Damon's Mound

Unbeaten 'TDN Rising Star' Doncho (g, 3, Mo Town--Sassy Redhead, by Henny Hughes), an eye-catching winner in a pair of attempts going six furlongs at Fair Grounds this winter, is aiming to make his next start in the $400,000 Lafayette S. at Keeneland Apr. 5. "We've got the Lafayette circled as his next spot opening day at Keeneland," trainer Michelle Lovell said. "We'll see if he'll stretch out to seven furlongs. I think that he will." Gelded as a juvenile last September, Doncho lit up the tote board with a...

The Fasig-Tipton August Digital Sale closed Tuesday afternoon with 84 horses sold for $2,074,700. Offerings included breeding stock, horses of racing age, and yearlings. A pair of active race fillies shared top billing, while the gross and number of registered bidders established new records for the Digital platform. Zadorsky (Tapiture) (Hip 1), a 2-year-old Tapiture filly and the first offering to close, sold for $180,000 to Hoolie Racing Stable from the consignment of Legion Bloodstock. The bay filly was most recently 2 1/4 lengths first in maiden special weight company...

Curly Jack became the second graded winner for his freshman sire (by Curlin) with an upset score in the GIII Iroquois S. at Churchill Downs Saturday. Away alertly, the bay raced off the fence in sixth in a tightly bunched pack as 'TDN Rising Star' and second choice in the betting Damon's Mound (Girvin) clocked a :23.53 opening quarter. Favored fellow 'Rising Star' Echo Again (Gun Runner) charged up to confront Damon's Mound as the half went in :47.48. Curly Jack bided his time as the top two knocked heads...

Three Grade I events, all of which are Breeders' Cup 'Win and You're In' qualifiers, north of the border at Woodbine will take the spotlight among nine graded stakes this Saturday as the racing calendar transitions to fall with all of the major summer meets now wrapped up. The $1-million GI Ricoh Woodbine Mile serves, along with the Queen's Plate, as the centerpiece of the Woodbine meet, and this year's renewal features an 11-horse field that includes last year's winner Town Cruise (Town Prize), who will be looking to bounce...

In 1993, Michelle Lovell rode five races at Saratoga. Then known as jockey Michelle Hanley, she came home with three second-place finishes, but never got that win at the Spa. Twenty-nine years later, she finally made it to the winner's circle. This time it was with the brilliant GII Saratoga Special S. winner Damon's Mound (Girvin), her first Saratoga starter as a trainer. How do the two experiences compare? "Riding here back in the day, I was just super in awe of the place," Lovell explained. "Obviously who wouldn't want...

Damon's Mound (Girvin) has the feel of an inspiring story for our sport, as the David who landed his slingshot squarely on the forehead of Goliath in the keynote juvenile showdown of the summer. The family that bred his first five dams had turned down big money for their spectacular Churchill debut winner, and their fidelity to minor-league trainer Michelle Lovell (16 winners from 88 starters in 2022) paid off handsomely when Damon's Mound readily beat the vaunted Gulfport (Uncle Mo), who has already been reserved a slot in the...

Trainer Michelle Lovell, who sent out 'TDN Rising Star' Damon's Mound (Girvin) to win Saturday's GII Saratoga Special S., said Sunday that she was not ruling out either the seven-furlong GI Hopeful S. Sept. 5 or the Oct. 5 GI Champagne S. at the Belmont at the Big A meet going a one-turn mile, but is more inclined to get the colt some two-turn route experience for his next appearance. "Everything's on our radar," said Lovell. "We'll see how he is. He's never had a bad day, so I don't...

'TDN Rising Star' Damon's Mound (Girvin) backed up his jaw-dropping, double-digit debut victory at Churchill Downs with an impressive, 3 1/4-length decision over favored 'Rising Star' Gulfport (Uncle Mo) in Saturday's GII Saratoga Special S. Facing just three rivals here, the 9-5 second-choice trailed the closely bunched quartet in the garden spot as Gulfstream debut winner Super Chow (Lord Nelson) flew through an opening quarter in :21.94. Gulfport, a perfect two-for-two to begin his career, led by a 12 1/4-length win in the Bashford Manor S., was forced to check...

Damon's Mound (c, 2, Girvin--San Antonio Stroll, by Stroll), a jaw-dropping 12 1/2-length debut winner at Churchill Downs July 2, is targeting the GII Saratoga Special S. at the Spa Aug. 13. "That's the goal, he's doing great," former jockey-turned-trainer Michelle Lovell said from her summer base at Colonial Downs. "We've got some weeks to go, so, hopefully all goes good. As long as he's doing great, he deserves the opportunity." Does he ever. Off as the well-backed, third choice at 4-1 in his unveiling, Damon's Mound was off to...

Fasig-Tipton has added seven supplemental entries to Monday's July Selected Horses of All Ages sale including a lifetime breeding right to young stallion Girvin (Tale of Ekati-Catch the Moon, by Malibu Moon) as HIP 611. The freshman sire is off to a quick start at stud with his first crop of two-year-olds in 2022, siring five winners from eight runners to date. These include the undefeated Devious Dame, who captured the Astoria S. at Belmont on June 9 in a 5 1/4-length romp. Girvin sired two more maiden special weight...

Damon's Mound (Girvin) made his 4-1 odds look like quite a gift in this unveiling, rolling home to a daylight victory and 'TDN Rising Star' honors Saturday at Churchill Downs. Off to a slow start, the Florida-bred advanced to be a three-wide fifth, keeping tabs on the front runners through a :21.85 opening quarter. Drawing even approaching the turn, the bay took command as the half went in :45.49 and bounded clear with ease to graduate by 12 1/2 lengths. Easy Big Boy (Cloud Computing) was the best of the rest...