West Point

Fresh off a spectacular four-timer during the prestigious Royal Ascot meeting, Wathnan Racing--the horse racing operation of the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Al-Thani--saw its blue-and-tan colors cross the line first and second, respectively, in Sunday's Hanshin Stakes by the progressive Cagliostro (Upstart) and Tumbarumba (Oscar Performance), each acquired by Wathnan over the last several months. Placed in last year's GIII Indiana Derby and GIII Smarty Jones S. and fifth in the GIII Oklahoma Derby for a partnership including West Point and David Ingordo, Cagliostro narrowly annexed a two-turn Keeneland...

2nd-BAQ, $100k, Alw, 3yo/up, 1m, post time: 2:06 p.m. EDT The word was out on DONEGAL MOMENTUM (Uncle Mo) for his local debut over six muddy furlongs May 16, and he ran to the money, shooting clear in the stretch to graduate by a whopping 8 1/4 lengths and earning a strong 92 Beyer Speed Figure to become a no-brainer 'TDN Rising Star'. A $375,000 Keeneland September purchase in 2022, the dark bay colt looks to negotiate a mile from the inside gate Thursday afternoon. Javier Castellano has a return...

Cugino has been knocking on the door of a stakes win for Shug McGaughey since breaking his maiden at first asking at Aqueduct last November. In three starts earlier this year, he's been beaten by a length, a neck and a nose to take second in the Colonel Liam S. at Gulfstream in March and the GIII Transylvania S. at Keeneland in April. Caught way back last time out, he still rallied in first-time blinkers to be fourth in the GII American Turf S. on Derby Day last month. Adding...

1st-SA, $65K, MSW, 3yo, 6fT, 4:00 p.m. The partnership of Stonehaven Steading, Talla Racing, West Point Thoroughbreds, Woodford Racing and Charles Sonson went to a sales-topping $2,500,000 at Keeneland September in 2022 to secure METRO (Quality Road). A son of GIII Schuylerville S. third True Feelings, he is a half to SW Feeling Mischief (Into Mischief) and GSP Royal Act (American Pharoah). True Feelings is herself a half to the dam of champion 3-year-old filly Wait A While (Maria's Mon) and this is also the family of dual champion and...

After receiving a seven-day suspension and a $1,000 fine after a horse he trained tested positive for a metabolite of Tramadol, trainer Rusty Arnold went on the offensive. While he did not argue the fact that the horse tested positive, he has said that it is grossly unfair that the HISA/HIWU continues to suspended trainers for minute amounts of drugs that aren't considered performance-enhancing. Advocating for a major change in how these infractions are dealt with, Arnold was this week's guest on the TDN Writers' Room podcast presented by Keeneland....

It was 12 years ago this week that a young bloodstock agent found a mare for one of his first clients, deep in the November Sale at Keeneland. Mesa Fresca (Sky Mesa) had won a Belmont maiden in a light career, and Larkin Armstrong knew her family inside out. In fact, her own bloodlines ran almost parallel to his own, his father being a cousin of her dam's breeder Emory Hamilton. Raised the way he was, Armstrong could not fail to recognize this mare as King Ranch royalty, and was...

A June 1-foaled colt by Into Mischief was the first yearling to cross the seven-figure barrier Wednesday at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale when he fetched $1.1 million from West Point. Bred and consigned by Clearsky Farms, the son of GSW Ever So Clever (Medaglia d'Oro) sold as Hip 521. The mare has had two previous sons by Into Mischief go through the September ring, with her 2020 colt bringing $600,000 from China Horse Club/Gandharvi Racing and her 2021 colt a $400,000 RNA last year. The 2020 colt, now a...

by Jessica Martini & Christina Bossinakis LEXINGTON, KY - With the very first horse through the ring bringing $1.3 million, the second session of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale was off to the races Tuesday and the action didn't slow down throughout the day as the second-to-last offering brought $1.25 million. In between, 13 other yearlings sold for seven figures, including a colt by Into Mischief who brought top price of $3 million from the partnership of Chuck Sonson, West Point Thoroughbreds and Woodford. With eight million-dollar yearlings Monday, the...

2nd-Del Mar, $84,500, Msw, 9-8, 2yo, f, 5fT, :57.22, fm, 1 1/4 lengths. SOHO (f, 2, City of Light--Keri Belle {GSW, $323,140}, by Empire Maker) lacked racing room in the opening jumps and took back to split the field from fifth as Feisty Mitole (Mitole) surged from the inside gate to the lead. Always traveling well, the 4-1 shot took a ground-saving track around the far turn before tipping out to kick for home. Charging past favored Avoir (More Than Ready) and a fading pacesetter, Soho went clear close to...

Chuck Sonson and West Point, L.E.B., agent went to $1 million for Hip 140, a Twirling Candy colt out of Rehearsed (Tapit), the fourth seven-figure yearling to sell in the early stages of Tuesday's second session of the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearling Sale. Lane's End, who stands Twirling Candy, consigned the Feb. 12-foaled colt, a full-brother to SP Chasing Fireflies. The mare is a half-sister to GI Spinaway S. Mani Bhavan (Storm Boot) from the extended family of champion Silken Cat (Storm Cat), dam of WinStar sire Speightstown. Lane's End's W.S....

A son of Quality Road (Hip 97) quickly shot to the head of the class at Keeneland September Monday when bringing $2.5 million from West Point, Woodford Racing and Talla Racing. He was bred and consigned by Stonehaven Steadings, which also sold champion Corniche (Quality Road). Hip 97 is out of GSP True Feelings (Latent Heat), who is also the dam of SW Feeling Mischief (Into Mischief) and GSP Royal Act (American Pharoah).   🌟 @keenelandsales September: WOW! Hip 97, a Quality Road colt consigned by @StonehavenSS, goes to $2.5...

by Jessica Martini & Christie DeBernardis HALLANDALE BEACH, FL - A diverse buying bench vied for a select offering of juveniles during a rapid-fire three hours under the sunshine at the Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Sale Wednesday afternoon. A filly from the first crop of Bolt d'Oro brought the day's highest bid when selling for $1.2 million to Spendthrift Farm. Consigned by Tom McCrocklin, the youngster was one of two to bring seven figures during the auction. Jamie McCalmont, bidding on behalf of Coolmore's M.V. Magnier, went to $1.1 million to acquire...