On the morning of Oct. 4, Farrell flashed the brilliance Catalano has grown to admire. Going out in the first set, the daughter of Malibu Moon breezed a bullet half-mile in :47 flat, best of 30 other moves at the distance.
Girvin will get a bit of class relief. Next on tap for the three-time graded stakes winner is the $400,000 Oklahoma Derby (G3) Sept. 24 at Remington Park.
From an eye-opening 2015 debut win as a juvenile, to a 2016 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) starter, to an accomplished sprinter, hopes continue to soar, and evolve, for Whitmore.
Farrell has earned herself a rest after a testing campaign that commenced early last fall at Churchill Downs and culminated with a surprising last-place finish in the $1 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) May 5 at the same Louisville oval.
Salty's connections will point her next to the $700,000 Acorn Stakes (G1) June 10 at Belmont Park.
The massive Illinois-bred bay son of English Channel stretched his imposing stride April 18 in his first serious work toward an 8-year-old bow, working a half-mile in :50 flat.
The Al Quoz Sprint (G1) may not be the last time the son of 2004 Florida Derby (G1) runner-up Value Plus meets the world's top turf sprinters on a straight course. His big performance now opens the door to even more prestigious events.
Gunnevera did not exactly burst onto the scene when he dismantled nine other Fountain of Youth (G2) rivals March 4 at Gulfstream Park.
In the same way that the native of Cork, Ireland, deliberately and thoughtfully chooses his words, he has methodically and masterfully stepped up his barn's game to compete at the top level.
Stonestreet Farm's homebred Breeders' Cup runner-up Valadorna takes on Coffeepot Stables' homebred Golden Rod Stakes (G2) romper Farrell in the 1 1/16-mile test.
Firmly landing himself prominently on the charts as a serious contender for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1), the $200,000 Keeneland September 2015 purchase now looks to make a hit out of his sophomore debut, the Risen Star (G2).
Neil Howard and Wayne Catalano both have promising sophomores on the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks trail.
Trainer Lacey Gaudet has a lot to live up to as the daughter of a renowned Mid-Atlantic trainer Ed Gaudet and respected Maryland horsewoman Linda Gaudet, but the sister to racing analyst Gabby Gaudet is taking it all in stride.
Finley'sluckycharm shipped the morning of Dec. 20 to California to attempt to prove she is the top 3-year-old sprinting filly in the nation in the Dec. 26 La Brea Stakes (gr. I) at Santa Anita Park.
Trainer Chris Davis earned his first career win Nov. 27 with Uncork the York at Fair Grounds.
Stall has put on a clinic during the first two weeks of the Crescent City oval's 145th racing season.
