LNJ Foxwoods

Backstretch Dinners Draw a Crowd in Saratoga

Sunday evening dinners have always been a hit among the many backstretch appreciation events that go on throughout the Saratoga race meet, but this summer the affair has become an ever bigger attraction now that Morrissey's Lounge and Bistro at the Adelphi Hotel is catering the weekly celebration. Every Sunday just before 6 p.m., upbeat music and savory smells reach Union Avenue as a crowd gathers at the Marylou Whitney Pavilion. With dozens of volunteers on hand, the vast smorgasbord of food remains open until 8:30 so that workers who...

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Good Magic's Scotland Takes Curlin Gate to Wire

Scotland (Good Magic) came into the Curlin S. a head shy of perfection but with less than a neck for his combined win margins, and put on a show to secure his career-first black-type in the race named for his paternal grandsire. A head winner on unveiling Mar. 4 at Hallandale, and a nose second to SP Tumbarumba (Oscar Performance) in a Apr. 23 Keeneland allowance two back, he was a gusty head winner last out June 3 beneath the Twin Spires over Cagliostro (Upstart). Moving to secure his spot...

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Arqana €2M Sensation Snags TDN Rising Star In Haydock Debut

Godolphin's Ancient Wisdom (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}--Golden Valentine {Fr}, by Dalakhani {Ire}) turned heads when selling for €2-million at last year's Arqana August fixture, and he was back in the limelight with a highly polished debut display in Friday's GPW Recruitment Carl Foster Memorial EBF Novice S. at Haydock. The well-supported 6-5 favourite hit the line powerfully and finished clear of Under The Sun (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}), attaining 'TDN Rising Star' status in the seven-furlong heat with an impressive five-length triumph. Ancient Wisdom settled into a comfortable rhythm behind the...

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F-T Midlantic Opener Builds Up Steam With $800K Mendelssohn Filly on Top

TIMONIUM, MD - The opening session of the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale got off to a tepid start at the Maryland State Fairgrounds Monday morning, but momentum built throughout a session which ultimately produced figures ahead of the auction's record-setting 2022 renewal. "It was a strong start to the sale," Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning, Jr. said at the close of business Monday. "There was significant increase in average price compared to the first day and the overall sale last year. It was certainly an acceptable...

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Botanical Perfect At Turfway With Bourbonette Oaks Score

Undefeated since announcing her arrival to Turfway Park with a 10 3/4-length romp to break her maiden last November, Botanical followed that performance up with two more jaw-dropping efforts at a mile on the tapeta including a last-out win in the Cincinnati Trophy S. Mar. 4. Off that race, which earned her a 91 Beyer Speed Figure, Botanical was slammed in even-money favoritism for her fourth straight Turfway appearance. Given the extra sixteenth to work with, the bay showed a good turn of foot from the blocks to set the...

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“A Mix of Speed and Stamina,” Olympiad Attracts Breeders at Gainesway

It's not often that a runner-up effort translates into a key selling point for a new stallion, but when that second-place finish comes behind a horse like Flightline, people take notice. Such has been the case for Olympiad (Speightstown - Tokyo Time, by Medaglia d'Oro), whose career finale in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic made him a standout in the 2023 class of incoming stallions. Ryan Norton, who joined Gainesway as the farm's new stallion director a few weeks before the Breeders' Cup, explained how Olympiad's performance at Keeneland over...

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Solis and Litt Join Growing Repole Team

Alex Solis II and Jason Litt, who operate the Solis/Litt bloodstock agency, have joined forces with owner Mike Repole, who has continued to add to his team as both his stable and his goals have grown in recent years. Repole, who owns many horses in partnership with Vinnie Viola, has about 300 horses and has been very active in recent years at the yearling sales. "I am all about family and friends," Repole said. "Over the last couple of years they've been helping me out with some yearlings and colts...

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Keeneland November Opener Starts, And Ends, With a Bang

by Jessica Martini, Christie DeBernardis & Christina Bossinakis LEXINGTON, KY - The Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale opened with a jam-packed pavilion and the $4.6-million sale of the fractional interest in superstar Flightline (Tapit) and hit another high late in the day with the $5.5-million sale of champion Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) to Katsumi Yoshida Monday in Lexington. By the end of the opening session of the auction, 136 head had grossed $66,980,000. The average of $492,500 was up 14.77% from a year ago, while the median dipped 12.12% to...

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GISW Olympiad to Stand at Gainesway

Grandview Equine, Cheyenne Stable and LNJ Foxwoods' Olympiad (Speightstown--Tokyo Time, Medaglia d'Oro) will take up stallion duties at Gainesway Farm upon his retirement from racing. To date, Olympiad has won eight of 12 career starts, including five graded stakes victories, highlighted by the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup. Having already amassed over $2-million in earnings, the 4-year-old is expected to make his next start in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland next month. Trained by Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, Olympiad captured five graded victories this season, beginning...

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Speightstown's Olympiad Triumphs in JCGC

Grandview Equine, Cheyenne Stable and LNJ Foxwoods's Olympiad (Speightstown), a head-scratching fourth in the GI Whitney S., bounced back with a powerful performance in Saturday's 'Win and You're In' GI Jockey Club Gold Cup at Saratoga. The 8-5 favorite jumped well from his inside draw and sat a perfect, stalking trip in second behind longshot pacesetter Tax (Arch) through fractions of :24.54 and :49.70. Racing in between rivals as last year's GI Cigar Mile H. winner Americanrevolution (Constitution), one of four entered for Todd Pletcher, continued to draw closer heading...

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Pletcher Filly is No Joke; Becomes Another 'Rising Star' for Into Mischief

StarLadies Racing, LNJ Foxwoods and Gainesway Stable's Prank (Into Mischef--Callingmissbrown, by Pulpit), a $500,000 half-sister to stablemate and recent GI Belmont S. winner Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo), GISW, $1,511,800, flashed serious speed and ability Sunday to justify 1-2 backing and be named an obvious 'TDN Rising Star'. Emerging from the pack to seize early command, the Todd Pletcher pupil doled out a swift opening split of :21.91 before leaving High Class (Into Mischief) in the dust through a :45.11 half. From there it was only a question of how far,...

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Small, But Mighty, Shuvee Field Leads Sunday Graded Action

A lack of competitors doesn't always translate to a lack of competition and the GII Shuvee S. at Saratoga is a case in point, with an abbreviated field of four featuring a pair of titans. Fellow Curlin daughters Clairiere and Malathaat will bring their rivalry to round six in the 1 1/8-mile contest at the Spa; the latter coming out on the better end on four prior occasions. Malathaat will be breaking from the gate sporting blinkers for the first time in her career, likely intended to combat her tendency...

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