#Juvenile Fillies Turf

Narrowly beaten on his racecourse debut at the Curragh, the son of No Nay Never went on to win each of his four subsequent starts, including the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot. But it was his scintillating display on what proved to be his final juvenile appearance in the Group One Phoenix Stakes that saw him top the charts with a rating of…

Knicks Go, seen winning the Grade I Pegasus World Cup in January, is favorite for Saturday's Grade I Whitney at Saratoga. Photo courtesy of Gulfstream Park Aug. 6 (UPI) -- Rich purses drew some top foreign talent for the Saratoga Derby and Oaks on Saturday and Sunday on the upstate New York turf to highlight a big weekend of Thoroughbred…

It is easy see why Tiz The Law is a heavy favorite for the Belmont Stakes. His two Grade 1 wins and his 4-for-4 record on fast tracks put him alone in the front of the plane while the rest of the field is stuck in coach. But if it is easy to declare that he will win Saturday, why is it so hard to figure out who will lead him there? Blame it on Fore…

Essential Quality, shown winning the Grade I Travers, is among the favorites in a Breeders' Cup Classic field announced this week. Photo courtesy of New York Racing Association Oct. 29 (UPI) -- It's a week for looking forward as horse racing around the globe nears its annual champion-making events and youngsters get in final licks to make a case…

A busy weekend of racing in Ireland is highlighted by a quintet of Breeders' Cup Challenge Series races. Among the prospective starters are Mishriff, Saffron Beach, and Highfield Princess, a trio of Group 1 winners whose connections have mentioned the Breeders' Cup among their possible year-end targets. Let's dive in and explore the upcoming…

Headlined by classic winners Authentic, Swiss Skydiver and Tiz The Law, 184 horses were drawn Monday afternoon into 14 fields for the $28 million Breeders' Cup championships Friday and Saturday at Keeneland. The morning lines were determined by handicapper Mike Battaglia. [] Below are the fields and odds for the 14 Breeders' Cup races in reverse…

Commissioning (navy) streaks away from her rivals in the Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket Commissioning surged into contention for next year's Qipco 1000 Guineas with an impressive performance to maintain her unbeaten record, becoming the next potential star for trainers John and Thady Gosden in the process. However, far from overflowing with…

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…

The Queens County Stakes is a 1 1/8-mile dirt stakes for 4-year-olds and up and this year a nearly full field of 11 has been entered including two trained by Norman Cash. The runners exit dirt races in 10 cases including five at Aqueduct, three at Laurel Park and one each at Parx and Keeneland with the final runner coming out of a synthetic race at…

May 3 (UPI) -- Just hours before Medina Spirit wired the Kentucky Derby, Poetic Flair won a nip-and-tuck victory in the first of the British Classics, highlighting a big weekend of international horse racing action. That Qipco 2000 Guineas showdown keyed a meeting at Newmarket that also included an upset in the Qipco 1000 Guineas, an impressive…

Welcome to Noel Michaels' Weekend Winners, the place to go for weekend best bets and spot plays from veteran handicapper and tournament-play pioneer Noel Michaels. Check back every week for a couple of highlighted selections designed to help you cash a few bets and make some money. Noel's selections have been featured just about everywhere horse…

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…

Desert Encounter, winner of the 2018 and 2019 Pattison Canadian International, is back trying for a "three-peat" in Saturday's renewal at Woodbine. Photo courtesy of Woodbine Sept. 17 (UPI) -- Belmont Park returns to action this weekend with Irish and English horses, including Bolshoi Ballet, chasing the third leg of New York's rich turf…

The Weatherbys Super Sprint was devised by Richard Hannon Snr and Lord Carnarvon as a lucrative prize for two-year-olds who hadn't cost a fortune at the sales. Accordingly, it has been the source of numerous wonderful rags-to-riches stories in its 30-year history. But just because the popular five-furlong dash staged at Newbury each July caters for…

A Triple Crown sweep lies silent this year with Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike side-stepping Saturday's Preakness Stakes. But a trio of big-time talents make this year's middle jewel a fabulous, triple-threat race. Kentucky Derby runner-up and beaten favorite Epicenter was installed as the 6-5 morning-line favorite by Pimlico oddsmaker Keith…

The ball drops at Times Square, fireworks explode around the globe and North American Thoroughbreds celebrate their birthdays at midnight on Jan. 1. A few of the newly turned 3-year-olds waste no time starting their once-in-a-lifetime quest for the Kentucky Derby starting gate as Aqueduct rings in 2018 with the $150000 Jerome Stakes. On New Year's…

Friday's Breeders' Cup card at Santa Anita offers six championship races, giving horseplayers plenty of opportunities to find wagering value. Large fields and competitive races can lead to long shots, and the Ladies' Classic (formerly known as the Distaff) has produced a few bombs over the years. Among the long shots that have won the…

