TDN Rising Star

Kentucky Senator Henry Clay might be considered one of the premier American politicians pre-Lincoln, but what is not up for debate was his fervent commitment to breeding equine athletes and attending the races. You cannot actually visit his home--Ashland--because the structure that stands on the Clay Estate just south of downtown Lexington is not original to "The Great Compromiser" and his time. However, interpretations of Clay-related objects enliven the tour. Ashland in name was imported as a stakes race when Keeneland opened in 1936. Some familiar female runners who graced...

'TDN Rising Star' Timberlake (Into Mischief), fourth as the favorite in last Saturday's GI Arkansas Derby, will not be pointed to the GI Kentucky Derby, according to a report in Daily Racing Form. The GI Champagne S. winner and GII Rebel S. winner is currently ranked fifth with 81 points for the Kentucky Derby. "Based on the performance over the weekend, we are not going to run in the Kentucky Derby," trainer Brad Cox told DRF. "We are thinking about cutting him back in distance." Cox added, "He came out...

Sunday's Listed Preis von Dahlwitz at Hoppegarten witnessed the return of last year's G1 Deutsches Derby first and second Fantastic Moon (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) and Mr Hollywood (Ire) (Iquitos {Ger}), but with a two-kilo swing in his favour it was the latter who turned the tables to get his 2024 campaign off to a flyer. Labelled a TDN Rising Star on his jaw-dropping debut at Mulheim last April, Mr Hollywood proved that to be no fluke with success in Munich's G3 Bavarian Classic and runner-up finishes in Cologne's...

'TDN Rising Star' and champion 2-year-old Fierceness (City of Light) exited his 13 1/2-length romp in Saturday's GI Curlin Florida Derby in "great" condition according to a social media post by owner Repole Stables. The post, accompanied by a photo of the colt with his winning flowers, reads: "Good morning from Fierceness. He came out of the race great. What a thrilling and epic performance! Happy and healthy Easter to all." With a leaderboard-topping 136 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, Fierceness is bound for Louisville along with...

If you do not happen to be a Lord of the Rings devotee, then as a horse racing fan you might assume that Gandalf, Frodo, Saruman and Sauron were just names some eccentric owners concocted to toy with The Jockey Club. Well, for true disciples of Tolkein, you understand the 'Two Towers' reference is a major theme in the trilogy, but for our purposes it simply denotes coverage. This Saturday, both Oaklawn Park and Gulfstream Park are those poles of power when it comes to authoring graded stakes. Their cards...

6th-Gulfstream, $72,000, Alw (NW1X)/Opt. Clm ($75,000), 3-28, 3yo, 1m, 1:36.75, ft, 9 lengths. KNIGHTSBRIDGE (c, 3, Nyquist--Tyburn Brook, by Bernardini), a jaw-dropping debut winner going seven furlongs at Churchill Downs Nov. 4, returned to the races in style at Gulfstream Park Thursday afternoon. The 1-9 favorite, drawn widest of all in post five, broke alertly and held a narrow advantage through an opening quarter in :23.40. Facing continued pressure through a half mile in :45.40, the 'TDN Rising Star' began to shake free turning for home and dropped the hammer...

Two days after Classic prospect Narkez (Fr) brought up an 11th TDN Rising Star for Siyouni (Fr), White Birch Farm's unbeaten filly Louise Procter (Fr) made it a dozen for the Aga Khan's star sire when dazzling at Chantilly. Coming into Thursday's Prix du Belvedere off the back of two juvenile wins at Saint-Cloud and Deauville spaced apart in May and December, the Jean-Claude Rouget-trained granddaughter of Anabaa's Creation (Ire) (Anabaa) travelled easily with two behind early. Set alight by Cristian Demuro approaching two out, the 2-1 favourite who is...

The extended 10-furlong View Restaurant At Dundalk Stadium Maiden has been used by Aidan O'Brien for his potential Derby colts in recent years and Tuesday's renewal was no exception as Agenda (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}--Different League {Fr}, by Dabirsim {Fr}) became the stable's latest TDN Rising Star. Following on from Galileo's Changingoftheguard (Ire) who two years earlier had won this en route to taking the G3 Chester Vase and G2 King Edward VII S., the highly encouraging third in a seven-furlong Curragh maiden in October was able to fully justify 11-10...

It was only a matter of time before Andre Fabre unveiled a new bright prospect among his 2024 crop of 3-year-old Classic aspirants and it was during Tuesday's meeting at Saint-Cloud that the Chantilly maestro delivered one of the first. Producing a power-packed performance in testing conditions, Nurlan Bizakov's homebred colt Narkez (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}--Nazym {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) earned TDN Rising Star status in the card's often-informative mile conditions event, the Prix Comrade, to prompt Prix du Jockey Club talk. Sent off the 3-1 second favourite behind stablemate Supercooled...

In a field of 10, 'TDN Rising Stars' GISW Muth (Good Magic) and GISW Timberlake (Into Mischief) have drawn the seven and two gate spots, respectively, and lead the charge in Oaklawn's feature GI Kentucky Derby prep race, the GI Arkansas Derby. Muth, 8-5 on the morning line, will attempt to give Bob Baffert his fifth win in the contest, but hasn't started since finding the winner's enclosure in the GII San Vicente S. Jan. 6 at Santa Anita. The colt is ineligible for the Derby points and to run...

The partnership of Three Chimneys Farm, William Lawrence and Walmac Farm went to $1,200,000 to secure Cartucho (Gun Runner) as a yearling at the 2022 Keeneland September Sale and were quickly rewarded when their buy graduated on debut in 'TDN Rising Star'-style at Tampa Sunday. Favored at 6-5 as one of only three first-time starters in the field, Cartucho was slow from the gate and got squeezed back from the early frontrunners to be last in the opening jumps. Quickly into stride, Javier Castellano stayed along the rail inside of...

Sunday's TRM Equine Nutrition Race at Naas looked an intriguing contest, with four winners lined up including one who was Group 1-placed at two. At the end, there was one who was in total command and that was the filly Purple Lily (Ire) (Calyx {GB}--Boca Raton {Ire}, by Approve {Ire}) who flashed distinct Classic potential to earn TDN Rising Star status. Racing for Alan O'Flynn's Zinlo Syndicate, the Paddy Twomey-trained Tatts Ireland Goresbridge Breeze Up sensation had made an instant impression when off the mark in an often-informative Galway maiden...