Harbinger (GB) (Dansili {GB}--Penang Pearl {Fr}, by Bering {GB}), who suffered a career-ending injury following his emphatic win in the G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth II S., has been sold to stand in Japan. According to Highclere Thoroughbred Racing's website, the deal to sell the four-year-old to the Shadai Group "values the horse as one of the highest priced transactions in recent times." The renowned syndicate's Director John Warren explained, "There were a number of top stud farms from both home and abroad involved in the negotiations and there was a very strong bid to keep the horse in England. Unfortunately for the British Bloodstock industry the final bid from the famous Shadai Group, where Sunday Silence stood, was far too strong to be able to compete. The owners of Highclere Thoroughbred Racing's Admiral Rous syndicate grew extremely close to the horse. They would dearly have loved Harbinger, widely regarded as 'The best horse in the world', to have retired to stud in the U.K. However, he will be in excellent hands and we hope he is as big a success at stud for The Yoshida brothers as he was on the racecourse for us. It has been a privilege to have been involved with such a great horse."

RISKAVERSE S. (1st Division), $70,000, SAR, 9-2, 3yo, f, 1mT, 1:35, fm.
1--AWESOME MARIA, 117, f, 3, Maria's Mon
        1st Dam: Discreetly Awesome, by Awesome Again
        2nd Dam: Pretty Discreet, by Private Account
        3rd Dam: Pretty Persuasive, by Believe It
O-E Paul Robsham Stables LLC; B-Mrs E Paul Robsham (KY); T-Todd A Pletcher; J-John R Velazquez; $42,000. Lifetime Record: GSW & GISP, 5-3-2-0, $313,000.
2--Snow Top Mountain, 117, f, 3, Najran--Motokiks, by Storm Cat. O-Barbara Hunter. $14,000.
3--In Te Domine, 122, f, 3, Freud--Luminate, by A.P. Indy. ($11,000 wlng '07 NYBOCT). O-Blackout Racing Stables and Zyra, Lawrence J. $7,000.
Margins: HF, HF, 1 1/4. Odds: 1.35, 3.40, 11.60.
Also Ran: Silver La Belle, House of Grace, Shirley She Can, Senada, Tidal Pool, Neenie's House.
   Robsham Stable homebred Awesome Maria, on her toes and looking good in the paddock, was making her first start of the season with a new trainer in Todd Pletcher and was trying the grass for the first time. Pressing the pace from the outset through :23.79, :47.67 and 1:11.39 splits, she forged to the front mid-stretch and kept finding more to get the best Snow Top Mountain. Awesome Maria won the GII Matron S. at Belmont by daylight last September for trainer Stanley Hough, and had been on the sidelines since running Devil May Care (Malibu Moon) to a neck in the GI Frizette S. at Belmont Oct. 10. "We were looking for a place to start her back," said Pletcher. "We felt she was a filly who would appreciate some added ground, and obviously the GI Alabama S. [10 furlongs at Saratoga Aug. 21] is not somewhere you'd start back. The GIII Victory Ride S. [six furlongs Aug. 28] was a little too short, and she seemed to handle it well when we worked her on the grass. It was more about the timing and the distance than the surface. She's already proven she's a quality filly on the dirt. She's still a lightly raced filly and doing things on natural ability." It's been a good week at Saratoga for the Robsham stable and their top producer Pretty Discreet. On Saturday, her son Discreetly Mine (Mineshaft) solidified his status as the best sprinter in the nation with a victory in the GI King's Bishop S. Awesome Maria, meanwhile, is a granddaughter of the 1995 Alabama winner. Pretty Discreet is also the dam of GISW Discreet Cat (Forestry). Click for the brisnet.com chart or Video, sponsored by Taylor Made.

