Medaglia d'Oro

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency WELL-RELATED JUVENILES MEET AT ELLIS 5th-ELP, $37K, Msw, 2yo, 7f, 3:42p.m. KING FURY (Curlin) is the most expensive of the several well-related juveniles making their career bows in this test as a $950,000 FTSAUG purchase. He is the first and only foal out of the late Grade I winner Taris (Flatter), a $2.35-million FTKNOV buy. His second dam Comedy, a $1.5-million KEENOV buy, also produced SW & MGSP Theatre Star (War Front). Dale Romans unveils the latest offspring out of blue hen C.S. Royce (Unbridled's...

As his name suggests, there appear to be no half measures with Violence. He had, let's face it, suddenly been under a bit of pressure. It was only last year that Hill 'n' Dale had been able to hoist his fee from $25,000 to $40,000, his first sophomores having confirmed him as the most glamorous stallion in his intake: clear top of the class in 2018 by earnings, winners, stakes winners/performers, graded stakes horses. Having started out at $15,000, he had just processed his third crop of yearlings for an...

Vancouver (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) was represented by his first North American winner at Thistledown Tuesday afternoon. Nicky Two Shoes, off at odds of 5-2 to debut a winner, chased early in third, hit the gas with a rail run on the far turn, took over as they hit the quarter pole, and after enjoying a clear lead from there, held on by a half-length over the unlucky favorite Latin Spice (Buffum), who was bumped hard by a rival and nearly went down in the stretch. The winner's dam had a...

It's a toss-up, really, as to who made the bigger splash in 2017--the Don Alberto Corporation itself, or their superstar filly Unique Bella (Tapit). Three years ago, Don Alberto Corporation continued their traditional annual shopping spree at the fall breeding stock sales, spending a combined $8.3 million at Keeneland and Fasig-Tipton, plus an additional $3.35 million in partnership purchases at the Keeneland November Sale. Meanwhile, their $400,000 2015 Keeneland September purchase Unique Bella shone bright as a 3-year-old with four consecutive graded stakes wins and a later victory in the...

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 Insights features a half-sister to MG1SP Nemoralia (More Than Ready). 6.55 Kempton, Mdn, £5,400, 3yo/up, f/m, 8fT AUREUM (Medaglia d'Oro) debuts for Godolphin and John Gosden, having cost $800,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale in 2018. The half-sister to More Than Ready's G3 City of York S....

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency GUARANA RETURNS AT CHURCHILL 8th-CD, $85K, Opt. Clm. ($80K), 3yo/up, f/m, 7f, 4:46p.m. Dual Grade I winner and 'TDN Rising Star' GUARANA (Ghostzapper) makes her seasonal bow Thursday beneath the Twin Spires. Demolishing the field in her debut by 14 3/4 lengths in the slop at Keeneland last April, the bay followed suit with another dominant win in Belmont's GI Acorn S. in June. Capturing the GI CCA Oaks at Saratoga next out July 21, she was second when last seen in the GI Cotillion...

4th-Churchill Downs, $75,368, Msw, 5-23, 3yo/up, f/m, 1m, 1:36.12, ft ALTAF (f, 3, Medaglia d'Oro--Fawaarek, by Smart Strike) was seventh beaten four lengths when unveiled over the Gulfstream grass Apr. 2, but was installed the 5-2 favorite here switching surfaces and circuits. Towards the back of the pack early behind swift splits of :22.58 and :45.62, the bay checked off of heels heading into the home bend but quickly gathered herself back up to pick off rivals out in the clear. She caught the eye past the quarter pole while...

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 Insights features the highly regarded Mare Australis (Ire). 12.10 Saint-Cloud, Debutantes, €20,000, 3yo, c/g, 8fT HURRICANE CLOUD (GB) (Frankel {GB}) debuts in the silks of his breeder Guy Pariente and is a half-brother to his resident sire Goken (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}), a very sharp juvenile who took the...

7th-Gulfstream, $43,000, Msw, 5-3, 3yo/up, f/m, 1m, 1:37.69, ft. DANCE D'ORO (f, 3, Medaglia d'Oro--Dance Quietly {SW, $123,570}, by A.P. Indy) showed nothing in a local sprint Mar. 29, and was dismissed at 20-1 for a good second-out barn that won under markedly similar circumstances with 13-1 second timer Superfecto (Constitution) one day earlier. Briefly poking a head in front before dropping back to track from third, the bay moved up under busy ride to engage the loose pacesetter heading for home, and kicked away from there to score by...

1st-GP, $45K, Msw, 3yo, 8fT, 12:45 p.m. ET HRH Prince Sultan Bin Mishal Al Saud's HERO D'ORO (Medaglia d'Oro) gets a chance at redemption while trying the turf for the first time. A disinterested 10th in his career debut on the main track here Feb. 29, the $1.2-million Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream graduate gets the services of Irad Ortiz Jr. for this return. Out of After Thought (Fusaichi Pegasus), the Chad Brown trainee is a half-brother to a pair of stakes winners on the turf--Annulment and Youngest Daughter. This is the family...

Stanley Chan Ka Leung's Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) will not contest the G1 FWD QEII Cup Apr. 26, according trainer Francis Lui Wednesday. The winner of 10 of 11 career starts, the bay won his seven latest trips to post, including the Mar. 22 BMW Hong Kong Derby at Sha Tin. "He's achieved a lot this season and we feel he needs a rest now to refresh his mind and let him develop," said Lui. "He'll have a summer break and then we'll prepare him for next season." Following...

The number-one sophomore sire of 2018, Violence took a step backward last year. It happens. The problem is that the marketplace can be unforgiving and ready to move on from any stallion that isn't the hottest of commodities. So Hill 'n' Dale was proactive, dropping Violence's stud fee from $40,000 to $25,000. At that price, he may go down as one of the best bargains among all stallions this year. "Last year, we had some bad luck on the racetrack," said Hill 'n' Dale President John Sikura. "A few horses...