Bobby Flay's homebred Pizza Bianca (#4 outside) under Jose Ortiz on her way to winning the Hilltop Stakes at Pimlico May 20, 2022, and earning Black Type. (Maryland Jockey Club photo) By Maribeth Kalinich There's a phenomenon happening in North America. Turf races are booming. That is in part thanks to more European horses coming across the pond to…

The Saratoga Race Course meet has a deeply ingrained reputation as one of North America's major proving grounds for the mettle of a freshman sire, offering some of the deepest 2-year-old competition for both maidens and graded stakes horses. As one of the meets on the calendar that has the full attention of breeders and stallion operations alike,…

Sodashi, shown winning the Sapporo Kinen in her last start Aug. 22, returns in Sunday's Grade 1 Shuka Sho at Hanshin Racecourse. Photo courtesy of Japan Racing Association Oct. 15 (UPI) -- As American horse racing enters its pre-Breeders' Cup "calm before the storm" this weekend, the international contingent ably plugs the gap with the world's…

2pts win Meditate in the 1000 Guineas at 7/1 (Betfred, Betway, Coral and Ladbrokes) 1pt win Silver Knott in the Derby at 25/1 (Betfred, BetUK) 1pt win Bridestones in the Oaks at 33/1 (bet365, BetVictor, Unibet) If there's value in the Qipco 2000 Guineas betting it's probably Little Big Bear at 5/1. Aidan O'Brien's son of No Nay Never was the…

Crown Pride, guided by Damian Lane, booked a spot in the 20-field Kentucky Derby by winning the G2 UAE Derby by 2¾ lengths in Dubai on March 26. For the first leg of America's Triple Crown races, trainer Koichi Shotani opted for to give the starting nod to the more experienced jockey. Lemaire turns 43 on May 20; Lane is 28. Lemaire, the Japan…

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…

Taking on Ballydoyle in the 1000 Guineas is like facing Manchester City in the Etihad - victory is theoretically possible but recent history suggests that one of their expensive stars will see you off. Aidan O'Brien has won it five times in the last six years and seven times overall. Nobody else currently training has taken it more than…

PIZZA BIANCA RETURNS TO THE SCENE OF HER GREATEST TRIUMPH Pizza Bianca was a little known 2-year-old filly when she first arrived at Del Mar at the beginning of November last year. She left a celebrity with a Breeders' Cup victory to her credit. She's 3 now and back at the seaside oval to compete in the G1 Matriarch Sunday, contested at a mile on…

Some outstanding turf distaffers have prevailed down the years in the GI Matriarch S., contested at Del Mar since the permanent closure of Hollywood Park in 2013. The late Bobby Frankel sent out the closely related Heat Haze (GB) (Green Desert) and Intercontinental (GB) (Danehill) to win in 2003 and 2004, respectively-after the race was shortened…

Poulin in O T wins the Frost King Oct. 14 at Woodbine (Michael Burns) By Chris Lomon - Woodbine Communications TORONTO- A pair of $150000 2-year-old stakes, the Clarendon and Shady Well, share the spotlight on Saturday's 11-race card at Woodbine. Each set for 6 furlongs over the Tapeta, the Shady Well (2-year-old fillies) and Clarendon…

American Revolution, shown winning the Grade I Cigar Mile in December, is among the likely ones in Saturday's Blame Stakes at Churchill Downs. Photo by Joe Labozzetta, courtesy of New York Racing Association June 3 (UPI) -- Weekend racing is all about the doings on Epsom Downs southwest of London, where the Oaks on Friday and the Derby on Saturday…

Malathaat, shown winning the 2021 Kentucky Oaks, faces old rival Clairiere in Saturday's Shuvee Stakes at Saratoga. Photo courtesy of Churchill Downs July 22 (UPI) -- The battle for year-end honors is hotter than the weather, as weekend horse racing has Clairiere versus Malathaat at Saratoga, top 3-year-olds in the Haskell at Monmouth and a rematch…

Dalaika, shown winning the Grade I Beverly D. at Churchill Downs, returns for the $1 million Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf on Saturday. Photo courtesy of Churchill Downs Sept. 9 (UPI) -- It's all about the turf in weekend horse racing with Kentucky Downs staging an extravaganza unmatched anywhere in North America short of the Breeders' Cup World…

Nest (white bridle), shown winning the 2021 Demoiselle at Aqueduct, returns as a heavy favorite in Saturday's Suncoast Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs, a Kentucky Oaks prep. Photo by Joe Labozzetta, courtesy of New York Racing Association Feb. 11 (UPI) -- Potential Kentucky Derby candidates are in action from California to Florida and all the way to…

Life Is Good, shown winning the Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park in January, is favored in Saturday's Grade I Whitney at Saratoga. Photo courtesy of Katsumi Saito Aug. 5 (UPI) -- Life is Good and Olympiad square off in the heavyweight match that is Saturday's Whitney Stakes at Saratoga, just one race after an international Group I rematch on…

