OBS April

In this series, we will have a look predominantly at American-bred first-time juvenile starters (through the end of 2025) and debuting 3-year-olds in maiden races at Meydan Racecourse, with a specific focus on pedigree and/or performance in a sales ring. The flagship venue for racing in the United Arab Emirates is Meydan Racecourse, which will host racing on Fridays through the end of March, with the exception of Super Saturday on Feb. 28 and Dubai World Cup night Mar. 28, 2026. Here are the horses of note for this Friday's...

In this series, we will have a look predominantly at American-bred first-time juvenile starters (through the end of 2025) and debuting 3-year-olds in maiden races at Meydan Racecourse, with a specific focus on pedigree and/or performance in a sales ring. The flagship venue for racing in the United Arab Emirates is Meydan Racecourse, which will host racing on Fridays through the end of March, with the exception of Super Saturday on Feb. 28 and Dubai World Cup night Mar. 28, 2026. Here are the horses of note for this Friday's...

   In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar. What an effort from Boss Dylan (c, 2, Liam's Map--Sweet, by Blame)! Those were the words of track announcer Travis Stone as Boss Dylan rallied from last to finish a fantastic second in the nightcap at Churchill Downs Sunday evening. Off at odds of 9-1 in his 6 1/2-furlong unveiling for trainer Brendan Walsh in a very deep maiden special weight, Boss Dylan made a mess...

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 weekend running at Tokyo, Kyoto and Fukushima Racecourses: Saturday, November 15, 2025 5th-FKS, ¥14,250,000 ($92k), Newcomers, 2yo, 2000mT HO O STRIKE (c, 2, Good Magic--Nightlife Baby, by Flatter) was knocked down for $95,000 as a Keeneland November weanling in 2023, but was the...

Named a 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' for her 3 1/4-length debut win over Thursday's distance at Saratoga, Deep Learning proved she had plenty of class, finishing a close-up fifth in the GI Natalma Sept. 13 and running second to subsequent GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf third Ground Support (Army Mule) in the GII Miss Grillo over course and distance Oct. 4. The popular 3-5 choice to go one better here, Deep Learning settled a nice third behind frontrunning Candy Moonshine (Twirling Candy) who cleared from the outside...

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 weekend running at Kyoto and Tokyo Racecourses: Sunday, October 26, 2025 4th-KYO, ¥14,250,000 ($93k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800m DANON BOURBON (c, 2, Maxfield--Wild Ridge, by Tapit) is a half-brother to three winners, including the stakes-placed Clubhouse (Speightstown), and was a $450,000 Keeneland September purchase...

4th-Belmont The Big A, $85,360, Alw, 10-16, (NW1$X), 3yo/up, f/m, 6f, 1:10.46, ft, 2 1/2 lengths. WITH THE ANGELS (f, 3, Omaha Beach--Sister Margaret, by Pulpit), unraced since November 2024, returned a winner in her 3-year-old debut Thursday at Aqueduct. A perfect four-for-four as a juvenile, she was named a 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' off an 11 1/2-length debut win before racking up three straight stakes wins all against fellow New York-breds. Facing open company for the first time Thursday and racing with the addition of Lasix, the...

After sweeping the juvenile Grade I features on FallStars Weekend with 'TDN Rising Stars' Presented by Hagyard Tommy Jo (Into Mischief) in the Darley Alcibiades Stakes and Ted Noffey (Into Mischief) in the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity, Spendthrift Farm cut loose another potential player in the juvenile division when Further Ado (c, 2, Gun Runner--Sky Dreamer, by Sky Mesa) shot away from his overmatched rivals to break his maiden by a jaw-dropping 20 lengths when making his first two-turn appearance Friday afternoon at Keeneland. For the effort, the striking chestnut colt...

1st-Woodbine, C$76,593, Msw, 10-10, 2yo, 1 1/16m (AWT), 1:47.62, ft, 2 lengths. SILENT TACTIC (c, 2, Tacitus--Magical Sign, by Gun Runner) survived an inquiry to become the fifth winner for his freshman sire (by Tapit) Friday. Breaking from the rail, the 9-2 shot spotted the field a step and stayed inside as a group stacked up on the lead into the clubhouse turn. Sitting a length back in third through fractions of :23.67 and :50.15, the OBS April grad had to be tipped out for a clear path to come...

Stop me if you've heard this one before but trainer Wesley Ward debuted a speedy new youngster at Keeneland Saturday as Heartily (Complexity) romped to become a new 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' in the nightcap. The 4-5 favorite faced a field of largely inexperienced runners who saw little but this OBS April grad's heels as he rocketed out to lead from an inside draw under John Velazquez. The only rival to keep pace early was Telecaster (Kantharos) as this group got strung out in dramatic fashion into the...

New York-bred Iron Orchard (Authentic) pounced on the leaders four off the inside entering the final eighth of a mile and outslugged longshot Rileytole (Mitole) to take out Saturday's $400,000 GI Frizette Stakes at Aqueduct. The Frizette is part of the Breeders' Cup Dirt Dozen series. A four-time veteran of sales rings, second betting choice Iron Orchard--who most recently fetched $500,000 at OBS April--was one of the first to break the line, but was eased back off the early tempo as impressive Saratoga debut winner Carmel Coast (Omaha Beach), favored...

Spendthrift Farm's freshman sire sensation Yaupon (by Uncle Mo) picked up a third 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Saturday as Local Knowledge ran the field down late to take the second race on the opening weekend of Keeneland's Fall Meet. Breaking from post 12, the 5-2 second choice never had a chance to save ground and was hung out wide nearly the entire trip under Dylan Davis. In no rush through the opening furlongs after an awkward start which saw him miss the break and come sideways from the...