Summer Breezes highlights debuting 2-year-olds at those meetings that have been sourced at the breeze-up sales earlier in the year, with links to their under-tack previews. To follow are the horses entered for Friday at Saratoga, Ellis and Del Mar:

Friday, August 4, 2023
Ellis 3, $70k, 2yo, f, 1m, 1:43 p.m. ET
Horse (Sire), Sale, Price ($), Breeze
Vino Veloce (Khozan), OBSAPR, 50,000, :10.2
Consignor: Dark Star Thoroughbreds (Stori Atchison), agent
Buyer: Christina R Jelm for Pegasus Training Center

Saratoga 2, $136k, 2yo, 5 1/2fT, 1:44 p.m. ET
Better Luck (Twirling Candy), FTMMAY, 25,000, see below
Consignor: Grassroots Training and Sales, agent
Buyer: Three Diamonds Farm

Rudy Rudy Rudy (Mitole)-MTO, FTMMAY, 45,000, see below
Consignor: Scanlon Training & Sales, agent
Buyer: Rudy Rodriguez

Ellis 5, $70k, 2yo, f, 5 1/2fT, 2:45 p.m. ET
Asternia (Astern {Aus})-AE, OBSAPR, 90,000, :10.2
Consignor: Grassroots Training & Sales, agent
Buyer: Randy Patterson & Sam Vogel
Raining Sugar (Twirling Candy), FTMMAY, 150,000, see below
Consignor: JVC Training and Sales, agent
Buyer: Taproot Bloodstock, agent

Del Mar 1, $82k, 2yo, f, 5fT, 7:00 p.m. ET
Avoir (More Than Ready)-AE, OBSAPR, 72,000, :10
Consignor: Eddie Woods, agent
Buyer: Peter Redekop BC Limited
Cyprus Moon (Malibu Moon)-AE, OBSAPR, 190,000, :9.4
Consignor: Centofanti Thoroughbreds, agent
Buyer: Ben McElroy, agent for Next Wave
Julias Dream (Flameaway)-AE, OBSAPR, 180,000, :9.4
Consignor: Grassroots Training & Sales, agent
Buyer: Talla Racing/Kim Lloyd, agent
Pacific Rose (Not This Time)-AE, OBSMAR, 125,000, :10.1
Consignor: Paul Sharp, agent
Buyer: Zap/Murphy, agent CA Racing Partner, Ciaglia & Savide
She Is Romantic (Blame), OBSAPR, 550,000, :21.1
Consignor: Hidden Brook, agent
Buyer: C R K Stable LLC

The post Summer Breezes: ‘Searing’ Breezer Debuts at Del Mar appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

A week before unveiling Justique (Justify) to a jaw-dropping 'TDN Rising Star' performance at Del Mar–more on her in a bit–Lee Searing's C R K Stable and John Shirreffs debuted another 2-year-old with plenty of upside at the seaside track.

Skinner (c, 2, Curlin–Winding Way, by Malibu Moon), a $40,000 Keeneland September yearling turned $510,000 OBS April breezer (:10 1/5), came rolling home to finish an encouraging fifth in a very live five-furlong maiden special weight completely dominated on the front end at Del Mar July 24.

Dismissed at 36-1 for his notoriously patient connections, Skinner was devoid of any early speed after bumping with a rival and trailed the field in 10th through an opening quarter in :22.29. Kept out in the clear by Abel Cedillo, the bay began to launch his bid from another zip code on the far turn, swung into the stretch about five wide and came home in a field-best :10.95 while finishing seven lengths adrift next-out GIII Best Pal S. winner Havnameltdown (Uncaptured). The runner-up that day Mister Iceman (Girvin) was a game next-out maiden winner at Del Mar as well.

Bred in Kentucky by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, Skinner is out of 2012 GIII Rancho Bernardo H. winner Winding Way. The full-sister to MGSW & GISP Kauai Katie brought $82,000 from Solis/Litt in foal to Maclean's Music at the 2021 KEENOV sale.

