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Keeneland Updates: Percy’s Bar Set for ’28 Bow in Ashland, Work Tab Lights Up Ahead of Opening Weekend

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Multiple Grade I-placed Percy’s Bar (Upstart), unraced since running third in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies behind juvenile champion Super Corredora (Gun Runner) and one of the likely favorites in the Kentucky Oaks in Explora (Blame), will make her return to the races Friday in the GI Central Bank Ashland Stakes at Keeneland.

The Ben Colebrook trainee has been something of an enigma on the work tab, with an initial breeze Jan. 6 marked as her first since her troubled Breeders’ Cup start, but nothing publicly listed after that for almost six weeks. She returned Feb. 17 with a five-furlong move in :1:00 flat (2/5) and has had five drills total, the most recent Mar. 24 when she blew a bullet four-panel move in :47.40 (1/10). It was her fourth such bullet breeze in a row.

Colebrook admits that he’d toyed with the idea of an earlier start to her 3-year-old season, but the weather got the best of his plans, and since then has been very intentional about Percy’s Bar’s works.

“She has been breezing spectacularly and doing it all on her own. We haven’t really asked her and the past four works have all been bullets,” Colebrook said. “The works have been so strong that I have spaced them out and she won’t work again [before the Central Bank Ashland].”

“She stacked up pretty well with the 2-year-olds last year, and this will give us chance to see where she stacks up at 3. She has turned the right way going from 2 to 3 and she has a lot more muscle. Going into a Grade I without a prep is a lot to ask, but I couldn’t be happier with the way she is training.”

Luan Machado retains the mount for the Ashland, a Kentucky Oaks prep race that offers 100 points to the winner with 200 total set to be awarded. A win or second-place finish would likely secure a spot in the 14-starter spring marquee for fillies.

“[To make the Kentucky] Oaks, we’d have to be first or second, and if we are not, we probably shouldn’t go,” Colebrook said. “It’s a long year and she had a long season last year going from April until the end of October.”

Creole Chrome, Reagan’s Honor Work Toward Toyota Blue Grass

Louisiana-bred stakes winner Creole Chrome (Volatile) and impressive allowance victor Reagan’s Honor (Honor A.P.) were out on track Saturday morning at Keeneland in preparation for anticipated starts in the GI Toyota Blue Grass Stakes on opening weekend.

Reagan’s Honor | Hodges Photography

The former cruised four furlongs in :49 flat (26.64) with trainer Joe Sharp in the irons–his second at Keeneland since arriving at the Lexington venue earlier this month. Working in company with two other horses, Creole Chrome started a length behind his stablemates and finished up two lengths ahead.

“We wanted to put him behind horses and he was very relaxed and when the rail opened up, he just took off,” Sharp said. “He gave me a good feeling galloping out.”

The Blue Grass will be the first time Creole Chrome ventures into open company in his four-race career, and the ability to run out of his stall is what ultimately swayed Sharp in Keeneland’s direction over sending his runner north.

“We considered the [GII] Wood Memorial or the [GIII Stonestreet] Lexington but after this work I’d say he is 80% Blue Grass. He can run out of his own stall, so we will take a swing.”

Tyler Gaffalione would have the mount aboard Creole Chrome.

Cherie DeVaux’s Reagan’s Honor went out not long behind the Sharp trio, and clocked a half-mile breeze in :48 flat (11/64) for his first move since arriving at Keeneland. It was his fourth breeze since his powerful allowance victory Feb. 19 at Fair Grounds, and he went in company with unbeaten Remember Mamba (Kitten’s Joy), who was last seen clearing allowance optional claimers at Fair Grounds by 3 1/4 lengths. The latter is listed as a prospective entry for the GIII UK Healthcare Transylvania Stakes on opening Friday.

G1 Dubai World Cup conquering jockey Jose Ortiz would have the call on Reagan’s Honor for the Blue Grass.

“He had worked here before [last spring] and it was an easy work for him [Saturday morning], steady throughout and he galloped out well,” DeVaux said.

