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Josh Isner Named OwnerView’s New Owner of the Year

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Josh Isner, founder of Delta Squad Racing, has been named the 2026 New Owner of the Year, sponsored by 1/ST RACING, OwnerView announced Friday evening. The award recognizes a new Thoroughbred owner who has achieved success in the sport while making a positive impact on the industry.

Isner, who entered Thoroughbred ownership in 2025, has quickly established Delta Squad Racing as a significant presence in the sport. Delta Squad Racing compiled a 2026 record of 10 wins, four seconds, and one third and earnings of $898,444. Its stakes winners include Baby Vino, Margie’s Intention, and Verifire.

The stable’s breakout performer has been Baby Vino, whom Delta Squad Racing campaigned in partnership with Cosmo Stables and later with HRH Prince Faisal bin Khaled bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud. Baby Vino won the $1-million GI Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park in July.

Isner, president of Axon Enterprise, has brought his business and technology experience to racing. His introduction to Thoroughbred ownership came after a trip to Saratoga with Dave Portnoy in 2025.

“Getting involved in Thoroughbred racing has been an incredible experience, and I’m honored to receive this recognition,” Isner said. “There’s nothing quite like the excitement of competing in this sport, but just as rewarding has been becoming part of the racing community. This is something we will be a part of for a long time, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”

The other finalists for the 2026 New Owner of the Year Award were Run Fast Racing, Will Stroud, and Canuck Racing Club.

The post Josh Isner Named OwnerView’s New Owner of the Year appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

No Problems This Time for Ala Sawab, Rolls Home to ‘Rising Star’ Honors at Del Mar

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Ultimately labeled as the architect of his own problems when he stumbled leaving the gate and dumped his jockey the first time he went out in the afternoon, Ala Sawab (Flightline) finally had a chance to strut his stuff this time around, and did so to the tune of ‘TDN Rising Stardom, presented by Hagyard’ in the Del Mar opener.

Facing a short field in the aforementioned debut Aug. 29 at this venue, Ala Sawab was fractious right at the wrong moment and threw his head as the gates opened before stumbling badly a few strides later to dump Joel Rosario to the track. He then ran loose for most of the race, caused the rest of the field some trouble on the bend, but was ultimately safely apprehended by an outrider on the clubhouse turn.

He returned to the worktab Sept. 14 and has since put together a steady pattern of works leading up to this second attempt at a debut.

It all went his way here.

Breaking well this time and immediately out to take the lead, Ala Sawab coasted along on the front end through an opening quarter in :22 flat and a half in :44.82 while comfortably in hand. Turning for home after six panels in 1:09.53, and with Bold Type (Violence) trying his best to keep pace, he left the field in his wake to win with air to spare. The final time was 1:15.75.

Ala Sawab is Flightline‘s fifth ‘Rising Star’ and his second at Del Mar behind Inshallah.

The victor is the first winner for Message, a Listed-winning half-sister to SP Catsadiva (Tale of the Cat) and SP John’s Success (Colonel John). Ala Sawab is her last registered offspring thus far after a run of poor breeding luck in two successive years. She was bred to Good Magic for 2027. This is the extended female family of MGISW Win (Barachois).

1st-Del Mar, $65,500, Msw, 11-13, 2yo, 6 1/2f, 1:15.75, gd, 8 1/4 lengths.
ALA SAWAB, c, 2, by Flightline
                1st Dam: Message (SW & GSP, $154,016), by Warrior’s Reward
                2nd Dam: Song’n Dance, by Carson City
                3rd Dam: Song for Par Ci, by The Minstrel
Sales history: $475,000 RNA Ylg ’25 FTSAUG; $400,000 Ylg ’25 FTKOCT. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $39,500.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O-KAS Stables; B-Woodford Thoroughbreds, LLC (KY); T-John W. Sadler.

