What's Going On Here: Swing Shift
Oaklawn’s 2019 calendar could be a game-changer.
Evan Hammonds
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Rated R Superstar Last to First in Ben Ali
Radar Racing's Rated R Superstar, a 5-year-old gelding, roared past favored Chip Leader to win the April 13 Ben Ali Stakes (G3) at Keeneland. The son of Kodiak Kowboy covered the nine furlongs in 1:49.31.
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Acorn New Goal for Champion Filly Caledonia Road
Caledonia Road, last year's champion 2-year-old filly, returned to the work tab April 11 at Palm Meadows Training Center. After recovering from a viral infection, the daughter of Quality Road is being pointed to the June 9 Acorn Stakes (G1).
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What's Going On Here: Flight to Quality
Bettors flock to favorites in the Kentucky Derby Future Wager
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Cosmic Burst Could Light Up Fantasy
Norma Lee Stockseth and Todd Dunn's Cosmic Burst, winner of the March 10 Honeybee Stakes (G3), is poised to move forward in Oaklawn's April 13 Fantasy Stakes (G3). The daughter of Violence is one of eight 3-year-old fillies for the $400,000 event.
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Bound for Nowhere Bounds Home in Shakertown
The Wesley Ward-owned and -trained Bound for Nowhere, an 8-1 shot, drew clear to win the April 7 Shakertown Stakes (G2T) at Keeneland by four lengths over Bucchero.
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Northeast/Mid-Atlantic Regional: Three to Get Ready
Marylanders often boast that the first Thoroughbred horse race contested in America took place in Maryland in 1721.
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What's Going On Here: International Intrigue
Mendelssohn's UAE Derby win pretty much means three of the 20 stalls come Derby day will be filled with horses trained outside the U.S.
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Blue Grass Under Consideration for Blended Citizen
Blended Citizen, winner of the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) over Turfway Park’s Polytrack March 17, could make his next start in Keeneland’s April 7 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) according to trainer Doug O'Neill.
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What's Going On Here: Cultural Divide
We were fortunate enough to be part of a whirlwind week of racing—on both sides of the equator—in mid-March. After visiting the leafy Maronas course in Montevideo, Uruguay, March 11, we traveled to utilitarian Turfway Park.
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Synchrony Seeks Double in Muniz Memorial
Pin Oak Stable homebred Synchrony, a two-length winner of the Feb. 17 Fair Grounds Handicap (G3T), returns for the March 24 Muniz Memorial Handicap (G2T) in New Orleans.
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The Thunder Rolled
Recalling Thunder Gulch's sophomore run in 1995.
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Roman Rosso Scores in Latinoamericano
Roman Rosso, a son of the late Roman Ruler, defeats Leao De Prata in the stretch of the $500,000 Longines Gran Premio Latinoamericano (G1) March 11 at Maronas Racetrack in Montevideo, Uruguay.
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LARC's Esposito on Breeding and Racing in South America
Horacio Esposito, president of Latin American Racing Channel, speaks about breeding and racing in South America on the eve of the Longines Gran Premio Latinoamericano (G1).
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Stronger Than Ever Targets Amy's Challenge in Honeybee
Oaklawn's March 10 Honeybee Stakes (G3), a 11/16-mile prep for the April 13 Fantasy Stakes (G3), features three fillies that won stakes last time out: Amy's Challenge, Red Ruby, and Stronger Than Ever.
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What's Going On Here: Class...And Cash
Gulfstream playing the game better than anyone else right now
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Suspensory Injury Sidelines Fly So High
Phipps Stable's Fly So High, a three-length winner of the March 3 Davona Dale Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park, will be given 60 days off following the discovery of a tear in a suspensory.
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Fly So High OK After Being Vanned Off
Phipps Stable's Fly So High was vanned off following the March 3 Davona Dale Stake (G2) at Gulfstream Park. Daisy Phipps Pulito reports the 3-year-old filly is doing fine the following morning.
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Baffert Works Derby Hopefuls at Santa Anita
Trainer Bob Baffert sent out his sophomore big guns to work March 4 at Santa Anita Park.
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Twelve Set for Gran Premio Latinoamericano in Uruguay
The Longines Latinoamericano (G1), South America's richest race at $500,000, will be run March 11 at the Hipódromo Nacional de Maroñas in Uruguay. The 12-furlong race has drawn a field of 12.
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Midnight Disguise to Defend Home Turf in Busher
New York-bred Midnight Disguise—three-for-four over Aqueduct's main track—faces seven 3-year-old fillies in the March 3 Busher Stakes in New York.
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What's Going On Here: Tis The Season
As we move past the mid-point of February, mares are dropping foals in Central Kentucky—and elsewhere—and the 2018 breeding season is off and running.
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What's Going On Here: Rock On
'Letters from Rockland Farm' adds perspective to BloodHorse.
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West Coast Regional: Golden Eight
Come the turn of the calendar, optimism comes to the fore as new stallions are settled into new homes, and farm managers do their best to drum up business. Several new faces will try to break through in the Golden State in 2018.
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What's Going On Here: Super Dreams
Success in any sport comes from teamwork
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What's Going On Here: Under The Gun
Behind every Thoroughbred that makes its way to the racetrack is a team of people who have plowed plenty of capital and sweat equity into turning a dream into a reality. And there is always a great backstory.
