To discuss several of the important issues facing the sport as a new year approaches, BloodHorse has assembled a panel of about 30 industry participants to participate in the 2023 Year-End Survey where they can provide their thoughts on six key topics.
Author: News
TDN Rising Stars to Follow: Part II
In Europe, the TDN Rising Stars are awarded by Sean Cronin and Tom Frary, and no amount of begging, bleating or bribery from other members of the editorial team or external forces can persuade this duo to award one if they are not in agreement. Their decisions are based on performance, pedigree and, as the award title suggests, the likelihood of that individual becoming a stakes winner. Following the first five selections published yesterday, Tom Frary selects his five to keep an eye on in 2024.
This could prove a very big year for the TDN Rising Stars, with a headlining colt who could emerge as one of the very finest in more than two decades of its existence.
CITY OF TROY, c, 2, by Justify
1st Dam: Together Forever (Ire), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Green Room, by Theatrical (Ire)
3rd Dam: Chain Fern, by Blushing Groom (Fr)
Owner: Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith
Breeder: Orpendale/Chelston/Wynatt (KY)
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien
Introduced in the Curragh's seven-furlong Barronstown Stud Irish EBF Maiden in July which Aidan O'Brien used for the Galileo stars Rip Van Winkle (Ire), Gleneagles (Ire), Roderic O'Connor (Ire) and Australia (GB), as well as for Danehill's high-class Duke Of Marmalade (Ire) and Horatio Nelson (Ire), City Of Troy had immediate star appeal and one start later had already put himself in that bracket. With his highly advantageous stride and innate turbo, this is a colt with serious upside, and that is understating his potential. It will be disappointing if he doesn't win the Guineas and there is no reason he won't add a Derby to that. He's not far off Frankel already and he doesn't have the headstrong tendencies of that great at the same stage of their careers, so a mile and a half is easily within his range. Then we can dream of the St Leger! Early signs are that Justify could become very big news very soon, with his other TDN Rising Star last term being the high-class Ramatuelle.
HENRY LONGFELLOW (IRE), c, 2, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Minding (Ire), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Lillie Langtry (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire)
3rd Dam: Hoity Toity (GB), by Darshaan (GB)
Owner: Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Mrs John Magnier
Breeder: Coolmore (IRE)
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien
There are no apologies for including another from the Aidan O'Brien squad here, such is the power of their 2023 juvenile crop, and this second foal out of the brilliant Minding, closely related to Galileo's Tuesday (Ire) and Empress Josephine (Ire), could be an able deputy for City Of Troy if the ground gets too soft. His G1 Vincent O'Brien National S. win was reminiscent of his sire's in 2004 and were it not for his stablemate the noise around him would be much louder.
AZADA, f, 2, by Siyouni (Fr)
1st Dam: Azmiyna, by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Asmara, by Lear Fan
3rd Dam: Anaza (Ire), by Darshaan (GB)
Owner: H H Aga Khan
Breeder: His Highness The Aga Khan's Studs SC (IRE)
Trainer: Dermot Weld
Siyouni's 10th TDN Rising Star was able to overcome deep ground on her Leopardstown debut in October and as a half-sister to The Autumn Sun (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}), the Dermot Weld project, who is from the same cross as Sottsass (Fr) and St Mark's Basilica (Fr), has plenty to come. The sire was responsible for the same connections' Tahiyra (Ire) and while this one hasn't the same level of precocity she has all the potential.
TASK FORCE (GB), c, 2, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Special Duty (GB), by Hennessy
2nd Dam: Quest to Peak, by Distant View
3rd Dam: Viviana, by Nureyev
Owner: Juddmonte
Breeder: Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB)
Trainer: Ralph Beckett
At last, Special Duty seems to have a good one. Juddmonte's mare, who holds the rare distinction of having been promoted from second to first in two Classics, had so far failed to channel her precocity and star quality into her progeny but this exciting colt is a case of better late than never. Second in a high-class renewal of the Middle Park despite being the least experienced in the line-up, he should stay further than six furlongs given that his dam's previous best Elegant Verse (GB), by Frankel's sire Galileo (Ire), won over a mile and a half. As the family features Sightseek (Distant View) and Tates Creek (Rahy), it could be that Task Force is one who could shine in the States one day.
MATRIKA (IRE), f, 2, by No Nay Never
1st Dam: Muravka (Ire), by High Chaparral (Ire)
2nd Dam: Tabdea, by Topsider
3rd Dam: Madame Secretary, by Empire Maker
Owner: Mrs John Magnier/Michael Tabor/Derrick Smith/Westerberg
Breeder: Barronstown Stud
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien
Another Ballydoyle special, although Matrika wasn't seen after winning the Airlie Stud S. in July having been second in Royal Ascot's Albany days earlier. A full-sister to the dual Group 3-winning and G1 Takarazuka Kinen runner-up Unicorn Lion (Ire) and a half to The Wow Signal (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), the Barronstown-bred was described after her debut by Aidan O'Brien as being “totally asleep all the time” and that is always a good thing where this stable is concerned. Related to the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroine Ta Rib (Mr. Prospector), Matrika could be one for that Classic if her lengthy absence has nothing serious behind it.
