At this time of year, when we're just weeks away from the GI Kentucky Derby, any 3-year-old colt who catches the eye requires a second look and perhaps a little Derby dreaming. Coolmore America's American Pharoah, who won the Derby himself a decade ago this May, had three sophomore colts in the news last weekend. [...]

In racing, the advent of spring doesn't just mean delightful weather and foals capering through fields. It also means a multiplication of the number of graded events across the nation. The month of March boasted more graded races in the U.S. than January and February combined. With GI Kentucky Derby and Oaks preps in full [...]

All the hype about Oaklawn's GII Fantasy Stakes Saturday being a two-horse race was on the nose. 'TDN Rising Star' Quietside (f, 3, Malibu Moon–Benner Island, by Speightstown), so talented but so often a bridesmaid before winning the GIII Honeybee Stakes last out, faced unbeaten Simply Joking (Practical Joke), light on experience but winner of [...]

Those of us fortunate to have been in the Thoroughbred industry for any length of time–whether with hands on horses daily or from behind a desk or from somewhere in between–have seen hundreds, and more likely thousands, of horses in this sport. It can be easy to pass one up at the sales if they [...]

When Speedway Stables LLC spent $900,000 at OBS April in 2023 for a daughter of Nyquist, a 4-year-old campaign and perfect record probably weren't the first things on Peter Fluor and K.C. Weiner's minds. But, nearly two years later, it's likely the partners in Speedway are not upset with a little delayed gratification, as Cavalieri [...]

There was chemistry Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs. Nitrogen the element may be seventh on the periodic table, but Nitrogen (f, 3, Medaglia d'Oro–Tiffany Case, by Uncle Mo) the filly was first Saturday in the 42nd running of the GIII Florida Oaks. Last seen breaking her maiden in the Ginger Brew Stakes at Gulfstream Park [...]

As racing across the nation heats up with spring nearly upon us, we take a look at trends and notable items from the country's graded races in February.  February featured 20 graded races from coast to coast. Five tracks hosted graded events during the month: Fair Grounds (4), Gulfstream Park (3), Oaklawn Park (4), Santa [...]

'TDN Rising Star' Locked (Gun Runner) has always been highly regarded. By one of the nation's hottest sires and sold for $425,000 as a 2022 Keeneland September yearling, he affirmed that regard with a Grade I win at two. Sent to the sidelines for nearly a year before coming back to win the GII Cigar [...]

The overriding question going into Saturday's GII DK Horse San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita was whether unbeaten GII San Vicente Stakes winner and $3.2-million Fasig-Tipton Saratoga star Barnes (Into Mischief) could win at two turns. He very well may have if it weren't for another horse who also sold at that 2023 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga [...]

After starting his career with two daylight wins at Gulfstream Park and Churchill Downs last year on GI Florida Derby Day and GI Kentucky Derby Day, respectively, 'TDN Rising Star' Mindframe (Constitution) nearly pulled off victory in the GI Belmont Stakes in only his third career start, finishing just a half-length behind Dornoch (Good Magic), [...]

With breeding sheds opening last week across North America, farms have been quietly preparing stallions for the demanding months ahead of them. All jokes about them having the best jobs aside, stallions have to be ready for a marathon during breeding season. It's not simply a matter of bringing stallions up from fields and expecting [...]

In this new series for 2025, we'll take a monthly look at trends and notable items from the nation's graded races and present them in quick, easy-to-digest bullet points. The month of January saw 16 graded races in the U.S.: two Grade Is, four Grade IIs, and 10 Grade IIIs, with 11 on dirt and [...]