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71-year-old jockey Perry Ouzts–who just this summer surpassed Russell Baze for the most rides by a jockey in North American racing history–will be honored with the Mr. Fitz Award along with track executive Joe Harper, turf writer Steve Andersen and broadcaster Nick Luck during the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters' 65th Annual Awards Dinner on Wednesday, Oct. 29 in Del Mar, Calif., the NTWAB announced.

The 2025 NTWAB Awards Dinner, which is the organization's only fundraiser, will be held at The Brigantine Del Mar, overlooking nearby Del Mar Racetrack.

Harper will be honored with the Joe Palmer Award for meritorious service to racing, having served as a track executive at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club since 1978, guiding the Southern California track through a period of significant growth.

Andersen is the recipient of the Walter Haight Award for career excellence in turf writing. A longtime news correspondent, Anderson joined the Daily Racing Form in 1994.

Luck, one of international horse racing's most respected and recognizable broadcasters, is the recipient of the Jim McKay Award for broadcast excellence. In the United States, Luck has been a vital presence in American horse racing television for nearly two decades, widely recognized for his analysis and interviewing skills on display during NBC's broadcasts of the Breeders' Cup and Triple Crown.

Tickets for the NTWAB Awards Dinner can be purchased at the NTWAB website here. Tickets are $85 for NTWAB members and Breeders' Cup credentialed media and $115 for non-members and guests.

The post NTWAB To Honor Jockey Perry Ouzts And Others At 2025 Awards Dinner appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Snow Face Princess sold for $775,000 to Winchell Thoroughbreds to top the sale. The 2-year-old Midshipman filly was offered as a racing/broodmare prospect by Claiborne Farm, agent. She has a record of 2 wins from 3 starts to date.

Team Valor International and Steven Rocco's Special Wan, most recently third in the Just a Game Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course, should be among the favorites in the $2 million Ladies Turf Stakes (G3T) Aug. 30 at Kentucky Downs.

.@EllisParkRacing closed its 25-day summer season Aug. 24 on a high note, generating $77 million in all-sources handle, a 6% increase over last year's record.

Maiden Watch: Week of Aug. 18-Aug. 24

New research suggests that, among foals studied in the United Kingdom, those given extensive turnout in pastures during their first six months of life and those weaned later are more likely to go on to race, compete more frequently, and earn more.

An arbitration panel has sanctioned a veterinarian based at Los Alamitos Race Course over a pair of anti-doping violations for possession of two banned substances in July 2024, suspending Dr. Larry Overly for nearly two years.

Buyers were busy kicking up a dust cloud in the stable yards at the Doncaster complex Aug. 26 as inspections reached a peak ahead of Goffs Premier Yearling Sale, held Aug. 27-28.

The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame will release The Racetracks of America: From the Pre-Civil War Days to the 21st Century, a 440-page coffee table book chronicling the rich history of America's iconic racetracks Aug. 30.

After winning the first grade 1 in Kentucky Downs history with Howard Wolowitz last season, trainer Jose D'Angelo is back looking for more success in the lucrative seven-day meet that begins Aug. 28.

The NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll largely remains unchanged following last week's racing action, with Godolphin's Sovereignty maintaining his first-place position following his 10-length romp in the Aug. 23 Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course.

The Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Program announced Aug. 26 the recipients of its two non-competition awards, the T.I.P. Thoroughbred of the Year Award and the T.I.P. Young Rider of the Year Award, for 2025.

71-year-old riding legend Perry Ouzts will be honored along with track executive Joe Harper, turf writer Steve Andersen, and broadcaster Nick Luck during the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters' 65th Annual Awards Dinner Oct. 29 in Del Mar, Calif.

GRAND PRAIRIE, TX – With a winning virtual bid of $95,000 a Louisiana-bred colt by Red River Farms sire Aurelius Maximus topped the Texas Thoroughbred Association's (TTA) single-session Summer Yearling Sale at Lone Star Park's Mary Ruyle Thoroughbred Pavilion on Tuesday, Aug. 26.

During the sale, which included Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana-bred yearlings, 181 grossed $2,892,600 for an average of $15,981, a median of $7,500 and 53 were listed as not sold.

