Junior Alvarado gears down on #8 JEFFERSON STREET ($2.54) as he breaks his maiden in Race 4 at @KeenelandRacing for trainer Bill Mott and owner @godolphin.
Another winner by Street Sense, who stands at @DarleyAmerica. pic.twitter.com/Aeszqn9Lp9

— TVG (@TVG) April 11, 2024

The post Jefferson Street Impressive For Godolphin In Sloppy Keeneland Graduation appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

It was the eighth victory in the 10 runnings of the Futurity since relocating to Orange County for trainer Bob Baffert and first since 2020. Ironically, Solomini crossed the wire best in the 2017 renewal, only to be demoted to third behind his 'TDN Rising Star' stable companion McKinzie. It was nearly deja vu all over again on Saturday.

Off at 13-1, the second-longest shot in the scratched-down field of five and easily least-preferred of the three Baffert entrants was ridden aggressively from the inside gate by Kyle Frey and set the pace in advance of Wine Me Up (Vino Rosso) as Ace of Clubs (Mor Spirit) poked through between them. Stronghold and odds-on 'TDN Rising Star' Coach Prime (Quality Road) raced at the back of a compact group as they turned down the backstretch.

Urged along as they raced into the final half-mile, Wynstock was put to a more vigorous drive as Wine Me Up and Coach Prime took runs at him from the outside. Three and four wide, respectively, into the lane, that duo failed to go on with it, and Stronghold emerged the biggest danger down inside. Wynstock and Stronghold exchanged two or three bumps in the final furlong and a half, and the former gutted out a narrow victory before withstanding a stewards' inquiry. Coach Prime re-rallied late to get within a length at the finish.

“He was on his toes and actually looked like he was going to run in the Champion of Champions,” Baffert said, referring to the famed Quarter Horse race. “He's a stout, beautiful horse. I'm just really happy for Doc. We go back way back. To have this moment is special. He bought him and trusted me. I'm so excited.”

Of Coach Prime, he added: “He was sort of in and out the whole way. He got a little warm behind the gate and got shuffled back a bit. He's still green.”

A $50,000 Keeneland September yearling turned $700,000 OBS April breezer, Wynstock burned plenty of money in his first two appearances, finishing a well-beaten fourth at 8-5 on Del Mar debut Aug. 25 and fifth as the 12-5 chalk over a rain-affected Santa Anita strip Sept. 30. The bettors deserted him for his latest and those that jumped ship paid for it, as Wnystock led all the way to graduate by 7 1/2 lengths going a mile in Arcadia Oct. 15.

Pedigree Notes:

McMahon and Hill Bloodstock paid $10,500 for Timberlea at the 2020 Keeneland January sale with the express intent of breeding her to Solomini, who was standing his first year at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds.

A half-sister to Grade III winner Untrapped (Trappe Shot) and from the deeper female family of champion Minardi and the excellent Tale of the Cat, Timberlea foaled a Mo Town filly this past Apr. 5 and returned to Solomini for her 2024 produce. The sire was also represented Saturday by New York Stallion S. heroine My Shea D Lady and the debuting Heavyweight Champs, promoted to second in the colts' division one race later.

Saturday, Los Alamitos
LOS ALAMITOS FUTURITY-GII, $200,000, Los Alamitos, 12-16, 2yo, 1 1/16m, 1:43.53, ft.
1–WYNSTOCK, 120, c, 2, by Solomini
                1st Dam: Timberlea, by Flatter
                2nd Dam: Exit Three, by Giant's Causeway
                3rd Dam: Castanea, by Horse Chestnut (SAf)
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($50,000 Ylg
'22 KEESEP; $700,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR). O-Edward C. Allred &
Jack Liebau; B-Empire Equines, LLC (NY); T-Bob Baffert; J-Kyle
Frey. $120,000. Lifetime Record: 4-2-0-0, $162,740.
Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus* Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
*First graded stakes winner for freshman sire (by Curlin)
2–Stronghold, 120, c, 2, Ghostzapper–Spectator, by Jimmy
Creed. O/B-Eric Waller & Sharon Waller (KY); T-Philip D'Amato.
$40,000.
3–Coach Prime, 120, c, 2, Quality Road–Act Now, by Street
Sense. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($1,700,000
Ylg '22 KEESEP). 'TDN Rising Star' O-Zedan Racing Stables, Inc.;
B-Kim & Rodney Nardelli & William Werner & W.S. Farish (KY);
T-Bob Baffert. $24,000.
Margins: HF, HF, 2 1/4. Odds: 13.70, 4.10, 0.80.
Also Ran: Wine Me Up, Ace of Clubs. Scratched: Moonlit Sonata.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

#2 WYNSTOCK ($29.40) and jockey @FreytheF comfortably led the field for 3/4 of a mile then battled #3 Stronghold down the stretch to win the G2 Los Alamitos Futurity for trainer @BobBaffert and owners Edward “Doc” Allred and Jack Liebau. pic.twitter.com/HZS2VtKenY

— TVG (@TVG) December 17, 2023

The post Another ‘Wyn’ for Baffert in Los Alamitos Futurity appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

That's a nice lookin' #NYbred two-year-old! Enfuega debuts with a comfortable victory at #BelmontAtTheBigA. She was bred by Go-To-Toga Racing. @jockeyfranco up for @jceracingstable, Legion Racing, @Gainesway, Greenberg, and Meyer. pic.twitter.com/bNxrotNpst

— NYTB (@nytbreeders) September 28, 2023

The post Flameaway Notches Another Winner With Enfuega appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

A dominant 7 3/4-length victress at first calling Aug. 27 in an off-turf baby dash at Saratoga against a state-bred maiden field, Soloshot broke like one here and quickly establish control over the pace from two off the rail. Putting a comfortable margin on Redwineandwhiskey (War Dancer) entering the straight, she responded when roused and was ridden to a two-length margin. Unicorn Cake (Cloud Computing) would come on late to secure the last minor placing by a head.

