China Horse Club

Feb. 28 Insights: Pricey Pharoah Debuts Against FL Breds

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 5th-GP, $44K, Msw, (S), 3yo, 1m, 3:03p.m. WinStar Farm and China Horse Club's $600,000 KEESEP purchase FREEDOM FORCE (American Pharoah) makes his career bow against fellow Florida-breds in this spot. The chestnut is a half-brother to MGISW millionaire Iotapa (Afleet Alex) and SW & GSP Saintly Joan (Northern Afleet). The Rodolphe Brisset trainee enters off a bullet five furlongs in 1:00 flat (1/8) at Palm Meadows Feb. 19. Todd Pletcher saddles another intriguing runner in this test in Mathis homebred Roman Empire (Empire Maker). Off...

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Feb. 8 Insights
Feb. 8 Insights

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency EXPENSIVE SPEIGHTSTOWN DEBUTS AT TAMPA 4th-TAM, $27K, Msw, 3yo, 1m 40yds, 1:46p.m. WinStar and China Horse Club signed the $750,000 ticket on EXTRAORDINARY (Speightstown) at Keeneland September and breeder Stonestreet Stables stayed in as a partner on the colt, who debuts in this spot for Rodolphe Brisset. The chestnut is out of four-time graded winner and MGISP millionaire Fiftyshadesofhay (Pulpit), a $1.3-million purchase by Stonestreet at the 2014 KEENOV sale. Let's Go Stable and Repole Stables also send out a Stonestreet homebred for his career...

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In Sharper Focus: Fearless

A late-blooming gelding kicks off his career with two straight impressive victories carrying the white silks of WinStar Farm. Sound familiar? While the talented 'TDN Rising Star' Diversify (Bellamy Road) eventually changed hands as a racing prospect at the 2016 Keeneland November Sale prior to posting a pair of Grade I victories for Ralph and Lauren Evans, Kenny Troutt's operation was represented by the promising blowout allowance optional claiming winner Fearless (Ghostzapper) at Gulfstream Saturday. The unbeaten 4-year-old gelding, campaigned in partnership with China Horse Club International, earned an eye-catching...

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Wednesday's Insights: Promising Carpe Diem Colt Takes on Winners at Gulfstream

9th-GP, $51K, OC 75k/N1X, 3yo, 7f, 5:03 p.m. ET CARPE OMNIOUS (Carpe Diem) punched through an inviting opening along the rail to win at first asking going six furlongs with a very solid 83 Beyer Speed Figure at Gulfstream Dec. 21. The priciest of 73 first-crop yearlings by Carpe Diem to sell in 2018 when he brought $550,000 at Keeneland September, Carpe Omnious is co-owned by WinStar Farm and China Horse Club International and trained by Todd Pletcher. His dam Renards Lapin (Tiznow) is a half-sister to English highweight Lucky...

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Spa Notebook: A Thread of Blue Likely for Jockey Club Derby

A Thread of Blue (Hard Spun), who led every step of the way to cause a 13-1 upset in the 9 1/2-furlong Saratoga Derby Aug. 4, will be pointed for a start in the final leg of the Turf Trinity, the inaugural Jockey Club Derby to be contested over a mile and a half at Belmont Park Sept. 7. "He came out of the race really well, we'll look at [the Jockey Club Derby]," trainer Kiaran McLaughlin told the NYRA notes team. "We weren't sure if he'd get a mile-and-three-sixteenths...

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Spa Event Launches Saudi Cup Countdown

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY - The countdown to next year's inaugural Saudi Cup officially began Wednesday evening with a gala organized by the race's officials in the walking ring at the Fasig-Tipton sales grounds in Saratoga. The race, scheduled to be run next Feb. 29 at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh, will be run over 1800 meters of the dirt track and will be worth $20 million--making it the world's richest race. The field will have a maximum of 14 runners, with $10 million going to the winner. Hosted by television...

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Five Initial Entries For Goodwood Sale

Goffs UK have unveiled the five initial entries for their Goodwood Sale, which takes place after racing during the Glorious Goodwood Festival July 31. The boutique sale is in its second year and features both racing and breeding prospects. Among the initial entries are the Archie Watson trained pair Nate The Great (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) and Hurcle (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}). The former is a progressive staying 3-year-old who finished third last time out in the G3 Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket while 2-year-old colt Hurcle made a winning debut...

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