With a larger catalogue this year, the gross increased from a year ago when 143 yearlings sold for $2,686,000. Those figures also represented a decrease from 2023 when 175 head sold for $3,240,000.

“We want to thank our consignors who really showed up in force, and the crowd we had on Monday was equally strong as the one today,” said Foster Bridewell, director of horse sales for the TTA. “We had some new faces here this year, which was very gratifying to see. I thought our quality offerings came through well, and the sales topper certainly drew attention all week.”

Mallory Consigns Texas Topper
Bred by Jim Montgomery, Natalie Montgomery & Jay Adcock, the colt that led the TTA Sale (hip 130) initially went to PRP Bloodstock for $50,000 during the 2025 OBS Winter Sale before he RNA'd for $70,000 at the Fasig-Tipton July Sale. Out of SP Too Much to Bear (Too Much Bling), the bay is one of six foals, four of whom have raced and his dam has a pair of winners, plus she handed this topper a full-brother in the spring. Too Much to Bear is a half-sister to MSW I'm a Bear (Touch Tone).

Scott Mallory, agent, consigned the colt, which was purchased online by Charles Allen.

“They tried this colt in July, but that's kinda a tough sale especially because this is an Aurelius Maximus,” said Mallory. “Not a ton of people know who that is. He's a Louisiana stallion with a $2,000 stud fee, but he throws some beautiful babies. I had two of them in the sale. But that colt had a big walk on him and everybody that saw him, liked him. It's the walk.”

The second highest price at the auction was a filly by Yaupon (hip 188), consigned by Colin Brennan Bloodstock at Highlander Training Center, agent. The Arkansas-bred was purchased at the sale for $87,000 by OCL (Abdul-Keer Okab).

After the yearling sale a mixed session capped the day.

Click here for complete sales results.

The post Aurelius Maximus Colt Leads Texas Yearling Sale As Topper appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Recent Bolton Landing Stakes winner and two-for-three 2-year-old filly Snow Face Princess (Midshipman) topped Fasig-Tipton's August Digital Sale Tuesday when selling for $775,000 to Winchell Thoroughbreds. The sale closed with 154 horses sold for $4,886,500, averaging $31,730 with a clearance rate of 81%.

Sold as hip 39, Snow Face Princess was offered as a racing/broodmare prospect and was consigned by Claiborne Farm, agent.

Another highlight of the August Digital Sale was the Turning Point Bloodstock-consigned Ascot Walk (Daaher). Selling for $550,000 to Erdenheim Farm Thoroughbreds and offered as hip 1, Ascot Walk is in foal to Cody's Wish. All three of her foals to race are stakes performers, including SW Drexel Hill (Bolt d'Oro), runner-up in this year's GI Kentucky Oaks.

“We are very grateful to the buyers for supporting the sale and the sellers for entrusting us with their horses,” said Fasig-Tipton's Director of Digital Sales Leif Aaron. “The sale today was fantastic and a great way for us to end the summer digital sales season. The outlook for the fall digital sales is already very strong and we are gearing up for a big October and December. Demand this week was strong from the top of the market all the way down. What a great day for Bill Johnson and his team capitalizing on multiple big updates with their super mare Ascot Walk. Also thankful to Claiborne for consigning the very exciting Snow Face Princess to the sale.”

The August Digital Sale offered horses of racing age, racing/broodmare prospects, breeding stock, yearlings, and a stallion prospect. Click here to see full results.

Fasig-Tipton's next digital sale will be the October Digital Sale, to be held Oct. 2-7. Entries will close Sept. 22.

The post Saratoga 2YO SW Snow Face Princess Tops Fasig-Tipton’s August Digital Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

With eight entered for the 35th renewal of Saturday's GI Pacific Classic at Del Mar, a stellar matchup is anticipated with GI Preakness Stakes and GI Haskell Stakes winner Journalism (Curlin) set to take on his elders for the first time. Among those he'll face are 'TDN Rising Star' Nysos (Nyquist), who exited a win in the July 26 GII San Diego Handicap with a five-for-six record, and 'TDN Rising Star' Fierceness (City of Light), the 2023 Eclipse champion 2-year-old colt and a triple Grade I winner. The 10-furlong Pacific Classic is a 'Win & You're In' race for the Nov. 1 GI Breeders' Cup Classic, which will also be held at Del Mar.

