Newcomer Magic Attitude (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) marked her U.S. debut with an emphatic score in the Sept. 19 GI Belmont Oaks Invitational S. and will try to remain undefeated at the highest level in this country in Saturday’s GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup S. at Keeneland. A winner of one of three starts in France for trainer Fabrice Chappet and owner Haras du Saubouas, the English-bred returned off an eight-month layoff to take ParisLongchamp’s G3 Prix Vanteaux in May before finishing runner up in the G1 Prix Saint Alary at Chantilly in June. Transferred to her new trainer Arnaud Delacour following a fifth in the July 5 G1 Prix de Diane, the Lael Stables runner overcame a wide trip to win the 10-furlong Oaks Sept. 19 and will reunite with Javier Castellano, who was aboard for her U.S. unveiling.
Fellow Grade I-winner Red Lark (Ire) (Epaulette {Aus}) also tries to add another top tier tally to her record. Winless in three starts in Ireland last term, the Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners runner won her second U.S. start going nine furlongs on the Santa Anita turf in February before finishing off the board in her next two black-type appearances at that Arcadia oval. Second in the GIII Wilshire S. June 20, the Paddy Gallagher trainee was third–beaten a length–in a Del Mar optional claimer July 12 before attaining a career high in the GI Del Mar Oaks Aug. 22.
One of two fillies by Triple Crown hero American Pharoah in the field, Sweet Melania kicked off the season with a wire-to-wire win in Belmont’s one-mile GIII Wonder Again S. June 20 before getting nipped in the Aug. 28 GIII Lake George S. at Saratoga. Trained by Todd Pletcher, the Robert and Lawana Low representative already has registered a win over the surface, having taken last fall’s GII Jessamine S. at Keeneland.
Also, sired by American Pharoah, Harvey’s Lil Goil tries to recapture the form that saw her win the nine-furlong GIII Regret S. at Churchill Downs. Third returning to the dirt for the 10-furlong GI Alabama S. at Saratoga Aug. 15, the Bill Mott pupil just missed by a neck in the Dueling Grounds Oaks over 10 1/2 furlongs at Kentucky Downs Sept. 10. Mott also saddles Belmont Oaks runner-up Antoinette (Hard Spun).
The post Looking for ‘Magic’ in the QEII appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.
Woodbine Entertainment announced today that Friday post times for its live Thoroughbred race cards at Woodbine Racetrack will move to 4:35 p.m. ET, effective Oct. 16.
Live racing action from the back half of Woodbine's Friday cards will be featured on TSN's Racing Night Live as the dynamic horse racing series returns this fall on Canada's Sports Leader and moves to the marquee timeslot of 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. ET. The two-hour broadcast will also showcase live Standardbred racing from Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Woodbine Thoroughbred post times remain unchanged for Thursdays (2:15 p.m.), Saturdays (1:10 p.m.) and Sundays (1:10 p.m.).
For more information on Woodbine racing, please visit Woodbine.com.
The post Woodbine Pushes Back Friday Post Time Starting Oct. 16 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
Last year’s champion 2-year-old Pinatubo (Ire) (Shamardal-Lava Flow {Ire}, by Dalakhani {Ire}) has been retired from racing and will stand next year at Darley’s Dalham Hall Stud in Newmarket.
Pinatubo was rated the best European 2-year-old in a quarter century last year off an unbeaten six-race campaign for owner/breeder Sheikh Mohammed and trainer Charlie Appleby that culminated with wins in the G1 Goffs Vincent O’Brien National S.-by nine lengths–and the G1 Darley Dewhurst S., and had earlier included scores in Royal Ascot’s Listed Chesham S. and Glorious Goodwood’s G2 Qatar Vintage S. Kicking off his 3-year-old campaign with a third in the G1 Qipco 2000 Guineas and a second in the G1 St James’s Palace S., Pinatubo dropped back down to seven furlongs to win the G1 Prix Jean Prat before finishing second to Persian King (GB) (Kingman {GB}) in the G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp.
Pinatubo is a second generation homebred for Godolphin, which campaigned both the sire and dam. Lava Flow won the Listed Prix de la Seine and is herself a daughter of the stakes-winning Mount Elbrus (GB) (Barathea {Ire}), who also wore the Godolphin blue. The third dam, El Jazirah (GB) (Kris {GB}), is a full-sister to the G1 Prix de Diane victress Rafha (GB), so this is the prolific sire-producing family of Invincible Spirit (Ire) and Kodiac (GB) as well as the very promising first-season sire Pride Of Dubai (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}).
Sam Bullard, Darley’s director of stallions, said, “We are absolutely thrilled to welcome a horse as exceptional as Pinatubo to the roster at Dalham Hall Stud. Last year he carried all before him, most notably in the National S. which as we all know was a performance that cannot be matched by any other 2-year-old in the last quarter of a century. We were delighted to see him add a third Group 1 win to his superb record in the Prix Jean Prat and now look forward to him beginning his new career, where we’re confident he can continue Shamardal’s great legacy.”
The post Pinatubo Retired To Dalham Hall appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.
