Tom Amoss

GI Woody Stephens S. winner No Parole (Violence--Plus One, by Bluegrass Cat) was represented by his first foal, produced at Coteau Grove Farms Jan. 9. The colt is out of the Street Sense mare Naive Enough, making him a half-brother to stakes-placed sophomore Tumbarumba (Oscar Peformance), who recently ran second in the Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile S. Dec. 10. The 6-year-old stallion stands in partnership at Carrol Castille's Whispering Oaks Farm in Carencro, Louisiana for $3,500, live foal stands and nurses. "We are so excited obviously as the breeders of...

Hoosier Philly (Into Mischief) ran to her billing and kept her perfect record in tact Saturday, scoring her third straight win at Churchill Downs in the GII Golden Rod S. A debut winner going 5 1/2urlongs at this oval Sept. 25, the $510,000 KEESEP acquisition showed two turns was no problem, charging home to a 7 1/2-length victory in a sloppy renewal of the 1 1/16-mile Rags to Riches S. Oct. 30. She prepped for this with a series of bullet drills and was duly made the 2-5 favorite. Stumbling...

In a couple of tweets posted to his Twitter account Nov. 13, conditioner Tom Amoss announced that his filly Catwings (Cupid) would be disqualified from her maiden-breaking victory June 23 at Horseshoe Indianapolis due to testing 60 parts per trillion above the threshold of 20 parts per trillion for permissible medication. He did not state what the medication in question was but does include that the stewards reduced his suspension from 15 days to seven after they independently recognized it was a possible case of accidental cross-contamination. Catwings won the...

Gold Standard Racing Stable's Hoosier Philly (Into Mischief), a good-looking debut winner sprinting beneath the Twin Spires Sept. 25, wasn't off to the most alert of beginnings in Sunday's $200,000 Rags To Riches S. at Churchill Downs, but the gray sat a cushy inside trip and responded when asked by Edgar Morales to post a facile first stakes success. Off a half-step slowly, the $510,000 Keeneland September graduate nevertheless secured the box-seat trip and raced in close attendance to moderate fractions of :24.08 and :48.38 set by Peacock Lass (American...

Throughout your life, there are people who make it better. In 1964, when I moved to New Orleans to live with my soon-to-be adoptive mother, Marie Krantz, the caretakers of the Old Jefferson Downs were Jimmy and JoAn Stewart. The old Jefferson Downs was the converted Magnolia Park Harness track in Metairie (now Lafreniere Park). Jimmy had retired from race-riding and had a trainer's license with some good clients. It was summer and the camp bus would drop me off at the Caretakers Cottage on the grounds. JoAn would babysit...

Curly Jack became the second graded winner for his freshman sire (by Curlin) with an upset score in the GIII Iroquois S. at Churchill Downs Saturday. Away alertly, the bay raced off the fence in sixth in a tightly bunched pack as 'TDN Rising Star' and second choice in the betting Damon's Mound (Girvin) clocked a :23.53 opening quarter. Favored fellow 'Rising Star' Echo Again (Gun Runner) charged up to confront Damon's Mound as the half went in :47.48. Curly Jack bided his time as the top two knocked heads...

Curly Jack gave his Eclipse-winning young sire Good Magic his first winner with a stylish debut victory at Churchill Downs Thursday afternoon. Given a 4-1 chance, the $180,000 KEESEP acquisition was away without issue from his rail draw and tugged his way up the fence to seize the early advantage, clocking a :22.33 opening quarter. Pressed by Boxster (West Coast) through a :45.62 half-mile, the bay dispatched that foe with ease in the lane, rolling clear to a four-length score. GISP Connie and Michael is also responsible for the SP...

1st-Churchill Downs, $117,143, Msw, 5-27, 2yo, 5f, :58.78, ft, 1 3/4 lengths. OWEN'S LEAP (c, 2, Bolt d'Oro--Defy Gravity {SW, $171,240}, by Bandini) became his freshman sire (by Medaglia d'Oro)'s third winner with a powerful performance here on unveiling. Sent off at 5-2 for the contest, the Tom Amoss trainee stalked the early pace of :22.86 and :46.35 from third, challenged outside through the far turn, and came five wide into the lane to take over in the upper stretch. Kept under strong handling, the $175,000 KEESEP alumnus came home...

The Keeneland September Yearling Sale marched into its second week with continued competitive bidding as the auction's Book 4 section opened Monday in Lexington. "There is unbelievable trade here today," said consignor Peter O'Callaghan of Woods Edge Farm. "There is just a huge crowd up there. And they'd knock you down for a good horse. I'm actually not surprised it's this strong. Not with the way it started and the amount of people who have not yet got to buy horses. It was clear that trickle down effect was going...

3rd-Churchill Downs, $101,886, Msw, 6-20, 2yo, 5f, :58.17, ft, 1 length. OTTOMAN EMPIRE (c, 2, Classic Empire--Seven Stars, by Indygo Shiner) belied 13-1 odds to become the third winner--all under the Twin Spires--for champion juvenile and freshman sire Classic Empire (Pioneerof the Nile), who himself was a first-up graduate here in 2016. Away in midpack between rivals, the bay started to get going heading for home but still had his work cut out for him as James Graham tried to guide him out in the clear. Ottoman Empire leveled off...

10th-Fair Grounds, $50,000, Msw, 1-2, 3yo, 6f, 1:11.06, ft, 2 1/4 lengths. Making his first career trip to the post, DEFEATER (c, 3, Union Rags--Internal Affair, by Orientate) spoiled the debuts of the Godolphin favored entry of Colonel Bowman (Curlin) and Gershwin (Distorted Humor) to take out the Saturday finale at Fair Grounds. A firming proposition to be off as the 8-5 second favorite, the $210,000 Keeneland September yearling graduate raced last but one as Gershwin conducted his business up front. That half-brother to 'TDN Rising Star' Mystic Guide (Ghostzapper)...

Trainer and racing analyst Tom Amoss will be recognized by the Turf Publicists of America (TPA) with the 2020 Big Sport of Turfdom award, presented annually at the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program's annual awards luncheon during the Symposium on Racing & Gaming. With this year's symposium cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Amoss will be jointly recognized next year with the 2021 winner. The Big Sport of Turfdom award honors a person or team who enhances coverage of Thoroughbred racing through cooperation with media and racing publicists....