Thursday, August 21, 2025
Four nominated to lucrative series . . .
    HALLANDALE BEACH - It has been a productive summer for trainer Michael Yates, whose eight wins during Gulfstream Park’s Royal Palm Meet include five 2-year-olds, four of them nominated to the lucrative Florida Sire Stakes Series which kicks off early next month.

    The latest is LNJ Foxwoods and Church Street Stable’s Finding Strength, a juvenile daughter of Khozan out of the To Honor and Serve mare Strength in Unity bred in Florida by Elizabeth LaPierre and Jennifer Given.

    Finding Strength made it look easy graduating by 4 ½ lengths on Aug. 17 in her second start, a 5 ½-furlong state-bred maiden special weight for 2-year-old fillies. It was the second juvenile winner of the day for Yates following the colt Garretts On the Go in a 7 ½-furlong maiden claimer on the grass. Both are FSS nominated.

    “I thought [Finding Strength] really moved forward off her first race,” Yates said. “Her first race was a good race, but she left herself with a lot of work to do. She was pretty wide, but she really moved forward off the race. We were thrilled with her.”

    Third, beaten a neck for second behind top choice Tessellate in her debut July 19, Finding Strength settled in third behind another heavily favored Saffie Joseph Jr. trainee Mystical, as the opening quarter-mile went in :22.02 seconds. Jockey Jesus Rios – who rode three winners on the card – moved his filly up to challenge midway around the far turn, forged a short lead after a half in :46.05 and opened up once straightened for home to win in 1:04.80 over a fast main track.

    “She had trained really well since her last race and we were looking forward to a big effort,” Yates said. “You never know with these young horses. Looking at the race going in, the filly that was on the lead had worked very well so I looked for her to be forwardly placed. The way that Finding Street ran the first time, I didn’t feel like there was a need to kind of rush her off her feet. Just let her break well and let her get herself gathered up and try to finish well.”

    The $1.2 million Florida Sire Stakes Series for 2-year-olds by accredited Florida stallions begins Sept. 6 with the $100,000 Desert Vixen for fillies and $100,000 Dr. Fager, both sprinting six furlongs, on opening weekend of Gulfstream’s Sunshine Meet.

    FSS action resumes Oct. 18 with the $200,000 Susan’s Girl for fillies and $200,000 Affirmed, each going seven furlongs, and concludes on Nov. 29 with the $300,000 My Dear Girl for fillies and $300,000 In Reality, both during Gulfstream’s 2025-2026 Championship Meet.

    Yates swept last year’s colt division with St. Elias Stable’s undefeated homebred Rated by Merit. After being sidelined by bone bruising and missing the Triple Crown, Rated by Merit resumed training in early August at Saratoga.

    Previously, Yates won the Desert Vixen with Go Jo Jo Go in 2020 and the Dr. Fager with Cajun’s Magic in 2021 and Cajun Firecracker in 2018. He has yet to settle on a next spot for Finding Strength. “We have not thought much past [Sunday],” he said. “We wanted to see what happened [Sunday] and we’ll make a game plan and go from there.”

    Other 2-year-old winners for Yates at the Royal Palm Meet have been the gelding Fourth and Central, filly Ifyousaidso and colt Wine Candy. Like Finding Strength and Garretts On the Go, Fourth and Central and Ifyousaidso are FSS nominate
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Tuesday, August 19, 2025
Additional $1 million available . . .

    OLDSMAR - Florida-bred horses will compete for an additional $1 million in purse money during the upcoming 2025-26 Tampa Bay Downs meet, the track’s 100th anniversary season.

    The increase brings the total of additional purse money available for registered Sunshine State products to more than $2 million during the 90-day meet. The money will be allocated to all overnight races, with as much as an extra $21,000 (plus $2,000 in Florida Owner Awards) available for Florida-breds in maiden special weight and allowance races.