RISKAVERSE S. (2nd Division), $70,000, SAR, 9-2, 3yo, f, 1mT, 1:33 4/5, fm.
1--#QUEEN OF THE CREEK, 117, f, 3, by Theatrical (Ire)
        1st Dam: Miasma (SP-Eng, $39,987), by Lear Fan
        2nd Dam: Syrian Circle, by Damascus
        3rd Dam: Friendly Circle, by Round Table
($140,000 yrl '08 KEESEP). O-Timothy B Turney &
Nathan Tinkler; B-Monticule (KY); T-Thomas F Proctor; J-Julien R Leparoux; $42,000. Lifetime Record: 7-4-0-1, $160,762.
2--Ultimate Class, 117, f, 3, During--Ecstatic Girls, by Mr. Greeley. ($9,500 yrl '08 KEEJAN; $20,000 yrl '08 OBSAUG; $70,000 RNA 2yo ‘09 OBSJUN). O-Smart Choice Stable. $14,000.
3--Kittylicious, 117, f, 3, Tactical Cat--Never Faulty, by Faltaat. ($6,000 yrl '08 KEESEP; $16,000 RNA 2yo ‘09 OBSAPR). O-James Crocetto. $7,000.
Margins: 3HF, 4 1/4, 3/4. Odds: 4.20, 34.50, 25.00.
Also Ran: Doe Run, Sea Road, Millennia, Khancord Kid, Elle Special, Marseria (Ity), Lisa's Booby Trap.
   Queen of the Creek earned the first black-type win of her career as the previously undefeated Lisa's Booby Trap (Drewman) disappointed. The former finished third in the Listed American 1000 Guineas S. at Arlington May 22. Queen of the Creek threw in a clunker when last of 12 in the GIII Regret S. at Churchill June 12, but bounced back to wire a field of Saratoga allowance horses in a sharp freewheelin' effort July 26. That was first time she'd been put on the front end and, sent off at 4-1 odds here, she again was allowed free rein and led through a first quarter in :23.98. She bounded away from the field to lead by daylight through a half in :46.76--a strong :22.78 second quarter--got to the three quarters in 1:10.14, and kept on motoring down the stretch to beat longshot Ultimate Class. "This filly has a lot of ability, and we've quit trying to rate her," said trainer Tom Proctor. "The other day she ran well, and there were four-year-olds chasing her. I said, ‘Next time, there will be three-year-olds chasing her.' If somebody went out there, running-and-gunning, maybe the jock would have taken her back, but maybe not. She's a Theatrical, and they're free-running horses." Queen of the Creek, a $140,000 KEESEP yearling, is a three-parts sister to Mien (Nureyev), dam of GI Kentucky Derby and Preakness hero Big Brown (Boundary). Crowd favorite Lisa's Booby Trap, off at even money, was in good striking position while fourth, but tired badly two furlongs out and finished last. Owner/trainer Tom Snyder took the loss in stride. "I was trying to geta line on her by trying her on the grass," he sadi. "This is no big deal. It was a great experience for her. You've got to be on both sides; a lot of people are prepared for the win, and not prepared to be disappointed. I was prepared to be disappointed. She'll go back to my mother-in-law's farm in Syracuse." Added her jockey Kent Desormeaux, "She was never comfortable [on the turf]. Not two feet out of the gate. She was grunting and making noise. I'm sure she didn't enjoy the going at all. This doesn't take anything away from her for me. She's already a superstar." Click for the brisnet.com chart or Video, sponsored by Taylor Made.

