Tip Top Thomas

Looking every ounce a favorite in the Dwyer Stakes at Aqueduct on Saturday, Disco Time (Not This Time) boogied with the confidence of a seasoned dance-off pro and got the top prize to stay perfect. The colt began his career a little over a year ago at Churchill Downs where he debuted a winner by 3 3/4 lengths, then the dark bay successfully tackled optional claimers over the same dirt course at the end of the month. Taking a break as a late juvenile, Disco Time emerged at Fair Grounds...

Tip Top Thomas burst onto the scene as a 2-year-old, earning a 'TDN Rising Star' badge at Saratoga in late August last season before running a game second to Chancer McPatrick (McKinzie) in the GI Champagne Stakes to cap his 2024 campaign. Shelved for most of the winter and spring, the son of Volatile return to the races at Keeneland with a fourth facing allowance horses in April before getting back in the winner's circle in his last two starts including a gate to wire track record-setting win in the...

In winning the $300,000 GIII Indiana Derby at Horseshoe Indianapolis Saturday, James Bakke and Gerald Isbister's Tip Top Thomas (c, 3, Volatile--Attempt to Name, by Consolidator) may have gotten a little redemption. Last summer and fall, the sky looked like the limit for Tip Top Thomas, who was named a 'TDN Rising Star' in a hard-fought head debut in an August maiden special weight at Saratoga, then came back for a runner-up finish to another 'Rising Star', Chancer McPatrick (McKinzie), in the GI Champagne Stakes. Fourth in his maiden win...

3rd-KEE, $120k, OC125k/NW1, 3yo, 6f, 2:04 p.m. ET. Jim Bakke and Gerry Isbister's Tip Top Thomas (Volatile), who was tabbed a 'TDN Rising Star' following his debut win at Saratoga last August, returns to the races for the first time since finishing second behind Chancer McPatrick (McKinzie) in the GI Champagne Stakes last October. Trained by Todd Pletcher, the $160,000 FTKOCT yearling is a half-brother to multiple stakes winner Gray Attempt (Graydar) and to multiple graded placed Dua (Arrogate). CHC Inc. and WinStar Farm's Gunmetal (Gun Runner), who scratched out...

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,...

Winless in two starts though he is, Godolphin homebred Sovereignty (Into Mischief) will have his fair share of backers from the outside stall in a field of 10 in Sunday's GIII Street Sense Stakes on opening day of the fall meet at Churchill Downs. A maternal grandson of GSW & GI Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic runner-up Mushka (Empire Maker), Sovereignty debuted as an 11-1 chance in the Travers Day maiden Aug. 24 won by 'TDN Rising Star' Tip Top Thomas (Volatile). Last of the 10-strong field after the opening quarter-mile,...

1st-Belmont The Big A, $90,000, Msw, 10-26, 2yo, 6f, 1:10.69, ft, 5 lengths. ROOKIE CARD (c, 2, Adios Charlie--Glamalert, by Vindication) atoned for a pair of tough-luck losses in his first two trips to the post to take the Saturday opener at Aqueduct with a fair bit of authority. Drawn the fence as the 1-2 jolly, the $165,000 OBS June breezer was soon in front for Dylan Davis and had company to his outside in the form of the once-raced Atlal (Quality Road) through an opening couple of furlongs in...

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar. How stacked exactly was this year's Travers day 2-year-old maiden? Even the fourth-place finisher should be on your radar. In a race completely dominated on the front end, Godolphin homebred Sovereignty (c, 2, Into Mischief--Crowned, by Bernardini) kicked home impressively from last of 10 on debut for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott to stamp himself as one to watch. The 11-1 chance broke on top from...

SARATOGA SPRINGS--Travers Weekend has been good to Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher. And not just because he has won the GI Travers Stakes twice--with Flower Alley in 2005 and Stay Thirsty in 2011. The annual blockbuster weekend on the Saratoga Race Course schedule is also known for the 2-year-olds. And Pletcher has had some good ones that have debuted at Midsummer Derby time. On Saturday, it was Tip Top Thomas (Volatile) that emerged as a horse to watch in the future when he won the day's seventh race, a...

Favored at 12-5 in the Travers Day dirt maiden that more times than not produces horses to watch down the road, Jim Bakke's Tip Top Thomas (c, 2, Volatile--Attempt To Name, by Consolidator) narrowly outlasted a couple of well-meant rivals to become the first 'TDN Rising Star' and eighth winner overall for his freshman sire (by Violence). A $160,000 purchase out of last year's Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Sale, the Apr. 17 foal was coming into this debut off a pair of bullet half-mile breezes in which he outworked no fewer...