Mandy Pope

The unraced 3-year-old filly America's Joy (American Pharoah), a half-sister to Into Mischief (Harlan's Holiday), Beholder (Henny Hughes) and Mendelssohn (Scat Daddy), out of the 2016 Broodmare of the year Leslie's Lady suffered a fatal injury Sunday morning during a workout at Saratoga, according to Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm. Pope purchased the filly for a record $8.2 million at the 2019 Keeneland September sale. The news was a severe blow to her connections, who were anxiously awaiting the debut of a filly who appeared to have unlimited potential. Trainer...

6th-GP, $55K, Msw, 3yo, f, 7f, 2:37 p.m. ET PERFECT GRACE (Tapit), a 3-year-old daughter of 2011 Horse of the Year and champion older mare Havre de Grace (Saint Liam), kicks off her career for trainer Ralph Nicks. The Whisper Hill Farm homebred, given a 6-1 chance on the morning line, is drawn widest of all in post seven with Emisael Jaramillo aboard. Mandy Pope's operation went to $10 million to acquire Havre de Grace at the 2012 FTKNOV sale. TJCIS PPs

A Medaglia d'Oro half-sister to leading second-crop sire and MGISW Constitution (Tapit) was the first to reach the seven-figure threshold during Sunday's opening session of the Keeneland September sale when garnering a top bid of $1.1 million from Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm. Consigned by Denali Stud, Agent LIX as hip 58, the Mar. 21 foal was bred in a partnership between Bridlewood Farm and Don Alberto Corp. The powerful co-breeders paid a sale-topping $3.5 million for group-placed dam Baffled (Distorted Humor) in foal to Tapit at the 2016 Fasig-Tipton...

Vanishing Point (Tapit), a full-brother to two-time Eclipse Award and three-time Grade I winner Unique Bella, was very green, but very good in his racecourse debut Sunday afternoon at Sapporo Racecourse, leading every step of the way en route to a seven-length tally. The mount of perennial leading jockey Christophe Lemaire, the son of GI Breeders' Cup Ladies' Distaff heroine Unrivaled Belle (Unbridled's Song) jumped alertly from the widest gate in the field of seven and was switching back and forth across his leads while establishing the front passing under...

In the front field of Timber Town Stables along Lexington's Leestown Road, a quiet gray grazes contentedly while keeping a close eye on her two-month-old foal napping nearby. The mare takes a step towards you when approached, but the foal remains in a deep slumber, her four limbs stretched out in all different directions as she enjoys the afternoon sunlight. She opens her eyes slowly when you speak, begrudgingly making her way onto her nimble legs only when coaxed While she enjoys the care-free life of a newborn now, the...

Of all the jaw-dropping feats that a Thoroughbred is able to accomplish, perhaps nothing is quite as miraculous as watching a fierce, powerful racehorse transform to fill the role of motherhood.  Wayne Sweezey, who owns and operates Timber Town Stables alongside his wife Cathy, has watched this dramatic role change hundreds of times. But one mare on his farm in particular has excelled above and beyond both on the track and with a foal by her side. She won 13 of her 15 starts, never finishing worse than second, and...

7th-Gulfstream, $43,000, Msw, 5-3, 3yo/up, f/m, 1m, 1:37.69, ft. DANCE D'ORO (f, 3, Medaglia d'Oro--Dance Quietly {SW, $123,570}, by A.P. Indy) showed nothing in a local sprint Mar. 29, and was dismissed at 20-1 for a good second-out barn that won under markedly similar circumstances with 13-1 second timer Superfecto (Constitution) one day earlier. Briefly poking a head in front before dropping back to track from third, the bay moved up under busy ride to engage the loose pacesetter heading for home, and kicked away from there to score by...

The John William Pope Foundation awarded $80,000 to Thoroughbred-related non-profits during its most recent board meeting. Recipients included Backstretch Employee Services Team of New York for citizenship classes for track employees ($5,000); Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation for a study examining PET technology's use in the early detection of fetlock lesions in horses ($50,000); New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program for their work in caring for retired Thoroughbreds ($15,000); and Thoroughbred Charities of America ($10,000). "We are grateful for all the work being done for current and retiring Thoroughbreds and the welfare...