Tom Amoss

3rd-Churchill Downs, $101,886, Msw, 6-20, 2yo, 5f, :58.17, ft, 1 length. OTTOMAN EMPIRE (c, 2, Classic Empire--Seven Stars, by Indygo Shiner) belied 13-1 odds to become the third winner--all under the Twin Spires--for champion juvenile and freshman sire Classic Empire (Pioneerof the Nile), who himself was a first-up graduate here in 2016. Away in midpack between rivals, the bay started to get going heading for home but still had his work cut out for him as James Graham tried to guide him out in the clear. Ottoman Empire leveled off...

10th-Fair Grounds, $50,000, Msw, 1-2, 3yo, 6f, 1:11.06, ft, 2 1/4 lengths. Making his first career trip to the post, DEFEATER (c, 3, Union Rags--Internal Affair, by Orientate) spoiled the debuts of the Godolphin favored entry of Colonel Bowman (Curlin) and Gershwin (Distorted Humor) to take out the Saturday finale at Fair Grounds. A firming proposition to be off as the 8-5 second favorite, the $210,000 Keeneland September yearling graduate raced last but one as Gershwin conducted his business up front. That half-brother to 'TDN Rising Star' Mystic Guide (Ghostzapper)...

Trainer and racing analyst Tom Amoss will be recognized by the Turf Publicists of America (TPA) with the 2020 Big Sport of Turfdom award, presented annually at the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program's annual awards luncheon during the Symposium on Racing & Gaming. With this year's symposium cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Amoss will be jointly recognized next year with the 2021 winner. The Big Sport of Turfdom award honors a person or team who enhances coverage of Thoroughbred racing through cooperation with media and racing publicists....

Serengeti Empress (Alternation--Havisham, by Bernardini), second to Gamine (Into Mischief) in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint S. Saturday at Keeneland, has been retired and will be bred to Into Mischief, according to a tweet from trainer Tom Amoss's daughter Hayley Amoss Wednesday morning. "Said goodbye to Serengeti Empress yesterday with plenty of peppermints," tweeted Amoss, with a photo of herself and the filly taken in front of her stall Tuesday morning. "Sad that she will no longer be in the first stall at Tom Amoss's barn, but...

Basin (Liam's Map) is two-for-two at Saratoga so far in his young career and looks to extend that record and return to winning ways in the Spa's GII Amsterdam S. Saturday, which will be his first start for trainer Todd Pletcher. Previously trained by Steve Asmussen, the bay earned his diploma here at second asking last July and dominated the GI Runhappy Hopeful S. next out in September. Third to now-retired Grade I winner Nadal (Blame) in the GII Rebel S. in March, he was fourth in the nine-panel Oaklawn...

Last year's GI Longines Kentucky Oaks heroine Serengeti Empress (Alternation) punched her ticket to the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint with an ultra-game, front-running performance while turning back in distance in Saturday's GI Ballerina S. at the Spa. The dark bay wasn't off to the sharpest of beginnings from her rail draw, but was quarter-horsed to the front by Luis Saez to hold a narrow advantage over the pride of Mexico Letruska (Super Saver) through an opening quarter in a blazing :21.75. Getting scrubbed on and appearing to...

Saratoga Live, the critically-acclaimed and award-winning television program will kick off its fifth season Thursday broadcasting the 40-day summer meet at iconic Saratoga Race Course. Saratoga Live will feature more than 210 hours of live programming from Saratoga, which runs from Thursday, July 16 through Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 7. Saratoga Live will appear each racing day beginning at 1 p.m. Eastern on FOX Sports and MSG Networks and offer full-card coverage of a Saratoga meet offering 71 stakes worth $14.45 million, encompassing 39 graded stakes, 18 Grade Is and...

The Week in Review, by Bill Finley There was no word Sunday from the camp of Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) regarding where their mare would run next and what the long-term goals are for the season. But we know this much: Midnight Bisou is outstanding, her connections took on males once, in the Saudi Cup, and the GI Breeders' Cup Classic is a lot bigger deal than the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff. Does that add up to her starting in the Classic? Fans of this sport can only hope that...

Dean Martini proved to be a shrewd claim for trainer Tom Amoss after upsetting the $500,000 GIII Ohio Derby Saturday at Thistledown, which offered 50 points towards the Sept. 5 GI Kentucky Derby. Away alertly from his rail draw, the 14-1 shot contested the pace heading into the first turn and was a close-up third as the first quarter went in :22.80. Shuffled back a bit on the fence as the half went in :47.22, the bay reasserted on the backstretch, heading pacesetter Lebda (Raison d'Etat). Dean Martini continued strongly...

After finishing a valiant second to fellow champion Maximum Security (New Year's Day) in the G1 Saudi Cup Feb. 29, Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) makes her first start back on U.S. soil in Saturday's GII Fleur de Lis H. at Churchill Downs, a "Win and You're In" event for the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff. The dark bay dominated the distaff division last season, winning seven straight graded races, including the GI Apple Blossom H., GI Ogden Phipps S. and GI Personal Ensign S. The Eclipse winner suffered her only loss...

With a newly-minted Grade I winner in his barn and another set to hit the track this weekend, trainer Tom Amoss joined the TDN Writers' Room podcast presented by Keeneland Wednesday morning for an illuminating discussion that covered a wide variety of topics, big and small. Calling in via Zoom as the Green Group Guest of the Week, Amoss explained the success of barn stars No Parole (Violence) and Serengeti Empress (Alternation), talked about what he's learned from branching out into broadcasting and offered his take on why racing has...

ELMONT, NY -- 'TDN Rising Star' No Parole (Violence) exited his rail draw with his mind on business, and ran four quality rivals off their feet to collect a first top-level score in Saturday's GI Woody Stephens S. at Belmont Park. The Louisiana-bred cruised on the front end through an opening quarter in :22.31 with slightly favored 'Rising Star' Meru (Sky Mesa) and GIII Gotham S. winner Mischevious Alex (Into Mischief) giving chase in second and third. Mischevious Alex made his move into second and the turning- back 'TDN Rising...