Soloshot is the second winner from three to the races, following elder sister Banterra (Practical Joke). She has a yearling full-sister and the dam returned to the sire for 2024 after missing on last season's visit. Click for the Equibase.com chart.

#3 SOLOSHOT ($4.10) goes gate-to-wire in the $100,000 Lady Finger Stakes at Finger Lakes. The 2yo is now 2 for 2 in her young career. @jockeyfranco was in the irons for George Weaver.

Watch more on @FanDuelTV and wager at https://t.co/nBYFHiPrdh. pic.twitter.com/Znbqlmhz36

— TVG (@TVG) September 25, 2023

LADY FINGER S., $103,159, Finger Lakes, 9-25, (S), 2yo, f, 5 1/2f, 1:05.98, gd.
1–SOLOSHOT, 120, f, 2, by Solomini
          1st Dam: Sweet Queen (MSP), by Twirling Candy
          2nd Dam: Kiawah Queen, by Lord At War (Arg)
          3rd Dam: Polly Wally, by Our Native
($30,000 Wlg '21 FTNMIX; $290,000 2yo '23 EASMAY). 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Bregman Family Racing LLC, Jackpot Farm and Swinbank Stables; B-Rhapsody Farm LLC (NY); T-George Weaver; J-Manuel Franco. $61,895. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $110,295.
2–Redwineandwhiskey, 121, f, 2, War Dancer–U and Tequila, by Hello Broadway. 1ST BLACK TYPE. O/T-Megan Fadlovich; B-Robert Simonick (NY). $20,632.
3–Unicorn Cake, 120, f, 2, Cloud Computing–Party Like Grandma, by Desert Party. 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Flower City Racing, LLC, Christopher J. Meyer and Rich Spiesman; B-Flower City Racing (NY); T-Jeremiah C. Englehart. $10,316.
Margins: 2, 3/4, HD. Odds: 1.05, 17.70, 1.40.
Also Ran: Lika Rolling Stone, Maggy's Palace, Ixodes, Moon Chariot. Scratched: A Thousand Plans, Nicky Jolene.

The post Soloshot Alone on the Wire in Lady Finger, First Stakes Winner for Sire appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Fast and Frisky, another daughter of Solomini, completed the exact with Soloshot in the New York-bred juvenile contest and later on the same card, another filly by the first-crop sire made a strong showing when My Shea D Lady ran third in the Seeking the Ante S. The Carlos David trainee was Solomini's first winner back at Gulfstream on July 1.

With the support Solomini received from breeders that led to a first book of 123 mares in 2020, the team at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds believes that their son of Curlin has much more to show as the year continues and beyond.

“Solomini has had a really great start to his career based upon mares bred,” said the farm's John McMahon. “We're very enthusiastic about his success. I think the initial attraction was the Curlin, at the rate that he pumps out Classic-style horses, and his Grade I, 2-year-old form.”

Initially campaigned by Zayat Stables and Bob Baffert, Solomini was a debut winner at two and he went on to run second to MGISW Bolt d'Oro in the GI Frontrunner S. and was runner-up behind champion Good Magic in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile. He was third via disqualification in the GI Cash Call Futurity to close out his 2-year-old season and as a sophomore, placed in three graded contests including the GI Arkansas Derby.

The only son of Curlin in New York, Solomini also boasts a pedigree the includes active sires Midshipman and Frosted under his second dam.

When Solomini's first foals arrived, McMahon said the farm was thrilled to see that their sire was stamping his progeny.

“The stallion tends to throw very consistent,” he explained. “They're good-sized individuals and he puts a lot of chrome on a foal.”

In the sales ring last year, the stallion's yearlings averaged just under $30,000 from 29 sold, making him the leading first-crop yearling sire outside of Kentucky.

This year his progeny fared even better at auction. His $99,000 average from a $6,500 initial stud placed him in the top 10 leading first-crop stallions. A colt out of Timberlea (Flatter) now named Wynstock brought $700,000 at the OBS April Sale, selling to agent Donato Lanni for Dr. Edward Allred and Jack Liebau. Bumped at the start, he finished fourth on debut on Aug. 25. Also at OBS April, a colt out of Miss Bonnie (Officer) brought $290,000 and at OBS March, a filly out of Passeporta (Rockport Harbor) brought $200,000.

Solomini has three winners on the year thus far. Along with Soloshot and My Shea D Lady, the Rob Falcone-conditioned Nicky Jolene showed an affinity for turf when she broke her maiden at second asking on July 9 at Belmont.

Labor Day could be another important day of racing for Solomini as he has two juveniles entered for closing day of Saratoga. Solo Rye'd will try turf for David Donk in Race 1 and Solo's Fury is the morning-line favorite in his debut for Jeremiah Englehart in Race 6.

The post Solomini Stamps Himself as Sire to Watch in Saratoga appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

The post Soloshot An Impressive Saratoga Winner For Freshman Stallion Solomini appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Hip 41 turned in his :20 3/5 quarter-mile breeze shortly after the day's 7:30 a.m. start time for consignor Omar Ramirez.

“He prepped really, really good for me,” Ramirez said. “I didn't know it was going to be :20 3/5, but I thought he'd definitely be :20 4/5 or :21 flat.”

