#Shug McGaughey

Even if a race does not carry qualifying points, if there are 3-year-olds running, it could end up being a prep for Kentucky Derby 2023. In addition to the Pasco Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs, there are six other races Saturday that include 15 horses who already are in the Derby futures market in Las Vegas or are on the verge of being there. Maiden…

Potential Breeders' Cup Horses Work Lexus Raven Run Winner Caramel Swirl Returns To Churchill Downs Conditioner Cox's "Cool Little Horse" Perryville Winner He'smyhoneybadger LEXINGTON, Ky. - Charles Fipke's undefeated Lady Speightspeare, scratched at the gate for the Oct. 16 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) Presented by Dixiana, at Keeneland…

As Keeneland prepares to host the 2022 Breeders' Cup in two weeks, the Lexington, Ky., track continues its October meet Saturday with a graded stakes for filly sprinters. Smash Ticket (5-2) is morning-line favorite for the Grade 2, $350000 Raven Run Stakes. Post time from Keeneland is 5:16 p.m., with FanDuel TV to broadcast the seven-furlong sprint…

Two weeks after a Grade 1 win at Saratoga, trainer Christophe Clement is putting the star of his barn back in the starting gates. Gufo (7-5) is morning-line favorite Saturday for the Grade 2, $1 million Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes. Post time from Kentucky Downs is 5:45 p.m., with the race broadcast on both CNBC and FanDuel TV, the network formerly…

Now we are talking Kentucky Derby preps. This time we mean it. Life Is Good can race across, up and down or diagonally through the San Felipe. Greatest Honour can close on pedestrian fractions in the Fountain of Youth. Concert Tour can be anointed prince of the Bob Baffert Invi … er … Rebel Stakes. Essential Quality can be forgotten with his…

The Road to the Kentucky Derby series opened in late September, but the prep season doesn't get into full swing until the New Year. And the first qualifier of 2023 took place at Oaklawn Park on New Year's Day, the Smarty Jones. Twenty-six additional point races will be offered for the May 6 Kentucky Derby (G1) over the next 3 1/2 months. Let's…

SARATOGA SPRINGS - Wit, who races for the Repole, St. Elias and Gainsway Stables, followed his usual racing pattern of coming from off the pace when he took the trophy in the Spa's $135000 Better Talk Now Sunday afternoon at Saratoga Race Course. With Jose Ortiz in the saddle for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, the colt by Practical Joke…

Titleholder wins Sunday's Takarazuka Kinen, now targeting the Arc d'Triomphe. Photo courtesy of Japan Racing Association June 27 (UPI) -- Tawny Port's victory in Saturday's Ohio Derby serves notice the scramble among U.S. 3-year-olds is far from over while Westover's dominance of the Irish Derby indicates he's not out of the frame, either, despite…

The 145th running of the Grade-1, Kentucky Derby will take place on Saturday, May 4, at historic Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. This is the only race in the U.S. with a 20-horse field and it can provide great wagering opportunities for bettors. The favorite has won the run for the roses the last several years, but even with the top choice…

Edwin Maldonado / 6 John Velazquez / 6 TRAINERS / WINS Philip D'Amato / 14 Bob Baffert / 7 Doug O'Neill / 6 George Papaprodromou / 6 Peter Miller / 5 Saturday • $400000 Grade I Hollywood Derby, 3-year-olds, 1 1/8 miles (turf) • $100000 Grade III Jimmy Durante Stakes, 2-year-old fillies, 1 mile (turf) • $100000 Stormy Liberal Stakes, 3-year-olds and…

The biggest race run on American soil is here. The $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic, which is supposed to draw the best horses that the world has to offer, will be run at embattled Santa Anita Park on Saturday night. Eleven horses have been entered to run in the 1 1/4-mile race, which is in its 36th year. While the horses should be getting the most…

The principal action for Kentucky Derby 148 occurred more than 2000 miles west of Churchill Downs Thursday morning as Santa Anita Derby (GI) winner Taiba worked six furlongs in 1:12.80. "It was very straight forward," trainer Tim Yakteen said. "He worked three-quarters from the five-eighth pole. It was a typical Taiba work and we accomplished what…

While much of the country is suffering through extreme cold and winter storms, officials at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif., are preparing for their traditional day-after-Christmas opening on Monday, Dec. 26. Temperatures are expected in the upper 70s and there is no rain in the forecast for Monday, though a storm is expected to roll into…

Last year's Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Knicks Go is the early favorite at 5-2 for the $3 million Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, Jan. 23 (NBC, 4:30-6 p.m. ET). He is trained by Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer finalist Brad Cox and will be ridden by Joel Rosario, a finalist for the Eclipse Award for Outstanding…