Del Mar's morning-line maker John Lies installed Nysos as the slight favorite at 8-5 with Journalism just a tick behind him at 9-5. He put East Coast shipper Fierceness at 3-1.

The eight-horse field, with riders and morning-line odds follow:

1). Fierceness, John Velazquez, 3-1

2). Midnight Mammoth (Midnight Lute), Armando Ayuso, 12-1

3). Ultimate Gamble (Medaglia d'Oro), Kazushi Kimura, 20-1

4). Nysos, Flavien Prat, 8-5

5). Indispensable (Constitution), Paco Lopez, 15-1

6). Journalism, Umberto Rispoli, 9-5

7). Lure Him In (Khozan), Edwin Gonzalez, 20-1

8). Tarantino (Pioneerof the Nile), Edwin Madonado, 20-1

The post position draw for the Pacific Classic was held Tuesday evening at The Brigantine Restaurant near the seaside oval. The Pacific Classic will be run as race 10 Saturday on an 11-race card that also features another four graded races with first post at 1:30 p.m. PT.

The post Journalism Gets Post Six for Pacific Classic, Nysos Slightly Favored in Post Four appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Trainer Edgar Coto secured his first victory as a conditioner with his first starter Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

Sending out My Rich Uncle (Uncle Chuck) in the second race, a $35,000 maiden claimer, Coto is also the owner of the 2-year-old Florida-bred. He graduated in the race by 1 3/4 lengths with Jose Morelos in the irons.

“It feels great to win my first race with my first starter,” Coto said, who also claimed his first two victories as an owner last year at the venue. “I was working for Mary Lightner in Ocala [who saddled Coto-owned Imperiously to those aforementioned two victories], but now I am doing everything myself.”

Coto has four horses in training at Gulfstream Park, one of which was a homebred who was formerly saddled by Lightner for a third-place finish May 22.

The post Edgar Coto Saddles First Winner with First Starter at Gulfstream appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.–Big Dom's (McKinzie) gritty neck victory at Saratoga Race Course Saturday included a couple of noteworthy angles that had absolutely nothing to do with the running of the sixth race.

Like his name. And his training partner.

It took a strong performance from the Greenwell Thoroughbreds colt to edge Dr. Kapur (McKinzie) after they battled through the stretch. With Jose Ortiz aboard, the first-time starter completed the six-furlong $100,000 maiden special weight for 2-year-olds in 1:09.47 and paid $8.50.

First, the name.

Philadelphia Eagles fans know well the story of Dominic DiSandro, the team's security official who was fined by the NFL in 2023 for getting into a sideline scuffle with Dre Greenlaw of the 49ers. Both were ejected and DiSandro was not allowed to be on the sidelines for the rest of the season. Trainer Tom Amoss said that Greenwell owner Greg Tramontin met DiSandro, well-known as “Big Dom.”

“They spent an evening together and had a great time, and he told Dominic, 'I'm going to name a horse after you,'” Amoss said. “Dominic called and said, 'I can't make this race, but I'm making the next one.'”

Now, the training partner.

“I think the most interesting fact about him is that he has been the work partner for It's Our Time (Not This Time), who won very impressively last week,” Amoss said.

Impressively is a bit of an understatement. 'TDN Rising Star' It's Our Time broke his maiden in a 6 1/2-furlong contest by 17 3/4 lengths on Aug. 16 for new Amoss clients Double Down Horse Racing.

“He never out-worked It's Our Time, but he always stayed with him,” Amoss said. “We had some high hopes today going in, and I think the tote board reflected it.  It was one of those races where it looked like everybody kind of knew he'd been working well, but sometimes translating that to the afternoon doesn't always work. We saw it early with a filly I ran named Bet the Gray, who also prepared very well and didn't get it done. There's just a lot going on with these young horses where they debut, but he handled everything really well, didn't he?”

While Dr. Kapur was in front through split times of :22.64 and :45.58, Big Dom was never more than a length behind. Ortiz swung him four-wide into the stretch and he pulled even with Dr. Kapur by the eighth pole.

Amoss said the morning works with the stablemate had him ready for the battle with the very game rival.