Also spotted Saturday morning was Grade I winner Clicquot (Quality Road), who also arrived from Palm Meadows Training Center earlier in March, for trainer Brendan Walsh. She breezed four furlongs in :48.20 (13/64) in preparation for an anticipated seasonal bow in the Apr. 4 GI Resolute Racing Madison Stakes.

There will be no racing Easter Sunday, Apr. 5 at Keeneland.

The post Keeneland Updates: Percy’s Bar Set for ’28 Bow in Ashland, Work Tab Lights Up Ahead of Opening Weekend appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Danon Bourbon Creates Tie At End Of Japan Road to the Derby

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Danox Co. Ltd’s Danon Bourbon (Maxfield) validated 11-10 favoritism with a convincing victory in Saturday’s $227,900 Fukuryu Stakes (allowance) at Nakayama Racecourse, easily defeating pacesetting Don Erectus (Jpn) (Danon Legend), who was finishing runner-up for the third time in the four-race series.

The pair has each amassed 40 points towards the automatic Japanese berth at Churchill on the first Saturday in May and because he is an original nominee to the Triple Crown, Danon Bourbon is–for the time being–on the top line. Per Churchill Downs rule, any ties are broken by lifetime earnings, and by that metric, Don Erectus would earn the bid, but he was not among the original Triple Crown entries and would need to be supplemented for $6,000 at the Apr. 6 closing.

Having won his first two races by some 15 1/2 lengths combined–the first from the front going 1800 meters and most recently from a stalking position over slightly further–the $450,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase was content to take a sit from a close-up third and unhurried as Don Erectus went a good gallop over a rain-affected strip that yields strong fractions.

Poised three deep as they rounded the second turn, Danon Bourbon came after Don Erectus with about 200 meters to travel and produced yet another strong run through the wire to take it by 3 1/2 solid lengths.

A half-sister to former ‘TDN Rising Star’ presented by Hagyard Cazadero (Street Sense), GII Remsen Stakes hero Dubyuhnell (Good Magic) and SW Mt. Brave (Malibu Moon), Wild Ridge–a daughter of MGSW & GISP Wild Gams (Forest Wildcat)–was purchased by Blue Heaven Farm for $220,000 in foal to Candy Ride (Arg) at Keeneland November in 2016, and this colt is one of her five winners from six to the races.

Wild Ridge is also the dam of a 2-year-old colt by Nyquist, a yearling filly by Mage and is due to Timberlake for 2026.

Saturday’s Results:
FUKURYU S. (Allowance), ¥36,540,000 ($227,900), Nakayama, 3-28, 3yo, 1800m, 1:50.8, my.
1–DANON BOURBON, 126, c, 3, Maxfield–Wild Ridge, by Tapit. ($450,000 Ylg ’24 KEESEP). O-Danox Co Ltd; B-Blue Heaven Farm (KY); T-Manabu Ikezoe; J-Atsuya Nishimura; ¥19,238,000. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $222,733. *1/2 to Clubhouse (Speightstown), SP, $223,473.
2–Don Erectus (Jpn), 126, c, 3, Danon Legend–Dona Primo (Jpn), by Furioso (Jpn).O/B-Koichi Yamada; T-Noboru Takagi; J-Kiwamu Ogino; ¥7,668,000.
3–Charlie (Jpn), 126, c, 3, Chrysoberyl (Jpn)–Gianna Schicchi, by War Front. (¥35,000,000 Fl ’23 JRHAJUL). O-Masaru Shimada; B-Tsuji Bokujo; T-Takeshi Okumura; J-Christophe Lemaire; ¥4,834,000.
Margins: 3HF, NK, 1 1/4. Odds: 1.10, 7.80, 2.10.
Also Ran: Itterasshai (Jpn), Sunrise Kevin (Jpn), Thunder Wind (Jpn), T O Kaiser (Jpn), Libeccio (Jpn), Lucky Kid (Jpn), American Style.

