From 1979 to 2015, 13 horses won the first two legs of the Triple Crown but were unable to author the sweep. In every one of those failed attempts the North American foal crop size was larger than the one that included Secretariat.
As the Belmont nears, people from Windy Corner to Woody’s Corner in the clubhouse of Belmont Park are talking about Justify’s shot at becoming the sport’s 13th Triple Crown winner.
Number of foes in Belmont might seal Justify’s fate
Lauren and Ralph Evans' Diversify, the 2-1 favorite, held off the late charge of Pat On the Back to win the $200,000 Commentator Stakes for New York-breds. Owner Michael Dubb wons three of the six stakes on the Big Apple Showcase program.
Half sisters Midnight Disguise, Holiday Disguise scored on Big Apple Showcase Day. Analyze the Odds won the Mike Lee Stakes at 20-1.
Lady Sheila Stable's Holiday Disguise outlasted Highway Star in the $200,000 Critical Eye Stakes for New York-bred fillies and mares May 28 at Belmont Park.
With Justify, it seems it’s not a matter of how many days since he started racing, it’s the number of days to the June 9 Belmont Stakes (G1).
What will this year’s Preakness bring? We wouldn’t dare make a prediction, but we do know the race will be preceded by some good conversation and some tasty crab cakes.
Thoroughbred ownership is getting complicated
The Ball family's Limousine Liberal earned his sixth win under the Twin Spires in eight tries with a head victory May 5 over Warrior's Club in the $500,000 Churchill Downs Stakes Presented by TwinSpires.com (G2).
Will Call, a Klein Racing homebred son of Country Day, stormed home from off the pace to win the Twin Spires Turf Sprint presented by TwinSpires.com (G3T) by 1 1/4 lengths over Kid Perfect.
Dale Romans-trained Coach Rocks is coming to hand at the right time for the May 4 Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1). With her rides the hopes of owners Roddy Valente, Rick Pitino's RAP Racing, and West Point Thoroughbreds.
Don and Donna Adam's My Miss Lilly, a $670,000 sale yearling by Tapit, is ready for her run in the May 4 Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs.
A lot of worry goes into getting a horse to the Kentucky Derby.
John and Susan Sykes' Woodford Thoroughbreds has a deep history with Midnight Bisou, the second choice for the May 4 Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1).
Bob Baffert-trained Justify, who has made just three starts, was made the 3-1 morning-line favorite for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) after drawing post 7.
Chocolate Martini, a $25,000 claim at Fair Grounds Feb. 2, takes aim at the $1 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) for trainer Tom Amoss and Double Doors Racing's David Walker and Amanda DaBruzzo.
Blamed, winner of the Sunland Park Oaks, has been withdrawn from consideration for the May 4 Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) after a hairline fracture in her right hind pastern was discovered the morning of April 29.
Leslie's Lady, the 2016 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year, delivered a filly by 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah April 25 at Clarkland Farm, just north of Lexington.
Every once in awhile a great one comes along. And while the best of them are often measured by the grit and determination they show in defeat instead of in victory, so to, are they more appreciated once they leave this earth.
Oaklawn’s 2019 calendar could be a game-changer.
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.
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).
Bettors flock to favorites in the Kentucky Derby Future Wager
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.
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.
Marylanders often boast that the first Thoroughbred horse race contested in America took place in Maryland in 1721.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Recalling Thunder Gulch's sophomore run in 1995.
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.
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).
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.
Gulfstream playing the game better than anyone else right now
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.
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.
Trainer Bob Baffert sent out his sophomore big guns to work March 4 at Santa Anita Park.
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.
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.
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.
'Letters from Rockland Farm' adds perspective to BloodHorse.
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.
Success in any sport comes from teamwork
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.
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.
Caledonia Road took the top prize after her sweeping 3 1/4-length score at Del Mar during the World Championships.
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.
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.
