Consider this your weekly guide to the best stakes in North America. This week we have massive stakes cards at Aqueduct Racetrack, Keeneland, and Santa Anita Park built around three top Triple Crown preps.
Favored at odds of 3-2 in a five-horse field, the 5-year-old son of Lemon Drop Kid wore down 9-5 second choice Madefromlucky to take the 1 1/4-mile test in 2:04.52.
Kid Cruz will look to add more black type to his resume when he faces four competitors in the $200,000 Excelsior Stakes (gr. III) April 9 at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Former Irish stallion Lord Shanakill and Last Gunfighter, a recently retired multiple graded stakes winner, will join the 2016 stallion roster at Pin Oak Lane Farm in New Freedom, Pa.
John Gunther's Glennwood Farm announced Sept. 10 that multiple graded stakes-winning millionaire Last Gunfighter has been retired from racing.
Instead of 3-5 favorite Wicked Strong winning in his second start of the season, it was the 6-1 Effinex who made a sweeping move on the final turn and put away pacesetter Red Rifle to win the 1 1/4-mile test.
Wicked Strong, winner of last year's TwinSpires.com Wood Memorial (gr. I) and Jim Dandy Stakes (gr. II), tries to get back on a winning track April 25 as he takes on seven opponents in the $200,000 Excelsior Stakes (gr. III).
Sophomores Wicked Strong, Tonalist, and V.E. Day take on elders such as Whitney (gr. I) winner Moreno in the 1 1/4-mile Jockey Club Gold Cup Sept. 27 on Super Saturday at Belmont Park.
Belmont Park's TVG Super Saturday card Sept. 27 looks to be shaping up as a stellar day of racing with a number of elite runners listed as likely to compete in six graded stakes worth combined purses of $3.4 million.
Several horses aiming for races on Belmont Park's TVG Super Saturday card Sept. 27 put in works at various tracks Sept. 20, including Itsmyluckyday and Moreno.
Southern Equine Stables' Whitney (gr. I) winner Moreno and runner-up Itsmyluckyday will face off again Aug. 30 in the final grade I event for older horses of the Saratoga Race Course season, the $600,000 Woodward Stakes.
Southern Equine Stable's Moreno, front-running winner of the Whitney Stakes (gr. I), tuned up Aug. 24 for a run in the upcoming $600,000 Woodward Stakes (gr. I) with a speedy five-furlong breeze at Saratoga.
Will Take Charge and Palace Malice meet again Aug. 2 in the $1.5 million Whitney Handicap (gr. I), squaring off at Saratoga Race Course as the top two choices in a field of nine drawn for the 1 1/8-mile test.
Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Ruler On Ice has been retired from racing and is scheduled to ship to owner George and Lori Hall's Kentucky farm early during the week of July 7.
Multiple graded stakes winner Last Gunfighter is back for revenge July 5 against 10 others in the $500,000 Suburban Handicap (gr. II), one of five graded stakes on Belmont's stars & Stripes Festival card.
John Gunther's Last Gunfighter, away since his victory in the Hawthorne Gold Cup (gr. II) last November, had plenty of ammunition for his return with a victory in the $200,000 Mountainview Handicap at Penn National May 31.
J. Keeler Johnson handicaps the Mountainview Handicap and Penn Mile Stakes. read blog
American Turf (gr. IIT) winner Global View and grade III winner Bobby's Kitten headline the early probables for the second running of the $500,000 Penn Mile at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course May 31.
Godolphin entrymates Romansh and Long River ran one-two, respectivley, in the $150,000 Excelsior Stakes (gr. III) at Aqueduct Racetrack March 22.
TimeformUS Weekend Plays from Turfway, Aqueduct, Santa Anita and Sunland read blog
Long River and Romansh face five opponents in the 1 1/8-mile test for older horses at Aqueduct March 22.
Photos from Aqueduct, Churchill Downs, Hollywood Park, Japan, Hawthorne, Zia Park and more. view slideshow
New York shipper Last Gunfighter earned his fourth graded stakes win of the year, closing to get the job done in the $350,000 Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap (gr. II) at Hawthorne Racecourse Nov. 30.
Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) contender Last Gunfighter and grade I winner Alpha head a competitive Nov. 30 edition of the $350,000 Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap Presented by Xpressbet (gr. II).
Mordi's Miracle posted an upset in the $150,000 Sunshine Millions Classic Preview at Gulfstream Park Nov. 9, but his three-length triumph could hardly be termed a miracle.
| Horse | Trainer | Breeder / Owner |
|---|---|---|
| Colizeo | Luis Duco |
|
| Heart Butte | Todd A. Pletcher |
|
| Isn't He Perfect | Eugene Reiff |
|
| Joan's Choice | David Jacobson |
|
| Last Gunfighter | Todd A. Pletcher |
|
| Mordi's Miracle | Todd A. Pletcher |
|
| Ruler On Ice | Kelly J. Breen |
|
| Race | Track | Date |
|---|---|---|
| O.D. McDonald S. | ALB | |
| Wild Applause S. | BEL | |
| Chicago H. (G3) | CD | |
| River Rock Casino H. | HST | |
| Edward Evans S. | LRL |
Get the latest insider news, analysis, entries and results on your phone or sent to your email!
Sign up for our free weekly email newsletters and alerts, filled with race previews and results, news of the week, or breaking news.
Sign Up
