Lope de Vega (Ire)

It's not often a stallion based outside the continent gets graded winners in the U.S. keeping pace with the leading sires here. Ireland's Lope De Vega (Ire) is not only keeping pace, but more than holding his own. When Carl Spackler (Ire) won Sunday's GI Fourstardave Handicap at Saratoga, he became the second U.S. Grade I winner in 2024 for his sire, joining Program Trading (GB), who won Churchill's GI Turf Classic Stakes on Derby day. For comparison, only one stallion (Gun Runner) has three Grade I winners in the...

There is more than a hand's difference in height between Deirdre (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}) and Love So Deep (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) but what the diminutive Love So Deep lacks in stature she makes up for in feistiness, while the regal Deirdre studies those around her with her calm, kind eye. By Monday morning the air of jubilation surrounding the two fillies had still not dissipated at Abington Place where each has been prepared this summer. The stable, once home to Harry Wragg and then his son Geoff and now...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Today's Observations features a half-sister to GI Wood Memorial S. hero Wicked Strong (Hard Spun). 3.15 Kempton, Mdn, £9,000, 2yo, f, 8f (AWT) MISS YODA (GER) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) topped the Baden-Baden September Yearling Sale when purchased by Westerberg and starts out for the John Gosden stable on...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Today's Observations features a half-sister to MG1SW Alpha Centauri (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}). 5.20 Deauville, Mdn, €27,000, 2yo, f, 7 1/2fT BIONIC WOMAN (IRE) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) is a full-sister to the G3 Killavullan S. winner and G1 Irish 2000 Guineas third Blue de Vega (Ger) who cost Godolphin...