Keeneland

Thursday's Insights: Ashland Runner-Up Punchbowl Returns at Keeneland

5th-KEE, $100K, Msw, 2yo, 7f, 3:08 p.m. ET Gold Square's AIR OF DEFIANCE (Quality Road), a $400,000 Keeneland September purchase, is the 3-1 morning-line favorite after running a solid second behind 'TDN Rising Star' Fierceness (City of Light) over a muddy strip at Saratoga in his six-furlong debut Aug. 25. The Brad Cox trainee is the second foal out of graded stakes winner Faypien (Ghostzapper). St. Elias and Starlight Racing's It'smyluckytime (Not This Time), a $450,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling, makes his first trip to the post for trainer Todd Pletcher....

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Keeneland Catalogs 277 for November Horses of Racing Age Sale

Keeneland has cataloged 277 horses to the November Horses of Racing Age Sale, set to be held on Nov. 17, the day after the conclusion of the November Breeding Stock Sale, the auction company announced on Tuesday. The catalog features Daily Racing Form and Equibase past performances along with Thoro-graph and Ragozin sheets, race replays and more. The single-session sale consists of 66 2-year-olds, 126 3-year-olds and 85 older horses by top stallions such as Arrogate, Candy Ride (ARG), Constitution, Curlin, Good Magic, Gun Runner, Into Mischief, Justify, Munnings, Not...

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Tony Ann Bests Caravel At The Wire In Thrilling Franklin S. At Keeneland

Tony Ann, a 7-1 shot, outkicked heavily favored Caravel to the wire to earn the first stakes victory of her career in the GII Franklin S. at Keeneland Sunday. Caravel, who began a five-race win streak in last year's Franklin, broke from the rail and found herself chasing dueling pacesetters Twilight Gleaming (Ire) (National Defense {GB}) and B G Warrior (Run Away and Hide) through an opening quarter in :21.09. Tony Ann, who had raced just outside of the favorite early, fell back on the turn as Caravel attempted to...

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Making Waves: Purple Patch For Godolphin

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Nations Pride in the Canadian International at Woodbine and two other graded wins for Godolphin colourbearers.   Nations Pride Adds Another Graded Win To His Resume Autumn in North America is a rich seasonal hunting ground for Godolphin's European raiders, particularly those trained by Charlie Appleby, and Nations Pride (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) scooped Woodbine's GI Canadian International S. recently (video). The royal blue...

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Guineas Winner Mawj Triumphant In QE II Challenge Cup

Flight delays kept one of Europe's leading jockeys, Oisin Murphy, from piloting Aspen Grove (Ire) (Justify) in last weekend's Woodbine's GI E. P. Taylor S. Thankfully for the connections of 'TDN Rising Star' Mawj (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}), he experienced no such issues this weekend--arriving in time to guide the G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas S. winner to victory in Keeneland's GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup S. Making her first start across the pond, the Irish-bred filly entered on a three-race win streak, having crossed the wire first in...

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Dornoch, Full-Bro To Mage, Dons Cap and Gown at Keeneland

6th-Keeneland, $99,588, Msw, 10-14, 2yo, 1 1/16m, 1:45, ft, 6 1/2 lengths. DORNOCH (c, 2, Good Magic--Puca {SW & GSP, $299,406}, by Big Brown) had run well in each of his first two career starts, including a runner-up effort in the Sapling S. in his most recent trip to the races Aug. 26, and made good on a promise of 1-2 favoritism to break his maiden in style Saturday at Keeneland. The full-brother to GI Kentucky Derby hero Mage, GISW, $2,507,450; and half to Gunning (Gun Runner), MSP, $278,835,  was...

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Street Sense Colt Stretches Out Successfully at Keeneland

3rd-Keeneland, $109,550, Alw (NW1X), Opt. Clm ($100,000), 10-14, 2yo, 1 1/16m, 1:46.34, ft, 5 3/4 lengths. STRETCH RIDE (c, 2, Street Sense--Q Go Girl {SP}, by Quality Road) handled his first two-turn attempt with aplomb, drawing away to win clear Saturday at Keeneland. Off at 9-1 having graduated with a late-running victory over six furlongs at Churchill Downs Sept. 17, the bay colt took up a position from between rivals as Astronomico (Frosted) set a quick early pace at the fence while odds-on Lightline (City of Light) was trapped out...

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Gun Runner Filly Passes Two-Turn Test at Keeneland

8th-Keeneland, $96,906, Msw, 10-13, 2yo, f, 1 1/16m, 1:47.33, ft, 3 1/2 lengths. INTRICATE (f, 2, Gun Runner--Complex Analysis, by Distorted Humor) made belated progress to finish a never-nearer fifth, beaten just over two lengths, on six-furlong debut at Churchill Sept. 16, and was the 2-1 second choice stretching out to a distance of ground for the first time. Prominent through the opening exchanges, the chestnut eased back to sit midfield, but close, as they turned up the backstretch. Steered out into the four path entering the second bend, Intricate...

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Beautifully Bred War Front Filly Gets Going at Headquarters

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 Tokyo Racecourse. The headline event of the weekend is the G1 Shuka Sho, where Liberty Island (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) goes for a sweep of the Triple Tiara. Click here for our preview: Saturday, October 14, 2023 3rd-TOK, ¥13,720,000 ($92k), Newcomers,...

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Long Weekend, Keeneland's Haggin Turf Course Hosts A Trio Of Graded Races

Keeneland's lawn debuted during the 1985 Fall meet in an era when American turf courses were just coming into vogue. According to a back issue of the track's media guide, through 2016 they had two names for their grass course. The Keeneland Course referred to the one with rail up, while the normal configuration with it down was called the Haggin Course. Named for Louis Lee Haggin II, who was not only Keeneland's President from 1940-1956, but the decade before had purchased the 550-acre Sycamore Farm in Woodford County. Serving...

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Keeneland Breeder Spotlight: Rigney Savoring Sweet Flavor of Success

Richard Rigney says that nothing in life gives him a bigger kick than his horses. To understand just what that means, it might help to know his idea of a vacation. A few years ago, for instance, he went on a shooting range in Russia. Not that startling, perhaps: this was obviously before the war in Ukraine. It's just the caliber of the ordnance that was a little unusual. "Shooting a bazooka is so fun," Rigney says. "My wife Tammy was like, 'You know what? I think it's okay that...

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Keeneland November Sale Supplements Seven Horses

Keeneland has supplemented seven horses, including SW Her World (Ire), carrying her first foal by Uncle Mo, to Book 1 of the 80th November Breeding Stock Sale on Wednesday, Nov. 8, the auction house said in a release Thursday. Consigned by Paramount Sales, agent, Her World (Hip 239) is a 4-year-old daughter of Caravaggio who opened her career with a 6-length victory for trainer Wesley Ward in the 2022 Tyro S. at Monmouth Park. Third in Keeneland's TVG Limestone S. in her next start, Her World won consecutive allowance races...

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