Saratoga Race Course

Further Ado is Good, But How Good?

Spendthrift Farms' Further Ado (Gun Runner), who will make his next start in Saturday's GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. at Churchill Downs, ran sensationally in his last start, winning a Keeneland maiden by 20 lengths, earning a 98 Beyer figure. The Beyer number is tied for the second fastest race by a 2-year-old in 2025 and earned the colt 'TDN Rising Star presented by Hagyard' status. But he's also somewhat of a mystery. Why did he run so poorly in his first two races and can he once again turn...

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From 'Surreal' Test Victory to Keeneland November: Kilwin on Offer Tuesday

BBN Racing's Kilwin (Twirling Candy) recorded perhaps the most dramatic Grade I win of the year in August, falling to her knees at the start of the GI Test Stakes before coming from seemingly nowhere with a relentless rally down the lane to just her nose in front on the line. BBN Racing, looking to capitalize both on the combination of that Grade I win and an expected hot marketplace, will offer the filly as hip 223 through the Royal Oak Farm consignment during Tuesday's Book 1 session of the...

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Pletcher Breezes Quartet At Spa With Eye On Breeders' Cup Classic For All

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher sent out a quartet of workers over the Oklahoma dirt at Saratoga on Friday who are all intended for the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic. The group of workers included Antiquarian (Preservationist) and 'TDN Rising Stars, presented by Hagyard, Fierceness (City of Light), Mindframe (Constitution) and Locked (Gun Runner). Mindframe breezed to the inside of Locked shortly after the first renovation break and the pair covered five furlongs in 1:01.49, according to NYRA clockers. Mindframe edged clear of the Sept. 27 GII Woodward-winner Locked...

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BBN Racing Supplements GISW Kilwin, Share In GSW Bracket Buster To Upcoming Keeneland Sales

BBN Racing LLC has supplemented GISW Kilwin (Twirling Candy) to Book 1 of Keeneland's November Breeding Stock sale on Tuesday, Nov. 4, and the owners are offering a 25% interest in GSW Bracket Buster (Vekoma) during the second edition of the Keeneland Championship sale at Del Mar on Wednesday, Oct. 29, according to a press release from the auction company on Friday afternoon. Consigned by Royal Oak Farm (Damian and Braxton Lynch), agent for BBN, 3-year-old Kilwin has four wins in eight starts led by a signature come-from-behind score in...

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A Saratoga Summer To Remember For 16-Year-Old Yomar Ortiz Jr.

One of the more meaningful aspects of Saratoga's summer meet is how it brings people together. Whether they're new faces on the scene or returning regulars of the historic venue, they all seem to share the same passion for the Thoroughbred racehorse. It's a place that brings prestige to all who ride, work and walk upon its grounds, felt during the mornings spent on the Oklahoma training track, to the steps taken across Union Avenue, and the palpable excitement that flows throughout the paddock and winner's circle on race day....

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Five Fastest Maidens, Presented by Taylor Made, from Aug. 25-Sept. 1

TIME TO WIN, SAR, 9-1, 1 mile, VIDEO Beyer Speed Figure-87 (2nd) (c, 3, by Not This Time--Nagamble, by Flatter) O-Spendthrift Farm, William Lawrence, Big Easy Racing, Titletown Racing Stables, Winners Win, Golconda Stable, Ali Goodrich and Mark Parkinson. B-Fred Hertrich III. T-Chad Brown. J-Flavien Prat. Time to Win went into serious training late in 2024 as a 2-year-old then needed six months at the beginning of this year, but looked good finishing second to Only in America (below) as a debut favorite. He's a half-brother to Juju's Map, the...

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Saratoga Maidens Presented by Keeneland: Oscar's Hope Puts a Capper on Best Saratoga Meet Ever for Amoss

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - After the pictures were taken in the winner's circle and after he did his interview with Acacia Clement for the Saratoga Live broadcast, trainer Tom Amoss did a little dance before heading out. Happy? Oh, yeah, Amoss was all of that. He had just watched his 2-year-old colt Oscar's Hope (Twirling Candy) romp home to a 5 3/4-length win in the first race, a $100,000 maiden special weight, on closing day at Saratoga Race Course. This was a meet to remember for the 63-year-old Amoss, who...

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Saratoga Maidens, Presented by Keeneland, Sunrise! Well-Bred Son Of Karakontie Up And At 'Em On Spa Turf

During Keeneland September last year, bloodstock agent Steve Young signed the ticket to the tune of $150,000 on a dark bay colt bred by Gainesway (hip 1408) for his client Harrell Ventures. Sent to Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, Sunrise (Karakontie {Jpn}--Spanish Bunny, by Unusual Heat) made his second start a winning one after a gritty battle over the turf in the ninth race at Saratoga on Sunday afternoon. When reached by phone, Young said that in the days leading up to the sale that the colt was high...

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Saratoga Notebook, Presented by NYRA Bets: Fierceness Allowed Repole to Have Quite the Party After Pacific Classic Win

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Early Sunday afternoon, Mike Repole wasn't sure if he had slept or not Saturday night. "I might have taken a nap from 2 (a.m.) to 4," Repole said in the Saratoga box seat area. "I am running high on adrenaline right now." Sixteen hours earlier, Repole, with 40 friends and family--including Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher--gathered at his Saratoga house and watched Fierceness (City of Light) overcome a world of trouble and still draw off to a 3 1/4-length win over GI Preakness Stakes winner...

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Irad Ortiz Escapes Serious Injury in Gold Cup Fall from Mindframe

Jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr., who was thrown from Mindframe (Constitution) shortly after the start of the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup Sunday at Saratoga, escaped serious injury in the incident, according to his agent, Steve Rushing. Ortiz was sent to Albany Medical Center for evaluation, and while tests were not completed, the signs were postiive at 7:30 p.m. Sunday night. "It looks like he escaped serious injury," Rushing texted Sunday evening. "We are still waiting on one more test." "He is cleared to ride," said Rushing. "We will see how...

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The Week in Review: Six Takes on Two Weekend Stakes for Breeders' Cup Classic Contenders

Bi-coastal, 1 1/4-mile Grade I stakes over the weekend at Del Mar and Saratoga featured a number of contenders projected to target the GI Breeders' Cup Classic. The obvious winner was continent-crossing jockey John Velazquez, who parlayed a win in Saturday's GI Pacific Classic into a score 16 hours later in Sunday's GI Jockey Club Gold Cup. Here's a look how the horses who were in action emerged from those efforts and where they stand heading into the championship race. Fierceness: For a colt who has a reputation for sometimes...

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Monday's Racing Insights: Pricey Nyquist Colt Epic Quest Heads Spa Maiden On Closing Day

1st-SAR, $100K, Msw, 2yo, 6f, 12:05 p.m. ET. On closing day at the Spa, EPIC QUEST (Nyquist) makes his first start after clocking a 10 flat during the OBS under tack show--according to Alan Carasso's 'Summer Breezes'--then going to Epic Horses for a cool million at the March auction. The Todd Pletcher trainee is out of unraced Alottalute (Midnight Lute), who claims multiple stakes winners Street Lute (Street Magician) and Alottahope (Editorial). The first-time starter's extended female family includes $1.2-million earner Texcess (Excess {Ire}). Also set to debut is Fasig-Tipton...

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