TDN Rising Star
In a battle of two touted maiden winners, it was ENDLESSLY (Oscar Performance) who got the final say in Sunday's GIII Del Mar Juvenile Turf S. Lined up opposite 'TDN Rising Star' Boltage (Bolt d'Oro), the 5-2 second choice kept to what he knew after a winning debut over this same distance earlier in the meet July 30. Also facing two of his stablemates in this spot, Endlessly broke with the pack but was quickly outrun passing the wire the first time by. A keen Des Doigts (Hootenanny), chased intently...
'TDN Rising Star' Tamara (Bolt d'Oro) was resting comfortably in her stall Sunday morning, the day after capturing the GI FanDuel Racing Del Mar Debutante S. The daughter of Hall of Famer Beholder sat closer to the pace than in her maiden victory. When jockey Mike Smith asked her, Tamara breezed past the pacesetter, opened up by the top of the lane and cruised home much the best. The comments afterward told it all. "It gave me chills," winning trainer Richard Mandella remarked. "I've been here in California for four...
Connections of Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) can be satisfied that Sunday's G1 Irish St Leger went by without drama, but the glory was with KHK Racing's TDN Rising Star Eldar Eldarov (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}--All At Sea {GB}, by Sea The Stars {Ire}) as he returned to form to provide his sire with a group 1 double on the Curragh's star-studded card. Putting a largely underwhelming summer behind him, having been seventh in the G1 Gold Cup and fourth in the G1 Goodwood Cup, the 16-5 second favourite enjoyed a perfect...
As much as Sunday's G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National S. was about the withdrawal of City Of Troy (Justify) and the impressive winning performance of fellow TDN Rising Star Henry Longfellow (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}--Minding {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}), it was testament to Irish racing's totemic figure Aidan O'Brien who marked the occasion with a 4,000th training career success. Who else could pull a colt of the quality of the freakish G2 Superlative S. winner from such an important status event and still win it by five lengths, burying an impressive...
Sunday's G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National S. at The Curragh was denied the participation of the star turn City Of Troy (Justify) after Aidan O'Brien opted to withdraw the G2 Superlative S.-winning TDN Rising Star. Following the disappointing run of the stable's Ylang Ylang (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the preceding G1 Moyglare Stud S., the ground was deemed too easy for the exciting juvenile. The Curragh was officially good-to-yielding after heavy rain before racing. Ryan Moore switches to fellow TDN Rising Star Henry Longfellow (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), the G2 Futurity...
Some eleven years after her multiple champion dam Beholder (Henny Hughes) was just nosed out of a victory, 'TDN Rising Star' Tamara (Bolt d'Oro) did her momma proud with a thoroughly dominating performance in the GI FanDuel Racing Del Mar Debutante on closing weekend at the seaside oval. It was an effort that even exceeded the already lofty expectations of her Hall of Fame connections. "She's been doing things in her training that 2-year-olds aren't supposed to do," said her jockey Mile Smith. "She's really special. She's like her mother....
Proving once again that he belongs at the top of the tree, Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}--Rhododendron {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) laid it all out on Saturday to prevail in a gruelling edition of Leopardstown's G1 Royal Bahrain Irish Champion S. As he had in the Derby, when churning out historical sectionals at the business end, the 11-4 favourite was able to handle a demanding test carved out by last year's hero Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and pour it on late as the closers inevitably came into the picture....
There were few surprise outcomes on Leopardstown's Irish Champions card on Saturday, merely simple rubber-stamping of the positions of the season's category leaders. Step forward The Aga Khan's G1 Irish 1000 Guineas and G1 Coronation S. heroine Tahiyra (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}--Tarana {Ire}, by Cape Cross {Ire}) in the G1 Coolmore America "Justify" Matron S., which has a history of upsets but which this time kept to script. If Dermot Weld, who had earlier opted to withdraw Homeless Songs (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), had concerns about the winner's readiness beforehand one look...
Aidan O'Brien had already won nine of the 16 renewals of Leopardstown's revamped G2 KPMG Champions Juvenile S. and delivered another on Saturday with a stable one-two in the bargain. This race is a "Win and You're In" for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf in California. Despite the impressive attitude of Capulet (Justify) at the head of affairs, it was the 8-15 favourite Diego Velazquez (Ire) (Frankel {GB}--Sweepstake {Ire}, by Acclamation {GB}) who proved master of ceremonies as he took over a furlong from home en route to a...
Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Saturday's Observations features the return of a 'TDN Rising Star'. 13.40 Chantilly, Cond, €34,000, 2yo, 1600mT ELBAZ (FR) (Siyouni {Fr}) earned TDN Rising Star status on debut in Deauville's important Prix de Crevecoeur in July and Jean-Claude Rouget opts to stick to conditions races for now with The Aga...
Some of the most highly anticipated races during the summer racing season are the 'baby' races during the summer's boutique meetings. Summer Breezes highlights debuting 2-year-olds at those meetings that have been sourced at the breeze-up sales earlier in the year, with links to their under-tack previews. To follow are the entries for Saturday at Del Mar, including previously raced fillies going postward in the GI Del Mar Debutante: Saturday, September 9, 2023 Del Mar 3, $82k, 2yo, f, (S), 5 1/2f, 5:30 p.m. ET Horse (Sire), Sale, Price ($),...
The going sticks will get stuck and with the rails down or out, the Saturday graded stakes lineup trucks in with heaps of sod for your turf racing enjoyment. Whether you are a dabbling duck or one that takes a deep dive, there is something for everyone as the Downs--Kentucky and Colonial--plus Woodbine Racetrack and the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, all feature high-level grass action. KENTUCKY DOWNS GRADED SIX PACK The uniquely designed turf course at Kentucky Downs cards the most graded stakes this Saturday, which will lead off with...