TDN Rising Star

Unbeaten 'TDN Rising Star' Knightsbridge (c, 3, Nyquist--Tyburn Brook, by Bernardini), a jaw-dropping winner of his first two starts by a combined 19 1/2 lengths, has begun gearing up for a potential return to action this fall at Keeneland. The Godolphin homebred posted a double-digit victory going seven furlongs on debut at Churchill Downs Nov. 4, then fired fresh off the bench with another dominating decision in an optional claimer going a one-turn mile at Gulfstream Park last out Mar. 28. The latter performance earned him a 96 Beyer Speed...

It's early, but maybe not too early to start dreaming of the GI Kentucky Derby. At least it's not for owner Richard Rigney. Rigney is the owner of 'TDN Rising Star' Jonathan's Way (Vekoma), the winner of last Saturday's GIII Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs, the first of many races that award Derby points to the top five finishers. Making his second career start after overcoming trouble to win a maiden at Saratoga, Jonathan's Way was an impressive winner, suggesting there could be bigger and better triumphs in his future....

Juddmonte's hitherto untested Cosmic Year (GB) (Kingman {GB}--Passage Of Time {GB}, by Dansili {GB}) was scratched from a fast-ground maiden at Newbury last month and rewarded connections' patience with a stunning debut display to attain 'TDN Rising Star' status in Wednesday's Sir Michael Stoute Farewell And Thank You Novice Stakes. The Harry Charlton trainee was usurped in the betting market by Amo Racing's Rock D'Oro (Bolt D'Oro), who had chased home subsequent G2 Champagne Stakes victor Bay City Roller (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) on debut, and stalked that rival in...

'TDN Rising Star' Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) drew gate six in a field of eight and was made the 4-5 morning-line favorite when post positions were drawn Monday for Saturday's GI Cotillion Stakes at Parx Racing in suburban Philadelphia. Trainer Ken McPeek will once again give Brian Hernandez, Jr. a leg up on Thorpedo Anna, whose victories in the GI Kentucky Oaks, GI Acorn Stakes and GI CCA Oaks have virtually clinched the 3-year-old filly championship with better than two months of racing left in 2024. She covered herself in...

Chantilly's card on Monday featured some promising juveniles and none more so than the Aga Khan's filly Rayevka (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}--Rayisa {Ire}, by Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) lit up the six-furlong fillies' conditions event with a scintillating display to become her sire's fourth TDN Rising Star. Narrowly denied on debut by Juddmonte's Better Together (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) at Deauville last month, the Francis-Henri Graffard-trained homebred was in command from the outset strong in the hands of Maxime Guyon. Never in any danger out on her own, the 1-2...

Rigney Racing's TDN Rising Star Jonathan's Way (Vekoma) went wire-to-wire in the GIII Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs, earning the colt 10 qualifying points towards the GI Kentucky Derby. According to trainer Phil Bauer Sunday, the colt will now head to the Nov. 1 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Del Mar. "It was an unbelievable day for our barn," Bauer said. "Watching him turn for home in the Iroquois, he looked so comfortable on the front end. His ears told a story--he was just waiting for Joel [Rosario] to ask...

Most were expecting that Aidan O'Brien would be welcoming back a 10th winner of The Curragh's G1 Moyglare Stud Stakes on Sunday and that it would be an unbeaten daughter of Frankel (GB), but few would have predicted that it would be Lake Victoria (Ire) and not Bedtime Story (Ire). Like her deservedly much-vaunted stablemate, Lake Victoria held TDN Rising Star status heading into this seven-furlong test having beaten the re-opposing Red Letter (GB) (Frankel {GB}) on debut over this course and distance in June and gone to Newmarket to...

Showing that her recent travails had left no mark on Sunday, Juddmonte's Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}--Emulous {GB}, by Dansili {GB}) instead relished a heavyweight clash with a younger rival up the ParisLongchamp straight to edge the G1 Qatar Prix Vermeille from Aventure (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). Hard at it when second in the G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes and when fourth in the G1 Juddmonte International in the previous weeks, Ralph Beckett had considered leaving the G1 Pretty Polly Stakes winner at home so was a...

No sooner has the dust settled on the 2023 Triple Crown season that another one begins anew. The first points on the 2025 Road to the Kentucky Derby were awarded Saturday with 'TDN Rising Star' Jonathan's Way (Vekoma) getting first dibs at a spot in the gate on the first Saturday in May with his win in the GIII Iroquois Stakes. The Ohio-bred son of popular first-crop sire Vekoma impressed right away for Rigney Racing, earning 'TDN Rising Star' accolades in his Saratoga unveiling when overcoming a bad beginning to...

8th-CD, 134K, Alw/OC, 3yo, f, 6f, 4:22 p.m. Unraced since hitting the board behind Tarifa (Bernardini) in the GII Fair Grounds Oaks back in March, 'TDN Rising Star' V V'S DREAM (Mitole) returns to the races Sunday for trainer Kenny McPeek. Last year's dominant GIII Pocahontas Stakes winner spent her last six races in stakes company, on the board in the Rags to Riches Stakes and, most notably, second by a length in the GI Darley Alcibiades at Keeneland last October. The daughter of Mitole showed her readiness for Sunday's...

In an outstanding renewal of Doncaster's G1 St Leger on Saturday, it was the much-missed colossus Galileo (Ire) who had his inimitable stamp on proceedings with his sons Jan Brueghel (Ire) and Illinois (Ire) waging war in a clear demonstration of one of the most common characteristics of his breed. While the eventual winner Jan Brueghel had yet to go into the red zone in a career that only commenced in May, the son of Devoted To You (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) who had already provided a Classic winner in...

Following near-misses in the first three black-type events of this "Super Saturday", Team Ballydoyle restored normal order with TDN Rising Star Diego Velazquez (Ire) (Frankel {GB}--Sweepstake {Ire}, by Acclamation {GB}) in the G2 Solonaway Stakes at Leopardstown. Not seen since beating the subsequent G3 Snow Fairy Fillies Stakes winner Tarawa (Ire) (Shamardal) by seven lengths in the nine-furlong G3 Meld Stakes here due to his intended target at Saratoga being abandoned, the 10-11 favourite was quickly into his stride shadowing the leader. Sent to the front by Ryan Moore approaching...