Malibu Moon

Salute the Stars continued his rise through the ranks here with a determined victory in the Pegasus S. at Monmouth Park. Coming into the race riding a two race win-streak which began when he wrapped his juvenile season with a victory against maidens at Ellis on the grass, he moved from John Ortiz to Brad Cox before his seasonal bow last out May 14 in an off-turf allowance. Winning there by a neck, he was made the 5-2 second choice behind Kingsbarns, who was reappearing for the first time since...

4th-Belmont, $90,000, Msw, 5-28, 3yo/up, f/m, 7f, 1:25.06, ft, neck. VIRTUAL REALITY (f, 3, Cloud Computing--Miss Malibu Style, by Malibu Moon) had been on the work tab religiously since the middle of February, and put it all together here at first asking, finishing best of the inexperienced runners in the field. Breaking inward at the jump, Manny Franco was able to correct her but wound up three wide before jostling with eventual third-place finisher Ms. Solveig (Bernardini) as that one steadily inched closer to the rail. The bumper cars came...

In this continuing series, Alan Carasso takes a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this weekend running for the grand re-opening of Kyoto Racecourse and Tokyo Racecourses as Group 1 racing takes the week off: Saturday, April 22, 2023 6th-TOK, ¥14,880,000 ($111k), Allowance, 3yo, 1600m PARAIBA TOURMALINE (f, 3, Malibu Moon--Private Jet, by Private Feeling) opened her...

Since 2004, we've shined the spotlight on over 1,500 'TDN Rising Stars' worldwide, recognition given to a horse early on its career who has done something so impressive on the racetrack that our team believes they will go on to become graded stakes winners.  A horse is designated as a 'Rising Star' by the TDN staff after a careful and comprehensive review of many factors--including the quality of the field, margin and time of victory, pedigree, sales price and more. Over the years, it has become a badge of honor...

5th-AQU, $85k, Msw, 2yo, f, 6 1/2f, 1:46p.m. ET Purchased for an eye-catching $825,000 from KEESEP by Mike Ryan for CHP Racing, MODERN LOVE (Curlin) will look to justify that price here against a well-connected field of maidens. The half-sister to GISW Competitionofideas (Speightstown) hails from a winning family line--the second and third dams claim 17 winners immediately beneath them, combined, and six with black-type. Her Chad Brown-trained stablemate Ana's Gun (Gun Runner) will also carry a flashy pedigree in her maiden voyage; being the half sister to GI Breeders'...

In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this Sunday entered to run on Tenno Sho day at Tokyo and at Hanshin Racecourse: Sunday, October 30, 2022 4th-HSN, ¥13,400,000 ($91k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1200mT META MAX (c, 2, Into Mischief--Zapara, by Not For Love) was purchased by Eddie Woods's Quarter Pole Enterprises for...

Editor's note: In just under two weeks, Spendthrift Farm will officially open its B. Wayne Hughes Visitors Center in honor of its late founder. The two-story visitors center will offer a trophy room, gift shop, and help to enhance tourists' visits to the farm. A bronze statue of the late Malibu Moon will greet guests as they arrive. The sculptor responsible for the bronze, Douwe Blumberg, gave the TDN a behind-the-scenes look at how the sculpture came together. My professional sculpting career began over 30 years ago, following an 18-year...

Spendthrift Farm has erected its new Malibu Moon memorial statue that will serve as the centerpiece at the front of the B. Wayne Hughes Visitors Center, which is set to officially open Nov. 1 during Breeders' Cup week. "The B. Wayne Hughes Visitors Center has really come together, and the addition of the Malibu Moon statue in front is a special highlight that we are all very proud to see go up," said Ned Toffey, Spendthrift General Manager. "We look forward to unveiling the visitors center Breeders' Cup week as...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 2nd-SAR, $105K, Msw, 2yo, f, 5 1/2fT, 1:39 p.m. Making her first start Thursday for trainer Wesley Ward, PLAYLIST (Uncle Mo) was a $400,000 KEESEP yearling purchase for Coolmore's M. V. Magnier. Out of the GISP Bon Jovi Girl (Malibu Moon), herself a half-sister to champion older horse & sire Gio Ponti (Tale of the Cat) and a $950,000 pick up for Denali Stud from the 2010 Keeneland January Horses of all Ages Sale, Playlist is a half-sister to GSW You're To Blame (Distorted Humor)....

2nd-Saratoga, $105,000, Msw, 8-14, 2yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 1:43.18, fm, 1 3/4 lengths. MOMA (f, 2, Uncle Mo--Discreet Moon {GB}, by Malibu Moon) muscled her way between horses like a seasoned runner to kick clear for conditioner Todd Pletcher and owner/breeders Wertheimer and Frere. Squeezed slightly at the break when rivals came in on her, she tracked contentedly from the rear of the field with only two others beaten going into the first turn. Saving ground as pacesetters put up :23.56 and :48.35 fractions up the backstretch, she cut the...

6th-Santa Anita, $67,500, Msw, 3-27, 3yo/up, 1m, 1:37.99, ft, 7 1/2 lengths. SET SAIL (c, 3, Malibu Moon--Fleet of Gold {SP, $109,892}, by Medaglia d'Oro) was third on debut Feb. 26 in a seven panel maiden over Santa Anita's main track after altering course early and losing second by 1 1/4 lengths. Trying a mile here, the bay Mandella trainee broke on top and never looked back, coasting home much the best by 7 1/2 lengths as the 2-1 second choice over One More Bid (California Chrome). Q B One...

H P Moon (Malibu Moon), controversially scratched at the gate due to a horse identification issue out of an intended debut at Saratoga July 31, proved well worth the wait with this jaw-dropping Pimlico unveiling against five overmatched rivals. Working a steady diet of bullet drills at trainer Lacey Gaudet's Delaware base, including a four-furlong move in :47 (1/63) Aug. 14, the 2-5 choice took control from his rail draw and was pressed through an opening quarter in :23.10. He began to shake clear approaching the quarter pole, and put...