    “We’re delighted this money has become available,” said Allison De Luca, the track’s Director of Racing and Racing Secretary. “It’s a significant boost for Florida-breds and should help (increase) entries.”

    The money will be paid to all Florida-bred horses finishing first, second or third in overnight races on a 70-20-10-percent basis. Florida-breds will be running for $55,000-$56,500 in all maiden special weight and allowance races.

    The 2025-26 meet is scheduled to begin Wednesday, Nov. 19 and run through Sunday, May 3. Stall applications are available online at www.tampabaydowns.com and are due by Sept. 15. The first condition book will be available at www.equibase.com on Wednesday.

    Officials and staff of Tampa Bay Downs invite Thoroughbred lovers and newcomers alike to share the excitement of the Oldsmar oval’s meet-long centennial celebration, marking the track’s opening on Feb. 18, 1926.

Monday, August 18, 2025
Velocity captures Gr. I Del Mar Oaks . . .

    Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ Velocity (Nyquist-Blast, by Harlan’s Holiday) stormed through the stretch at Del Mar to upset the field in the Gr. I, $300,000 Del Mar Oaks, earning her first graded stakes victory and leading the slate of stakes-winning OBS grads.

    The lightly-raced daughter of Nyquist proved a half-length best at the wire in what was only her fifth lifetime start, striking to the front inside the sixteenth pole and having enough in the tank to hold off the fast-closing Lush Lips and favored Thought Process.

    “She’s had a wonderful couple of weeks down here,” trainer Michael McCarthy said. “She was on her toes in a great way walking around the paddock, coming out through the tunnel. I liked everything I saw today.”

    Velocity was purchased by her owners for $75,000 from the Two Oaks Equine consignment at the 2024 OBS March Sale after breezing in :10 1/5.

    Earlier in the day, Al and Bill Ulwelling’s Mansetti (Collected-Gidget Girl, by Sky Mesa) delivered an upset of his own in the 166th running of The King’s Plate, the $1 million Canadian classic at Woodbine. Bred by Jungle Racing, Mansetti crossed the wire 2 ½ lengths in front under heady handling from rising star Pietro Moran and for champion trainer Kevin Attard.

    “He showed a lot of talent from a young age, and I really thought he was going to be a good horse, but he just got so kind of keen and eager as a baby that you didn’t think he’d stretch out. Luckily for us, he matured nicely over the wintertime,” Attard said. Mansetti was a $40,000 purchase by his owners from the 2024 OBS April Sale from the Eddie Woods consignment after breezing in :20 4/5. 

    At Monmouth Park, Respect the Valley's Dazzling Dame (Girvin - Awesome Dama, by Corinthian) earned her second victory in as many starts when she captured the $100,000 Sorority Stakes by two lengths. Trained by Brittany Russell, the daughter of Girvin was purchased by her owners for $45,000 at the 2025 OBS March Sale from the Richardson Bloodstock consignment after breezing in :21 flat. She was previously sold to Tahoe Bloodstock from the Hare Hill Farm consignment for $65,000 at the 2024 OBS Winter Mixed Sale.

    At Gulfstream Park, Blue Boy Racing and Matty Dan Racing’s Vincey Girl (Race Day-Gracious, by Elusive Quality) used a patient stalk-and-pounce trip to capture the $75,000 Sheer Drama Handicap. The 4-year-old daughter of Race Day earned her first stakes win. She was purchased by Pro Racing Stable for $40,000 from the On the Run Sales consignment at the 2023 OBS June Sale after breezing in : 21.

    At Prairie Meadows, Sandeep Patel’s Ritzaphena (Lexitonian - Ritz And Glitz, by Desert Party) remained unbeaten in two starts and became the first stakes-winner for her sire when she rallied for a 1 1/4-length win the $100,000 Prairie Meadows Debutante. Trained by Jayde Gelner, Ritzaphena was purchased by Scott Gelner for $75,000 at the 2025 OBS April sale from the consignment of SGV Thoroughbreds after breezing in :10 1/5.

