Keeneland September

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 the horses of interest for this weekend running at Hanshin and Nakayama Racecourses: Saturday, September 6, 2025 6th-HSN, ¥14,250,000 ($96k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1400m MAGNA VICTOR (c, 2, Maxfield--Eyeinthesky, by Sky Mesa) is set to become the second starter for his dam, a MSW & GSP turf sprinter who...

Pin Oak Stud's Stars and Strides (American Pharoah) capped a memorable Saratoga meeting for his owner, trainer Bill Mott and jockey Junior Alvarado, slicing through at the fence in upper stretch and powering home to take Monday's Listed Saranac Stakes. A narrow, but highly impressive debut winner (92 Beyer Speed Figure) in a seven-furlong maiden on the Belmont Stakes undercard June 7, the $475,000 Keeneland September graduate was a distant seventh of 11 trying winners for the first time going the same distance on July 19. That prompted a move...

On paper, it appeared to be the battle of the 'TDN Rising Star's in Saratoga's closing day feature, the GI Hopeful Stakes. Come race day, it appeared to be more of a procession as Spendthrift Farm's Ted Noffey (Into Mischief) made it look like his rivals were tied to a post as he rolled home a commanding 8 1/2-length winner in only his second lifetime start for trainer Todd Pletcher, who was winning his fourth Hopeful. Smooth as silk out of the gate, Ted Noffey, sent off the 7-2 third...

By any metric, it's been a spectacular run at Saratoga for the Tom Amoss barn this summer, and Oscar's Hope (c, 2, Twirling Candy--Hopeful Princess, by Not This Time) put the cherry on top with a second-out romp, becoming the outfit's third 'TDN Rising Star' of the meet in the process. With penny breakage coming to New York for the first time in the Labor Day opener, the $150,000 Keeneland September yearling was away alertly enough, but was outfooted by the $1-million OBS March breezer, but chilly-on-the-board Epic Quest (Nyquist),...

6th-NII, ¥14,250,000 ($96,772), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800m, 1:55.2, ft. MATENRO DA VINCI (c, 2, Uncle Mo--Spring Eclipse, by Unbridled's Song) opened his account at first asking with a thoroughly dominating display. Alertly away from gate 10 for Yuga Kawada, the 17-10 favorite was tossing his head pretty good down the lane for the first time, but ultimately settled better to stalk the pace from second. Traveling smoothly through the middle furlongs, the $1-million Keeneland September acquisition was asked to kick in upper stretch and was never in serious trouble en route...

6th-Del Mar, $82,000, Msw, 8-31, 2yo, 6f, 1:08.83, ft, 3/4 length. KRISTOFFERSON (c, 2, Nyquist--Impasse, by Quality Road), installed the even-money choice for this debut, came out gunning and assumed a narrow advantage as Falcon Jet (Justify) and Mr A P (American Pharoah) pressed the issue to his outside. Three wide turning for home, Mr A P began his retreat, however, Mr A P wouldn't relent and inched in front for a brief moment. Undeterred, the Bob Baffert trained-colt dug in to overtake his game foe and was 3/4 of...

During Keeneland September last year, bloodstock agent Steve Young signed the ticket to the tune of $150,000 on a dark bay colt bred by Gainesway (hip 1408) for his client Harrell Ventures. Sent to Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, Sunrise (Karakontie {Jpn}--Spanish Bunny, by Unusual Heat) made his second start a winning one after a gritty battle over the turf in the ninth race at Saratoga on Sunday afternoon. When reached by phone, Young said that in the days leading up to the sale that the colt was high...

8th-SAR, $100k, Msw, 2yo, 7f, post time: 3:52 p.m. ET DRAGONES (Gun Runner) is the latest highly coveted produce out of Lady Godiva (Unbridled's Song) and the Apr. 17 foal is closely related to Leofric (Candy Ride {Arg}), whose eight victories from 14 starts included the 2018 GI Clark Handicap. Out of a half-sister to MGSW & GISP Multiple Choice (Mt. Livermore) and to the dam of the stakes winners Inspired (Unbridled's Song), Silver City (Unbridled's Song), Elope (Gone West) and Initiation (Deputy Minister), the gray was hammered down to...

I love the yearling sales. There is something that just feels electric from the moment you set foot on the grounds. It's not just the horses; it's the people, the familiar faces you reconnect with, and the new friendships you strike up. It's the stories shared under the shade of a tree while you wait for your turn to look at a horse. And of course, nothing beats the thrill of the hunt, the grind and the search for The One; that special horse that stops you in your tracks....

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 Chukyo and Niigata Racecourses: Sunday, August 31, 2025 6th-NII, ¥14,250,000 ($97k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800m MATENRO DA VINCI (c, 2, Uncle Mo--Spring Eclipse, by Unbridled's Song) was sold to trainer Mitsumasa Nakauchida for an even $1 million at last year's Keeneland...

8th-SAR, $100K, Msw, 2yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 4:28 p.m. ET. From the same Cherie DeVaux shedrow as her older half-sister MGISW She Feels Pretty (Karakontie {Jpn}), SHE FEELS STUNNING (American Pharoah) is unveiled for Lael who owns both fillies. The first-time starter was acquired by the stables for $650,000 during Keeneland September. Dam Summer Sweet (More Than Ready) is herself out of French stakes winner Summer Solstice (Ire) (Caerleon), who is also responsible for SW Adirondack Summer (Thunder Gulch), SW Summer Breezing (Langfuhr) and GISP Summer Solo (Arch)--the dam of...

9th-Ellis, $100,000, Msw, 8-18, 2yo, f, 1mT, 1:36.60, fm, 2 1/4 lengths. HOT AND DANGEROUS (f, 2, Blame--Windfall Profit, by Malibu Moon) flattened out to be a fading fifth of seven in her 6 1/2-furlong bow over this main track July 14 but was nevertheless crunched into 6-5 favoritism in the second division of this juvenile fillies turf maiden. Straight to the lead from the four hole, the $65,000 KEESEP purchase enjoyed a fairly carefree time of things up front while clear of her rivals through fractions of :25 flat...