Horse Racing | Horse Racing Free Tips

Magical, Mogul Top O’Brien’s 2020 Breeders’ Cup Brigade

Ballydoyle master Aidan O'Brien has a total of 10 horses under consideration for the trip to Keeneland to compete in the Breeders' Cup World Championships, reports the Thoroughbred Daily News.

Leading the way are his two hopefuls for the Breeders' Cup Turf, the well-traveled multiple G1 winner Magical and promising 3-year-old Mogul. Each will try to give O'Brien his sixth win in the 1 1/2-mile Turf.

Magical, the 5-year-old daughter of Galileo, has had a strong 2020 campaign. She boasts wins in the G1 Pretty Polly, G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup, and the G1 Irish Champion, the latter by three-quarters of a length over Ghaiyyath. Most recently, the mare finished third over soft ground in the G1 British Champion Stakes on Oct. 17.

In her most recent trip to the United States, Magical ran a very game second to the since-retired superstar Enable in the 2018 edition of the Breeders' Cup Turf.

“(Magical is) an unbelievable filly,” O'Brien told the TDN. “She has run at the top level from when she was a 2-year-old. She's danced every dance and traveled everywhere. She is very comfortable from a mile to a mile and a half, which is very unusual. She is very brave, stays well, and has a good mind. She is an incredible mare. She ran very well the last day in very bad ground at Ascot, which wouldn't have suited her.”

Mogul, meanwhile, won his first top-level race on Sept. 13 in the G1 Grand Prix de Paris. The 3-year-old son of Galileo had to be scratched from the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe due to the feed contamination scandal.

O'Brien's other Breeders' Cup hopefuls are as follows:

Mile: Circus Maximus, Lope Y Fernandez, Order of Australia
Filly & Mare Turf: Peaceful
Juvenile Turf: Battleground
Juvenile Fillies Turf: Mother Earth, Snowfall
Juvenile Turf Sprint: Lipizanner

Read more at the Thoroughbred Daily News.

The post Magical, Mogul Top O’Brien’s 2020 Breeders’ Cup Brigade appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Breeders’ Cup Classic Contender Higher Power To Stand At Darby Dan Farm Upon Retirement

Higher Power, a Grade 1-winning millionaire by Medaglia d'Oro, will retire to Darby Dan Farm at the conclusion of his racing career and stand in partnership with Matt Bowling Bloodstock, the farm announced today.

The Hronis Racing colorbearer, trained by John Sadler, is pointing to the Breeders' Cup Classic Nov. 7 at Keeneland. His 2021 fee will be $10,000 S&N for nominations done prior to the Breeders' Cup.

A dominant 5 1/4-length winner of the 2019 Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar, Higher Power recorded a career-best 107 Beyer in the scintillating victory, running away from a contentious field that included three Grade 1 winners. A five-time winner of more than $1.5 million heading into this year's Breeders' Cup, Higher Power has been a gem of consistency competing strictly in top company since his Pacific Classic triumph with graded stakes placings in the Breeders' Cup Classic, G1 Hollywood Gold Cup, G1 Awesome Again Stakes, and G2 San Diego Handicap.

“He is all class. He showed his talent and his impressive turn of foot in winning the Pacific Classic in the manner that he did,” said Ryan Norton, Darby Dan's stallion director. “He descends from an outstanding Pin Oak family, has a stallion's pedigree, and physically, he is a superb individual.”

While his greatest success has come at the Classic distance of 1 1/4 miles, Higher Power was precocious. He broke his maiden at two for trainer Donnie Von Hemel and owner-breeder Pin Oak Stable and won his 3-year-old debut at Oaklawn Park, defeating subsequent graded stakes winner New York Central.

Purchased by David Ingordo on behalf of Hronis Racing for $250,000 from the 2019 Keeneland April Sale Horses of Racing Age session, Higher Power on Sunday turned in his final major work before the Nov. 7 Breeders' Cup Classic, working seven furlongs in 1:25.40 at Keeneland.

By the elite sire Medaglia d'Oro, Higher Power was bred in Kentucky by Pin Oak Stud. He is out of the multiple stakes-winning Seattle Slew mare Alternate, who has also produced multiple graded stakes-winning Alternation, winner of the G2 Peter Pan Stakes and G2 Oaklawn Handicap, and sire of 2019 Kentucky Oaks winner Serengeti Empress. Alternate is also a half-sister to 1995 Canadian Horse of the Year and multiple Grade 1 winner Peaks and Valleys, from the female family of Grade 1 winner Mucho Gusto.

The post Breeders’ Cup Classic Contender Higher Power To Stand At Darby Dan Farm Upon Retirement appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

‘Looking Ahead’: Racing Returns To Montana’s ExpoPark In 2021

When this year's Montana State Fair was cancelled due to COVID-19, the horse racing was cancelled along with it.

According to the Great Falls Tribune, Cascade County commissioners approved a deal with the Montana Turf Club to allow racing to return to the ExpoPark for five dates in 2021.

“Thank you for looking ahead and planning ahead,” Commissioner Jane Weber told Turf Club members.

The dates for racing at the ExpoPark are July 24-25, July 30-31, and Aug. 1; the final three dates coincide with the Montana State Fair.

Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation Launches 2020 Hay Drive With $60,000 Matching Gift

The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF) has received a $60,000 matching gift from the Santulli Family Foundation to launch the 2020 Hay Drive challenge–Hay, Oats and Water. The Santulli's will match every dollar donated to the TRF up to $60,000 for this campaign. The TRF's goal for the 2020 Hay Drive is $120,000 to cover the cost of hay for the hundreds of former racehorses currently in their care.

The TRF Hay Drive is one of the most important campaigns for the organization, now in its 37th year of providing sanctuary, retirement and second chances for Thoroughbreds no longer able to compete on the racetrack. The campaign will be conducted by direct mail, email and social media as well as one-on-one donation requests.

“Hay is one of our largest horse care expenses and the most important element of a horse's diet, particularly in the winter.” says Jennifer Stevens, Director of Development at the TRF.

Last year, with the help of the Santulli Family Foundation, the TRF had its most successful Hay Drive to date and the organization is hopeful that this year's response will equal or surpass last year's campaign.

“The Santulli's are longtime supporters of the TRF having funded several areas of need for the organization throughout the years. We are immensely grateful for their contributions to the TRF and the Thoroughbred aftercare effort.” said Patricia Stickney, TRF Executive Director. “Their generous gift will not only help our horses but inspire others to do the same.”

To give to the Hay Drive please visit the TRF giving page here: https://www.trfinc.org/haydrive/

The post Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation Launches 2020 Hay Drive With $60,000 Matching Gift appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post