P. G. JOHNSON S., $70,000, SAR, 9-1, 2yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 1:42 3/5, fm.
1--#FANCY POINT, 116, f, 2, Point Given--Fancy Clancy, by Rahy. O-Kinsman Stable; B-Kinsman Farm (KY); T-William Phipps; J-Javier Castellano; $42,000. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $44,500. *1/2 to Fancy Fusaichi (Fusaichi Pegasus), SW, $236,499.
2--Kathmanblu, 118, f, 2, Bluegrass Cat--Abba Gold, by Devil's Bag. ($57,000 RNA yrl '09 KEESEP). O-Five D Thoroughbreds & Wind River Stables. $14,000.
3--Pleine Forme, 118, f, 2, Grand Slam--Why Worry (Fr), by Cadeaux Genereux (GB). ($55,000 RNA yrl '09 KEESEP). O-NP Bloodstock Inc. $7,000.   
Margins: 1HF, HF, 3/4. Odds: 3.85, 15.80, 5.50.   
Also Ran: Lauren Byrd, Believe in A. P., Maria's Luck, Arch Support, Avanta.
   Fancy Point, a troubled fourth in her six-furlong dirt debut at Saratoga Aug. 1, was bet down strongly from her 12-1 morning-line odds to go off as third-choice. On the engine through fractions of :23.67 and :48.29, Fancy Point cornered nicely and opened a clear lead in the stretch and had enough left in the tank to hold the rallying Kathmanblu safe. "She looked like she was on her toes today," jockey Javier Castellano said. "As soon as they opened the gate, she broke like a shot. Boom! I tried to settle her a little bit and I was wishing somebody else could go on the lead just to keep track, but she just galloped along. At the eighth pole, turning for home, it looked like some horses on the outside were going to go by. But, when I asked her a little bit, she gave it to me and took off again." Trainer William Phipps added, "We're very lucky people. We're honored to have a horse for the Steinbrenners--this one is for the big guy. We felt pretty bullish coming into the race. She comes from a very classy family and she took to the lawn the way we thought she would." Fancy Point is out of a half-sister to GISW Joyeux Danseur (Nureyev); her dam is also a half to Danseur Fabuleux (Northern Dancer), the producer of champions Arazi (Blushing Groom {Fr}) and Noverre (Rahy). Click for the brisnet.com chart or Video, sponsored by Taylor Made.
   

7th-DEL, $41,300, Msw, 2yo, 1m70y, 1:43 3/5, ft.
   RUSH NOW (c, 2, Tiznow--Dirty Rush {SP}, by Wild Rush) reported home a well-beaten eighth going six furlongs in his Saratoga unveiling July 31. Hammered down to 4-5 in his route debut facing only five rivals here, Rush Now prompted the early pace from third, gained the lead on the far turn and opened daylight in the stretch to graduate by 13 3/4 lengths. Key to a Cure (Suave) was second. Sales history: $280,000 wlng '08 KEENOV; $290,000 RNA yrl '09 FTSAUG. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $23,600. Click for the brisnet.com chart or Video, sponsored by Taylor Made.
   O-Mr & Mrs William K Warren Jr. B-Chris & Kirt Cahill (KY). T-Anthony W Dutrow.

4th-SAR, $62,000, Alw, Opt. Clm. ($100,000), C, 3yo/up, 1 1/8m, 1:49 1/5, ft.
1--REGAL RANSOM, 120, c, 4, Distorted Humor--Kelli's Ransom, by Red Ransom. ($675,000 2yo ‘08 FTFFEB). O-Godolphin Racing LLC; B-Diamond A Racing Corporation (KY); T-Saeed bin Suroor. Lifetime Record: Hwt 3yo-UAE at 7-9.5f, GSW-US & UAE, 7-3-0-0, $539,400. *1/2 to Devil May Care (Malibu Moon), MGISW, $724,000.