Sconsin, shown winning the 2021 Winning Colors Stakes at Churchill Downs, tries for a repeat in the Memorial Day renewal. Photo courtesy of Churchill Downs May 27 (UPI) -- The long Memorial Day weekend is not short on racing action with two "Win and You're In" events, one in California amid a flurry on Grade I races and the other in Chile. The…

The 2022 Breeders' Cup World Championships broke betting records. The two-day event with 14 Breeders' Cup races started with Future Stars Friday and finished with a flurry when the world's No. 1 racehorse Flightline captured the Classic in record-setting style with an 8-length victory. The beautiful horses are the main attraction at the Breeders'…

Rich Strike, seen posing the morning after his Kentucky Derby win, returns in Saturday's Grade I Clark Stakes with a chance to stake a claim for year-end honors. Photo courtesy of Churchill Downs Nov. 25 (UPI) -- It's getting to be crunch time for horses who seek year-end honors, and this weekend's Clark Stakes at Churchill Downs provides one of…

Aidan O'Brien has an excellent record in the Qipco 1000 Guineas and Tuesday has a fine chance of winning it this year. Stablemate Tenebrism and Discoveries are other key contenders Sandrine runs in the Qipco 1000 Guineas Aidan O'Brien has two leading contenders as he goes in pursuit of yet another Qipco 1000 Guineas triumph. The Irish trainer, who…

Coming in off her biggest career victory, Regal Glory looks to make it two in a row when she headlines a field of eleven older females set for Saturday's $500000 Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Gulfstream Park. Trained by Chad Brown, the 6-year-old daughter of Animal Kingdom finished off last season in top form. Two starts back she was…

Veteran Woodbine trainer Nathan Squires was thrilled with the performance of his filly Cairo Consort at the Breeders' Cup this month. But a couple of days after the race, Squires felt as though he was punched in the stomach. Cairo Consort placed an impressive third in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf stakes on Nov. 4 - the world…

May 20 (UPI) -- The Preakness, even without Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike, is the marquee event in weekend horse racing, but by no means the only top-shelf event on the schedule. Pimlico Race Course provides an impressive supporting program on Friday and Saturday. Churchill Downs and Monmouth Park add to the mix. On the international front,…

Churchill Downs' Barn Notes: KY Derby Winner Returns in G1 Clark'Cap (Rich Strike / Photos by Holly M. Smith) From the Churchill Downs Media Team: RED-TR Racing's Kentucky Derby (Grade I) hero Rich Strike will return to Churchill Downs and face a compact field of seven entered in Friday's 148 running of the $750000 Clark presented by Norton…

Originating in 1982, the Breeder's Cup has quickly established itself one of horse racing's major worldwide events. Over the last 39 years, it has steadily increased in popularity and this glamorous two-day events regularly attracts star-studded international fields. The inaugural Breeder's Cup took place at the now-defunct Hollywood Park in…

A good rule of thumb is that favored horses, according to expert horse racing predictions, win about 30% of the time. It would follow, then, that favorites would win approximately four of the fourteen Breeders' Cup races. The odds were slightly tipped to the public's favor, however, as five post time betting choices came home winners: Meditate…

The two-day Breeders' Cup World Championships will conclude Saturday at Del Mar. Saturday's nine Breeders' Cup races will start at 3:05 p.m. EDT with the Filly & Mare Sprint and finish with the Classic at 8:40 p.m. Here's the TV schedule: NBC Sports (2:30-8 p.m.), NBC (8-9 p.m.). Here's an analysis of each race. All times EDT. The pick: Gamine…

There was little doubt that Highfield Princess was the sprinter who achieved the highest profile during the season, thanks mainly to completing a Group 1 hat-trick in three countries in the space of not much more than a month in the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville, the Nunthorpe at York (replay below) and the Flying Five at the Curragh. The…

Just Cindy wins the Schuylerville Stakes for 2-year-old fillies on Thursday's opening day at Saratoga. Photo by Chelsea Durand, Cognianese Photos, courtesy of New York Racing Association July 15 (UPI) -- Saratoga is back into action this weekend, with trainer Chad Brown ready to make a statement on the turf course and the usual top-self competition…

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…

The Breeders' Cup has announced the official order of races and wagering menu for the 2022 Breeders' Cup World Championships, scheduled to take place on Friday, Nov. 4 and Saturday, Nov. 5 at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky. There will be a total of 10 races (five Breeders' Cup races) on the first day of the Championships - "Future Stars…

LEXINGTON, Ky. - The 39th annual Breeders' Cup World Championships kicked off at Keeneland Race Course on a beautiful autumn day in the Bluegrass. Forte inserted himself as the early Derby favorite via his come-from-behind win in the Juvenile for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher. The son of Violence, ridden by Eclipse Award-winning jockey Irad…

The big day has arrived: it's Breeders Cup Saturday. There are eight Grade 1 races, spread out over almost six hours; it's the best day of the year to be a horseplayer. We expect fast dirt and firm turf in all races, so let's go. Keeneland, Race 3, 11:50 am ET Grade 1 Breeders Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, 7 furlongs, Dirt, Fillies & Mares 3 &…