The post Danon Bourbon Creates Tie At End Of Japan Road to the Derby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Keeneland Updates: Percy’s Bar Set for ’28 Bow in Ashland, Work Tab Lights Up Ahead of Opening Weekend

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Multiple Grade I-placed Percy’s Bar (Upstart), unraced since running third in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies behind juvenile champion Super Corredora (Gun Runner) and one of the likely favorites in the Kentucky Oaks in Explora (Blame), will make her return to the races Friday in the GI Central Bank Ashland Stakes at Keeneland.

The Ben Colebrook trainee has been something of an enigma on the work tab, with an initial breeze Jan. 6 marked as her first since her troubled Breeders’ Cup start, but nothing publicly listed after that for almost six weeks. She returned Feb. 17 with a five-furlong move in :1:00 flat (2/5) and has had five drills total, the most recent Mar. 24 when she blew a bullet four-panel move in :47.40 (1/10). It was her fourth such bullet breeze in a row.

Colebrook admits that he’d toyed with the idea of an earlier start to her 3-year-old season, but the weather got the best of his plans, and since then has been very intentional about Percy’s Bar’s works.

“She has been breezing spectacularly and doing it all on her own. We haven’t really asked her and the past four works have all been bullets,” Colebrook said. “The works have been so strong that I have spaced them out and she won’t work again [before the Central Bank Ashland].”

“She stacked up pretty well with the 2-year-olds last year, and this will give us chance to see where she stacks up at 3. She has turned the right way going from 2 to 3 and she has a lot more muscle. Going into a Grade I without a prep is a lot to ask, but I couldn’t be happier with the way she is training.”

Luan Machado retains the mount for the Ashland, a Kentucky Oaks prep race that offers 100 points to the winner with 200 total set to be awarded. A win or second-place finish would likely secure a spot in the 14-starter spring marquee for fillies.

“[To make the Kentucky] Oaks, we’d have to be first or second, and if we are not, we probably shouldn’t go,” Colebrook said. “It’s a long year and she had a long season last year going from April until the end of October.”

Creole Chrome, Reagan’s Honor Work Toward Toyota Blue Grass

Louisiana-bred stakes winner Creole Chrome (Volatile) and impressive allowance victor Reagan’s Honor (Honor A.P.) were out on track Saturday morning at Keeneland in preparation for anticipated starts in the GI Toyota Blue Grass Stakes on opening weekend.

Reagan’s Honor | Hodges Photography

The former cruised four furlongs in :49 flat (26.64) with trainer Joe Sharp in the irons–his second at Keeneland since arriving at the Lexington venue earlier this month. Working in company with two other horses, Creole Chrome started a length behind his stablemates and finished up two lengths ahead.

“We wanted to put him behind horses and he was very relaxed and when the rail opened up, he just took off,” Sharp said. “He gave me a good feeling galloping out.”

The Blue Grass will be the first time Creole Chrome ventures into open company in his four-race career, and the ability to run out of his stall is what ultimately swayed Sharp in Keeneland’s direction over sending his runner north.

“We considered the [GII] Wood Memorial or the [GIII Stonestreet] Lexington but after this work I’d say he is 80% Blue Grass. He can run out of his own stall, so we will take a swing.”

Tyler Gaffalione would have the mount aboard Creole Chrome.

Cherie DeVaux’s Reagan’s Honor went out not long behind the Sharp trio, and clocked a half-mile breeze in :48 flat (11/64) for his first move since arriving at Keeneland. It was his fourth breeze since his powerful allowance victory Feb. 19 at Fair Grounds, and he went in company with unbeaten Remember Mamba (Kitten’s Joy), who was last seen clearing allowance optional claimers at Fair Grounds by 3 1/4 lengths. The latter is listed as a prospective entry for the GIII UK Healthcare Transylvania Stakes on opening Friday.

G1 Dubai World Cup conquering jockey Jose Ortiz would have the call on Reagan’s Honor for the Blue Grass.

“He had worked here before [last spring] and it was an easy work for him [Saturday morning], steady throughout and he galloped out well,” DeVaux said.

