This week we have cards loaded with stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots and Gulfstream Park, Dortmund's return to dirt, and more.
After dispatching fellow grade 1 winner Catch a Glimpse in her 2017 debut, Moyglare Stud Farm's Celestine will look to continue her roll by defending her title in the $300,000 Honey Fox Stakes (G2T) at Gulfstream Park April 1.
Phaedrus Flights' Celestine went wire-to-wire in the $300,000 Honey Fox Stakes (gr. IIT) April 2 at Gulfstream Park, picking up the first graded victory of her career for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.
Sandiva, who loves Gulfstream Park, faces off against Tammy the Torpedo, who also enjoys the home cooking in Florida; and the dangerous Lady Lara in a deep Honey Fox field.
In her third race since relocating from England last year, Swettenham Stud's Lady Lara claimed her first graded stakes in the Honey Fox (gr. IIT) March 28 at Gulfstream Park.
The $300,000 Honey Fox Stakes (gr. IIT) at Gulfstream Park March 28 features the "now" horse, Sandiva, versus last year's star, Coffee Clique.
Seven graded stakes winners will face off in the First Lady at Keeneland, with plenty of speedy fillies and mares perhaps setting the race up for a closer.
Filimbi, winner of the De La Rose Stakes over a comebacking Dayatthespa, will attempt to repeat her advantage Aug. 23 in the $250,000 Ballston Spa Stakes (gr. IIT) at Saratoga.
Juddmonte Farms' Filimbi collared pacesetter Dayatthespa in the stretch and outfought that tenacious rival for her first U.S. stakes win in the $100,000 Fasig-Tipton De La Rose Stakes Aug. 2 at Saratoga Race Course.
Dayatthespa and Big Blue Kitten, two familiar faces from the barn of trainer Chad Brown, head the respective fields for the De La Rose and the Lure, two $100,000 turf races on the Whitney undercard Aug. 2 at Saratoga.
Graded stakes winners Gantry and Sum of the Parts head a field of 10 sprinters in the inaugural running of the $300,000 Evangeline Downs Turf Sprint June 21 at Evangeline Downs Racetrack Casino & Hotel.
Effie Trinket, stablemate of Derby runner Samraat, will be tough to beat in the May 3 Churchill Downs Distaff Turf Mile (gr. IIT). Nine older fillies and mares will battle for $300,000.
G. Watts Humphrey's 5-year-old mare Centre Court will attempt become only the second repeat winner of the Jenny Wiley Stakes (gr. IT) at Keeneland when she takes on nine rivals in the 1 1/16-mile turf race April 12.
Centre Court, seizing the lead in deep stretch, held off a streaking Kitten's Point by a nose to make it consecutive wins in the $200,000 Honey Fox Stakes (gr. IIT) on the Gulfstream Park turf March 15.
Parranda, coming off back-to-back stakes victories at Gulfstream Park, will attempt to add to her impressive record n the $200,000 Honey Fox Stakes (gr. IIT) at one mile March 15.
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.
Better Lucky, who paid a record $72.20 when capturing the $250,000 Matriarch (gr. IT) a year ago, will try to become only the second repeat winner in race history Dec. 1 at Betfair Hollywood Park.
Photos of the week from Keeneland, Belmont Park, Europe, Japan, and Calder. view slideshow
Pianist put away pacesetter Assateague in upper stretch and scurried home two lengths in front for her second graded win of the year in the $200,000 Athenia Stakes (gr. IIIT) oct. 12 at Belmont Park.
Trainer Chad Brown, enjoying remarkable success with his grass runners in recent months, sends out a strong pair in Samitar and Pianist for the $200,000 Athenia Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Belmont Park Oct. 12.
Richard Santulli's Laughing captured her third victory in as many starts this year with a wire-to-wire victory in the Ketel One Ballston Spa Stakes (gr. IIT) at Saratoga Race Course.
Grade I winner Centre Court will face Laughing, Miz Ida, Somali Lemonade, and Hungry Island trying to make it back to the winner's circle in the $250,000 Ketel One Ballston Spa Stakes (gr. IIT) Aug. 24 at Saratoga.
Good things come to those who wait, and so it was that Calumet Farm's Irish filly Starstruck bided time stalking the pace, waiting for the right moment to take home the win in the 47th Matchmaker Stakes.
A determined Laughing (IRE) refused to relinquish the lead in the $588,000 Diana Stakes July 27 over the inner turf course at Saratoga Race Course, leading the all the way for her first grade I victory in a terrific finish.
| Horse | Trainer | Breeder / Owner |
|---|---|---|
| Centre Court | George R. Arnold, II |
|
| Channel Lady | Todd A. Pletcher |
|
| Class Included | Ron Faucheux |
|
| Frontside | Eduardo Caramori |
|
| Heavenly Landing | Eddie Kenneally |
|
| Namaskara | H. Graham Motion |
|
| Pianist | Chad C. Brown |
|
| Samitar (GB) | Chad C. Brown |
|
| Star Torina | William I. Mott |
|
| 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 |
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