Pioneerof the Nile

Chiefswood Stables homebred Weyburn (Pioneerof the Nile), last seen breaking his maiden going seven panels in the local slop Dec. 5, slipped past the bettors and into the winner's circle to post a 46-1 upset in Aqueduct's GIII Gotham S. He fended off Chad Brown trainee Crowded Trade (More Than Ready) to take the head bob, with that one's stablemate Highly Motivated (Into Mischief) a non-threatening third as the 4-5 chalk. Away well from his outside draw, Weyburn locked on to California invader Freedom Fighter (Violence) through splits of :24.29...

It took just two words for Mark Toothaker to explain why he believes Thousand Words (Pioneerof the Nile) will excel in the Spendthrift stud barn: looks and pedigree. Those same characteristics are what kept the Albaugh-Spendthrift partnership bidding at the Keeneland September Sale until they brought the colt home for $1 million. It didn't take long to find an appropriate name for the youngster. [tdn_vimeo_embed title="Thousand Words at Spendthrift" admp4="https://player.vimeo.com/external/500151634.sd.mp4?s=844a5d02b62a033a1e8411b7c050bcf410e91b6a&profile_id=165" videomp4= "https://player.vimeo.com/external/507225698.sd.mp4?s=6e8e6dc8679363f6033354a84ffb91e685b177c8&profile_id=165" thumbnail= ""] "Eric Gustavon, our president, named him," Toothaker recalled. "He's such a beautiful horse that the name...

GSP Aurelius Maximus (Pioneerof the Nile--La Reina, by A.P. Indy) has been retired from racing and will enter stud in 2021 at Jay Adcock's Red River Farm in Coushatta, Louisiana. The deal was brokered by Andrew Cary of Cary Bloodstock. The 5-year-old, who will stand in a partnership between Nathan Granger and Stonestreet Stables/George Bolton/Peter Leidel, will stand for $2,000 live foal, with consideration to approved mares. "Aurelius Maximus is the most exciting horse to retire to Louisiana for many years," said Cary. "His combination of impeccable pedigree, gorgeous conformation...

He has bred a Triple Crown winner, but John Gunther has yet to have his first superstar as an owner. He's hoping that may soon change. Gunther is the owner and breeder of Stage Raider (Pioneerof the Nile), a half-brother to Triple Crown winner Justify (Scat Daddy), who will make his debut in Saturday's sixth race at Gulfstream. And while no one is predicting that Stage Raider will win the Triple Crown, both Gunther and trainer Chad Brown are optimistic that the 3-year-old colt has above average talent. "He seems...

2nd-AQU, $70K, Msw, (S), 3yo/up, 6fT, 12:50 p.m. ET RIFT VALLEY (Pioneerof the Nile), the $600,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-bred yearling topper in 2018, debuts for Shortleaf Stables and Jimmy Jerkens. The bay has posted four bullet moves on his worktab, including a four-furlong breeze in :47 1/5 (1/8) at Belmont Oct. 27. Rift Valley, produced by a daughter of MGISW Educated Risk (Mr. Prospector), hails from a deep Phipps family, including champion Inside Information. TJCIS PPs

There is a lot of African geography in the background of 2-year-old Khartoum (Pioneerof the Nile-Up (Ire), by Galileo {Ire}). Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, is where the Blue Nile (from Lake Tana in Ethiopia) and the White Nile (from Lake Victoria) meet and unite, forming a greater river. "From there [Khartoum], the Nile continues to flow north towards Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea," states Wikipedia. The Nile is maybe the longest river in the world (the Amazon has a similar claim) and has always been very important to the...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 2nd-BEL, $80K, Msw, 2yo, f, 6f, post time: 12:55 p.m. ET Several well-bred firsters will look to run down the likes of morning line favorite Exact (Competitive Edge), who was second over track and trip Sept. 18. Allen Stable and Shug McGaughey unveil Cafe Society (Empire Maker), a $135,000 KEESEP yearling turned $475,000 OBSAPR 2-year-old off a :10 flat breeze. Dam Full Tap (Tapit) was carrying Cafe Society when she brought $375,000 at the 2017 Keeneland November sale. The three-time winner, who was third in...

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. Thursday's Insights features a pricy half-brother to G1SP Monarch of Egypt (American Pharoah). 3.40 Yarmouth, Novice, £6,300, 2yo, 8f 3yT FRANCESCO GUARDI (GB) (Frankel {GB}) is given a confidence boost in this four-runner affair, having finished third in Newbury's Listed Washington Singer S. last month. The Ballylinch Stud-bred and...

Three of Ashford Stud's Grade I-winning stallions will be in the limelight in the coming weeks as they are represented by their first crop of yearlings in the sales ring. Three-time GIW Practical Joke (Into Mischief), the regally-bred Cupid (Tapit) and juvenile champion Classic Empire (Pioneerof the Nile) all ranked amongst the top of their class with the sale of their weanlings, and now look to continue the streak with their yearlings. We sat down with Coolmore's Adrian Wallace and discussed two of the young sires. [tdn_vimeo_embed title="Cupid and Classic...

1st-SAR, $72K, Msw, 2yo, f, 6 1/2f, 1:10 p.m. ET Stonestreet Stable's CANTATA (Medaglia d'Oro) debuts for Steve Asmussen, who is winning with 20% of his runners at the current meet. Purchased for $950,000 at Keeneland last September, the bay is the second foal out of Stoweshoe, who is also responsible for Desert Peace (Curlin), who realized $1.3 million from Godolphin at the same venue one year earlier. The Doug and Felicia Branham-bred filly has been training steadily at Saratoga, including a four-furlong move two back Aug. 6 (XBTV Video)....

2nd-KEE, $70K, Msw, 2yo, 6f, 1:39 p.m. ET John Oxley's PALAZZI (Pioneerof the Nile) makes his career debut for trainer Mark Casse. Out of the stakes-winning and multiple graded-placed sprinter Kindle (Indian Charlie), the $510,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling graduate is a half to two-time winner Made in America (Tiznow). A year earlier, Palazzi realized $375,000 at Keeneland in November, while his year-younger brother, by American Pharoah, brought $2.2. million at that venue in September. Also worthy of note is first-time starter SWILL (Munnings), trained by Brad Cox, who has a...

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. Sunday's Insights features a €3.2-million Goffs Orby sale-topping full-sister to two Group 1 winners. 1.25 Chantilly, Cond, €28,000, 3yo, f, 10 1/2fT BONNE IDEE (GB) (Frankel {GB}) created a big impression for the Andre Fabre stable when winning a Lyon-Parilly maiden last month and takes the next step towards...