TDN Rising Star

Alain and Gerard Wertheimer's hitherto unraced 2-year-old filly Kelina (Ire) (Frankel {GB}--Incahoots {GB}, by Oasis Dream {GB}) was let go at odds of 29-5 for Saturday's Prix des Marettes at Deauville and returned home with a 'TDN Rising Star' tag after posting a taking pillar-to-post performance in the 7 1/2-furlong debutantes' heat. The eventual winner was the sharpest of one dozen into stride and seized an immediate lead. Holding sway throughout, she was shaken up when threatened passing the quarter-mile marker and ran on strongly once quickening clear approaching the...

Hall of Famer Todd A. Pletcher, currently sitting in second place in the Saratoga trainer standings, will be locked and loaded in a pair of Grade I events at the Spa Saturday, led by the 'Win and You're In' GI Whitney S. With the unbeaten sensation and 'TDN Rising Star' Flightline (Tapit) awaiting the GI TVG Pacific Classic at Del Mar Sept. 3, a pair of New York-based heavyweights in the handicap division will throw down in the 12-race card's feature. The uber-talented 'TDN Rising Star' Life Is Good (Into...

Tanya Gunther was thrilled to watch the latest 'TDN Rising Star' Justique (Justify) trounce the competition in her breathtaking debut, but the horsewoman admitted that a few thoughts of what could have been flashed through her head as she remembered the promising filly's early days spent at Glennwood Farm. "I didn't really want to sell her," Gunther said with an acquiescing smile. "Most of our yearlings do go to the sale, but I was a bit sad when we let her go." Bred by Tanya's father John Gunther in partnership...

In the same way which astronomical stars largely form in groups, so too did the 'TDN Rising Stars' this past Sunday. Not one, not two, but three leading ladies emerged from the nebulae of Del Mar and Saratoga, each with her own brand of brilliance. Chief among the splendor, and the last to show her shine, was Justique (Justify), whose brilliant turn of foot and effortless dismissal of rivals summoned forth comparisons to another glorious 'Rising Star' in her hayday--a John Shirreffs masterpiece, Hall of Famer Zenyatta (Street Cry {Ire})....

2.10 Naas, Mdn, €16,000, 2yo, f, 8fT FONISKA (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) was withdrawn from her intended debut at Leopardstown in June due to a respiratory infection, but is ready to go now for Flaxman Stables Ireland and Jessie Harrington. A daughter of the G2 Kilboy Estate S. winner Bocca Baciata (Ire) (Big Bad Bob {Ire}), the May-foaled bay encounters Ballydoyle's Leopardstown third Dame Kiri (Justify), whose dam is a full-sister to Alice Springs (Ire). 2.40 Naas, Mdn, €16,500, 2yo, c/g, 8fT DENMARK (GB) (Camelot {GB}) is a notable newcomer from...

StarLadies Racing, LNJ Foxwoods and Gainesway Stable's Prank (Into Mischef--Callingmissbrown, by Pulpit), a $500,000 half-sister to stablemate and recent GI Belmont S. winner Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo), GISW, $1,511,800, flashed serious speed and ability Sunday to justify 1-2 backing and be named an obvious 'TDN Rising Star'. Emerging from the pack to seize early command, the Todd Pletcher pupil doled out a swift opening split of :21.91 before leaving High Class (Into Mischief) in the dust through a :45.11 half. From there it was only a question of how far,...

Mike Ryan's Be Your Best (Ire) (Muharaar {GB}--Kamakura, by Medaglia d'Oro) came out swinging Sunday at Saratoga to garner the 'TDN Rising Star' moniker. Let go at 8-1 among a competitive-looking group of juvenile fillies, the Horacio De Paz trainee sat off the pace early and was hung a bit wide around the first bend. She traveled well down the backside, and caught the eye when making a three-wide move around the home bend into a six-furlong split of 1:14.29. Still going strongly out in the enter of the course...

Juddmonte homebred and 'TDN Rising Star' Artorius (c, 3, Arrogate--Paulassilverlining, by Ghostzapper), a very promising maiden winner second out going a one-turn mile at Belmont June 10, potentially punched his ticket to the GI Runhappy Travers S. Aug. 27 with an eye-catching victory in Friday's Curlin S. at Saratoga. Drawn widest of all in post eight while making his two-turn debut in this 1 1/8-mile affair, the 5-2 chance tucked in to race in a perfect spot in a ground-saving fourth. Locked and loaded beneath Irad Ortiz, Jr. on far...

Kaleem Shah went to $1.8 million to acquire a pair of powerful-looking :9 4/5 breezers from the OBS March 2-Year-Old Sale earlier this spring. Both are expected to be in action this summer at Del Mar. Arman (Bolt d'Oro), a $600,000 OBS March graduate and the first of the highly regarded duo to make the races, debuted with a visually impressive 'TDN Rising Star' performance at Churchill Downs June 23. Named after Shah's son, the bay is being aimed at the GIII Best Pal S. Aug. 14. Shah, ahem, clearly...

Class has told all week so far at the Qatar Goodwood Festival and on Thursday it was the turn of TDN Rising Star Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) to excel in the G1 Qatar Nassau S. Sent off the 6-5 favourite having loped to post like an old hand under Hollie Doyle, Imad Al Sagar's G1 Prix de Diane heroine cruised from rear down the outer to swoop on the front end with a furlong remaining and assert for an ultimately-comfortable 1 3/4-length success from the 40-1 outsider Aristia (Ire) (Starspangledbanner...

There are no bigger stages and brighter lights than Saratoga in the summer, and Blazing Sevens (Good Magic--Trophy Girl, by Warrior's Reward) showcased his razzle-dazzle with aplomb, blitzing a field of well-regarded debuters to loudly proclaim himself worthy of 'TDN Rising Star'-dom. Beating out two others in the race by his freshman sire to become a fifth winner, and the first to get the TDN's stamp of approval, for Good Magic, Blazing Sevens added another layer of sheen to breeder Tracy Farmer's banner last Sunday. In addition to being represented...

Unleashed in the seven-furlong Galway maiden in which Dermot Weld had saddled the winner 14 times since 1990, The Aga Khan's Tahiyra (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) surged to TDN Rising Star status on Tuesday evening with a performance full of Classic promise. Sent off the 7-2 second favourite for the Colm Quinn BMW Irish EBF Fillies Maiden, the February-foaled half-sister to the GI Breeders' Cup Turf, G1 Prix Vermeille and G1 Prix de l'Opera heroine Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal) who was third in this four years ago was always travelling comfortably tracking...