Authentic

Looking to record his first victory under the Twinspires in a year, Verifire (Authentic--Ruby Trust, by Smart Strike) got the job done with a tidy 3/4-length score in Louisville in Wednesday afternoon. The chestnut was named a 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' following an eye-catching 6 1/4-length victory going six panels at Colonial in March of 2025 before winning his next two starts impressively, including the seven-furlong Maxfield Stakes at Churchill Downs later in June. Taking money in the GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes in Saratoga at the...

La Rascasse (f, 3, Authentic--Hallawallah, by Candy Ride {Arg}), a 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' debut winner by a head going seven furlongs at Keeneland Apr. 11, backed up that performance with a smart victory in Saturday's $175,000 Monomoy Girl S. at Churchill Downs. The 9-5 second-choice was always traveling like the winner beneath Axel Concepcion in second in this two-turn debut, took over while in hand on the far turn and had 2 1/4 lengths over Point of Reference (Upstart) at the wire. "Axel (Concepcion) gave her a...

It's just like Wayne Lukas used to tell him. "One of these days you're going to get smart," Lukas would say. "And you'll quit that. And come over to the Thoroughbred business." This was when Bill Childs was still in the Quarter Horse game, and Lukas had already made the switch that transformed our sport. "Well, you're right," Childs told Lukas. "I'd love to. But man, it just takes so much money to be able to withstand it." "Well," Lukas shrugged. "You'll figure it out." And here he is, all...

4th-CD, 125K, O/c, 3yo, f, 1m, 2:15 p.m. 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' MASHALLAH (Maxfield) earned an eye-popping 106 Beyer Speed Figure in her Keeneland debut going six furlongs for Brendan Walsh Apr. 23. That form was flattered when the third-place runner from that field, In Scope (Gun Runner), went on to earn the 'Rising Star' moniker herself in her next start May 22. Jockey Tyler Gaffalione takes over the ride from Joel Rosario Saturday from the far outside gate as the $1.25-million OBS March grad stretches out against...

LAUREL, MD--Napoleon Bonaparte was reputed as saying "Impossible is a word to be found only in the dictionary of fools." Never was a phrase more appropriate aprospos than the lead up to Saturday's GI Preakness Stakes at Laurel Park. Given the absence of both the Kentucky Derby winner and runner-up, it seemed like everyone and his brother emerged on the scene to take a shot at the second leg in the Triple Crown. While several contenders may have seemed like they may have been stretching to get the distance or...

Undefeated Taj Mahal (Nyquist) has been all the rage in the lead up to the GI Preakness Stakes, and his move Saturday morning will have done nothing to cool those feelings as the Brittany Russell trainee posted his fourth consecutive bullet move. Sent out to work five furlongs with exercise rider Alex Beitia aboard, he went in company with stakes winner Regalo (Maximus Mischief) early in the morning at 6:15am. Taj Mahal cruised through splits of :12 1/5, :24 1/5, :36 2/5, and :48 flat while leading his workmate throughout....

In most situations, discussion is always best, but some days you just don't feel like hearing second opinions. Arbiter (Charlatan) didn't let anyone get a word in edge wise, and coasted home to a sublime victory in the Woodstock Stakes at Woodbine. Coming into the race with a maiden score on the turf and a win against optional claimers over the synthetic at Churchill Downs Nov. 30--where he set a new course record--and Turfway Park Dec. 17, respectively, he'd last been seen kicking off his 2026 campaign Mar. 21 in...

Third in the GI Toyota Blue Grass Stakes on Keeneland's opening weekend, Talkin (Good Magic) will skip the GI Kentucky Derby and be pointed toward the GI Preakness Stakes at Laurel Park by trainer Danny Gargan. Eleven lengths behind 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Further Ado (Gun Runner) as that one dominated the Blue Grass, Talkin would be the trainer's chief hope for a second win in the Triple Crown series behind Dornoch, also a son of Good Magic, who claimed the GI Belmont Stakes in 2024. Gargan said...

The final day of the under-tack preview show ahead of next week's Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training finished up with a trio of :9 3/5 marks, including one set by the very first horse to work. The filly (hip 1221), by Airdrie Stud's Girvin, was a $165,000 Keeneland September grad last year for CMT Rentals and is out of a Curlin half-sister to GSW Celestial City (Uncle Mo). Consigned by Top Line Sales, she counts GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner Cy Fair (Not...

I've never understood this business of Dry January--the one month when those of us who take a glass of cheer are most grateful for a little respite from the dark and cold. Okay, maybe not a problem in California, but those of you battling all that snow and ice will surely see the merit of Dry February instead. It's shorter, for a start; and ends with the days lengthening and spring tangibly in the air. It's perfectly natural, however, for stallions to have a dry January. Certainly nobody will be...

Salloom (Authentic), withdrawn after misbehaving and flipping in the stalls on Festive Friday in December, proved worth the wait, drubbing his foes by 6 3/4 lengths in a 1600m main track maiden at Meydan on Friday and was named a 'TDN Rising Star', presented by Hagyard. The final time was 1:37.79. Godolphin's well-regarded National History (Maxfield) could only manage second, however he was 4 1/4 lengths in front of Sary Shayan (Constitution) in third. Part of the early pace discussion, the eventual winner took command with over 1200 metres to...

In this series, we will have a look predominantly at American-bred first-time juvenile starters (through the end of 2025) and debuting 3-year-olds in maiden races at Meydan Racecourse, with a specific focus on pedigree and/or performance in a sales ring. The flagship venue for racing in the United Arab Emirates is Meydan Racecourse, which will host racing on Fridays through the end of March, with the exception of Super Saturday on Feb. 28 and Dubai World Cup night Mar. 28, 2026. Here are the horses of note for this Friday's...