#Medaglia d'Oro

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…

Largent, shown winning the 2020 Fort Lauderdale Stakes, returns from an 11-month layoff to contest Saturday's Tropical Turf at Gulfstream Park and could be considered for the Grade 1 Pegasus Turf with a good effort. Photo by Ryan Thompson, courtesy of Gulfstream Park Jan. 7 (UPI) -- A potential prep for the Pegasus World Cup Turf in Florida, a…

Friday's headliner at Keeneland is the $300000 Sycamore S. (G3), which will be run at 1 1/2 miles on the turf as Race 9. An overflow field of 16 has been entered for the ultra-competitive event, which will be the centerpiece of my Daily Double wagers as I will look to capitalize on an especially generous offer from Twin Spires. The " Keeneland…

This is "last call" weekend for Breeders' Cup hopefuls with more than a dozen "Win and You're In" races spread across three U.S. tracks. It's also Arc weekend in Paris and Winx seeks her 28th straight win in Australia. There's even more, with important 2-year-old races in Canada and the Group 1 Sun Chariot in England. Twenty-eight straight wins? It…

With a £600000 purse both reflecting and reinforcing its status as a rising international fixture, Friday's fourth running of the Bahrain International Trophy (G3) has attracted a quartet from Godolphin, along with classy Irish mare Insinuendo and a new French recruit for the home team in Dilawar. You can watch and wager on the Friday morning…

Set the alarm, stick the kettle on and get in a prime position on Sunday morning for the BMW Hong Kong Derby. This year's renewal looks set to be an absolute belter, and at the reasonable hour of 8:35 am it's worth getting up for. Six of the 14 horses lining up for the Hong Kong racing season's premier event for four-year-olds were previously…

Topping a Bob Baffert trifecta, REINCARNATE (Good Magic), the co-longest shot on the board at 16-1, held off Newgate (Into Mischief) and favored National Treasure (Quality Road) to steal the GIII Sham S. Fresh off his maiden-breaking score in just his second start on the dirt following a pair of turf efforts in the fall, Reincarnate, a $775000…

G3 Sham Stakes Preview: Spun Intended Could Spell Trouble From the Santa Anita Media Team: In what appears to be a David vs. Goliath scenario at Santa Anita, trainer Mark Glatt's Spun Intended will take on no less than four Bob Baffert Derby hopefuls among a field of six sophomores in Sunday's Grade III, $100000 Sham Stakes at one mile. Named for…

In what appears to be a David vs. Goliath scenario at Santa Anita, trainer Mark Glatt's Spun Intended will take on no less than four Bob Baffert Derby hopefuls among a field of six sophomores in Sunday's Grade III, $100000 Sham Stakes at one mile. Named for the winner of the 1973 Santa Anita Derby and subsequent runner-up to Secretariat in that…

Golden Sixty: created history by retaining his Champions Mile crown Golden Sixty became Hong Kong's highest earner in history by dominantly retaining the Group 1 FWD Champions Mile on Sunday. California Spangle was given a soft time in front but the 2-5 favourite travelled ominously well throughout under Vincent Ho and picked off that rival easily…

Stonestreet homebred Clairiere (Curlin) kicked home convincingly in Saturday's GI Cotillion S. at Parx to earn a first highest-level victory and snap a five-race winless streak while capping an exacta for her sire. A neck winner of the GII Rachel Alexandra S. in February, the Steve Asmussen pupil was second best to familiar foe Travel Column…

Aqueduct Barn Notes: Ridin With Biden Headlines Saturday's Queens County Stakes From the NYRA Media Team / Mary Eddy: Cash is King and LC Racing's graded stakes-winner Ridin With Biden will look to double up on stakes scores as he wraps up his 4-year-old campaign in Saturday's $150000 Queens County, a nine-furlong main track route for 3-year-olds…

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…

The last Wednesday of 2022 features a nine-race program at Tampa Bay Downs offering plenty of excellent wagering opportunities. I present my five favorite races and my suggested wagers below. Best bet: Kinchen (Race 5) Best value bet: One Tough Dame (Race 8) Race 1 No. 1 Dixiemagic (7-5, morning-line favorite) gets a tepid nod over No. 3 King…

Favored In Italian went wire-to-wire to give owner Peter Brant and trainer Chad Brown their second graded victory of the afternoon in the GIII Honey Fox S. at Gulfstream Park Saturday. The chestnut filly rushed up to take the lead into the first turn. Allowed to set pedestrian splits, the favorite shrugged off a pair of challengers in upper stretch…

