Top News | Horse Racing Free Tips

Four New Directors Named to Keeneland Board

Keeneland has announced four new additions to its Advisory Board of Directors: Gatewood Bell of Cromwell Bloodstock, Coolmore’s Aisling Duignan, Juddmonte Farms’ Garrett O’Rourke and Sarah S. Reeves of Stoll Keenon Ogden.

Nick Nicholson, Keeneland President and CEO from 2000-12, and J. David Smith Jr. of Stoll Keenon Ogden are retiring from the Keeneland Board.

All four new Directors began their service at the recent Advisory Board meeting. Reeves replaces Keeneland President-Elect Shannon Arvin as Secretary of the Board.

“Gatewood, Aisling, Garrett and Sarah each provide the board with unique skill sets and business acumen that will help guide Keeneland as it navigates the future,” Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason said. “We thank them for their service to Keeneland.”

The Keeneland Board comprises leaders in the Thoroughbred industry and Central Kentucky community.

The post Four New Directors Named to Keeneland Board appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Pletcher Breeders’ Cup Troops Gearing Up at Belmont

Trainer Todd Pletcher breezed a quintet of Breeders’ Cup contenders over the past two mornings at Belmont Park.

Halladay (War Front) (Mile), winner of the GI Fourstardave H. last out Aug. 22 at Saratoga, worked five-eighths in company Friday in 1:00.60 on the fast dirt training track. He was scratched out of the GI Shadwell Turf Mile Oct. 3 at Keeneland with a hind leg infection.

“I thought it was a good work. We normally don’t work him in company, but seeing as we’re a little rushed for time between races, I wanted to get a good solid work into him today in company,” said Pletcher. “He’s a very willing work horse on his own but the fact that we missed the prep race we wanted to get a good solid company work into him and we got what we were hoping for. He responded quickly to antibiotics and everything has gone according to plan so far.”

Valiance (Tapit) (Distaff) made the grade last out in the GI Juddmonte Spinster S. Oct. 4 at Keeneland. She clocked a half-mile in :48.04 on the dirt training track Friday.

“I thought it was an excellent work,” said Pletcher. “She seems to be in really good form at the moment. I was really happy with the work and gallop out. This is another step up but she seems to be in the best form of her career.”

Fellow Breeders’ Cup hopefuls ‘TDN Rising Star’ Mutasaabeq (Into Mischief) (Juvenile Turf), Likeable (Frosted) (Juvenile) and Union Gables (Speighstown) (Juvenile Fillies Turf/Juvenile Turf Sprint) worked on Thursday at Belmont.

Pletcher added that the undefeated ‘TDN Rising Star’ Happy Saver (Super Saver), a last-out winner of the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup Oct. 10 at Belmont, will not enter the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic.

“We’re going to pass on the Breeders’ Cup with him and make a decision in the next week on whether we’ll give him some time off or focus on a Plan B towards the Pegasus. I think the Classic is coming up a little too soon,” said Pletcher. “He’s a horse we plan to race next year and I felt like for the long term skipping this race and focusing on 2021 is the right move for him. He has a lot of talent and we want to make sure we keep him fresh for next year.”

The post Pletcher Breeders’ Cup Troops Gearing Up at Belmont appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Daredevil to Stand at Lane’s End for 2021

One of the top second-crop sires Daredevil (More Than Ready–Chasethewildwind, by Forty Niner) will relocate to Lane’s End Farm for the 2021 breeding season. The GI Champagne S. victor will stand for $25,000.

Sire of 3-year-old sensations Swiss Skydiver and Shedaresthedevil, Daredevil is third on the North American-based, second-crop sire behind only American Pharoah and Constitution with just over half as many starters.

Daredevil is the only first-crop sire to ever sire an individual winner of the GI Kentucky Oaks and the GI Preakness S. in the same year. Swiss Skydiver is only the sixth filly to win the second leg of the Triple Crown in its 145 years. Shedaresthedevil was her sire’s first Classic winner in 2020 and led home the exacta for her sire in the most prestigious 3-year-old fillies race of the year. These two Grade I winners from just 74 starters in 2020 represent a 2.78%, Grade I winners to starters. Behind only Galileo worldwide at 3.6% and ahead of North American-based super sires War Front (1.5%), Speightstown (1.35%), More Than Ready (1.27%), Tapit (.83%) and Into Mischief (.77%) in 2020.

After standing his first four years at stud at WinStar, Daredevil was sold to The Turkish Jockey Club. Daredevil covered 97 mares in his first season in Turkey this year, the biggest book of any stallion in the country. Daredevil will stand at Lane’s End as property of the Jockey Club of Turkey.

