PREAKNESS AFTER THOUGHT!
HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PREAKNESS!
It wasn't a surprise to most racing fans that the best horse won the Preakness, and that includes myself as well who actually played against the best horse in the field by betting on a 12-1 longshot American Promise.
The big surprise on my part is that American Promise didn't live up to my pre-race expectation and he performed very poorly two races in a row now with no apparent excuse by finishing next to last of nine, beaten by 18 lengths.
That was a big surprise on my part and now I know the truth that American Promise is not as good as I thought he was.
That is horse racing!
You're wrong more times than you're right and this one is a clear example of the nature of horse racing.
With that said, the Belmont in three weeks is next and I'll have to find another horse to play.
EXCITEMENT OVERSEAS!
Overshadowed by the excitement of the Preakness this past Saturday [May 17] quite a few races overseas went unnoticed by racing fans, particularly those in the US.
In Ireland three very high-price, well-bred 2yo colts made their debut in their respective races and all three won in spectacular fashion.
Italy (by Wootten Basset x Galileo) trained by Aiden O'Brien won his six-furlong debut race impressively at Leophardstown (Ireland) on Saturday May 17, and O'Brien said, “He could come back here [Leophardstown] for the Tyros.”
Or he could be going to England (to the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot in June 2025), and after that he could go to the Futurity Stakes (at Curragh in Aug), according to O'Brien.
Coventry Stakes
Group – 2
Course – Royal Ascot (GB)
Race Type – Flat
Distance – 6 Furlongs (Turf)
Ages – 2yo's only
Date: Tuesday June 17, 2025.
Post Time: 10:05 AM ET
2025 Norfolk Stakes G2
Date: (Thursday) 06/19/2025
Post Time: 09:30 AM ET
Track: Royal Ascot-GB
Distance: 5 f (Turf)
Age / Sex: 2yo Males
Tyros Stakes
Group – 3
Course – Leopardstown
Race Type – Flat
Distance – 7 Furlongs (Turf)
Ages – 2yo's only
Tyros Stakes is scheduled to take place at Leopardstown Racecourse (IRE) in mid-July 2025 (likely July 12).
The Futurity Stakes at the Curragh Racecourse in 2025 is scheduled to be run on Saturday, August 23rd.
Futurity Stakes
Group – 2
Course – Curragh (Ireland)
Race Type – Flat
Distance – 7 Furlongs (Turf)
Ages – 2yo's only
Another exciting 2yo colt also trained by Aiden O'Brien is Charles Darwin who won his 5 1/2-furlong race very impressively [at Nava Race Course (IRE)] and he, too, may end up in those four races listed above.
Here is an article by Thoroughbred Daily:
Charles Darwin
Dam: Muirin (Ire), by Born To Sea (Ire)
Owner: Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor, D Smith & Westerberg
Breeder: Newstead Breeding (Ire)
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien
Navan's Saturday card (May 17) featured a trio of black-type contests, but early focus centred on the EURO 18,000 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden for juveniles, in which Coolmore and Westerberg's Charles Darwin (Ire) (No Nay Never), a full-brother to dual Group 1 winner Blackbeard (Ire), illuminated proceedings with a spectacular 5 1/2-length triumph.
Aidan O'Brien had annexed three consecutive renewals of the near-six furlong contest, including with subsequent G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere hero Camille Pissarro (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) last year, and his 8-11 pick was away sharply to gain immediate control coming back off a debut fourth over five furlongs at the Curragh two weeks ago.
Untroubled on the front end throughout, the March-foaled bay was allowed an inch of Ryan Moore's rein passing the quarter-mile marker and powered clear in impressive fashion to earn a 'TDN Rising Star' rosette by daylight.
His closest pursuer was the outclassed Ger Lyons trainee Harmani (Ire) (Phoenix Of Spain {Ire}).
Charles Darwin becomes the 11th Rising Star for his sire, whose roll of honour includes the stable's Little Big Bear, Ten Sovereigns and Aesop's Fables. This race's three most recent winners-Camille Pissarro, River Tiber and the aforementioned Aesop's Fables-were all tagged Rising Stars.
"He is a lovely, big, powerful and strong horse and we always thought was an Ascot horse," reported O'Brien.
['Ascot horse' -- O'Brien was referring to the Coventry/Norfolk Stakes]
"He was very green first time in the Curragh and the race was a bit messy, but he did everything right today. He travelled, he has loads of speed and quickened very well. He's not short of speed, so it will be the [G2] Coventry or [G2] Norfolk for him at Royal Ascot."
Charles Darwin is the fourth of five foals, all by No Nay Never, and becomes the fourth scorer produced by a winning daughter of G3 Phoenix Sprint victrix Girouette (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}).
Descendants of the March-foaled bay's stakes-placed third dam Vassiana (Fr) (Anabaa) include multiple Group 3 winner Max Vega (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and G3 Anglesey Stakes victrix Kairyu (Ire) (Kuroshio {Aus}).
Hailing from the family of leading distaffers Mrs Penny and Hatoof, the winner is a full-brother to G1 Prix Morny and G1 Middle Park-winning sire Blackbeard (Ire), Listed Prix de Saint Cyr third Run Away (Ire) and a yearling filly.
Run Away was knocked down for EURO 2.6-million as a Goffs Orby yearling and resold for 650,000gns at Tattersalls' most recent December sale.
Another horse named Albert Einstein also won his debut Saturday [May 17, 2025] at Curragh very impressively -- and he, too, is trained by Aiden O'Brien.
SAVING THE BEST FOR LAST!
But the most exciting 2yo from this past Saturday [May 17, 2025] (overseas) was a colt named Treanmor who absolutely destroyed his five rivals in a six-furlong (turf) race at Newmarket (England).
Owned by Godolphin and trained by Charles Appleby, Treanmor is by Frankel out of Loch Lein (Ire) by Invincible Spirit (Ire).
He was a $3 million yearling purchase.
Treanmor (ML 4/5) was sent off at 1/9 heavy favorite against five 2yos, including one filly who was sent off as the 34-1 longest shot in the field.
His connections immediately after the race said that Treanmor is heading to the Coventry Stakes [Royal Ascot] in mid-June 2025 as his next start.
He is on a collision course with one or more of these: Italy, Charles Darwin, Albert Einstein -- or possibility all three of them.
The way he won his race I will go with Treanmor in the Coventry Stakes even if all three of the listed rivals show up to face him.
He was very very impressive!
I can't wait until June 17, 2025, for the Coventry Stakes.
