Michael Stidham

In advance of the April Horses of Racing Age sale, the writers ventured to Keeneland this week for in-person chats with Keeneland's Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy and Grovendale Sales' Chance Timm. Trainer Michael Stidham was also featured on the TDN Writers' Room presented by Keeneland. The upcoming sale features a number of new concepts, including dropping a requirement that horses in the sale be present at Keeneland. The sale will also take place on a racing day, after the conclusion of the card on Friday, the last day...

Mystic Guide (Ghostzapper), who kick-started his career as a second-out 'TDN Rising Star' and most recently won the $12-million G1 Dubai World Cup at the end of March, is preparing for a late summer and fall campaign. After having spent the last few weeks at trainer Michael Stidham's Keeneland barn, he will ship to Maryland's Fair Hill Training Center this week to resume serious training. "Since he's been back, I've been shocked and amazed with how well he's handled that whole experience, from all the traveling to the stress of...

Six-time graded stakes winner and Pin Oak Stud homebred Synchrony (Tapit--Brownie Points, by Forest Wildcat) has been retired from racing. The Michael Stidham trainee sustained a minor injury in his last out, an off-the-board finish in Monmouth Park's Oceanport S. Aug. 9, and it was determined the required time to fully recover would cause him to miss the major fall racing. Over six years of campaigning, Synchrony recorded his finest years in 2018 and 2019, when his wins included the GII Muniz Memorial H. at Fair Grounds and the GII...