The $200,000 Modesty Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Arlington Park July 12 is pretty much a roll of the dice, as 14 fillies and mares look to earn their way into the $750,000 Beverly D. Stakes (gr. IT) Aug. 16.
Chris Block-trained 6-Year old loves the 1 1/2-mile distance and the Arlington Course. Stablemate Mister Marti Gras entered here and in Arlington Handicap
If you ask someone to pick out one memorable victory by Ruffian they would have a hard time singling one out. That is because Ruffian's career was not made up of one or two standout performances. read blog
I cannot in good conscience write about Dahlia without also writing about her arch rival Allez France, who, physically and mentally, was everything Dahlia was not. read blog
The $1 million Belmont Oaks (gr. IT), formerly the Garden City Stakes, has found a new identity as part of the New York Racing Association's July 5 Stars and Stripes card, which also features the Belmont Derby (gr. IT).
This year marks the 40th anniversary of Dahlia's unprecedented fall campaign of 1974, which changed the face of American grass racing forever. read blog
Five-year-old mare faces nine opponents in seven-furlong dash at Arlington Park
Last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner gets nine pounds from Sugar Shock.
Although the $200,000 New York Stakes (gr. IIT) at Belmont Park drew a field of only six, it appears as if the race will come down to the three fillies and mares in the first three post positions.
Game On Dude's numerous outstanding achievements over the past four to five years are overshadowed by his two flops in the Breeders' Cup Classic. read blog
Someone asked me today to send them a link to the column I wrote five years ago about Yeats' record-breaking fourth Ascot Gold Cup victory. That got me thinking about this year's Gold Cup, which awakened those same feelings. read blog
Is Thoroughbred racing ready for an honest-to-goodness Filly Triple Crown? Read Blog
Steve Haskin reflects on the loss of Intense Holiday. read blog
Twenty-six 2-year-olds by Smarty Jones have been sold at public auction in Uruguay, where the dual classic winner has shuttled for the Southern Hemisphere breeding season the past three years.
Once again, racing fans, longing for that happy ending to their fairy tale, followed Alice down the rabbit hole in search of Wonderland, only to find nothing more than the harsh reality that is racing. read blog
There are several elements to Steve Coburn's outburst following Saturday's Belmont Stakes. read blog
Attending the Belmont Stakes post position draw was Canonero's jockey Gustavo Avila, known in his native Venezuela as 'The Monster.' read blog
Patricia Generazio's homebred Discreet Marq is the 5-2 morning line favorite in a contentious running of the Longines Just a Game Stakes (gr. IT) June 7 at Belmont Park.
Lenny, Steve, and special guest Steve Byk discuss Los Alamitos, the Belmont Stakes Day Card, react to the draw, and give their picks. Plus, an interview with Martin Panza, NYRA Senior Vice President of Racing Operations. Watch Video
Steve Haskin looks at how the Belmont Stakes might develop, and shares photos from Tuesday and Wednesday. read blog
If the first two mornings at Belmont Park are any indication, we should see a top-class field of horses in Saturday's Belmont Stakes who are all looking great and working sensationally. read blog
Two of the greatest moments on the Triple Crown trail came courtesy of Afleet Alex and Tapit. read blog
The connections of Secretariat, Seattle Slew, and Affirmed all feel Chrome is the one.
Apropos, owned and bred by Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider, seems to have found a good spot in the $100,000 Winning Colors Stakes May 26, when she will face eight opponents in the six-furlong sprint at Churchill Downs.
Many of the leading contenders in this year's Test of the Champion have pedigrees that are so contradictory, it is difficult to say with any conviction who can and cannot get the distance. read blog
Juddmonte Farms' Riposte may be the class of the field in the $200,000 Sheepshead Bay Stakes (gr. IIT) May 24, run over 1 3/8 miles on Belmont Park's inner turf course.
Derby and Preakness winner who will attempt to become racing's 12th Triple Crown winner June 7 in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) at Belmont Park arrived at the Elmont, N.Y. track May 20.
Once again, we have reached the gates of the pantheon. Beyond beckons the ghosts of Secretariat, Seattle Slew, Affirmed, Citation, and the seven other Triple Crown winners who have attained immortality. read blog
Steve Haskin shares with us glimpses of his Preakness week. read blog
Lenny Shulman and Steve Haskin look back at the Derby, and forward to the Preakness, including picks for that race. Sponsored by Darby Dan Farm. Watch Video
Steve Haskin shares his Preakness selections. read blog
All that is left for the son of Lucky Pulpit is another gallop May 16 and perhaps a light jog the morning before he runs in the second jewel of the Triple Crown.
California Chrome had his first gallop over the Pimlico main track May 14 prior to the Preakness Stakes (gr. I). The California-bred son of Lucky Pulpit has put on 35 pounds since the Run for the Roses.
California Chrome's journey from the Cal Cup Derby to the Kentucky Derby through the Derby Dozen. read blog
California Chrome had no trouble handling the plethora of speed horses in the Kentucky Derby. Will the new wave of talented speed horses expected for the May 17 Preakness Stakes (gr. I) pose a bigger problem for him?
The Derby was about life and its quirky twists and turns that lead us to places envisioned only in dreams and guided only by fate. read blog
Dreams come in all shapes and sizes. Some are literal. Some are figurative. Most don't come true. But on rare occasions they do, and that is when fairy tales are born. read blog
Thoughts from Steve Haskin on the post position draw and the morning activities. read blog
Effie Trinket, stablemate of Derby runner Samraat, will be tough to beat in the May 3 Churchill Downs Distaff Turf Mile (gr. IIT). Nine older fillies and mares will battle for $300,000.
Lenny Shulman and Steve Haskin discuss the sale of General a Rod, Todd Pletcher's comments on We Miss Artie, Rick Porter, and talk to trainer Peter Eurton about Dance With Fate. Plus, Derby picks! Sponsored by Darby Dan Farm. Watch Video
Steve Haskin shares photos from Wednesday morning at Churchill Downs. read blog
Mike Maker has been looking forward to working General a Rod since his unexpectedly slow work last week. read blog
As predicted, California Chrome's arrival yesterday drew a large crowd, as did his first appearance on the track Tuesday morning. read blog
There are heavy rains, torrential rains, and the rain that all but drowned Churchill Downs Monday morning. The lightning came fast and furious; one bolt knocked out light, and the flooding came just as fast. read blog
As typical of Derby works, the good ones drew waves of excitement, while others were overblown as bad works. And some were, well, just works. read blog
From Kentucky to New York to California to Maryland, there were Kentucky Derby works galore the past two days. read blog
Welcome to the 2014 Kentucky Derby. read blog
The last time John Oxley's Spring in the Air dropped back to a sprint after a series of two-turn races, she won the seven-furlong Fury Stakes at Woodbine. She'll make her 2014 debut in the six-furlong Whimsical April 26.
With a few horses moving off the Kentucky Derby contenders list, Steve adjusts his. read blog
Steve Haskin shares his thoughts on Danza's shocking performance in the Arkansas Derby and what it could mean for the Kentucky Derby contender.
