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Tamara Works At Santa Anita for BC Juvenile Fillies

Undefeated Tamara (Bolt d'Oro) worked six furlongs in 1:12.60 at Santa Anita Saturday morning in preparation for her next start in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies under Mike Smith, who has been aboard the two-year-old daughter of Beholder for each of her two wins.

In the work Tamara hooked up with some company, reportedly an unraced two-year-old colt, whom she outworked.

“I was actually kind of hoping to gain some company,” Smith told Zoe Cadman, “and it worked out great. If I hadn't, she's a pretty good work horse if you want her to be. But we were fortunate to catch a little company and she went really nice this morning. I gave them a five-length head start and she came up to them. I gave her a little breather around the turn and headed for home. I let her turn over to her right lead and I wanted to see if she was there, and boy she set me back in the seat, so all systems are go. She's not a tall horse, but she's long and she's very athletic and she really gets up under herself good. You could put a glass of water up on her back and turn her loose out there and she probably wouldn't spill half of it. She's just so smooth.”

Trainer Richard Mandella also pronounced himself pleased with the work.

“She can run,” said Mandella. “She's not a big horse, but when the time is needed, she rises to the occasion. She swells up. She's not tall, she's kind of stocky and stout and growing as we go along. She'll end up bigger than this, but she's big enough,” he concluded with a smile.

Mandella, of course, trained Beholder and Smith was the regular rider on Songbird, whom Beholder beat in her last-ever race in the 2016 Breeders' Cup Distaff. Smith was asked about the irony of that as Tamara's regular rider.

“I even rode her mother once,” said Smith, “but It's pretty cool. I guess it means I've been around for a little bit. It's kind of cool to see these young ones come up and look, she's got a long ways to go before she comes close to her mother, but she's certainly on the right track.”

As for the upcoming Breeders' Cup, Smith said, “I can't wait. I'm really looking forward to it, especially getting to ride a filly with the kind of talent she does. If all goes well, the sky's the limit for her.”

The post Tamara Works At Santa Anita for BC Juvenile Fillies appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Champion Forte Arrives At Spendthrift, Will Stand For 50k

2-year-old champion and 'TDN Rising Star' Forte (Violence), whose retirement was announced earlier this week, has arrived at Spendthrift Farm where he will take up stud duty in 2024. His introductory fee will be $50,000 S&N and he is available for inspection by appointment.

“The first thing I think about Forte is just how much of an honor it is for us to bring a horse like him to Spendthrift. He's the fifth champion we've been fortunate enough to add to our stallion ranks since 2020, and that's a testament to what Mr. Hughes built and the commitment that Eric and Tammy Gustavson are now carrying forward,” said Spendthrift General Manager Ned Toffey. “While we are disappointed for Mike [Repole] and Vinnie [Viola] that Forte wasn't able to end his great career like a champion deserves to, we are very grateful for our partnership with them. Forte is the first 2-year-old champion to retire to Spendthrift in more than four decades, since the likes of Seattle Slew, Affirmed and Lord Avie. That's some pretty special company, and we couldn't be more excited about his future.”

Racing for Repole Stable and Viola's St. Elias Stable, Forte was named champion 2-year-old colt after a season which saw him break his maiden by 7 3/4 lengths on debut going five furlongs at Belmont and pick up three consecutive Grade I victories in the Hopeful S., the Breeders' Futurity and the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. As a 3-year-old, he took the GII Fountain of Youth S. and the GI Curlin Florida Derby.

“Forte has given us the ride of a lifetime on the track and done everything asked of him and more under tremendous training by Todd Pletcher,” said Viola. “We are blessed to have raced such a talented horse in partnership with Mike Repole, and excited about his prospects as a sire at Spendthrift Farm.”

Repole added, “Vinnie and I are so fortunate to be blessed with this ultra-talented colt. Forte's 2-year-old season, from breaking his maiden at five furlongs in May and winning three Grade I's including capping it off with a spectacular effort in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, left us in awe. To come back at three and win the Fountain of Youth, Florida Derby and Jim Dandy, and run second in the Belmont at 1 1/2 miles, was amazing. Forte is just a special horse.”

Forte retired with career earnings of $3,029,830.

“Forte just exuded class in everything he did, which is something you only see from those few special ones that come through,” Pletcher said. “Some probably won't quite appreciate how special he was because of the bad luck we faced this year. Obviously, the timing could not have been worse to have the foot bruise that kept him out of the Derby, and we have been battling a quarter crack on a different foot that was going to force us to miss the Breeders' Cup and all our goals for the fall and winter. I've been fortunate to train three colts that were champion 2-year-olds but Forte is the first to win three Grade I's at two. Horses like that don't come around often and we'll miss him in the barn.”

The post Champion Forte Arrives At Spendthrift, Will Stand For 50k appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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‘Far From Definitely Being Retired’: Nest To Be Offered At Fasig-Tipton November Sale

Nest, the champion 3-year-old filly of 2022, will not be pre-entered Monday for a Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) bid and instead is to be offered at public auction at the Fasig-Tipton November sale, Daily Racing Form reports.

A Curlin filly, Nest is owned by a partnership that includes Mike Repole, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, and Michael House.

“I'm not sure if Mike might buy the other 50 percent and run her back, I'm not sure what they're going to do,” trainer Todd Pletcher told the Form. “She's far from definitely being retired.”

In her most recent outing, Nest was  fourth in the Spinster (G1) on Oct. 8 at Keeneland and has not been as perky in her recent training as Pletcher would like for a Breeders' Cup bid.

“She seems fine, she's been galloping every day at Keeneland; we just haven't seen the same energy we saw before,” Pletcher said. “…We're kind of running out of time to be at our peak for a race that you have to obviously be at your very best for.”

Nest has won eight of 14 career starts, including the 2022 Central Bank Ashland (G1), Coaching Club American Oaks (G1), and Alabama (G1) and was second in the Belmont (G1) during her championship season, while bankrolling $2.17 million in purse earnings.

Nest's 4-year-old campaign this year was delayed by an illness during the spring. She returned in July at Saratoga and won the Shuvee (G2) to launch the season, then finished third in the Personal Ensign (G1) there Aug. 25 in her start prior to the Spinster.

To read the full report at drf.com, click here.

The post ‘Far From Definitely Being Retired’: Nest To Be Offered At Fasig-Tipton November Sale appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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