“Everything's about fitness, right?,” Amoss said. “You can be talented, but if you're not fit you ain't getting it done. I do think that having him in those kind of works prepared him to run a sub 1:10 time today, which is what it took.”

Although only one of the starters had competed before making it difficult to handicap, Amoss said the race developed as he had hoped.

“I thought we'd be prominent, “Amoss said, “and I liked what I saw turning for home. Jose hadn't called upon our horse yet, but what I didn't realize is that our competition also had something left. It was a beautiful race. You can say that when you win. If you lose, it's not so beautiful, but it was a really fun race to watch and win.”

Amoss said he picked out Big Dom for Tramontin, his long-time client, at Keeneland last year. Tramontin purchased Siena Farm and renamed it and his stable Greenwell to honor his late biological father. Amoss said the colt out of the Pulpit mare Half A. P. has flourished at Saratoga this summer.

“He's always been imposing,” Amoss said. “He's a big, imposing kind of horse, and he has the look. But one of the things that has changed with him is his brightness of coat. He's really gotten shiny and gotten some dapples. I knew coming in today, whatever it was going to be, I thought we'd get his best effort.”

The post Saratoga Maidens, Presented By Keeneland: Greenwell’s Big Dom Ekes Out Thrilling Maiden Win appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Though he was well aware of her pedigree, trainer Brad Cox said he didn't need a piece of paper to help him forecast Fille d'Oro's (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) future.

“She didn't show us much on the dirt at Keeneland when she came in,” Cox said. “She struggled a little bit on the dirt. We transferred her over to the synthetic and she really improved. Then we breezed her up here on the turf last week and she was really nice, a really good move.”

In her debut Friday at Saratoga Race Course, Gregory Hoffman's filly competed like she trained. In a stalk-and-pounce performance, she won the sixth race, a $100,000 maiden special weight for 2-year-old fillies, by a 11/2 lengths over Celebrity Warrior (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}). Under jockey Manny Franco, Fille d'Oro completed the 1 1/16 miles over the inner turf course in 1:42.48 and paid $13.80.

“She stepped up big-time today,” Cox said.

Cox said that Clay Scherer purchased Fille d'Oro at the 2024 Arqana Deauville August sale.

“Obviously, she's got a nice pedigree,” Cox said. “She's a Juddmonte family. Mandaloun (Into Mischief) is in there. That was something that, I think, caught Clay's eye at the sale as a yearling. When he bought her, he immediately sent her pedigree and I thought, 'Well, that's kind of cool.'”

Cox said he believe Fille d'Oro is the first horse by Wootton Bassett he has handled in his career.

Fille d'Oro spent most of the past two months at Turfway Park in Kentucky prepping for her first start. The pivotal breeze at Saratoga took place on Aug. 15 when she covered a half-mile on the turf course on the Oklahoma training track. She was caught in :50.41, the 41st of the 57 times that morning.

“It was like, 'We probably better enter her off that work,'” Cox said. “She had a couple gate works. We knew she was quick enough out of the gate, and Manny did a great job of getting her to settle going into the first turn, and saving ground. He could easily have been caught three-wide going into that first turn. He gave her a good, smart ride.”

Leaving from Post 7 in the field of eight, Franco soon had Fille d'Oro near the hedge, where she sat until the eighth pole. They followed Celebrity Warrior as she made her move to overtake pacesetter Curly Q Girl, snatched the lead by the sixteenth pole and faced no challenges in the final 100 yards.

Fille d'Oro is likely headed to a stakes test in her next outing, Cox said, possibly the $400,000 GII Jessamine Stakes Oct. 3 at Keeneland.

Fille d'Oro has proven to be a good communicator. After telling Cox that, for sure, she wasn't a dirt horse, she signalled that she was ready for the big stage at Saratoga with her breeze.

“I expected a nice effort,” Cox said. “That still doesn't mean you're going to win, but I expected her to run well and she did. We didn't have to win for her to run well, but I expected her to step up and run big today.”

The post Saratoga Maidens, presented by Keeneland: Fille d’Oro Launches Career with Solid Spa MSW Turf Score appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

There really isn't a whole lot that trainer Bill Mott has left to accomplish in the Thoroughbred business.

