City of Light’s Eye Witness Conquers Turfway’s Animal Kingdom S.

Debuted against New York breds at Belmont's Aqueduct meeting last fall, Eye Witness caught the losing end of the three-horse photo finish, winding up third by a head in a six-furlong grass sprint. Sidelined for the next three months, he started his New Year strong by breaking his maiden at a mile over the synthetic track at Turfway Jan. 1 over a pair of next-out winners. A $650,000 Keeneland September yearling, Eye Witness shortened back up to six panels Saturday and went off the popular 3-5 choice in the scratched-down field of five. Placed just off early leader Olazabal as the fractions ticked by in :22.26 and :46.54, the bay held that spot before easily sprinting by the pacesetter past the quarter pole. Much the best down the stretch, Eye Witness had plenty of run left and cruised home to win by open lengths as Olazabal came home second best. From his sire's first crop, the colt is out of a half-sister to GSW & GI Florida Derby runner up Sharp Humor (Distorted Humor). Gracilia saw her 2-year-old Practical Joke filly bring a final bid of $190,000 from Kingsport Farm at last week's OBS March Sale and she last produced a filly by Game Winner last year. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

ANIMAL KINGDOM S., $178,500, Turfway, 3-25, 3yo, 6f (AWT), 1:11.76, ft.
1–EYE WITNESS, 118, c, 3, by City of Light
                1st Dam: Gracilia, by Mr. Greeley
                2nd Dam: Bellona, by Hansel
                3rd Dam: Basoof, by Believe It
($235,000 Wlg '20 FTKNOV; $650,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP).
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Westerberg, Mrs. John Magnier,
Jonathan Poulin, Derrick Smith and Michael B. Tabor; B-Anlyn
Farms (NY); T-Wesley A. Ward; J-Irad Ortiz, Jr. $92,070.
Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-1, $122,310. *1/2 to More Mischief
(Into Mischief), SW, $255,493.
2–Olazabal, 118, c, 3, Bolt d'Oro–Derby Eve, by Tiznow.
($60,000 Ylg '21 FTKOCT). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Douglas E. Miller
and William J. Wargel; B-Susan Casner (KY); T-Eric N. Foster.
$49,700.
3–Brazen Boy, 118, c, 3, Jimmy Creed–What a Sassy Gal,
by Mineshaft. 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-John C. and Brittany B.
Terlep; B-Brittany B. Terlep (KY); T-Jordan Blair. $24,850.
Margins: 5, 5HF, 3 1/4. Odds: 0.71, 2.50, 6.95.
Also Ran: Moonstrike (GB), Tiger Paw (Ire). Scratched: Libertango, New York Thunder, Swirvin.

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Lone Star Park Announces 2023 Season

The Thoroughbred racing season at Lone Star Park will begin Thurs., April 13, with 44 live racing days and will conclude Tues., July 4. The calendar will feature live racing on Thursdays and Fridays at 6:35 p.m., Saturdays, Sundays and Memorial Day at 1:35 p.m., and special twilight post times of 5:00 p.m. on July 3 and July 4. The 2023 stakes schedule has a total of 21 stakes worth a combined $2,925,000. The highlight of the schedule is Lone Star Million Day on Memorial Day featuring the GIII Steve Sexton Mile.

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Weekend Lineup Presented By Hialeah Park NHC Qualifier: Hong Kong International Races

This weekend's horse racing action is highlighted by a quartet of Grade 1 turf races in Hong Kong which have drawn an international cast, including Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare turf heroine Loves Only You.

Stateside, the stakes action is led by the G2 Los Alamitos Futurity and the G3 Mr. Prospector on Saturday. Additionally, Arkansas Derby winner Super Stock returns in Oaklawn's $150,000 Poinsettia Stakes on Saturday.

Saturday

4:25 p.m. – $150,000 Louisiana Champions Day Classic Stakes at Fair Grounds

The best effort of 6-year old Grand Luwegee's career came when he won this race last year at Fair Grounds, his lone start at 1 ⅛ miles on dirt. A muddy track last year may have contributed to his 52-1 shocker, and a Saturday forecast repeat that could be to his liking for the 30th start of his career as he has never finished out of the money out of 6 starts in the mud. Add to that jockey Colby Hernanadez is back up and we have the recipe for this Gerard Perron owned, bred, and trained horse to take the big stack and move less than $10,000 away from a cool half million.

But he'll have company out front with the presence of Pound for Pound. No rider has been more assertive with her speedy mounts so far at Fair Grounds than Aubrie Green who rides the 2019 Classic champion, who missed the race last year. Owned by Israel Flores Horses, bred by Jay Adcock & B & B Bloodstock, this early mover also knows how to fight off rivals late. Seven of his 17 exacta finishes have come down to less than half a length. Trained by Andrea Ali, the 6-year old horse drew post 3 and could follow Grand Luwegee until ready to punch.