Olivia Twist's victory in the $100000 Trapeze Stakes on Saturday at Remington Park kept the 2-year-old filly undefeated after three starts for trainer Todd Fincher. Fincher has now won the top local races for 2-year-old fillies and also for 2-year-old colts/geldings, winning the $400000 Springboard Mile with Senor Buscador in 2020. Olivia Twist, a…

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…

Down On Da Bayou blitzes her rivals in Thursday's UAE Oaks at Meydan, and now is headed for the Saudi Derby. Photo by Erika Rasmussen, courtesy of Dubai Racing Club Feb. 21 (UPI) Weekend horse racing features a dash of Kentucky Derby, Saudi Derby, Hong Kong Derby, Qatar Derby and even the Winter Derby with action from the Far East to the Middle…

Defending race champion Mishriff will once again take on a strong group of American shippers when he tops a field of 14 entered for Saturday's $20 million Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racetrack. Mishriff is well proven on dirt, but has done all his recent running on the turf. Trained by John and Thady Gosden, the 5-year-old son of Make Believe has…

Dr. Blute wins the Empire Classic Oct. 30 (Janet Garaguso) By Ryan Martin - NYRA Press Office OZONE PARK, N.Y.- Flanagan Racing's Dr. Blute will try to wrap up the year by doubling up on stakes scores in Saturday's $100000 Alex M. Robb for New York-breds 3-year-old and upward going a one-turn mile at Aqueduct Racetrack. Dr. Blute, a 4-year-old…

Venti Valentine wins the Busher Invitational March 5, 2022 (Chelsea Durand) By Keith McCalmont - NYRA Press Office OZONE PARK, N.Y.- NY Final Furlong Racing Stable and Parkland Thoroughbreds' multiple graded-stakes placed Venti Valentine will seek her third career stakes score in Saturday's $100000 Bay Ridge, a one-turn mile for New York-bred…

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…

Arguably the best horse ever to be trained in Hong Kong, Golden Sixty became a household name during the region's strict Covid lockdown period. J A McGrath traces his career ahead of his hat-trick attempt in Sunday's Hong Kong Mile, one of four Group 1 events at the annual HK International Races at Sha Tin Covid lockdown heroes were uncovered in…

Trainer Todd Pletcher wields a powerful pair when he sends out Sendero and Ari Gold to top a field of eight 2-year-olds entered in Saturday's $75000 Pulpit Stakes going 7 1/2-furlongs on the turf at Gulfstream Park. Sendero is the likely favorite after being beaten just over a length in the 1 1/16-mile Awad Stakes at Aqueduct six weeks ago. Already…

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…

Four years on from his busman's holiday during a pre-Covid British summer, Vincent Ho remembers his short spell as part of Mark Johnston's team vividly. "Ryan Moore recommended Mr Johnston because he thought there would be an opportunity to get some rides and I really loved the village of Middleham and the whole experience," he says. "The weather…

Regal Glory winds up her career with a victory in Sunday's Grade I Matriarch at Del Mar. Benoit photo, courtesy of Del Mar Turf Club Dec. 5 (UPI) -- Mind Control and Regal Glory wound up their careers with Grade I victories a continent apart in weekend racing, while the another name popped up on the "Road to the Roses" Kentucky Derby 2023…

Delaware Park has a strong card on Saturday that includes a bevy of stakes, including the G3 Robert Dick Memorial and the G2 Delaware Handicap. Picks to follow with some well-timed analysis... Race 1: 5-4-7-2 Race 2: 6-3-7-5 Race 3: 5-2-7-1 Race 4: 8-4-3-7 Race 5: 1-2-7-5 Race 6: 8-10-6-4 Race 7: 6-4-7-5 Race 8: 11-7-3-8 **Most Likely: Bad To The…

Sekie and Tsunebumi Yoshihara's Yuugiri (Shackleford) looked in all sorts of bother as she was besieged from either side with time ticking away in Saturday's GIII Fantasy S. at Oaklawn Park, but she refused to lay down and battled her way to a neck defeat of Beguine (Gun Runner). Second choice Bubble Rock () was third in her first try on a…

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…

Tuskegee Airmen breaks his maiden first out Sep. 24 at Parx (Bill Denver/EQUI-PHOTO) By Mary Eddy - NYRA Press Office OZONE PARK, N.Y.- Cash is King and LC Racing's undefeated Tuskegee Airmen will make his graded stakes debut for trainer John Servis in Saturday's Grade 2, $250000 Remsen, a nine-furlong main track test for juveniles, at Aqueduct…

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…

Olympiad isn't a born homewrecker, but if there is one sleeper in the 2022 Breeders' Cup Classic field, it's he. William Mott's training style is careful, as evidenced by the extremely judicious campaign that has brought the four-year-old grandson of Medaglia d'Oro to Keeneland this Saturday. Mott has not often let this athlete race outside…

