#Candy Ride

As times change, even a two-time Triple Crown-winning, Hall of Fame trainer has to adjust. In an era when horses are racing less and less, Bob Baffert looks like he is not only ahead of the curve, but he is leading the vanguard. This goes way beyond what he did with Justify in a gaudy, 112-day dash from apprenticeship to retirement. Very quietly,…

Kentucky Derby second-place finisher Mandaloun (pink cap) wins Sunday's Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth Park. Photo courtesy of Monmouth Park June 14 (UPI) -- Maybe it's a little early to crown Belmont Stakes winner Essential Quality as best 3-year-old in the nation, especially after Mandaloun's impressive victory in Sunday's Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth…

Lovely Ride wins Saturday's Pippin Stakes at Oaklawn Park Coady Photography, courtesy of Oaklawn Park Jan. 9 (UPI) -- Trainer Bob Baffert saddled the first three finishers in Sunday's $100000 Grade III Sham Stakes at Santa Anita, a "Road to the Kentucky Derby" race, while the other weekend qualifier went to a colt who might find the Derby distance…

As the 3-year-olds line up to duke it out for next season's older- horse honors, Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator) proved he's rounding back into form at just the right time when taking GII Harlan's Holiday S., the local prep for next year's GI Pegasus World Cup. A consistent presence on the Triple Crown trail earlier this year, Skippylongstocking…

Tiz the Law is the 6-5 morning line favorite for Saturday's 152nd running of the $1 million Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park. The Barclay Tagg-trained multiple Grade 1 winner will break from the eight post against nine competitors in the 1-1/8 mile test around one turn. Posts were drawn Wednesday. "It could have been worse. I was hoping to get five…

War of Will, shown winning the Maker's Mark Mile at Keeneland in July, is a major player in Saturday's Grade I Woodbine Mile. Photo courtesy of Keeneland Sept. 18 (UPI) -- Two days of top-level turf action at Woodbine, including three Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" events, provide the feature attraction in weekend horse racing. Two of the…

Dec. 27 (UPI) -- Trainer Bob Baffert celebrated Christmas a day late with five winners on Santa Anita's Opening Day program Monday, likely boosting one of those horses to an Eclipse Award and perhaps setting up another for a repeat raid on the rich races in the Middle East. It was a star-studded day in front of a big crowd at Santa Anita, as Juan…

A delicious confrontation between two of the aces from this year's Triple Crown events will unfold at Del Mar Sunday when Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit and Kentucky Derby/Belmont Stakes competitor Rock Your World match strides over a mile in the 47th running of the $100000 Shared Belief Stakes. Six in all have entered the headliner for…

Jockey John Velazquez, riding Authentic, celebrates winning the Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky., on Saturday. Photo by John Sommers II/UPI | License Photo Nov. 9 (UPI) -- The Breeders' Cup World Championships, just as they were designed to do, nicely wrapped up some issues for the 2020 racing season, including the "Horse of the…

Controversy enveloped the final Breeders' Cup race at Del Mar on Friday when a horse that had been removed from the wagering was allowed to run and crossed the finish line first in the $1 million Juvenile Turf. The bizarre incident on one of horse racing's biggest days occurred after Modern Games, the inside horse in the field of 13, reared back in…

California Spangle holds off Golden Sixty in Group 1 Longines Hong Kong Mile Photo courtesy of Hong Kong Jockey Club HONG KONG, Dec. 12 (UPI) -- A super day for Hong Kong highlighted weekend horse racing with action-starved fans emerging from pandemic lockdowns to cheer on some new heroes from the Sha Tin Racecourse grandstand. Two-year-old filly…

Clockers' Corner was not as crowded as it was two springs ago, but it still felt lively Thursday morning. Trainers Carla Gaines and Vlad Cerin brought around their dogs, who playfully breached whatever canine protocols there are for social distancing. Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux was the best-dressed gent in the joint, sporting a colorful…

Channel Cat, shown winning the Grade I Man o' War in May, is among the favorites for Saturday's Grade II Red Smith Stakes at Aqueduct. Photo courtesy of New York Racing Association Nov. 19 (UPI) -- High-class graded stakes racing is spread across North America this weekend, with a turf showdown in New York, a tough mile event for fillies and mares…

Churchill Downs has hosted the Kentucky Derby continuously since 1875, making it the longest-running major American sporting event, but last year it faced one of its most serious challenges because of the coronavirus pandemic. The race was postponed to September and no fans were allowed in attendance, but the Kentucky Derby 2021 brings back…

Itis going to be one long Saturday for Ron Winchell. After flying from Las Vegas to Dubai early in the week, he will test his endurance by staying up until 3 a.m. on Sunday.That is what happens to an owner of three horses who are competing 8000 miles apart inraces worth more than $13 million. "I'mnot sure you can get me to fall asleep on this one,"…