Winning connections celebrate after the inaugural running of the Royal Saint Lucia Turf Club's $150000 Pitons Cup on Friday. Photo courtesy of Royal Saint Lucia Turf Club Dec. 16 (UPI) -- On a horse racing weekend when "new" was the watchword from Japan all the way to Saint Lucia in the Caribbean, Instilled Regard and War Story provided a hint of…

Keeneland Barn Notes: Basin Gets Final Prep for G2 Blue Grass Stakes (Trainer Steve Asmussen / Photo by Holly M. Smith) From the Keeneland Media Team: GRADE 1 WINNER BASIN WORKS FOR TOYOTA BLUE GRASS Toyota Blue Grass (G2) hopeful Basin, who races for Terry Green's Jackpot Farm, was the first horse to breeze over Keeneland's fast track Monday when…

Fresh off a game runner-up finish in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap, Warrant looks like the likely favorite among a field of eight older males entered in Saturday's $300000 Ben Ali at Keeneland. A 4-year-old son of Constitution, he was beaten just ahead by the streaking Express Train in the Big Cap seven weeks ago. The Brad Cox-trainee closed out…

A trio of stakes races, headed by the 82nd edition of the Grade 1, $400000 Hollywood Derby, will highlight a special racing card Saturday at Del Mar on the penultimate day of the sport for the 2022 Bing Crosby Season. Also on the nine-race program will be the 32nd running of the Grade 3, $100000 Jimmy Durante Stakes for 2-year-old fillies and the…

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…

Editor's note: An earlier version of this report included Giacomo among the Kentucky Derby winners who never had another win. Giacomo won the San Diego Handicap in 2006. The Kentucky Derby is the Holy Grail of racing, and this is the time of year when the frenzy peaks. The preps are over, the future bets are down, and the obsessive overanalyzing is…

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…

Kentucky Derby winner Mandaloun works out at Churchill Downs in preparation for Saturday's Stephen Foster Stakes. Photo courtesy of Churchill Downs July 1 (UPI) -- The Fourth of July weekend kicks off the second half of the horse racing year with a bang as Mandaloun, Life Is Good, Ce Ce and other notables return from layoffs. Adding to the…

Keeneland Barn Notes: Blue Grass Winner Zandon Zooms in Pre-Derby Work (Zandon in his work at Keeneland / Coady Photography) From the Keeneland Media Team: TOYOTA BLUE GRASS WINNER ZANDON TUNES UP FOR KENTUCKY DERBY WITH KEENELAND WORK Jeff Drown's Zandon, winner of Keeneland's $1 million Toyota Blue Grass (G1) on April 9, worked 4 furlongs…

General Jim takes command in an allowance at Keeneland Oct. 29 (Coady Photography) By Mary Eddy - NYRA Press Office OZONE PARK, N.Y.- Courtlandt Farms' talented juvenile General Jim will test his abilities against stakes company for the first time in Saturday's $120000 Central Park for 2-year-olds traveling one mile over Aqueduct Racetrack's outer…

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…

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…

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…

An inside look at how the 145th Kentucky Derby will shape up: Trainer: Mark Casse Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione Current form: Won the Rebel by a measured two lengths to make it three straight. But gate issues and a wide trip resulted in his first loss on dirt in the Louisiana. Worth a wager? Willed his way to impressive streak. Does best running early…

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…

Trainer Shug McGaughey knew he had a potential Kentucky Derby contender in Code of Honor after his successful 2-year-old campaign but had re-evaluate his plan after the horse's fourth-place finish in January's Mucho Macho Man Stakes. "I was a little bit shook after the Mucho Macho Man," McGaughey said. "I kind of changed my strategy, and that…

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…

Chad Brown, the undisputed King of American turf racing, holds a strong hand in Saturday's Grade 2 Pennine Ridge at Belmont Park with his pair of 3-year-olds Unanimous Consent and Napoleonic War. Unanimous Consent could go favored on the strength of an unbeaten record in three starts. He comes into the 9 furlong test off a decisive victory in the…

Barely more than one month remains until the Kentucky Derby (G1) on the first Saturday in May. The Kentucky Oaks (G1), held one day prior, is also rapidly approaching. News and notes are coming fast and furious, so let's dive in and see what's happening. A trio of Kentucky Derby qualifiers worth 100-40-20-10 points to the top four finishers took…

It is Florida Derby Day! The crowd is ready, and the bettors are looking to do some handicapping! Turfwriter J.N.

