Hard Spun Colt Tops Barretts May Sale

George Bolton buys the Barretts May Sale topper, going to $220,000 for a son of Hard Spun. The sale's average increases 2.5% over last year's figures as the buy-back rate tumbles to 19.1%.

Whose Close Relatives Are in the F-T FL Sale?

The catalog is out for what traditionally is the fanciest juvenile auction, the Fasig-Tipton Florida sale. Here is a list of some of the 2-year-olds that are close relatives to top racehorses.

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Belmont Dudes: Ernie and Bernie Hit New York

Soaking in the atmosphere at the track before the Belmont Stakes (gr. I), Ernie Moody and Bernie Schiappia were on the apron the morning of June 4, hanging out with Bob Baffert, who trains their colt Game On Dude.

Belmont Dudes: Ernie and Bernie Hit New York

Soaking in the atmosphere at the track before the Belmont Stakes (gr. I), Ernie Moody and Bernie Schiappia were on the apron the morning of June 4, hanging out with Bob Baffert, who trains their colt Game On Dude.

Sinister Minister at Stud in Japan

Sinister Minister, runaway winner of the 2006 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I), is standing at Arrow Stud in Japan.

Raise the Bluff Should Feel at Home in Longacres Mile

Raise the Bluff returns to his favorite track, Emerald Downs, as the 3-1 morning line choice for the $400,000 Longacres Mile Breeders' Cup Handicap Presented by TVG (gr. III) Aug. 19.

Change of Speed

By Ray Paulick - Conventional wisdom suggests front-running horses have a huge advantage if they are allowed to set the tortoise-like fractions established in this year's Blue Grass. But Polytrack has thrown conventional wisdom out the window.

Barretts' March Select Juvenile Auction Has 200 Horses

Barretts will condcut its March select sale of 2-year-olds in training on March 20 at Fairplex Park in Southern California.

Seasons of 2006

By Patricia Ranft - It's been a tumultuous year in Thoroughbred racing, although most years have their share of turmoil in this sport. Emotions changed with the seasons, resulting in a 2006 that won't soon be forgotten.

No Baffert Runner in 2006 Haskell

Trainer Bob Baffert, who has won the Haskell (gr. I) three times, including last year with Roman Ruler, will not have a runner in the Aug. 6 Monmouth Park race this year.

Kentucky Derby Notes: Sunday, May 7

A compilation of daily notes from Churchill Downs on the competitors in this year's Kentucky Derby.

Steve Haskin's Derby Analysis: A. P. Exclusive

There simply are too many highly regarded horses with near-identical running styles to get a good read on this race, which is one of the most puzzling in memory.

3-Year-Olds Affirm Their Quality as Derby Approaches

Like any kind of crop, a 3-year-old crop requires time to grow before it can be determined whether it is weak or strong. In racing, people have a tendency to denounce a 3-year-old crop in its infantile stages, and then praise it when it suddenly bears fruit right before the Kentucky Derby.

Kentucky Derby Notes: Tuesday, May 2

A daily update on the candidates for the May 6 Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) at Churchill Downs.

Fletcher Distributes First Breeders' Incentive Fund Check

Just days before the Run for the Roses, Gov. Ernie Fletcher made a trip to Churchill Downs to present the first Kentucky Thoroughbred Breeders' Incentive Fund check. The recipients were Mike and Jeanne Owens, owners of Kentucky-bred Sinister Minister, winner of the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) April 15.

Steve Haskin's Derby Report: A Work Festival

It took a week, but we finally have works...and works...and works. In what has to be a one-day record, a dozen Derby horses were on the work tab on a mild, drizzly Saturday morning, and we had a little bit of everything, from Lawyer Ron's sizzling five-furlong drill to a mixed bag of six-furlong works.

Working Out: Busy Morning at Churchill Downs

With one week to go before the 132nd running of the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), 13 candidates for the 1 1/4-mile classic were on the track at Churchill Downs Saturday morning, going through their final workouts before the rain that was forecast for later in the day in Louisville, Ky.

Kentucky Derby Notes: Wednesday, April 26

Notes for Wednesday, April 26, on candidates for the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).

Steve Haskin's Derby Report: Sweet New Faces and More on the Way

The biggest news of the day was the arrival Tuesday of Sweetnorthernsaint and Cause to Believe. With a lack of work activity once again, the talk of the morning was the cold and the unveiling of the new Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) saddle towels, which appear to be designed with the sole intention of going unnoticed.

Steve Haskin's Derby Report: Romans Issues Warning

Sinister Minister or no Sinister Minister, Sharp Humor is the one they'll have to catch on May 6, says the colt's trainer Dale Romans. And any horse who dares look Romans' gladiator in the eye early in the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) will pay the price.

Baffert: No Comparing 'Minister, War Emblem

Bob Baffert, who has three to get ready for the May 6 Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), says there's no comparing Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) winner Sinister Minister and his 2002 Derby winner War Emblem, another speedster.

Kentucky Derby Trail: Madcap Minister Runs Amok

Suddenly, all the fast horses in this year's Run for the Roses don't seem that fast anymore.

Sizzling Sinister Minister Steals Blue Grass

Sinister Minister stormed out of the starting gate and was never challenged in cruising to 12 3/4 -length victory in Saturday's $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I).

Haskin's Weekend Preview: Two Stakes Not All About the Favorites

Put up or shut up; now or never; do or die. You get the picture. With the running of Saturday's Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) and Arkansas Derby (gr. II), we finally will have a good idea who will be in the starting lineup for the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).

First Samurai Draws Post Position 5 as Blue Grass Favorite

First Samurai was installed as the 8-5 favorite when he drew post position five in the nine-horse field entered for Saturday's 82nd running of the $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) at Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Ky.