Hoosier Philly (Into Mischief) ran to her billing and kept her perfect record in tact Saturday, scoring her third straight win at Churchill Downs in the GII Golden Rod S. A debut winner going 5 1/2urlongs at this oval Sept. 25, the $510000 KEESEP acquisition showed two turns was no problem, charging home to a 7 1/2-length victory in a sloppy…

KY Derby Advance Wager #2 To Be Offered This Week (Forte / Coady Photography) From the Churchill Downs Media Team: Fans will have their second of six opportunities to bet on the 149 running of the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade I) Thursday-Sunday where Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable's Breeders' Cup Juvenile (GI)…

Churchill Downs' Barn Notes: Curly Jack May Set Them Straight In G2 KY Jockey Club (Curly Jack / Photos by Holly M. Smith) From the Churchill Downs Media Team: Michael McLaughlin's $300000 Iroquois Stakes (Grade III) winner Curly Jack headlines a field of nine 2-year-old colts that were entered in Saturday's 96 running of the $400000 Kentucky…

Breeders' Cup Distaff Notes: Much Expected of Malathaat Since Early Age (Malathaat / Coady Photography) From the Breeders' Cup Media Team: Breeders' Cup World Championships Distaff Notes 11/2/2021 As Time Goes By/Private Mission - The once-beaten 3YO filly Private Mission and her older stakes-winning stablemate As Time Goes By, the 1-2 finishers in…

By Mary Eddy - NYRA Press Office OZONE PARK, N.Y.- Team D's graded stakes-placed Redifined will strive for her first stakes victory in Saturday's $120000 Stewart Manor, a six-furlong outer turf test for juvenile fillies, at Aqueduct Racetrack. Trained by Tony Dutrow, the daughter of More Than Ready was a narrow runner-up last out in the Grade 3…

Nov. 14 (UPI) -- Kentucky-based horses ably defended their home turf in the weekend Claiming Crown series at Churchill Downs, while 2-year-olds, some still eyeing a shot at next year's big races, were at work at tracks from coast to coast. Del Mar swung back into operation, and Woodbine and Churchill Downs had rich stakes offerings. On the…

Notes & Quotes From the Claiming Crown Jewel (& More): Keystone Field (Keystone Field / All Photos by Holly M. Smith) From the Churchill Downs Media Team: Keystone Field, owned by Kirk Wycoff's Three Diamonds Farm, swept past early leaders Benevengo and Frosted Grace leaving the final turn and determinedly turned back a late charge by 2-1…

The Elkstone Group's Grade 2-placed Hybrid Eclipse, under a patient ride from Sheldon Russell, split horses in midstretch and went on to earn her second stakes win in Maryland this year in Saturday's $100000 Thirty Eight Go Go at Laurel Park. The 12 running of the 1 1/16-mile Thirty Eight Go Go for fillies and mares was the last of three stakes on…

Repole Stable's Chocolate Gelato backed up a highly impressive maiden victory, utilizing a ground-saving trip under jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. to capture a breakthrough win in Sunday's Grade 1, $400000 Frizette for 2-year-old fillies at the Belmont at the Big A fall meet. Chocolate Gelato came into the Frizette off an 8 1/2-length maiden victory at…

Candy Light wins an allowance at Keeneland Oct. 13 (Coady Photography) By Keith McCalmont - NYRA Press Office OZONE PARK, N.Y- Trainer Graham Motion will saddle Fortune Racing's multiple stakes-placed Candy Light in Sunday's $135000 Winter Memories, a 1 1/16-mile outer turf test for sophomore fillies at Aqueduct Racetrack. Motion, who sends out Pao…

Churchill Downs Press Release/Edited LOUISVILLE, Ky.- A total of 95 of some of the nation's top claiming-level horses, including seven also-eligible entries, have been entered in Saturday's 24th annual Claiming Crown Championship Series, which will be staged beneath Churchill Downs' historic Twin Spires in Louisville, Ky. for the first time. The…

There's a reason we're the #1 trusted source for premium racing picks & info. A total of 95 of some of the nation's top claiming-level horses, including seven also-eligible entries, have been entered in Saturday's 24 annual Claiming Crown Championship Series, which will be staged beneath Churchill Downs' historic Twin Spires in Louisville, Ky. for…

KY HBPA Interviews: "Claiming Crown" Coming to Churhcill Downs This Saturday From the KY HBPA Media Team / Jennie Rees: The Claiming Crown was created 24 years ago to serve as a Breeders' Cup-style event celebrating the blue-collar horses that populate most of America's racing programs. With the eight-race series coming to Churchill Downs for the…

Led by the unbeaten and highly regarded La Crete, a field of eleven 3-year-old fillies will look to prove worthy to remain on the Kentucky Oaks trail in Saturday's Grade 2 Rachel Alexandra Stakes at Fair Grounds. A very impressive debut winner at Churchill Downs, La Crete lived up to expectations last time in her stakes debut when she battled back…

Ahead of his potential swansong in Saturday's Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland, John Ingles highlights how Flightline compares to the other great American-trained horses in Timeform's experience. *This article was first published on September 5, 2022 Baaeed's performance when winning the Juddmonte International at York last month by six and a…

