Mendelssohn

Sneakily Misses Break, Roars Home to 'Rising Stardom' at Churchill

There was nothing stealthy about her leap into the air at the break but it didn't matter late as the eye-catching Sneakily (Tapit) went last to first to secure the TDN stamp of approval as the newest 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' at Churchill. The grey was debuted at Ellis Park Aug. 18 and had the misfortune of having to close on an uncontested leader. Having spent most of her time near the rear of the field after she broke slowly and was bumped around, Sneakily came home from...

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American Pharoah Colt Returns From Long Absence at Kyoto

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 Kyoto and Niigata Racecourses: Saturday, May 23, 2026 6th-KYO, ¥15,620,000 ($98k), Allowance, 3yo, 1400m MON SOUHAIT (c, 3, McKinzie--Fashion World {GB}, by Dubawi {Ire}) was unplaced in two juvenile appearances and again on 3-year-old debut in January, but put it...

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Five Fastest Maidens for the Week of April 19-26, 2026

It was a week of unlikely maiden performances: a staggering 106 debut Beyer and two fast runners from a rare 1 1/4-mile maiden race.   5) LATE NIGHT TEXT, 4/23-3rd, 7 furlongs (VIDEO) Beyer Speed Figure- 83 (f, 3, by Into Mischief-Arrifana, by Curlin) O-Daugherty Racing and 24th Road Racing. B-LNJ Foxwoods & Gainesway Thoroughbreds (Ky). T-Saffie Joseph Jr. J-Micah Husbands. Running for Joseph for the first time, Late Night Text improved his previous top Beyer Speed Figure by 11 points in his sixth career start to defeat a pair...

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Aqueduct Updates: Friday's Big Winners Doing Well, Future Targets Planned

Aqueduct saw a fleet of prep races for major spring targets Friday, and the connections of those winners have largely reported good prognoses for their stars as they chart out future targets. Upset winner of the Withers Stakes Talk to Me Jimmy (Modernist) has reportedly come out of his 11-length tour-de-force in good form despite grabbing his front right quarter at some point during the contest. Trainer Rudy Rodriguez reports the colt was in good spirits Saturday morning but that a vet would look at it as a precaution. "Thank...

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Strategic Risk Steps Up to Win Smarty Jones for Fun, Claims Derby Points

Strategic Risk (Noble Bird) rolled into town from Florida, and not only topped the exacta in the Smarty Jones Stakes for his connections, but also took home Kentucky Derby points in the process. Dominating a maiden field at first asking June 7 at Gulfstream Park against fellow Florida-breds, he missed the board in back to back graded starts at Saratoga, but bounced back to run third Oct. 18 in the Florida Sired Affirmed Stakes. Building on that effort, and at his first trip at 1 1/16-miles over the main track...

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Champions Crowned At 2025 Thoroughbred Makeover

Ten champions were crowned Saturday in Kentucky at the 2025 Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America. The event offered over $139,000 in prize money awarded out across 10 equestrian sports. The winners included: Barrel Racing: Battle Born (More Than Ready), trained by Elizabeth King (Junior), bred by WinStar Farm, owned by Robert D. Shelburne. Competitive Trail, sponsored by Godolphin: Vestal's Gap (Bullsbay), trained by Nathan Bowers, bred by Sterbenz Racing LLC, owned by Sterbenz Racing LLC. Dressage, sponsored by PTHA's Turning For Home: Patou Road...

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Weaver Ready for Another Assault on Royal Ascot

When it comes to American trainers winning races at Royal Ascot, Wesley Ward has no equal. He's won 12 races there. But he might want to look over his shoulder as there's another American trainer intent on winning races at the prestigious meet. In 2023, George Weaver won the G2 Queen Mary Stakes with Crimson Advocate (Nyquist) for his first Royal Ascot winner. This year, he'll be back with Sandal's Song (Mendelssohn), the winner of last Saturday's Royal Palm Juvenile at Gulfstream. The Royal Palm is a qualifier race for...

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Mendelssohn's Sandal's Song Wins Royal Palm Juvenile And Trip To Ascot

Sandal's Song (Mendelssohn) booked his ticket to the Royal Meeting and earned a $25,000 voucher for the trip with a late-running score in the Palm Juvenile Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Saturday afternoon. Making his debut as a 7-1 shot here the colt chased a pair of pacesetters up the backstretch in favorite Squire (Leinster) and Beers On Me (Catalina Cruiser). The chestnut tipped off the rail around the far turn with a three-wide move. Showing plenty of zip down the lane, the 2-year-old cleared inside the final furlong and...

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Claiming Crown Qualifiers, Well-bred Maidens with Conditions Available Highlight Inglis Digital USA April Sale

The 2025 Inglis Digital USA April Sale catalogue is now online and showcases a diverse group of 20 individuals ranging from Claiming Crown qualifiers to Keeneland debuters with their maiden conditions still available to yearlings from active families, the online auction house announced via press release Friday afternoon. A slate of racing age horses includes Sitka (Speightstown), eligible for the aforementioned Claiming Crown and who holds his N2X condition, hailing from the shed row of trainer Matt Williams. His career-best Beyer figure is an 88, which he matched in his...

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Friday's Insights: Justify's Half-Sister Looks To Conjure Family Magic On Debut At Keeneland

8th-KEE, $110K, Msw, 3yo, f, 7f, 4:44 p.m. ET. PLAY WITH MAGIC is set for her unveiling under the care of trainer Cherie DeVaux. Bred by Glenwood's John D. Gunther and his daughter Tanya on the same Mendelssohn-Ghostzapper cross as GSW Somethinabouther, the late May foal is out 2018 Broodmare of the Year Stage Magic (Ghostzapper). This dam's productivity includes one of the top North American sires in Justify (Scat Daddy), GSW The Lieutenant (Street Sense) and SW Stage Raider (Pioneerof the Nile). Stage Magic is also responsible for a...

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Tiz the Law's Strate Cash Kicks Home Strongest in Santa Anita Debut

5th-Santa Anita, $65,000, Msw, 3-2, 3yo, 6fT, 1:09.17, fm, 3 1/2 lengths. STRATE CASH (c, 3, Tiz the Law--Conquest Strate Up {SW, $192,984}, by Not Bourbon) was well-received by the betting public on the back of a bullet work Feb. 22 before this unveiling, and was sent off here as the 2-5 favorite. Breaking outwardly and forced to chase from fourth as Cajun Gold (Cajun Breeze) stepped out to set a pressured tempo, Strate Cash was four off the fence behind :22.46 and :45.46 opening splits. Rolling to the outside...

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Saturday's Racing Insights: Whisper Hill Homebred Tries Two Turns In Turf Debut At Fair Grounds

5th-FG, $58K, Msw, 3yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 4:15 p.m. ET. Whisper Hill homebred STRAIGHT FORWARD (American Pharoah) makes her first start for Mandy Pope and trainer Steve Asmussen. The filly's dam, Aloof (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), was acquired by the farm at the 2014 Keeneland November Sale for a cool $3.9 million. Herself out of English Group 1 winner Airwave (GB) (Air Express {Ire}), Aloof is a half-sister to the dam of full-siblings MG1SW Churchill (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and G1SW Clemmie. Set for her unveiling is another homebred, Good Going (Mendelssohn),...

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