Brittany Russell

Lael Stables' Luv Your Neighbor (Constitution), who hadn't visited the winner's circle since her debut win last September, marked her return to the winner's circle with stylish victory in Saturday's GIII Delaware Oaks at Delaware Park. Sent off the 2-1 second choice, Luv Your Neighbor was settled in a two-wide fifth as 8-5 choice Dazzling Dame (Girvin) shot to the front, leading 5-1 chance Jumping the Gun (Gun Runner) through an opening quarter mile in :23.76. Narrowing the gap on the front running pair through a :47.82 half, Luv Your...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - It was a 'Man' versus boys in the GI Woody Stephens S. at Saratoga Saturday. C R K Stable's Englishman (Maxfield), a well-beaten second behind Crude Velocity (Beau Liam) in the battle of unbeaten 'TDN Rising Stars, presented by Hagyard' in the GII Pat Day Mile S. on Kentucky Derby day, turned the tables with authority on the cutback to seven furlongs, equaling Darby Creek Road's track record of 1:20.40 set in 1978. "It doesn't surprise me," winning trainer Cherie DeVaux said. "This horse is so...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Trainer Michael McCarthy would like nothing more than to have the wildly popular Journalism (Curlin) return to Saratoga Race Course this summer. "It would be awfully nice if he could," McCarthy said just outside Journalism's stall at the Oklahoma Training Track Thursday morning. "Saratoga, as I keep on saying, is a magical place for horses and people alike. We would be more than happy to bring him back here if the opportunity presented itself." First things first. Journalism, owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bridlewood Farm, Don...

Every week, the TDN posts a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) related rulings from around the country. The following rulings were reported on HISA's "rulings" portal and through the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit's (HIWU) "pending" and "resolved" cases portals. Resolved ADMC Violations Dates: 05/27/2026 Licensee: Brian Lusk, trainer Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final...

The first race on Friday's Black-Eyed Susan program at Laurel Park was marred by the death of first-time starter Hit Zero (Twirling Candy), who succumbed to an apparent cardiac event following the conclusion of the $35,000 maiden claimer, according to a statement from the Maryland Racing Commission. "The Equine Medical Director attended to Hit Zero and has initiated a full post-incident review consistent with Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) Equine Fatality Reporting Requirements," the statement said in part. "A necropsy will be conducted and a cause of death will...

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....

While a decision on Golden Tempo (Curlin)'s participation in the May 16 GI Preakness Stakes at Laurel Park is still to be determined, Vinnie Viola's St. Elias Stable, co-owner of the GI Kentucky Derby winner, has another colt waiting in the wings for the second leg of the Triple Crown in GIII Gotham Stakes winner Iron Honor (Nyquist). Viola co-owns the 3-year-old, most recently seventh in the GII Wood Memorial, in partnership with William Lawrence and Glassman Racing. "He's a nice, nice horse," St. Elias racing and bloodstock manager Monique...

Taj Mahal (Nyquist) is on target for the May 16 GI Preakness Stakes following his romping victory in the Federico Tesio Stakes Saturday at Laurel Park. "It was really impressive," trainer Brittany Russell said Sunday. "You see a lot of these horses at home win the Tesio and go on to the Preakness and I thought to myself before the race, I hope he runs like 'wow.' You want to see a really big run from him to give you confidence that he should go on to the Preakness, and...

Taj Mahal (Nyquist) led them every step of the way while making his two-turn debut to romp in the $150,000 Federico Tesio S. at Laurel Park, a "Win and You're In" qualifier for the GI Preakness Stakes. The 6-5 favorite cleared the field of 10 from his outside draw and it was pretty much over from there. He was well clear through fractions of :23.93 and :47.80. The advantage shrunk to about a length on the far turn, but he had another gear. The $525,000 Keeneland September yearling opened up...

It's been three weeks since our last GI Kentucky Oaks Top 10, and a lot has happened. But no one stepped up with the type of explosive performance that would have shaken up the standings. We've dropped four horses from our original poll. Mythical (St. Patrick's Day) just wasn't good enough in the GIII Forward Gal Stakes. Tommy Jo (Into Mischief) has been injured and has been taken off the Oaks trail. Percy's Bar (Upstart) hasn't had a workout since Jan. 6, which doesn't bode well for her making the...

TAJ MAHAL (c, 3, Nyquist--Oola Gal {SP, $117,257}, by Quality Road) was made the 3-2 favorite for this unveiling after posting a series of strong works over the track for trainer Brittany Russell. Out slowly and finding himself last in the early stages, he navigated to the outside of runners entering the far bend and was rolling with a full head of steam from five wide as they swung for home. Taking command not long after as Sir George (Street Sense) tried to make a race of it, Taj Mahal...

At a time when Maryland's racing and breeding industry looks ahead to a new era, with the redevelopment of historic Pimlico Race Course officially underway, it seems only fitting that one of the most successful Maryland-breds in recent years would return to his home state to enter stud. Multiple graded stakes-winning millionaire Post Time (Frosted) retired this past December and joins the stallion roster at Northview Stallion Station in Chesapeake City, Md. For his debut season at stud this year, Post Time will stand for an introductory fee of $4,000...