Doug O'Neill

Under the toughest of spotlights, the industry's collective eyes often turn to the stuff under foot. At least, that's what trainer Mark Casse did in a widely-shared TDN Q&A. "I think we really, seriously, need to look at more synthetic tracks," Casse said, triggering yet another cavalcade of commentary on the conceived benefits and blights of synthetic surfaces. "I believe in them. I believe they've got plenty of data to back that up." Former TDN writer Lucas Marquardt followed it up with an analysis of race-day fatality data through The...

Slow Down Andy (Nyquist), front-running winner of Saturday's GI Awesome Again S. at Santa Anita, will miss the GI Breeders' Cup Classic Nov. 4, according to a report in Daily Racing Form. Although he was sound following the Awesome Again, the 4-year-old came out of the race with some filling in his ankle and will get 60 days off. The Awesome Again was Slow Down Andy's first Grade I win and earned him a paid berth into the Classic as it was a "Win and You're In" race. He got...

On paper, it appeared that Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief), coming into Parx's GI Cotillion S. off three consecutive Grade I victories for Godolphin and Brendan Walsh, held her rivals over a barrel. Despite that fact, Ceiling Crusher (Mr. Big) took full advantage of the soggy, sealed track by going to the front and never looking back enroute to a narrow victory over the 2-1 Classic winner. Breaking to the immediate inside of Pretty Mischievous, the 3-1 co-second choice flashed her usual early speed, leading Majestic Creed (Jimmy Creed) and Hoosier...

With 39 wins and over $3 million in earnings, jockey Juan Hernandez won his second straight summer meet title at Del Mar while trainer Phil D'Amato picked up his fourth trainer's title out of the last five years. Similar to 2022, the trainer's title came down to the final day. D'Amato went into the final day with a one-win lead over Baffert and two over Doug O'Neill. All three posted one winner on the day. D'Amato won the summer meet title for the second straight year with 21 victories. Last...

Seven times second in his 11 previous trips to the post and still eligible for a second-level allowance, Anarchist (Distorted Humor) earned an all-expenses-paid berth into the field for this year's GI BigAss Fans Dirt Mile with a hard-fought success in Saturday's GII Pat O'Brien S. at Del Mar. Beaten for speed from his high draw, Anarchist settled about four paths off the rail and in centerfield as Brickyard Ride (Clubhouse Ride) and Vivir Con Alegria (Chi) (Flyer {Chi}) matched motors through a sizzling opening quarter that was posted in...

8th-Del Mar, $84,000, Msw, 7-23, 2yo, 5f, :57.71, ft, 2 1/4 lengths. RAGING TORRENT (c, 2, Maximus Mischief--Violent Wave, by Violence) received an unconvincing 9-1 chance in this maiden spot after bringing $75,000 at the OBS April Sale and was a step slow behind the field to start. In chase mode from the bell, he saved ground into the turn and fanned out wide to bid with a quarter to run. Despite Antonio Fresu losing his crop at the head of the lane, Raging Torrent needed no extra encouragement, drawing...

The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association is hosting an Owner Clinic on Friday, July 28 in Del Mar, California. Attendees will learn insights on different aspects of Thoroughbred ownership, partnerships, legal aspects, racing office policy & procedures, veterinary perspectives, and more from industry professionals as well as enjoy a day at the races, compliments of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. The topics and speakers at the clinic include: • Overview of the California Thoroughbred Industry, presented by Bill Nader (Thoroughbred Owners of California, President & CEO) • Horse Owner or...

Point him at a fork in the road and Matthew Dohman will likely take the one consecrated by Robert Frost. When he founded his mortgage lending company, he did so in the middle of the global financial meltdown when homebuying was as popular as volcano surfing. When he purchased his first horses at the sales, he eschewed sage counsel from agent and trainer and picked 'em largely himself. Didn't do too bad, either. The Cal-bred Guy Code, who he snagged for $63,000, ended up winning nearly a quarter-million. And when...

Several runners being pointed to opening weekend stakes turned in works Sunday morning over the fast main track. Dixiana Farms' homebred Hayes Strike (Connect) along with Mendelssohns March (Mendelssohn), owned by Harold Lerner, Nehoc Stables, AWC Stables and Team Stallion Racing Stable, tuned up for expected starts in Saturday's GI Toyota Blue Grass S. by working 5 furlongs in 1:00.60 in company together. Hayes Strike comes into the 1 1/8-mile Blue Grass off a victory in the Private Terms S. at Laurel March 18. "I don't run many horses in...

The Dubai World Cup Carnival adds its own footnote to the study of flags, known as vexillology for the more serious, since its intent is to draw horses from all over the world. As the meet continues to march towards its big night in late March, another Friday of racing arrives with a trio of Group 3 events. Waving Godolphin Blue The G3 Dubai Millennium S. sports this week's headliner, as Grade I winner Nations Pride (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) returns for a new campaign after what could be considered a...

Calumet Farm's Tall Boy (Lookin At Lucky) broke his maiden in stirring fashion, running out a length winner of the G3 UAE 2000 Guineas Presented by Nakheel over Shirl's Bee (Bee Jersey) for trainer Doug O'Neill and jockey William Buick at Meydan on Friday evening. Sitting just off the Charles Fipke runner after leaving the chute, the chestnut edged closer as noses pointed for home. Refusing to give his rival a breather, the pair locked horns in earnest by the 600-metre mark. Throughout the stretch drive, it appeared that Tall...

Fresh off her gate-to-wire maiden-breaking score in her third career start at Del Mar Nov. 13, Broadway Girls, given an unconvincing 16-1 chance for her stakes debut, showed a similar burst of speed to wire the field in Friday's Blue Norther S. Ridden hard to the front from her middle gate by jockey Edwin Maldonado, Broadway Girls was joined on her outside by Pleasant Wave (More Than Ready) into the first turn before assuming solo command through an opening quarter set in :22.79. Going easily on lead while chased by...