Phil Bauer

Making her first start since winning last fall's GIII Falls City S. at 45 cents on the dollar, Rigney Racing's Played Hard (Into Mischief) rewarded those that remained loyal to her from a pari-mutuel perspective with a near 9-1 upset in Friday's GI La Troienne S. at Churchill Downs. For the second time in as many races, Briland Farm's Secret Oath (Arrogate)--who won the GI Longines Kentucky Oaks on this program 12 months ago--took a dirty beat in Grade I company, having been pipped on the post in the Apple...

Horse racing fans will tuck in to a traditional helping of graded stakes on Thursday at both Churchill Downs and the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. Coast-to-coast Grade III gatherings include a dirt and turf race in the GIII Falls City S. and the GIII Cardinal S. before swinging out west to the Jimmy Durante Turf Course for the GIII Red Carpet S. Into Mischief's Played Hard the Favorite in Falls City With only six drawn for the Falls City under the Twin Spires, there is no question that trainer Phil...

The GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf looks like a tough spot for Xigera (Nyquist). She's 8-1 in the morning line, drew the 13 post, is facing a strong group of European challengers and her only win came in a maiden race. But she's not out of this, not as hot as her stable is. In their ninth year in the sport and after an inauspicious start, Richard and Tammy Rigney's Rigney Racing is enjoying a dream season. With seven wins, they were the leading owner at the spring meet...

by Jessica Martini & Christie DeBernardis LEXINGTON, KY - The Keeneland September Yearling Sale continued to churn out strong results straight through to the conclusion of its Book 2 section Thursday night in Lexington with an additional two yearlings selling for seven figures, led by a $1.7-million son of Quality Road, bringing the four-day total for the auction to 30 seven-figure yearlings. Fifteen reached that mark last year. "It was an incredible week," said Keeneland's Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy. Over the two Book 2 sessions, Keeneland sold 449...

1st-Saratoga, $105,000, Msw, 8-28, 2yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 1:44.36, fm, 5 3/4 lengths. XIGERA (f, 2, Nyquist--Argent Affair {SW, $154,895}, by Black Tie Affair {Ire}) had to settle for second after getting run down late by 'TDN Rising Star' Pink Hue (Mendelssohn) when debuted over this same surface and distance Aug. 7 but returned at even-money Sunday for another chance. After flashing speed inside of Forever Dixie (Quality Road) early, she settled back off the pace into a stalking position up the backstretch. Put to a run into the far...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency WELL-BRED GHOSTZAPPER DEBUTS IN NY 2nd-AQU, $80K, Msw, 2yo, f, 1m, 12:20 p.m. Joe Allen went to $400,000 at FTFMAR for GLAMOROUS DAYS (Ghostzapper) after a :21 4/5 breeze and she debuts here for Shug McGaughey. She is a daughter of dual Grade I winner Life At Ten (Malibu Moon). TJCIS PPs   BAUER UNVEILS PRICEY INTO MISCHIEF 7th-OP, $84K, Msw, 2yo, f, 6f, 4:19 p.m. Rigney Racing's LITTLE MOMBO (Into Mischief) makes his career bow in this spot for trainer Phil Bauer. The $500,000...

8th-Churchill Downs, $86,435, Msw, 10-31, 2yo, f, 6f, 1:11.33, ft, 3 1/2 lengths. MINUTE WALTZ (f, 2, Nyquist--Is It Safe, by Yes It's True) began to repay her $425,000 price tag at Keeneland September with a sharp debut score Saturday. Racing in a three-wide sixth off a blazing first quarter in :21.34, the 4-1 shot was at least four wide as she swept up to take on the leaders turning for home. The bay struck the front in early stretch and rolled clear to win by 3 1/2 lengths over...