Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa

There are no bigger stages and brighter lights than Saratoga in the summer, and Blazing Sevens (Good Magic--Trophy Girl, by Warrior's Reward) showcased his razzle-dazzle with aplomb, blitzing a field of well-regarded debuters to loudly proclaim himself worthy of 'TDN Rising Star'-dom. Beating out two others in the race by his freshman sire to become a fifth winner, and the first to get the TDN's stamp of approval, for Good Magic, Blazing Sevens added another layer of sheen to breeder Tracy Farmer's banner last Sunday. In addition to being represented...

1st-SAR, $105k, Msw, 2yo, 6f, 1:05p.m. ET The WinStar and Siena Farm partnership sends out FAITHFUL AND TRUE (Good Magic), a $450,000 OBSMAR grad out of a half to Champion older mare Escena (Strawberry Road {Aus}), for his unveiling from the Rodolphe Brisset barn. Along with Bat Flip (Good Magic), a $350,000 FTSAUG yearling who is out of a half to MGISP Money Multiplier (Lookin at Lucky) and the dam of MGSP Threes Over Deuces (Flat Out), they make up two parts of the triplet debuting in the race for...

This week's TDN Triple Crown feature examines the GI Belmont S. entrants listed in "likeliest winner" order. 1) Mo Donegal (c, Uncle Mo--Callingmissbrown, by Pulpit) O-Donegal Racing & Repole Stable. B-Ashview Farm & Colts Neck Stables (KY). T-Todd Pletcher. Sales History: $250,000 yrl '20 KEESEP. You could argue that Mo Donegal lost the GI Kentucky Derby at the post draw after getting stuck with the dreaded rail gate. But his fifth-place effort, beaten 5 3/4 lengths in a stretch finish that featured the 1-2-3 horses all running full-tilt to the...

Legendary Australian trainer Gai Waterhouse recently spent five days touring Kentucky's horse country. Upon returning to her headquarters at Tulloch Lodge in Sydney this week, the Hall of Fame trainer of 149 Group 1 wins, including a record seven G1 Golden Slippers, is looking forward to taking her findings and putting them to use at her own exceedingly-successful stable. "You know the old expression--you can't see the forest for the trees if you're there all day," Waterhouse explained. "You have to go away to freshen up. I felt like I...

The highly-anticipated first foal out of champion Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) arrived on Feb. 12 this year and is now thriving at Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa. Jeff Bloom stopped by the farm in the midst of Triple Crown season to visit the Curlin colt and his Eclipse Award-winning dam. "He is what you would expect to see out of a champion and by a champion," Bloom said after inspecting 'Baby Bisou' for the first time. "I think he takes after his mom quite a bit, but certainly there are...

Michael Lund Petersen's Gamine (Into Mischief) has been booked to Lane's End stallion Quality Road for 2022, bloodstock agent Donato Lanni confirmed Sunday. "We had a meeting with Michael to decided what to do and we all agreed that Quality Road was the right horse to start off her broodmare career," Lanni said. "You really can't go wrong with Quality Road--he's a very good sire." Acquired for $1.8 million at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale, Gamine won nine of 11 starts, including the 2020 GI Breeders' Cup...

The roster and fees for Hill 'n' Dale Farm's 2022 season is led by the nation's leading sire in number of Grade I winners, dual Horse of the Year Curlin (Smart Strike--Sheriff's Deputy, by Deputy Minister). He will return in 2022 for a fee of $175,000 LFSN. Also remaining unchanged is fellow Horse of the Year Ghostzapper (Awesome Again--Baby Zip, by Relaunch). The Hall of Famer will stand for $75,000 LFSN in 2022. Included among the operation's up-and-coming sires, Good Magic (Curlin--Glinda the Good, by Hard Spun), whose fee also...

The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association will honor breeders selected from 18 states and Canada during the TOBA National Awards Saturday, Sept. 11. State Breeders of the Year: Arkansas: Bill and Mary McDowell; California: George Krikorian; Canada: Ivan Dalos; Canada: Lawrence P. Cordes; Florida: Charlotte Weber/ Live Oak Stud; Indiana: Greg Baer DVM and Deann Baer; Iowa: Allen Poindexter; Kentucky: Godolphin; Louisiana: Tri-Star Racing LLC; Maryland: Angie and Sabrina Moore; Minnesota: Lorie Michaels; New Jersey: John Bowers Jr.; New Mexico: R.D. Hubbard; New York: Twin Creeks Farm; Oregon: Janet and...

The 36th annual Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association National Awards will be held at Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa in Paris, KY Saturday, Sept. 11, TOBA announced Monday. Hosted by Gabby Gaudet, the evening will include a special live performance by Motown legend Gladys Knight. The TOBA National Awards honor breeders from 19 states and Canada. Also recognized are the National Owner of the Year and National Owner Finalists, National Breeder of the Year, Small Breeder of the Year, National Broodmare of the Year, Racing Partnership of the Year, Rood...

Multiple Grade I-winning 'TDN Rising Star' Charlatan (Speightstown) has been retired from racing and will take up stud duty at Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa, Hill 'n' Dale announced Thursday. Bred by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC, the imposing chestnut, out of GI Breeders' Cup Distaff-placed Authenticity (Quiet American), sold as the second-highest priced colt for his sire at the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale at $700,000. Purchased by SF Bloodstock/Starlight West, the colt raced for owners SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Frederick Hertrich, III,...

The first foal by group-placed Lost Treasure (Ire) (War Front) is a colt out of Little Miss S (Candy Ride {Arg}). The mare is a half-sister to Grade I winner Crisp (El Corredor). "How fitting that the first foal by this regally bred group-placed son of War Front from the immediate family of Galileo (Ire), would be out of a half-sister to Grade I winner Crisp," said John G. Sikura, President of Hill 'n' Dale Farms, which stands the 6-year-old stallion. "That's what happens when you have great partners like...

Champion Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) arrived at Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa Thursday afternoon after completing her final phase of rehabilitation at WinStar Farm. The five-time Grade I winner will visit Hill 'n' Dale flagbearer Curlin. Midnight Bisou was preparing for her Breeders' Cup bid this fall when she incurred a sesamoid fracture during a work at the end of September that forced connections to retire the mare prematurely. The champion shone as one of brightest stars at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale Nov. 8. Co-owner Chuck Allen of Allen Racing...