Maryland Considers Paths Forward for Stakes Program
With plans for a new track in place, Maryland racing leaders can turn their attention to crafting a stakes schedule fit for the new venue.
With plans for a new track in place, Maryland racing leaders can turn their attention to crafting a stakes schedule fit for the new venue.
Hartley/de Renzo Thoroughbreds, agent, is the consignor of the fastest juveniles at a furlong and at a quarter-mile during the May 14 under tack show ahead of the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale.
Fasig-Tipton's May Digital Sale closed May 14 with 75 horses sold for $3,252,100. The catalog featured 2-year-olds, horses of racing age, breeding stock, and yearlings.
Multiple graded stakes winner Maple Leaf Mel earned New York-bred Horse of the Year, champion 3-year-old filly, and champion female sprinter honors during the New York Thoroughbred Breeders Annual Awards ceremony May 13
High-class sprinter Ingratiating (Frosted), a horse who beat home his champion stablemate Anamoe in a Blue Diamond (G1) before running third in a Golden Slipper (G1), will take up stud duties at Oakland Park Stud in Western Australia.
Another year, another U.S. Triple Crown race clouded by a rainy forecast.
The Maryland Jockey Club is offering a pair of two-day Pick 5 bets at a 12% takeout comprised of selected races on Friday's Black-Eyed Susan (G2) Day and Saturday's 149th Preakness Stakes (G1) programs at historic Pimlico Race Course.
Resolute Racing's Youalmosthadme will look to improve on a disappointing run as the favorite in the Beaumont Stakes (G2) at Keeneland as she drops a grade and shortens up to six furlongs in the $150,000 Miss Preakness Stakes (G3) May 17 at Pimlico.
WBAL-Radio and photographer John Voorhees will be honored at the Alibi Breakfast May 16 at Pimlico Race Course.
Porter on Pedigrees
There was relatively little movement in the 2024 National Thoroughbred Racing Association Top 3-Year-Old Thoroughbred Poll and the Top Thoroughbred Poll after a relatively quiet week of racing that followed a slew of graded races early this month.
Angel of Empire, winner of the 2023 Arkansas Derby (G1), bolstered his resume when named 2023 Pennsylvania-bred Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old male at the May 10 Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association's 45th annual Iroquois Awards.
Some familiar 3-year-olds from this spring's Kentucky Derby (G1) preps, who fell short of qualifying for the Run for the Roses, reappear in the $100,000 Sir Barton Stakes May 18 at Pimlico Race Course.
When there are conversations in horse racing that mention one for the ages, the one is surely trainer D. Wayne Lukas.
Back outside the top stakes level, Emmanuel looms an imposing presence in the May 18 Dinner Party Stakes (G3T) at Pimlico Race Course. He leads a field of 12 entered in the $500,000 race at 1 1/8 miles on turf.
If there's any sign of fatigue in Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mystik Dan, Robby Albarado is not seeing it.
In addition to three graded events May 17 on Black-Eyed Susan Day at Pimlico Race Course, three ungraded stakes worth $100,000 apiece complement the stakes action.
Dollars & Sense with Frank Angst
Trainer Bob Baffert will try for his ninth Preakness Stakes (G1) win with 8-5 morning-line favorite Muth and 6-1 co-third choice Imagination. Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mystik Dan is second choice at 5-2 for Saturday's race at Pimlico Race Course.
The filly raced by owner/trainer Rey Hernandez won by four lengths May 13 at Horseshoe Indianapolis.
J. Kirk and Judy Robison's New Mexico homebred won the May 11 Kendrick Stakes by 4 1/2 lengths at Sunray Park.
Dolphus is a second-crop sire and half brother to 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra.
Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mystik Dan made his first trip to the Pimlico Race Course main track May 13—a sealed and muddy surface—as he prepares for a start in the $2 million Preakness Stakes (G1) May 18.
Aidan O'Brien believes he has never sent a colt "with as much ability" to the Epsom Derby (G1) as City of Troy, despite last season's star 2-year-old turning in a bitterly disappointing effort in the Two Thousand Guineas (G1) May 11 at Newmarket.
Six-time group 1 winner Inspiral (GB) and French raider Big Rock (FR) are on course for a major mile clash May 18 at Newbury, with the talented pair among 11 confirmations for the Lockinge Stakes (G1).
Blue Heaven Farm's homebred son of Into Mischief has three consecutive wins since Dec. 15. He will be making his graded stakes debut in the May 17 Pimlico Special Stakes (G3).
