Classic Empire Top Single Horse in KDFW Pool 2
John Oxley's champion 2-year-old Classic Empire edged unbeaten rising stars Mastery and McCraken to be the favored individual contender for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1).
Latest News
Headlines and features from the Thoroughbred industry
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Dialed In Colt Tops Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Sale
The only short yearling in the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic winter mixed sale sired by 2016 leading freshman sire Dialed In was purchased by Machmer Hall Farm for $70,000 to top the one-day auction Jan. 29.
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Champagne Room Ready for Las Virgenes Season Debut
The 14 Hands Winery Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) winner and champion 2-year-old Champagne Room worked five furlongs Jan. 29 in a minute flat, in preparation for her 3-year-old debut in Santa Anita Park's Las Virgenes Stakes (G2) Feb. 4.
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Barbaro's Brother Nicanor Gets First Winner as Sire
Nicanor, the full brother to the late 2006 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) winner Barbaro, got his first winner as a sire when Joseph Besecker's Nicamore sped to a 2 1/4-length victory in a Jan. 28 maiden claiming race at Laurel Park.
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Arrogate Exits Pegasus in Good Order
Assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes said Arrogate is doing well after his win in the $12 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) Jan. 28 at Gulfstream Park.
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Pegasus Logs 1.23 Overnight TV Rating on NBC
The rematch between Arrogate and California Chrome in the Jan. 28 Pegasus World Cup drew the best afternoon ratings for a non-Triple-Crown horse race since American Pharoah's victory in the 2015 Breeders' Cup Classic.
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California Chrome on Schedule for Kentucky Trip
His usual self in his stall in Barn 2 at Gulfstream Park the morning of Jan. 29, two-time Horse of the Year California Chrome awaited a scheduled trip to Taylor Made Farm where he will begin his stallion career.
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First Pegasus Registers Record Handle for Gulfstream
In a rousing pari-mutuel wagering success, Gulfstream Park registered all-sources handle of $40.217,924 on its Jan. 28 Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) card, setting a handle record for the track.
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Noted Turf Writer, Historian Mooney Passes Peacefully
A friend and mentor to many, Mooney offered his wise counsel to both aspiring and veteran journalists and also to cancer patients. In his last months, he showed not only how to live but how to die with courage and grace.
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Ashleyluvssugar Scores in Cal Cup Turf Classic
Ashleyluvssugar got his 2017 season off on the right foot, but he certainly had to earn it. A likely prep for bigger and better things in the $250,000 California Cup Turf Classic Jan. 28 at Santa Anita Park turned into a dogfight in the stretch.
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Arrogate Turns Pegasus World Cup Into One-Horse Show
Doubling down on his brilliant triumph over California Chrome in the $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) Nov. 5, Arrogate made a mockery of the world's richest race when he drew off under Hall of Famer Mike Smith to prevail by open lengths.
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Taghleeb Lands W. L. McKnight Score
The 6-year-old son of Hard Spun came off a Dec. 31 victory in the H. Allen Jerkens Stakes at Gulfstream for trainer Mike Maker and got the perfect ground-saving rail trip in the McKnight.
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Suffused Shows Her Class in La Prevoyante
There was no denying the class of Suffused Jan. 28 as she rallied three-wide down the Gulfstream Park turf to best Arles by a length in the $200,000 La Prevoyante Handicap (G3T).
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Imperative Edges Stanford in Poseidon
The new owners of Imperative are feeling good about their purchase after the grade 2 winner secured a narrow win in the first edition of the $400,000 Poseidon Handicap Jan. 28 at Gulfstream Park.
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Curlin’s Approval Makes Grade in Hurricane Bertie
Happy Alter's homebred Curlin's Approval was much the best when scoring her first graded stakes win in the $100,000 Hurricane Bertie Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park Jan. 28.
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'All Systems Go' for Classic Empire for Seasonal Bow
Trainer Mark Casse declared 'all systems go' for Classic Empire to make his sophomore debut in the $350,000 Holy Bull Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park Feb. 4 after working an easy five furlongs with grade 1 winning-stablemate Pretty City Dancer.
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Weekend Stakes Rundown: The Pegasus Arrives
Each week BloodHorse.com looks forward to the weekend's biggest races. This week we have the Arrogate-California Chrome rematch in the Pegasus World Cup (G1), California Cup Day, and more.
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Brother Derek Sold to Saudi Arabian Breeder
New owner also purchased Pomeroy and Flashy Bull
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West Point, Gunpowder Team Again on Breaking Lucky
When West Point Thoroughbreds bought into Gunpowder Farms' Canadian classic winner and Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) horse Breaking Lucky, it marked a pleasant return for the former partners.
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Valadorna Takes Season Debut at Fair Grounds
Stonestreet Stables' Valadorna took the necessary first step into her 3-year-old season with a confident score Jan. 27 in a conditional allowance race at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.
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After Draw, Pegasus Start Extra Important
For a 1 1/8-mile race, trainers Art Sherman and Bob Baffert will be paying an added level of attention to the start of the $12 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) Jan. 28 at Gulfstream Park.
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Van Dyke Undergoes Surgery for Broken Arm
Drayden Van Dyke underwent surgery Jan. 26 to repair a compound fracture in his right arm, following a fall during Thursday's fourth race at Santa Anita Park.
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Bourbon Empire Added to Early TC Nominees
Because of a clerical error, Bourbon Lane Stable's Bourbon Empire was inadvertently omitted from the original list of 3-year-olds made eligible during the early nomination phase to compete in the 2017 Triple Crown.
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Shah Looking Long-Term With Grade 1 Winner Klimt
Owner Kaleem Shah said Jan. 27 that Klimt, the winner of the Del Mar Futurity (G1) and Best Pal Stakes (G2) last year, will be given time off and won't be pointed to the first leg of the Triple Crown.