Skinner is bred on the same Curlin x Malibu Moon cross responsible for champion 3-year-old filly Stellar Wind. The wildly successful Curlin x A. P. Indy (sire of Malibu Moon) pairing has produced standouts such as Malathaat, Nest, Global Campaign, Idol, et al.

“The first race was just supposed to be a learning experience,” Searing said. “It was so short of a race, and Skinner, being by Curlin, is not a dead sprinter. He's never gonna be. So, he ran a lights-out race. Another half of a furlong, he's a winner. I think John will decide very shortly if we're gonna wait for a maiden race again or if he takes on the big race at the end of the meeting [GI Runhappy Del Mar Futurity Sept. 11].”

Searing, the CEO of Searing Industries–a family-run business with more than 200 employees specializing in manufacturing steel-tubing products–named Skinner after one of his longtime employees, Don Skinner.

“Don is one of our oldest sales people dating all the way back to my father in the mid-1950s,” Searing said. “He got so excited when I told him. If we get into a big race, he wants to come. Sometimes it doesn't turn out, but so far, so good.”

Searing added, “This is a really nice horse.”

The same can certainly be said about Searing's aforementioned $725,000 KEESEP buy Justique, who looked like a potential star in the making with a sensational last-to-first debut win at Del Mar July 24.

“I don't think she touched the ground the whole race,” Searing said. “That was impressive and everybody saw it. She's doing well today. This one, I do believe 100% the plan is to run her at the end of the meeting [in the GI TVG Del Mar Debutante Sept. 10]. She'll enjoy the added distance and she definitely can stand as much competition as they throw at her.”

The 'Second Chances' honor roll is headed by two-time Breeders' Cup winner Golden Pal (Uncle Mo), GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby winner and Lane's End stallion Honor A. P. (Honor Code) and MGISW and 'TDN Rising Star' Paradise Woods (Union Rags).

This term's GI Carter H. winner Speaker's Corner (Street Sense), GIII Westchester S. winner Cody's Wish (Curlin), GI Preakness S. third-place finisher Creative Minister (Creative Cause), Curlin S. winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Artorius (Arrogate) and streaking Cinema S. winner War At Sea (War Front) have also been featured in the series.

Other standouts include: GSW Moonlight d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro), GSW & MGISP Spielberg (Union Rags), GSW Backyard Heaven (Tizway), MSW and 'TDN Rising Star' Gidu (Ire) (Frankel {GB}); and GISP A Mo Reay (Uncle Mo).

The post Second Chances: Curlin Colt Flashes Potential in Live Maiden at Del Mar appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Bidding to become the first debut winner for trainer John Shirreffs since June of 2019 (his second most recent was future GISW Hard Not to Love {Hard Spun}), the half-sister to fellow freshman sire Mo Town (Uncle Mo), GISW, $519,600, was very slowly away as 1-2 Home Cooking knocked heads with $600,000 2-year-old purchase Fourth Street (Street Sense) on the front end. Justique picked rivals off rapidly midway on the turn for home, but still had her work cut out for her as Kissed by Fire (Friesan Fire)–herself a $350,000 FTMMAY grad–ranged up and looked the most likely spoiler. But Justique really caught the eye as the top two passed the eight pole, and she bowled over the top of them under just a hand ride with a move that–dare we say–was a bit reminiscent the one made by Shirreffs' Hall of Fame mare Zenyatta (Street Cry {Ire}) in her own unveiling. The winning margin was three lengths and the final time was 1:04.29. Kissed by Fire bested the big chalk for second.

Triple Crown winner Justify has already been represented by two graded/group-winning fillies in fellow 'Rising Star' and G2 Airlie Stud S. heroine Statuette and GIII Schuylerville S. winner Just Cindy. The Justify over Bernardini cross also produced last week's five-length Ellis debut scorer Justa Warrior. Justique's co-breeder John Gunther bred Justify too.

