Keeneland September

2nd-DMR, $82K, Msw, 2yo, f, 5fT, 6:30p.m. (ET) Talla Racing and West Point Thoroughbreds' SOHO (City of Light) gets her start for trainer John Sadler, who wins at a 7% clip with his first-time starters. The dark bay has been showing a progressive worktab leading up to this unveiling, including a five-furlong move in 1:00 1/5 (8/55) at the seaside oval Sept. 3. A $625,000 Keeneland September purchase, the daughter of Keri Belle (Empire Maker), a GSW on the turf, also holds the distinction of being the top priced filly...

One month ago, Archie St George hit one out of the park, striking with a colt by Into Mischief who snagged $1-million from Elliott Walden, bidding on behalf of the partnership of China Horse Club, Siena Farm and Maverick Racing at Fasig-Tipton's Saratoga Select Sale. In fact, the operation sold all five of the yearlings it brought upstate, averaging $529,000 while realizing $2,645,000 in gross revenue. Hoping to carry on that momentum into Lexington next week, St George offers seven yearlings in Book 1 of Keeneland's September Sale. "I go...

4th-Presque Isle Downs, $30,150, Msw, 9-5, 2yo, 6f (AWT), 1:10.67, ft, 4 3/4 lengths. BANNEKER (c, 2, Not This Time--Bosserette, by Street Boss), a $210,000 Keeneland September purchase, was the lone firster in a field of five and turned in a dominating debut effort. Off as the 29-10 second choice, the attractive dark bay broke on terms, but was content to take a trail from third through the middle stages. Going ominously well under a full-Nelson nearing the stretch, he was eased out and around odds-on Hector (Maclean's Music) in...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.--It turned out that breeder John Mulholland's trip from Lexington to Saratoga Race Course this week didn't turn out the way he had hoped, but it was not a waste of time. Life Talk (Gun Runner), a filly he co-bred, took care of that Thursday, rolling to a 6 1/2-length victory in the second race. Sent off at 2-5 in the field of six 2-year-old maiden fillies going one mile on the dirt, Life Talk made a wide move coming off the turn, zipped past the competition and...

When Hall of Famer Bob Baffert debuts a well-bred 2-year-old colt at Del Mar's summer meeting, the horse racing world pauses to pay attention. Taking money opposite the MyRacehorse entry of A Day to Remember (American Pharoah), Heartland (Justify) proved his mettle with a near last-to-first effort to become the newest 'TDN Rising Star'. Off at 4-5 as the gates opened, the race looked like it may be over for the colt before it even began when Heartland ducked to the inside in the opening strides and nearly unseated jockey...

It was a Halloween exacta come early as Occult (Into Mischief) dominated the GIII Monmouth Oaks over a determined Foggy Night (Khozan), giving jockey Feargal Lynch the black-type double in New Jersey. Steadied last out in the GI Acorn at Big Sandy, but recovering well enough to finish third, the 7-5 favorite had already tasted success early this year in New York as the Busanda S. victress at Aqueduct before running fifth in the GIII Gazelle behind Promiseher America (American Pharoah). Racing four wide after the jump and settling well...

2nd-Del Mar, $84,500, Msw, 7-21, 3yo/up, 6 1/2f, 1:15.18, ft, 5 1/4 lengths. DR. VENKMAN (g, 3, Ghostzapper--Theory of Change, by Archarcharch), one of two first-starters in the field, took a fair bit of action at 4-1 with apprentice Armando Aguilar claiming a five-pound weight allowance. Off to a bit of a hesitant beginning, the $105,000 KEESEP yearling quickly made up for lost time and was right in behind the leading trio approaching the turn. Traveling strongly on the bend, he was produced four wide into the lane and pulled...

1st-SAR, $136k, Msw, 2yo, 1 1/16mT, post time: 1:10 p.m. ET His full-brother Mage is about three hours south at Monmouth Park to contest Saturday's GI TVG.com Haskell S., but DORNOCH (Good Magic) could still represent the family should the Saratoga opener be transferred to the main track. Whereas Mage cost $235,000 at Keeneland September in 2021 (before fetching $290,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Sale last year), Dornoch was a $325,000 acquisition in Lexington. The pair's dam SW & GSP Puca (Big Brown), a 'TDN Rising Star' and also responsible...

On paper, it looked like Pirate (Omaha Beach) had a lot going for him in Saturday's first race at Saratoga, a $105,000 maiden special weight run at 5 1/2 furlongs. A half-brother to GI Preakness S. winner National Treasure (Quality Road), he sold for $350,000 at Keeneland September, had a bullet four-furlong work leading up to the race and hailed from the mighty Todd Pletcher barn. So it was hardly a surprise when he cruised to a three-length win, covering the distance in 1:04.89 for the partnership of Harrell Ventures,...

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. The weekend's main event takes place Sunday at Hanshin, where the world's top-rated racehorse Equinox (Jpn) returns in the G1 Takarazuka Kinen: Saturday, June 24, 2023 4th-HSN, ¥10,480,000 ($73k), Maiden, 3yo, 1800m TOMODACHI (c, 3, Mendelssohn--Grace...

Into Champagne (f, 2, Into Mischief--Bedford Land, by Speightstown) sat a trip handy to the pace, pounced when produced and galloped away from her rivals in the late stages to complete a sweep of the afternoon's 2-year-old filly maidens for her unstoppable sire at Ellis Park and earn the 'TDN Rising Star' distinction in the process. Drawn wide for the debut, the $300,000 Keeneland September yearling showed enough speed to sit close to a good early pace and traveled strongly while traveling comfortably for Julien Leparoux. Going ominously well behind...

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 Hakodate Racecourses: Saturday, June 17, 2023 5th-HSN, ¥13,720,000 ($97k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1200m ECORO GAIA (c, 2, Speightstown--Charge of Angels, by Distorted Humor) is a full-brother to the stakes-placed Winning Number and is out of an unraced daughter of...