The New Jersey-bred colt is out of Lady Overboard (Mishipman) and from the family of Star of Goshen, the dam of Pioneerof the Nile.

Ramirez and a partner purchased the chestnut for $18,000 as a short yearling at the OBS Winter sale last year. He RNA'd for $29,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic October sale.

“He was a really well-balanced colt, a really pretty walker,” Ramirez said of his early impressions of the youngster. “And I love Midshipman as a stallion on the mother's side.”

Of the trip to Timonium last fall, Ramirez said, “I didn't get him sold, but I love the horse and I wanted to give him another chance. So we decided to let him grow up more. He's not a huge colt–he's average-sized, but he still has that beautiful walk.”

Solomini was second in the 2017 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile, as well as that year's GI FrontRunner S. and GI Los Alamitos Cash Call Futurity. He was third in the 2018 GI Arkansas Derby.

The 8-year-old stallion, who stands at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds for $6,500, had three six-figure juveniles at the OBS April sale–led by a colt who sold for $700,000–and another three at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sale last month.

Ramirez sold two fillies by the stallion in April and May and returns with a pair of colts at the June sale.

“I did really well with Solomini in April, I had a filly [hip 605] sell for $100,000. She was a really pretty filly and I really liked her. I had another one with Top Line in Timonium [hip 285] and she sold for $150,000. She was another nice filly. And I've got two colts over here. I have one more tomorrow [hip 282]. They were all pretty nice horses, easy to train.”

Tom McCrocklin sent out hip 39 to work her :20 3/5 quarter-mile shortly before 10 a.m. Monday. Bred by Vegso Racing Stable, the chestnut filly is out of Lady Marjorie (Curlin). The mare is a daughter of stakes-winner Light Bringer (Northern Afleet), a full-sister to graded winner Aegean and a half-sister to the dam of Grade I winner Eda.

Six juveniles shared the day's fastest furlong time of :9 4/5: a filly by Bucchero (hip 9, video) consigned by Halcyon Hammock Farm; a filly by Jimmy Creed (hip 25, video) consigned by J. J. Thoroughbreds; a filly by Into Mischief (hip 46, video) consigned by de Meric Sales; a colt by Courageous Cat (hip 51, video) consigned by G.A. Thoroughbred Sales; a colt by Bucchero (hip 92, video) consigned by Hector Barajas; and a colt by Hard Spun (hip 130, video).

Ramirez, who comes into the June sale with a hefty consignment of 52 juveniles, was happy with conditions at OBS Monday.

“I had five today and they all worked really, really good,” he said.

Of his June contingent, Ramirez admitted, “This is my first time that I had so many here. My brother got a bunch of horses and we have some new clients who have a couple of horses. Sometimes I just want to give the horses more time, more chances to grow, so I love this June sale. It's been a really nice sale for me.”

The under-tack show continues through Saturday with sessions beginning daily at 7:30 a.m. The June sale will be held next Tuesday through Thursday. Bidding commences each day at 10 a.m.

The post Solomini Colt, Noble Mission Filly Share Quarter-Mile Bullet at OBS Monday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

OCALA, FL – The Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training completed its four-day run Friday with a  new record gross and average and a record-tying median in an auction which closely mirrored the 2022 renewal which set high-water marks for all of those metrics.

Through four sessions, 698 horses grossed $90,805,000. A year ago, 705 horses grossed a record $90,723,000. The 2023 average of $129,907 was up fractionally from $128,685. The median remained unchanged at $65,000.

“It was a great day,” said OBS Director of Sales Tod Wojciechowski. “We finished up strong, right to the end of the sale where we sold a horse for $500,000. It was a good day to end with.”

This week's Spring sale had to contend with a more uncertain global backdrop than a year ago, according to OBS President Tom Ventura.

“We're just glad we were able to hold up to a pretty high bar from last year,” Ventura said. “The world has changed since last April. Things have happened that could have impacted the marketplace and it didn't, so that was great to see.”

A colt by Into Mischief topped Friday's session and became the sale's third seven-figure juvenile–and first session topper not purchased by Amr Zedan–when selling for $1.3 million to Randy Hartley and Dean DeRenzo, bidding on behalf of a new partnership headed by Miami music mogul Rich Mendez.

Five horses sold for seven figures a year ago, when 25 juveniles sold for $500,000 or over. With three million-dollar transactions this year, a total of 28 horses sold for over $500,000.

From a catalogue of 1,222, 840 juveniles went through the ring with 142 failing to meet their reserves for a buy-back rate of 16.9%. A year ago, the catalogue featured 1,231 head and 705 went through the ring with 132 failing to meet their reserves for a buy-back rate of 15.8%.

Consignors continued to comment on the polarized market.

“It's the most polarized market that I've ever seen,” said Clovis Crane. “Everyone keeps saying that it's polar, but I think it's even more polar than ever.”

There was plenty of demand for horses at the top of the market, according to Sequel Bloodstock's Carlos Manresa.

“Over the week, it became clear that the very high end were very desirable and you were also able to sell horses that were closer to the bottom,” said Manresa. “The middle market was very difficult to place. That seemed to be the consensus among the consignors. I think that a lot of the consignors will be changing strategies going into the yearling season.”

He continued, “The guys that gave a lot of money [as yearlings] on the top end, like Dean [DeRenzo] and Randy [Hartley] were handsomely rewarded. Some of Ciaran [Dunne]'s horses, they had a lot of money in them as well. And Nick de Meric and Tom McCrocklin–those were the horses that really stood out here. They had the sires and they worked very well.”

