Daddy's Kid could be the class play as he takes on eight opponents in the $200,00 John B. Connally Turf Cup (gr. IIIT) at Sam Houston Race Park the night of Jan. 24. Also on the bill is the $400,000 Houston Ladies Classic.
Defeating four older fillies and mares, Juddmonte Farms' Close Hatches secured her third grade I with a front-running performance in the $588,000 Apple Blossom Handicap (gr. I) April 11 at Oaklawn Park.
Close Hatches will try to add a third top-level victory to her resume in the $600,000 Apple Blossom Handicap (gr. I), in which she meets four opponents, including last year's winner On Fire Baby, April 11 at Oaklawn Park.
Joe Mulholland Jr. is a throwback to the days of homegrown Kentucky horsemen. He works tirelessly on the family farm with his siblings and father to produce top-quality Thoroughbreds.
Alpha Delta Stable's Devil's Cave delivered a superb frontrunning performance in the $200,000 Sabin Stakes (gr. II) Feb. 16 at Gulfstream Park, setting a track record while earning her first graded stakes win.
Sweet N Discreet successfully stretched out to 1 1/8 miles in winning the Sunshine Millions Distaff, and she'll square off again with Devil's Cave in the $200,000 Sabin Stakes (gr. II) at Gulfstream Park Feb. 16.
Although she hasn't run since Oct. 5 and hasn't won since June 20, Juddmonte Farms' Riposte looks to have a decisive class edge over her seven opponents in the $150,000 Suwannee River Stakes (gr. IIIT) Feb. 8 at Gulfstream.
Fasig-Tipton has cataloged 66 supplemental entries to its upcoming Kentucky winter mixed sale to be held Feb. 9-10 at the sales company's Lexington headquarters.
Rose to Gold picked up the fourth graded stakes win of her career after running down favored Unusual Way to win the second renewal of the $400,000 Houston Ladies Classic on the night of Jan. 25 at Sam Houston Race Park.
Undefeated since moving to the barn of trainer Ron Faucheux, Brittlyn Stable's Class Included looks to keep her streak alive against seven others in the $400,000 Houston Ladies Classic Jan. 25 at Sam Houston Race Park.
Parranda extended her recent success against other Florida-breds when she took command off the far turn and was never threatened late in the $150,000 Florida Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Jan. 18 at Gulfstream.
Viva Rafaela, a group I winner in her native Brazil, will try stakes company for the first time on United States soil while facing a full field in the Jan. 4 Marshua's River Stakes (gr. IIIT).
Wildcat Lily stalked her way to a victory in the 39th running of the $150,000 Azalea Stakes (gr. III) for 3-year-old fillies at Calder Race Course July 6.
Kathleen Amaya and Raffaele Centofanti's three-time graded stakes-winning filly Rose to Gold is recovering from surgery for bone chips and will not resume racing until this September at the earliest.
Rose to Gold may bear the distinction of having the most modest sale price of any of filly in the starting gate for the May 3 Kentucky Oaks (gr. I), but you would never know it by looking at her race record.
Dreaming of Julia, the remarkable 21 3/4-length winner of the March 30 Gulfstream Oaks (gr. II), drew post 8 of 11 sophomore fillies and was installed the 3-1 favorite for the $1 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I).
Jockey Calvin Borel had nothing but praise for Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) contender Rose to Gold after her four-furlong work at Churchill Downs April 26. The Friends Lake filly went the distance in :47 4/5.
Here are some of the explanations I received on this year's stellar field of contenders. Which one is your favorite? read blog
Trainer Todd Pletcher's quartet of Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) contenders, Dreaming of Julia, Princess of Sylmar, Silsita, and Unlimited Budget, galloped at Churchill Downs the morning of April 24.
Calumet Farm's Broken Spell was ruled out of the Kentucky Oaks the morning of April 23 by trainer D. Wayne Lukas. Trainer Bob Baffert said Fiftyshadesofhay will also not contend.
Several contenders for the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I), including four trained by Todd Pletcher, went to the track at Churchill Downs the morning of April 20 as they continued to work toward the May 3 filly classic.
The fields for the May 3 Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) and Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) the following day continue to take shape, with eligibility in each race to be determined by the new points system.
Unlikely Rose to Gold stamped her ticket for the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) with another dominating performance at Oaklawn Park April 10, splashing her way to a front-running 4 1/2-length victory in the $400,000 Fantasy Stakes.
Rags to riches story Rose to Gold, front-running winner of the Honeybee Stakes (gr. III) last month, returns to Oaklawn Park April 10 for the $400,000 Fantasy Stakes (gr. III).
Rose to Gold put away heavily favored Flashy Gray in the stretch for a gate-to-wire triumph under Calvin Borel in the $150,000 Honeybee Stakes (gr. III) March 9 at Oaklawn Park.
| Horse | Trainer | Breeder / Owner |
|---|---|---|
| Bama Rose | William A. Kaplan |
|
| Brown Eyed Sue | Kathleen O'Connell |
|
| Capriccio Blue | Jose Garoffalo |
|
| Caraquista | Jeff Bonde |
|
| Nicki Starshine | William P. White |
|
| Rose to Gold | Sal Santoro |
|
| Royal Geisha | Antonio Sano |
|
| Race | Track |
|---|---|
| LADBROKES ST LEGER (gr. I) | DON |
| Garden City S. (gr. I) | BEL |
| Summer S. (gr. II) | WO |
| Natalma S. (gr. II) | WO |
| PTHA President's Cup S. | PRX |
| Race | Track | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Marshua S. | LRL | |
| Frank Whiteley Jr S. | LRL | |
| Rego Park S. | AQU | |
| Tomball S. | HOU | |
| 96Rock S. | TP |
