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Laafy Tops Final Day Of Tattersalls July Sale

The Tattersalls July Sale came to a close with continued vibrant trade which saw a further two lots sell for 100,000 guineas or more and a remarkable clearance rate of 98 percent. The turnover of 12,301,300 guineas is the fourth-highest in the sales history whilst the median was a record-equalling 12,000 guineas.

Laafy, a 5-year-old gelding by Noble Mission from the Freemason Lodge Stables draft of Sir Michael Stoute, was the top price on the final day of the Tattersalls July Sale, realizing 105,000 guineas to the bid of trainer Mark Campion.

Campion, who was stood with his son Arthur, selected the 5-year-old as a jumping prospect.

“He is a very nice horse. Arthur spotted him and said 'Dad you need to come and look at this horse.' He is going jumping and is a very nicely rated horse, he has plenty of ability. We will get him home, the team can take a look at him and we'll make a decision about what to do next, see how he settles in. He is a lovely big horse and we have a small team to own him,” said Campion Sr.

Laafy was offered with a Timeform rating of 113. Through his career he has won four races on all sorts of ground and over distances ranging from 1 mile and 2 furlongs to 1 mile and 6 furlongs. He has prize-money earnings of £77,666.

The promising King Triton, who had a Timeform rating of 88p, attracted spirited competition with the winning bid of 100,000 guineas struck by trainer Grant Tuer.

The well-bred gelding is by Invincible Spirit out of Nada, an unraced half-sister to Dubawi. The 3-year-old was consigned by Roger Varian's Carlburg Stables and has now run three times, winning in good style on his most recent start in a mile maiden at Thirsk.

“He has been bought for owner Edward Ware,” revealed Tuer. “I had a horse for him earlier this season, we won a couple and sold him on and this is to replace him. I liked the form of King Triton's maiden win, it has worked out well. Hopefully we can progress into some nice mile and (1 1/4-mile) races this summer. We will probably try and go to the Ebor meeting, there's a mile handicap for three-year-olds.”

At the conclusion of the 2021 Tattersalls July Sale, Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony commented;

“The Tattersalls July Sale has long been recognized as Europe's premier midsummer sale and this week's impressive set of figures have yet again confirmed its status. Perhaps more importantly than figures alone, it has also been a sale with a real sense of business returning to something resembling normality. We cannot make meaningful comparisons with last year's abbreviated and COVID-ravaged July Sale, but this year's sale has produced a level of trade that compares very favorably with both the 2019 and 2018 renewals and crucially has yet again achieved a remarkable clearance rate in excess of 90 percent.

“Even in a sale of genuinely vibrant trade from start to finish the penultimate session stood out with an extraordinary 100 percent clearance rate driven by strong domestic demand mixed with the sort of international participation which has been so encouraging considering the widespread travel restrictions which are still in place. Significant consignments from some of the world's leading owner/breeders including Godolphin, Juddmonte Farms and Shadwell Estates have been as popular as ever and buyers from all over the world have continued to make full use of the Tattersalls live internet bidding platform as well as telephone bidding through our team on the ground. All the signs now suggest that we can look forward to returning almost to normal for the forthcoming Tattersalls August Sale and for the market – leading Tattersalls yearling sales which begin at Park Paddocks with the new Somerville Yearling Sale on Sept. 7.”

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Millennium Farms To Evolve Operations To Focus on Racing

Millennium Farms' owner Ro Parra, with over 26 years in various segments of the industry, is returning to a focus on racing that will include a small, select broodmare band. This will result in the halting of boarding services at Millennium Farms before the September Sale at Keeneland.

“While we have enjoyed the challenge of a full-service operation – including standing stallions a few years back – my real passion has been and will always be racing,” said Parra. “That's where I started in the game back in 1996. With a small group of quality mares and racing stock, hopefully we can return to having a top racing stable that can compete at the highest levels, as we have in the past. We hope to make this transition over the next 12 to 24 months.”

Millennium Farms' partnership in Buckland Sales with Zach Madden will continue as well.

