Churchill

The problematic, $10-million turf course that was installed at Churchill Downs prior to the 2022 spring season will be getting another maintenance break that will mean no grass racing in Louisville for the upcoming Sept. 12-29 meet. Usage of the Churchill turf course has been curtailed on several occasions over the past two years because of concerns over its growth, maturity and root establishment. Darren Rogers, Churchill's senior director of communications, told TDN on Thursday that track management expects the course to be usable in time for the autumn meet...

Glenn 'Bo' Bromagen has compared Penn Oaks winner and Goffs Orby graduate Poolside With Slim (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) favourably to Concrete Rose (Twirling Candy), the Grade I Belmont Oaks winner and just about the highest-class racehorse that the American-based agent has been associated with. The George 'Rusty' Arnold-trained import Poolside With Slim ran out a gritty winner of the $150,000 contest under Frankie Dettori at Penn National last week leaving Bromagen convinced that there are more fat cheques to be cashed with the progressive three-year-old. "It's exciting-you can't help but...

1st-Churchill Downs, $116,625, Msw, 5-31, 2yo, f, 5 1/2f, 1:04.95, ft, 3 3/4 lengths. ADEERA (f, 2, Authentic--Majestic Presence {GSP-USA, MSP-Can, $227,896}, by Majestic Warrior) became the first winner for her freshman sire (by Into Mischief) Friday. The second choice at 8-5 behind fellow first-timer Salted (Tapit) at 4-5, the half-sister to GISW Newgate (Into Mischief) took it right to the favorite from the jump and the top pair quickly opened up a sizeable gap back to the rest of the field. Neck and neck off the far turn, it...

1st-BAQ, $90k, Msw, 3yo/up, f/m, 6f, post time: 1:05 p.m. ET SHINY LURE (Catalina Cruiser) was hammered down to Jonathan Thorne's Thorndale Farm for $320,000 at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale, making her the most expensive of her sire's 68 youngsters reported as sold that season (86 through the ring). Debuting with Lasix for the usually patient Danny Gargan barn, the chestnut is out of 2009 GII Forward Gal S. winner Frolic's Dream (Smoke Glacken), whose daughter Bode's Dream (Bodemeister) was a dual stakes winner as a juvenile. Frolic's Dream...

St Mark's Basilica (Fr), Churchill (Ire), Starspangledbanner (Aus) and Wootton Bassett (GB) have been confirmed on the Coolmore Australia roster for 2024, although a fee has yet to be revealed for the latter. Wootton Bassett stood for $93,500 and covered 131 mares in 2023, which included Group 1 winners Srikandi and Spright. His return down under has been eagerly-anticipated and he will spearhead the travelling contingent.  "We are delighted to be able to confirm that Wootton Bassett is returning in 2024," Tom Magnier said. "He is now having his first...

8th-CD, $127k, Alw, 3yo/up, f/m, post time: 4:33 p.m. ET Bass Stables' beautifully bred BANDITA (Gun Runner) could not have been more impressive in her lone racetrack appearance to date, as she led every step of the seven furlongs on Gulfstream debut Jan. 29 to score by nearly nine lengths en route to a 'TDN Rising Star' nod (video). The $350,000 Keeneland September grad is unraced since. The bay is out of a daughter of four-time stakes winner and Grade III-placed Simplify (Pulpit), the dam of Bandita's stakes-winning full-sister Optionality...

'TDN Rising Star' and MGISW Forte (Violence), off since his disappointing fourth-place finish in the GI Travers S. Aug. 26, is receiving treatment for a quarter crack. His connections, including trainer Todd Pletcher and owner Mike Repole, still believe there is time to prepare him for a start in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita Nov. 4. Per the Daily Racing Form, farrier Ian McKinlay patched the quarter crack on Forte's left front foot and the horse has been training at Churchill Downs, where he galloped Sunday morning....

With great trust comes responsibility and nobody knows that better than Henry Beeby. After throwing down the gauntlet to the breeders of Ireland to support this year's Goffs Orby with their top-tier yearlings, Beeby has assembled what he describes as the strongest catalogue for this sale in his 41 years working for the company.  Along with some of the major farms in Ireland--your Glenvales, Camas Parks, Barodas, Tally-Hos, Ballylinches and more--Philip Stauffenberg is here. Consigning at the Orby Sale for the first time, Stauffenberg Bloodstock will offer the Kingman (GB)...

The juvenile fillies division is crystalizing into one of the most intriguing subplots of the Breeders' Cup as we approach the six-week mark to the championships. The skyrocketing 'TDN Rising Star' Tamara (Bolt d'Oro), unveiled barely a month ago, has emerged from the West Coast as the obvious topper of her division. But the brilliant, 2-for-2  daughter of four-time champion Beholder is likely to have a fight on her hands as the upcoming stakes engagements extend around two turns, thanks to a talented trio of fillies who have ascended in...

Edited Press Release A new Track Surface Advisory Group, comprised of members who will be deployed by HISA to analyze dirt, turf and synthetic surface consistency at Thoroughbred racetracks across the U.S., was formed Thursday. "This Group is crucial to ensuring that HISA can support local experts working to make the surfaces on which Thoroughbreds compete as safe as possible," said HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus. "HISA is committed to using all resources at its disposal to help tracks under our jurisdiction meet our Racetrack Safety standards. This group of track...

Trainer Kenny McPeek confirmed Lucky Seven Stable's Smile Happy (Runhappy) for next Saturday's GI Whitney S. at Saratoga Race Course, but his stablemate for the same owner, Rattle N Roll (Connect), will take his show on the road. Both horses last raced in the GI Stephen Foster S. July 1 at Ellis Park. McPeek said Rattle N Roll will target either the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup at Saratoga or the GI Pacific Classic at Del Mar. Both races are run at 10 furlongs September 2 and are "Win and...

Fozzy Stack says that Aspen Grove (Ire) is something of a forgotten horse heading into the GI Belmont Oaks Invitational S. and revealed that there were genuine excuses for her below-par effort in the Irish 1,000 Guineas when the Justify filly was found to be in season.  Aspen Grove carried Craig Bernick's distinctive silks to victory in a Group 3 contest at the Curragh last term and, with that valuable black-type success already secured, Stack felt connections could afford to be brave in travelling her over for Saturday's Grade I...