#Allen Jerkens Memorial

Red Oak Stable and Madaket Stables' multiple Grade 1-winner Mind Control will retire on top of his game after securing a trademark gutsy score in Saturday's Grade 1, $750000 Cigar Mile Handicap presented by NYRA Bets, at Aqueduct Racetrack. Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher and piloted by fellow Hall of Famer John Velazquez, the 6-year-old son…

Mind Control after the 2021 G2 John A. Nerud, his most recent win on the NYRA circuit (Susie Raisher) By Ryan Martin - NYRA Press Office OZONE PARK, N.Y.- Red Oak Stable and Madaket Stables' dual Grade 1-winner Mind Control will attempt to go out on top when he takes on a field consisting of three other Grade 1 winners in Saturday's Grade 1,…

Epicenter, shown training before his second-place finish in the Kentucky Derby, meets the winner of that race, Rich Strike, again Saturday in the Grade I Travers Stakes at Saratoga. Photo courtesy of Churchill Downs Aug. 26 (UPI) -- The "Midsummer Derby" at Saratoga pits the first three finishers from the Kentucky Derby against one another again in…

The 153rd running of the Travers headlines the biggest day of the summer at Saratoga. Six graded stakes including five Grade 1 races highlight the 13 race card. The $1.25 million Travers drew a very competitive field of eight runners for the'Midsummer Derby', and post time for the 1 1/4 mile Travers is 5:44 p.m. ET and Race 11 on the card. The…

For Nest (Curlin), the easy route to the Breeders' Cup includes a stop in the GI Alabama Aug 20. It's a prestigious race, has a $600000 purse and Nest would be an odds-on favorite against many of the same horses she thrashed Saturday in the GI Coaching Club American Oaks. But what fun is that? Owners Mike Repole, Michael House and Eclipse…

In this biweekly series, racing analyst Keeler Johnson shares promising horses from his handicapping watch list, reviewing runners who have recently caught his eye and previewing horses scheduled to run back in the near future. Upcoming Entries Victorious in the Raven Run (G2) at Keeneland last fall, Caramel Swirl kicked off 2022 with a flashy 3…

OZONE PARK, N.Y.- Maitha Salem Mohammed Belobaida Alsuwaidi's Group 3-winning sprinter Meraas could be speed of speed in Saturday's Grade 3, $200000 Bold Ruler, a six-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and upward, at the Belmont at the Big A fall meet. The Bold Ruler co-headlines a stacked card that includes the Grade 2, $300000 Kelso, a one-turn mile…

Jim Bakke, Gerald Isbister, Coolmore Stud, and Peter Brant's Jack Christopher tracked the pace from second early, then moved to the lead nearing the stretch and captured his third win at the elite level in the $500000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes (G1) Saturday at Saratoga. The 3-year-old Munnings colt suffered his first loss last time out when…

Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports The fastest horses on dirt will be in action in the Breeders' Cup Sprint Competitive betting market is already expected for the exciting race The Breeders' Cup will see some of the biggest equine stars compete, but none more may be more captivating than the Breeders' Cup Sprint. A purse of $2 million is the prize for…

A quartet of stakes for three-year-olds, highlighted by the $275000 Dogwood (G3) at seven furlongs, were offered at Churchill Downs Saturday evening. Unraced since a fourth in the Kentucky Oaks (G1), champion two-year-old filly Echo Zulu got back in the win column with a sharp wire-to-wire tally in the Dogwood. The classy frontrunner has now won…

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Grade I winner Gunite, the odds-on 3-5 favorite, ran down front-running stakes- winner Conagher with a furlong to run and scored a three-length victory in Saturday night's second running of the $274500 Harrods Creek for 3-year-olds at Churchill Downs. Winner of the Grade I Hopeful at 2, the Harrods Creek was Gunite's third sprint…

Harrods Creek Stakes: Gunite Fires On All Cylinders (Gunite wins the Harrods Creek Stakes at Churchill Downs on Saturday night / Photo by Holly M. Smith) From the Churhcill Downs Media Team: Grade I winner Gunite, the odds-on 3-5 favorite, ran down front-running stakes-winner Conagher with a furlong to run and scored a three-length victory in…

Gunite Ready to Fire in Saturday Night's Harrods Creek Stakes (Gunite / Photos by Holly M. Smith) From the Churchill Downs Media Team: Winchell Thoroughbreds' Grade I-winning sprinter Gunite will meet Patricia's Hope and Mark Farrar's speedy Conagher for the third time as the headliners in Saturday night's second running of the $275000 Harrods…

Churchill Downs' Barn Notes: Echo Zulu Returns in Saturday's G3 Dogwood Stakes (Echo Zulu / Photos by Holly M. Smith) From the Churhcill Downs Media Team: L and N Racing and Winchell Thoroughbreds' three-time Grade I-winning filly Echo Zulu will make her first start since finishing fourth in this year's $1.25 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (Grade…

Staying on top of the key horse racing information is pivotal at this stage of the season, as connections begin to detail whether they will be targeting Breeders' Cup races in November. However, who are some of the key 2022 Breeders' Cup contenders that should be on the radar of all racing fans? Horse: Flightline Jockey: John Sadler It goes without…

The New York Racing Association on Monday announced that all-sources wagering handle at Saratoga Race Course surged to a record $878211963 million for the 2022 summer meet, eclipsing the previous record of $815508063, established in 2021, by 7.7 percent. The record setting 40-day meet generated average daily handle of $21955299, which is also the…

Epicenter: easy winner of the Travers Stakes Connections of Epicenter described a dominant victory in the Travers Stakes as "everything you hope for" after the Kentucky Derby runner-up produced a scintillating performance to strike at Grade 1 level for the first time. A record crowd of 49672 watched the Steve Asmussen-trained colt, sent off an…