Where Arrogate is back on the worktab and Gun Runner is knocking off top-level wins with his Stephen Foster Handicap (G1) triumph last weekend, Neolithic was sidelined after contracting a respiratory illness on his trip back from Dubai.
The Ohio Derby (G3) will feature four contenders who started in the May 6 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1), with Brad Grady's multiple grade 2 winner Girvin installed as the 2-1 morning-line choice in the nine-horse lineup.
Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin operation has been prominent in the headlines recently. At the conclusion of the June 20 Queen Anne Stakes (G1), Ribchester (IRE) put the royal blue silks in racing's forefront for positive reasons.
At age 5, Miss Temple City is back at Royal Ascot for a third consecutive year, still seeking a victory on that prestigious ground but in no need of outside validation.
The McCraken that inspires confidence from trainer Ian Wilkes is the one that showed up in the June 17 Matt Winn Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs, unleashing his typical kick after ranging up on the final turn en route to a 2 1/4-length triumph.
A total of just four rivals signed to take on the unbeaten talent out of trainer Chad Brown's barn, leaving Timeline as the 1-5 morning-line favorite to remain unblemished when he starts in the Betfair.com Pegasus Stakes (G3).
One year after sending champion Tepin to Royal Ascot to make a little American history, Mark Casse's barn has another firecracker in John Oxley's La Coronel set for the prestigious meeting, this one a planned start in the Coronation Stakes (G1).
Trainer Phil Sims would just as soon have the Turtle Bowl gelding keeps things simple on June 17 by duplicating the same effort in Saturday's $200,000 Wise Dan Stakes (G2T) at Churchill Downs that earned him the victory in the test one year ago.
Gun Runner is set to make his first start since finishing second to champion Arrogate in the March 25 Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1), and looms as the overwhelming favorite in the $500,000 Stephen Foster Handicap (G1).
Tired but good was the official declaration of how Tapwrit was doing Sunday morning, less than 24 hours after his two-length victory in the final leg of the Triple Crown.
When the hard-knocking Mor Spirit earned a 6 1/4-length win in the $1.2 million Mohegan Sun Metropolitan Handicap (G1), it marked the fourth victory on the day for Bob Baffert and fifth triumph for Mike Smith.
Abel Tasman, winner of the May 5 Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1), put on another last-to-first showcase when she shot up the rail and withstood a challenge from Salty to capture the $700,000 Acorn Stakes (G1).
In case the memo was missed the first time around, let it be known that Hawksmoor (IRE) alone on the lead is not a scenario that ends well for others.
What has been an ever-shifting landscape for this year's 3-year-old runners is set to conclude its first-half act June 10 with a wide-open edition of the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets (G1).
Unbeaten on dirt since he was transferred to the barn of Eclipse Award winner Chad Brown, Twisted Tom has a chance to become the poster child for outside-the-box thinking in the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1).
There is usually not a ton of buzz that comes out of 1 3/8-mile black-type stakes on the dirt. It is far from the norm, however, for such outings to yield the kind of result Tu Brutus (CHI) put up in his second North American start.
New Money Honey took matters into her own hands and made amends for an off-the-board outing in her first test this season when she delivered a gate-to-wire score in the $200,000 Wonder Again (G3T) at Belmont Park.
Newly minted Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) favorite Irish War Cry got his first look at the massive Belmont Park oval the morning of June 8, when he hit the main track for a 1 1/2-mile gallop with trainer Graham Motion keeping tabs.
With champion Classic Empire out of the June 10 Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) with a hoof abscess, Irish War Cry inherited the position of favoritism for the 1 1/2-mile race, and was installed as the 7-2 morning-line choice.
Celebrity chef Bobby Flay has purchased a 25% interest in Belmont Stakes (G1) contender J Boys Echo, Jason Loutsch of owner Albaugh Family Stable announced June 7.
Champion Classic Empire will not run in the June 10 Belmont Stakes (G1) because of a hoof abscess in his right front, trainer Mark Casse said June 7.
Gratitude and humility flow freely from jockey Channing Hill, something the 29-year-old is particularly mindful of these days. He remembers all too well when that wasn't necessarily the case.
Once Frostmourne got first jump on race favorite Big Score in the $500,000 Penn Mile Stakes (G2T), there was no stopping the son of Speightstown from launching himself into the ranks of graded stakes success.
The already loaded male sprint division was further reinforced when Limousine Liberal overcame a four-wide trip throughout to post a 2 1/2-length win over Wilbo in the $100,000 Aristides Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs June 3.
With fellow John Oxley-owned La Coronel prepping for a trip to Royal Ascot to contest the Coronation Stakes (G1), Dream Dancing has an opportunity to shine in the Wonder Again Stakes (G3T) at Belmont Park.