“Zach has done a great job in a highly competitive marketplace to build a successful and respected sales agency,” continued Parra. “Our presence for our clients at Keeneland and Fasig-Tipton this fall with a robust consignment is a testament to Zach and the bright future for Buckland Sales.

“Jay Ted Neel, our general manager, will oversee the transition over the next six months and will be relocating to Oklahoma with his family at the end of the year,” Parra continued. “He will be retained as a consultant after he relocates.”

Millennium Farms will continue to operate, but not as a boarding facility. Bobby Miller, another industry veteran, will stay involved supervising the farm following the transition.

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Queen’s Plate Trail Heats Up Sunday With Marine, Queenston Stakes At Woodbine

The $150,000 Grade 3 Marine Stakes and $125,000 Queenston Stakes share the spotlight this Sunday at Woodbine.

A key prep on the road to this year's Queen's Plate (August 22, at Woodbine), the 1 1/16-mile main track Marine, for three-year-olds, has attracted some notable Canadian-breds hoping for a shot at Plate glory.

The Marine is complemented by the Queenston, a seven-furlong race over the Tapeta for Canadian-bred three-year-old colts & geldings, also an important race ahead of the Plate.

Kevin Attard, in search of his first Marine crown, will send out Haddassah, a bay son of Air Force Blue, who will be making his first stakes appearance.

Bred and owned by Al and Bill Ulwelling, Haddassah is listed as the 8-1 fourth choice in the Queen's Plate Winterbook.

The bay gelding's first career start came last November at Woodbine, in a 1 mile and 70-yard main track race that had originally been scheduled for the turf.

Second at the stretch call, Haddassah rallied to secure a half-length win as the 9-5 mutuel choice.

After a series of steady spring works, the Ontario-bred finished a solid third in his 3-year-old debut on June 13, a 1 1/16-mile test over the E.P. Taylor Turf Course.

“With Haddassah, we had to run him against older horses,” noted Attard. “The scheduling with everything doesn't leave much time or room for error. We had to get him going and it was against older horses, and on the turf. It wasn't ideal, but all things considered, I thought he ran a good race. He's come back and worked really well in the interim. We're excited to see him run against his own age group, going a mile and a sixteenth. We're looking forward to it.”

Attard won't make any Queen's Plate plans quite yet.

“He's a horse that has a lot of raw talent, but I don't know if a mile and quarter is going to be in his realm. He has a lot of ability and talent. He enjoys what he does, so hopefully, everything comes together for him.”

Candy Overload, Easy Time, Frosted Over, Keep Grinding [trained by Attard's father, Tino, and owned by Attard's son, Joshua] and Tidal Forces comprise the rest of the Marine field.

Sam-Son Farm has the most Marine wins (six) for owners, while Sandy Hawley holds the riding record with five Marine crowns. The most recent horse to notch the Marine-Plate double was Shaman Ghost, who achieved the feat in 2015.

Attard will be represented in the Queenston – a race that features several Plate hopefuls – in the form of Red River Rebel.

Tabbed at 25-1 in the Queen's Plate Winterbook, the son of Reload has already experienced stakes success having taken last year's running of the Frost King.

Red River Rebel finished fourth in his first start of 2021, a 6 ½-furlong test on the Tapeta.

“I've only had him for about three weeks,” said Attard. “He's settled in well and obviously, he's an exciting horse to have. We're going to give him a shot here. He's had a race under his belt and we have him good and tight. We gave him a little blowout this morning [Wednesday] and he went a nice and easy half-mile with Rafael Hernandez, who will be riding him on Sunday. I'm excited to see him run. He's a very impressive-looking individual. Hopefully, he runs a big race.”

Artie's Storm, Candy Overload (cross-entered), first-time winner Del Griffith, Download, Gretzky the Great, Canada's champion 2-year-old male, Master Spy, winner of the 2020 Cup & Saucer Stakes, and stakes-placed Tio Magico complete the Queenston field.

