Phil D'Amato

In her first start since a 33% share of her sold for $330,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Midsummer Flash Sale, Agave Racing Iscreamuscream (Twirling Candy) extended her record to a perfect four-for-four with a confident victory in Saturday's GI Del Mar Oaks. Breaking from Post 1, the 3-1 second choice went to the fore with the leading group, carving out an opening quarter in sensible :24.20. Umberto Rispoli aboard recent Christiana Stakes winner Whiskey Decision (Into Mischief) decided the early pace was far too slow and rushed to the front, opening...

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victories of Halfway Line and City Exile, both trained by Phil D'Amato, at Del Mar.   Zoffany Gelding Strikes At Del Mar James Downey's stakes-placed Halfway Line (GB) (Zoffany {Ire}) took three tries, but came away with his first American win at Del Mar for trainer Phil D'Amato in late July (video). Bred by Juddmonte Farms, the 4-year-old gelding won thrice and placed in the...

With two wins in as many starts, Iscreamuscream (Twirling Candy) did not melt under pressure and remained undefeated in the GII San Clemente Stakes at Del Mar on opening day. Perfect in a pair of turf sprints going six furlongs over the Santa Anita grass Oct. 14 and June 13, Iscreamuscream was the 6-5 chalk in her stakes debut Saturday. Making her first start around two turns here, she was sent to the front and raced under pressure through fractions of :22.76 and :47.49. With four of them lined up...

Canadian champion sprinter Hazelbrook (Bayern), in foal to Triple Crown winner Justify, and multiple stakes winner Lucky Girl (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) highlight the inaugural Inglis Digital USA July Sale. "We are excited to feature these two impressive entries in our inaugural sale as Inglis Digital USA," said CEO Liza Hendriks. "The global demand for both buying and selling has been substantial, highlighting the international appeal of these two mares. They are the first of many high-quality listings to come, and we look forward to showcasing more in our...

Freshman sire Thousand Words (by Pioneerof the Nile) collected the first stakes win of his promising stud career, as Vodka With a Twist clinked her glass after getting her picture taken in the Debutante Stakes on closing day at Churchill Downs. The former charge of Jason McCutchen broke her maiden under his tutelage at second asking over a sloppy course under the Twin Spires May 17. With her new barn and as the 6-5 choice here, Vodka With a Twist got down to business from the bell by blazing a...

Jockey Juan Hernandez, trainer Phil D'Amato and owner Paul and Zilla Reddam's Reddam Racing emerged victorious in their respective divisions during the 29-day Hollywood Meet at Santa Anita, which closed Sunday, June 16. Hernandez, a native of Veracruz, Mexico, was celebrating a sixth riding title at Santa Anita, having ridden 36 winners from 176 mounts (20.5%), one clear of Antonio Fresu, who joined the local riding colony just over 14 months ago. The Italian had one last chance to dead-heat with Hernandez, but fell just short in Sunday's 12th and...

Favored to defend his title in Sunday's GIII San Juan Capistrano S., Planetario (Brz) didn't disappoint, breaking his own course record over the 1 3/4-mile distance at Santa Anita in the process. Installed the 3-5 choice to repeat, the 6-year-old settled at the back as longshots Bee Catcher (English Channel) and Rimprotector (Point of Entry) led through moderate early fractions. Turning for home, 5-2 second choice Rockemperor closed resolutely from the outside, while Planetario launched his own bid in between rivals down the center of course. While the former appeared...

With a spring in his step down the lane, it was 'TDN Rising Star' Parenting (Justify) who won his first black-type in the Affirmed S. at Santa Anita Park on Sunday. The colt made his debut a success when he won by 2 3/4 lengths at 'The Great Race Place' Apr. 26. That effort earned him 'TDN Rising Star' honors. Trying two turns and against much tougher company here, Parenting was backed at 80 cents on the dollar. The Bob Baffert trainee got down to business heading into the first...

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This column is highlighted by the victory of Pipsy during the Belmont at the Big A meeting in New York. Pipsy Soars In New York  Pipsy (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), who races for Woodford Throughbreds, LLC, earned the first graded win of her career in the GIII Soaring Softly S. during Belmont's spring meeting at Aqueduct on Sunday (video). Trained by Will Walden, the filly is now three-for-four. The Noel Finegan-bred was a...

California-based GI Kentucky Derby runners Stronghold (Ghostzapper) and Endlessly (Oscar Performance) have returned to Santa Anita after their respective seventh- and ninth-place finishes at Churchill Downs, according to Santa Anita's track notes Thursday. Each was back in his own stall Tuesday. Stronghold jogged Thursday in his first time back to the track. "He came out of the race in good shape," trainer Phil D'Amato said Thursday morning of the Eric and Sharon Waller homebred. D'Amato continued: "I thought he got a good stalking trip behind the speed. He made a...

Jockey Antonio Fresu watched the 2023 GI Kentucky Derby on television. Though from Italy, he understood the importance of the race and knew that everybody, be it a jockey, trainer, owner, aspires to win it. But he had no reason to believe that he'd ever win the Derby, let alone ride in it. In late April of last year, just eight days before the Derby, he had started riding in the U.S. at Santa Anita. He was unknown and unproven to the trainers in the U.S. "I came here to...

Five contenders took advantage of a mild, dry Sunday morning in Louisville to put in final works at Churchill Downs ahead of next weekend's GI Kentucky Derby. First of the group to work was BC Stable's Just Steel (Justify), who went out just as the track opened at 5:15 a.m. Sunday. The bay colt worked four furlongs in :50.40 (52/60), registering splits of :13.40 and :25.20 before being eased up on the gallop out. "Just a slow maintenance work. We're close to the race, we didn't want to do much,"...