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Northeast/Mid-Atlantic Regional: Big East
While the new stallions that have made their way to Kentucky for the 2018 breeding season might get the most ink, those entering stud in Maryland and New York this year deserve a closer look.
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Caledonia Road Gets Nod as Champion 2-Year-Old Filly
Caledonia Road took the top prize after her sweeping 3 1/4-length score at Del Mar during the World Championships.
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Pair of Wins Lift Scorpiancer to Steeplechase Eclipse
While Scorpiancer only made two starts on the season, his performances were so dominating that he survived a late run by fellow finalists Mr. Hot Stuff and All the Way Jose to earn the Eclipse Award as the top steeplechase horse of 2017.
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What's Going On Here: First Blush
News came in around our 'hot stove' during the last week in the form of foal announcements from farms popping buttons over the initial reports on the first arrivals from last year's first-year sires.
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What's Going on Here: Party On
The Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday weekend offers us the opportunity to extend birthday wishes to a pair of pioneers and congratulations to a pair of new trailblazers in the Thoroughbred industry.
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Multiple Grade 2 Winner Miss Sky Warrior Retired
Al and Arlene London's homebred Miss Sky Warrior, a winner of three consecutive grade 2 races in 2016-17 and a favorite for last year's Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) has been retired. She will be bred to American Pharoah for 2018.
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What's Going On Here: Dan The Man
The TCA held its 28th stallion season auction and celebration Jan. 7, and Dan Rosenberg, a longtime board member and past president of the TCA, was honored with the Allaire du Pont leadership award. Few have been as deserving.
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Rosenberg, Caribbean Group Honored by TCA
The 28th annual Thoroughbred Charities of America stallion season auction and celebration honored Dan Rosenberg and Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare during its main fundraising event Jan. 7 at the Keeneland Entertainment Center.
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What's Going On Here: Right Foot
With a pretty robust year behind us, we have to think there is plenty to look forward to for 2018.
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Trainer Jack Van Berg Dies at 81
Jack Van Berg, the Hall of Fame trainer and the son of a Hall of Fame trainer, died Dec. 27 in Little Rock, Ark., at the age of 81. He is best known as the trainer of dual classic winner and 1988 Horse of the Year Alysheba, 'America's Horse.'
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Hall of Fame Trainer LeRoy Jolley Dies at 80
Trainer LeRoy Jolley, a member of racing's Hall of Fame since 1987, died Dec. 18 at Albany Medical Center in New York. The lifelong horseman was 80.
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What's Going On Here: Greatest Hits and Rarities
Just when we think we’ve seen it all, 2017 rolled in. The year certainly showed us some things we ain't never seen in a long, long time.
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Second Flight - By Evan Hammonds
The Pegasus' date on the calendar has a certain appeal. The late January date gives runners plenty of time to recuperate from their efforts in the Breeders' Cup, but allows them time not to miss the year's breeding cycle.
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What's Going On Here: Everybody's Talking
We're talking about the "rivalry" between a certain pair of sale companies, both of which happen to be based in Lexington.
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What's Going On Here: Surprise Surprise
For most of us that live east of the Pecos, the Breeders’ Cup weekend of Nov. 3-4 at Del Mar was like stumbling onto the lost city of the Incas. Who knew it was the best-kept secret in racing?
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Talismanic Surprises in Breeders' Cup Turf
British-bred Talismanic, a 4-year-old Godolphin homebred son of Medaglia d'Oro, rallied to win the Turf over Beach Patrol.
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Americanize Earns His Stripes in Damascus
Americanize, a 4-year-old homebred for Kaleem Shah making his stakes debut Nov. 3, shook clear of Mr. Hinx to win the seven-furlong Damascus Stakes, the first race on the opening day Breeders' Cup program at Del Mar.
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Cheak Honored with White Horse Award
Angie Cheak, who spearheaded the rescue of 43 Thoroughbreds from a Mercer County, Ky., farm, was honored with the Race Track Chaplaincy of America's White Horse Award Nov. 2 at Del Mar.
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StarLadies Pick a Pair for Breeders’ Cup
StarLadies Racing, a partnership group led by Laurie Wolf, has two 2-year-old fillies for the Breeders' Cup: Orbolution in Friday's Juvenile Fillies Turf and Stainless in Saturday's Juvenile Fillies.
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Capla Temptress Has an Edge for Juvenile Fillies Turf
Team Valor's Capla Temptress holds a unique edge in this year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, having placed in group company in England and winning at the grade 1 level in North America.
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What's Going On Here: The List
Last weekend’s Wall Street Journal featured an article “101 Things to Do Before You Die (At Age 101). In that bent, we’ve thought this through and have come up with a few “Things to Do in Racing Before You Die:”
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Can Lightning Strike Twice for e Five?
Bob Edwards' e Five Racing won last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf with New Money Honey. He perhaps holds a stronger hand this year with 2-year-old Rushing Fall.
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Moonshine Memories Heads Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies
Moonshine Memories not only broke her maiden at Del Mar, but she's also won a grade 1 over the track, where she held off Piedi Bianchi in the Sept. 2 Del Mar Debutante Stakes.
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Happily the Star in Juvenile Fillies Turf
While the race usually is a difficult puzzle considering the light form on 2-year-old fillies and a huge influx of European runners, this year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T) Nov. 3 at Del Mar features a ready-made star in Happily.