Last year, Halo Again, under Rafael Hernandez, won the Queenston in a time of 1:23.63.

The Marine is race seven on Sunday's 11-race card. The Queenston is race eight. First post time is 1:20 p.m. Fans can also watch and wager on all the action via HPIbet.com.

FIELD FOR THE $150,000 GRADE 3 MARINE

POST – HORSE – JOCKEY – TRAINER

1 – Tidal Forces – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Gail Cox

2 – Frosted Over – Kazushi Kimura – Mark Casse

3 – Easy Time – Rafael Hernandez – Mark Casse

*4 – Candy Overload – Daisuke Fukumoto – Krista Cole-Simpson

5 – Haddassah – Keveh Nicholls – Kevin Attard

6 – Keep Grinding – Justin Stein – Tino Attard

* cross-entered in Queenston

FIELD FOR THE $125,000 QUEENSTON

POST – HORSE – JOCKEY – TRAINER

1 – Candy Overload – Daisuke Fukumoto – Krista Cole-Simpson

2 – Red River Rebel – Rafael Hernandez – Kevin Attard

3 – Artie's Storm – David Moran – Paul Buttigieg

4 – Master Spy – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse

5 – Del Griffith (S) – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Timothy Hamm

6 – Gretzky the Great – Kazushi Kimura – Mark Casse

7 – Download (S) – Justin Stein – Michael De Paulo

8 – Tio Magico – Luis Contreras – Gail Cox

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Weekend Lineup: International Challengers Take On Belmont Turf

There will be seven graded stakes races this weekend at Woodbine, Delaware Park, and at Belmont Park, which closes out its spring/summer meeting with two Grade 1 turf races as European and American 3-year-olds compete in the Belmont Oaks and Belmont Derby Invitationals. Races are listed in chronological order (all times Eastern).

TVG will be broadcasting racing throughout the weekend from Delaware Park, Gulfstream Park, Monmouth Park, Woodbine and more. Fans can tune in on TVG, TVG2 and the Watch TVG app, which is available on Amazon Fire, Roku and connected Apple TV devices.

“America's Day at the Races” will be broadcasting live on Saturday, July 10 on FS1 from 1-3 p.m., and on FS2 from 3-5:30 p.m. from Belmont. On Sunday, July 11, “America's Day at the Races” will be live on FS2 from 12:30-4 p.m., and on FS1 from 4-5 p.m.

Saturday, July 10

3:15 p.m. ― $150,000 Grade 3 Robert G. Dick Memorial at Delaware Park on TVG

Godolphin's Micheline looks to return to her winning ways leading a field of nine fillies and mares at Delaware Park in the Grade 3 Robert G. Dick Memorial on turf. Trained by Mike Stidham and ridden from post 4 by Joe Bravo, Micheline won the Grade 2 Hillsborough at Tampa Bay Downs in March, but finished sixth in the Grade 1 Coolmore Jenny Wiley at Keeneland in April, and 10th last out in Monmouth's Grade 3 Eatontown on June 20, failing to launch a serious bid. Pocket Aces Racing's 5-year-old Temple City Terror defeated Bal Mar Equine's Dalika (GER) by three-quarters of a length in the black type Keertana Stakes at Churchill Downs on May 22, reversing the order of finish from the listed Albert M. Stall Memorial at the Fair Grounds on Feb. 13 when Dalika prevailed by 1 length. Trained by Brendan Walsh, Temple City Terror, a 5-year-old daughter of Temple City, will be ridden by Florent Geroux from post 5. Dalika, a six-time winner, is trained by Al Stall Jr., and will be ridden by Miguel Mena from post 8.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/DEL071021USA5-EQB.html

