Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners

Gun Runner's 'Rising Star' Locked Overcomes Wide Journey in Claiborne Breeders' Futurity

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Walmac Farm's 'TDN Rising Star' Locked (c, 2, Gun Runner--Luna Rosa, by Malibu Moon), a flashy Saratoga maiden winner at second asking Sept. 1, showed his class as the 3-5 favorite while overcoming a wide trip in Saturday's 'Win and You're In' GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity S. at Keeneland. Drawn widest of all in post eight, the chestnut didn't get off to the sharpest of beginnings and raced five to three wide around the clubhouse turn. He was out in the clear and one from the...

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'Energy and Enthusiasm' Fuels Strong Keeneland September Sale

Even the most optimistic observer would have been hard-pressed to predict that the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale would live up to its blockbuster 2022 renewal, but when the dust had settled Saturday afternoon, the auction's 12-day run produced numbers largely in line with last year's record setter. "Coming into this year, we had to have a little bit of caution just because of the economic climate and some negativity in the sport," admitted Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy. "I think we have to be extremely happy with...

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'Locked' and Loaded: Gun Runner Colt Secures 'TDN Rising Star' Honors at the Spa

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - With this smashing victory in the fifth race Friday, Locked (Gun Runner) graduated summa cum laude with 'TDN Rising Star' honors from the 2-year-old maiden special weight ranks at Saratoga Race Course. A month after his career debut went awry, Locked turned in a top-notch performance under Jose Ortiz, scoring by 7 1/4 lengths and covering the mile in 1:36. Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher said it is likely that the chestnut colt will run next in the GI Champagne S. or the GI Breeders'...

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Second Chances: Gun Runner Colt 'Locked' and Loaded at the Spa

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar. Against the flow of the race from the outset, Locked (c, 2, Gun Runner--Luna Rosa, by Malibu Moon) rallied smartly from last after some trouble at the start to finish a very encouraging third sprinting on debut at Saratoga Aug. 5. Chilly on the board at 12-1 for trainer Todd Pletcher, the Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Walmac Farm colorbearer was forced to take up sharply shortly after...

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Despite Wide Trip, Candy Ride Filly Captures Spa Maiden For Pletcher

Candied (Candy Ride {Arg}) had all the momentum as the field turned into the stretch for Sunday's fifth at Saratoga, a six-furlong maiden for 2-year-old fillies. The only question was whether or not she could get up in time after racing seven wide on the turn. It took some doing, but she got the job done, winning a race despite showing signs that she's still on the immature side. Ridden by Luis Saez, Candied was in mid-pack early as Ella Elizabeth (Take Charge Indy) set the pace. On the far...

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Perfect Storm as Anisette Much the Best in Del Mar Oaks

With the threat of Hurricane Hilary looming over Southern California and Del Mar, Anisette (GB) (f, 3, Awtaad {Ire}--Tutti Frutti {GB}, by Teofilo {Ire}) took the seaside oval by storm, blowing the doors off the GI Del Mar Oaks Saturday. She remained perfect in three U.S. starts since transferring to Leonard Powell's barn from the UK earlier this year. The final time for Anisett's nine furlongs on the lawn was 1:48.15 as 'TDN Rising Star' and East Coast shipper Be Your Best (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}), as well as former Irish...

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$380K Violence Colt Leads the Way During Solid Start to Fasig-Tipton NY-Bred Yearlings Sale

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY - The Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred Yearlings Sale gained momentum throughout its opening session, ending with figures ahead of last year's opening session after a brisk evening of just 100 catalogued head. A colt by Violence brought the night's top price when Chris Baccari, bidding alongside trainer Ken McPeek, went to $380,000 on behalf of country singer Toby Keith. The yearling was consigned by Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa. A total of 53 yearlings sold Sunday for $5,999,000. The average of $113,189 was up 5% from last year's...

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Practical Joke's Trust Fund Scores at First Asking in Saratoga

7th-Saratoga, $88,000, (S), Msw, 8-11, 2yo, 6f, 1:12.00, ft, 2 1/4 lengths. TRUST FUND (c, 2, Practical Joke--Mo Savings, by Uncle Mo) played a bit of bumper cars with Inonit (Include) at the jump after rival drawn farther out veered in on them, but managed to recover well enough to lock horns in a speed duel before then taking over the lead approaching the half in :45.85. Four wide and driving on a clear advantage coming for home, Trust Fund kept to his task to come in 2 1/4 lengths...

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$4-Million Curlin–Beholder Colt Leads 'Magical Night' In Saratoga

by Jessica Martini & Christina Bossinakis SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY - The Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale of Selected Yearlings, which looked to have a tough task to live up to its record-smashing 2022 renewal, proved more than equal to that task and, when a fast and frenetic session concluded Tuesday night, the auction had once again set high-water marks for gross and average and tied its record median. "We have experienced some magical nights in Saratoga in the past and you've heard me talk about the Saratoga magic, but we ain't seen...

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Into Mischief Colt Continues Rousing Start To Night Two at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga

The early action at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga continued hot and heavy, as hip 135 became the third million-dollar seller within the first 15 horses offered when hammering to Aron Wellman's Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners for $1.5 million, the most expensive of the three early headliners. The colt's breeder, Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, will also stay in for a piece. The dark bay is a son of the all-conquering Into Mischief and was produced by 'TDN Rising Star' and GI Spinaway S. heroine Rachel's Valentina (Bernardini). The latter is, of course, a daughter of...

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Gandharvi Adds Case Clay To Its Team As Business Consultant

Amid the speed-filled tempo of the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearling Sale this week, it's all about equine and human partnerships for Gandharvi Racing as they add Case Clay as a Business Consultant to their team. Mind you, this isn't about making a splash or just putting together some haphazard deal. No, the intent behind this organization's latest move tunnels much deeper into the recesses of history. As the saying goes, Rome wasn't built in a day. Neither was a racing stable. Like city-planning in the ancient world or otherwise, success just...

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Summer Breezes: Eclipse Filly Draws Wide For Debut

Some of the most highly anticipated races during the summer racing season are the 'baby' races during the boutique meetings at both Saratoga and Del Mar and at Ellis Park, which attract its fair share of high-priced offspring from a variety of top national outfits. Summer Breezes highlights debuting 2-year-olds at those meetings that have been sourced at the breeze-up sales earlier in the year, with links to their under-tack previews. To follow are the horses entered for Tuesday's rescheduled races as Ellis Park: Tuesday, August 1, 2023 Ellis 3,...

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