Bob Baffert

In his second trip to the post, Provenance (Into Mischief) became Monomoy Girl's first 'TDN Rising Star' at Santa Anita Park. The bay debuted Aug. 23 at Del Mar and ran third in a mile maiden special weight that yielded GSP Plutarch (Into Mischief) when he hit the board in the GIII Del Mar Juvenile Turf next out. He finished second in front of Provenance in that mutual debut. Training well since that unveiling, the Bob Baffert trainee recently put in a strong four-furlong work Sept. 20 in advance of...

Multiple Grade I-winner Locked (Gun Runner) looms the big favorite in the scratch-decimated GII Woodward Stakes on Saturday at the Belmont Big A meet, but is far from the only marquee name this upcoming weekend across the country. One of three confirmed runners for Saturday's co-feature in New York, Locked comes into the race with a two-race skid to break after he missed the board May 2 in the GII Alysheba Stakes when returning to the races after a tour de force effort in the GI Santa Anita Handicap Mar....

Baoma Corp.'s 'TDN Rising Star' Nysos (Nyquist) breezed a half-mile in :48 flat (10/32) Monday morning at Santa Anita, his first move since being scratched from an expected appearance in the GI Pacific Classic on Aug. 30. According to a text from trainer Bob Baffert to TDN's Sue Finley, the colt's Breeders' Cup target remains a bit up in the air. "He breezed today, pointing to [Dirt] Mile," he texted. "I could change my mind between now and then. The [Dirt] Mile probably more realistic right now. Was hoping to...

The cars scooting along on the nearby Pennsylvania Turnpike may have little from a speed standpoint on Saturday's GI Pennsylvania Derby in Northeast Philly, as the pace looks to be very much on and that could help those with stalking or closing ability in the final age-restricted Grade I of the season around two turns. But make no mistake: speed has been king--by and large--in the $1-million contest over the past dozen years or so. The Bob Baffert-trained Bayern (Offlee Wild)--next-out winner of a much-discussed GI Breeders' Cup Classic--future champion...

by Jessica Martini, Christina Bossinakis, and Jill Williams LEXINGTON, KY -The only thing that could slow down the momentum of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale was a brief interruption in Wednesday's action when the fire alarms late in the day caused the evacuation of the pavilion. "We joked in the back ring the market was so hot, it set the fire alarms off," Keeneland's Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy said with a chuckle after the dust had settled on another competitive day of bidding at the first of two...

After Three Chimneys sensation Gun Runner sired the session toppers of the Keeneland September sale both Monday and Tuesday, he was back at it again Wednesday. With approximately 30 hips left to go, a Gun Runner colt hammered for $1.9 million Wednesday to Spendthrift Farm. Consigned by Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa, agent, hip 731 is out of stakes-placed Ginga (Quality Road). The mare is a half-sister to 2014 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies runner-up Top Decile (Congrats), who sold to Shadai Farm for $950,000 at the 2017 Keeneland November...

Chris Heyde is the founder of Blue Marble Strategy and is a Washington D.C. lobbyist who has dedicated his career to animal welfare issues. Along the way, he has had some important successes, including effectively ending horse slaughter in the U.S. But one main goal remains and has been elusive. Heyde has been fighting for passage of the Save America's Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act, which would prohibit the slaughter of horses in the U.S. as well as ban the shipping of them to slaughterhouses in the Mexico and Canada. Heyde...

5. ATLAL, KD, 9/7, 6 1/2 furlongs (turf) Beyer Speed Figure-83 (VIDEO) (c, 3, Quality Road--Atheer, by Malibu Moon) O/B-Juddmonte (Ky). T-Bill Mott. J-John Velazquez. Stepping forward considerably in numbers in his sixth start, Atlal displayed a strong liking for Kentucky Downs or newfound maturity--or both. Velazquez sat like a statue as he stalked then joined the leaders 3/16ths out, and he kicked clear nicely when given his cue. He's from Juddmonte dirt royalty: unraced dam Atheer is out of $2.7 million earner Close Hatches, making her a half-sister to...

Conor Wixted, Eleanor Dunne and Clare Manning look ahead to the Breeders' Cup after their graduate Bottle Of Rouge won a Grade I at Del Mar in the early hours of Sunday morning It started out as a pretty ordinary suggestion among friends. 'Why don't we go out and try and pinhook a foal in America?' Now, the Irish-based Conor Wixted, Eleanor Dunne and Clare Manning - otherwise known as Kids In America Bloodstock - are Grade I winners courtesy of Del Mar Debutante Stakes winner Bottle Of Rouge.  Bought...

Boyd (Violence), a $1.05-million purchase after galloping at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May sale, galloped again, this time romping home a 5 1/2-length debut winner at Del Mar Sunday. The victory was the second seven-figure juvenile winner on the card for Amr Zedan's Zedan Racing following Brant (Gun Runner)'s win in the GI Del Mar Futurity two races earlier. Sent off the even-money favorite, Boyd was hustled out to the early lead and was easily in control through a quarter in :21.32. He turned for home three lengths in front, completed...

With a rocket in his pocket and a willingness to take on all comers in stride, 'TDN Rising Star' Brant (Gun Runner--Tynan, by Liam's Map) put up his dukes in the GI Del Mar Futurity Stakes and landed Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert his record 19th score in the seaside oval's signature race on closing day. Every moment the colt has had an opportunity to hit the track he has done so with a gusto to the stop the clock as soon as possible--no sundials here. After going to...

The betting public had Saturday's GI Del Mar Debutante down to a battle of Bob Baffert-trained 'TDN Rising Stars' Explora (Blame) and Himika (Curlin), but Jill Baffert's Bottle of Rouge (Vino Rosso)--easily the least-fancied of a trio from that barn--proved best on the afternoon, causing a 9-1 upset. Veering in at the break, the $60,000 Keeneland November weanling and $100,000 Keeneland September yearling took up a mid-field berth in the early stages as 3-5 Explora rolled up at the fence to take up the running, while Himika sat a good...