Rodolphe Brisset

Top Level Starpower Shines In Grade I-Quality Cigar Mile On Saturday

The Saturday graded stakes action across North America offers several options, but the Big A earns the spotlight as the venerable NYRA track plays host to some strong races. Even though the Cigar Mile Handicap was downgraded a tick from its top level status by the American Graded Stakes Committee in 2023, connections still consider the race to possess a certain cache and the rigor in this year's edition is evident. "It [Cigar Mile] came up pretty salty," said Book'em Danno's trainer Derek Ryan. "It is a Grade II now...

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Weekly Stewards and Commissions Rulings, Oct. 31-Nov. 6

Every week, the TDN posts a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) related rulings from around the country. This week's rulings include three lengthy suspensions. Trainer Francisco Ramos has been banned for two years and fined $25,000 after his trainee You're a Dandy (Mizzen Mast) who finished second at Hawthorne Feb. 14, tested positive for the bronchodilator Clenbuterol. According to a final decision by the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU), Ramos apparently requested a B sample analysis but did not pay for it, which meant...

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Once The Learner, Experienced Brisset Brings Mullikin To Breeders' Cup XLl

DEL MAR, California--History can be a sprint from one anachronism to the next, but every now and then it hands us spectators something unique across generations. You know, one of those full circle moments where we can witness a learner transforming into a future master. A little over 40 years ago at the inaugural Breeders' Cup World Championships hosted by Hollywood Park, Monsieur Alain de Royer-Dupre saddled Lashkari (GB) (Mill Reef) for His Highness The Aga Khan. The 3-year-old took home the very first Breeders' Cup Turf, which was one...

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Possible Sprint Favorite Mullikin, Kilwin Turn In BC Works at Keeneland

Siena Farm and WinStar Farm's Mullikin (Violence), perfect in four starts this term and one of the favorites for the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint, went a half-mile in :47.60 in the company of GII Amsterdam Stakes-winning 'TDN Rising Star' World Record (Gun Runner, :47.80) over the Keeneland main track Friday morning (see below). The 4-year-old colt, who demolished his rivals by 5 3/4 lengths in the GI Forego Stakes at Saratoga Aug. 24, was timed in fractions of :24.40 and :36.20 before galloping out five furlongs in 1:00.60. "That is...

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'TDN Rising Star' World Record Clocks Win At Keeneland

9th-Keeneland, $120,000, Alw (NW2X)/Opt. Clm ($125,000), 10-10, 3yo, 6f, 1:10.30, ft, neck. WORLD RECORD (c, 3, Gun Runner--Marwa {GB}, by Exceed And Excel {Aus}) broke his maiden at second asking at Churchill Downs May 27, which earned him a 'TDN Rising Star' badge. The bay finished third over the same surface in the Maxfield Stakes June 30, but rebounded with a signature score in the GII Amsterdam Stakes at the Spa July 26. Well-beaten in the GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes upstate a month later, the colt was well-backed...

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Speightstown's Impulse Buy Romps to 'Rising Star' Honors at Keeneland

WinStar Farm homebred Impulse Buy (f, 2, Speightstown--Jojo Warrior, by Pioneerof the Nile), a debut second behind her Rodolphe Brisset-trained stablemate Liam in the Dust (Liam's Map) at Ellis Park Aug. 11, graduated in style with a 'TDN Rising Star' performance at second asking at Keeneland Saturday. The 5-2 chance shot out to the front and sped through an opening quarter in :22.11. She traveled nicely around the far turn, kicked for home as the one to catch and dropped the hammer from there to win by an eye-catching 11...

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Mullikin To Point Towards Breeders' Cup Sprint Confirms Brisset

Siena Farm and WinStar Farm's GISW Mullikin (Violence) will train up and point to the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint, according to trainer Rodolphe Brisset. The 4-year-old dark bay is 4-for-4 this year, including his biggest score to date last-out in the GI Forego Stakes at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 24. Since returning from upstate to Brisset's base at Keeneland, Mullikin had his first breeze back on Thursday morning, covering a half-mile in 49 flat. "He's doing very good. We are just going to go straight to the Breeders' Cup," said...

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A 'Forego'-ne Conclusion: Mullikin Miles Best in the Forego

Siena Farm and WinStar Farm are going to have to make room in their trophy cases. Less than 24 hours after the partnership captured the King's Plate with Caitlinhergrtness (Omaha Beach), they added more hardware when Mullikin (c, 4, Violence--Tulira's Star, by Congrats), stamped as the horse to beat in Saratoga's GI Forego Stakes, proved much the best. In winning his fourth straight and capturing the first Grade I of his career, Mullikin cemented his status as the best older sprinter east of the Mississippi with a comprehensive, front-running victory....

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Liam In The Dust Left First Start Behind With Ellis Score

2nd-Ellis, $71,000, Msw, 8-11, 2yo, f, 7f, 1:25.32, ft, 2 1/4 lengths. LIAM IN THE DUST (f, 2, Liam's Map--Whisper Louise, by Bernardini) debuted at even-money here. The favorite clung to a tenuous lead nestled between a pair of rivals, which included to her outside up the backstretch Impulse Buy (Speightstown). The 2-year-old secured the top spot around the far turn and past the three-sixteenths pole her overdrive kicked in. Cruising along, the chestnut won by 2 1/4 lengths over Impulse Buy. The winner has a younger full-sister who is...

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Monday's Racing Insights: American Pharoah Colt Looks To Press The Pace At Ellis

4th-ELP, $71K, Msw, 2yo, 7f, 2:21 p.m. ET. PUBLISHER (American Pharoah), a $600,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearling Sale grad, debuts for owners Gus King and The Estate of Brereton C. Jones. Trained by Steve Asmussen, the bay colt is the first registered foal out of GSP Indian Pride (Proud Citizen), who is a half-sister to Canadian Horse of the Year Biofuel (Stormin Fever) and Canadian champion 2-year-old filly Tu Endie Wei (Johar). Also to the post is first-time starter--trained by Cherie De Vaux--So Sandy (Omaha Beach), who was initially a 2022...

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Weekly Stewards and Commissions Rulings – July 25 – 31

Every week, the TDN posts a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) related rulings from around the country. Among this week's rulings, two trainers have been issued short suspensions. Trainer Jonathan Thomas has been stepped down for five days and fined $4,000 for breaching the intra-articular injection rule, barring such joint injections within 7 days of a timed and reported workout. Trainer Fernando Abreu has been suspended for seven-days and fined $1,000 after one of his trainees, Scat Tu Tap, tested positive for two controlled substances: Magnesium Sulfate, which can be used as...

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Mullikin Makes it Three-In-A-Row in the Nerud

It was second verse same as the first for Mullikin (Violence) as he powered home to win a quick edition of the GII John A. Nerud Stakes. Untouchable in 2024, he started his season Apr. 26 at Keeneland when beating a first-level allowance group by over five lengths, posting a lifetime best Beyer figure of 98 in the process. He was awarded a similar number for his effort last out June 8 at Churchill Downs, where he soundly defeated a field of optional claimers by 3 1/4 lengths. On the...

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