Iscreamuscream

Saturday is one of those 'burn the candle at both ends' kind of days for horseplayers, as no fewer than 17 graded stakes take place within a six-hour window. Eight of those events serve as 'Win and You're In' qualifying events for various Breeders' Cup races, and even those races that don't offer a free pass are liable to toss up a runner or two or three at Del Mar in four weeks' time. Keeneland Race Course brands its opening three days of racing as 'Fall Stars Weekend' and who's...

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar. Mancuso (f, 2, McKinzie--Medaglia d'Argento, by Medaglia d'Oro) came within a neck of putting an exclamation point on a banner weekend for her high-profile connections at Del Mar last Sunday. Given a 7-1 chance in her unveiling for trainer Phil D'Amato, the Little Red Feather Racing colorbearer broke well from her inside draw and was ridden along by Antonio Fresu to chase in a joint second while...

There were two Grade I races last weekend in North America, one at Saratoga and one at Del Mar. One was on the dirt and one was on the turf, one at 10 furlongs and the other at nine furlongs. Other than both being carded for 3-year-old fillies, what did they have in common? Each was won by a daughter of a Lane's End sire. Union Rags captured the GI Alabama Stakes with Power Squeeze, while Twirling Candy took the GI Del Mar Oaks with Iscreamuscream. To add to the...

In her first start since a 33% share of her sold for $330,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Midsummer Flash Sale, Agave Racing Iscreamuscream (Twirling Candy) extended her record to a perfect four-for-four with a confident victory in Saturday's GI Del Mar Oaks. Breaking from Post 1, the 3-1 second choice went to the fore with the leading group, carving out an opening quarter in sensible :24.20. Umberto Rispoli aboard recent Christiana Stakes winner Whiskey Decision (Into Mischief) decided the early pace was far too slow and rushed to the front, opening...

The absence of the 'Grizzly Bear' has not put a damper on Saturday's GI Alabama Stakes, neither for the connections in it nor likely for the betting public, but despite Candied (Candy Ride {Arg}) being the class of the field, it's not as cut and dry of an affair. Currently sitting cosy at 7-5 on the morning line, Candied is deservedly the one to beat as victory in the GI Darley Alcibiades Stakes, a third in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, and a gutsy second to 'TDN Rising Star'...

Fasig-Tipton Digital's Midsummer Flash Sale concluded Thursday afternoon with the two offerings both sold for a combined gross of $830,000. The first offering, Hip 1, MGSW & GISP Emmanuel (More Than Ready), sold for $500,000 to trainer Michael Maker. Consigned by WinStar Farm LLC, agent as a racing or stallion prospect, Emmanuel had captured five graded races on the grass, including the 2024 GIII Canadian Turf Stakes at Gulfstream in March, and was most recently fourth in the July 20 GII United Nations Stakes at Monmouth. Currently stabled at Saratoga,...

Bidding is now open for the Midsummer Flash Sale on Fasig-Tipton Digital. Bidding will close Thursday, Aug. 1, at 3 pm ET. The two offerings are: Hip 1: Emmanuel (More Than Ready): The 5-year-old, a five-time graded stakes winner on turf,  also finished third in the GI Blue Grass Stakes on the dirt at three. He is also the current course record holder at Tampa Bay Downs for 1 1/16 miles on turf in 1:39.25. Successfully defending his title in last March's GIII Canadian Turf Stakes in March, he was...

With two wins in as many starts, Iscreamuscream (Twirling Candy) did not melt under pressure and remained undefeated in the GII San Clemente Stakes at Del Mar on opening day. Perfect in a pair of turf sprints going six furlongs over the Santa Anita grass Oct. 14 and June 13, Iscreamuscream was the 6-5 chalk in her stakes debut Saturday. Making her first start around two turns here, she was sent to the front and raced under pressure through fractions of :22.76 and :47.49. With four of them lined up...