Mo Town, who has three winners thus far himself and stands alongside Justify at Coolmore, got the 'Rising Star' nod for a second-out romp on the stretch-out in 2016. He immediately added the GII Remsen S. and reached the highest level on the Del Mar lawn the following season when reinventing himself as a turf horse and annexing the GI Hollywood Derby.

Justique's second dam Molto Vita (Carson City) was a GSW/MGISP sprinter who also produced SW/GSPs Jaguar Paw (Giant's Causeway) and Venetian Mask (Pulpit). Third dam Princess Polonia (Danzig) was a graded winner as well.

Dam Grazie Mille produced a full-sister to Justique Mar. 29 and was bred back to 'Rising Star' factory Into Mischief for 2023.

8th-Del Mar, $80,000, Msw, 7-31, 2yo, f, 5 1/2f, 1:04.29, ft, 3 lengths.
JUSTIQUE, f, 2, Justify
                1st Dam: Grazie Mille, by Bernardini
                2nd Dam: Molto Vita, by Carson City
                3rd Dam: Princess Polonia, by Danzig
Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG. Free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O-C R K Stable LLC. B-John D. Gunther & Eurowest Bloodstock (Ky). T-John A. Shirreffs. *$725,000 ylg '21 KEESEP. **Margin of victory and total purse not official; result chart unavailable at the time of publishing.

The post Pricey Filly ‘Justifies’ Rising Stardom appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

The post June 19 Insights: Pricey Uncle Mo Colt Debuts in Arcadia appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Taken in order in which they were achieved:

Three Diamond Farm's Field Pass, a 4-year-old son of Lemon Drop Kid, recorded career win number eight in his 23rd career start in the $250,000 Grade 2 Seabiscuit Handicap and the $150,000 winner's share of the purse boosted his career earnings to $913,143. Nolan Ramsey is trainer Mike Maker's assistant in charge of West Coast operations.

“Everybody's happy for the horse,” Ramsey said this morning. “He's a hard-trying horse and it's nice to see him punch his ticket. As far as what's next, the San Gabriel at Santa Anita (Park in Arcadia, Calif.) is an option but we have options back east as well.

“As of right now, he's booked on a flight to go back east Tuesday, but we'll find out today what we're going to do.”

The win by Tezzaray in the $100,000 G3 Jimmy Durante was the second in as many starts for trainer Peter Miller since being imported from England last summer. Ruben Alvarado, who is taking over as Miller takes a step back from training, said all three of the stable's Durante entrants – Liam's Dove (5th) and Travel Smart (6th), in addition to Tezzaray, were fine.

“I thought all three of my fillies ran very well and were given great rides,” Miller said after the race. “It's nice to win a stakes race on the way out.”

Trainer John Shirreffs said by text that Beyond Brilliant, winner of the $400,000 G1 Hollywood Derby was looking very good Sunday morning. “He had his head out waiting for his early morning feed. That's always a good sign.”

It was the third victory in nine starts for Beyond Brilliant, owned by the C R K Stable of Lee and Susan Searing of Arcadia. The $240,000 winner's share of the purse, earned via a masterful wire-to-wire guidance by Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux, raised the son of Twirling Candy's earnings to  $381,280.

The post All Three Stakes Winners Doing Well After Saturday Scores appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

In a full field of 14, Desormeaux put Beyond Brilliant on the lead right out of the gate, setting early fractions of :23.96 and :49.23 as he strode out to a length and a half lead. On the far turn, Team Merchants challenged, shrinking Beyond Brilliant's lead to a half-length as the field hit the top of the stretch. The son of Twirling Candy repelled the challenge, increasing his lead to a length as Desormeaux set his mount down for the stretch drive.

Beyond Brilliant was clear of the field until the last sixteenth of the mile when Subconscious and then Santin came on with their final rallies for the lead, Santin shrinking Beyond Brilliant's lead down to a neck at the wire. Cathkin Peak (IRE) was third and Public Sector fourth.

The final time for the 1 1/8 miles over the firm turf was 1:48.84. Find this race's chart here.

Beyond Brilliant paid $23.80, $11.80, and $7.40. Santin paid $15.80 and $8.20. Cathkin Peak paid $4.60.

