TDN Rising Star

The Equibase chart detailing the running of race 2 at Churchill Downs Wednesday summarized Sassy C W (Yaupon)'s performance very succinctly: 'rocket ship, hand ride'. Yup, that pretty much summed up the TDN Rising Star-earning performance. Appearing to be catapulted out of post 7, Sassy C W instantly opened up by three lengths as third choice Wakuda (Gun Runner), her closest rival, gave futile chase. Still churning her piston-like legs approaching the quarter pole, the Larry Rivelli-conditioned filly pivoted off the turn nine lengths in front, and was as good...

Naas's opening six-furlong fillies' maiden on Monday has a rich recent history and there was a lot to suggest that Ballydoyle's Simply Astounding (Wootton Bassett {GB}) can add another chapter. The fourth foal out of the high-achiever Minding (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the 11-8 favourite was out smartly and able to keep close tabs on the leading pair with Ryan Moore enjoying a straightforward trip. In front two out, the homebred drew away along with the well-regarded Cape Sounion (Ire) (No Nay Never) to beat that Donnacha O'Brien-trained rival by 1...

7th-Aqueduct, $71,340, Alw (NW1$X)/Opt. Clm ($100,000), 4-27, 3yo, 1m, 1:36.58, ft, 3 1/4 lengths. GARAMOND (c, 3, Uncle Mo--Blue Watch, by Tapit) broke his maiden by 1 3/4 lengths on debut at Tampa Bay Jan. 25. The colt ran third to Flood Zone (Frosted) in the GIII Gotham Stakes Mar. 1 before going off as the 5-2 second choice here in a field that scratched down from eight to three. The homebred rolled from the word 'go' and gave 'TDN Rising Star' Cornucopian (Into Mischief) a dose of his own...

In a surprising turn of events where none of the betting favorites finished better than seventh, Public Assembly (More Than Ready) gathered the rest and led home a pair of double-digit choices to score her first black-type in the GIII Royal Heroine Stakes at Santa Anita. Coming into the race off a victory last out Mar. 30 against local optional claimers in her first jump for her new connections, the chestnut was bet down to 8-1 odds as 'TDN Rising Star' Raw Ability (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}) commanded the lion's share...

Listed Excelsior Stakes-placed Masmak (Vino Rosso), consigned by ELiTE as agent, was sold for $375,000 after the conclusion of the Keeneland April Selected Horses of Racing Age sale, and is officially the auction topper, Keeneland announced Saturday afternoon. Changing hands to Cromwell Bloodstock, the chestnut is out of GSP Nite In Rome (Harlan's Holiday), making him a half-brother to 'TDN Rising Star' MGSW Three Technique (Mr Speaker) and MSW & MGSP Stan the Man (Broken Vow). With the new sale, the results have been updated as follows: 47 horses sold...

Arcadia Michigan Stable's Here Comes Francis, a son of the gone-too-soon Improbable, improved his record to two impressive victories from as many trips to the races, as the chestnut bossed a field of entry-level allowance rivals by 5 1/4 comprehensive lengths Saturday afternoon at Tampa Bay Downs, becoming the newest 'TDN Rising Star' for his efforts. He received an 89 Beyer Speed Figure. Having cost $100,000 at the 2023 Keeneland September sale, the Feb. 23 colt breezed his eighth of a mile in a slick :9 4/5 ahead of last...

Umberto Rispoli, the second-leading rider at the Hollywood Meet at Santa Anita, is off all his Saturday mounts due to his connecting flight from Kentucky being canceled, 1S/T Racing announced Saturday afternoon. Rispoli flew in to Churchill Downs overnight to partner with likely Kentucky Derby favorite GISW Journalism (Curlin) in his final pre-Derby work, but those plans were scrubbed when the work was postponed to Sunday due to the rain. The jockey was named on six rides for the Saturday card, including on 'TDN Rising Star' Eagles Flight (Curlin), the...

Five Kentucky Derby hopefuls were on track Saturday morning during the special training period for Oaks and Derby horses at Churchill Downs, but one, GISW Tappan Street (Into Mischief), has been withdrawn from the big race with an injury. As reported early Saturday morning, the son of Into Mischief had just completed a five furlong breeze when regular rider Luis Saez felt that 'something was off' afterwards. X-rays back at the barn revealed a condylar fracture, and while trainer Brad Cox reports it is not a major injury, it will...

Navan's Saturday card featured a trio of black-type contests, but early focus centred on the €18,000 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden for juveniles, in which Coolmore and Westerberg's Charles Darwin (Ire) (No Nay Never), a full-brother to dual Group 1 winner Blackbeard (Ire), illuminated proceedings with a spectacular 5 1/2-length triumph. Aidan O'Brien had annexed three consecutive renewals of the near-six furlong contest, including with subsequent G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere hero Camille Pissarro (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) last year, and his 8-11 pick was away sharply to gain immediate control...

9th-Keeneland, $139,423, Alw (NW3$X)/Opt. Clm ($100,000), 4-25, 4yo/up, 1 1/8m, 1:48.60, sy, 3 1/4 lengths. UNMATCHED WISDOM (c, 4, Cairo Prince--Glide On By, by Pure Prize) earned his 'TDN Rising Star' tag with a 6 1/4-length win at Aqueduct just over a year ago and stayed undefeated through a win in the Curlin Stakes at Saratoga July 19. Off the board however in both the GI Travers Stakes and the GI Pennsylvania Derby, he went to the sidelines for the rest of the year and just resurfaced off the seven-month...

Kentucky Oaks hopeful and 'TDN Rising Star' Quietside (Malibu Moon), winner of the GII Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn, and the Kentucky Derby-bound Grande (Curlin), runner-up in the GII Wood Memorial Stakes at the Big A, worked at Keeneland on Friday. Quietside was clocked in :48.20 for a half-mile with her Oaks jockey, Jose Ortiz, in the saddle. "Jose and I had a plan to give her just a half-mile and easy gallop out just to keep her on her toes from here on out," trainer John Ortiz said. "She worked...

Champion 2-Year-Old Colt Fierceness (City of Light) is pointing to the GII Alysheba Stakes on the Kentucky Oaks undercard where it's possible he could duel with fellow Todd Pletcher trainee Locked (Gun Runner), according to a tweet by Fierceness owner Mike Repole on Friday. The message on Repole's account said, "Fierceness will be making his 4-year-old debut at Churchill Downs in the Alysheba Stakes. He will square off vs barn mate and super-talented multiple Grade I winner Locked! What a matchup! Racing fans wanted to see more older horses comeback...