“We are extremely honored that the Jockey Club of Turkey is entrusting us with the continuation of Daredevil’s stallion career in America,” said Bill Farish. “What he has accomplished is nothing short of remarkable. I would like to personally thank Murat Sancal for his ongoing efforts, the board members of the TJK, and especially the President Mr. Serdal Adali. This is the beginning of a very fruitful relationship with them and we are very grateful.”

Daredevil is in quarantine in preparation for his departure to Kentucky. He will arrive at Lane’s End near the end of November and be available for inspection shortly after.

The post Daredevil to Stand at Lane’s End for 2021 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

BC Workers Out in Full Force at Churchill

MGISW War of Will (War Front) kicked off the Breeders’ Cup action Friday morning at Churchill Downs. With jockey Declan Carroll in the irons, the bay went in fractions of :11.60, :23.40, :34.80 and :46.80. They galloped out six furlongs in 1:12.20, seven furlongs in 1:24.80 and a mile in 1:38.40, according to Churchill Downs clocker John Nichols. War of Will has made all three of his starts this season on turf, most recently finishing third in the GI Ricoh Woodbine Mile, but is being pointed for the GI Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.

“I was just the passenger along for the ride,” said Carroll. “I’ve always loved how this horse trains over the dirt. He’s very versatile and can run on dirt or turf but he’s always trained great over the dirt.”

Next up from the Mark Casse barn was War of Will’s MGISW stablemate Got Stormy (Get Stormy), who was second in the GI Breeders’ Cup Mile last term, but is pointing for the GI Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint this season. With Kim Carroll aboard, the chestnut went in splits of :11.80, :23.20 and :34.80.

Brad Cox breezed four Breeders’ Cup contenders, including GI Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity S. hero Essential Quality (Tapit), who is pointing to the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. With Florent Geroux up, the Godolphin runner started his work one length behind multiple graded stakes winner Mr. Misunderstood (Archarcharch) through splits of :13.20, :36.80, :48.80 and 1:00.60. Essential Quality finished even with Mr. Misunderstood at the wire and the duo galloped out together in 1:26.40.

“He seems like he’s really matured over the summer into where he is now,” Geroux said. “He’s one of those horses where he keeps getting better as he gets more experience.”

Geroux also breezed undefeated ‘TDN Rising Star’ Aunt Pearl (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}). The GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf contender worked in company with Emro (Point of Entry), covering five panels in 1:00.80 (22/44).

Also on the worktab were MGSW duo of Mr. Money (Goldencents) and Silver Dust (Tapit), both of whom are scheduled to run in the Dirt Mile. Mr. Money breezed a best-of-44 five panels in :58.80. With Gabriel Saez in the irons, the bay cruised through early fractions of :11.60, :23.40, :34.80 and :46.80.

“It was kind of an almost must-win situation in the Ack Ack to get him back on track,” trainer Bret Calhoun said. “Mentally I think it was good for him and I can tell a difference with his training. He seems happier after the race. He hasn’t had a lot go right for him this year in his races so coming into the race off a win is crucial.”

Silver Dust worked with jockey Adam Beschizza in the irons through fractions of :11.60, :23.40, and :35.60 and completed five furlongs in 1:00.20 (9/44).

“He’s sort of been a challenging horse his entire career,” Calhoun said of the 6-year-old son of Tapit. “He’s continued to get better mentally and he’s been more consistent with age. I know it’s in him to come out of his shell.”

GI Derby City Distaff heroine Bell’s the One (Majesticperfection) continued her preparations for the GI Breeders’ Cup F/M Sprint Friday, working five panels in company in 1:00.40 (11/44) with jockey Corey Lanerie up.

“She likes to have a target in front of her, so we typically work her this way,” conditioner Neil Pessin said. “Her race against Serengeti Empress (Alternation) [in the Derby City Distaff] was so thrilling. She dug in really hard that day to get up just in time.”

Dale Romans sent out his contenders for the juvenile dirt races Friday morning, starting with the 2-year-old colt Sittin On Go (Brody’s Cause), winner of the GIII Iroquois S. With exercise rider Faustino Herrarte aboard, he went in :11.40, :22.40, :34.80 and :47. Moments later, GIII Pocahontas S. winner Girl Daddy (Uncle Mo) breezed with jockey Joe Talamo up through splits of :11.80, :23.80 and :48.40. She galloped out six furlongs in 1:13.60.

The post BC Workers Out in Full Force at Churchill appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post