“All credit for this win goes to the barn. They've done wonders with this horse over the past month. When I rode him last time (October 31 at Santa Anita), he was a handful to control. Today he was easy. He was dry as a bone in the paddock and he was happy out on the racetrack. His mind was right. And he showed he can sprint that last part,” jockey Kent Desormeaux said after the race.

“This horse likes to be on the lead or close to the lead and obviously with a big field that's a good place to be. And Kent Desormeaux is riding great right now, isn't he? I'm gonna put Kent on more horses he's riding so well. I'm thankful for him doing it for us today,” trained John Shirreffs told the Del Mar Press Office after the Hollywood Derby.

Bred in Kentucky by Fred W. Hertrich III, John D. Fielding, and Robert L. Tribbett, Beyond Brilliant is out of the First Defence mare Summer On the Lawn. The 3-year-old colt is owned by C R K Stable LLC. Consigned by Kings Equine, the son of Twirling Candy was purchased by Mayberry Farm for $200,000 at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Mid-Atlantic Two-Year-Olds In Training Sale. With his win in the G1 Hollywood Derby, Beyond Brilliant has three wins in nine starts in 2021 for career earnings of $381,280.

The post Beyond Brilliant Goes Gate To Wire In Hollywood Derby appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Trainer John Shirreffs noted that the 4-year-old son of Union Rags had kicked his hock during schooling for the Classic at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif. Saturday, the injured area had “minor swelling,” which led to the decision to scratch.

Owned by C R K Stable LLC, Express Train has two wins in seven starts in 2021, with his other victory coming in the Grade 2 San Pasqual at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. He was third behind Medina Spirit and Stilleto Boy, both also in the field for the Classic, in the Grade 3 Awesome Again in early October.

With Express Train's scratch, the field for the G1 Breeders' Cup Classic is down to eight, with Knicks Go the morning line favorite for the 1 1/4-mile race.

Express Train scratched from @BreedersCup Classic. Shirreffs said he kicked hock schooling and it “didn't come around quickly.” Minor swelling, no fracture.

— Jay Privman (@DRFPrivman) November 6, 2021

The post Report: Express Train Out of Breeders’ Cup Classic appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

The 6-year-old was purchased by an investment group led by Hamide Stables, where Draft Pick will stand at stud. The deal was brokered by Orbit Bloodstock.

Draft Pick retired with three wins in 15 starts for earnings of $542,031, racing for owner C R K Stable and trainer Peter Eurton. His record is highlighted by a victory in the Grade 3 Affirmed Stakes at Santa Anita Park.

Bred in Kentucky by Hinkle Farms, Draft Pick is out of the stakes-placed Arch mare Firehouse Red. He hails from the family of Grade 1 winner Jack Milton and Grade 3 winner Peace Preserver.

The post Grade 3 Winner Draft Pick To Debut At Stud In Peru appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

A close fourth, about two lengths off of Tizamagician around the clubhouse turn, Express Train saved ground at the rail, angled out a quarter mile from home and rallied three-deep through the lane while finding his best stride late in a very impressive effort.

“The difference was the distance (of) a mile and an eighth and different horses,” said Hernandez, who had ridden Express Train to a second place finish behind top rated Charlatan going seven furlongs in the G1 Malibu Stakes on Dec. 26.  “He loves going short and going long, so you can do whatever you want with him, he's a really nice horse.

“…There were three horses that tried to go to the lead and my horse relaxed pretty well behind them. … I was just waiting to (get into) the stretch to let him run, that's what (he) did.  Around the turn before the stretch, I checked, I went outside and I was clear and he started running again.”

The second choice at 5-2 in a field of five, Express Train paid $7.20, $3.60 and $2.20.

“We knew there was plenty of speed in the race and it worked out fine,” said Shirreffs.  “Juan fits this horse very well, show me a horse that he doesn't fit.  When you speak to him, he exudes confidence.  He's a rider.  We'll stay home and run in the Big 'Cap (1 ¼ miles on March 6).”

