Today's Edition:  Record-Setting $1.4M Justify Filly Leads The Way at OBS · Baeza Set for Summer Showdown · Royal Ascot Coverage 2

Todd Pletcher

Feb. 22 Insights

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency INTRIGUING FIRSTERS IN HALLANDALE 3rd-GP, $50K, Msw, 3yo, 7f, 1:04p.m. LIAM'S POINT (Liam's Map) has been a buzz horse off his breezes leading up to this unveiling. The Todd Pletcher pupil displays several bullet drills at Palm Beach Downs and in his most recent five panel move in 1:01.80 (3/6), he worked in company highly regarded 'TDN Rising Star' Spice is Nice (Curlin) (XBTV video). The bay is a half-brother to Grade I winner Sam's Sister (Brother Derek) and SW Sensitive (Divine Park). TJCIS PPs...

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Empire Racing Club Launches Season 2

The Empire Racing Club (ERC), an initiative by the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association introducing fans to racehorse ownership, announced the launch of the 2020 season, which officially kicks off Apr. 1. Created in 2019, the non-profit organization will again be managed by race-caller Tom Durkin. Training the current team of runners for the 2020 season are Todd Pletcher, Mark Casse, and Linda Rice. "ERC has been an enjoyable and rewarding experience for me," said Durkin. "Having been in an 8x10 announcer's booth for 40 years was a fun way...

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Pricey Candy Ride Colt Figures Things Out Late in Gulfstream Debut

MONEY MOVES (c, 3, Candy Ride {Arg}--Citizen Advocate, by Proud Citizen), a $975,000 OBS April purchase last year after a :10 flat breeze, figured things out late in his Saturday unveiling to begin repaying his owners' investment. Slowly away, he advanced some down the backside and on the turn but still had his work cut out for him as longshot Sagamore Mischief (Into Mischief) headed for home well in front. Money Moves found his stride down the center of the muddy stretch, however, and inhaled the pacesetter to score by...

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Gouverneur Morris Gets the Job Done in Seasonal Debut

6th-Tampa Bay Downs, $20,000, Alw (NW1X)/Opt. Clm ($75,000), 2-14, 3yo, 1m 40y, 1:38.88, ft. GOUVERNEUR MORRIS (c, 3, Constitution--Addison Run {SP}, by Unbridled's Song) had to overcome a few tense moments, but ultimately kicked off his sophomore season successfully Friday afternoon at Tampa. A nine-length debut winner sprinting in the Saratoga slop Sept. 2, the grey was second as the favorite behind a dominant performance from Maxfield (Street Sense) and ahead of last month's GIII Lecomte S. winner Enforceable (Tapit). His connections opted to skip a trip to the Breeders'...

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Saturday's Insights: $975K Candy Ride Colt Debuts at Gulfstream

1st-AQU, $68K, Msw, 3yo, 6.5fT, 1:00 p.m. ET Gary Barber and ERJ Racing LLC's PATROL (Liam's Map) debuts for trainer Mark Casse. The second highest-priced juvenile of 2019 for Liam's Map (the sire's third highest-priced 2-year-old overall last year), the grey was secured for $350,000 at Keeneland last April. Dylan Davis gets the mount. TJCIS PPs 2nd-FG, $50K, Msw, 3yo, 9f, 1:29 p.m. ET Triple Crown nominated AIRSTREEM (Tapit), a half-brother to champion and Classic heroine Rachel Alexandra (Medaglia d'Oro), closed from off the pace to be fourth going six...

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Feb. 8 Insights
Feb. 8 Insights

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency EXPENSIVE SPEIGHTSTOWN DEBUTS AT TAMPA 4th-TAM, $27K, Msw, 3yo, 1m 40yds, 1:46p.m. WinStar and China Horse Club signed the $750,000 ticket on EXTRAORDINARY (Speightstown) at Keeneland September and breeder Stonestreet Stables stayed in as a partner on the colt, who debuts in this spot for Rodolphe Brisset. The chestnut is out of four-time graded winner and MGISP millionaire Fiftyshadesofhay (Pulpit), a $1.3-million purchase by Stonestreet at the 2014 KEENOV sale. Let's Go Stable and Repole Stables also send out a Stonestreet homebred for his career...

