Bob Baffert

Michael Lund Petersen's 'TDN Rising Star' Gamine (Into Mischief) turned in her second jaw-dropping performance in a row as she dominated Saturday's GI Longines Test S., covering seven furlongs at Saratoga in a blazing 1:20.83. That time matched the stakes record set by Lady Tak in 2003, and was significantly faster than the 1:21.63 last year's GI Kentucky Oaks heroine Serengeti Empress (Alternation) went in the GI Ballerina S. for older fillies a few races earlier. Kept well off the rail with formidable foe and chief market rival Venetian Harbor...

Following a resounding victory in the GI Belmont S., Sackatoga Stable and Barclay Tagg could have easily put their star pupil Tiz the Law (Constitution) in bubble wrap and waited for a run in the rescheduled GI Kentucky Derby. After all, only in this strange year could a team of connections have the benefit of 11 weeks of rest in between the first and second legs of the Triple Crown. Instead, the once-beaten New York-bred star will line up as a heavy favorite in Saturday's GI Runhappy Travers S. at...

You'd be hard-pressed to find a performance by a 3-year-old filly in the past decade as jaw-dropping as what Michael Lund Peterson's Gamine (Into Mischief) produced in the GI Longines Acorn S. June 20 at Belmont. Considered the current top dog of a loaded sophomore filly division in advance of the Sept. 4 GI Kentucky Oaks off that effort, the 'TDN Rising Star'< will turn back to a sprint as a prohibitive favorite in Saturday's GI Longines Test S. at Saratoga. Having lofty expectations attached to her ever since she...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency PRICEY INTO MISCHIEFS HEADLINE SPA BABY RACE 5th-SAR, $72K, Msw, 2yo, 5 1/2f, 2:26p.m. Todd Pletcher unveils Shadwell Stable's $425,000 KEENOV buy MUTASAABEQ (Into Mischief) in this test. Out of a half-ssister to MGSW Cool Cowboy (Kodiak Kowboy), he enters off a best-of-50 half-mile in :46 2/5 at the Spa Aug. 1. Bob LaPenta and Peter Brant teamed up to acquire Bottle Rocket Man (Into Mischief) for $350,000 at KEESEP and he debuts here. His dam is a half-sister to MGSW & MGISP sire Munnings (Speightstown)...

GI Belmont S. winner Tiz the Law (Constitution) looks to take his next step down this unconventional GI Kentucky Derby trail in Saturday's GI Runhappy Travers S. at Saratoga. The even-money morning-line favorite will break from post six with regular rider Manny Franco in the irons. "I think he's matured enough now that outside or inside is not going to bother him too much," trainer Barclay Tagg said. "I'd prefer that he's on the outside just because you have less chance of getting in trouble. Not that you can't, but...

Churchill Downs may require all jockeys riding during the short meet surrounding the GI Kentucky Derby to be in the state of Kentucky by Aug. 24. Churchill Downs Senior Director, Communication & Media Services Darren Rogers said the rule is being considered but no official decision will be announced until later in week. Rogers added that Churchill is also expected to announce shortly a complete list of protocols that will be in place for the Derby, including how many fans will be allowed to attend the race. For jockeys who...

Lightly raced Fighting Mad (New Year's Day) zipped away early and held sway late to take Sunday evening's GI Clement L. Hirsch S. at Del Mar and stamp her ticket to the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff. Looking to add to another productive weekend for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert that included Saturday scores in the GI Whitney S. and Shared Belief S., the Gary and Mary West homebred was backed down to 9-5 favoritism from a 4-1 morning line quote and wasted little time seizing command. Under a tight...

'TDN Rising Star' Improbable (City Zip) scored back-to-back Grade I victories and provided his conditioner Bob Baffert with his second straight renewal of Saratoga's prestigious GI Whitney S. Saturday with a dominant score in this 'Win and You're In' event for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic. Heavily Favored Tom's d'Etat (Smart Strike) missed the break and was relegated to last early as native New Yorker Mr Buff (Friend or Foe) took command, loping through early splits of :25.12 and :49.74 with 3-1 shot Improbable keeping close tabs from second. Improbable...

Thousand Words (Pioneerof the Nile) returned to winning ways and improved his position on the GI Kentucky Derby trail with a gutsy score in Del Mar's Shared Belief S., which offered a total of 50 points towards the Run for the Roses. Breaking sharply from the inside post in this field scratched down to four, the 9-1 shot had all three rivals hot on his tail through a :23.89 opening quarter. GI Santa Anita Derby hero and heavy favorite Honor A.P. (Honor Code) was the first to break ranks, moving...

Happier (f, 3, Street Sense--On My Way, by Giant's Causeway), a $800,000 KEESEP yearling graduate, ran to the money in her unveiling for Hall of Famer Bob Baffert at Del Mar Friday evening, earning 'TDN Rising Star' honors. The 6-5 favorite shot out to the front from her inside draw and led through fractions of :22.71 and :45.89. She widened the margin as they turned for home and kept on rolling down the stretch to graduate by 3 1/4 lengths over stablemate Himiko (American Pharoah). Happier was the most expensive...

He's like the clean-cut, wide-eyed rookie sent into the lines, trying to read the expressions of the relieved troops. What might the likes of Charlatan (Speightstown) and Nadal (Blame) tell this star cadet, as they hand over the trenches, to steel him for the challenges ahead? Cezanne (Curlin) probably thinks they could do with a shave, and shouldn't be smoking on duty. But then he will notice the medals on their chests, and start to ask himself whether he too will step up; whether he will live up to everything...

Honor A.P. (Honor Code) looks to add more GI Kentucky Derby points to his collection in Saturday's Shared Belief S. at Del Mar. An impressive second-out graduate when extending from six panels to a mile at Santa Anita in October, the $850,000 FTSAUG buy was runner-up to recent GI Haskell Invitational S. victor Authentic (Into Mischief) in the GII San Felipe S. Mar. 7. The dark bay turned the tables on that rival last time with a decisive score in the GI Santa Anita Derby June 6. Bob Baffert had...