The name of brilliant 2yo Dundalk winner (and later G2-second) Capulet (Justify) gets one thinking, with the obvious connection to the famous tale of Romeo and Juliet. It also makes perfect sense that the dam is called Wedding Vow (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}): Shakespeare's play is very much about the tragic conflict between two different matrimonial [...]

The promising 2-eary-old filly Kenwick (Bernardini) may have won in Pennsylvania, but her pedigree shouts Lexington KY from the very rooftops of two local neighborhoods. Kenwick is a central residential area of the city, while Bell Court, as in the dam's name, is an almost adjacent zone, closer to downtown. Both areas have an Old [...]

Craon's June 16-winning filly Morgana is by supremely established sire Camelot, as she should be. Morgana (also known as Morgan Le Fay) is quite a presence in the legends of the Knights of the Round Table: sorcerer, enchantress, half-sister and rival to King Arthur, apprentice and maybe lover of Merlin, deadly enemy of Queen Guinevere [...]

Maybe opera is not as popular in the nomenclature of horses as classic ballet or theater, but Ohio multiple winner Alfio (Mucho Macho Man) carries a very solid and thoughtful operatic connection with his parents in his name. In the celebrated one-act opera “Cavalleria Rusticana” (1890), Alfio is the jealous husband who kills romantic rival [...]

4th-Santa Anita, Mcl, 2-17, 3yo, 1m. TIZ TOK (r, 3, Tiznow–Weekend Prospect, by A.P. Indy). Lifetime Record: 4-1-0-0, $26,568. O-Hronis Racing. B-Calumet Farm (KY); T-John W. Sadler. As a play on words under the times we live in, naming a horse by Tiznow Tiz Tok simply is masterly, no doubt about it. BEHOLDER MILE S.-GI, [...]

4th-Navan, Mdn, 3-29, 3yo, 10fT. GOOLOOGONG (IRE) (c, 3, Australia {GB}–Muwakaba, by Elusive Quality). O-Westerberg, Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor, D Smith; B-Capital Bloodstock (Ire); T-Aidan O'Brien. The name of Navan winner Gooloogong has an impeccable Down Under connection, being by renowned sire (and Epsom & Irish Derby winner) Australia. In fact, “Gooloogong is a [...]

4th-Chantilly, $29,000, Debutantes, 2-6, 3yo, c/g, 8f (AWT), 1:39.82, ft. MR MOLIERE (GB) (g, 3, Kingman {GB}–Armande {Ire} {GSW & G1SP-Fr, $222,116}, by Sea The Stars {Ire}). O-Baron Edouard de Rothschild & Lady O'Reilly; B-SC Ecurie de Meautry & Petra Bloodstock Agency Ltd (GB); T-Andre Fabre; J-M. Guyon. Horseracing is a game of old. Appropriately, [...]

AMERICAN OAKS-GI, $303,000, Santa Anita, 12-26, 3yo, f, 1 1/4mT, 2:00.75, fm. RHEA MOON (IRE), 124, f, 3, by Starspangledbanner (Aus) 1st Dam: Callisto Star (Ire), by Fastnet Rock (Aus) 2nd Dam: Livia Galilei (Ire), by Galileo (Ire) 3rd Dam: Mohican Princess (GB), by Shirley Heights (GB) O-Rockingham Ranch & Talla Racing LLC; B-Kevin J [...]

It is simply wonderful that there is a Group 1 winning filly called Fonteyn. The name has such a life of its own that a quick look at pedigrees from the near and distant past shows at least 20 other horses so baptized, all over the world. Why is that? When the great Northern Dancer [...]

4th-Kentucky Downs, $156,800, Msw, 9-1, 2yo, 1mT, 1:37.03, fm, nose. MENDEL'S SECRET (c, 2, Mendelssohn–Donnie's Secret, by Tiger Ridge) O-Turman Racing Stable, LLC; B-Hartley/De Renzo Thoroughbreds (KY); T-Michael J. Maker The name of Kentucky Downs 9-1-2022 brave post-to-post winner MENDEL'S SECRET (2yo, Mendelssohn–Donnie's Secret, by Tiger Ridge) is intriguing on many levels. It is very [...]

2nd-Saratoga, $88,000, (S), Msw, 8-26, 3yo/up, f/m, 6f, 1:11.23, sy, 3/4 length. KANT HURRY LOVE (f, 3, Kantharos–She's All Love, by Langfuhr) O-Ken Wheeler, Jr.; B-Dr. John M & Laura G McDermott (NY); T-Christophe Clement. The name of recent Saratoga winning filly KANT HURRY LOVE is simply magic wordplay: a clever double alliteration with the [...]

Lady Clementine (GB) is a supremely fitting name for the Churchill (Ire) 3-year-old filly who won so well at Del Mar last Saturday. Clementine Ogilvy Spencer Churchill, nee Hozier (1885-1977), was the wife of the famous British politician and WW2 leader for 56 intense and fateful years. “Fortitude” is an expression that seems to abound [...]