Andiamo a Firenze

A 4 1/2-length winner against state-bred fillies at second asking Sept. 22, Stonewall Star returned to take on the boys last time out, coming in a game third beaten only a length behind Acoustic Ave (Maclean's Music) and GSP Andiamo a Firenze (Speightstown) in the New York Breeders' Futurity at the Finger Lakes Oct. 17. Back against her own gender Saturday as the heavy 2-5 choice, Stonewall Star wasted no time getting to the front, establishing the early lead from the first strides.  With over a length in hand through...

With runners this week from New York to Kentucky and in between hailing from exceptional families, Insights was treated to a 'Rising Star' performance and other top-notch victories ready to fire the imagination. It's a good bet a number of these winners--and even those whose debuts weren't quite as fruitful on first attempt--will be heard from again. THURSDAY'S INSIGHTS: Full to Good Magic Debuts at Belmont 4th-Belmont, $90,000, Msw, 6-2, 3yo/up, 6f, 1:10.98, my, 2 1/4 lengths. Third time was a charm for the gelded CAPONE (g, 3, Classic Empire--Hit...

It was a pretty quiet racing week here, so this installment of snippets is a little European-centric. We hope you find it interesting. The Mind Boggles... Tuesday's win in the G1 Cazoo Oaks at Epsom gave Aidan O'Brien a record 41st British Classic winner, including 10 wins in the Oaks. Tuesday was also the 94th Group 1 winner for her sire, Galileo and the second Oaks heroine and third Classic winner for her dam, Lillie Langtry (following Minding and Empress Josephine). Coolmore/Ballydoyle's stats never cease to amaze. Pletch Being Pletch......

Andiamo a Firenze (c, 2, Speightstown--My Every Wish, by Langfuhr) bossed what appeared on paper to be a well above-average group of state-bred maidens to become the newest 'TDN Rising Star' for his outstanding WinStar Farm-based stallion. A close relation to connections' GISW Firenze Fire--by Speightstown's son Poseidon's Warrior ($2,730,350)--the Mr Amore homebred was away like a shot from the inside stall and set a strong pace in advance of the debuting and well-backed filly Danseur d'Oro (Bolt d'Oro), covering the opening quarter in :22.49 over a sloppy main track....