Also spotted Saturday morning was Grade I winner Clicquot (Quality Road), who also arrived from Palm Meadows Training Center earlier in March, for trainer Brendan Walsh. She breezed four furlongs in :48.20 (13/64) in preparation for an anticipated seasonal bow in the Apr. 4 GI Resolute Racing Madison Stakes.

There will be no racing Easter Sunday, Apr. 5 at Keeneland.

The post Keeneland Updates: Percy’s Bar Set for ’28 Bow in Ashland, Work Tab Lights Up Ahead of Opening Weekend appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Danon Bourbon Creates Tie At End Of Japan Road to the Derby

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Danox Co. Ltd’s Danon Bourbon (Maxfield) validated 11-10 favoritism with a convincing victory in Saturday’s $227,900 Fukuryu Stakes (allowance) at Nakayama Racecourse, easily defeating pacesetting Don Erectus (Jpn) (Danon Legend), who was finishing runner-up for the third time in the four-race series.

The pair has each amassed 40 points towards the automatic Japanese berth at Churchill on the first Saturday in May and because he is an original nominee to the Triple Crown, Danon Bourbon is–for the time being–on the top line. Per Churchill Downs rule, any ties are broken by lifetime earnings, and by that metric, Don Erectus would earn the bid, but he was not among the original Triple Crown entries and would need to be supplemented for $6,000 at the Apr. 6 closing.

Having won his first two races by some 15 1/2 lengths combined–the first from the front going 1800 meters and most recently from a stalking position over slightly further–the $450,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase was content to take a sit from a close-up third and unhurried as Don Erectus went a good gallop over a rain-affected strip that yields strong fractions.

Poised three deep as they rounded the second turn, Danon Bourbon came after Don Erectus with about 200 meters to travel and produced yet another strong run through the wire to take it by 3 1/2 solid lengths.

A half-sister to former ‘TDN Rising Star’ presented by Hagyard Cazadero (Street Sense), GII Remsen Stakes hero Dubyuhnell (Good Magic) and SW Mt. Brave (Malibu Moon), Wild Ridge–a daughter of MGSW & GISP Wild Gams (Forest Wildcat)–was purchased by Blue Heaven Farm for $220,000 in foal to Candy Ride (Arg) at Keeneland November in 2016, and this colt is one of her five winners from six to the races.

Wild Ridge is also the dam of a 2-year-old colt by Nyquist, a yearling filly by Mage and is due to Timberlake for 2026.

Saturday’s Results:
FUKURYU S. (Allowance), ¥36,540,000 ($227,900), Nakayama, 3-28, 3yo, 1800m, 1:50.8, my.
1–DANON BOURBON, 126, c, 3, Maxfield–Wild Ridge, by Tapit. ($450,000 Ylg ’24 KEESEP). O-Danox Co Ltd; B-Blue Heaven Farm (KY); T-Manabu Ikezoe; J-Atsuya Nishimura; ¥19,238,000. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $222,733. *1/2 to Clubhouse (Speightstown), SP, $223,473.
2–Don Erectus (Jpn), 126, c, 3, Danon Legend–Dona Primo (Jpn), by Furioso (Jpn).O/B-Koichi Yamada; T-Noboru Takagi; J-Kiwamu Ogino; ¥7,668,000.
3–Charlie (Jpn), 126, c, 3, Chrysoberyl (Jpn)–Gianna Schicchi, by War Front. (¥35,000,000 Fl ’23 JRHAJUL). O-Masaru Shimada; B-Tsuji Bokujo; T-Takeshi Okumura; J-Christophe Lemaire; ¥4,834,000.
Margins: 3HF, NK, 1 1/4. Odds: 1.10, 7.80, 2.10.
Also Ran: Itterasshai (Jpn), Sunrise Kevin (Jpn), Thunder Wind (Jpn), T O Kaiser (Jpn), Libeccio (Jpn), Lucky Kid (Jpn), American Style.

The post Danon Bourbon Creates Tie At End Of Japan Road to the Derby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.