TDN Rising Star

'Rising Star' Outfielder Dominates Animal Kingdom on Jeff Ruby Steaks Day

From Kentucky to France to the Breeders' Cup last year, Outfielder (Speightstown) has always been well-regarded, and he made his return to the races a stylish one with a frontrunning masterclass in the Animal Kingdom Stakes. A buzz horse almost from day one, he was made a 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' at first-asking in late May last year when he went gate-to-wire by a commanding 6 1/4 lengths in a five-furlong maiden dash at Churchill Downs. Trainer Wesley Ward saw more than a glimmer of potential in his...

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Not to Worry
No Worries At All! Street Sense's Not to Worry Storms Home for 'Rising Star' Honors

Lael Stable homebred Not to Worry (c, 3, Street Sense--Madame Milan, by Bernardini) came charging down the Fair Grounds stretch for a flashy debut win for Cherie DeVaux, good for 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' honors on the Louisiana Derby undercard. The 2-1 favorite was off to a slow start from his outside draw and was outsprinted in ninth through an opening quarter in :22.06. Still with a ton to do one from last on the far turn, he was tipped out and into the clear in the stretch...

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'Rising Star' Chief Wallabee Named 2-1 Morning-Line Favorite For Florida Derby

'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Chief Wallabee (Constitution), the GII Coolmore Fountain of Youth runner-up last month in his second start, was named the narrow 2-1 morning-line favorite and will break from post 2 over eight rivals for next Saturday's $1-million GI Curlin Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park. Wathnan Racing's Commandment (Into Mischief), the Fountain of Youth winner trained by Brad Cox, is second on the morning line at 5-2 from post 4. Like Commandment, Centennial Farms entry Nearly (Not This Time) takes a three-race win streak into the...

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Englishman
'Rising Star' Englishman as Advertised, Romps in Return

The GII Pat Day Mile S. on Kentucky Derby day will be next for unbeaten 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Englishman (Maxfield), who romped in his highly anticipated return at Fair Grounds Thursday evening. The 1-9 favorite cleared from his outside draw and it was pretty much game over from there. He powered into the turn following a quarter in :21.33 and opened a five-length advantage approaching the quarter pole. With Jose Ortiz completely motionless in the saddle, Englishman was on cruise control down the stretch and reported home...

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'Childs' Play: Bright Future for Dramatic Debut Winner Crude Velocity

A Kentucky Derby prep race could be next for Crude Velocity (Beau Liam), who overcame an impossible trip to win on debut with 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' honors for Bob Baffert at Santa Anita Mar. 7. "We're gonna leave California with him," owner Bill Childs said after reloading at last week's OBS March sale. "There are more opportunities for him outside of California. Bob will still have him. We want to take dead aim on what we're doing being something worthwhile. We're gonna try to target something that...

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Thursday Insights: Englishman Returns In New Orleans

10th-FG, 125K, O/C, 3yo, 6f, 6:15 p.m. Thursday marks the return of 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' ENGLISHMAN (Maxfield) for Cherie DeVaux and C R K Stable. It will be the Triple Crown-nominated colt's first start since a 7 1/4-length romp in his first and only race which came six months ago in September under the Twin Spires. That gate-to-wire win over seven furlongs was just a hair off the track record and resulted in a 97 Beyer Speed Figure. "The target race for him is the [GII] Pat...

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Blink and You Missed Him: Incredibolt Bounds Home to Stylish Virginia Derby Score

NEW KENT, VA--From one CD to another. In his second start of the year, Pin Oak Stud's Incredibolt (Bolt d'Oro) stamped his ticket for a return trip to Churchill Downs with a visually-impressive finish in Saturday's Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs. Under the tutelage of Riley Mott, the 6-1 choice is already proven under the Twin Spires when he finished out his juvenile campaign with a win in the GIII Street Sense Stakes in late October. And while his return to the track earlier this season didn't go quite as...

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Santa Anita Works: Saturday Morning Sees Runners from Leading Stables on Track

Hall of Famer Bob Baffert sent out a talented fleet of workers Saturday morning at Santa Anita Park, led by G2 Riyadh Dirt Sprint victor Imagination (Into Mischief), while multiple Grade I winner Journalism (Curlin) continued his march toward a return with his own five-panel move. In addition to Imagination, who worked three furlongs in :37.60 (8/10) for the first time since his win in Saudi Arabia, the Baffert brigade included Cherokee Nation (Not This Time); 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Cornucopian (Into Mischief); and Desert Gate (Omaha Beach)....

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'I'm Extremely High on the Summer He's Gonna Have' – Highly Regarded Golden Tornado Gearing Up for Return

Golden Tornado (McKinzie), sidelined since delivering a 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' performance on debut at Saratoga last summer, is on the comeback trail. He's posted a pair of breezes for trainer Danny Gargan at Palm Meadows this winter, including a three-furlong move in :37.50 (24/43) Mar. 7. "He's a really nice horse, really nice," Gargan said. "He's come back really good. He's beautiful." Campaigned in partnership by Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, breeder Gainesway Stable and Legendary Thoroughbreds, the $475,000 Keeneland September yearling and half-brother to stakes winner and fellow...

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Uncle Mo 'Rising Star' Code Review Makes It Two-For-Two

Code Review (Uncle Mo) was the subject of much pre-race chatter and lived up to the hype on Gulfstream debut Jan. 25, making all the running en route to a 1 1/2-length victory and 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard plaudits. The bay was given an entry for Saturday's Virginia Derby, but connections opted to ship in for this considerably softer spot, for which he was made the 1-5 mortal. Code Review hopped slightly as the gates flew back, but he quickly stepped away to a clear lead before Tyler...

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Thursday's Racing Insights: 'Rising Star' Code Review Faces Winners at Colonial Downs

2nd-CNL, $80k, OC 62k/N1X, 3yo, 1m, 1:00 p.m. ET. Code Review (Uncle Mo) takes on winners for the first time after delivering a 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' performance at first asking going six furlongs at Gulfstream Park Jan. 25. The full-brother to the ill-fated GII Jim Dandy S. winner Laoban earned a 78 Beyer Speed Figure for the front-running victory. He fired a four-furlong bullet in :46 4/5 (1/63) at Gulfstream Mar. 1. Code Review, a $200,000 FTKNOV weanling turned $575,000 KEESEP yearling, is campaigned in partnership by...

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La Cara in the Acorn
La Cara, Quietside Both Retired After Disappointing in Azeri Saturday

After finishing fifth and seventh, respectively, in Saturday's GII Azeri Stakes at Oaklawn Park, Tracy Farmer's La Cara (Street Sense--Cara Caterina, by Bernardini) and Shortleaf Stable's Quietside (Malibu Moon--Benner Island, by Speightstown) have each been retired. La Cara, a homebred for Farmer conditioned by Mark Casse, won both the GI Central Bank Ashland Stakes and GI DK Horse Acorn Stakes in 2025, in addition to the 2024 GIII Pocahontas Stakes and last year's Suncoast Stakes. The now-4-year-old bay made two starts in 2026, finishing off the board each time. She...

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