Resolute Racing

'Rising Star' Verifire Remains Perfect, Takes Maxfield Stakes with Style

Having been nothing less than spectacular in two prior starts, 'TDN Rising Star' Verifire (Authentic) took his step up to stakes company with aplomb, taking Sunday's closing day Maxfield Stakes at Churchill Downs. A $1-million OBS March purchase for Resolute Racing after selling for $260,000 at Keeneland the previous September, the son of Authentic debuted with a TDN Rising Star-earning 6 1/4-length victory at Colonial Mar. 15. Pounded down to 1-20 favoritism in his return, he rolled home a 6 1/2-length winner over next out winner Saxton (Mosler) in a...

[ Read More ]
'I'm Going To Take The Ballydoyle Concept': Stewart Plans New Training Center

John Stewart's Resolute Racing farm in central Kentucky, located on the grounds of the former Shadayid Stud, will be expanded to include a new training facility, Stewart said on Nick Luck's Live From Royal Ascot podcast Tuesday. "It's our second year [on the farm]," said Stewart. "Last year we bred 31 mares, this year we bred over 50. We've got some fantastic diversity on the farm and we're really excited about that. We've got out first yearlings that were bred on the farm coming up so next year they'll be...

[ Read More ]
Authentic's 'Rising Star' Verifire Streaks Clear In Pimlico Opener

1st-Pimlico, $54,810, Alw (NW1X), Opt. Clm ($50,000-$62,500), 5-16, 3yo, 6f, 1:10.65, ft, 6 1/2 lengths. VERIFIRE (c, 3, Authentic--Ruby Trust {SP, $145,212}, by Smart Strike), named a 'TDN Rising Star' when thrashing Colonial maidens by 6 1/4 lengths on career debut going this distance on the Virginia Derby undercard Mar. 15, easily repeated the dose when pulling clear through the final furlong to take the Black-Eyed Susan Day opener at Pimlico by 6 1/2 lengths. Off at a nickel on the dollar, the $260,000 Keeneland September yearling turned $1-million OBS...

[ Read More ]
Friday Insights: 'TDN Rising Star' Verifire Levels Up On Black-Eyed Susan Undercard

1st-PIM, $54K, OC62K/N1X, 3yo, 6f, 11:30 p.m. ET. In what amounted to a smart debut at Colonial Downs Mar. 15, VERIFIRE (Authentic) was confirmed as a 'TDN Rising Star' after the colt won by 6 1/4 lengths and posted a 92 Beyer. Initially a $260,000 Keeneland September purchase, John Stewart went to a $1-million to acquire the chestnut during the 2024 OBS March Sale. Verifire is out of SP Ruby Trust (Smart Strike), whose own dam is GSW Queen Ofthe Castle (Tale of the Cat). Resolute's second out starter is...

[ Read More ]
John Stewart Sells 25% of Yearling Full Brother to Mage, Dornoch to MyRacehorse

Resolute Racing's John Stewart has sold 25% of the yearling full-brother to Mage (Good Magic) and Dornoch, and half-brother to Saturday's Kentucky Derby starter Baeza (McKinzie) to MyRacehorse, he told the TDN Friday evening. Stewart bought the dam of all three of those colts, Puca, as a post-sale purchase at the 2023 Keeneland November sale for $2.9 million in foal with this colt. At Resolute Racing, they refer to the yearling as "Preaky," a reference to the fact that Mage won the Derby, Dornoch won the Belmont Stakes, and the...

[ Read More ]
'Rising Star' Sweet Rebecca Leads Home American Pharoah 1-2 at Keeneland

5th-Keeneland, $123,056, Alw, 4-25, (NW2$X), 4yo/up, f/m, 1mT, 1:38.58, yl, neck. SWEET REBECCA (f, 4, American Pharoah--Sweet N Discreet {SW & GSP, $366,447}, by Discreet Cat), a latest fifth to the commonly owned Pounce (Lookin At Lucky) in the GIII Lake George Stakes at Saratoga last July, led home a 1-2 finish for her Coolmore-based stallion in a salty allowance on closing day of the spring stand at Keeneland. Off at a penny shy of 4-1, the $250,000 Keeneland September yearling was given a positive ride by Flavien Prat and...