Since recording his first graded stakes victory with Heatherten–who also gave him his first Grade I success–for owner John Franks some 41 years ago, the 72-year-old has saddled the winners of over 150 top-level contests with superstars of either sex, such as Taylor's Special, Theatrical (Ire), Paradise Creek, Fraise, legendary dual Horse of the Year Cigar, Ajina, Escena, Wekiva Springs, Favorite Trick, Dream Supreme and her son Majestic Warrior, Drosselmeyer, To Honor and Serve, Royal Delta, Close Hatches, Lea, Yoshida (Jpn), Country House, War Like Goddess, Elite Power, Speaker's Corner and his most recent HOTY, Cody's Wish. And the list goes on.

He's prepared  those top-class runners for such prominent owners as Allen Paulson, Bert and Diana Firestone, Don Dizney, Kinsman Farm, WinStar Farm, Claiborne Farm, Joe Shields, Jr. and partners, Charlotte Weber, George Krikorian, Juddmonte and Godolphin, to name just a handful.

In the twilight of his Hall of Fame career, it is Sheikh Mohammed's far-flung operation that has provided the South Dakota native with the third and fourth Classic victories this season, and Sovereignty (Into Mischief) can tick off what is to this point an unchecked box with a victory in Saturday's $1.25-million GI DraftKings Travers Stakes at Saratoga.

Mott has sent out the Travers runner-up three times, including Close Hatches's son Tacitus (Tapit) back in 2019, but he's never hoisted the trophy. Not yet, in any event.

“Tacitus was my best shot [in 2019, won by Code of Honor, Tacitus was second as the favorite],” Mott told TDN's Tim Wilkin earlier this week. “He was the livest horse I had coming in.

“My chances keep getting better and better,” he continiued. “We were second with Vision and Verse [beaten 3/4 of a length behind Lemon Drop Kid in 1999], that was a long time ago. But I would like to do it.”

Just four have signed up to face the son of Crowned (Bernardini), who beat favored Journalism (Curlin) fair and square when ridiculously nearly 8-1 in the GI Kentucky Derby in May, then skipped the GI Preakness Stakes to prepare for the GI Belmont Stakes over Saturday's course and distance on June 7. Incredibly not favored on that occasion, he posted yet another decisive victory while racing much handier to the speed and repeated the dose in the July 26 GII Jim Dandy Stakes, running away from Derby and Belmont third Baeza (McKinzie) to consolidate his spot at the head of this year's 3-year-old class.

Still, his experience dictates that Mott takes absolutely nothing for granted.

“His record, people have watched him, it's in black and white what he's done,” Mott said. “But by the same token, they've got to go around there. They need to do it in the afternoon. It is not a done deal, that is why they are going to run the race.”

A Winchell Thoroughbreds-owned and Steve Asmussen-trained son of Not This Time named Epicenter won the 2022 Travers, and the same connections team with the progressive Magnitude (Not This Time), who has a puncher's chance to pull the Travers upset as the potential controlling speed at the 'Graveyard of Champions.'

Practically out of nowhere, the $450,000 Keeneland September purchase overcame gate 12 of 12 to win February's GII Risen Star Stakes by nearly 10 lengths (108 Beyer), but was ruled off the Triple Crown trail due to injury about 48 hours later. Nursed back to health, the bay thumped five overmatched foes by 9 1/4 lengths in the July 5 Iowa Derby (Beyer 105) and if those races are not aberrations, he could give Team Sovereignty something to think about.

Magnitude and Carlos Rosas work through the Saratoga fog on Aug. 17 | Sarah Andrew

“We thought that was the perfect race back,” said Scott Blasi, assistant trainer to Asmussen. “He ran good figures once again. We wanted to give him plenty of time between that race and the Travers, which we've pointed to. We have to run against a [potential] champion, and that is never an easy task, but hopefully we are doing as good as we can, physically, and get the job done.”