Jockey Robby Albarado, who has been sidelined since April due to a leg fracture, will ride graded stakes winner J Boys Echo in the June 10 Belmont Stakes (G1), Jason Loutsch of owner Albaugh Family Stable confirmed June 3.
Trainer Graham Motion kept looking for reasons to go elsewhere. Irish War Cry kept arguing that the van ride to New York next week was one worth taking.
Calumet Farm's True Timber, runner-up in the Feb. 4 Withers Stakes (G3), will miss the June 10 Belmont Stakes (G1) because of a high temperature this week.
Dealing with curveballs has become the norm for Casse Racing where Classic Empire is concerned. In that respect, the champion colt's lone timed move in advance of the June 10 Belmont Stakes (G1) was business as usual.
Multiple graded stakes-placed Conquest Mo Money will bypass the June 10 Belmont Stakes (G1) and instead start in the seven-furlong Woody Stephens Stakes (G2) on the Belmont Park undercard that day, owner Tom McKenna said June 1.
Fresh off What a View's front-running victory as the 1-2 favorite in the Crystal Water Stakes for California-breds on May 20, trainer Kenny Black is holding to the old adage of running his charge when he's right.
Trainer Mark Casse gratefully reported Sunday that Canadian champion Catch a Glimpse had eaten up and was in good order in the hours after and the morning following her collapse during the Nassau Stakes (G2T) at Woodbine May 27.
Cowboy Culture took a key step forward in his maturation process when the son of Quality Road drew off as he pleased in the final furlong to win the $100,000 Arlington Classic Stakes (G3T) by 5 3/4 lengths over Gorgeous Kitten May 27.
A tale of two emotions played out during the $175,000 Nassau Stakes (G2T) at Woodbine May 27, as the ascent of former claimer Starship Jubilee was juxtaposed against concern for the well-being of 2015 Canadian Horse of the Year Catch a Glimpse.
For her latest turn on the worktab, trainer Graham Motion gave Miss Temple City a little taste of some race-day atmosphere when he worked her on the turf at Fair Hill Training Center May 27 just prior to the Saturday's slate of steeplechase events.
Gotham Stakes (G3) winner J Boys Echo will head to New York for a planned start in the June 10 Belmont Stakes (G1), Jason Loutsch of owners Albaugh Family Stable confirmed May 27.
In his first workout since finishing tenth in the May 6 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1), Irish War Cry kept the door open for a start in the Belmont Stakes (G1) when he turned in a five-furlong move at Fair Hill Training Center May 27.
Multiple graded stakes winner Destin, runner-up in last year's Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1), is set to make his first start in nearly nine months when he goes to post May 28 in an allowance optional claiming race at Belmont Park.
Always Dreaming, winner of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1), will bypass the June 10 Belmont Stakes (G1) as expected and be freshened for a summer campaign, Terry Finley of West Point Thoroughbreds confirmed May 26.
Multiple grade 1 winner Lady Eli headlines a field of six in the $300,000 Gamely Stakes (G1T) at Santa Anita Park May 27.
Janis Whitham's homebred McCraken put in his first timed move since running eighth in the first leg of the Triple Crown, going an easy half-mile in :49 4/5 at Churchill Downs the morning of May 23.
If the 116th edition of the Longines Dixie Stakes (G2T) is any indication, the current vintage of Live Oak Plantation's homebred World Approval may be as good as ever.
Since Always Dreaming's Kentucky Derby triumph, there has been ample reason for both his camp and Classic Empire's to feel emboldened about the prospect of their horses throwing down something exceptional 14 days later.
J. Kirk and Judy Robison's Vertical Oak made the most of out of her setup at Pimlico Race Course Friday when she overtook My Miss Chiff a furlong out and kicked clear by 3 3/4-lengths in the six-furlong Miss Preakness Stakes.
John Oxley's Noble Bird has been scratched out of May 19 Pimlico Special Handicap (G3), a race he captured last season by 11 1/4 lengths.
Thanks in part to the lessons instilled by his former boss, trainer Todd Pletcher is nothing if not his own man now, with the enviable problem of constantly trying to kick his own bar of success to ever higher levels.
Having started his 2017 campaign off in smashing fashion last month, World Approval will try and duplicate that top-level form when he headlines a field of 10 in the $250,000 Longines Dixie Stakes (G2T) at Pimlico Race Course May 20.
Todd Pletcher is taking a cue from Always Dreaming in that he, like his high-energy charge, have about had it with the minutiae leading into the May 20 Preakness Stakes (G1) and are ready to just run the race.
While the short rest between the first two legs of the Triple Crown has been a popular lament over the years, the modern history of the Preakness Stakes reflects a trend that is actually most unkind to the oft-proclaimed "new shooters."
Always Dreaming turned in another strong 1 1/2-mile gallop over the Pimlico Race Course main track May 17 as he readies for his start in the May 20 Preakness Stakes (G1).,
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