    At Thistledown, Crown the Buckeye (Yaupon - Feisty Tomboy, by Unbridled's Song) powered to a 12 ¼-length victory in the $100,000 Cleveland Kindergarten Stakes. Owned by Paradise Farms Corp., David Staudacher and Hooties Racing, and trained by Mike Maker, the son of Yaupon was purchased by Sean S. Perl Bloodstock for $250,000 from the Grassroots Training & Sales consignment at the 2025 OBS April Sale after breezing in :10 flat.

Tuesday, August 12, 2025
Baoma filly is 1/5 . . .

    Baoma Corp’s Himika (Curlin-Motivated Seller, by Into Mischief), the 1-5 favorite in a field of six fillies at Del Mar, made a successful step up in class when she captured the six-furlong, $150,500, Gr. III Sorrento Stakes by 4 1/4 lengths, becoming one of two OBS grads to earn graded victories over the weekend.

    The bay daughter of Curlin won her second race in as many starts, covering the distance in 1:10.61 for trainer Bob Baffert, who won the race for the ninth time. “She took care of business in the stretch,” jockey Juan Hernandez said.

    She was purchased by her owners for $900,000 at this year’s OBS April Sale from the de Meric Sales consignment after breezing in :9 4/5.

    A day earlier at Del Mar, Pegram, Watson and Weitman’s Desert Gate (Omaha Beach-Theogony, by Curlin) cruised to an 8 ¾ length victory in $150,000, Gr. III Best Pal Stakes over a field of five. Like Himika, the colt was handled by the meet’s leading rider, Juan Hernandez, and gave trainer Bob Baffert his 12th victory in the race. Desert Gate had scored by 2 ¼ lengths in his racing debut in June at Santa Anita. “It’s nice to see these horses develop like this,” Baffert told Del Mar publicity.

    Gate was purchased by his owners for $260,000 at the 2025 OBS March Sale from the Navas Equine consignment after breezing in :9 4/5.

    Other OBS grads who earned stakes wins during the week included Green With MV Stable’s Diciassette (Mitole-Im a Dixie Diva, by Henny Hughes), who accelerated through the lane to go on to a one-length victory in Saturday’s $75,000 Proud Man at Gulfstream Park.

    Trained by Patrick Biancone, Diciassette was making his second career start. Fellow OBS grad Khon Han, who broke last and trailed the field in the early stages, made a dramatic late run to be second, two lengths ahead of another OBS grad in Wine Candy.

    A son of Mitole, Diciassette was purchased for $34,000 by Superfine from the Abbie Road Farm at the 2024 OBS October Yearling Sale.

    At Colonial Downs, JR Ranch and MyRacehorse’s Reputation (Bolt d’Oro-Final Reward, by Arch) captured the $100,000 Tyson Gilpin Stakes by 6 ¾ lengths. Trained by Gustavo Delgado, Reputation bested a field that saw fellow OBS grad G W’s Girl finish third. Reputation was purchased by de Meric Sales for $135,000 from the Kaizen Sales consignment at the 2023 OBS October Yearling Sale.

    At Canterbury Park, Valene Farms’ Carson Bay (Midshipman - Karakorum Fugitive, by Ten Most Wanted) captured the $75,000 Minnesota Oaks, setting all the fractions before drawing away to win by 5 1/2 lengths. Trained by Gary Scherer, Carson Bay was purchased for $70,000 by Murray Valene at the 2024 OBS March Sale from the consignment of Niall Brennan Stables after galloping during the under-tack show.

    At Assiniboia on Aug. 4, Attack (Munnings - Ammannati (Ire), by Galileo (Ire)) earned the win in the $125,750 Manitoba Derby after heavy favorite Take Charge Tom, who crossed the finish line first, was disqualified for interference shortly after leaving the gate, as a result of four different claims of foul, two by jockeys and two by trainers. 

