Highlander Training Center

The Lone Star Park Sales Pavilion in Grand Prairie will once again host the Texas Thoroughbred Association's (TTA) single-session Texas Yearling Sale Monday beginning at 10 a.m. CT. The TTA catalogue includes 207 head from Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and Oklahoma, plus a special dispersal of 10 horses consigned by CS Sales, agent for Three Feathers Farm. By the numbers, the 2023 edition, which showcased one of the largest catalogs in sale history with 271 yearlings, reported 175 sold for $3,240,000. The average was $18,542 and the median was $11,000, while...

6th-Saratoga, $80,000, Msw, 7-11, 2yo, f, 5 1/2f, 1:04.53, ft, neck. STRONG STATE (f, 2, Tom's d'Etat--Kram {SW, $189,697}, by Colonel John), the even-money favorite, became the second winner for her freshman sire (by Smart Strike) with a neck victory at Saratoga Thursday. The bay filly was hustled out to the early lead and was pressed by Selectively Sweet (Vekoma) through a quarter in :22.58. She put that longshot away as the half went up in :46.31, but was soon joined by Will Not Be Swayed (War of Will). That...

With 'TDN Rising Star' Nash (Medaglia d'Oro) bypassing the GIII Matt Winn S. at Churchill Downs for the GI Woody Stephens S. at Saratoga, the new headliner for Sunday's race under the Twin Spires is Who Dey (Liam's Map). Installed as a 5-2 shot on the morning-line in the Matt Winn, trainer Tom Drury opted to scratch his colt from Friday's Best of Ohio Green Carpet S. at Belterra Park for a chance to return to Churchill. The 3-year-old was last seen finishing fourth behind GI Preakness S. hero Seize...

A colt by Street Boss (hip 28), one of six to share the furlong bullet of :10 1/5 during the under-tack preview show Monday, topped the Texas 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale when bringing a final bid of $265,000 from Tracy Williams Wednesday at Lone Star Park. The Texas-bred juvenile, the first foal out of Gemmizell (Gemologist), was consigned by Pike Racing at Highlander. "To be honest, when we came here, we thought he would be one of the better ones," said consignor Al Pike. "You never know if you're going...

At 271 head, one of the largest catalogs in its history, the Texas Thoroughbred Association's (TTA) single-session Yearling Sale will be held Monday, Aug. 28 at 10 a.m. (CT) at Lone Star Park Sales Pavilion. The 2022 edition, which reported a buy-back rate of 24%, saw 161 yearlings out of 211 sell for a total of $3,416,000--up almost 6% from the previous year when 177 out of 228 grossed $3,229,600. Growth was also seen in last year's average of $21,217, an increase from $18,246 in 2021, while the median was...

As of July 1, two highly respected entities in Thoroughbred training and racing are joining forces as Pike Racing will be relocating to Highlander Training Center in Sulphur Springs, Texas, the facility said in a release yesterday. Pike Racing, owned by Al and Salley Pike, has become a fixture at the two-year-olds in training sales, and their graduates have experienced success in the sales ring and at the racetrack. A native Texan from Palestine, Al Pike said he has been eager "to come back to Texas" for years. "Salley and...

A filly by Too Much Bling (hip 19) topped the Texas Summer Yearling Sale Monday at Lone Star Park when selling for $100,000 to Mansfield Racing. Consigned by Highlander Training Center, the gray filly is out of Soft Music (Action This Day) and is a full-sister to 2016 Champion Texas-bred 2-Year-Old Filly Bling on the Music. "We're obviously thrilled that a Texas-bred by one of our state's most influential stallions led the sale," TTA Director Foster Bridewell said. "She was a beautiful filly and the full-sister went through this same...

SULPHUR SPRINGS, Texas — The head trainer is the guy who prepared 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra to be a racehorse. He and his two assistant trainers combine for more than 100 years of experience and the development of more than 300 stakes horses. Yearlings and weanlings romp in undulating pastures. Two-year-olds learning the fundamentals and older horses coming off layoffs gallop and work over a traditional training track as well as lope up a 1 3/8-mile turf gallop. The spacious barns have vaulted ceilings featuring skylights that...

8th-Oaklawn, $90,000, Alw (NW1X)/Opt. Clm ($80,000), 3-8, 3yo, f, 6f, 1:10.52, ft. LEXI ON THE MOVE (f, 3, Fast Anna--Invalida, by Street Cry {Ire}) took a track-and-trip event restricted to fillies who had previously sold at auction for $60,000 or less by daylight here Feb. 15, and was backed early and often in this tougher spot to go off at even-money. Away on top, the bay sat perched three wide behind a dueling trio through an opening quarter of :21.94. She ranged up ominously after a :45.30 half, and kicked...