TDN Rising Star

With a name like Will Happen (Vekoma--Walk of Fame, by Scat Daddy) you would think that a 'TDN Rising Star' would be in the offing. Of course, the filly had to sparkle in the fifth at Del Mar to earn her badge and sparkle she did. The 2-year-old turned and burned in her maiden-breaking debut on Sunday. A $210,000 OBS March breezer (see Alan Carasso's Summer Breezes), the first-time starter was sent off as the 2-1 choice here. At the bell, Will Happen looked like a sharp stick and had...

Continuing to dominate her division, Sweet Azteca (Sharp Azteca) shrugged off the talented yet lightly-raced Formula Rossa (Vekoma) to win her second consecutive GIII Rancho Bernardo Stakes at Del Mar. The race was also part of the Breeders' Cup Dirt Dozen Bonus Series heading toward the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, that will be run at Del Mar on Nov. 1. Sweet Azteca's victory earned her an additional $15,000 toward the $30,000 entrance fee for the $1-million race. The 2-5 choice broke cleanly from the outside and came...

Amo Racing's Tattersalls October Book 1 millionaire Ancient Egypt (Frankel) registered a half-length debut win tackling an extended seven furlongs at Beverley last month and delivered a TDN Rising Star performance, racing under a seven-pound penalty, upped to one mile in Sunday's British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes at Goodwood. "It was a messy, stop-start race, but the benefit was that he had something to aim at," said Charlie Johnston. "He was still a little bit gawky when he did hit the front and it looked to me that there...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.--For 41 straight years, Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey had found his way to the winner's circle at Saratoga Race Course. The way things had been going this summer, he was starting to think his streak of at least one win at the Spa was going to come to a screeching halt. Five Bars (Maxfield) split through rivals late and emerged victorious in Saturday's third race at Saratoga, a $100,000 maiden special weight for 2-year-old fillies at 6 1/2 furlongs. When the Stuart Janney homebred won the...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.--Big Dom's (McKinzie) gritty neck victory at Saratoga Race Course Saturday included a couple of noteworthy angles that had absolutely nothing to do with the running of the sixth race. Like his name. And his training partner. It took a strong performance from the Greenwell Thoroughbreds colt to edge Dr. Kapur (McKinzie) after they battled through the stretch. With Jose Ortiz aboard, the first-time starter completed the six-furlong $100,000 maiden special weight for 2-year-olds in 1:09.47 and paid $8.50. First, the name. Philadelphia Eagles fans know well the...

Greenwell Thoroughbreds' Big Dom (c, 2, McKinzie--Half A.P., by Pulpit) and Dr. Kapur (McKinzie) threw down in the final furlong in front of the Travers day crowd assembled at Saratoga Saturday afternoon, and the duo sprinted well clear of their rivals, with the former prevailing in a tight finish to become the day's third 'TDN Rising Star'. The 13-4 second choice behind 5-2 pick Vino Vici (Vino Rosso)--the only member of the octet with previous race experience-- Big Dom raced between Dr. Kapur to his inside and Vino Vici to...

A sneaky 9.90-1 chance while making her debut in what appeared to be a typically salty Travers Day maiden, Stuart Janney III's Five Bars (f, 2, Maxfield--Secure Connection, by Data Link) was broadsided bilaterally and pinched back at the break and raced near the back of the pack into the final quarter mile of Saturday's third race from the Spa, but went through her gears and split rivals late to score narrowly, nicely enough to be named the afternoon's second 'TDN Rising Star'. Drawn gate four, Five Bars was smashed...

Backed into 2.45-1 favoritism for his career debut in the Saratoga lid-lifter on Travers Day, Dahman's Bottas (c, 2, Vekoma--Iadorakid, by Lemon Drop Kid) became the second 'TDN Rising Star' for his dam as he was ridden quietly from the back of a six-horse field by Flavien Prat and exploded through the final furlong and a half to defeat the well-meant Franklin Delano (Liam's Map) by 2 1/4 comfortable lengths in solid time. A $300,000 OBS April breezer (see Summer Breezes), the dark bay--a 7-2 chance on the morning line...

4th-ELP, $100K, Msw, 2yo, f, 6f, 2:16 p.m. ET. Peter Blum homebred ELITE (Into Mischief) makes her first start for trainer Rodolphe Brisset. Out of Flawless (Mr. Greeley), the 2-year-old is a full-sister to current sire Authentic. Also drawn in the same race is Gary & Mary West homebred Fashion Designer (Into Mischief), who is trained by Brad Cox. Her dam Beach Walk produced current sire Life Is Good and GSW Most Wanted (Candy Ride {Arg}). Woodslane bred Sister Troienne (Munnings) is a Brian Lynch trainee whose own dam is...

There really isn't a whole lot that trainer Bill Mott has left to accomplish in the Thoroughbred business. Since recording his first graded stakes victory with Heatherten--who also gave him his first Grade I success--for owner John Franks some 41 years ago, the 72-year-old has saddled the winners of over 150 top-level contests with superstars of either sex, such as Taylor's Special, Theatrical (Ire), Paradise Creek, Fraise, legendary dual Horse of the Year Cigar, Ajina, Escena, Wekiva Springs, Favorite Trick, Dream Supreme and her son Majestic Warrior, Drosselmeyer, To Honor...

5. READY FOR CANDY, SAR, 8/17, 1 1/8 miles (turf) (VIDEO) Beyer Speed Figure-86 (f, 3, by Twirling Candy--Enoree, by More Than Ready) O-Lindy Farms. B-Mark Dodson (Ont-C). T-Philip Antonacci. J-Irad Ortiz Jr. The Antonacci family is legendary in harness racing, but has had success with thoroughbreds, too, and February $400k Fasig Tipton buy Ready for Candy made a splash at Saratoga in her 3-year-old debut. Now trained by young Phil Antonacci, she controlled the pace to the stretch then zipped away by 7 ¾ lengths. For her previous connections,...

Tip Top Thomas burst onto the scene as a 2-year-old, earning a 'TDN Rising Star' badge at Saratoga in late August last season before running a game second to Chancer McPatrick (McKinzie) in the GI Champagne Stakes to cap his 2024 campaign. Shelved for most of the winter and spring, the son of Volatile return to the races at Keeneland with a fourth facing allowance horses in April before getting back in the winner's circle in his last two starts including a gate to wire track record-setting win in the...