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In Sharper Focus: Eve of War

The highly regarded duo of Harvey's Lil Goil (American Pharoah) and unbeaten 'TDN Rising Star' Taraz (Into Mischief) weren't the only 3-year-old fillies to strut their stuff last weekend. Eve of War (Declaration of War) announced her presence by dusting six rivals in front-running fashion on debut for trainer Todd Pletcher at Gulfstream Park Sunday. The Jeff Treadway homebred earned an eye-opening 88 Beyer Speed Figure in the six-furlong affair. For comparison, Harvey's Lil Goil was awarded an 82 Beyer in Sunday's Busanda S. at Aqueduct while Taraz earned an...

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In Sharper Focus: Fearless

A late-blooming gelding kicks off his career with two straight impressive victories carrying the white silks of WinStar Farm. Sound familiar? While the talented 'TDN Rising Star' Diversify (Bellamy Road) eventually changed hands as a racing prospect at the 2016 Keeneland November Sale prior to posting a pair of Grade I victories for Ralph and Lauren Evans, Kenny Troutt's operation was represented by the promising blowout allowance optional claiming winner Fearless (Ghostzapper) at Gulfstream Saturday. The unbeaten 4-year-old gelding, campaigned in partnership with China Horse Club International, earned an eye-catching...

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Feb. 6 Insights: Curlin Rising Star Returns Off Long Layoff at Big A

7th-Aqueduct, $75K, Alw/Opt. Clm ($62,500), 1m, 4:25 ET Repole Stable's LEGIT (Curlin) followed up a dominant debut victory going a mile at Gulfstream with an equally impressive two-turn, 'TDN Rising Star'-earning score in the Pimlico slop on Preakness weekend in 2018, but disappeared after that and resurfaces off a near 21-month layoff in this mile feature at Aqueduct. Unveiled as a 17-10 chance in Hallandale, the chestnut scampered away to triumph in hand by 7 1/4 lengths, then rallied from well off the pace to a four-length tally despite a...

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Storm the Court Tops 347 Early Triple Crown Noms

A total of 347 3-year-olds, headed by juvenile champion and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Storm the Court (Court Vision), were nominated to this year's Triple Crown during the early nomination phase, which closed Jan. 25. All of the newly-turned 3-year-olds were nominated with a $600 payment to run in this season's GI Kentucky Derby May 2; GI Preakness S. May 16; and the GI Belmont S. June 6. The total decreased 4.1% (15 horses) from last year's 362 that were nominated at this stage. Leading the fray is Exline-Border...

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Wednesday's Insights: Promising Carpe Diem Colt Takes on Winners at Gulfstream

9th-GP, $51K, OC 75k/N1X, 3yo, 7f, 5:03 p.m. ET CARPE OMNIOUS (Carpe Diem) punched through an inviting opening along the rail to win at first asking going six furlongs with a very solid 83 Beyer Speed Figure at Gulfstream Dec. 21. The priciest of 73 first-crop yearlings by Carpe Diem to sell in 2018 when he brought $550,000 at Keeneland September, Carpe Omnious is co-owned by WinStar Farm and China Horse Club International and trained by Todd Pletcher. His dam Renards Lapin (Tiznow) is a half-sister to English highweight Lucky...

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Declaration of War Filly Sharp in Gulfstream Unveiling

6th-Gulfstream, $43,000, Msw, 2-2, 3yo, f, 6f, 1:11.01, ft. EVE OF WAR (f, 3, Declaration of War--Special Thanks, by Broken Vow) was pounded down to even-money off a steady, if not overly quick series of drills at Palm Beach Downs (click for XBTV video), but she showed plenty of zip in the afternoon to run up the score Sunday. Slicing through foes soon after the start to take over, she sped away by several lengths heading to the turn and always appeared in a race of her own from that...

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