The road to the Kentucky Derby through New York culminates on Saturday when nine evenly matched 3-year-olds leave the starting gate in the 2021 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, N.Y. Both the winner, who will receive 100 qualifying points to the Derby, and the runner-up, who will receive 40, are likely to earn a berth in the Run for…

Since 2000, 16 UAE Derby alums have come to the US for their shot at the Kentucky Derby winner's circle and a blanket of roses. That group included trendy dark-horse picks like Mubtaahij in 2015 and Mendelssohn in 2018, two horses who drew plenty of money on Derby Day. Mubtaahij went off at 14.40/1, not in the neighborhood of favorite (and winner)…

Welcome to 2023 Kentucky Derby Prospect Snapshots, where we'll take a look each week at a recent winner on the Triple Crown trail, usually from the Road to the Kentucky Derby schedule from which the racehorses earn points toward qualifying. The 1 ¼-mile Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve will be held May 6, 2023, at Churchill Downs. This…

This weekend's horse racing action is highlighted by a quartet of Grade 1 turf races in Hong Kong which have drawn an international cast, including Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare turf heroine Loves Only You. Stateside, the stakes action is led by the G2 Los Alamitos Futurity and the G3 Mr. Prospector on Saturday. Additionally, Arkansas Derby winner…

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)…

There's a reason we're the #1 trusted source for premium racing picks & info. Winngate Stables' dual graded stakes winner and Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks alumna Kathleen O. resumes serious business against a field of seven other sophomore fillies in Friday's 73rd running of the Grade 3, $175000 Comely going nine furlongs at Aqueduct Racetrack. Trained by…

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…

Away since suffering her first career loss in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks, Kathleen O. returns on Friday to headline a field of seven sophomore fillies in Grade 3 Comely Stakes at Aqueduct. The daughter of Upstart was one of the top choices in the most prestigious race of the year for 3-year-old fillies, but was well back early and could only manage…

Aqueduct Barn Notes: Kathleen O Returns in G3 Comely Stakes (Kathleen O / Photos by Holly M. Smith) From the NYRA Media Team: Winngate Stables' dual graded stakes winner and Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks alumna Kathleen O. resumes serious business against a field of seven other sophomore fillies in Friday's 73rd running of the Grade 3, $175000 Comely going…

Havnameltdown wins Sunday's Bob Hope Stakes for 2-year-olds at Del Mar. Benoit photo, courtesy of Del Mar Turf Club Nov. 21 (UPI) -- One of the more interesting subplots of late-year racing is the emergence of late-blooming 2-year-olds and Del Mar's weekend program featured two of those -- Havnameltdown among the colts and Justique in the filly…

Kathleen O. gallops in preparation for the Kentucky Oaks, in which she finished fifth (Coady Photography) By Ryan Martin - NYRA Press Office OZONE PARK, N.Y.- Winngate Stables' dual graded stakes winner and Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks alumna Kathleen O. resumes serious business against a field of seven other sophomore fillies in Friday's 73rd running of…

Further easing in the local COVID restrictions meant that the biggest crowd since January-better than 13000 racegoers-took in Sunday's BOCHK Jockey Club meeting at Sha Tin in person and were they ever rewarded. Making their seasonal debuts and having a single prep towards next month's Longines Hong Kong International Races, both two-time defending…

Imagine for a moment being loaded with money. So loaded there was plenty to unload on any of the three sure-fire ways to blow an investment. As some financial wizard told Tony Kornheiser, they are a private plane, a restaurant and a racehorse. Forget about the plane and the restaurant. How about being someone like Jack Wolf? He and his wife Laurie…

When it was revealed that jockey Mychel Sanchez had gone on a betting spree that included wagers where he bet against the horses he was riding, his attorney Alan Pincus argued that this was not a matter of race fixing. Rather, Pincus said, Sanchez had turned to gambling as an outlet to combat his depression, let things spin out of control and in…

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…

Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool Guaranteed at $200000 HALLANDALE BEACH, FL -EKB Stables' Corey surged between horses at the top of the stretch to engage R Adios Jersey in a ferocious battle to the wire, prevailing by a half-length and ending the heavy favorite's unbeaten streak in Saturday's $60000 Bal Harbour at Gulfstream Park. R Adios Jersey, the 3-5…

The encore to the 1998 Breeders' Cup Classic was Ghostzapper's 2004 performance. The 1998 Classic was said to be the greatest field ever assembled. Then the 2004 race was said to be the best. November 5, 2022, we saw Flightline win with a hand ride to an 8 1/2 victory and that race and Flightline were called the best. So, who is the BC Classic…