maiden

Few Todd Pletcher first-time starters fail to live up to their billing if they break as 1-5 favorites and Pirate (Omaha Beach) kept that trend rolling with a three-length win to graduate at Saratoga and become the Spa's first 2023 'TDN Rising Star' and the first for his freshman sire (by War Front). Never under the radar, the 2-year-old half-brother to GI Preakness S. winner National Treasure (Quality Road) took all the money and quickly silenced any doubt about his inside draw with a quick beginning under jockey Irad Ortiz,...

Much of the pre-race speculation about Saratoga's GIII Schuylerville S. for 2-year-old fillies going six furlongs on the dirt seemed to focus on which Hall of Famer--D. Wayne Lukas or Todd Pletcher--would be the first to win the traditional opening-day feature for the record seventh time, unless another Hall of Famer--Steve Asmussen--got in the way. Instead, that trio had to settle for filling out the superfecta as it was another veteran conditioner, Gary Contessa, who notched his first Schuylerville win with Becky's Joker (Practical Joke--Becky's Best, by Elusive Quality), the...

3rd-Aqueduct, $70,000, (S), Msw, 2-17, 4yo/up, 1m, 1:39.47, sy, 8 1/2 lengths. SPIRIT OF ST LOUIS (g, 4, Medaglia d'Oro--Khancord Kid {GSW, $167,343}, by Lemon Drop Kid), picked up for $300,000 as a yearling at Keeneland September in 2020, took his time making the races but made his belated debut at 2-1 over a sloppy New York track Friday. Poised just off the lead after enduring contact at the break, the well-related gelding sat a wide trip, chasing three wide up the backstretch as Central Pride (Lord Nelson) paced the...

4th-Deauville, €27,000, Mdn, 12-16, unraced 2yo, f, 7 1/2f (AWT), 1:31.73, st. QUICKSTEP (FR) (f, 2, Wootton Bassett {GB}--Dance Toupie {Fr}, by Dansili {GB}) was well away from the inside stall to race in a handy third after the opening quarter of this debutantes' heat. Making smooth headway on the bridle in the straight and sent with 300 metres remaining, the even-money pick took a slender advantage into the final furlong and kept on powerfully under whipless coaxing in the closing stages to defeat Sunlike (Fr) (De Treville {GB}) by...

After recording the highest Beyer Speed Figure in the field (85) when runner-up by just a nose last out over this course in a six-furlong maiden special weight Nov. 4, Sweetlou'sgotaces (Constitution--Kayce Lu, by Lonhro {Aus}) broke her maiden in Aqueduct's Tepin S. when stretched to a mile for the first time. She was also a narrow second on debut Sept. 1 at the Spa and off the board Oct. 8 in the GIII Matron S. at the Belmont at Aqueduct meet. In the Tepin, Sweetlou'sgotaces broke from the rail...

In this series, we will have a look at first-time starters entered for age-restricted maiden races on the week's main live program at Meydan Racecourse, focusing specifically on pedigree and/or performance in sales ring, both domestic and abroad. With the exception of Thursday, Dec. 1, Super Saturday, Mar. 4, and Dubai World Cup night Mar. 25, the main meeting at Meydan takes place on Fridays. Six meetings are to be staged at the UAE's flagship racecourse prior to the start of the Dubai World Cup Carnival Friday, Jan. 6, 2023....

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. Wednesday's Insights features a son of G1SW Madame Chiang (GB). 1.00 Nottingham, Mdn, £11,900, 2yo 8f 75yT GALILAEUS (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) is a son of the G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares S. heroine Madame Chiang (GB) (Archipenko) who cost Jim and Fitri Hay a potentially bargain 200,000gns...

6th-Del Mar, $82,500, Msw, 9-3, 2yo, 6 1/2f, 1:16.62, ft, 1 1/2 lengths. NATIONAL TREASURE (c, 2, Quality Road--Treasure, by Medaglia d'Oro) dispatched at 3-1 in this debut, was hustled out of the gate by John Velazquez, hitting the front just before the first quarter went up in a lively :21.89. Hounded by Practical Move (Practical Joke) through a :44.37 half-mile, the $500,000 FTSAUG buy showed the way into the lane and held off a late bid from stablemate Massimo (Uncle Mo) to score by 1 1/2 lengths. Practical Move...

N Y Riesling became the first winner for his New York-based freshman sire Redesdale (Speightstown) Tuesday at Finger Lakes. He was a well-beaten eighth on debut behind a 'TDN Rising Star' performance from next-out GIII Sanford S. third Andiamo a Firenze (Speightstown), a half-brother to GISW Firenze Fire (Poseidon's Warrior), at Belmont June 3. Favored at 6-5 as part of an entry while facing easier company, the chestnut went straight to the front, ticking off a :22.97 opening quarter. Showing the way into the lane, N Y Riesling kept on...

2nd-Woodbine, C$107,630, Msw, 5-21, 2yo, 4 1/2f (AWT), :51.58, ft, 5 1/2 lengths. STAYHONOR GOODSIDE (c, 2, Honor Code--Nicki Knew {SW, $386,114}, by Tethra) was favored at 6-5 in this debut and made it look like a gift with a dominant debut score at Woodbine Saturday. Away alertly, the $85,000 KEESEP buy contested the early pace and slammed the door on his rivals in the lane to win for fun by 5 1/2 lengths over Captive Silence (Silent Name {Jpn}). The winner is a half to Imperial Dream (Stormy Atlantic),...

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. Tuesday's Observations features a daughter of MG1SW Attraction (GB) (Efisio {GB}). 14.30 Ffos Las, Mdn, £6,800, 3yo/up, 8fT Fairlawns Racing's 3-year-old colt SAYF AL DAWLA (GB) (Frankel {GB}) is the 11th foal produced by MG1SW European champion Attraction (GB) (Efisio {GB}) and thus a full-brother to MGSW sire and...

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. Monday's Observations features a 2.1-million daughter of Galileo (Ire). 18.45 Killarney, Mdn, €12,000, 3yo/up, f/m, 11f 35yT Coolmore and Westerberg's DRUMMER GIRL (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) made a mark when knocked down for 2.1-million guineas at the Tattersalls 2019 October Book 1 sale and makes her belated debut in this...