President of Bloodstock. Tugel, whose responsibilities will be broad-based, as his role will encompass the day-to-day operation of the stable and partnership company, will also be tasked with expanding Eclipse's holdings into various sectors of the industry. "Sean brings to Eclipse an extraordinary depth of experience in all realms of the thoroughbred business" Eclipse President and Founder, Aron Wellman stated. "As Eclipse continues to grow domestically and abroad in Europe and Australia, it is essential that we continue to...

During the best of times, racing can be a rollercoaster. And for Wayne Catalano, like most other horsemen and women in the sport, that tumultuous lifestyle quickly becomes a way of life. However, despite facing several challenges--both professionally and personally--over the past decade, including a showdown with his own mortality after teetering scarily close to the edge of the eternal precipice, the 'Catman' lived up to his nickname at this year's Breeders' Cup by righting himself midair and landing squarely on his feet in the winner's circle following Aloha West...

Fresh off a win with his Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' filly Quick Suzy's win in the G2 Queen Mary S. at Royal Ascot, Aron Wellman joined the TDN Writers' Room to talk on his perspective of globalizing his racing partnership and to share his outlook on the state of the industry.

Eclipse Thoroughbreds, Madaket Stables and Heider Family Stables' Speech (Mr Speaker) looks to reproduce the form that landed her last summer's GI Central Bank Ashland S. in Friday's GIII Baird Doubledogdare S. at Keeneland. Promoted a position to third after the disqualification of Gamine in the GI Longines Kentucky Oaks in September, the Mike McCarthy trainee tired to sixth in the seven-furlong GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at the Lexington oval Nov. 7. Javier Castellano, who was aboard the Florida-bred for two of her three lifetime wins, gets...