2--Cool Coal Man, 121, h, 5, Mineshaft--Coral Sea, by Rubiano. ($200,000 yrl '06 KEESEP; $850,000 RNA 2yo ‘07 FTFFEB).
3--Atoned, 120, r, 5, Repent--Amidst, by Icecapade. ($65,000 yrl '06 OBSJAN; $165,000 2yo ‘07 OBSFEB; $35,000 RNA yrl '06 KEESEP).   
Margins: 3 1/4, 11 3/4, NK. Odds: 0.80, 2.35, 19.90.
   Regal Ransom, winner of last year's G2 UAE Derby, reported home eighth behind Mine That Bird (Birdstone) in the GI Kentucky Derby, then received some time off. The dark bay resurfaced with a sharp wire-to-wire victory over Blame (Arch) in the GII Super Derby in September, then concluded his sophomore campaign with an eighth-place finish in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic Nov. 7. The Godolphin colorbearer kicked off the new year with a fourth-place finish in Belmont's GII Suburban H. July 3, and was favored in this salty affair. Headstrong on the front-end through an opening quarter in :24 3/5, Regal Ransom began to settle through a half mile in :48 1/5, was challenged by Cool Coal Man in the stretch, but had plenty left in the tank to turn that one back and win going away. "He had his ears pricked out of the gate, and I thought he relaxed a lot better than he did first time out," assistant trainer Rick Mettee said. "He's a fast little horse, so he's always going to take a little bit of a pull. It was good that he was able to get in a small field without a lot of pace in there because he's been in some tough spots, so it's good for him to win a race again." According to Mettee, the GII Kelso Breeders' Cup H. at Belmont Park Oct. 3-- now run on the dirt--could be next. Click for the brisnet.com chart or Video, sponsored by Taylor Made.
   

PRIX DE LIANCOURT-Listed, €55,000, Longchamp, 9-1, 3yo, f, 1 5/16mT, 2:13.40, gd.
1--#DELUXE, 128, f, 3, by Storm Cat
        1st Dam: Hasili (Ire) (SW-Fr), by Kahyasi (Ire)
        2nd Dam: Kerali (GB), by High Line (GB)
        3rd Dam: Sookera, by Roberto
O-Khalid Abdullah; B-Juddmonte Farms; T-Andre Fabre; J-Maxime Guyon; €27,500. Lifetime Record: G1SP-Fr, 5 starts, 3 wins, 2 places, €156,830. *1/2 to Dansili (GB) (Danehill) Co. Hwt. Older Horse-GB at 7-9.5f, Hwt. Older Horse-Fr at 7-9.5f, MGSW & MG1SP-Fr, G1SP-Eng, GISP-US, $552,023; Banks Hill (GB) (Danehill), Ch. Turf Mare-US, Ch. 3yo Filly-Eur, Hwt. 3yo-Fr at 9.5-11f, Hwt. 3yo Filly-Eng at 7-9.5f, Hwt. Older Mare-Fr at 7-9.5f, Hwt. Older Mare-Eng at 9.5-11f, G1SW-Fr & Eng, GISW-US, $1,937,416; Intercontinental (GB) (Danehill), Ch. Turf Mare-US, MGISW-US, SW & G1SP-Fr, G1SP-GB, $2,052,282; Champs Elysees (GB) (Danehill), Horse of the Year & Ch. Turf Horse-Can, MGISW-NA, GSW-Fr & G1SP-Ity, $2,854,186; Cacique (Ire) (Danehill), MGISW-US, MGSW & MG1SP-Fr, $1,461,949; Heat Haze (GB) (Green Desert), MGISW-US & SW-Fr, $1,183,620.
2--Valasyra (Fr), 123, f, 3, Sinndar (Ire)--Valima (Fr), by Linamix (Fr). €11,000.
3--Homepage (GB), 123, f, 3, Dansili (GB)--Condition (GB), by Deploy (GB). €8,250.
Margins: HD, 1HF, 3/4. Odds: 1.10, 9.00, 6.40.
Also Ran: Lagalp (Ger), Banderille (Fr), Pearl Away (Fr), Ma Coeur (Fr), Olga Prekrasa, Emblazon (Ger).
   Already proven at the top level, but without a black-type win prior to this, Deluxe put that right on the opening day of Longchamp's autumn season to lay down another milestone for her remarkable dam Hasili. Following two wins over a mile--at Chantilly Sept. 22 and here Apr. 15--the bay was runner-up in the G1 Prix Saint-Alary at this venue May 23 and fourth in the G1 Prix de Diane at Chantilly last time June 13. Settled in fifth early, she delivered her challenge wide inside the final quarter and mastered the game Valasyra in the final strides. Click for the Racing Post chart.