A 4-year-old colt by Union Rags, out of the Mineshaft mare I'm a Flake, Express Train notched his first stakes win in his eighth career start.  With the winner's share of $120,000, he increased his earnings to $293,300 from an overall mark of 8-3-3-0.

Tizamagician, ridden by Drayden Van Dyke, proved extra game, holding off even money favorite Idol by a neck for the place.  Off at 5-1, Tizamagician paid $5.00 and $2.60.

Idol, unhurried early while an attentive last to the far turn, never threatened for the win, finishing 1 ¼ lengths in front of longshot Zestful.  Ridden by eastern-based Gabriel Saez, Idol paid $2.10 to show.

Although Saturday turned out to be a spectacularly sunny day with the snow-capped San Gabriel Mountains serving as a backdrop, the track took on 2.4 inches of rain through noon Friday, resulting in slower times throughout the afternoon.

Fractions on the San Pasqual were 23.84, 48.74, 1:13.70 and 1:39.26.

The post Express Train Breaks Through With San Pasqual Triumph At Santa Anita appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Choose your cliche: both life and the show must go on at a stud farm, but Lane's End's “big stall” hadn't had a vacancy in a long time. Whoever filled the spot, it was going to be a big deal.

Fitting then, that the horse who finally called for bedding in A.P. Indy's stall for the first time in seven months would be one of the Hall of Famer's own blood, and one named to be a living tribute to his career.

Grade 1 winner Honor A. P. arrived at Lane's End on Tuesday around 11:30 a.m., and he checked in to the most high-profile suite in the place. A day earlier, his pending arrival was announced after the 3-year-old colt was found to have come out of his fourth-place effort in the Kentucky Derby with a strained front-left tendon.

It was a quick turnaround for Honor A. P., who had just returned from Churchill Downs to the barn of trainer John Shirreffs at Santa Anita Park before the injury was discovered – just over a week from wheels-up to wheels-down in Kentucky, where he will enter stud in 2021. Tendons can take a long time to get back to racing shape in a racehorse, if they ever do, so the decision to move him on to the next phase of his career was an easy one.

“It's not visible, but it's obviously there,” said Bill Farish of Lane's End. “It's too bad that it came when it did, but timing-wise, the Derby's not when it would have been. If it had been in May and this had happened, they probably would have brought him back. Now, it's a six-month thing, and you're going to be into missing the breeding season.”

Even before naming the horse, owners Lee and Susan Searing of C R K Stable clearly thought highly of A.P. Indy's handiwork.

Honor A. P. is a son of fellow Lane's End resident Honor Code, one of A.P. Indy's most successful runners, one of his last notable sons to retire to stud, and the kind of horse that forces a person to believe in evolution. Many of the physical traits that defined both A.P. Indy and his sons – the alert, inquisitive look in his eye, the ebbs and flows of his withers and midsection into a solid rump, the general impression that the horse before you could run forever – are all present in Honor Code, but bigger and stronger than the generation before him.

The Searings bought Honor A. P. for $850,000 at the 2018 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Selected Yearlings Sale. He was practically a carbon copy of his flashy dark bay sire at the end of the shank.

Besides the uncanny resemblance to Honor Code, Honor A. P. had the page to merit the lofty price and the expectations that came with it. His dam is the multiple Grade 1-winning Wild Rush mare Hollywood Story, who had generated plenty of black type on her page before Honor A. P. set foot on the track.

Honor A. P. as a yearling at the 2018 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale.

Just like Honor Code did for A.P. Indy, Honor A. P. developed into a generational update of his sire, keeping the classic A.P. Indy look and the strength of Honor Code, but adding a bit of scope to the equation. That combination of traits led Honor A. P. to become one of the top 3-year-olds of his generation, punctuated by a victory in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby.

Farish had been interested in Honor A. P. as a stallion prospect well before he was a fully-fledged classic contender. He'd flown out to California to watch him finish second in the G2 San Felipe Stakes in March. However, the talks with the Searings got more serious after the colt's nose touched the finish line in the rescheduled Santa Anita Derby on June 6, and the announcement that Lane's End had secured the breeding rights went out on June 26.