Louisiana Champions Day Classic Entries

5:05 p.m. – G3 Mr. Prospector Stakes at Gulfstream Park

Endorsed, the 5-year-old son of Medaglia d'Oro, is graded stakes-placed and has run respectably in a few Grade 1 stakes, but he is still seeking to win his first stakes in a steady 23-race career. He was claimed for $100,000 out of a third-place finish in an Aug. 26 optional claiming allowance at Saratoga, but has been winless in three starts for trainer Mike Maker, finishing third in the Louisville Thoroughbred Society Stakes, fourth in the Phoenix (G2) at Keeneland and a close third in an optional claiming allowance at Churchill while being ridden by Gaffalione for the first time.

Albaugh Family Stables LLC's Dennis' Moment enters the Mr. Prospector coming off his first win since capturing the 2019 Iroquois at Churchill Downs. The Dale Romans-trained son of Tiznow captured a seven-furlong optional claiming allowance at Keeneland.

Wind of Change, who won the ungraded Mr. Prospector at Monmouth in May, is coming off a second-place finish in an optional claiming allowance in his first start on Gulfstream's Tapeta course.

Officiating, who made a strong middle move on Tapeta before fading in the Showing Up, won the off-the-turf Bear's Den at seven furlongs over a sloppy track in his previous start.

Mr. Prospector Entries

5:13 p.m. – $150,000 Poinsettia Stakes at Oaklawn Park

Super Stock, winner of the $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1) last April at Oaklawn, is among seven 3-year-olds entered in Saturday's inaugural $150,000 Poinsettia Stakes.

Super Stock exits a 1 ¼-length victory in the $250,000 Zia Park Derby Nov. 23 at Zia Park for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen and his father/co-owner, Keith Asmussen. In addition to the Arkansas Derby, Super Stock won the $200,000 Ellis Park Derby Aug. 15 at Ellis Park.

Poinsettia Entries

6:58 p.m. – G2 Los Alamitos Futurity at Los Alamitos

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert will send out Messier and Barossa as he seeks his eighth consecutive victory in the Grade 2, $300,000 Los Alamitos Futurity Saturday.

A son of Empire Maker and the Smart Strike mare Cherokee Past has won two of three and earned $105,600. After finishing second as the odds-on favorite in his debut June 27 at Los Alamitos, the Canadian bred has gone back-to-back, prevailing by a combined 10 lengths. In his most recent appearance, Messier won the Grade 3 Bob Hope by three lengths Nov. 14.

An Into Mischief colt out of the Flower Alley mare Bouquet Booth, Barossa, who has the same ownership group as Messier, finished ninth of 11 in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Nov. 5. He's won once in four starts and earned $69,200. He broke his maiden at eight furlongs two starts back at Santa Anita.

Los Alamitos Entries

Sunday

1:00 a.m. – G1 Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin

G1 Coronation Cup winner Pyledriver lines up this weekend as the highest rated horse in the field with an international rating of 121 and has beaten last year's LONGINES Hong Kong Vase hero Mogul comfortably in three of their four meetings, including the Coronation Cup.

Meanwhile, Mogul returns to defend his title and leads a three-pronged attack on International Day at Sha Tin from the formidable Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore training and riding combination. The 4-year-old son of Galileo, has not won in four starts since last year's Hong Kong success. However, that victory was his third from as many runs right-handed at 2400 metres on good ground and jockey Moore believes his 2021 performances can be excused.

Hong Kong Vase Entries

1:40 a.m. – G1 Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin

Danon Smash was a smashing victor of last year's G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (six furlongs), and will defend his crown this Sunday.

But before all of this, his sire – Lord Kanaloa – now one of the top stallions in Japan, gave Danon Smash's handler – Takayuki Yasuda – two crowns in the Hong Kong Sprint (2012 & 2013).

A 6-year-old now and readying for his final start before stallion duties, Danon Smash kicked off his campaign with victory in the G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen (1200m) first-up in March (this year) to register his first top-level win in Japan. It was also another father-and-son achievement following the pair's triumphs in the Hong Kong Sprint.

Hong Kong Sprint Entries

2:50 a.m. – G1 Hong Kong Mile at Sha Tin

Gearing up for his toughest test to date and the chance to create history, Hong Kong's Horse of the Year Golden Sixty will step away from barrier two in Sunday's Hong Kong Mile. This weekend, the 6-year-old son of Medaglia d'Oro will bid to extend his winning thread to 16 and his overall tally to 19 wins – a new local record in Hong Kong.

Golden Sixty shares the current mantle of 18 wins in town with Silent Witness and Beauty Generation. And Lui describes the quirky but incredibly talented gelding as the horse of a lifetime.

Hong Kong Mile Entries

3:30 a.m. – G1 Hong Kong Cup at Sha Tin

No matter where she finishes in the Hong Kong Cup (2000m, or 1 1/4 miles), those watching will be witnessing both history in the making and a history maker, Japan's champion mare with an endearingly fetching name – Loves Only You.

The LONGINES Hong Kong Cup will be the final race for Loves Only You, capping a short, star-studded, and decidedly international career, which has seen the now 5-year-old daughter of Deep Impact land one of the most elusive overseas wins for Japan – its first Breeders' Cup victory, while her FWD QEII Cup triumph at Sha Tin earlier this year came at her first Hong Kong sortie.

