A dozen long-winded turf runners will go 1 1/2 miles in the Louisville Handicap over the Churchill Downs lawn, with Danish Dynaformer holding a recency and class edge over warriors Twilight Eclipse and Kaigun.
Boggy conditions at Belmont Park were of no concern to John Murrell's Zhukova, who trounced her male rivals by six lengths May 13 in the $400,000 Man o' War Stakes (G1T).
Having already taken down some of the best turf performers in Europe, Dermot Weld-trained Zhukova (IRE) is now aiming at making her first stateside impression a winning one.
The turf marathon niche has proven one that suits Jed Cohen's Itsinthepost as the bay gelding scored his second straight graded triumph when he captured the $250,000 Dixiana Elkhorn Stakes (G2T) by 1 1/4 lengths over Charming Kitten.
Long-winded turf winners will run for $250,000 in the Dixiana Elkhorn Stakes (G2T) with a deep field headed by Itsinthepost and Danish Dynaformer.
Taghleeb, Sadler's Joy, Reporting Star, and Patterson Cross will continue tangling with one another in long-distance events on the turf when they hook up in the Pan American at Gulfstream Park going 12 furlongs.
Wake Forest (GER) was given plenty of time to recover from his 2016 campaign by trainer Chad Brown, and the 7-year-old runner rewarded that patience March 4 with a narrow victory in the $200,000 Mac Diarmida Stakes (G2T) at Gulfstream Park.
Woodford Racing's Ticonderoga ran off the bench and into the winner's circle March 4 at Gulfstream Park, taking the $100,000 Palm Beach Stakes (G3T) with a powerful rally.
Each week BloodHorse.com looks forward to the weekend's biggest races. This week we have nine stakes at Gulfstream Park, Unique Bella at Santa Anita Park, El Areeb at Aqueduct Racetrack, and more.
The Chad Brown-trained Ticonderoga, fourth in last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) is the one to beat while he makes his 3-year-old bow in the March 4 Palm Beach Stakes (G3T) at Gulfstream Park.
Merriebelle Stable's Reporting Star, runner-up in each of the past two years, will try to secure the elusive top spot with a scheduled start in the Jan. 21 Sunshine Millions Turf at Gulfstream Park.
Mr. and Mrs. Bertram Firestone's homebred Middleburg has shown his best at Monmouth Park and gave another example June 5 in the $100,000 Red Bank Stakes (gr. III).
Vyjack—who last time out won a Keeneland allowance over the same lawn upon which his half sister, champion Tepin, has picked up three grade I wins—returns to the graded ranks June 5 in the $100,000 Red Bank Stakes (gr. IIIT)
Merriebelle Stable's Reporting Star ran down 5-2 favorite Force the Pass and held off 7-2 Divisidero to win the $200,000 Appleton Stakes (gr. IIIT) April 2 at Gulfstream Park.
Bradley is hopeful the multiple graded stakes winner will show a little more early interest in his upcoming races. "We've been trying to get this horse to stalk a little more and be a little bit closer to the pace," he said.
Ken and Sarah Ramsey's Charming Kitten took advantage of his class and experience to outrun a stubborn Xaverian in the stretch and win the $100,000 H. Allen Jerkens Stakes Jan. 23 at Gulfstream Park.
Manchurian High somehow found another gear late to forge to the lead in the stretch of the $150,000 Sunshine Millions Turf to claim victory in that race a second straight year Jan. 16 at Gulfstream Park.
A full field of Florida-breds headed by Chad Brown-trained Fundamental has been entered for the $150,000 Sunshine Millions Turf Jan. 16 at Gulfstream Park.
Supplements to the horses of racing age section of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. winter mixed sale can be viewed online on the OBS website.
Ken and Sarah Ramsey's homebred Charming Kitten holds off Kaigun to win the W.L. McKnight Handicap (gr. IIIT) Dec. 26 at Gulfstream Park.
The Casse trainee won a pair of graded stakes in 2014, but will be looking for his first victory of the year in the 1 1/2-mile McKnight.
Valid returned from a trip to the Breeders' Cup and relished the chance to get back to his favorite track, winning the $100,000 Harlan's Holiday Stakes Dec. 12 at Gulfstream Park over Madefromlucky.
Making his stakes debut Saturday, Nov. 14 on the turf at Aqueduct Racetrack, Mr Maybe used a sustained rally to deliver a decisive victory in the $250,000 Red Smith Handicap (gr. IIIT).
Holiday Star will try for a second straight grade III win going a distance on the turf in the $250,000 Red Smith Handicap Saturday, Nov. 14 at Aqueduct Racetrack.
H. Jack Hendricks and Roger Justice's East Hall is scheduled to seek a repeat victory in the Millions Classic Preview, a 1 1/16-mile stakes for 3-year-olds and up that attracted a field of seven.
| Horse | Trainer | Breeder / Owner |
|---|---|---|
| Amen Kitten | Wesley A. Ward |
|
| Charming Kitten | Michael J. Maker |
|
| Dad'z Laugh | Bruce N. Levine |
|
| Dewey Square | Todd A. Pletcher |
|
| Holiday Star | H. Graham Motion |
|
| Quinzieme Monarque | SCHIERGEN PETER |
|
| Reporting Star | Brendan P. Walsh |
|
| Rydilluc | Gary C. Contessa |
|
| Saturday Special | Jorge Navarro |
|
| Squall King | Wayne M. Catalano |
|
| Summit County | Dale L. Romans |
|
| Race | Track | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Bashford Manor S. (G3) | CD | |
| Debutante S. | CD | |
| Kelly's Landing Overnight S. | CD | |
| Petticoat S. | ALB |
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