“It didn't take long at all,” Farish said about the negotiation process. “Lee Searing was excited to have him come here. He named him after A.P. and everything else. Lucky for us, he genuinely wanted to have him here. We'd been following him since [the Saratoga sale], and David [Ingordo, Lane's End's bloodstock agent] bought him.”

A few hours after Honor A. P. arrived at Lane's End, he was brought out for display to the media, and he was soon joined by Honor Code. The two stallions stood face-to-face as if they were looking into a mirror; each with four socks and a flashy white face punctuating their near-black coats. Keeping true to the theme of generational progress, Honor A. P's socks were a little longer and his blaze was a little wider.

Honor A. P.'s long white socks also provided the optical illusion that he might be a little racier and longer-legged than his sire, though Farish said time might balance that out.

“I think he looks that way right now because he's still tucked up and racing fit, but the resemblance is uncanny,” he said, “This guy's running style was maybe a little more like A.P. Indy than it was Honor Code. He's maybe a tick taller. They're both definitely taller than A.P. was. He's got more length and length of stride than Honor Code did, but they were both effective.”

These two horses looked similar, and they obviously come from similar blood. One would assume this would mean they might be drawing from a similar pool of mares come 2021 and beyond, perhaps cannibalizing each other's books, but Farish said the stallion that breeders might gravitate toward will depend on the outcome they desire with the foal.

“Yes, in some ways you're dealing with the same crosses, but you have one horse that does have runners and one that doesn't, so they're in very different points in their careers,” he said. “People that are looking for a more proven horse are going to go to Honor Code, and ones that want something sale-wise that's unproven, they'll go to Honor A. P. It gives people an interesting choice.

“I would think a lot of the American speed-type sires are going to work very well –Speightstown, lines like that could complement the A.P. Indy line,” Farish continued. “It's worked, and we'll keep trying what's worked. In the beginning, with a stallion like this, you don't like to try to over-manage it, because you really don't know what's going to work. You'd like to think you do, and a lot of times you're right, but a lot of times you're wrong. City Zip was going to be a six-furlong sire and he ended up getting stakes winners at a mile and a sixteenth on the grass. You just try as many different things as you can.”

Honor A. P. not only inherited his grandsire's stall when he arrived at Lane's End, he also inherited his groom, Asa Haley.

Haley was paired with A.P. Indy for 14 years, and he stayed on with the stallion after he settled into life as a pensioner. He also tends to another of A.P. Indy's sons at the farm: the 2003 Horse of the Year Mineshaft.

Haley and Honor A. P. only had a few hours to get acquainted before the two went through their paces before the cameras on Tuesday afternoon, but the horse obeyed his new handler well as they paraded around the courtyard of the stallion complex. It's a first step compared with nearly a decade and a half together with A.P. Indy, but so far, so good.

“He seems to be pretty nice so far,” Haley said. “I think we should get along. I mostly get along with all my other horses, so I hope I can get along with him, too, so I guess time will tell.”

Arguably no one on the planet knew the makeup of A.P. Indy like Haley did, and what made the old horse tick. For a long time, Honor Code resided in the stall immediately next to his sire, so Haley had plenty of time to notice the patterns between father and son, and when he applied that knowledge to his latest charge, he could see back through the generations in Honor A. P.

“That white eye,” Haley said, noting the signature ring that the grandfather, father, and son each have around an eye. “It sticks out, just like like A.P.'s did. That white eye sticks out on Honor Code, and it's sticking out on him, too.”

There is bedding again in A.P. Indy's stall, and a nameplate on his door. It would be a lot to expect of the stall's new resident to beckon a new set of “good old days” like his his famous grandsire, but with the letters “A. P.” on the the first door on the right in the Lane's End stud barn, perhaps the rookie can at least provide a bit of normalcy. Every generational shift has to start somewhere.

The post The Familiar Road Home For Honor A. P. At Lane’s End. appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post