Violence

Flightline was clearly the star among stars at the Eclipse Awards ceremonies held Jan. 26 in Palm Beach, Florida, but a trio of stallions that call the rustic environs of John Sikura's Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa home stole the show from a sires' perspective, accounting for half of the evening's 10 winners among the Flat divisions. Success at the Eclipse Awards is obviously directly correlated with horse racing on its biggest stages, and the results from the first weekend of November, not far away from Xalapa at Keeneland Race...

2nd-Aqueduct, $70,000, (S), Msw, 1-7, 3yo, 6f, 1:11.75, my, 10 1/4 lengths. PLEASE BE NICE (c, 3, Violence--Oenophile, by Pulpit), an RNA as a yearling for $45,000, he sold for $210,000 EASMAY before starting his training regime over the summer at Saratoga. Going off at odds of 3-1, the chestnut colt broke alertly and dueled for the lead up front as the field went down the backstretch with a time of :22.77 after a quarter-mile. Please Be Nice rode the rail at a controlling :47.24 for the half, and at...

The first week of January doesn't have much in common with the first Saturday in May--with the exception that the inaugural TDN Top 12 has arrived to herald the coming of the seemingly far-off GI Kentucky Derby season. Get tied on and enjoy the ride. 1) ARABIAN KNIGHT (c, Uncle Mo--Borealis Night, by Astrology) 'TDN Rising Star'. O-Zedan Racing Stables, Inc.; B-Corser Thoroughbreds LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert. Sales history: $250,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP; $2,300,000 2yo '22 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $86,025. Last start: 1st Keeneland Maiden Special Weight, Nov. 5....

2nd-Gulfstream, $70,000, Msw, 12-31, 2yo, 7f, 1:24.18, ft, 2 1/4 lengths. SHESTERKIN (c, 2, Violence--Freedom Star {GSW, $332,972}, by Street Cry {Ire}), 3-1 in his first start since bringing $330,000 at OBS March earlier this year, was sent to the lead under Irad Ortiz, Jr. and set the pace through a :22.54 opening quarter. Shaken up from just off the rail when Case (Sky Mesa) challenged in a tight spot against the rail, Shesterkin held his ground as the pair exchanged bumps and dug in to turn back that rival,...

When it comes to "sire-making races," the Gl Metropolitan H. is usually the first that's thrown into the conversation. Quality Road, the 2010 winner, is the most notable recent example, and before him it was Ghostzapper in 2005, but that's about it for the past 20 years despite the race's vaunted reputation. The Gl Florida Derby is a better recent gauge for making stallions: Nyquist (won in 2016), Constitution (2014), Dialed In (2011), Quality Road (2009), Scat Daddy (2007), Empire Maker (2003), and Harlan's Holiday (2002) are a stronger group...

Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Forte (Violence) was made the 10-1 individual betting favorite while the pari-mutuel field of "All Other Colts and Geldings" from the 2020 foal crop not listed within the 38 individual betting interests was tabbed as the heavy 3-5 choice. The four-day pool, which features $2 Win and Exacta wagering, will open Thursday at noon (all times Eastern) and close Sunday at 6 p.m. Pool 2 will run concurrent with the lone Kentucky Derby Sire Future Wager, where fans can...

All of the Friday Breeders' Cup winners came back in fine form, according to their respective trainers Saturday, topped by GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Forte (Violence). "He's happy and proud of himself this morning," trainer Todd Pletcher said. "I thought he was more professional yesterday than he was when he won the [GI Claiborne] Breeders' Futurity here." Pletcher said Forte would get a little break--"not sure where"--and then look at a two-prep program from Pletcher's winter base at Palm Beach Downs in Florida leading up to the 2023 GI...

LEXINGTON, KY - Mike Repole and Vinnie Viola bought 43 yearlings for more than $16 million to top the sheets for the first of two straight years at the 2021 Keeneland September sale. 'TDN Rising Star' Forte (Violence), a $110,000 purchase out of that auction, made good on the duo's significant investment in the industry by capping his 2-year-old season with a championship-worthy performance for trainer Todd Pletcher in Friday's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Repole Stable, Viola's St. Elias Stable and Pletcher previously teamed up to capture the 2019 GI...

Hill 'n' Dale Farms announced its 2023 stallion roster and fees, with Horse of the Year and leading sire Curlin (Smart Strike) heading the group at $225,000. The operation's leading stallion stood for $175,000 in 2022. Ghostzapper (Awesome Again) remains unchanged at $75,000. Rounding out the farm's roster are Army Mule - $12,500; Charlatan - $50,000; Kantharos - $20,000, Lost Treasure - $3,500; Maclean's Music - $50,000; Midnight Lute - $12,500; Mucho Macho Man - $7,500; Violence - $40,000; and World of Trouble - $5,000. Champion Juvenile Good Magic (Curlin)...

'TDN Rising Star' Forte (Violence) launched a powerful move on the far turn, outbattled fellow 'Rising Star' and ultra-game pacesetter Loggins (Ghostzapper) and survived an objection in a thrilling renewal of Keeneland's 'Win and You're In' GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity. The last-out GI Hopeful S. winner, who was further flattered when third-place finisher and 'Rising Star' Blazing Sevens (Good Magic) resurfaced to take the GI Champagne S., sat a good trip in seventh in this first foray around two turns as runaway Churchill Downs debut winner and highly regarded 3-2...

The topper of Wednesday's opening session of Book 5 of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale came in the last few hips as Hip 3181, a son of Violence, summoned $220,000 from James Zahler. The bay was picked up by Bolter Bloodstock for $20,000 and consigned by Peter O'Callaghan's Woods Edge Farm. A colt by Army Mule brought the second-highest price of $200,000 from Manfred and Penny Conrad, the owners of champion female sprinter Shamrock Rose (First Dude). Hip 3152 was consigned by Denali stud on behalf of Ontario breeder Yvonne...

Repole Stable and St Elias Stable's Forte (Violence), the beaten favorite in the GIII Sanford S. on opening weekend, rebounded with an emphatic victory through the rain drops in the GI Hopeful S. on closing day at Saratoga Monday. Sent off at 6-1, the dark bay colt was squeezed back at the break and rated near the back of the field as favored Gulfport (Uncle Mo), looking to rebound from his own defeat as a Spa favorite in the Aug. 13 GII Saratoga Special, jumped out to the early lead...