    The son of Munnings is trained by Craig Robert Smith and owned by a partnership that includes Highfield Investment Group, Inc., Dialed In Racing Stable, Bruce Appleyard, Jamie Graham, Lucky Diamonds Racing, Smokin Guns Stable, James and Robert Bauder, and John and Leslie O’Neill. Attack was purchased for $300,000 at the 2024 OBS March Sale by D. J. Stable from the Ocala Stud consignment after breezing in :21 2/5.

    At Hastings, Peter Redekop’s Avana (Vino Rosso-Revealing Moment by After Market) drew clear late for the victory in the $50,000 BC Cup Distaff Handicap for trainer Barbara Heads. She was purchased by Mike Ryan, agent, for $150,000 at the 2023 OBS March Sale from consignor Cary Frommer after breezing in :10 2/5.

Thursday, August 7, 2025
Backed by horseman's groups . . .
    HALLANDALE BEACH - Effective this weekend, 1/ST RACING will discontinue selling the simulcast signal from Gulfstream Park and Santa Anita Park to Hipódromo Camarero in Puerto Rico to address increasing concerns regarding horse welfare and safety at that racetrack. This announcement comes in agreement with the horsemen’s groups in Florida and California after other measures in recent years have failed to substantially bolster the care for racehorses in Puerto Rico, particularly when horses are no longer racing.

    “Exporting our signal to Hipódromo Camarero represents millions of dollars of handle to 1/ST RACING but we, along with our horsemen’s groups in Florida and California, have agreed this is a necessary step to ensure Puerto Rican racing stakeholders understand that we will not do business with individuals or companies that do not make horse safety, welfare and post-racing retirement a top priority,” said Aidan Butler, President, 1/ST. “I am grateful for the support of the Florida Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association as well as the Thoroughbred Owners of California in this decision and together we hope Hipódromo Camarero will work quickly to improve the treatment of horses both during and following their racing careers.”

    “The Florida horsemen stand firmly behind 1/ST RACING’s decision to suspend its racing signal to Puerto Rico,” stated Tom Cannell, President of the Florida Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association. “The ongoing welfare issues surrounding the treatment of Thoroughbreds on the island are unacceptable, and meaningful change will only come when the industry demands accountability. We commend 1/ST for taking this principled stand.”

    “In addition to discontinuing the simulcast signal to Hipódromo Camarero, any license holder who chooses to ship or sell a horse to Puerto Rico will no longer be welcome to race or train at 1/ST facilities,” said Butler. “We are mindful of the potential impact these policies could have on the horses currently racing in Puerto Rico. To help protect and support the safety and welfare of these racehorses, we will be donating $100,000 to the Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare.”

    “There is no place in our sport for neglect or inhumane treatment of horses,” said Bill Nader, President of Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC).  “The TOC fully supports this action by 1/ST RACING as a necessary step and its $100,000 donation to help drive home the message that the horse must come first.”

    1/ST previously worked with industry stakeholders to address significant welfare and safety concerns for horses transported from 1/ST tracks and training centers to race in Puerto Rico, including banning the transport of racehorses by cargo ship from 1/ST facilities. While this measure led Puerto Rico to change its policies on horse shipment, it exposed inadequate funding for aftercare for horses retiring from Hipódromo Camarero. As a result, 1/ST required the connections of any horse sold to Puerto Rico from a 1/ST racing or training facility to deposit money into an account with the horsemen to cover the aftercare and potential return shipment to the United States upon the horses’ retirement.

    Previous policy changes resulted in meetings with representatives from Puerto Rico’s Racing Commission and Hipódromo Camarero to address the concerns regarding horse welfare and safety however significant issues remain necessitating these new policy actions.

    1/ST has been at the forefront of industry-leading measures to improve horse and rider safety and welfare since 2019. Widely recognized, these efforts have resulted in historic safety figures at Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park and each of the 1/ST training facilities.