TDN Rising Star

Grade I winner Tenma (Nyquist), Alpha Bella (Justify)--who was scratched from last Saturday's GII Buena Vista on turf in favor of this weekend's GI B. Wayne Hughes Beholder Mile on dirt--and royally-bred Eagles Flight (Curlin) were among several notable workers Sunday at Santa Anita. Tenma worked five furlongs in 1:02.60 for trainer Bob Baffert. Most recently, the filly won the GIII Fasig-Tipton Las Virgenes Stakes on Feb. 2. She is being pointed to the GII Santa Anita Oaks on Apr. 5. Winner of last season's GIII La Prevoyante at Gulfstream,...

'TDN Rising Star' Locked (Gun Runner) has always been highly regarded. By one of the nation's hottest sires and sold for $425,000 as a 2022 Keeneland September yearling, he affirmed that regard with a Grade I win at two. Sent to the sidelines for nearly a year before coming back to win the GII Cigar Mile Handicap in his only stakes start at three, he opened his 4-year-old campaign with a second to White Abarrio (Race Day) in the Jan. 25 Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park before shipping...

Godolphin homebred Sovereignty (Into Mischief) kicked off his sophomore campaign in style with a dramatic, last-to-first victory in Saturday's GII Coolmore Fountain of Youth S. at Gulfstream Park, good for 50 points on the road to the GI Kentucky Derby. Last of six and urged along by Junior Alvarado to keep pace through a half mile in :47.07, Sovereignty began to get going with a four-wide blitz on the far turn. Still with his work cut out for him in third as they straightened, the 3-1 third choice leveled off...

After starting his career with two daylight wins at Gulfstream Park and Churchill Downs last year on GI Florida Derby Day and GI Kentucky Derby Day, respectively, 'TDN Rising Star' Mindframe (Constitution) nearly pulled off victory in the GI Belmont Stakes in only his third career start, finishing just a half-length behind Dornoch (Good Magic), and then finishing second to that same rival in the GI Haskell Stakes. Sent to the sidelines with bone bruising after those four scintillating starts, the Repole Stable and St. Elias Stables runner made his...

Bet down like a sure thing when debuted on Pegasus World Cup day, Disruptor (Gun Runner) was caught on the lead late and forced to settle for third that afternoon. Employing a different tactic Saturday but still heavily wagered upon at 3-5, the Triple Crown-nominated colt came home by nearly double digits in his second start to be named a new 'TDN Rising Star'. Breaking from the far outside for the familiar combination of Todd Pletcher and Irad Ortiz, Jr in the Repole Stable blue and orange silks, Disruptor was...

As the calendar turns to March, Derby fever kicks into high gear with no fewer than six races awarding points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby or the Kentucky Oaks respectively this weekend. Saturday features the return of the undefeated GII San Vincente Stakes winner Barnes (Into Mischief) for trainer Bob Baffert as one of a six-horse field in the GII DK Horse San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita. The $3.2m FTSAUG grad lines up with a pair of well-regarded stablemates in Mellencamp (Constitution) and 'TDN Rising Star' Rodriguez...

"An eagle-eyed former Timeform employee, Adam guarantees that if the next Notable Speech is out there, about to make his debut on the all-weather this winter before marching on to Classic glory, then he will spot him. No pressure, then." Those were the words of TDN colleague Emma Berry when she penned her final Seven Days column of 2024, teeing up what was to come in the column introduced in its stead for the winter. Now, in this 12th edition of Winter Watch, we've reached the stage where it's time...

WinStar Farm's first-year stallions Cogburn (Not This Time), 'TDN Rising Star' Timberlake (Into Mischief), and 'TDN Rising Star' Heartland (Justify) have each had their first mares checked in foal, the farm announced Friday. For more information on Cogburn ($30,000 S&N), Timberlake ($20,000 S&N), and Heartland ($10,000 S&N), visit the WinStar Farm website here.  

Those thinking that lightning can't strike twice may have to think again after Godolphin's TDN Rising Star Opera Ballo (Ire) (Ghaiyyath {Ire}--Dubai Opera {GB}, by Invincible Spirit {Ire}) trod a familiar path for Charlie Appleby at Kempton on Wednesday evening. Introduced in the same course-and-distance maiden last month won in 2024 by the yard's subsequent 2,000 Guineas hero Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), the €600,000 Arqana Deauville August graduate had not let the side down with an emphatic 8 1/2-length success on that occasion and was duly sent off the...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Wednesday's Observations features the return of a 'TDN Rising Star'. 7.30 Kempton, Cond, £60,000, 3yo, 8f (AWT) OPERA BALLO (IRE) (Ghaiyyath {Ire}) takes in this "European Road To The Kentucky Derby" Conditions Stakes which tends to have little or no bearing on that monument but which 12 months ago...

Shortleaf Stable's Quietside (Malibu Moon) had been knocking on the door of stakes success since she was tabbed a 'TDN Rising Star' following her debut win at Saratoga last August, but finally the filly just broke the door down with an emphatic victory in the GIII Honeybee Stakes at Oaklawn Park Sunday. Five G (Vekoma) rocketed from her far outside post at the start of the 1 1/16-mile race and cleared the field, with Quietside, who broke just to her inside, shadowing her move into first turn. Favored Muhimma (Munnings),...

Cornucopian (c, 3, Into Mischief--Magical World, by Distorted Humor) left his backers in little doubt on this unveiling, running his competition off their feet and on to 'TDN Rising Stardom'. Away quickly from the gates, the son of the venerable Into Mischief flashed good early foot as the 3-5 favorite and sailed along through :21.86 and :45.50 splits while 34-1 longshot Oil Capital (Maclean's Music) tried to make a race of it. Hounded relentlessly by that one going into the bend, he was well in control coming into the home...