Chad Brown has yet to win the Travers in a career that will eventually land him in the Hall of Fame across Union Avenue from the track. Strategic Focus (Gun Runner) was named a 'TDN Rising Star' when running home powerfully to graduate versus older rivals going the one-turn mile at Aqueduct Apr. 19, then was somewhat controversially DQd from an apparent first-level allowance victory here on June 6. When last seen in the restricted Curlin Stakes July 24, the chestnut led late but was run down by 'Rising Star' Chancer McPatrick (McKinzie) and settled for third. The blinkers go on this afternoon, a 30% move for the barn, but he nevertheless needs to find several lengths of improvement to trouble the top two.

“I've heard this complaint about him when he makes the lead from two different jockeys, so we'll try a little blinker on him,” Brown said. “He should have a good target to run at in Asmussen's horse–one he very well might not even get by. It's not like he's going to make the lead early on that horse–that's a good horse.”

Chancer McPatrick shortens up for the GI H. Allen Jerkens Stakes earlier on the card.

A victory from either McAfee (Cloud Computing)–the year-younger half-brother to Horse of the Year and GI Personal Ensign Stakes hopeful Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna)–or Bracket Buster (Vekoma) would represent an upset of near-unprecedented proportions.

Stars Come Out To Play On The Undercard

The Travers is supported by an additional five graded stakes, four of those at Grade I level.

Sophomore sprinters are in the spotlight in the Jerkens, which could well be settled by a trio of 'TDN Rising Stars'. CHC Inc. and WinStar Farm's Patch Adams (Into Mischief) failed to shine when tried around two turns early this season, finishing fourth in the GIII Southwest Stakes and GIII Tampa Bay Derby, but he is only once-beaten at sprint trips, including a 2 1/4-length defeat of the re-opposing Madaket Road (Quality Road) in the GI Woody Stephens Stakes on Belmont Day.

“He's a one-turn horse. He showed Belmont Week that he's a Grade I horse,” trainer Brad Cox said. “We always thought he was a Grade I talent and he's training like he's ready to put in a big effort. We're excited about him.”

Patch Adams Thursday morning | Sarah Andrew

Verifire (Authentic) galloped to 'Rising Star' honors on Colonial debut during their March meeting and has since added two more convincing victories, a 6 1/2-length allowance score at Pimlico on Black-Eyed Susan day May 16 and the June 29 Maxfield Stakes at Churchill, where he had next-out GII Amsterdam Stakes hero Smoken Wicked (Bobby's Wicked One) and Captain Cook (Practical Joke) in second and third, respectively.

“Both are doing great–they breezed from the gate last week and are set up for big runs,” Cox said of Patch Adams and Verifire. “It's going to be a good, deep race from top to bottom, and I think they both fit very well.”

As mentioned above, 'TDN Rising Star' Chancer McPatrick cuts back for the Jerkens, but was soundly defeated with no apparent alibi in the Woody Stephens. Madaket Road is joined by his Bob Baffert stablemates Barnes (Into Mischief) and the unexposed Midland Money (Shancelot), unbeaten in two starts and a 3 1/4-length allowance winner versus older here Aug. 3.

Round four of the head-to-head battle between Book'em Danno (Bucchero) and Mullikin (Violence) is set for the GI Forego Stakes, a 'Win and You're In' Challenge event for the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.

An argument can be made that the New Jersey-bred Book'em Danno is the best sprinter currently in training, as he convincingly defeated Mullikin–victorious here last August–in a sloppy renewal of the GIII True North Stakes on June 7 and again in the GII A.G. Vanderbilt Stakes July 19. His most recently piece of work does not appear in his past performances, but trainer Derek Ryan says the gelding is ready for the task.

“We blew him out three-eighths out of the gate to sharpen him up. He's good to go,” Ryan said. “He likes the distance; he likes the track. He'd been training awfully good, and he seems to run for [jockey] Paco [Lopez]. He's 3-for-4 at Saratoga now. I just want them to get position and go from there.”

Book'em Danno Friday morning | Sarah Andrew

Most Wanted (Candy Ride {Arg}), winner of last year's GIII Oklahoma Derby, is an intriguing fresh face and the half-brother to 'Rising Star' Life Is Good (Into Mischief) returns to this seven-furlong trip for the first time since winning his maiden by a neck at first asking last June.

Thorpedo Anna is clearly the headliner in the GI Personal Ensign Stakes, a 'Win and You're In' for the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff, but she has looked vulnerable at times this season and may have to improve to take her local record to three-from-four, having just been defeated in last year's Travers.

