Jill Williams

On the 30-Year Anniversary of her Eclipse Campaign, Serena's Song Remains 'Queen of Denali'

She is not the oldest living Eclipse Award winner–that honor is believed to belong to 1994 Champion Turf Female Hatoof (Irish River {Fr}), who is still going strong at Darley's Gainsborough Farm at age 36–but she's close. As the hours tick down before the newest class of champions are honored Thursday evening, it's a thrill [...]

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With 'Grit and Determination,' Emma-Jayne Wilson Still Faces Long Recovery

From an Eclipse Award to two Sovereign Awards, from a Queen's Plate win among her dozens of stakes victories to the title of highest-earning female rider in the sport's history and more than 1,900 career visits to the winner's circle, Emma-Jayne Wilson has fought her share of battles on the racetrack. One of the most [...]

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Motorious Gets the Job Done in the Joe Hernandez

Fresh off a second-place finish in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, Anthony Fanticola's Motorious (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) captured Saturday's GII Joe Hernandez Stakes down the hill at Santa Anita. After bobbling slightly out of the gate, Motorious settled kindly midpack behind a :21.71 and :43.78 pace set by 60-1 Code Duello (Honor Code). Extremely [...]

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Mufasa Upsets White Abarrio in Mr. Prospector

Billed as a showdown between the classy Mufasa (Chi) (Practical Joke) and the 2023 GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner White Abarrio (Race Day), Gulfstream Park's Saturday feature, the GIII Mr. Prospector Stakes at seven furlongs, didn't disappoint. Mufasa got a perfect stalking trip which turned into a resounding win, while White Abarrio was slow out [...]

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Saturday Sires: Munnings

Nearly two years ago, just prior to the 2023 breeding season, Ashford Stud's Robyn Murray spoke about Munnings on camera. At the time, she said: “Theoretically the best is still yet to come and we're so excited for him… We would expect all of this to elevate him over the next couple years.” As the [...]

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Saturday Sires: Medaglia d'Oro

It's been 17 years now that we've been treated to 2-year-olds by Medaglia d'Oro. From his first GII Golden Rod Stakes winner in his first crop–Rachel Alexandra, a filly who went on to beat the boys more than once and was eventually named Horse of the Year–to his latest this past weekend in perfect four-for-four [...]

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Augustin Homebred Truly Quality Edges Balnikhov in Hollywood Turf Cup

If you're feeling a little deja vu about the result of Friday's GII Hollywood Turf Cup Stakes at Del Mar, there's a good reason. Hot on the heels of Mrs. Astor (Lookin At Lucky)'s win Sunday in the GIII Red Carpet Stakes over a route on Del Mar's turf course, trainer Jonathan Thomas gave another [...]

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Kantharos Colt Lagynos Breaks Through in Commonwealth Turf

In a study of perseverance, Lagynos (c, 3, Kantharos–Steamy, by Speightstown), who has now run in 10 consecutive black-type events this year, finally got one to call his own when capturing the $300,000 GIII Commonwealth Turf Stakes Saturday at Churchill Downs. Last seen fifth in a troubled trip Oct. 26 in the GIII Bryan Station [...]

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Saturday Sires: Not This Time

How has your year gone? With the holidays approaching in earnest, it's not uncommon for American families to send a letter to loved ones sharing highlights from their year. If a stallion were to do that, Not This Time's letter might go something like this: Dear Friends and Family, It's been another great year! One [...]

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Gun Runner's 'Rising Star' Bullard Trounces Bob Hope Field

In the first domestic graded race for juveniles since the Breeders' Cup a little more than two weeks ago, 'TDN Rising Star' Bullard (c, 2, Gun Runner–Reve d'Amour, by Warrior's Reward) stayed unbeaten to capture Del Mar's GIII Bob Hope Stakes Sunday. The $675,000 Keeneland September purchase had gone to the post favored over highly [...]

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Thorpedo Anna Caps Stellar Year with Breeders' Cup Distaff

Is Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) the 2024 Horse of the Year? That will undoubtedly be the most-asked question in racing from now until the Eclipse Awards in late January. In a year where Thorpedo Anna's name has seemingly never been far from any racing conversation, the brilliant 3-year-old filly showed why she absolutely should be [...]

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Tarifa Turns Tables On Gun Song in Mother Goose

There was a time, not that long ago, when the Mother Goose Stakes was one of the most prestigious Grade I summer targets for sophomore fillies in North America. It may be a Grade II now late in the season while the division leaders wait another week for the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff, but Godolphin [...]

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