Belmont

How Spendthrift Got Dornoch: A Q&A With Ned Toffey

It was announced during the telecast of the GI Haskell Stakes that Dornoch (Good Magic) will stand at stud at Spendthrift Farm. Spendthrift General Manager Ned Toffey addresses another big move by his team. TDN: What is it about Dornoch that makes him a good stallion candidate? NT: He's obviously got a great pedigree and he's a very talented horse. We always thought he was a really talented horse. They tried to rate him in the Blue Grass and he got wiped out from the one hole in the Derby....

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The Week In Review: You Still Don't Respect Dornoch? That's Your Problem, Not His

Dornoch (Good Magic) didn't get much respect heading into the GI Belmont Stakes, and his bandwagon wasn't exactly overburdened with supporters after his 17-1 victory over 'TDN Rising Star' Mindframe (Constitution), either. On Saturday at Monmouth Park, bettors let the winner of the third leg of the Triple Crown go as the tepid 3.4-1 third choice in the seven-horse GI Haskell Stakes, believing with 4-5 certainty that a now-more-experienced Mindframe wouldn't, for a second straight race, allow Dornoch to claw back the lead in deep stretch like he did six...

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Gargan Says Dornoch Doing Better Than Ever, Haskell Is Next

There were three different winners of the Triple Crown races and the four Grade I preps leading up to the GI Kentucky Derby were won by still four other horses. That means that as the second half of the 3-year-old season starts in earnest with the July 20 GI Haskell Stakes at Monmouth, the race for the 3-year-old championship is as wide open as possible. Danny Gargan, the trainer of GI Belmont Stakes winner Dornoch (Good Magic), knows that. But Gargan, who has never lacked confidence in his 3-year-old colt,...

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Pletcher Points Fierceness, Mindframe Towards Haskell

Champion 2-year-old colt and 'TDN Rising Star' Fierceness (City of Light) worked a half-mile in :51 flat Friday for trainer Todd Pletcher over the Oklahoma training track at Saratoga in preparation for a start in the GI NYRA Bets Haskell Stakes July 20 at Monmouth Park. Joining the GI Curlin Florida Derby winner on the work tab Friday was Repole Stable and St. Elias Stables recent GII Suburban Stakes winner Crupi (Curlin), who covered a half-mile in :52.85 in company with Talk of the Nation (Quality Road). "Both works were...

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Kiaran McLaughlin to Represent John Velazquez

Jockey agent Kiaran McLaughlin will add jockey John Velazquez to his roster, which already includes Luis Saez, McLaughlin announced Friday on X. . "It came about because Ron (Anderson) has three jockeys and he was only allowed two, so he reached out to me a few days ago and said would you be interested in Johnny," said McLaughlin, reached by the TDN Friday morning. "He said he thought we'd be a good match. After I talked to Luis, I said I said I'd be honored to take him." Saez has...

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Illuminare A First-Out Winner For City Of Light

1st-Saratoga, $100,000, Msw, 6-7, 3yo/up, 7f, 1:22.56, ft, 1 3/4 lengths. ILLUMINARE (c, 3, City of Light--I Still Miss You {MSW, $276,737}, by Majestic Warrior) jumped as the 9-2 third choice and flashed early speed up front before yielding the lead to 27-1 shot Call Bob (Central Banker). Poised right off that rival's flank up the backstretch, the $500,000 Keeneland September grad made his move off the turn, striking the front at the furlong marker and holding a steady advantage to the line to finish 1 3/4 lengths ahead of...

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'Rising Star' Almostgone Rocket Stays Perfect In Jersey Girl

Almostgone Rocket (Into Mischief) made good on a promise of 1-2, leading home a 'TDN Rising Star' exacta as a much-the-best winner of Thursday's Jersey Girl S. at Saratoga. A $250,000 Keeneland September purchase, Almostgone Rocket decimated a field of Oaklawn maidens by nearly a dozen lengths on debut Apr. 5 to become a 'TDN Rising Star', but instead of going for a race like the GII Eight Belles S., for which she would have been well-fancied, opted for a first-level Churchill allowance May 3, and she duly obliged by...

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Nyquist's Studlydoright Upsets Touchy In Tremont

The wagering public had their money on a son of Nyquist, it just happened to be the wrong one. The "other Nyquist", 13-1 longshot Studlydoright, kept his perfect record intact and picked up his first stakes win Thursday taking the Tremont S. on the opening day of the Belmont at Saratoga Racing Festival. A come-from-behind winner in the slop at first asking at Laurel Park, the Maryland-bred Studydoright added an extra furlong of distance Thursday and was one of only three runners in the 8-horse field with any prior experience....

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Friday Insights: Pletcher Has Strong Hand In Friday Action At Saratoga

1st-SAR, $100K, Msw, 3yo/up, 7f, 12:20 p.m. The second day of the Belmont at Saratoga festival continues with a strong opening race featuring China Horse Club homebred TRULLI WARRIOR (Curlin). Dam Alberobello, who CHC purchased as a yearling for $475,000, is related to a trio of 'TDN Rising Stars' in half-sisters MGSW/GISP Jojo Warrior (Pioneerof the Nile) and MSW/GSP J Z Warrior (Harlan's Holiday) along with full-sister GISW A Z Warrior. The 'Rising Star'-quality continues through the family with Jojo Warrior's son Under Oath (Speightstown) and A Z Warrior's daughter...

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Richard Migliore Joins the TDN Writers' Room

It was a first-of-its-kind TDN Writers' Room this week as the crew gathered to discuss the first GI Belmont S. to run at Saratoga Race Course. To get started on their handicapping ahead of a jam-packed weekend of racing at the Spa, the team brought in Green Group Guest of the Week Richard Migliore, an on-air racing analyst for NYRA who will be part of the FOX Sports coverage of the Belmont on Saturday. Calling into the show--which is presented by Keeneland--from the famed picnic tables of Saratoga, Migliore said...

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Richard Migliore Joins the TDN Writers' Room

Richard Migliore, a retired jockey and now a racing analyst for NYRA and Fox Sports, joins this week's TDN Writers' Room to discuss a jam-packed card for Belmont Stakes weekend.

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HRRN To Celebrate 'A.P. Indy Week' In Belmont Lead Up

Horse Racing Radio Network (HRRN) will celebrate 'A.P. Indy Week' in the lead up to Saturday's GI Belmont S. Announced via release Monday, HRRN noted that 'A.P. Indy Week' will run Monday, June 3 through Saturday, June 8 and feature tributes to the 1992 Belmont winner and late Lanes End stallion. Listeners will also hear replays of some of his biggest wins and interviews with some of his connections looking back on his racing career. A Keeneland September Sale topper at $2.9m, A.P. Indy (Seattle Slew) was consigned by Lanes...

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