OXO Equine

It was a battle of homebred debutantes down to the wire in Friday's fourth race on the Kentucky Oaks undercard at Churchill, as Godolphin's PASSERINE (f, 3, Nyquist--Al Andaleeb, by Bernardini) got just the better of OXO Equine's Battis Grove (Practical Joke) following an enervatiing final-furlong throwdown. Debuting at odds of 28-5, Passerine took up a position around midfield, with Battis Grove a couple of lengths ahead of her as the field raced down the Churchill backstretch. Working her way into it nicely while covering a bit of ground on...

So Like Silk (Tapit), the first foal out of her Grade I-winning dam, put in a winning debut on opening day at Horseshoe Indianapolis Tuesday. Purchased by OXO Equine for $925,000 as a yearling at Keeneland September in 2024, the 3-1 second choice drew outside and was caught wide for most of the run in this six-furlong spot. Unable to keep pace with the early sprinters, she had to settle back mid pack in sixth while still well in touch with 13-1 longshot leader Somnambulist (Liam's Map). With that rival...

5 -- HIGH CAMP, GP, 2/7-6th, 7 furlongs (VIDEO) Beyer Speed Figure-85 (c, 3, by Instagrand-Summer Silk, by Uncle Mo) O/B-OXO Equine (Ky). T-Will Walden. J-John Velazquez. Owner-breeder Larry Best continues to get mileage out of his former stakes star Instagrand, but you wouldn't have bet a dollar on High Camp at the quarter-pole. He was 2nd under a ride when two rivals blew past him--prematurely, as it turned out - and he dropped to 4th then swung wide and came back again to win. He's the first foal from...

2nd-SA, $70K, Msw, 2yo, 6 1/2f, 2:31 p.m. ET. NEWTON (Munnings) went through the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling sale ring and brought $975,000. Sent to Bob Baffert, the colt is out of $1.2-million buy Secret Jewel (Bernardini), whose other progeny include GSW Twenty Carat (Into Mischief) and SW Point Proven (Gun Runner). Secret Jewel's half-sisters include Canadian GSW Colonial Flag (Pleasant Tap), MGSW Sparkle Blue (Hard Spun) and last but not least GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf victress Shared Account (Pleasantly Perfect)--herself the dam of GI Breeders' Cup...

Instagrand (Into Mischief--Assets of War, by Lawyer Ron), second on the Second-Crop Sire by winners list with 86, has been added to Taylor Made Stallions' "State-Bred Initiative Program," according to the farm's release on Wednesday. The program, created to support and incentivize regional markets, allows breeders to send approved mares to a stallion at a set stud fee, which will be waived as a complimentary no-guarantee once the resulting foal is reported as being born outside of Kentucky and supporting documentation for state-bred registration is submitted. Instagrand joins Angel of...

Saturday at Saratoga, while stuck in Mother Nature's crosshairs, provided trainer Chad Brown a tenth GI Diana Stakes victory with Excellent Truth (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}) and saw 'TDN Rising Star' Far Bridge (English Channel) dominate the GII Bowling Green Stakes. With their charges emerging from the efforts in good shape, the connections are tentatively looking to the future. In the Brown camp, Excellent Truth's effort only served to strengthen what the conditioner already believed going into the contest--that his mare was one of the best in the country. After...

Minaret Station (Instilled Regard) had not been seen since Oct. 6, where he was a 38-1 upset winner of the GII Bourbon Stakes at Keeneland. Prior to that, he broke his maiden Sep. 6 at Horseshoe Indianapolis and finished third on debut at Ellis Park Aug. 5. Breaking a bit inward in his 3-year-old debut, the colt settled in third, riding the rail into the first turn and up the backstretch. As the field went in :25.71 and :50.74, the colt was guided to the three path for the stretch...

6th-Horseshoe Indianapolis, $32,000, Msw, 6-25, 2yo, f, 5f, :59.15, ft, 5 lengths. STUDIO HALL (f, 2, Instilled Regard--Beyond Ambition, by Tapit) became the third winner from four starters for her freshman sire (by Arch) with an open-lengths debut success. Pounded into 7-10 favoritism, the homebred was nudged along to take up a forward position and was three wide and close up entering the turn. In front under a hold as they passed the quarter pole, Studio Hall was thrown over onto her correct lead by Evin Roman just outside the...

A seven-digit yearling turned new 'TDN Rising Star', Prides Crossing (Quality Road) left her rivals in her wake en route to a stylish unveiling at Churchill Downs Saturday. The newest 'Rising Star' came into this contest riding a three-strong string of bullet five-furlong works at The Thoroughbred Center with her last four of five being the fastest on the morning. The most recent was a May 17 move clocked in 1:01.00. Stalking the pace from third as She's It (Omaha Beach) put up :22.63 and :46.30 early splits, the 3-1...

6th-CD, $120K, Msw, 3yo/up, f/m, 7f, 3:18 p.m. ET. PRIDES CROSSING (Quality Road) was the seventh highest priced yearling when the filly went to OXO Equine for $1.3-million during the 2022 Keeneland September Sale. The Paulo Lobo trainee is out of Irish SW Key To My Heart (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who Summer Wind Equine acquired for $1.75-million at the 2018 Keeneland November Sale while Man Among Men (War Front) was in-utero. Hailing from a well-related family, the first time starter's second dam is GISW A Z Warrior (Bernardini). Also on...

GI Haskell S. winner and GI Breeders' Cup Classic contender Geaux Rocket Ride (Candy Ride {Arg}--Beyond Grace, by Uncle Mo), who was pulled up with an open condylar fracture earlier this week in routine morning work at Santa Anita, has been euthanized, his connections announced Wednesday afternoon. He had undergone successful surgery Sunday evening, but did not recover as well as hoped, owner Pin Oak Stud had originally said in a Monday update. Pin Oak gave a final update on X, formerly known as Twitter, late Wednesday, saying, "Our hearts...

5th-CD, $120K, Msw, 2yo, 1m, 3:01 p.m. ET. After clocking :10 flat during the OBS March under-tack show, TENNESSEE (Justify) brought $1.2 million as the second topper when the dark bay colt was purchased by Maverick Racing and Siena Farms. Unveiled here, the Brad Cox trainee races for Siena and WinStar Farm, and was purchased by Hartley/De Renzo Thoroughbreds for $250,000 at Keeneland September. Out of GSP Zinzay (Smart Strike), who went for $525,000 to Summer Wind Equine back in 2016 during Keeneland November when she carrying eventual SW &...