Shared Content Archive

NBC Sports Group will televise 18 “Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In” races, according to a schedule released Thursday. The challenge series, now in its second year, consists of 10 telecasts on NBC and NBCSN. Winners of the 18 races are automatically qualfied for a spot in the Breeders' Cup World Championships at Keeneland Oct. 30 and 31.  “Our 2015 season with NBC Sports Group continues a very successful expanded network partnership with the challenge series designed to showcase the highest quality races from some of the nation's...

Currently on the fringes of the 1000 Guineas picture, Qualify (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) could be set to enter the fray as she limbers up for the Newmarket Classic in Sunday's Leopardstown 1,000 Guineas Trial S. Impressive when successful in the G3 C L & M F Weld Park S. over this trip at The Curragh in September, she met significant trouble in running when only eighth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita at the end of October.  Also from Ballydoyle is Toogoodtobetrue (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}),...

James Willoughby gives his reaction to Victor Espinoza's ride on American Pharoah from the other side of the Atlantic The minimum requirement for responsible use of the whip is that the horse be given time to respond. Victor Espinoza's actions in the Kentucky Derby suggest he was not mindful of this internationally accepted principle, detailed here andhere.  Espinoza became the latest rider around the world to jeopardize an important facet of the sport's ethical defence when he hit American Pharaoh approximately 30 times at Churchill Downs. The number of strokes was arguably...

After making way for stable companion Gleneagles (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) at Newmarket, it is the turn of Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier and Michael Tabor's Highland Reel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) to occupy the limelight in Sunday's G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains at Longchamp. Not sighted since his impressive success in Glorious Goodwood's G2 Vintage S. in late July, the bay who had previously taken a well-contested Gowran Park maiden by 12 lengths, has remained in the notebooks of many and the vibes are strong as he lines up for a below-par renewal of...

BODHISATTVA DRILLS FOR PREAKNESS  Bodhisattva (Student Council) tuned up for Saturday's GI Preakness S. with a five-furlong work in 1:04 at Laurel Park Sunday (video).  “I think he did pretty good,” owner and trainer Jose Corrales said. “I did not want a fast work or anything like that. I just wanted to stretch him out and let him feel good about it. He really just galloped next to the other horse. [jockey] Trevor [McCarthy] said he could not hold him in the beginning, but he managed to do it.”  Bodhisattva is...

Wednesday's G3 Irish National Stud EBF Blue Wind S. at Naas is named in honor of the former Dermot Weld incumbent who won the 1981 G1 Epsom Oaks and G1 Irish Oaks, and the Rosewell House conditioner has won three previous editions of the contest. He saddles Zannda (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}) in this stepping stone to Epsom and attempts to secure a record-equalling fourth renewal. Narrowly beaten in a 20-runner maiden at Leopardstown in her only juvenile start last October, His Highness The Aga Khan's homebred bay graduated back at the Foxrock...

In the Olympic annals of Track and Field, for every Jesse Owens and Babe Didrikson there has been a Ben Johnson and Marion Jones. Every hero seemingly can be counterbalanced by an athlete who tested positive for a banned substance or who was suspected to have done so. Two weeks ago when I attended the Prefontaine Classic meet in Oregon, I found my lifelong enthusiasm for this purest of athletic competition somewhat muted by the presence in the 100, 200 and 400-meter dashes of Americans that were competing after having...

by Steve Sherack After switching hands for $2.35 million at last year's FTKNOV sale, jaw-dropping GII Lexus Raven Run S. heroine Taris (Flatter) immediately showed her class in her first start for her new connections with a courageous second following a scorching early pace in the GI La Brea S. at Santa Anita Dec. 26.  The Tabor, Smith and Magnier colorbearer--sidelined immediately thereafter with a non-displaced condylar fracture--is three weeks away from her first timed workout, reports trainer Simon Callaghan.  "We're really happy with her," Callaghan said. "She just got back galloping....

A new contender has emerged for the G1 Ascot Gold Cup in the shape of Ed Dunlop's A Trip To Paris (Ire) (Champs Elysees {GB}). Following some excellent runs this season, including when finishing second to Vent De Force (GB)(Hurricane Run {Ire}) in the G3 Henry II S. at Sandown, connections have decided to supplement the 4-year-old for next Thursdays showpiece. Commenting on his blog at www.eddunlop.com the Newmarket trainer said, "Following hours of deliberation, the decision has been made to supplement Trip To Paris for the Gold Cup on Thursday. This hasn't been an...

by J.M. Severni  Regis Racing had something of a coming-out party this past week, with sophomore fillies Seduire (Elusive Quality) taking the GII Santa Ynez S. Jan. 3 (video) and Shook Up (Tapit) becoming a  "TDN Rising Star"  with her impressive graduation at the Fair Grounds that same day (video). Regis Farm, which is owned by lifelong horseman Nat Rea, began purchasing Thoroughbreds in 2012 and is now starting to reap the benefits of those investments.  Regis Farms and Racing President Kieran Lalor noted that the operation is both excited about the recent success...

Saturday's G1 L'Ormarins Queen's Plate was supposed to be another walk in the park for South Africa's Horse of the Year Legislate (SAf) (Dynasty {SAf}), but that one came up empty in the stretch and Futura (SAf) (Dynasty {SAf}) took advantage to scoop the nation's premier weight-for-age mile, a 'Win and You're In' event for the GI Breeders' Cup Mile.  Beaten a neck into third as the odds-on favorite in the G3 Cup Trial at Clairwood June 7, Futura stayed on well to finish third, beaten under a length, behind the dead-heating Legislate and Wylie...

Saturday, Santa Anita  SHAM S.-GIII, $100,750, SAX, 1-10, 3yo, 1m,  1:34 4/5, ft.  1--#@CALCULATOR, 118, c, 3, by In Summation       1st Dam: Back to Basics, by Alphabet Soup       2nd Dam: Christy Love, by Unbridled       3rd Dam: Amo, by Hold Your Peace  ($132,000 2yo '14 OBSAPR). O-Richard C Pell;  B-Ocala Stud (FL); T-Peter Miller; J-Elvis Trujillo.  $60,000. Lifetime Record: MGISP, 5-1-2-1,  $193,500. Werk Nick Rating: D+.  Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.  Click for the brisnet.com chart or the brisnet.com PPs. VIDEO.     Santa Anita's GIII Sham S.--named in honor of the GI Santa Anita Derby...