“There was some forgiveness if you had a less commercially desirable sire if there was a really fast work. Ultimately, the prices were directly related to the works. There is a strong correlation between the works and price. There were horses that we gave $50-150,000 for and they were in no-man's land if they didn't work well.”

Colin Brennan agreed the money for the top-end horses was there, but the middle market struggled.

“I think there was great money here for the right horses; the horses who breezed well and ticked all the boxes. We were fortunate to have a few of those and some solid pinhooks. Of course, the lower market struggled a little bit, especially on this last day. Traditionally you would get a little bit more of a middle market with this sale because there is something for everybody. I felt like that $100-$300,000 range was a little quieter. Anyone and everyone you could ask for attended. I think OBS did a good job getting everyone here. They really stepped up their game with marketing this year, with the podcast sponsors and the vidoes they've done on YouTube. I think they did a great job with that. Everyone was here, I don't know if it was the economy or horse or a combination of both.”

But the results were just more of the same to Off The Hook's Joe Appelbaum.

“It's the same market condition that has persisted for several years,” Appelbaum said. “It's reflected at the racetrack as well. If you have the horses that people want to collect like trinkets, you can sell them for any amount of dollars. And after that, there is not a lot of market depth. So much money is flocking to so few horses, there is less to distribute to the middle market. It's simple economics.”

As consignors bemoaned the lack of strength in the middle market, buyers still found plenty of competition in bidding this week in Ocala.

“I got outbid on a lot of horses,” said bloodstock agent Alistair Roden. “There was some value here, but it was hard work to get that value. It's still a healthy market. I know the consignors are not happy, but I suppose they bought them at the top end of the yearling market.”

Chad Schumer was busying buying at all levels of the market this week.

“I think it's a typical 2-year-old market,” he said. “The really high-end horses stood out and brought huge prices. We bought quite a few in different price ranges. We swung on some of the expensive ones and we didn't get them. I don't think I bought a single horse with many bids left in the tank. Almost everything I bought was right at my budget or within $5,000 or $10,000 of what my budget was. So I think it was a fair market. I think a lot of these pinhookers possibly overpaid for the yearlings in September because the market was so strong. And there is a ceiling. Purses are great and that's wonderful, but there is some uncertainty about the economy. I don't know why, it doesn't seem to be bad to me, but a lot of people I talk to keep saying the economy. I guess that might be a factor.”

Also busy throughout the week, bloodstock agent David Meah saw both sides of the ledger struggling.

“There has been a big difference in the last couple of years,” Meah said. “It's been a lot stronger and the middle market seems to have fallen out a bit. It was hard to find the horses in the range we were looking for. We were looking for horses in that $50-$100,000 range, which in the past few years I found a little bit easier. This year, it just seemed very different. For me it was all or nothing. Consignors are struggling to sell them and buyers were struggling to find them.”

He continued, “We were thinking we would buy anywhere from five to 10 and we ended up on the low end with five. We got a lot less than we wanted to get, but we'll go to Maryland [Fasig-Tipton Midlantic] now and see how that goes.”

Wavertree Stables was the auction's leading consignor with 37 sold for $9,041,000 and with his three purchases for Amr Zedan, Donato Lanni was the leading buyer.

Into Mischief Colt Feels the Beat

A colt by Into Mischief (hip 967) became the third seven-figure juvenile of the week–and the first not purchased by Amr Zedan–when selling for $1.3 million early in Friday's final session of the OBS Spring sale. Randy Hartley and Dean DeRenzo, bidding on behalf of a new partnership of owners, signed for the colt, who was consigned by Ciaran Dunne's Wavertree Stables.

“We are helping these guys do a couple of different things,” Hartley said. “It's a group of guys, but Rich Mendez is the head of it. They are looking for horses like this, that if this horse hits a graded stakes, he will be a stallion. He went :9 3/5, unbelievable. He's a super fast horse and super good-looking.”

The bay colt is out of multiple stakes winner Singing Kitty (Minister Wildcat) and was purchased by the Red Wings Enterprises pinhooking partnership of Dunne and Paul Reddam for $300,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale.

“Ciaran has talked about this horse all year,” Hartley said. “And I've talked to everyone on the farm that works there. [Wavertree's] Mark [Edmonds] loved him. They just felt like this was the horse.”

Dunne agreed the team had thought highly of the colt all winter.

“We thought he was one of the nicest horses we've ever had our hands on,” Dunne said. “He trained like a good horse. I thought his breeze was magnificent. To be honest, I think they got a bargain.”

Hartley and DeRenzo signed the ticket for the colt as More Play. For the same group, they purchased a colt by Good Magic (hip 323) for $450,000 earlier in the sale.

Hartley admitted the group was among the underbidders on the $2.2-million colt by Gun Runner who sold during Thursday's session of the four-day auction.

“We went to $1.8 million on him,” Hartley said. “I loved him, he was a beautiful horse, but I wanted this horse more. To me, :9 3/5 and :10 1/5, it's just a lot faster. I just felt like this horse is going to be more brilliant. I promise you, first time out, they will not catch this horse. We are hoping for good things.”

While no trainer had been picked out for the youngster, Hartley said he had a guess.

“We're not sure where he will go yet,” he said. “If I had to guess, it would probably be Baffert. This guy loves Baffert. If he has to go to L.A. for anything, the first place he goes is Bob's barn, so I am guessing that's where he will go.”

Mendez, founder of the Rich Music label in Miami, is still a newcomer to the sport.

“He has only ever raced one before,” Hartley said. “But he is so in love and he's so enthusiastic about the game. He comes to Ocala almost everyday. He loves the farm and he loves his horses. He just bought a big farm here in Ocala, not to have horses on. He just bought it for his wife and kids to come up here.”

