Jose D'Angelo

Guns Loaded (Gun Runner), second behind GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity and GIII Street Sense Stakes fourth Dapper Moon (Malibu Moon) at Saratoga in August, fired back Saturday to become a new 'TDN Rising Star' at Churchill Downs. The 3-1 shot, who shortened from seven furlongs to six here for trainer Jose D'Angelo in his second try since bringing $800,000 as a Keeneland September yearling last year, exploded from an outside gate and shot clear of drama to his inside as first-time starter Shadow Coast (West Coast) clipped heels in the...

The John Forbes Memorial, a two-mile flat race to be run Saturday at the Far Hills, New Jersey hunt meet isn't for every horse. The horse needs to be able to handle the grueling distance of two miles and carry as much as 148 pounds. But there are plenty of trainers who believe their horses can handle the test. A race that is getting better every year, the $150,000 race attracted 14 entries, including Thoroughbreds from the stables of Mike Maker, Christophe Clement, Graham Motion and Peter Eurton. The Forbes...

Third at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in February in the G3 Saudi Derby behind Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) and Book'em Danno (Bucchero), who have each distinguished themselves on the world stage since that day, Bentornato (c, 3, Valiant Minister--Her Special Way, by Put It Back) took advantage of his own moment to shine Saturday in the GII Gallant Bob Stakes at Parx. The Florida-bred and Leon King Stable Corp. colorbearer captured his first graded stakes after a string of black-type wins in Florida last year while also keeping his...

Gabaldon (Gone Astray), a runner-up finisher in last month's Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot, will race for a new partnership after Qatar Racing privately acquired a 50 percent stake in the colt following Wednesday's Inglis Digital USA July Sale, the online auction company said in a Thursday release. Qatar Racing purchased 50 percent of the colt for $150,000, valuing him at $300,000, while original owner Soldi Stable will retain a 50 percent stake. Bloodstock agent Fergus Galvin brokered the deal on behalf of Qatar Racing. "Gabaldon's performance at Ascot...

Twirling Queen (Twirling Candy) made it four wins from as many starts as a 3-year-old and remained perfect in two appearances on the grass, posting a comfortable victory in Friday's Coronation Cup Stakes at Saratoga. With 9-5 morning-line favorite Star of Mystery (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) scratching in favor of Sunday's GIII Quick Call Stakes, the Coronation Cup shaped a more open affair, and Twirling Queen put herself right into the mix early just off the pace disputed by Ever So Sweet (Ire) (Calyx {GB}), the 9-4 choice, and Toupie (Uncle...

Gabaldon (Gone Astray), most recently runner-up in the listed Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot, has been added to the catalogue for the inaugural Inglis Digital USA July Sale. Trained by Jose D'Angelo on behalf of Soldi Stable, the juvenile earned a trip to Royal Ascot with a win in the Royal Palm Juvenile Stakes at Gulfstream Park in his racetrack debut May 11. "Gabaldon is everything you look for in a racehorse," D'Angelo said. "He is fast, classy, and loves his job. His precocity and mindset make him one...

Soldi Stable LLC's Gabaldon (Gone Astray), impressive debut victory in Gulfstream's Royal Palm Juvenile May 11, will target the upcoming Royal Ascot meet, according to his trainer Jose D'Angelo Wednesday. The Royal Palm Juvenile, a five-furlong turf sprint for 2-year-olds, offered the winner an automatic stakes berth at Royal Ascot, as well as a $25,000 travel stipend. A $9,000 purchase at last year's OBS October sale, the Florida-bred set half-mile fractions of :21.33 and :43.80 under heavy pressure before kicking clear to win by 1 1/4 lengths in :56.20. "I...

Earning a $25,000 stipend and an automatic berth into one of the juvenile stakes during next month's Royal Meeting at Ascot, it was longshot Gabaldon (Gone Astray) who snagged the voucher in the final race Saturday at Gulfstream Park--the Royal Palm Juvenile S. Overlooked at odds of 16-1 for this debut, the Jose D'Angelo trainee flashed his speed from the bell as he moved to the rail to take on Governor Sam (Improbable) up the backstretch. The juveniles distanced themselves from the rest of the field around the far turn...

Kentucky Derby hopeful GSW No More Time (Not This Time) returned from a breeze Sunday morning with an injury which will knock him out of the GI Kentucky Derby, announced the colt's owner Rich Mendez, the founder of Morplay Racing, on X. The account stated in a release that there are still plans to head to Churchill Downs later in the week as well as provided a positive prognosis for a future return to the track. "Less than 24 hours after officially qualifying for the Kentucky Derby, No More Time...

Morplay Racing's No More Time (Not This Time), winner of the GIII Sam F. Davis S. and narrow runner-up in the GIII Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby, breezed a half-mile in :48.60 (8/52) Saturday morning at Palm Meadows Training Center in preparation for a planned start in the GI Kentucky Derby. "He worked by himself. He went good and also had a strong gallop-out," trainer Jose D'Angelo said. "Everything's good. We're hoping to get into the Kentucky Derby." Prior to Saturday's three major prep races at Santa Anita, Keeneland, and...

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES -- With over 100 of the world's most talented gallopers on hand, it isn't easy to stand out, but John and Susan Moore's G1 Dubai Turf hopeful Catnip (Kitten's Joy) has done just that at Meydan this week. A strapping, nearly-black gelding, Catnip exits a longshot, but close third to Warm Heart (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Jan. 27. Trainer Mike Stidham looked at Catnip's Ragozin sheet and that encouraged him to swing for the fences in a hot renewal of...

by Jessica Martini & Christina Bossinakis OCALA, FL - With a pair of colts topping the seven-figure mark, the tempo picked up during the second session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training Wednesday. With 144 horses sold Wednesday for $25,488,000, the session average was $177,000--up 6.2% from last year's corresponding session--and the median of $87,500 declined 2.8% from a year ago. The buy-back rate was 31.8%. "I thought it was a very good session," said OBS Director of Sales Tod Wojciechowski. "It felt like...