TDN Rising Star

Jim Bakke and Gerald Isbister's 'TDN Rising Star' Tip Top Thomas (c, 3, Volatile--Attempt to Name, by Consolidator), last seen finishing a very solid second going a one-turn mile in the GI Champagne S. at Aqueduct Oct. 5, is nearing a return to the races. The Travers day debut maiden winner has posted seven workouts at Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher's Palm Beach Downs base in 2025, most recently drilling a bullet five furlongs in 1:01.73 (1/5) Mar. 13. He is targeting a six-furlong allowance race at Keeneland Apr. 5,...

A filly who failed to find a bidder as a yearling and landed a Gowran Park maiden on 3-year-old debut at 40-1 became a new 'TDN Rising Star' at Santa Anita on St. Patrick's Day, fittingly enough, as Raw Ability (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}) ran her stateside record to two wins from as many starts and won for the third time in three career appearances. Friendless in the markets when unveiled by Limerick trainer Eric McNamara over a mile at the Irish venue last June 3, the bay--who was bought back...

'TDN Rising Star' Quietside (Malibu Moon) put in her last major workout for the GII Fantasy Stakes, covering five furlongs in :59.60 Sunday morning at Oaklawn under Ramon Vazquez. The 'Rising Star's' time was the fastest of 26 published at the distance, with clockers catching her galloping out six furlongs in 1:12 and seven furlongs in 1:26.80. The track was rated fast. "It was a strong five-eighths," said trainer John Ortiz. "We'll come back next week and give her a maintenance [half-mile]. She did it really well today." Entries will...

Top 3-year-old Journalism (Curlin) returned to the work tab Sunday at Santa Anita following his victory in the GII San Felipe Stakes Mar. 2. Journalism and jockey Umberto Rispoli hit the track together under darkness at about 6:30 a.m. PT. The colt, trained by Michael McCarthy, was clocked working four furlongs in :48.20. He is targeting the GI Santa Anita Derby at 1 1/8 miles Apr. 5. "Very good," McCarthy said of the drill. Rispoli reacted with a wide grin and a thumbs up. In the San Felipe, Journalism ran...

Flying Dutchmen's Shred the Gnar (Into Mischief), making her second career start after finishing a close-up second going six panels in her career bow in Hallandale Feb. 9., appreciated the added yardage as the 2-5 choice scampered off to TDN Rising Star-earning 6 1/2-length victory at Gulfstream Park Sunday afternoon. Sent to the front early by Luis Saez, the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga graduate was comfortably ahead of 3-1 second choice Donor Advised (Gun Runner) through an opening quarter in :23.98. Still moving fluidly through a slightly faster half in :47.01, the...

Trying graded company for the first time in his career in a race named in honor of a fan-favorite at Oaklawn, 'TDN Rising Star' Booth (Mitole--Sophia's Song, by Bellamy Road) made every pole a winning one as he took home the GIII Whitmore Stakes on Saturday afternoon. Earning a 'Rising Star' merit badge as a late juvenile at Keeneland in 2023, Booth claimed his first Listed black type when he won the Commodore Stakes in Hot Springs Feb. 24 and was given a career-best (and meet's highest) 105 Beyer for...

Making the journey from his Payson base in South Florida, Lion of Justice (Into Mischief--Ever So Clever, by Medaglia d'Oro) did not mind the new digs one iota as he graduated on debut over the blazing main strip at Colonial Downs on Saturday. Owned by St. Elias Stable, Talla Racing, West Point and C J Stable, the colt represented the pride well and took home a 'TDN Rising Star' for his effort. Bred by Clearsky Farms, the $1.1 million Keeneland September purchase was slammed at the windows to the tune...

9th-Oaklawn, $131,000, Alw (NW2$6MX)/Opt. Clm ($80,000), 3-14, 4yo/up, 1 1/16m, 1:44.62, ft, neck. DISARM (h, 5, Gun Runner--Easy Tap, by Tapit) returned to the races against a seasoned field of allowance rivals here, and got the job done as the 2-1 second choice with favoritism going to Group 1-placed Bendoog (Gun Runner) at 9-5 odds. Stalking the development in front of him from fourth, the 'TDN Rising Star' watched it all unfold through :24.07, :48.30, and 1:13.08 splits with Bendoog never far away. The looming danger turning for home, Disarm...

3rd-Santa Anita, $65,500, Msw, 3-14, 3yo, 1 1/16m, 1:43.94, ft, 1 1/4 lengths. VOLDEMORT (c, 3, Good Magic--Beauty Buzz, by Bernardini) couldn't reel in 'TDN Rising Star' Tiz Secure (Maximum Security) in their mutual unveiling Feb. 22, but the 8-5 favorite more than got the job done here with a workman-like effort on the front end. Quickly to the front to control the pace, he came under pressure after the half in :45.78 and tried to give the field the slip entering the second bend. On a clear lead, but...

3rd-GP, $94k, Msw, 3yo, 5fT, 1:50p.m. ET Profiled last year by our colleagues at TDN Europe, Benny The Waiter (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) has been shipped to the states to make his US debut in a turf dash at Gulfstream Park. A 280,000gns Craven Breeze-Up purchase by Repole Stables, this is the half-brother to GSP-Eng Space Legend (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) while his dam, unraced Newton's Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), is herself a half-sister to SW-Ire & GSP-Fr Treasure Isle (Ire) (No Nay Never). The group black type...

Trainer Tom Morley reports that 'TDN Rising Star' SW & GISP Donegal Momentum (Uncle Mo) has exited his Mar. 6 seasonal bow at Fair Grounds in good form and that the connections have started mapping out a potential path through his 2025 campaign. Listing off plans which include a start in Keeneland's GI Maker's Mark Mile, the GIII Poker Stakes at the Spa, and the GI Fourstardave Stakes over the summer, Morely says it is not out of the wheelhouse that his charge might be running in a seven-furlong graded...

With a combined 273 workouts on the main and training track Sunday morning at Santa Anita, the noteworthy moves came from some of the biggest runners, namely 'TDN Rising Star' GSW & GISP Getaway Car (Curlin), GISW Raging Torrent (Maximus Mischief), and 'TDN Rising Star' MGSW Nysos (Nyquist). Entered in Saturday's Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs, Getaway Car worked three furlongs in :36.60 for Bob Baffert, and was the 13th fastest of 17 at the distance. His stablemates Nysos and GSW Fort Bragg (Tapit) also took to the main track,...