The highly successful "Ship & Win" and the relatively new, but solidly backed, Maiden Dirt Bonus once again will enhance the racing product of the shore oval as the track prepares to kick off its 85th summer stand.
Over Patrick Husbands' his 30-plus years in the saddle, he has has crafted an enviable riding resume, one that showcases countless high-profile triumphs in some of Thoroughbred racing's top events.
The online silent auction coincides with the America's Best Racing Pre-Preakness Party May 15.
Cajun land has been a breeding ground for so many great jockeys, including Kentucky Derby (G1) winners Eric Guerin, Eddie Delahoussaye, Kent Desormeaux, and Calvin Borel.
T.I.P. recognizes and rewards the versatility of the Thoroughbred through sponsorship of Thoroughbred classes and high point awards at sanctioned horse shows, year-end performance awards, a recreational riding program, and non-competition awards.
Baker grew up in a racing family. His father, George, was a trainer in New York and gave Baker his start at the racetrack. In the 1970s, Baker eventually branched out from his father and went to work for trainer David Whiteley.
Lemon Muffin, who dazzled in winning the Honeybee Stakes (G3) Feb. 24 at Oaklawn Park, will need to rediscover that day's winning formula. Since then, she's finished seventh in the Fantasy Stakes (G2) and eighth in the Kentucky Oaks (G1).
Apprentice jockey Melvis Gonzalez notched his first winning ride May 12 at Gulfstream Park, guiding Awesome Wind to a front-running 1 3/4-length victory in a maiden claiming event carded as race 4.
Despite falling off the lead by more than 10 lengths, jockey Flavien Prat settled the 3-year-old daughter of Kodiac (GB), moving her along the rail to save ground.
Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mystik Dan arrived at Pimlico Race Course just after 4 p.m. ET May 12 for a run in the May 18 $2 million Preakness Stakes (G1) following a van ride from Churchill Downs.
Benedetta brought up a treble of doubles as she atoned for a run of top-tier frustration by becoming the first mare in 11 years to win Adelaide's marquee sprint, The Goodwood (G1T) at Morphettville May 11.
Metropolitan caused another Classic shock at Longchamp when narrowly denying the fast-finishing Dancing Gemini in the French Two Thousand Guineas May 12.
Rouhiya's unexpected victory May 12 in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French One Thousand Guineas) provided a perfect illustration of the Aga Khan's maxim that racing and breeding racehorses is a game of chess with nature.
Ten Happy Rose got a clean trip in the Victoria Mile (G1) May 12 at Tokyo Racecourse while the favorites had problems and the race ended with the 208-1 shot as an easy winner.
Godolphin homebred Bold Act remains in the United States to race beneath the Churchill Downs lights May 18 in the 1 1/2-mile $250,000 Louisville Stakes (G3T).
Report from Japan
Albaugh Family Stables' Catching Freedom, the Kentucky Derby (G1) fourth-place finisher, will run in the May 18 $2 million Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico Race Course, trainer Brad Cox said May 12.
D. J. Stable's Bullet was last away from the gate in the $106,000 Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies Stakes but came flying late to win the five-furlong turf dash at Gulfstream Park May 11 by 2 1/4 widening lengths.
Fending off a resilient Vae Patron, Snap Decision captures the $200,000 Calvin Houghland Iroquois Hurdle Stakes (NSA-G1) at Percy Warner in Nashville, Tenn. for a third time.
That a Charlie Appleby-trained runner won the $400,000 Man o' War Stakes (G2T) was hardly a jolt to the senses. The surprise was that the winner was not the Godolphin colorbearer who was heavily favored on the toteboard.
Godolphin outbids Coolmore, and the hammer drops at an unprecedented €2.3 million for a Justify colt at the Arqana Breeze-Up Sale in Deauville May 11.
Antiquarian appears headed to the Belmont Stakes (G1) after defeating The Wine Steward in the $200,000, 1 1/8-mile Peter Pan Stakes (G3) May 11 at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Joey Freshwater continued his excellence at Aqueduct Racetrack, improving to 5-for-8 there by defeating Ninetyprcentmaddie and three other rivals in the $169,750 Runhappy Stakes (G3) May 11.
New York is trainer Butch Reid's home away from home when it comes to notching graded stakes wins. On May 11, his trainee, Michael Milam's Neecie Marie, rallied to win the $169,750 Beaugay Stakes (G3T).