Mendez has assembled a group of other fans to invest in both racehorse and pinhooking prospects.

“He's a big social media guy, so he's got a lot of people who are involved because they see him involved,” Hartley said. “So he has gathered all of this money. One of the guys, his father owns a racetrack in Ecuador. So it's a bunch of guys that are in a group together.”

Hartley expects to be buying for the group in the fall, as well.

“We are going to be strong at the yearling market, for pinhooking and racing. I look for them to spend $25-30 million.” —@JessMartiniTDN

Mendez is “All In” on Racing

Rich Mendez, who said he built his independent Latin music label Rich Music from the ground up, is starting his racing business roughly the same way. The music mogul made his first 2-year-old purchases this week in Ocala, warming up with the $450,000 purchase of a Good Magic colt Wednesday, before taking home a $1.3-million son of Into Mischief Friday.

“I am in the music business and we were able to start from nothing and to, at least, become relevant in the game,” Mendez said Friday. “I have always loved the sport of horses. So that's the plan here, as well. To slowly and surely build the brand and go from there.”

Mendez is a lifelong fan of racing and has strong family ties to the sport.

“Back in the day, I used to always be around the track,” he said. “My uncle was a jockey back in the day and I always knew that I wanted to eventually race.”

Mendez has partnered with Randy Hartley and Dean DeRenzo, who signed the ticket on the Into Mischief colt Friday.

“I met Randy and Dean a few years ago,” Mendez said. “We've become close friends. And we just decided this last year to partner up on some babies. The guys do very well at picking good horses. I am excited to be part of their team. ”

With Hartley and DeRenzo, Mendez purchased a group of weanlings last year to pinhook this coming fall. In addition to selling, he also expects to be an active buyer at the yearling sales.

“We will do a little bit of everything and try to do it smart. And to do it right, if there is such as thing,” he said.

As for trainers for his new juveniles, Mendez said, “The Good Magic will go to Jose D'Angelo. He's an up-and-coming trainer, everybody is talking about him. And then we are going to see if this colt goes to Bob [Baffert]. I will call him to see if he wants him eventually.”

Mendez's passion with the horse business has extended to the purchase of a farm in Ocala.

“I'm all in,” he said of his involvement in the sport. “When I got into the music business, it was the same, I am all in. But this time I have some good partners and teachers with Dean and Randy.”

He continued, “I am on my way to see the Good Magic colt now,” Mendez said. “And we loved the Into Mischief colt. I am excited about them.”

Nyquist, Half to Oaks Hopeful, to Speedway

A filly by Nyquist (hip 1024), who is a half-sister to GI Kentucky Oaks hopeful Affirmative Lady (Arrogate), will be joining the roster of Peter Fluor and K.C. Weiner's Speedway Stables after bloodstock agent Marette Farrell signed the ticket at $900,000 to acquire the dark bay from the Wavertree Stables consignment.

“We thought she was a tremendous physical, a beautiful, beautiful filly,” Farrell said. “She had an incredible breeze. And it's not just about the speed for us, it's the way she did it and how she galloped out. Tescha [von Bluecher] and Nick loved how she did it. And when we went to the barn, she was a scorpion. She was beautiful and tough. We are excited for Speedway to have her.”

The juvenile, who is out of multiple stakes winner Stiffed (Stephen Got Even), worked a quarter last week in :20 2/5.

The Red Wings Enterprises pinhooking partnership of Ciaran Dunne and Paul Reddam purchased the filly for $170,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale.

“She is a queen,” Dunne said. “They don't breeze like that too often. She's going to a great owner. She's a nice filly with a great future.”

The Red Wings partnership was also responsible for Friday's seven-figure Into Mischief colt, who was a $300,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase. The group also sold a colt by Bolt d'Oro–who had been purchased for $210,000–for $700,000, and a filly by Omaha Beach–who was purchased for $200,000–for $700,000. An Omaha Beach colt purchased for $160,000 last July, sold Friday for $350,000.

Farrell agreed the team would eagerly be watching the filly's 3-year-old half-sister go to the post in the May 5 GI Kentucky Oaks.

“We will be glued to the Oaks,” she said.

Into Mischief Filly Brings $725K at OBS

Early in Friday's session, a juvenile by Into Mischief drew $1.3 million to lead all colts representing the Spendthrift sire at OBS this week, and later in the session, Hip 1036 led the stallion's fillies with a $725,000 final bid from Rich Schermerhorn, Jay Hanley & 30 Year Farm. Handling the bidding duties from the back ring were agents Liz Crow and Lauren Carlisle.

“Lauren's client, Rich Schermerhorn and my client, Jay Hanley and 30 Year Farm, both individually liked the horse,” explained Crow. “Both of our clients teamed up to get her purchased. She will go to Chad Brown.”

The :9.4 breezer was consigned by Eddie Woods.

As to her obvious selling points, Crow added, “She breezed phenomenal. And she came from Eddie Woods, one of the best consignors here. She is a really beautiful filly and has a really athletic walk.”

Added Woods, “She was a spectacular filly all year. She was very mature in the fall and she was a good filly from the first time we worked her. She's just blossomed through that time.”

The Apr. 9 foal is out of the unraced Succeeding (Smart Strike), a daughter of SW Cascading (A.P. Indy). The third dam Teeming– a half-sister to champion Rags to Riches–is also responsible for GI Hollywood Starlet S. winner Streaming.

Bred by Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings and Stretch Run Ventures, the filly RNA'd for $245,000 at Keeneland last September.

“We don't buy here based on pedigree, but when you have Eddie Woods plus Into Mischief and that kind of breeze, that's what we're looking for,” said Crow.