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL-With no heavy favorite, the GI Curlin Florida Derby looked like it would likely go one of four ways on paper. The three winners of the four Florida-based GI Kentucky Derby preps- Simplification (Not This Time), White Abarrio (Race Day) and Classic Causeway (Giant's Causeway)-were 2-1, 5-2 and 7-2, respectively, and' TDN Rising…

Breeding is a very important part of the thoroughbred industry. The commercial breeding industry focuses primarily on the male line of the pedigree. This is because mares can only produce one offspring per year, whereas a single stallion can breed to hundreds of mares. Stallion managers need to advertise in order to get attention for their breeding…

Courvoisier, shown winning the Jerome Sakes, returns for Saturday's Grade III Withers at Aqueduct, a Kentucky Derby prep. Photo by Chelsey Durand, courtesy of New York Racing Association Feb. 4 (UPI) -- Three official Kentucky Derby prep races top the U.S. weekend horse racing schedule while Hot Rod Charlie, one of last year's Triple Crown…

If it's Friday, it's time for another installment of Dad's Hat Happy Hour Handicapping. It's a particularly good one, at least as far as the quality of racing goes: it is opening day at Keeneland, where a trio of superb graded stakes headline an excellent, 10-race card. We have five plays today, in five races that go off in about an hour's time; we…

The most promising two-year-olds in the country will stretch out to two turns on Saturday for the Breeders' Futurity (G1) at Keeneland! The 1 1/16-mile race offers a $600000 purse and an automatic berth to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile for the winner, and an overflow field has lined up. A maximum of 14 horses can run, though the field also contains…

Repole Stable's Chocolate Gelato backed up a highly impressive maiden victory, utilizing a ground-saving trip under jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. to capture a breakthrough win in Sunday's Grade 1, $400000 Frizette at the Belmont at the Big A fall meet. Chocolate Gelato came into the Frizette off an 8 1/2-length maiden victory at second asking going six…

According to numberFire Racing's projections, these are the best bets to make at FanDuel Racing today. Alessia looks to have the best claims in this maiden. She's hit the board on both of her starts at Keeneland and Saratoga and can get off the mark here. Funny How appeals as best of the remainder after finishing third on both starts, though her…

Bet with the Racing Dudes TODAY using our friends at BetPTC and get a $200 new member bonus! Enter promo code DUDES! WinStar Farm and CHC Inc.'s multiple Grade 1-winner and $4-million earner Life Is Good headlines Saturday's 69th running of the Grade 1, $500000 Woodward at the Belmont at the Big A fall meet. This year's edition of the prestigious…

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - WinStar Farm and CHC Inc.'s multiple Grade 1-winner and $4-million earner Life Is Good headlines Saturday's 69th running of the Grade 1, $500000 Woodward at the Belmont at the Big A fall meet. This year's edition of the prestigious nine-furlong test for 3-year-olds and upward will mark its first running at Aqueduct Racetrack…

OZONE PARK, N.Y.- Chalk Racing's Blame It On Daddy will look to earn black type in Thursday's 29th renewal of the $125000 Bertram F. Bongard, a seven-furlong sprint for New York-bred juveniles, at the Belmont at the Big A fall meet. Trained by Tom Albertrani, the Blame colt made his first two starts sprinting six furlongs at Saratoga Race Course,…

The Kentucky Derby is the second leg of the Triple Crown this year - the Belmont Stakes was held in June - as horse racing's biggest events were shuffled by the novel coronavirus pandemic. That schedule change, among others, allowed the morning-line favorite, Tiz the Law, to earn 372 points on the Derby trail, eclipsing the previous high of 170 set…

No one likes picking the favorite to win the Kentucky Derby, though it has proven to be a profitable wager over the past few years. In 2013, Orb began a run of six straight post-time favorites to win the Derby, ending with Justify's victory in 2018. Improbable was the favorite in 2019 and finished fifth, and 2020 top choice Tiz the Law came in…

On Saturday, September 17, nine two-year-old colts will stretch out to 1 1/16 miles in the Iroquois Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs. The event holds two designations: it is a challenge event for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile and also the first prep race for the 2022 Kentucky Derby, offering points on a 10-4-2-1 scale to the top four finishers.

Link text An overflow field of juvenile fillies will seek a berth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) in Wednesday's $200000 Jessamine S. (G2) at Keeneland. The "Win and You're In" affair will be contested at 1 1/16 miles on the lawn and has attracted a fantastic field of good-looking prospects. While it is difficult to land on just a…

An intriguing field of six will sprint about 6 1/2 furlongs down the hillside turf course at Santa Anita in Sunday's $100000 Daytona S. (G3). #1 BURNING TURF (9-5) - Blacker trainee has won three races in succession to kick off 2022 with the last pair coming over the course. Acclamation gelding has responded well since cutting back to sprint trips,…