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Yaupon’s Grand Yaupon Holds On to Deny Belzoni at Saratoga

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Saratoga Maidens, presented by Keeneland

The final strides called for heart and that’s exactly what Grand Yaupon (Yaupon) showed as Belzoni (Gun Runner) came calling in the final sixteenth, but was turned away on the line.

The Steve Asmussen-trainee was unveiled June 12 at Churchill Downs against a field that included Balloteer (Early Voting), who was named a ‘TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard’ for that victory, and the highly-regarded Flightline firster Greenwell, who held off Midnight Still (Curlin) by a nose for third. The latter runner would be a next-out winner at this venue July 11. Grand Yaupon finished a well-beaten fourth against that group.

Made the 2-1 favorite in this competitive second jump, the son of Yaupon had to recover from a stiff round of bumper cars early but was never far from the scramble for the lead as Foolin (Practical Joke) kept him company near the front. In command passing the three-sixteenths, Grand Yaupon had to fight off a first challenge to his inside turning for home and then had to brace for the oncoming rush of Belzoni in the later stages. Locking horns for the final yards, the colts battled to the wire with Grand Yaupon winning the photo by a head.

The victor is the second winner from three to race for the dam, whose first successful offspring was SW Happymayleidy (Runhappy). Media Circus, a half to the dam of SW & MGSP West Omaha (West Coast), has a yearling colt by Taiba to her credit. She was bred to Raging Torrent for 2027. This is the female line of GSW Call Now (Wild Again), making it the immediate family of GISW Tapizar (Tapit).

3rd-Saratoga, $115,000, Msw, 7-25, 2yo, 6f, 1:11.69, ft, head.
GRAND YAUPON (c, 2, Yaupon–Media Circus, by Mineshaft) Sales history: $560,000 Ylg ’25 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $69,250. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O-Estate of Mike McCarty; B-Thomas S. Hinkle, Henry L. Hinkle & Robert B. Kessinger (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen.

The post Yaupon’s Grand Yaupon Holds On to Deny Belzoni at Saratoga appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Magnitude Leads Whitney Workers at Saratoga

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Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Magnitude (Not This Time), winner of this term’s G1 Dubai World Cup and GI Stephen Foster S., worked five furlongs in a bullet 1:00.20 on Saturday over the Oklahoma dirt training track as he prepares for Saratoga’s GI Whitney Aug. 8, a ‘Win and You’re In’ for the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland.

Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, Magnitude completed his breeze with jockey Jose Ortiz up and to the outside of GSW Tiztastic (Tiz The Law).

“I’m awfully happy with him,” Asmussen said. “The conditions this morning were ideal. It was a nice, cool morning. The racetrack is in great shape. He’s doing extremely well up here. Obviously, we are very excited about the Whitney.”

Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, meanwhile, sent out reigning Horse of the Year Sovereignty (Into Mischief) and Grade I winner Baeza (McKinzie) for works over the Oklahoma on Saturday as they also prepare for the Whitney. Baeza was second after a slow start in the Foster. Sovereignty was a disappointing third as the favorite.

Sovereignty (inside) | Sarah Andrew

Sovereignty, with assistant trainer Neil Poznansky up, started his work ahead of workmate Thunder Roll (Hard Spun), who closed the gap in the turn and finished up on the outside. Sovereignty kept about a half-length in front at the wire and was timed in 1:01.

“It was good,” Mott said. “Very good. Felt he was on the bridle, cruising nicely.”

Earlier in the morning, Baeza worked five furlongs in 1:01.20 in company with unraced 3-year-old Veblen (Tapit).

“He was very good, very sharp, breezed well, galloped out good and came back good,” Mott said.

Work of the Day from @Saratoga1863—Magnitude (Outside), 1:00.20, and Tiztastic, 1:00.35, worked 5 Furlongs on July 25th, 2026, for trainer Steve Asmussen. pic.twitter.com/IVBBhSHMLM

— 1/ST TV (@Watch1ST) July 25, 2026

The post Magnitude Leads Whitney Workers at Saratoga appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Yaupon’s Grand Yaupon Holds On to Deny Belzoni at Saratoga

---

Saratoga Maidens, presented by Keeneland

The final strides called for heart and that’s exactly what Grand Yaupon (Yaupon) showed as Belzoni (Gun Runner) came calling in the final sixteenth, but was turned away on the line.