Asked about her impression of the juvenile market at OBS this week, Crow echoed the sentiments of many buyers and sellers.

“There is a strong market for the top horses and it's really hard to get those bought,” she said. “You have to really reach, which is why our clients lined up together to get that filly bought. The really good horses it takes a strong budget. It's just really hard to buy what is perceived as a really good horse.”

Schermerhorn, Hanley & 30 Year Farm also teamed up Friday to secure Hip 1093, a filly by Audible for $535,000 from the Richardson Bloodstock consignment. —@CBossTDN

Caliente Hits it Out of the Park in OBS Debut

Saul Marquez had one horse in his first-ever consignment and the colt by Solomini (hip 1109) made it a memorable debut when selling for $700,000 to the bid of bloodstock agent Donato Lanni Friday in Ocala. The colt, who worked in :9 4/5, became the first horse purchased by a group of close friends when they paid $50,000 for him at last year's Keeneland September sale.

“I was selling for myself and a couple of buddies,” Marquez said. “We created a pool together, we all pitched in and he was one of the four we bought. He was actually the first one we bought, so this was very sentimental.”

The chestnut is out of Timberlea (Flatter), a half-sister to graded winner Untrapped (Trappe Shot).

Lanni signed the ticket on the New York-bred colt on behalf of Dr. Ed Allred and Jack Liebau.

“He fit our program,” Lanni said. “We want to buy horses that look like stakes horses. It was very hard to buy yearlings in September. He worked really fast and looks the part. He [breezed well] and then you have to pay for it. He is beautiful and we liked him.”

Marquez, who spent years as a jockey's agent in California before relocating to Ocala in February, admitted to some buyer's remorse after acquiring the yearling.

“Honestly, I thought we overpaid for him,” he said. “We were very anxious. But we loved him since day one. He means everything to me.”

Of the colt's price tag Friday, Marquez shook his head in disbelief.

“Honestly, I was happy with $100,000 two weeks ago,” he said. “And today, I don't even know what is going on. It's mixed emotions. I just want to call my mom.”

Following his one-horse consignment at the Spring sale, Marquez will offer two horses at the OBS June sale.

“I am a fourth-generation horseman,” he said. “I was a jock's agent for a long time. My father was an assistant out in California. A friend of mine invited me to the business and I thought there would be better opportunities here. So here I am. I have been in Ocala since February.”

Crane Soars with Lookin At Lucky Colt

What a difference three years make. Just as COVID-19 was about to upend the world in March 2020, Crane Thoroughbreds experienced one of the worst things that a commercial horse operation could face–a barn fire. Located near Penn National, Crane Thoroughbreds tragically lost 15 juveniles in the blaze. However, with a lot of hard work and perseverance, Clovis Crane and his team rose out of the ashes like a phoenix, culminating with the sale of $500,000 colt by Lookin At Lucky at OBS Friday.

“It is very emotional,” admitted the visibly moved Crane. “This is the first time since that barn fire that we got a drink of water.”

Offered as Hip 942, the bay was secured by West Point Thoroughbreds.

“He's going to the best people and will be in the best hands,” said Crane. “It's really exciting because the horse can really run and it's been obvious for a long time.”

Out of the Forestry mare Shawnee Moon, the Feb. 9 foal caught the eye with a :10 flat breeze last Friday.

“My horse's stride was huge and he did it beautifully,” explained Crane. “But he has been that way that way all winter. Every breeze that he has done had been fabulous. I was just fortunate to be a spoke in the wheel with him.”

A full-brother to GISP Giuseppe the Great, who earned over $500,000 on the racetrack, the juvenile is from the extended family of champions Storm Bird and Northernette.

“The breeze was really over-the-top good,” said West Point's Terry Finley. “These consignors get better every year–you see several sub-:10 times. It's crazy that when you see a :10 flat breeze, you need to really investigate it. But he just did it really well.”

Bred by Buck Pond Farm, the colt was an $80,000 purchase for the partnership of Keep The Ball Rollin at Keeneland last September.

“The Keep The Ball Rollin partnership is with a couple of investors who I can't thank enough for sticking with me through thick smoke and sunny skies,” said Crane of his longtime partners and clients.

Underscoring the seller/buyer connection, Finley made it plainly clear that his respect for Crane and the former jockey and national rodeo champion's horsemanship played a big part of the purchase of the colt.

“He is the type of person that gives you hope for the future because he's such a quality guy,” extolled Finley. “He took as big as a gut punch that anyone can take when he lost all those horses. He just made the best of it.”

He added, “I have the utmost confidence in Clovis when he said he liked this horse all along.”

In addition to Crane, Coolmore's Lookin At Lucky also enjoyed a breakout sale. The two-time champion and Classic winner was represented by a $700,000 colt (Hip 570) sold to Repole Stable on Day 2 of the Spring sale.

In 2022, the sire's top priced juvenile realized $125,000, and he rounded out the season with a juvenile average of $34,714 for 14 head sold. He stands for $10,000 in 2023.

“We always liked him,” said Finley of the son of Smart Strike. “We always thought he punched above his weight. He's had some really good horses [incl. BC Classic hero Accelerate and Kentucky Derby winner Country House]. He's kept at it and people still support him. And most importantly, he produces racehorses. That's what you want.”

Finley continued, “He is the type of sire that really makes this game go. They can't all be $100,000-plus stud fees, you have to have some of those stallions that give people a really good chance to get a really good horse at the sale or on the racetrack [at a reasonable price].”

Added Crane, “No one would have expected Lookin At Lucky to have a breakout year at the sales this year, but all the horses by him that sold well worked lights out.”