Hong Kong Cup Entries

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Weekend Lineup: Sophomores, Maryland Million In The Spotlight

Grade 2 stakes for 3-year-olds highlight the weekend stakes schedule as Belmont Park hosts the Hill Prince on turf and Keeneland presents the Lexus Raven Run for fillies on the main track. Additionally, Laurel Park is the site of the 36th Jim McKay Maryland Million Day on Saturday. First post for the 12 stakes Maryland Million card, which will be televised on TVG, is 11:30 a.m. ET.

Races in this weekend's rundown are listed in chronological order (all times Eastern). Full previews, when available, can be found through the link for each race.

TVG will feature racing from Keeneland, Santa Anita, Gulfstream Park, Laurel 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 from Belmont Park on Saturday, Oct. 23 on FS2 from 12:30 – 5:30 pm. On Sunday, Oct. 24, “America's Day at the Races” will broadcast from Belmont Park on FS2 from 12:30 – 2:00 pm and on FS1 from 2:00 – 5:30 pm.

Friday, October 22

4:44 PM ET – $150,000 Sycamore Stakes (Gr. 3T) at Keeneland on TVG

Trainer Mac Robertson sends out morning line favorite Two Emmys in the 1 ½ mile Sycamore Stakes (G3T), a race that attracted a field of 12. The Kentucky-bred gelded son of English Channel has not raced since upsetting odds-on favorite Domestic Spending (GB) in Arlington's Mr. D Stakes (G1T), formerly known as the Arlington Million. Two Emmys finished second in a 2019 starter allowance race in his only previous Keeneland start. Glynn County, trained by Mike Maker, finished third in the aforementioned Mr. D and third in the Calumet Turf Cup (G2T) last out. The Kentucky-bred son of Kitten's Joy will start from the rail.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE102221USA8-EQB.html

Saturday, October 23

1:55 PM ET – $150,000 Hendrie Stakes (G3) at Woodbine on TVG

Six fillies and mares are scheduled to contest the 6 ½ furlong Hendrie Stakes on Woodbine's All-Weather Track. Our Secret Agent, trained by Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse, is the morning line favorite. The Kentucky-bred daughter of Secret Circle is winless in four 2021 starts but has hit the board in three graded stakes races this year at Woodbine. Amalfi Coast (ON), winner of Woodbine's G3T Ontario Fashion Stakes most recently for trainer Kevin Attard, is expected to be the main challenger.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/WO102321CAN3-EQB.html

4:21 PM ET – $200,000 Nobel Damsel (G3T) at Belmont Park on FS2

High Opinion just missed in the G2 Ballston Spa Stakes in her most recent start for trainer Anthony Dutrow and leads a field of 10 fillies and mares in the one-mile G3T Noble Damsel. The Kentucky-bred daughter of Lemon Drop Kid will make her 10th career start and her second graded stakes start. Trainers Chad Brown and Shug McGaughey each have two entries in the Noble Damsel, with the former having won the race five times.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/BEL102321USA8-EQB.html

4:52 PM ET – $400,000 Hill Prince Stakes (G2T) at Belmont Park on FS2

Eleven 3-year-olds are set to run in the nine-furlong Hill Prince over Belmont's inner turf course. Never Surprised, trained by Hall of Fame conditioner Todd Pletcher and owned by Repole Stable, has a lifetime record of 4-2-2-0, with two graded stakes placings in two 2021 starts. The Kentucky-bred Constitution colt was last seen after a seven-month layoff in Saratoga's G3T Saranac Stakes where Public Sector (GB) prevailed by a length. That foe, trained by multiple Eclipse Award winner Chad Brown, also is entered in the Hill Prince and boasts three wins in five 2021 starts, including back to back graded stakes wins at Saratoga.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/BEL102321USA9-EQB.html

5:16 PM ET – $250,000 Lexus Raven Run Stakes (G2) at Keeneland on TVG

Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott has a powerful duo entered in the 13-horse Grade 2 Lexus Raven Run field, led by 3-1 morning line favorite Obligatory. The Kentucky-bred daughter of Curlin has a pair of Grade 1 stakes placings this year, including a second-place finish in the Cotillion Stakes on September 25. Mott also has Caramel Swirl, a daughter of Union Rags, entered. The Godolphin color bearer finished fourth as the odds-on favorite in the G3 Charles Town Oaks in her most recent start, and broke her maiden at Keeneland in April by 10 ¼ lengths.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE102321USA9-EQB.html

Sunday, October 24

4:12 PM ET – $150,000 Rood & Riddle Dowager Stakes (Gr. 3T) at Keeneland on TVG

Ten fillies and mares, including Grade 2 stakes winner Micheline, are entered for the 12-furlong Dowager Stakes. Trained by Michael Stidham for Godolphin, the Kentucky-bred Bernardini filly won the G2T Hillsborough Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs in March for her lone win in five 2021 starts. Florida-bred Key Biscayne won the listed Monroe Stakes at Gulfstream Park, a one-mile dirt contest in July originally scheduled for 1 1/16 miles on the turf. In her most recent start, the daughter of Brethren trained by Mike Maker placed second in a 1 1/8-mile allowance optional claiming race on Saratoga's inner turf course.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE102421USA7-EQB.html

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