[ Read More ]
Play Poker, Have Fun, Help Thoroughbred Aftercare Organizations

There is a problem and John Stewart of Resolute Racing wants to be part of the solution. His goal is for the industry to find a way to give every horse that comes off the racetrack a second home. He knows that won't be cheap, which is why he will spend part of his Derby week hosting his Poker For Ponies tournament. His goal is to raise $500,000 that will be divided up among 50 aftercare organizations. The event will take place on Thursday, May 1 at the Omni Hotel...

[ Read More ]
Keeneland's April Horses Of Racing Age Sale Set To Follow Racing On Friday's Closing Day

The Keeneland April Selected Horses of Racing Age Sale will cap closing day of the Spring Meet Friday in Lexington. Held following the conclusion of the 10-race card, the sale begins at 6:30pm and features a catalog of 88 hips (with supplements accepted through Friday) set to sell during the one-session auction. Notable hips to pass through the ring Friday include: Chandigarh (Speightstown) (hip 37, consigned by EliTE, agent), a 4-year-old gelding who in his second start won a maiden special weight race on the turf Apr. 13 at Tampa...

[ Read More ]
Dr. Park, Half To Forte, Graduates Second Time Out At Keeneland

3rd-Keeneland, $108,925, Msw, 4-9, 3yo/up, 6f, 1:11.45, ft, 1/2 length. DR. PARK (c, 4, Uncle Mo--Queen Caroline {MSW, $401,608}, by Blame) debuted in California for then-trainer John Shirreffs, weakening to fourth in a 6 1/2-furlong sprint Jan. 25. Shipping to Keeneland under new direction from Peter Eurton, the half-brother to 2-year-old champion Forte (Violence) drew outside as one of the more inexperienced runners in the scratched-down field of six. Lacking much early foot, the 3-5 favorite was outrun in the opening furlong by a trio of runners to his inside...

[ Read More ]
Positano Sunset Upsets Resolute Racing Madison At 14-1

Rail-drawn Positano Sunset (Goldencents) slipped through a gap at the top of the stretch and joined a four-wide calvary charge to the line, out-lasting the race favorite to upset the GI Resolute Racing Madison Stakes at odds of 14-1 for trainer Ian Wilkes. After finishing out her 4-year-old season off the board in the one-mile GIII Chilukki Stakes at Churchill Downs in late November, Positano Sunset got some time off, resurfacing at Tampa Bay Downs to win a $50k handicap race at seven furlongs March 9. Clearly a fan of...

[ Read More ]
Resolute Racing Pounce on Zougotcha Relation for A$2.6 Million at Inglis

By Dane McLeod/Renee Geelen/TTR AusNZ The 2025 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale saw fireworks and frenzied buying action continue from Day 1 into Day 2. Another 15 yearlings reached the coveted A$1 million mark, giving the sale a total of 25 million-dollar lots. Buyers' thirst for quality continued as the sale ended on a very strong note. Lot 217--Zoustar (Aus) x The Actuary (Aus) (Sebring {Aus}) (filly)--A$2,600,000 The momentum of Zoustar continued as Lot 217, a classy filly out of the talented juvenile The Actuary, attracted a flurry of bids...

[ Read More ]
Sunday Insights: $2.5m Uncle Mo Half To Shedaresthedevil Features On Keeneland Opening Day

7th-KEE, 110K, Msw, 3yo, f, 1 1/16m, 4:12 p.m. The second-highest priced yearling sold at Keeneland September in 2023, LADY SCUDERIA (Uncle Mo) went the way of John Stewart's Resolute Racing for $2,500,000. A daughter of Starship Warpspeed, the filly is a half-sister to GI Kentucky Derby winner (amongst other Grade I's) Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil) who last sold to Whisper Hill Farm for $5,000,000 at FTKNOV in 2022. The mare has also produced GSP Mojovation (Quality Road) and strikes a perfect six-for-six record of runners to winners. TJCIS PPS

[ Read More ]
X

Never miss another story from the TDN

Click Here to sign up for a free subscription.