The post No Problems This Time for Ala Sawab, Rolls Home to ‘Rising Star’ Honors at Del Mar appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Josh Isner Named OwnerView’s New Owner of the Year

---

Josh Isner, founder of Delta Squad Racing, has been named the 2026 New Owner of the Year, sponsored by 1/ST RACING, OwnerView announced Friday evening. The award recognizes a new Thoroughbred owner who has achieved success in the sport while making a positive impact on the industry.

Isner, who entered Thoroughbred ownership in 2025, has quickly established Delta Squad Racing as a significant presence in the sport. Delta Squad Racing compiled a 2026 record of 10 wins, four seconds, and one third and earnings of $898,444. Its stakes winners include Baby Vino, Margie’s Intention, and Verifire.

The stable’s breakout performer has been Baby Vino, whom Delta Squad Racing campaigned in partnership with Cosmo Stables and later with HRH Prince Faisal bin Khaled bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud. Baby Vino won the $1-million GI Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park in July.

Isner, president of Axon Enterprise, has brought his business and technology experience to racing. His introduction to Thoroughbred ownership came after a trip to Saratoga with Dave Portnoy in 2025.

“Getting involved in Thoroughbred racing has been an incredible experience, and I’m honored to receive this recognition,” Isner said. “There’s nothing quite like the excitement of competing in this sport, but just as rewarding has been becoming part of the racing community. This is something we will be a part of for a long time, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”

The other finalists for the 2026 New Owner of the Year Award were Run Fast Racing, Will Stroud, and Canuck Racing Club.

The post Josh Isner Named OwnerView’s New Owner of the Year appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

No Problems This Time for Ala Sawab, Rolls Home to ‘Rising Star’ Honors at Del Mar

---

Ultimately labeled as the architect of his own problems when he stumbled leaving the gate and dumped his jockey the first time he went out in the afternoon, Ala Sawab (Flightline) finally had a chance to strut his stuff this time around, and did so to the tune of ‘TDN Rising Stardom, presented by Hagyard’ in the Del Mar opener.

Facing a short field in the aforementioned debut Aug. 29 at this venue, Ala Sawab was fractious right at the wrong moment and threw his head as the gates opened before stumbling badly a few strides later to dump Joel Rosario to the track. He then ran loose for most of the race, caused the rest of the field some trouble on the bend, but was ultimately safely apprehended by an outrider on the clubhouse turn.

He returned to the worktab Sept. 14 and has since put together a steady pattern of works leading up to this second attempt at a debut.

It all went his way here.

Breaking well this time and immediately out to take the lead, Ala Sawab coasted along on the front end through an opening quarter in :22 flat and a half in :44.82 while comfortably in hand. Turning for home after six panels in 1:09.53, and with Bold Type (Violence) trying his best to keep pace, he left the field in his wake to win with air to spare. The final time was 1:15.75.

Ala Sawab is Flightline‘s fifth ‘Rising Star’ and his second at Del Mar behind Inshallah.

The victor is the first winner for Message, a Listed-winning half-sister to SP Catsadiva (Tale of the Cat) and SP John’s Success (Colonel John). Ala Sawab is her last registered offspring thus far after a run of poor breeding luck in two successive years. She was bred to Good Magic for 2027. This is the extended female family of MGISW Win (Barachois).

1st-Del Mar, $65,500, Msw, 11-13, 2yo, 6 1/2f, 1:15.75, gd, 8 1/4 lengths.
ALA SAWAB, c, 2, by Flightline
                1st Dam: Message (SW & GSP, $154,016), by Warrior’s Reward
                2nd Dam: Song’n Dance, by Carson City
                3rd Dam: Song for Par Ci, by The Minstrel
Sales history: $475,000 RNA Ylg ’25 FTSAUG; $400,000 Ylg ’25 FTKOCT. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $39,500.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O-KAS Stables; B-Woodford Thoroughbreds, LLC (KY); T-John W. Sadler.

The post No Problems This Time for Ala Sawab, Rolls Home to ‘Rising Star’ Honors at Del Mar appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.