Brendan Walsh

A Game of Inches: Destino d'Oro Denies Whiskey Decision in Hillsborough Thriller

Turf mares sure know how to put on a show. It came down to a blanket finish in the GII Hillsborough Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs, but Destino d'Oro (Bolt d'Oro) showed her heart with an ultra-game performance to win the photo. Crowned the 2026 queen of the GII Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf Invitational Stakes in her most recent performance, via an equally exciting finish no less, the Brad Cox filly has now strung together three consecutive wins. The first of the group was a head decision...

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Five Fleet Fillies Of The Week: Feb. 23-Mar. 1

As expected, Gulfstream's loaded Fountain of Youth card provides fast fillies--but topping this week's list is a breakout performance at Turfway Park. 5. WITH THE ANGELS, AQU, 3/1, Correction Stakes, 6 furlongs Beyer Speed Figure- 93, 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard'. (f, 4, by Omaha Beach--Sister Margaret, by Pulpit) O-Winning Move Stable, John Oxley, Sheila Stable, Silverwood Stables and Sanford Robbins. B-Joseph DeRico (NY). T-Linda Rice. J-Jose Lezcano. Rice says With the Angels "never makes a wrong move," and after demoralizing her New York-bred competition last summer and fall,...

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Lush Lips Makes It Three In A Row In The Honey Fox

In her second start since topping the 2025 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale at a cool $3.7-million, Lush Lips (Ire) brought her winning streak to three in a row Saturday, capturing the GIII Honey Fox Stakes at Gulfstream Park in her first run against older fillies and mares. Debuted initially in her native Ireland, Saturday's 8-5 favorite really found her footing once shipped to Brendan Walsh's operation in late 2024. She's never been off the board since that maiden-breaking score at Gulfstream, winning five of eight starts and finishing runner...

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Friday Insights: Son Of War Front And New Money Honey Unveiled At Gulfstream

5th-GP, $84K, Msw, 3yo, 1mT, 2:20 p.m. ET. Over the course of her bright racing career for e Five, New Money Honey (Medaglia d'Oro) collected four higher level trophies--two of which were of the Grade I variety. The second to the races for her celebrated dam, WRATHCHILD (War Front) will carry the same colors as New Money Honey and his older half-brother Nemo (Into Mischief). The first-time starter trained by Brendan Walsh enjoys an extended female family which includes sire Any Given Saturday (by Distorted Humor) and GSW Bohemian Lady...

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Brendan Walsh Joins The TDN Writers' Room Podcast Presented By Keeneland

It was a big weekend for trainer Brendan Walsh, whose Bella Ballerina (Street Sense) was a game winner of the GII Rachel Alexandra Stakes. A half-sister to Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief), the 2023 GI Kentucky Oaks winner, who was also trained by Walsh, the trainer is hoping to pull off what would be a unique daily double--winning the Oaks twice within four years with half-siblings. To discuss the Rachel Alexandra win, his take on Bella Ballerina and what he has planned on the way to the Oaks, Walsh joined this...

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Brendan Walsh Talks Bella Ballerina on TDN Writers' Room

Trainer Brendan Walsh joined this week's TDN Writers' Room to discuss his undefeated 3-year-old filly Bella Ballerina after her win in the GII Rachel Alexandra Stakes. He also shares stories of the filly's Kentucky Oaks-winning half-sister, Pretty Mischievous, and some of his other favorite past trainees.

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Immortalised
Making Waves: Immortalised Makes His Mark In Florida

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Immortalised at Gulfstream Park. Romanised Colt Ageless At Gulfstream Sean Feld and Starry Night Racing's Immortalised (Romanised) made it two wins from three starts, after taking a Gulfstream contest on Thursday (video). Trained by Brendan Walsh, the three-year-old colt was bred by Elevage Haras de Bourgeauville. Sold for €37,000 to Feld Family Finds out of Arqana's Vente d'Elevage in 2023, the February foal...

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The Kentucky Oaks TDN Top 10 for Jan. 21: It's Anybody's Race

There's not a whole lot of guesswork when it comes to putting together a Top 12 list for this year's GI Kentucky Derby. Ted Noffey (Into Mischief) is clearly Number One, and finding a list of quality horses to slot in behind him isn't that difficult. If only compiling a similar list for the Kentucky Oaks were that easy. The 3-year-old filly set has begun the new year without a clear leader, and many who will make this list have to prove more. It's also early...very early. That means there's...

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Shadwell Homebred Tries The Grass On Fair Grounds Debut

8th-FG, $54k, Msw, 2yo, f, 1mT, post time: 5:15 p.m. ET AL LATAFAH (Essential Quality) makes her first trip to the races for owner and breeder Shadwell Farm and trainer Brendan Walsh. The Feb. 5 foal is the first produce from her dam Altaf (Medaglia d'Oro), who was only seventh when making her first career appearance on the turf, but she went on to add three wins from as many starts on the main track, including the 2021 Lady's Secret Stakes at Monmouth Park in what would become her final...

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Street Sense's Bella Ballerina Heads 'Rising Star' 1-2 In Golden Rod

Godolphin homebred Bella Ballerina (Street Sense), a half-sister to champion and GI Kentucky Oaks heroine Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief) whose lone previous trip to the post resulted in a 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard-worthy debut sprinting over six furlongs at Keeneland Oct. 5, successfully stretched out to two turns Saturday afternoon in the GII Golden Rod Stakes, hitting the front at midstretch before holding off a late lunge from fellow 'Rising Star' Atropa (Into Mischief). The winner earns 10 points on the 2026 Road to the Kentucky Oaks. Bet...

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Keeneland November Topper Lush Lips Brave In Mrs. Revere

A few weeks removed from having topped this year's Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale on a bid of $3.7 million from Bill Shiveley's Dixiana Farms, Lush Lips (GB) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) pounced on long-time leader Classic Q (Classic Empire) with less than a furlong to race in Friday's GII Mrs. Revere Stakes and held off a late surge from East Coast raider Pretty Picture (Munnings) by a long neck as the heavy 1-2 favorite. Exiting a victory in Keeneland's Oct. 11 GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup about 70 miles...

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Boss Dylan
Second Chances: 'Out of a Loss, There's a Win' – Boss Dylan Florida-Bound Following Eye-Catching Debut Second

   In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar. What an effort from Boss Dylan (c, 2, Liam's Map--Sweet, by Blame)! Those were the words of track announcer Travis Stone as Boss Dylan rallied from last to finish a fantastic second in the nightcap at Churchill Downs Sunday evening. Off at odds of 9-1 in his 6 1/2-furlong unveiling for trainer Brendan Walsh in a very deep maiden special weight, Boss Dylan made a mess...

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