TDN Rising Star

3rd-Churchill Downs, $125,785, Alw (NW1X)/Opt. Clm ($100,000), 11-26, 2yo, 6f, 1:09.52, ft, neck. VICTORY FORMATION (c, 2, Tapwrit--Smart N Soft, by Smart Strike) sailed home to 'TDN Rising Star'-dom last out Oct. 21 against a deep Keeneland maiden special field, going coast-to-coast by 4 3/4 lengths to become the first for his sire to garner the accolade. Hammered down to 6-5 favoritism here on the step up into the allowance ranks, he vied with a rival early from the rail through :21.44 and :45.11 splits. After briefly leading and then...

Graded stakes winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Dennis' Moment (Tiznow--Transplendid, by Elusive Quality) has been retired from racing and will stand the upcoming season at Leadem Farm near Leola, Arkansas. Owned by a syndicate led by Glen Hill Farm and brokered by Jay Goodwin, Dennis' Moment will stand for $2,500. Bred by Tolo Thoroughbreds in Kentucky, the now-5-year-old was a $400,000 yearling purchase by Albaugh Family Racing at the 2018 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale. Debuting at Churchill Downs in June at two, the Dale Romans trainee clipped heels and unseated his...

While the warmth and light was bestowed on Keeneland on Friday, the cool and dark backdrop of Dundalk played host to a red-hot prospect as Beginnings (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) stormed to TDN Rising Star status. Ballydoyle's daughter of their celebrated 1000 Guineas and Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Winter (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) had stepped forward markedly from her debut when fourth behind the subsequent Listed Star Appeal S. winner and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf protagonist Spirit Gal (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) over near six furlongs at Naas Sept. 15 and...

LEXINGTON, KY - Juan Leyva has a first-class 'Flight' for this year's Championships. The assistant trainer to John Sadler and former Breeders' Cup winning-jockey is the regular morning partner of unbeaten sensation and 3-5 Classic morning-line favorite Flightline (Tapit). The highest-rated racehorse in the world has won his first five starts by an astounding combined margin of 62 3/4 lengths, led by a jaw-dropping 19 1/4-length win while making his two-turn debut in the GI Pacific Classic at Del Mar. Getting the monster that is Flightline to harness some of...

Fort Warren (c, 2, Curlin--La Appassionata, by Bernardini), a $550,000 Keeneland September yearling acquisition, took race-long pressure through fast internal fractions and clung on gamely late to graduate at first asking Sunday at Santa Anita en route to the 'TDN Rising Star' distinction. He is the 22nd 'Rising Star' for his leading Hill 'n' Dale-based stallion. Away only fairly from the inside gate, Fort Warren had to be used some by go-to rider Juan Hernandez, but speared through to take up the running and covered the opening couple of furlongs...

Sporting the famed Gestut Rottgen silks in Cologne's Preis vom Weidenpescher Park on Sunday, Naila (Fr) (Adlerflug {Ger}) overpowered her peers to become the latest German TDN Rising Star. Sent off the 9-10 favourite for the 1850-metre maiden, the Markus Klug-trained chestnut broke well from the widest stall to track the leading duo throughout the early stages. Taking control approaching the two-furlong marker, she surged clear to win unchallenged by 10 lengths with Andrasch Starke easing down. The winner is the last known foal out of the listed-winning dam Naomia (Ger) (Monsun...

Newcastle's Monday card featured the It's Time To Turn To Talksport Novice S., a juvenile novices' heat annexed in 2020 by Godolphin's subsequent dual Group 1 winner Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), and this year's renewal has yielded another capable of striking at a higher level after Imad Al Sagar's 2-year-old colt Intinso (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}--Rose Of Miracles {GB}, by Dalakhani {Ire}), a homebred John and Thady Gosden trainee, powered to an impressive 3 1/4-length debut victory and a 'TDN Rising Star' rosette. The well-backed 1-2 favourite settled under cover...

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. Monday's Insights features TDN Rising Star Desert Hero. 2.30 Redcar, Novice, £8,000, 2yo, 9fT DESERT HERO (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) earned TDN Rising Star status on debut at Haydock in June before finishing third to Silver Knott (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) in Sandown's G3 Solario S. and...

Coolmore and Westerberg's 'TDN Rising Star' and G2 Golden Fleece S. victor Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}--Rhododendron {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) allayed any and all concerns that his ability may be blunted by the heavy going and powered through the mud at Doncaster to register a record-breaking 11th renewal for Aidan O'Brien in Saturday's G1 Vertem Futurity Trophy. The trainer admitted a late scratching might be on the cards if conditions were not suitable for the July 2 Naas maiden winner, but was pleasantly surprised by the state of...

Bringing TDN Rising Star status into Saturday's G3 Virgin Bet Horris Hill S. at Newbury, KHK Racing's Knight (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}--Fidaaha {Ire}, by New Approach {Ire}) emerged from an intriguing renewal of the seven-furlong staging post with reputation enhanced as he proved top dog among the Classic hopefuls. Tackling testing ground having operated with style on good-to-soft on his impressive debut at Yarmouth Sept. 25, the Simon and Ed Crisford-trained full-brother to the G2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte and G3 Prix Imprudence winner and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf and...

It was a case of heads up, heads down at the conclusion of Saint-Cloud's G1 Criterium International on Saturday, with Coolmore's homebred Galileo duo Proud And Regal (Ire) and Espionage (Ire) engaged in a thrilling tussle in which the former ultimately prevailed. Last seen finishing runner-up in the Sept. 11 G1 Vincent O'Brien National S., the Donnacha O'Brien-trained son of the G1 Fillies' Mile and G1 Falmouth S. heroine Simply Perfect (GB) (Danehill) who captured the July 21 G3 Tyros S. at Leopardstown was asked to keep close tabs on...

Sent away at a well-backed 7-2 in arguably the toughest and deepest 2-year-old maiden of the fall meet at Keeneland Friday afternoon, Spendthrift Farm and Frank Fletcher Racing Operation's Victory Formation (c, 2, Tapwrit--Smart N Soft, by Smart Strike) led past every pole to become the 10th individual winner and the first 'TDN Rising Star' for his Gainesway-based freshman sire (by Tapit). Hustled away from gate three by Luis Saez, Victory Formation headed off his rivals as the field linked up with the track proper and got the opening quarter...