4:06 p.m. ― $700,000 Grade 1 Belmont Oaks at Belmont Park on FS2

Trainer Aidan O'Brien has sent over Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Westerberg's Santa Barbara (IRE) from his base in Ireland, leading a European challenge of Nazuna (IRE) from England, and Cirona (GB) from France, among eight 3-year-old fillies in the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes at 1 ¼ miles on turf. The even-money morning line favorite, Santa Barbara, ridden by Ryan Moore from post 5, just missed winning the Group 1 Al Wasmiyah Pretty Polly Stakes at The Curragh on June 27, losing a furious stretch-drive battle to 4-year-old Thundering Nights (IRE) by a neck. Hanako Varian's Nazuna, trained by Roger Varian, returns to the U.S. where she finished 10th in last year's Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. In her lone start this year, Nazuna, a daughter of Kodiak (GB), finished second in the Grade 2 Princess Elizabeth Stakes at Epsom on June 5. John Velazquez will ride from post 6. Bradley Thoroughbreds, Tim Cambron, Anna Cambron, Kent Starr, Sara Starr and Gary Finder's Cirona won the Group 3 Prix de la Grotte Stakes at ParisLongchamp on April 18. She lost a heartbreaker in the Group 1 Saxon Warrior Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary at Longchamp, headed in the final yards. Cirona is trained in by Christophe Ferland, but will be turned over to Chad Brown following this race. Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Joseph F. Graffeo, Del Toro, Eric Nikolaus, and Troy Johnson's Con Lima, and Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables and Michael Caruso's Plum Ali, the 1-2 finishers in the Grade 3, 1 1/8-mile Wonder Again Stakes at Belmont on June 3, are back again. Texas-bred Con Lima, trained by Todd Pletcher, is four of six this year, while the Christophe Clement-trained Plum Ali is seeking her first win of 2021. She captured the Grade 2 Miss Grillo at Belmont in 2020.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/BEL071021USA-EQB.html#RACE7

4:21 p.m. ―$150,000 Grade 3 Selene Stakes at Woodbine on TVG

Three-year-old fillies are in the spotlight on Woodbine's all-weather surface Saturday in the Grade 3, 1 1/16-mile Selene Stakes. Trainer Mark Casse, a Hall of Famer in both Canada and the U.S., has entered three of the seven starters: Gary Barber's California Lily, Live Oak Plantation's Florida-bred Our Flash Drive and D.J. Stable's Danger. California Lily, ridden by Rafael Hernandez from post 2, finished third by less than a length in Woodbine's Grade 3 Star Shoot Stakes on June 19. Our Flash Drive (Patrick Husbands, post 3) was a 3 ¾-length maiden winner earlier on the June 19 Woodbine card. Danger (Emma-Jayne Wilson, post 6) is making her first start since breaking her maiden at Turfway Park last December. William T. Harrigan's Gote Go is the 2-1 morning line favorite off a solid 2-length score in a 1 1/16-mile allowance turf race at Churchill Downs on June 5 for trainer Roger Attfield. Steven Bahen has the mount from post 1.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/WO071021CAN7-EQB.html

4:38 p.m. ―$150,000 Grade 3 Victory Ride at Belmont Park on FS2

Magnifico Stable and Hubert Guy's Louisiana-bred Australasia, unbeaten in six starts, leads a field of 3-year-old fillies going 6 ½ furlongs in the Grade 3 Victory Ride. Trained by Brad Cox, Australasia faces seven runners in her first graded stakes try. After four wins against state breds, Australasia won an allowance optional claimer at Churchill Downs by two lengths on April 30, and the listed 6-furlong Jersey Girl Stakes by 1 length over Bella Sofia at Belmont on June 6. Joel Rosario has the mount from post 7. Michael Imperio, Vincent Scuderi, Sofia Soares, Gabrielle Farm, Mazel Stable Partners, and Matthew Mercurio's Bella Sofia will be making just her third start. Trained by Rudy Rodriguez, Bella Sofia blew away the field when breaking her maiden at 6 furlongs by 11 ¼ lengths at Belmont on May 6 prior to the Jersey Girl. Manny Franco has the mount from post 1. Team D and Madaket Stables' Miss Brazil, third in the Jersey Girl, has won three of six starts for trainer Anthony Dutrow. Jose Ortiz will ride Miss Brazil from post 3.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/BEL071021USA8-EQB.html