Overall, Crane, who brought six head to OBS Spring this year, encountered a mixed bag with his operation's results.

“One horse didn't breeze very well and the owner decided to take him to the races,” he said. “We sold three and one RNA'd.”

In regard to the single RNA, a filly by Kantharos, he added, “I'm not positive why [Hip 619] didn't have more action, honestly. She could have breezed a little better, but she is a nice filly. But that's the way the market has been playing.”

Following the all hits and misses, Crane admits that this week's OBS sale marked a turning point for the operation.

“We lost quite a bit in the barn fire,” he said. “And it's the first time we are coming out with a breath of fresh air.”–@CBossTDN

The post Steady Results as $1.3-Million Into Mischief Colt Stars at OBS Finale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Among the sextet was a filly by Enticed (hip 710, video) who is among the first crop of homebreds at Mario Bencomo and Alejandro Esis's New Horizon Farm in Ocala.

Asked if expected a bullet work from the filly, who is the farm's lone entrant in the sale, Bencomo said, “Yes. At the farm she worked really nice and she was always sound. So I expected what I saw today.”

Bencomo, who is involved in e-commerce, grew up around racing in his native Venezuela and returned to the sport when he moved to the U.S. almost 10 years ago.

“My family in Venezuela was always involved in the racehorse industry,” he explained. “I always saw the industry as a hobby, but when I moved to the United States in 2014, I started to do research and try to figure how the industry works here in the U.S.”

Bencomo acquired the 80-acre Morriston, Farm that was formerly Eddie Coletti's Sunrise Stable South in 2021 and has been busy refurbishing the property.

“I bought the farm just 2 1/2 years ago and I've been trying to rebuild it,” he said. “I bought it in pretty bad condition and I've been improving all the buildings, the fences, and the racetrack. And I built a swimming pool.”

New Horizon made its debut at OBS with a pair of pinhooking prospects in March 2021.

“Originally, we started with pinhooking yearlings to 2-year-olds,” Bencomo said. “Now we are moving to homebreds. For the next year, we are going to have 14 or 15 homebreds, by Kentucky and Florida stallions.”

Hip 710 is out of Mooji's Empire (Empire), a mare New Horizon acquired privately. The juvenile is co-bred with CESA Farm.

While only its third year of operation, New Horizon Farm was celebrating its second bullet worker at OBS. The consignment was represented by a filly by Good Magic (hip 984) who worked a quarter in :20 4/5 before selling for $200,000 to trainer Peter Miller on behalf of Kaleem Shah at the 2022 OBS June sale. She had been a $35,000 Keeneland September purchase by New Horizon.

Following next week's auction, New Horizon Farm heads north with a four-horse consignment at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May sale.

“I am going with four to the Maryland sale,” Bencomo said. “I have two homebreds there and then I am going to keep some for racing.”

Bencomo remains active in the e-commerce industry, but he sees a day when his racing operation will take up much of his time.

“It's still a hobby,” he said of the farm. “But in the near future, I think it will be a profitable business.”

Miles Doubles Up on Bullets Thursday

Randy Miles sent out a pair of fillies to share the bullet furlong Thursday and, at the end of the day, the consignor admitted he was pleasantly surprised by the results.

“We knew they were quick, but most of the time at the 2-year-old sale, you just want them to stay out of trouble and try their hardest and do the best they can possibly do,” Miles said. “They did it today. But sometimes 2-year-olds don't cooperate.”

A daughter of Race Day (hip 719, video) out of the unraced Morning Memo (Morning Line), who is a daughter of graded winner Memorette (Memo {Chi}), worked shortly before 10 a.m. The bay filly was purchased by Miles's Cool Hill Farm for $27,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale.

“She's a lovely filly and she had a beautiful breeze,” Miles said of the youngster. “She's so easy and classy in the barn. She's really what you want in a horse. Race Day may not be the flavor of the month, but as we all know, he can get you a good race horse. We didn't pay a whole lot for her, but when we saw her, we loved her build and her athleticism.”

A filly from the first crop of Maximus Mischief (hip 728, video) worked just short of noon Thursday. Out of My Rolex (Proud Accolade), the juvenile is a half-sister to stakes-winner It's High Time (Gone Astray) and from the family of Grade I winner Black Seventeen. The Florida-bred RNA'd for $55,000 at last year's OBS October sale and Miles is consigning her on behalf of breeder Tracy Pinchin.

“I have three of them and they are all here at the sale,” Miles said of offspring of graded-winner Maximus Mischief. “They all act like they want to run. They all act precocious. This filly is about 15.3 and I have a colt who is 16.2. And I have one in the middle. So I am getting all shapes and sizes, but I do like their desire to try and to work hard and their mental attitude.”

The pair of Thursday bullets made three on the week for Miles, who sent out a son of Solomini (hip 692) to work in :9 4/5 Wednesday.

“He's just beautiful,” Miles said of the colt. “I generally just let him do his own talking. Everybody who has been by has been impressed with him. We knew he was talented. My partner, Bo Hunt is an excellent trainer and a lot of times when these young horses show that they have speed, we don't breeze them that often. It was about every two weeks to 20 days that we breezed him and he showed it every time.”

Victor Centeno's Two Oaks Equine sent out a filly by Bolt d'Oro (hip 785) to work in :9 4/5 during Thursday's first set of workers. The filly is out of the unraced Petunia (Into Mischief) and was purchased by Centeno for $20,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale.

A colt by Into Mischief (hip 793) worked in :9 4/5 for Hartley/DeRenzo Thoroughbreds, which purchased him as a weanling for $350,000 at the 2021 Keeneland November sale. The bay is out of Pisa No Tiffany (Fusaichi Pegasus), a half-sister to Tapit.