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Fasig-Tipton Hopes to Build on 2016 Winter Mixed Sale
When the Fasig-Tipton winter mixed sale is conducted Sunday, Jan. 29, sale company management and consignors hope it builds on the 2016 edition.
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Big Race, Then Transition for California Chrome
For trainer Art Sherman, Jan. 27 marked one more early morning of welcoming a new day with his once-in-a-lifetime horse California Chrome.
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Trainer Rene Araya Dies at 73
Multiple graded stakes-winning trainer Rene Araya, a veteran on the New York Racing Association circuit, died Jan. 26 in Florida at the age of 73.
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Pegasus Breathes Life Into Older Horse Division
There's nothing like a $12 million race to spur some careful thought from owners and trainers about their horses' racing careers.
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Strife Building Over New York VLT Proceeds
At issue is an infusion of cash flowing since October to the Nassau County Off-Track Betting Corp. from 460 video lottery terminals—out of 5,500 total VLTs—at Aqueduct's Resorts World casino.
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Normandy Invasion’s First Foal a Filly
Multiple grade 2-placed and track record holder Normandy Invasion sired his first foal Jan. 14 when a filly arrived at Hilltop Stables near Deposit, N.Y. The son of Tapit, a Spendthrift stallion, stands at Keane Stud near Amenia, N.Y.
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Ashleyluvssugar Kicks Off 2017 in Cal Cup Turf Classic
For Ashleyluvssugar, trainer Peter Eurton was just looking for a starting point to 2017 when he entered the four-time grade 2 winner in the $250,000 California Cup Turf Classic.
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Declines Mark OBS Winter Mixed Sale
For the entire Winter Mixed Sale, 326 horses sold for a total of $2,970,700, compared to 361 horses bringing $4,597,600 last year.
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ADW Company Voices Concern to CHRB
Ed Comins, the president of advance-deposit wagering company and racetrack operator Watch and Wager, expressed concern over his company's standing in California Jan. 26 during a California Horse Racing Board session at Santa Anita Park.
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Godolphin Has Red Letter Day in Dubai
Color the Meydan winner's circle blue, Godolphin blue precisely, as Sheikh Mohammed's racing pipeline provided a steady supply of horses to win five of the six Thoroughbred races on the Jan. 26 card.
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Handicapping the Pegasus World Cup Showdown
J. Keeler Johnson handicaps the showdown between Arrogate and California Chrome in the Pegasus World Cup.
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Love the Chase Foals Tapit Half Brother to 'Chrome'
Love the Chase, dam of two-time Horse of the Year California Chrome, foaled a Tapit half brother to North America's all-time leading money earner just before midnight Jan. 25.
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Petrov to Join Uncontested in Southwest
Lightly raced Petrov will make his next start in the $500,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) for 3-year-olds Feb. 20 at Oaklawn Park, co-owner and trainer Ron Moquett of Hot Springs said Thursday morning.
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Cherry On Top: Baffert Pleased With 'Happy' Arrogate
Bob Baffert reached into his past for an expression to describe Arrogate's readiness for the world's richest race. The Hall of Fame trainer delivered 'super cherry'.
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The Gulfstream Sale Catalog Now Available
The catalog for Fasig-Tipton's March 1 The Gulfstream Sale, featuring 162 2-year-olds, is now available online.
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First Foal for Graded Stakes Winner Micromanage
Repole Stable's stallion Micromanage sired his first foal when graded stakes-placed Stopspendingmaria foaled a filly at Rockridge Stud near Hudson, N.Y., Jan. 23.
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First Foal Reported for Florida Stallion Young Brian
Breeder John Liviakis reports the first reported foal from his stallion Young Brian, an impressive winner in his only start, is a colt out of Van Dien Avenue.
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KHRC Committee Advances Voided Claim Rule
With relatively little discussion, a proposed rule outlining conditions that could void a claim was unanimously approved Jan. 26 by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission Safety and Welfare Committee.
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Shurman, Wolfson Sr. Selected to NHC Hall of Fame
Paul Shurman and Steve Wolfson Sr. have been selected for induction to the NHC Hall of Fame, the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) announced Jan. 26.
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Valadorna Set for Seasonal Bow at Fair Grounds
Stonestreet Stables' Valadorna, runner-up in the 14 Hands Winery Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), will make her seasonal bow Jan. 27 against five challengers in an allowance optional claiming test at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.
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With California Chrome's Wide Post, Arrogate the Pick
At the bottom line, Arrogate was able to run down California Chrome despite the latter having everything his own way at Santa Anita last fall, and he still has license to improve.
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HRRN Begins 2017 Season With Pegasus Coverage
The $12 million Pegasus World Cup, which features the highly-anticipated rematch between Arrogate and California Chrome, will be aired live from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. ET on SiriusXM channel 93 and streamed live on the HRRN website.
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A Look Back at Deputy Minister Winning 1983 Donn
A day after winning the 1983 Donn Handicap (G2), Deputy Minister was favoring his left front foot, making for a nervous day for trainer Reynaldo Nobles.
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Heiligbrodt on Buying Spree at OBS Winter Mixed Sale
Prominent owner Bill Heiligbrodt was an aggressive buyer during the first day of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's winter mixed sale Jan. 25.
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Maker Seeks Fourth Straight Connally Turf Cup Win
Trainer Mike Maker has won the past three editions of the $200,000 John B. Connally Turf Cup (G3T) at Same Houston Race Park and he's coming with a loaded hand seeking a fourth straight score Jan. 29.
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NBC Plans 90-Minute Broadcast of First Pegasus
Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes coverage planned 4:30-6 p.m. Jan. 28.