5:12 p.m. ―$1 million Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes at Belmont Park on FS2

Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Westerberg's Bolshoi Ballet leads nine runners in Saturday's 1 ¼-mile Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes on the turf for 3-year-olds. Trained by Aidan O'Brien, Bolshoi Ballet, a son of Galileo (IRE), has won two of three starts this year, including the Group 3 Ballysax Stakes on April 11 at Leopardstown. However, he followed up that performance with a disappointing seventh-place finish, with no surge in the final furlong, as the 7-5 favorite in the Group? 1 Kazoo Derby at Epsom on June 5. Ryan Moore will ride from post 2. From France comes Teruya Yoshida's Tokyo Gold (FR), a winner of three of six starts, including a four-length score in the Group 2 Derby Italiano Universita' Campus Bio-Medico di Roma (Italian Derby) at Capannelle in Rome on May 23. Trained by Satoshi Kobayashi, Tokyo Gold will be ridden by John Velazquez from post 7. The Bill Mott-trained Du Jour won the Grade 2, 1 1/16-mile American Turf presented by Derby City Gaming on May 1 at Churchill Downs for his third straight win this year. Owned by Natalie Baffert and Debbie Lanni, Du Jour will break from post 5 under Flavien Prat. Robert LaPenta, Augustin Stable and Madaket Stables' Hard Love is two for two this year, including a 1 1/8-mile allowance optional claiming win on June 5 at Belmont for trainer Jonathan Thomas. Manny Franco has the mount from post 6.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/BEL071021USA9-EQB.html

5:15 p.m. ―$400,000 Grade 2 Delaware Handicap at Delaware Park on TVG

A field of seven is set for Saturday's Grade 2 Delaware Handicap for older fillies and mares going 1 ¼ miles. Juddmonte's 4-year-old Bonny South, trained by Brad Cox, has been first or second in her last five starts, which includes a victory in Keeneland's Grade 3 Doubledogdare Stakes on April 16, and a second-place finish to Letruska, the No. 1 rated horse in the weekly NTRA National Thoroughbred Poll, in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps at Belmont on June 5. Florent Geroux has the mount from post 5. Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. has entered the 5-year-old Queen Nekia (Sheldon Russell, post 2) and the 4-year-old Gibberish (Trevor McCarthy, post 1). Florida-bred Queen Nekia has won 10 races, including the Grade 3 Royal Delta at Gulfstream Park in February. Queen Nekia finished fourth in the Ogden Phipps. e Five Racing Thoroughbreds' Gibberish, a four-time winner, finished second in the listed Lady's Secret Stakes at Monmouth Park last time out on June 6. Miracle International Trading's Dream Marie, trained by Matthew Wiliams and ridden by Joe Bravo from post 3, won the listed 1 1/16-mile Obeah Stakes at Delaware by 1 ¾-lengths over Cammarota Racing's Miss Marissa by 1 ¾ lengths. Miss Marissa, trained by Jim Ryerson, will be ridden from post 6 by Daniel Centano.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/DEL071021USA9-EQB.html

Sunday, July 11

4:24 p.m. ― $150,000 Grade 3 Marine Stakes at Woodbine on TVG

San-Som Farm's Canadian homebred Tidal Forces is two for two this year leading six runners in a wide-open field of 3-year-olds in the 1 1/16-mile Marine Stakes on the all-weather surface at Woodbine. Trained by Gail Cox and ridden from post 1 by Emma-Jayne Wilson, Tidal Forces came from off the pace to score by a half-length in a 1 1/16-mile optional allowance claiming race at Woodbine on June 19. Breeze Easy Stable's Easy Time is making his first start since Feb. 12, when he finishing second in an optional allowance claiming race at Gulfstream Park by a neck for trainer Mark Casse. Rafael Hernandez has the mount from post 3. Casse is also starting Gary Barber's Frosted Over, who broke his maiden at 7 furlongs at Woodbine on June 20. Kazushi Kimura rides from post 2.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/WO071121CAN7-EQB.html

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