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Winchell Thoroughbreds' Untapable (Tapit) was the 1-10 favorite when she went postward in her 4-year-old debut in the Mar. 14 GII Azeri S. at Oaklawn Park. Last year's champion 3-year-old filly could manage only second, beaten a half-length by Gold Medal Dancer (Medaglia d'Oro) over a off track that day, but she will get the chance to avenge that loss Friday as the 1-2 morning-line favorite in the GI Apple Blossom H.  “She's doing really well,” trainer Steve Asmussen said of Untapable. “I thought she schooled great [Wednesday]. I think she's trained nicely over...

Sheep Pond Partners' GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf heroine Lady Eli (Divine Park) makes her highly anticipated return in Keeneland's GIII Appalachian S. Sunday. A debut winner at Saratoga last August, the Chad Brown pupil captured Belmont's GIII Miss Grillo S. next out Sept. 28 prior to her triumph in the Breeders Cup Oct. 31. The dark bay has been working well in preparation for this seasonal debut, most recently firing a five-furlong bullet over yielding turf here in 1:04 4/5 Apr. 6.  Also making her sophomore bow in this spot...

A group of 3-year-olds light on experience, but with plenty of potential line up in Saturday's GII Peter Pan S., a prep for the June 6 GI Belmont S. Favored at 9-5 on the morning line is Starlight Racing's Two Weeks Off (Harlan's Holiday). Second on debut at the Spa Aug. 9, the $320,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling donned cap and gown going seven panels three weeks thereafter. He went missing for the next seven months, but romped by 6 1/2 lengths with a 104 Beyer Speed Figure in an Apr. 4 allowance...

With the G3 Chester Vase and Listed Lingfield Derby Trial already in the bag, Aidan O'Brien sends a duo to Longchamp for Sunday's G2 Prix Hocquart, yet another of the string of Derby trials staged across Europe, and Ryan Moore is onCape Clear Island (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}). Successful at 14-1 in Newmarket's £200,000 Tattersalls Millions 3-Y-O Trophy over 10 furlongs Apr. 16, he was second in the G3 Sandown Classic Trial at that trip eight days later and gave the impression that this additional furlong would hold no fears. Joining...

Richard Barnes's Irish Rookie (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}), second in Sunday's G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, could contest the G1 Prix de Diane at Chantilly June 14, trainer Martyn Meade confirmed.  "She was certainly coming back at the winner at the line," said the Newmarket handler of Irish Rookie, who had finished sixth in the G1 1000 Guineas seven days earlier. "It was unfortunate that she didn't have the run of the race and she was left in front and then didn't have time to come back at the winner.”  Meade said his...

Security and pre-race procedures have been announced for all horses scheduled to compete in Saturday's Preakness at Pimlico Race Course.  All Preakness entrants must be on the grounds and situated in Barns D, E and C by noon on Thursday. Blood specimens will be drawn for all prospective runners later that afternoon.  Security cameras are installed and will be operational in those three barns upon the arrival of new barn occupants, and access to each barn will be permitted only at each corner. All persons must sign in when entering...

Trainer Criquette Head-Maarek said the 1 1/2-mile distance of Saturday's G1 Epsom Derby likely saw out fifth-place finisher Epicuris (GB) (Rail Link {GB}), but she said she was pleased with her charge's effort nonetheless and noted he could return to run in England.  Epicuris has displayed an aversion to the starting gates, and bypassed the May 31 G1 Prix du Jockey Club after France Galop officials said they would not permit handler Nicolas Blondeau to load the colt. Blondeau handled Epicuris at Epsom. "I was very pleased with him in the stalls,...

It was a fantastic training and riding performance by Bob Baffert and Victor Espinoza. More importantly, it was the best possible result for American racing, with American Pharoah dominating the front page of national newspapers and the headlines on TV news shows. It was big news here in Ireland too, proving that, while elusive, the American Triple Crown retains its global appeal.  - Brian Kavanagh, Horse Racing Ireland  There is a good reason why it has taken 37 years for another Triple Crown winner. We were waiting for a horse...

By Christie DeBernardis  The $2.1 million Jane Lyon spent to purchase Littleprincessemma (Yankee Gentleman), who was in foal to young sire Pioneerof the Nile, at the 2014 Fasig-Tipton November sale may have seemed a little steep at the time. However, it proved to be a steal at 6:53 p.m. June 6 when her son American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) captured the GI Belmont S. and in turn became the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years.  "Pioneerof the Nile was still a young stallion, although he had obviously already produced a Grade I winner...

Saturday's GI Stephen Foster H. under the lights at Churchill Downs counts Horses of the Year, Eclipse Award, Breeders' Cup, Dubai World Cup and American Classic winners among its heroes over the last two decades, including Awesome Again, Victory Gallop, Street Cry (Ire), Saint Liam, Curlin, Blame and Fort Larned. But on a handful of occasions, that exclusive fraternity has been raided by horses who, on paper, appeared completely hopeless, yet Colonial Colony ($127.60), Seek Gold ($185.40) and Pool Play ($72.60) have managed to light up the tote.  With just...

Bred in the purple by Darley, Surfer (Distorted Humor) was consistent in four seasons racing over the former all-weather track at Meydan Racecourse. But he may well have found a new home on the dirt, as the 6-year-old remained perfect in two tries over the surface with a tidy 2 1/4-length victory in Round 1 of the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge on Thursday's opening program of the 2015 Dubai International Racing Carnival. "This horse just loves the dirt," said winning jockey Richard Mullen. "He always worked well on it at home and...

NYRA officials met with representatives of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association Saturday to discuss ways to potentially improve safety after two more fatal breakdowns occurred over Aqueduct's inner track Friday, bringing the total number of horse fatalities to 12 since racing began over that surface in early December.  The two-hour meeting included the NYRA management team of Senior Vice President of Racing Operations Martin Panza, Vice President of Facilities and Racing Surfaces Glen Kozak, Chief Examing Veterinarian Dr. Anthony Verderosa, Safety Steward Hugh Gallagher and Steward Braulio Baeza Jr;...