A colt by Army Mule (hip 845) worked in :9 4/5 for Pick View, LLC. The youngster, who sold for $40,000 at the 2022 Keeneland January sale, sold again for $110,000 to Gracie Bloodstock on behalf of Anthony Tate at the Keeneland September sale. The chestnut is out of Raging Atlantic (Stormy Atlantic), a half-sister to Grade I-placed Seven Trumpets (Morning Line).

Four horses shared Thursday's fastest quarter-mile breeze of :21 flat: a colt by Blame (hip 786, video); a filly by Hard Spun (hip 814, video); a colt by Cable Bay (Ire) (hip 847, video); and a colt by No Nay Never (hip 868, video).

“I think those guys have done a great job with the track,” Miles said when asked to assess conditions from session-to-session at the under-tack show this week. “We got a little wind push this afternoon and I think another day they had a good wind push. But overall, trying to keep it consistent from the first set to the last set, I think it's been pretty consistent. And that's hard. This thing is kind of a monster to tame. And they've done a pretty good job with it.”

The under-tack show continues through Saturday with sessions beginning daily at 8 a.m. The Spring sale will be held next Tuesday through Friday with bidding beginning each day at 10:30 a.m.

The post Six Share Furlong Bullet at OBS Thursday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

NIALL BRENNAN

Top Pick: Vino Rosso (Curlin–Mythical Bride, by Street Cry {Ire}). Spendthrift Farm, 2023 fee: $15,000.

The Mitoles were popular at the yearling sales and they sold well at the OBS March sale. They look like they will be early types. There will be some pressure on him because the expectation for him will be for him to get quite a few 2-year-old winners. I have a Vino Rosso who is quite nice. I'll pick Vino Rosso and the reason is, he was a very good racehorse and has the pedigree. He was a very good older horse. But from what we've seen so far, they have quite a bit of maturity and look like they could be summer 2-year-olds. That's impressive for a stallion where you might think they'll be better later on. From the Vino Rossos, I am seeing athleticism and mental maturity. It's between Mitole and Vino Ross, but I'll give the edge to Vino Rosso.

Under-the-radar pick: Demarchelier (Dubawi {Ire}–Loveisallyouneed {Ire}, by Sadler's Wells). Claiborne Farm, 2023 fee: $5,000.

   My under-the-radar pick will be Demarchelier, a son of Dubawi who stands at Claiborne. He was an excellent racehorse in the making who won his first three starts before he got hurt. That reminds me of Danzig, who only had three starts and was retired. I'm not comparing him to Danzig. I'm just saying it is a similar story. He's the only son of Dubawi to stand over here and he had a lot of talent. I bred a mare to him because I thought he was a super value. Like Oscar Performance, he's going to have to step up and prove himself because he's a turf horse standing in America. They are average-sized, which he was. I have two that I really like. They are sharp and forward. I saw a couple breeze well at the March sale. I wouldn't be surprised if he comes up with four or five nice 2-year-old winners on the grass. He has the quality to do that. He has the potential to break out and have some really nice turf horses.

CARRIE BROGDEN

Top pick: Audible (Into Mischief–Blue Devil Bel, by Gilded Time). WinStar Farm, 2023 fee: $25,000.

I think that every year, the early chatter about who is good and who is going to struggle is very telling, so I have learned to listen to that. Last year in January and February, all the talk was about Bolt d'Oro. The year before in January and February, it was Gun Runner. So we bred three mares to him on his bubble year, off the early chatter. So I'm going to have to go with the horse that everyone was talking about, and that was Audible. With Bolt d'Oro, every single person you talked to had one they liked. I felt that was the case this year with Audible. At Saratoga, we sold an Audible filly to MyRacehorse named Lady Blitz, and I bought a microshare just to keep up with her. She has just gone to Todd Pletcher's barn and she is the real deal. Now, full disclosure: I have a share in Audible, but we have shares in a lot of stallions. Before the speed works and everything, that early chatter tells you who the horses are that like to train.

Under-the-radar pick: Maximus Mischief (Into Mischief–Reina Maria, by Songandaprayer). Spendthrift Farm: 2023 fee: $7,500.

Once again, I'm very biased here. We pinhooked him, raised him, sold him at Saratoga, stayed in on him with Cary Frommer, and took him to the 2-year-old sale. He was very fast. I think his horses look just like him. I'm biased, but I do feel like he's got a big shot. He throws a very different physical than Audible, who seems to throw a stouter body type. He was slightly long, and he throws a big, long horse.

JARED HUGHES

Top pick: Omaha Beach (War Front–Charming, by Seeking the Gold). Spendthrift Farm, 2023 fee: $30,000.

I've liked Omaha Beach from the start and he hasn't disappointed at any step of the way. Great physical from a tremendous female family and they've looked like runners as weanlings, yearlings, and now 2-year-olds. I'm excited to see what he can do this year.

Under-the-radar pick: Solomini (Curlin–Surf Song, by Storm Cat). McMahon of Saratoga, 2023 fee: $6,500

The under-the-radar pick is tricky this year due to a lack of depth, but I've liked the Solominis. He was a good 2-year-old who finished first in a Grade I and looks like he could be a standout in the New York market. Curlin is hot as a sire of sires right now with Good Magic waving the flag with three in the Derby.

Want to send in your first-crop sire selections? Email suefinley@thetdn.com.

In tomorrow's TDN: more first-crop sire picks (and lots of red, red wine).

The post Who Will Be This Year’s Leading First-Crop Sire? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post