Twilight Gleaming (Ire)

Keeneland's lawn debuted during the 1985 Fall meet in an era when American turf courses were just coming into vogue. According to a back issue of the track's media guide, through 2016 they had two names for their grass course. The Keeneland Course referred to the one with rail up, while the normal configuration with it down was called the Haggin Course. Named for Louis Lee Haggin II, who was not only Keeneland's President from 1940-1956, but the decade before had purchased the 550-acre Sycamore Farm in Woodford County. Serving...

Dual Australian Group 1 winner Coolangatta (Aus) (Written Tycoon {Aus}) is one of the leading runners signed on from foreign climbs for the upcoming Royal Ascot meeting in June. Trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, the G1 Lightning S. heroine is targeting the G1 King's Stand S. David Eustace said, "Coolangatta galloped yesterday and will have her first proper workout next week. She has improved again physically from the Lightning S. and we feel we are ahead of the game in terms of her preparation. "We are stepping into...

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Chez Pierre (Fr) (Mehmas {Ire}) in the GI Maker's Mark Mile S. at Keeneland earlier this month.   Chez Pierre Right At Home In Maker's Mark The ultra-consistent Chez Pierre (Fr) (Mehmas {Ire}) improved his record to six-for-seven with a 3 1/2-length tally in the GI Maker's Mark Mile S. at Keeneland on Apr. 14 (video), defeating hot favourite Modern Games (GB) (Dubawi...

Group 1 winner and young shuttle sire National Defense (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}--Angel Falls {GB}, by Kingmambo) passed away in Australia, Widden Stud reported. The 2016 G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere hero was bred by Ecurie des Monceaux and partners. From five starts, he broke his maiden on debut at Deauville, and was also placed in the G3 Prix des Chenes, prior to his Group 1 win. Kept in training at three by Sun Bloodstock, the Criquette Head trainee was also second in the G3 Prix Djebel. Retired to the Irish...

Stonestreet Stables LLC's 'TDN Rising Star' Twilight Gleaming (Ire) (National Defense {GB}), less fancied than her unbeaten stablemate Averly Jane (Midshipman), out-footed them all early and held the cavalry charge off late to provide both trainer Wesley Ward and Irad Ortiz, Jr. with their third-straight renewal of the GII Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint in its four-year history. European colt Go Bears Go (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}) was a half-length back in second, with another Ward-trained filly Kaufymaker (Jimmy Creed) spicing up the trifecta. Derrynane (Quality Road) came from far...

Stonestreet Stables LLC's 2-year-old filly Twilight Gleaming (Ire) (National Defense {GB}) gained recompense for a defeat in Royal Ascot's G2 Queen Mary S. with a first black-type success in Saturday's Listed Prix de la Vallee d'Auge at Deauville, becoming the first black-type winner for her freshman sire (by Invincible Spirit {Ire}). Saturday, Deauville, France PRIX DE LA VALLEE D'AUGE-Listed, €60,000, Deauville, 8-7, 2yo, 5fT, :58.86, vsf. 1--TWILIGHT GLEAMING (IRE), 123, f, 2, by National Defense (GB) 1st Dam: Thames Pageant (GB), by Dansili (GB) 2nd Dam: Golden Stream (Ire), by...

She has waited long enough, it seems, and the time has finally arrived for the rekindling of Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) at Royal Ascot. Denied outings in the Arc, the Breeders' Cup and the Tattersalls Gold Cup, Ballydoyle's G1 1000 Guineas and G1 Epsom Oaks heroine has everything in her favour at last as the sun beats down on the famed Berkshire strip. Successful in her three 3-year-old starts--which also included the G1 Yorkshire Oaks--by a cumulative margin of 18 1/2 lengths, the chestnut lines up against the colts for...