“She's ultra-consistent. She loves her work, she's very happy in Saratoga, and has been for a long time,” trainer Ken McPeek said. “As always, she's been a pleasure to be around. She's doing great.”

Raging Sea (Curlin) took down the colors of champion Idiomatic (Curlin) in this race 12 months ago, but she has also been in suspect form, including a third to 'TDN Rising Star' Leslie's Rose (Into Mischief) in the GII Shuvee Stakes July 18. Fourth after a troubled start last year, Randomized (Nyquist) wired the field in the GIII Molly Pitcher Stakes last time and has speed to lead, but loses Flavien Prat to the defending champ.

Speaking of Close Hatches again, her 'TDN Rising Star' daughter Scylla (Tapit) is the 5-2 morning-line favorite in what feels a very open renewal of the GI Ballerina Stakes given the absence–via illness–of 'TDN Rising Star' Ways and Means (Practical Joke). A guaranteed berth in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint is on the line.

Though she is a two-time graded winner going long, the homebred has never been able to get over the hump at the graded level around one turn, including a runner-up effort in this event last summer and a latest third to Halina's Forte (Mitole) in the GII Honorable Miss Stakes July 20. Hope Road (Quality Road), a daughter of 2018 Ballerina heroine Marley's Freedom (Blame), ran races in defeat to Kopion (Omaha Beach) in the GII Santa Monica Stakes and GI Derby City Distaff that would win this, but she was very disappointing when only third in the GIII Winning Colors Stakes May 26. Brightwork (Outwork) is three-for-three at the Spa, but is winless since a narrow victory in the GIII Prioress Stakes just under a year ago.

Minnesota-bred Play With Fire (Oscar Performance) is the 2-1 favorite to give Chad Brown his fifth straight win in the GII Lake Placid Stakes, but she certainly does not lay over a field that includes GSW & GISP May Day Ready (Tapit) and Eponine (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}), Group 2-placed in France this season and having her first start for Repole Stable.

Thorpedo Anna | Sarah Andrew

Plenty To Play For In Pat O'Brien

With horses returning off extended layoffs and class horses cutting back in distance, Saturday's GII Pat O'Brien Stakes, which offers the winner an all-expenses-paid trip to the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, is a true handicapping puzzle.

Stronghold (Ghostzapper) won the 2024 GI Santa Anita Derby and was runner-up in his final three starts as a 3-year-old, including the GI Pennsylvania Derby last September and when behind future G2 Godolphin Mile and GI Hill 'n' Dale Met Mile hero Raging Torrent (Maximus Mischief) in the GI Malibu Stakes going this seven-furlong distance Dec. 26. The homebred has just one start since, a distant 10th in the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes back on Jan. 25.

Express Train (Union Rags), runner-up to Charlatan (Speightstown) in the 2020 Malibu and winner of the GI Santa Anita Handicap in 2022, makes just the fifth start of his career around one turn in the O'Brien and first since finishing third to The Chosen Vron (Vronsky) in the 2024 Kona Gold Stakes. He drops in trip off a well-beaten fifth to 'TDN Rising Star' and GI Pacific Classic-bound Nysos (Nyquist) in the GII San Diego Handicap July 26.

Bob Baffert won the Pat O'Brien for the first time a quarter-century ago with Love That Red and has sent out the winner seven times since. The fleet-footed Speed Boat Beach (Bayern), who earned a 104 Beyer when graduating at first asking over this track in 2022, took out the 2023 Malibu and was not seen again until the May 1 St. Mathews Overnight Stakes at Churchill, when eased home for all intents and purposes. Juan Hernandez ends up there, while Kazushi Kimura is named on 'TDN Rising Star' Maymun (Frosted), a 7 1/2-length maiden winner at first asking in January 2024 and unraced since a battling neck success going a mile at Santa Anita the following month.

Dr. Venkman (Ghostzapper) was fractionally unlucky when finishing runner-up in the GIII Kelly's Landing Stakes at Churchill June 28, but there were no apparent excuses in his last, an even fourth in the GI Bing Crosby Stakes here on July 26. With Antonio Fresu sticking with Stronghold, fellow Italian Umberto Rispoli picks up the ride.

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