#Apple Blossom

Letruska edges Monomoy Girl in Saturday's $1 million Grade I Apple Blossom at Oaklawn Park. Photo by Coady Photography, courtesy of Oaklawn Park April 19 (UPI) -- Million-dollar races at Oaklawn Park produced a big upset and a potential star for the remainder of the year in highlights of horse racing this weekend. The Kentucky Derby field continued…

The sadly-missed Arrogate is slowly starting to pick up as a sire, with the former champion's tally of winners now up to six. Rated by some agencies as the best North American-trained horse of the 2010s after phenomenal victories in the Travers S. (G1), Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), Pegasus World Cup (G1), and Dubai World Cup (G1), Arrogate was sadly…

With the Road to the 2022 Kentucky Derby paused until Jan. 22, fillies take the spotlight Saturday. Under the Stars (8-5) leads a field of six lined up for the Grade 2, $200000 Santa Ynez Stakes. Post time from Santa Anita is 7:06 p.m. EST, with TVG showing the seven-furlong sprint for 3-year-old fillies. The Santa Ynez pays out Road to the 2022…

Ray Acevedo-USA TODAY Sports Ballerina Handicap takes place at Saratoga on Sunday, August 28 Ce Ce returns to action, but faces fierce competition in the forms of Bella Sofia and Obligatory After an enthralling day of racing action at Saratoga on Saturday, which includes the Travers Stakes, the attention turns to the feature at the track on Sunday.…

White Abarrio, seen winning the Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park, is among the Kentucky Derby contenders returning to action in Saturday's Ohio Derby at Thistledown. Photo courtesy of Gulfstream Park June 24 (UPI) -- Derby contenders from Louisville and Epsom Downs return to action in weekend horse racing and "Win and You're In" spots for…

Horse racing fans will witness an epic rematch on Saturday when two of the top horses in training, Monomoy Girl and Swiss Skydiver, square off in the 2021 Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park. The two racing stars previously met in last year's Breeders' Cup Distaff, but that showdown never materialized after Swiss Skydiver stumbled at the start.…

Ray Acevedo-USA TODAY Sports Fastest fillies and mares on the dirt will compete in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint 2022 at Keeneland Last year's winner was Ce Ce for trainer Michael McCarthy, who held off Gamine The Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint 2022 will pit the fastest female horses on the dirt against each other once again. This year's…

Quinoa Tifah wins her career debut Thursday at Gulfstream Park. Photo by Lauren King, courtesy of Gulfstream Park April 17 (UPI) -- There's quality in lieu of quantity in this weekend's horse racing action with two "Grade A Prime" events at Oaklawn Park in Arkansas and the belated start of 2-year-old action in Florida. In Japan, 3-year-olds are the…

With four top-level winners lining up in the gate, including champions Letruska and Ce Ce, the horse racing world has been buzzing about the Grade 1, $1 million Apple Blossom Handicap all spring. Below is how the experts will play Saturday's Oaklawn feature. Candice Curtis, Horse Racing Nation Winner: #3 Clairiere On the Board: #2 Letruska Longshot…

From the Belmont to the Breeders' Cup, Godolphin made its mark on the U.S. racing scene in 2021. Godolphin posted 25 graded-stakes wins last year, most of any owner. Essential Quality, Maxfield, Mystic Guide, and others won prominent events under jockeys wearing the trademark royal blue silks. Listed below are the top 10 owners from 2021 in terms…

Ce Ce, shown winning the Azeri Stakes on March 12 at Oaklawn Park, is among the favorites for Saturday's Grade I Apple Blossom over the same track. Coady photography, courtesy of Oaklawn Park April 22 (UPI) -- As spring blossoms, horse racing stars including Letruska, Ce Ce, Pizza Bianca, Malathat and Channel Maker return from winter vacations this…

Classic Causeway, shown winning the Sam F. Davis Stakes earlier in the meeting, is morning-line favorite for Saturday's Tampa Bay. SV Photography photo, courtesy of Tampa Bay Downs March 11 (UPI) -- With the Kentucky Derby picture still very much uncertain, Saturday's Tampa Bay Derby looms as a golden opportunity for one or more of the 3-year-olds…

Hello, Letruska. We know you now! In a thrilling stretch duel featuring two-time champion Monomoy Girl and the sort-of-overlooked Letruska, the final nose bob went to Letruska in the $1 million Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) at Oaklawn Park on Saturday. And what a surprise it was. The expected and much-hyped showdown between two champions - 6-year-old…

Letruska has been sensational in 2021 and is the horse to beat in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) loaded with talented fillies and mares. The 5-year-old daughter of Super Saver trained by Fausto Gutierrez has distinguished herself not only as the top female racehorse, but also as a legitimate contender for Horse of the Year. A…

Carryingtwo Grade 1 wins this year, Cyberknife probably will line up in the Breeders' Cup Classic, right? Notso fast, his trainer Brad Cox said Saturday after his Gun Runner colt lost toanother Gun Runner colt. Cyberknife finished third to Taiba in the Grade 1, $1million Pennsylvania Derby. SinceFebruary, Cyberknife has won four times, twice at 1…

A total of nine Grade 1 races highlight this weekend's Belmont Stakes Racing Festival in Elmont, N.Y., with one Friday and eight on Saturday's blockbuster card. Though the field sizes may leave something to be desired, there is no shortage of stars lined up to show off for horse racing fans. Among the top matchups is that of the Met Mile, featuring…

Keeneland Barn Notes: Champ Letruska Returns to Regular Work (Letruska / Photos by Holly M. Smith) From the Keeneland Media Team: CHAMPION LETRUSKA RETURNS TO KEENELAND WORK TAB St. George Stable's Letruska, who made Keeneland her main base of operations during an Eclipse Award-winning campaign in 2021, worked 5 furlongs in 1:02.40 over a fast…

The Belmont Stakes 2022 results saw some of the finest horses on the dirt in the U.S. in action, and the form of many of the rivals that were in contention has held up extremely strong since. But, how have the jockeys fared since their runs in the Belmont Stakes this year? It has been a stunning year in the saddle for Irad Ortiz Jr. He rode Mo…