Horse Racing
The Todd Pletcher-trained 'TDN Rising Star' duo of Emmanuel (More Than Ready) and Annapolis (War Front) worked in company in :48.04 over the inner turf course at Belmont Park Friday as they prepare for the $1-million GI Caesars Belmont Derby Invitational S. July 9. "It was a good work. They went in 48 and change, finished up nicely and galloped out well. I was happy with it," Pletcher said. Owned by WinStar Farm and Siena Farm, Emmanuel acquitted himself well on the dirt during the buildup to the Triple Crown,...
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 this weekend running at Hanshin and Tokyo Racecourses. Sunday's racing at headquarters features the G3 Unicorn S., a race won in 2020 by future multiple Group 1 scorer Cafe Pharoah (American Pharoah) and which includes the progressive Ju Taro (Arrogate) trying stakes company for...
Woodbine's Senior Vice President of Standardbred and Thoroughbred Racing Jessica Buckley resigned from her position to pursue other opportunities, according to a press release circulated on Twitter Friday. Buckley had been in that role since 2020. Prior to that, she served as President of Woodbine Mohawk Park. "On behalf of our organization, I would like to sincerely thank Jessica for her many contributions to our business, the horse racing industry, Woodbine Mohawk Park, and both our Standardbred and Thoroughbred Racing programs," Woodbine's Jim Lawson said in the release. Woodbine Entertainment...
In this continuing series, Alan Carasso takes 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 a pair of fillies by American Pharoah for this Saturday running at Hakodate and Hanshin Racecourses. Notable American-breds entered for action Sunday will appear in Saturday's TDN: Saturday, June 18, 2022 3rd-HAK, ¥9,900,000 ($75k), Maiden, 3yo, 1000m GLUTTON LASSIE (f, 3, American Pharoah--Brassy Lassie, by City Zip) was...
The minute owner Vincent Annarella of Holly Crest Farm named a New Jersey-bred he owned and bred Great Navigator (Sea Wizard), the colt had a lot to live up to. The name was borrowed from the first Great Navigator (Gulch), who was trained by a longtime Monmouth Park stalwart, the late John Mazza, and won the 1992 GI Hopeful S. at Saratoga. Could this one be as good? It's not out of the question. Running in an open-company maiden special weight race on the June 4 card at Monmouth, Great...
He didn't crack the code to the Irish Lottery, have his colours carried by the record-breaking Grabel (GB) (Bold Owl {GB}), invest eye-watering sums in the stock market and battle with the bookmakers on an almost daily basis by being short of an opinion or two. Now, Paddy Kehoe is preparing to back his latest theory that his pride and joy Princess Zoe (Ger) (Jukebox Jury {Ire}) can land the G1 Ascot Gold Cup on Thursday and, if correct, the 75-year-old businessman and renowned racehorse owner will net himself a...
Edited Press Release Saturday's Belmont S. Day card, highlighted by Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo)'s victory in the 154th running of the $1.5 million GI Belmont S. presented by NYRA Bets, generated all-sources handle of $98,766,906. On-track handle for the 13-race program, which included eight top-level races among nine total stakes, was $9,530,303. All-sources handle for the Belmont S. presented by NYRA Bets alone was $50,248,624. The three-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, which featured 17 stakes and 33 races in total from Thursday through Saturday, June 9-11, generated all-sources handle of...
A few strides into the running of Satuday's GI Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan H. at Belmont Park, John Sadler, the trainer of 'TDN Rising Star' Flightline (Tapit), admitted to a bit of a queasy feeling in the pit of his stomach. "When I saw him behind early, I wanted to throw up on myself," he said. Despite some very anxious moments, particularly at multiple junctures during the opening 440 yards of the stallion-making test, the $1-million Fasig-Tipton Saratoga graduate proved more than equal to the task, as he strode clear...
Sent off at a fraction of the 10-1 mutuel he returned to his supporters 12 months ago, Lee Einsidler's LRE Racing and Mike Francesa's JEH Racing Stable's Casa Creed (Jimmy Creed) enjoyed a beautiful inside trip in defense of his title in the GI Jaipur S. Saturday afternoon and, once tipped out a furlong from home, ran down an alibi-free favorite Arrest Me Red (Pioneerof the Nile) to score at 4-1. Making his U.S. reappearance on the back of strong turf sprint efforts in Saudi Arabia and Dubai, Casa Creed...
For a brief few moments in the stretch it looked like Chad Brown, represented by odds-on Rougir (Fr) (Territories {Ire}); six-for-six second choice Bleecker Street; and 9-2 third choice Virginia Joy (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB})--not to mention pacesetter Flighty Lady (Ire)--might not actually get his record-tying fourth New York S. trophy. But depth like that, and all for Peter Brant, is nearly impossible to beat, and Bleecker Street, perhaps the most unsung unbeaten horse in the country, flew home in last-to-first fashion to reach a new high. Stretching out to...
Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt and partners appear to have another potential monster on their hands, as Gulfport (c, 2, Uncle Mo--Fame and Fortune, by Unbridled's Song) ran away from his rivals to graduate by seven lengths at first asking at Churchill Downs to become the afternoon's second 'TDN Rising Star' and the 10th overall for his successful stallion. Pounded into 1-2 favoritism with a best-of-63 half-mile from the gate in :46 flat at Keeneland on display, the $275,000 Fasig-Tipton July acquisition by Joe Pickerrell and Courtney Roberts's Pick View LLC...
Juddmonte's Artorius (c, 3, Arrogate--Paulassilverlining, by Ghostzapper) backed up his highly impressive runner-up effort on his six-furlong debut behind 'TDN Rising Star' Under Oath (Speightstown) at Keeneland Apr. 16 with a similarly promising performance when stretched to a mile Friday at Belmont. His deceptively easy 3/4-length success over big-figure maiden Gasoline (Curlin x Yellow Agate) earns him the 'Rising Star' designation. With the vanguard early, the dark bay eased back to sit third and on the fence behind a sharp opening quarter-mile in :22.98. Shuffled back one position to sit...