The Steve Asmussen-trainee was unveiled June 12 at Churchill Downs against a field that included Balloteer (Early Voting), who was named a ‘TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard’ for that victory, and the highly-regarded Flightline firster Greenwell, who held off Midnight Still (Curlin) by a nose for third. The latter runner would be a next-out winner at this venue July 11. Grand Yaupon finished a well-beaten fourth against that group.

Made the 2-1 favorite in this competitive second jump, the son of Yaupon had to recover from a stiff round of bumper cars early but was never far from the scramble for the lead as Foolin (Practical Joke) kept him company near the front. In command passing the three-sixteenths, Grand Yaupon had to fight off a first challenge to his inside turning for home and then had to brace for the oncoming rush of Belzoni in the later stages. Locking horns for the final yards, the colts battled to the wire with Grand Yaupon winning the photo by a head.

The victor is the second winner from three to race for the dam, whose first successful offspring was SW Happymayleidy (Runhappy). Media Circus, a half to the dam of SW & MGSP West Omaha (West Coast), has a yearling colt by Taiba to her credit. She was bred to Raging Torrent for 2027. This is the female line of GSW Call Now (Wild Again), making it the immediate family of GISW Tapizar (Tapit).

3rd-Saratoga, $115,000, Msw, 7-25, 2yo, 6f, 1:11.69, ft, head.
GRAND YAUPON (c, 2, Yaupon–Media Circus, by Mineshaft) Sales history: $560,000 Ylg ’25 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $69,250. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O-Estate of Mike McCarty; B-Thomas S. Hinkle, Henry L. Hinkle & Robert B. Kessinger (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen.

The post Yaupon’s Grand Yaupon Holds On to Deny Belzoni at Saratoga appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Magnitude Leads Whitney Workers at Saratoga

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Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Magnitude (Not This Time), winner of this term’s G1 Dubai World Cup and GI Stephen Foster S., worked five furlongs in a bullet 1:00.20 on Saturday over the Oklahoma dirt training track as he prepares for Saratoga’s GI Whitney Aug. 8, a ‘Win and You’re In’ for the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland.

Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, Magnitude completed his breeze with jockey Jose Ortiz up and to the outside of GSW Tiztastic (Tiz The Law).

“I’m awfully happy with him,” Asmussen said. “The conditions this morning were ideal. It was a nice, cool morning. The racetrack is in great shape. He’s doing extremely well up here. Obviously, we are very excited about the Whitney.”

Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, meanwhile, sent out reigning Horse of the Year Sovereignty (Into Mischief) and Grade I winner Baeza (McKinzie) for works over the Oklahoma on Saturday as they also prepare for the Whitney. Baeza was second after a slow start in the Foster. Sovereignty was a disappointing third as the favorite.

Sovereignty (inside) | Sarah Andrew

Sovereignty, with assistant trainer Neil Poznansky up, started his work ahead of workmate Thunder Roll (Hard Spun), who closed the gap in the turn and finished up on the outside. Sovereignty kept about a half-length in front at the wire and was timed in 1:01.

“It was good,” Mott said. “Very good. Felt he was on the bridle, cruising nicely.”

Earlier in the morning, Baeza worked five furlongs in 1:01.20 in company with unraced 3-year-old Veblen (Tapit).

“He was very good, very sharp, breezed well, galloped out good and came back good,” Mott said.

Work of the Day from @Saratoga1863—Magnitude (Outside), 1:00.20, and Tiztastic, 1:00.35, worked 5 Furlongs on July 25th, 2026, for trainer Steve Asmussen. pic.twitter.com/IVBBhSHMLM

— 1/ST TV (@Watch1ST) July 25, 2026

The post Magnitude Leads Whitney Workers at Saratoga appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.