Horse Racing
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - A little bit of seasoning came in handy for Rare Art (Munnings) in her maiden special weight victory Friday at Saratoga Race Course. A one-length losing third in her debut on July 21, Rare Art prevailed by three-quarters of a length over Good Conduct (Without Parole) at the conclusion of their spirited duel through the stretch in the seventh race. Rare Art and Luis Saez reached the wire in the 1 1/16th miles $100,000 turf event for 2-year-old fillies in 1:46.36 and paid $6.60 as the...
When 'TDN Rising Star' Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) enters the gate for Saturday's $1.25-million GI Travers Stakes at Saratoga, it'll be more than a sporting gesture on the part of the ownership group and trainer Ken McPeek. The conditioner is rolling the dice against a field that includes three other Grade I winners--an oft-brilliant, but sometimes unpredictable reigning Eclipse Award champion, a Classic winner over the course and distance and a seven-figure yearling whose full potential has yet to be realized. Sure, Thorpedo Anna could have faced her peers in...
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.--Appropriately enough, Senza Parole's (Gun Runner) name translates to "at a loss for words," which could describe the reaction to her jaw-dropping victory Friday in the first race at Saratoga Race Course. Not only did she finish 7 3/4 lengths ahead of 4-5 favorite Stunner (Girvin), Senza Parole completed the six furlongs in the $100,000 maiden special weight race for 2-year-old fillies in a sharp 1:09.84. She paid $9.40 as the 7-2 second choice in the field of seven. With Saratoga's leading rider, Irad Ortiz, Jr., pretty much...
6th-SAR, $100K, Msw, 2yo, 1 1/16mT, 3:05 p.m. ET. Repole Stable and Spendthrift went in to purchase for $725,000 CHANTICLEER (Not This Time) during Fasig-Tipton's Saratoga Yearling Sale before sending him to Todd Pletcher. The chestnut is out of Speightstastic (Speightstown), whose own dam MSW Cherokee Jewel (Cherokee Run) foaled her older full-sister MSW Bayerd. TJCIS PPS 9th-ELP, $71K, Msw, 3yo/up, 1m, 4:48 p.m. ET. Jane Lyon's Summer Wind Equine acquired Greer Lynn (Speightstown) for $750,000 during Keeneland November while Greer's Gold (Medaglia d'Oro) was in-utero. Set for his unveiling...
The GII Cigar Mile Handicap, one of four graded events on a bumper program to be held Saturday, Dec. 7, highlights the 26-strong stakes schedule for the Aqueduct fall meeting, officials at the New York Racing Association (NYRA) announced Friday. The $500,000 contest going the one-turn configuration is joined on the same card by the GII Remsen Stakes and GII Demoiselle Stakes for 2-year-old males and fillies, respectively, as well as the GIII Go For Wand Handicap, also over a mile. Stakes action kicks off on opening day of the...
Breeders' Cup Limited and John Deere have renewed their multi-year partnership, further cementing John Deere as the official supplier of agricultural, turf and construction equipment for the Breeders' Cup World Championships, the organizations said in a joint release. As part of the arrangement, John Deere becomes the title sponsor of the GI John Deere Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies' Turf to be held on Future Stars Friday at Del Mar Nov. 1. "John Deere is immensely proud to be the official supplier of agricultural, turf and construction equipment for the Breeders'...
In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for Saturday at Sapporo Racecourse: Saturday, August 24, 2024 5th-SAP, ¥13,720,000 ($94k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1700m LUXOR CAFE (c, 2, American Pharoah--Mary's Follies, by More Than Ready) is the full-brother to Cafe Pharoah, back-to-back winner of the G1 February Stakes and third in the 2023 G1...
Some of the most highly anticipated races during the summer racing season are the 'baby' races during the boutique meetings at Saratoga and Del Mar and at Ellis Park, which attract its fair share of high-priced offspring from a variety of top national outfits. Summer Breezes highlights debuting and stakes-entered 2-year-olds at those meetings that have been sourced at the breeze-up sales earlier in the year, with links to their under-tack previews. Here are the horses entered for Saturday at Saratoga and Ellis Park: Saturday, August 24, 2024 Saratoga 6,...
Once again, the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) will be present to raise awareness for retired racehorses during Pacific Classic Day at Del Mar on Saturday, Aug. 31, the non-profit said in a Thursday release. After a named race on the undercard, a presentation will be made to the winning connections, featuring a TAA-branded gift bag and blanket sponsored by Fenwick Equestrian and Dean Dorton. A VIP experience will be also be auctioned and a variety of other events are planned. "Del Mar is extremely committed to the well-being of Thoroughbreds,...
With the Angels (f, 2, Omaha Beach--Sister Margaret, by Pulpit) was accorded a 6-1 chance on the morning line for Thursday's state-bred opener from Saratoga, but she was well-tried in the market and ultimately made even-money look like a gift in a debut romp that was worthy of the 'TDN Rising Star' designation. Having breezed an eighth of a mile in :9 4/5 before selling to agent Justin Casse for $350,000 at this year's OBS April Sale, the dark bay filly--who fetched $65,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-Bred...
A synthetic track is necessary for the survival of New York breeding farms, such as Sequel. The New York Bred program and the breeder awards generated are incredibly beneficial and fundamental to the financial stability of the New York farms and breeders. However, New York breeders only earn awards for horses competing within New York. Unfortunately, horses that are predominantly competitive on turf are often shipped to Florida or Louisiana for turf racing as owners want to see their horses race. As such, several prominent New York trainers base their...
Fasig-Tipton has catalogued 213 entries for its August Digital Sale, which opened bidding Aug. 22 and will close Tuesday, Aug. 27 at 12 p.m. ET., the auction house said in a press release on Thursday. The catalogue features 70 horses of racing age, led by GISP School Dance (Animal Kingdom) (hip 2), who is both a racing and broodmare prospect. Breeding stock offerings include 90 broodmares or broodmare prospects, many with stakes qualifications. Headlining these offerings are: MGSP Pantsonfire (Ire) (Sir Percy {GB}) (Hip 1); Social Matrix (Jimmy Creed) (Hip...