TDN Rising Star

There was nothing stealthy about her leap into the air at the break but it didn't matter late as the eye-catching Sneakily (Tapit) went last to first to secure the TDN stamp of approval as the newest 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' at Churchill. The grey was debuted at Ellis Park Aug. 18 and had the misfortune of having to close on an uncontested leader. Having spent most of her time near the rear of the field after she broke slowly and was bumped around, Sneakily came home from...

'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Explora (Blame) returned to her winning ways on Sunday with a confident victory in the Leslie's Lady Stakes at Churchill Downs. Off here at even-money, Explora found herself in a familiar position at the head of affairs, but had persistent company in Brooklyn Blonde (Gun Runner) through an opening quarter in :22.72 and a half-mile in :45.07. Turning that one away heading for home, Explora dug deep to fend off an oncoming rush from On Time Girl, but kept her at bay by a...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - She's got the 'Golden' touch. After pulling off a historic 23-1 upset in the GI Kentucky Derby, the Cherie DeVaux-trained 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Golden Tempo (Curlin) doubled up in Saturday's GI Belmont Stakes, held for the third and final time at Saratoga. The Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable homebred and future Lane's End stallion followed in the footsteps of Sovereignty (Into Mischief), who also secured the first and third legs of last year's Triple Crown after famously skipping the GI Preakness Stakes....

Given a masterful ride from two-time Eclipse Award-winning jockey Flavien Prat, 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Nysos (h, 5, Nyquist--Zetta Z, by Bernardini) overcame a bit of a tricky trip, but pulled clear from a furlong and a half out to post an impressive victory in Saturday's GI Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Handicap at Saratoga. Fellow 'Rising Star' Knightsbridge completed a noteworthy 1-2 finish for Darley America stallion Nyquist. The Met Mile is a Breeders' Cup Challenge race for the GI Dirt Mile at Keeneland Oct. 31. Looking to...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - It was a 'Man' versus boys in the GI Woody Stephens S. at Saratoga Saturday. C R K Stable's Englishman (Maxfield), a well-beaten second behind Crude Velocity (Beau Liam) in the battle of unbeaten 'TDN Rising Stars, presented by Hagyard' in the GII Pat Day Mile S. on Kentucky Derby day, turned the tables with authority on the cutback to seven furlongs, equaling Darby Creek Road's track record of 1:20.40 set in 1978. "It doesn't surprise me," winning trainer Cherie DeVaux said. "This horse is so...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - A star is born at the Spa. West Point Thoroughbreds's Counting Stars (Honor A. P.), third behind 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Always a Runner (Gun Runner) in the GI Kentucky Oaks, turned the tables on the previously undefeated 4-5 favorite with a spectacular performance in Friday's GI DraftKings Acorn S. at Saratoga. With Irad Ortiz, Jr. taking over the controls from Francisco Arrieta, the 9-2 chance raced under a snug hold on the inside in third as the longest shot on the board Maximum...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - It was suggested to trainer Brad Cox that Commandment (Into Mischief) was a forgotten horse coming into the 158th running of the $2-million GI Belmont Stakes. "Not with me," Cox said at his office on the Oklahoma Training Track. Then a pause and a smile. "But I know what you mean," he said. "I don't know if he is or not (forgotten). All I know is that he is doing well. I have liked his works since the Derby; I liked how he shipped up here...

Heavy is the head that wears the crown, but for the reigning queen of the GII Bed O' Roses Stakes, it proved to be figurative weight she could valiantly bear en route to her title defense. Ways and Means (Practical Joke) looked to be beaten at the head of affairs, but gamely re-rallied in the final yards to nail a wildly unlucky Grand Job (Justify) by a nose in an exciting 2026 running at Saratoga. The Chad Brown trainee has had a very short career the last two seasons--her 2025...

Opening for bidding with 31 offerings, the 2026 Inglis Digital USA June Sale is now online, and is led by in-form racing prospects coming off strong recent performances--namely Gigabit (Dialed In) and Range Goat (Bolt d'Oro). The former is a 3-year-old filly last seen earning a 92 Beyer for her allowance victory at Horseshoe Indianapolis by a widening 6 1/4 lengths. She is a half-sister to multiple stakes winner Twirling Queen (Twirling Candy) and they're both daughters of MSW Adventurous Lady (Kantharos). Gigabit is consigned by Lantern Hill Farm, and...

3rd-Saratoga, $115,000, Msw, 6-5, 3yo/up, 6 1/2f, 1:16.34, ft, 3 lengths. Tab at Zanzibar (Candy Ride {Arg}), second behind 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Sea Strike (Midshipman) in his debut at Aqueduct Apr. 25, came back one better Friday to graduate at the Belmont at Saratoga meet for owners Robert LaPenta and Madaket Stables. Drawn inside and forwardly placed in this 6 1/2-furlong spot, the 3-1 second choice was outrun only by longshot Onepac (Cupid) to his inside as that front pair opened up a small gap back to...

1st-SAR, 115K, Msw, 3yo/up, f, 7f, 11:00 a.m. What CROWNING GLORY (Uncle Mo) may lack in race experience, she makes up for in pedigree power. A daughter of Eclipse-winning older mare and MGISW Close Hatches, this filly is a half to a trio of talented runners each sired by the legendary Tapit in MGSW/MGISP Tacitus, GI Breeders' Cup Distaff winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Scylla and GSW Batten Down. Close Hatches is of course herself a full-sister to SW/MGISP Lockdown, the dam of two-time champion Idiomatic (Curlin). Bill Mott, who...

Saturday's Belmont Stakes is the last of nine top-level events on the weekend and the final of the six highly anticipated Grade I contests scheduled for a bumper card at Saratoga, short, medium and long on both the turf and the main track. A top-quality field of seven is set to face the starter in the GI Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Handicap, for which 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Nysos (Nyquist) is the 9-5 morning-line favorite and 126-pound topweight in the 'Win and You're In' qualifier for the GI Breeders'...