The post TDN Rising Stars to Follow: Part II appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.
Santa Anita, Gulfstream Park Set For 1/ST Coast To Coast Pick 5 Starting Saturday
Beginning Saturday, Jan. 6, Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park will once again team to present the 1/ST Coast to Coast Pick 5, which will include a player-friendly 15 percent takeout. The Coast to Coast Pick 5, a $1 minimum bet, will be offered every Saturday and Sunday through Santa Anita's Classic Meet closing day, April 7.
With a No-Consolation provision, there will be a 100 percent carryover of that day's net pool to the next day's Coast to Coast Pick 5 in the event there is no winning ticket with five correct selections.
The Coast to Coast Pick 5, which debuted last year, posted healthy average pool size of $224,824 per day, with an average payout of $11,488.
THE 1/ST COAST TO COAST PICK 5
–A five-race sequence from Gulfstream Park and Santa Anita Park
–Every Saturday and Sunday, beginning Jan. 6 through April 7, 2004
–$1 minimum
–Player-friendly 15 percent takeout
–In the event there is no ticket with five winners, there is no consolation payoff, with a 100 percent (net) carryover to the next day's Pick 5.
Entries for this Saturday's races at Santa Anita will be taken Wednesday, Jan. 3 and the race sequence for the Coast to Coast Pick 5 will be available later Wednesday afternoon at santaanita.com.
The post Santa Anita, Gulfstream Park Set For 1/ST Coast To Coast Pick 5 Starting Saturday appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
Lanerie Doubles In Divisions Of Louisiana Futurity With Stovall, Guitar Solo
With a change of tactics and a change in riders, Clyde Moran Sr. and Jeff Plotkin's Stovall won Sunday's $100,000 Louisiana Futurity for state-bred males at Fair Grounds.
After being in the thick of the early mix in each of the juvenile's five races, Stovall's trainer Samuel Breaux called upon Corey Lanerie to settle the son of Half Ours early and save his run for the last two furlongs.
“We did a few adjustments and decided to come off the pace instead of going up there,” Breaux said. “There was lots of speed in there, and he stopped the other day (in the Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile), so we decided to change strategies.”
With his eyes set on the even-money favorite Carpis throughout, Stovall followed that leader through the far turn. At the top of the stretch, Lanerie showed him daylight and Stovall responded to run down Carpis, officially besting that foe by a half length. Going six furlongs, he stopped the timer in 1:11.54.
“I looked at his form and he's always up front battling and he always sort of stops,” Lanerie said. “I hadn't spoken to Sam (Breaux) until I got into the paddock, and he said 'there's a lot of speed, maybe we got to come from behind.' We both agreed we shouldn't take him back but we wouldn't send him. He put me in a great spot right behind the favorite. He's pretty strong. He wasn't really wanting to sit back there but he wasn't crazy rank. When I showed him daylight, he gave me another gear and it was enough.”
Later in the card, Lanerie won the fillies division of the Louisiana Futurity aboard Guitar Solo.
Stovall, bred by Clear Creek Stud, returned $22.60 for the win.
After winning his first stakes in his fourth try, Stovall's 2-year-old record tops off at 6-3-0-1 and $105,850 in earnings.
Guitar Solo Bests Freeburn In Fillies Division
Though she came up short on Louisiana Champions Day, Guitar Solo substantiated her monster debut effort with a dominant win the $100,000 Louisiana Futurity for fillies.
With the lead and the rail, World War IV Racing's homebred trained by Allen Landry and ridden by Lanerie saved every inch to beat six Louisiana-bred fillies to the wire by 2 1/4 lengths over Freeburn.
“She showed up today,” Landry said. “Last time (in the Lassie) we ran her back in just nine days. It was a little quick, but we just sort of had to.”
Being pressured throughout by Freeburn, Guitar Solo ran professionally and in tune with Lanerie throughout to cover the six furlongs in 1:10.87, more than a half-second faster than the winner of the male division earlier on the card.
“I really just had to be a good passenger and hope we got a good break and she did the rest,” Lanerie said. “(Freeburn) came up to me around the turn and I wasn't sure, I thought it was going to be close all the way to the end. She proved to be the best horse today and got the job done.”
The Star Guitar filly could be even better covering a route of ground.
“I think once we get to stretching out she'll be better,” Landry said.
Guitar Solo paid $6.20 for the win.
Platinum Minit scrambled down the center of the track to edge out Clearly a Test for third.
Capping off her freshman year at 3-2-0-1, Guitar Solo has earned $96,800.
The post Lanerie Doubles In Divisions Of Louisiana Futurity With Stovall, Guitar Solo appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