Art Collector came through with a masterpiece in the $600000 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) at Keeneland on Saturday, rolling past the filly Swiss Skydiver near the eighth-pole and cruising to a 3 ½-length victory. Sent off as the second choice just behind slight favorite Swiss Skydiver, Art Collector stamped himself as a Kentucky…

Trainer Todd Pletcher will be back in the Kentucky Derby. Was there ever any doubt? Needing some of his 3-year-olds to come through on a big Saturday of Derby points qualifiers, Pletcher's horses responded in a huge way. Known Agenda ($12.80 for a $2 bet) made his move at the top of the stretch and pulled away from Soup and Sandwich to win the…

Will Take Charge, runner-up to Mucho Macho Man in the Breeders' Cup Classic and the 2013 Eclipse Award Champion Three-Year-Old Colt, takes on a field of ten rivals in Sunday's Grade 1 Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park, the first installment of the 2014 Jockey Club Tour on FOX. (Post time: 6:01 p.m. Eastern; TV: Fox Sports 1). Hall of Fame trainer D.…

Breeders' Cup Notebook: The "Math" of the Aftermath (Breeders' Cup 2022 / Coady Photography) From the Breeders' Cup Media Team: Europeans, New York-based Runners Dominated World Championship Weekend Horses based primarily in Europe and New York accounted for 11 of the 14 victories in the 39 edition of the Breeders' Cup 14 World Championships this…

Sharp Aza Tack ran off to a 7 1/4-length victory in the Tyro Stakes at Monmouth on July 30. Bill Denver/EQUI-PHOTO Breeders' Cup Notes/Edited LEXINGTON, Ky.-R3 Racing's Juvenile Turf Sprint contender Sharp Aza Tack galloped 1 1/8 m over Keeneland's all-weather training track Wednesday morning with exercise rider Connor Murray aboard. The…

Thursday's Race Recap from Delaware Park: (All odds US) Replays for yesterday's races from Delaware Park can be found here: Delaware Park: Race 1: 1st@ 2.50/1 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 Race 3: 5th@ 1.70/1 In Race 1 at Delaware our 8/1 morning line selection Coronova was bet down to 5/2 odds here in the U.S. and that proved to be smart money as she won by 5 in her…

Pletcher-trainee Atomically out for a breeze at Keeneland Wednesday morning. Coady Photography Breeders' Cup Notes/Edited LEXINGTON, Ky.-Trainer Todd Pletcher's 12 Breeders' Cup victories have come from nine races, but one race missing from that resume is the NetJets Juvenile Fillies (G1). He will have two chances to alter that statistic Friday…

Full Moon Madness breaks his maiden at Belmont at the Big A (NYRA/Coglianese) By Keith McCalmont - NYRA Press Office OZONE PARK, N.Y.- Jay Em Ess Stable's Kentucky homebred Full Moon Madness will look to make the grade in Sunday's Grade 3, $150000 Nashua, a one-turn mile over the main track for juveniles at Aqueduct Racetrack. Trained by Michelle…

McLean's Selections for Breeders' Cup Friday - Nov. 4 (Keeneland this Fall / All Photos by Coady Photography) Stats Are Completely Updated Well, it is upon us. Another Breeders' Cup. Another day of Championship racing. Another wonderful day to celebrate the breed, the horses, all those connected, and, of course remember the brilliance and…

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…

Last week, Belmont Park was the focus of the racing world with the final leg of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes, preceded by a host of stakes for other Thoroughbred divisions. Earlier this week, the action shifted across the pond to England's Ascot racecourse for the Royal meet. On Saturday, the Jersey Shore will be the place to be as Monmouth…

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…

Notes & Quotes From G2 Miss Grillo Stakes: Pleasant Passage From the NYRA Media Team: Emory Hamilton's homebred Pleasant Passage overcame rainy conditions and a yielding turf course to live up to her name in Saturday's Grade 2, $200000 Miss Grillo at Aqueduct Racetrack with a gate-to-wire three-quarter-length victory that could catapult her to the…

There is one guarantee in this year's wide-open Kentucky Oaks. The post-time favorite will be higher than 5-2, the odds of morning-line choice Nest. Kathleen O., Nest, Echo Zulu and Secret Oath all have put forth efforts that are good enough to compete for the top spot. Below I take a closer look at all 14 fillies that will line up for the 2022…

The short but elite racing seasons at Del Mar and Kentucky Downs will hit the finish line Sunday, but not before the two tracks put forth some more important stakes races and top betting opportunities. It's an untraditional week, to be sure, with Del Mar extended beyond Labor Day against calendar norms. Meanwhile, the New York circuit goes dark…