TDN Rising Star
Classier (Empire Maker) kicks off his sophomore season versus four rivals in Sunday's GIII Affirmed S. at Santa Anita. The $775,000 KEESEP graduate got the 'TDN Rising Star' nod on debut sprinting at Santa Anita Oct. 24, then returned on quick notice with an eighth-place finish after showing speed in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile last time Nov. 6. Working bullets for his return, Bob Baffert takes the blinkers off for this. The Chosen Vron (Vronsky) tackles two turns for the first time here. The Cal-bred was impressive in his...
Shadwell Stable's Mahaamel (Into Mischief) became the 23rd 'TDN Rising Star' for his super sire and second to exit an Apr. 24 track-and-trip heat as he posted a popular front-running victory at Belmont Friday. The $700,000 KEESEP yearling was a close second here on debut to regally bred $1.5-million purchase First Captain (Curlin), who came back to take an allowance last Saturday and get the 'Rising Star' nod himself. Donning blinkers for this, he was favored at 4-5 while taking on some pricey and well-bred foes. Ridden clear from a...
Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 3rd-BEL, $92K, Alw, 3yo/up, 6 1/2f, 4:09 p.m. ET Spendthrift Farm made waves when it announced, following the failed drug test of GI Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit (Protonico), that it would be moving some horses out of trainer Bob Baffert's barn. One of the most intriguing of those horses, 'TDN Rising Star' FOLLOWING SEA (Runhappy), will make his first start for the Todd Pletcher barn in this first-level allowance sprint early on Thursday's card. Unveiled at 9-10 Mar. 6 at Santa Anita, the homebred...
Thirty minutes after Ballydoyle's Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}) earned TDN Rising Star status at The Curragh, there was another who filled the eye at that venue to also gain that tag in Peter Brant's newcomer Dr Zempf (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}). Sent off the 5-2 second favourite for the six-furlong Irish Stallion Farms EBF Race, the Ger Lyons-trained grey who cost 420,000gns at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1 travelled with distinct ease in rear under Colin Keane with the pace hot throughout the early stages. Cruising between...
As Derby week heads towards the blue riband itself, Aidan O'Brien launched one who could conceivably be a headline act for the 2022 version in Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}) who proved enormously impressive at The Curragh. Sent off the 7-4 favourite for the card's opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden for colts and geldings over seven furlongs, the full-brother to the stable's multiple group winner Broome (Ire) who cost 575,000gns at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1 was quick to dispute the lead with the experienced Barud (GB)...
3rd-Monmouth, $47,500, Alw, 5-31, (NW1X), 3yo, 6f, 1:10.83, ft, neck. MOMOS (c, 3, Distorted Humor--Inspeight of Us, by Speightstown), making his first start since a troubled seventh in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Keeneland in November, was there for the taking in the final sixteenth of a mile, but he called upon his class to post a gritty neck success. Sent off the 3-5 chalk in receipt of Lasix for the first time in his career and getting blinkers off, the $75,000 OBS Winter Mixed yearling turned...
West Point Thoroughbreds, Siena Farm, Bobby Flay and Woodford Racing's regally bred $1.5-million Fasig-Tipton Saratoga '19 co-topper First Captain (Curlin) snatched victory from the jaws of defeat Saturday to go two-for-two and garner the 'TDN Rising Star' distinction. The chestnut got going late to get up over seven panels here Apr. 24, earning a 94 Beyer Speed Figure in the process, and was even-money to continue his promising trajectory. Pressing out in the clear among a compact field through splits of :23.69 and :47.17, First Captain seemed to come under...
Beau Liam (c, 3, Liam's Map--Belle of Perintown, by Dehere) stamped himself as a sophomore to watch for the second half of the season with an eye-catching 'TDN Rising Star' performance over older horses on debut at Churchill Downs Saturday. The 5-1 chance broke well from his outside draw and sat just off the leaders in third through a sharp opening quarter in :21.73. The Stonestreet homebred, trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, revved up three deep at the quarter pole and took off in the stretch like a...
Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 3rd-BEL, $96K, Alw/Opt. Clm, 4yo/up, 1m, 2:02 p.m. ET Wertheimer and Frere's undefeated Grade I winner HAPPY SAVER (Super Saver) is slated to make his first start since October in this one-mile allowance/optional claiming affair early on Friday's card at Belmont. Debuting last June with a powerful 5 1/2-length score going seven local furlongs that earned 'TDN Rising Star' honors. Repeating with a four-length success when stretched out to two turns at Saratoga, the homebred passed his first stakes test in annexing the Federico Tesio...
Three Chimneys Farm, trainer Chad Brown and a 'TDN Rising Star' 3-year-old filly. Shades of GISWs and 'Rising Stars' Carina Mia (Malibu Moon) and Guarana (Ghostzapper) were on display at Belmont Park last week when Always Carina (f, 3, by Malibu Moon--Miss Always Ready, by More Than Ready) romped to 'TDN Rising Star' status for those same connections in an allowance optional claimer. The aforementioned pair, of course, both enjoyed memorable wins at three in Belmont's GI Acorn S. "Hopefully, she can step into those kind of shoes," Three Chimneys...
Simon and Ed Crisford trainee Flotus (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) was slowly into stride for Saturday's MansionBet Bet 10 Get 20 EBF Maiden Fillies' S. at Goodwood, but she overturned that early deficit to register a hugely impressive triumph in the six-furlong test, earning 'TDN Rising Star' status and a ticket to Royal Ascot. The 7-4 favourite was keen under attempted restraint after breaking slowly and settled into a smooth rhythm once eased away from cover. Looming large out wide after halfway, she seized the initiative passing the quarter-mile marker and...
Just two days after her superstar sire died at the age of 24, Three Chimneys Farm's Always Carina (Malibu Moon) followed up a highly-graded debut victory with a facile allowance/optional claiming romp at Belmont despite a troubled start, earning 'TDN Rising Star' honors. Unveiled at a nickel below even-money over a muddy, sealed track Apr. 11 at Aqueduct, the homebred shook off some intense early pace pressure and splashed clear in the lane to a four-length success, earning a 94 Beyer. Returning with a quartet of local interim breezes, capped...