TDN Rising Star

At almost no point during the opening 6 1/2 furlongs of Saturday's GIII Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby did things look particularly promising for Whisper Hill Farm and Gainesway Stable's heavily favored Tapit Trice (Tapit). But in a stretch rally befitting his status as a 'TDN Rising Star', the $1.3-million Keeneland September graduate went through his gears and whistled home to--somewhat unbelievably--post an open-lengths victory over Classic Car Wash (Noble Bird) and Classic Legacy (Into Mischief), the third- and fourth-place finishers, respectively, in the GIII Sam F. Davis S. four...

Calumet Farm's unbeaten homebred Far Bridge (c, 3, English Channel--Fitpitcher, by Kitten's Joy) kicked home impressively for 'TDN Rising Star' honors in a grassy optional claimer at Gulfstream Park Saturday. The bay was a head better than the promising Carl Spackler (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) over the same course and distance on debut Jan. 21. Carl Spackler returned to earn a 'Rising Star' tag of his own with a smashing, 8 3/4-length maiden victory here Feb. 25. Hammered down to 1-2 here, Far Bridge raced under cover passing the...

Ballymore Thoroughbred Racing's undefeated 3-year-old filly Pensee Du Jour (Ire) (Camelot {GB}--Painter's Pride {Fr}, by Dansili {GB}) delivered a spectacular winning debut last month, attaining 'TDN Rising Star' status with a four-length tally atop Chantilly's all-weather surface, and made a smooth transition into black-type company with an impressive pillar-to-post victory on the turf in Thursday's Listed Prix Rose de Mai at Saint-Cloud. The 1-2 favourite broke smartly and held sway throughout the 10-furlong contest. Unflustered and dominating into the straight, she was allowed an inch of rein soon after passing...

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 Observations features a 'TDN Rising Star'. 15.00 Saint-Cloud, Listed, €55,000, 3yo, f, 10fT Ballymore Thoroughbred Racing's 3-year-old filly PENSEE DU JOUR (IRE) (Camelot {GB}) made a spectacular winning debut at Chantilly last month, attaining 'TDN Rising Star' status with a geared-down four-length tally over 9 1/2 furlongs, and...

Andre Fabre's team has hit the ground running as winter slowly transitions to spring and the veteran maestro unleashed G1 Prix de Diane entry Algolia (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}--Viva Rafaela {Brz}, by Know Heights {Ire}) to claim 'TDN Rising Stardom' with a scintillating performance in Tuesday's Prix du Soissonnais over one mile at Chantilly. Her victory was the middle leg of a Fabre hat-trick on the card, the trainer also successful with the dual Group 1-placed Ancient Rome (War Front) coming back off a nine-month break and capping a...

Either the G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas on May 7 or the French equivalent on May 14 are next for 'TDN Rising Star' Mawj (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}), trainer Saeed bin Suroor revealed. Two-for-two at Meydan after victories on Jan. 27 and Feb. 24, the royal blue silksbearer is pleasing bin Suroor since her latest effort. Bin Suroor said, "She ran really well [on Feb. 24]. She won over six furlongs in England and she came back here over seven furlongs, the way she worked in the morning I thought...

   In this new series, the TDN takes a look at the success of European-based sires in North America, on a semi-weekly basis. This week's column (Feb. 18-Feb. 25) is highlighted by the victory of Godolphin homebred Lake Lucerne (Dubawi {Ire}) in the Albert M. Stall Memorial S. at Fair Grounds on Feb. 18. A worldwide influence for class, Dubawi celebrated his 250th stakes winner with Lake Lucerne's two-length victory for Brendan Walsh and Tyler Gaffalione in a 1 1/16-mile turf stakes in New Orleans eight days previously. The 6-year-old...

Pounded into 1-5 favoritism off a big-figure runner-up debut effort behind the very impressive Far Bridge (English Channel) in an 8 1/2-furlong maiden over this course Jan. 21, eFive Racing Thoroughbreds' Carl Spackler (Ire) (c, 3, Lope de Vega {Ire}--Zindaya, by More Than Ready) 'teed it up 'exiting the far turn and won Saturday's Gulfstream finale by a margin as great as the distance from Hallandale Beach to the fictitious Bushwood Country Club to become a no-brainer 'TDN Rising Star'. Alertly into stride from gate eight, the blaze-faced chestnut secured...

The betting public was pretty sure that an Into Mischief filly out of a Tapit mare would emerge victorious in Saturday's GII Rachel Alexandra S. Presented by Fasig-Tipton, but they only got it half right. It wasn't 2-5 Hoosier Philly who picked up the 50 GI Kentucky Oaks points, but instead Godolphin homebred and 'TDN Rising Star' Pretty Mischievous who starred at Fair Grounds. Pacesetting longshot Miracle (by Into Mischief's younger brother Mendelssohn) stretched Pretty Mischievous to 3/4 of a length, and was another 7 3/4 lengths clear of Hoosier...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 8th-OP, $103K, OC, 3yo, 1m, 5:10 p.m. Last year at this time, Epicenter (Not This Time) was making his case as the Derby favorite after declaring victory in the GII Risen S. at Fair Grounds. This Sunday in Hot Springs, another Winchell Thoroughbreds-owned colt, DISARM (Gun Runner), who is a Triple Crown nominee, will begin to layout his own path to be in the starting gate in early May. A game third on debut to GIII Sanford S. victor Mo Strike (Uncle Mo) at Churchill...

Tokyo Racecourse plays host to the first of 24 Group 1s on the JRA circuit, Sunday's February S. going a one-turn mile on the dirt track, and with the race's two-time defending champion Cafe Pharoah (American Pharoah) preparing for next Saturday's G1 Saudi Cup and with would-be favourite Gilded Mirror (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) having recently been retired due to injury, the race is there for the taking for the wonderfully consistent US-bred Lemon Pop (Lemon Drop Kid). The 5-year-old, purchased for $70,000 as a weanling at the 2018 Keeneland November...

Lael Stables' Sunday Shoes (f, 3, Pioneerof the Nile--Silvertoni, by Tapit) was forced to cover stacks of ground when making her career debut in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden under the Wednesday night lights at Turfway and turned in a spectacular effort to earn the 'TDN Rising Star' distinction. A $500,000 acquisition by Michael Hernon on behalf of Roy and Gretchen Jackson's operation from the Woodford draft at Keeneland September in 2021, Sunday Shoes was sent off as the 9-2 third choice on debut and was one of the first to...