Churchill Downs

Maryland Governor Wes Moore has announced that the state of Maryland has matched the $85-million bid from Churchill Downs for the intellectual property and branding rights to the Preakness, which will now be held by the state. The story was first reported by the Baltimore Banner. Gov. Wes Moore said in a statement provided to the Banner that his administration has made "historic investments" to ensure the future of Maryland's racing industry, and that the $85-million decision will secure a "vital asset for our state." It will "preserve Maryland's position...

Baeza (McKinzie), winner of last term's GI Pennsylvania Derby and an unlucky third after completely missing the break in his 2026 return in the GII Alysheba S. May 1, is aiming to make his next start in a star-studded renewal of the $2-million GI Stephen Foster S. at Churchill Downs June 27. The 'Win and You're In' for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland is also expected to showcase a highly anticipated rematch between 2023 Breeders' Cup Classic winner White Abarrio (Race Day) and 2025 Horse of the Year...

Stark Contrast (Caravaggio), an impressive 2 1/4-length winner of the GI American Turf S. with a career-high 99 Beyer Speed Figure on Kentucky Derby day, is being aimed at the GI Belmont Derby at Saratoga July 4. The Amerman Racing homebred has worked three times at trainer Michael McCarthy's Santa Anita base since, including a four-furlong breeze in :50.20 (27/31) June 11. C R K Stable's 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Remember Mamba (Kitten's Joy), winner of the GIII UK HealthCare Transylvania S. at Keeneland and runner-up in the...

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...

Since Bob Baffert made the shift from Quarter Horse racing to Thoroughbred racing in the early eighties, no one has been more loyal to Southern California racing. Especially when it came to stakes races, he filled the entry box like no other trainer. Consistency and quality were his trademarks. He has his critics and some have bristled at his dominance, but California racing has been lucky to have him. But with things being what they are in California, even Baffert had to make what must have been a tough decision...

   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 Cortina d'Amprezzo at Santa Anita. Nothing But Luck Cortina d'Amprezzo (Lucky Vega) got the job done for trainer Phil D'Amato at Santa Anita on June 11 (video). The three-year-old filly races for Hopeless Stables, Little Red Feather Racing, Medallion Racing, McNulty Thoroughbreds, Veranda Stables, and Omar Aldabbagh. Bred by Mountarmstrong Stud, she changed hands for €26,000 as a Goffs Autumn yearling when picked...

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...

Smidgeon (f, 2, Jack Christopher), overlooked at 7-1 in her five-furlong unveiling at Churchill Downs Saturday, shot out to the front beneath Keith Asmussen and kicked for home as the one to catch. She let it out a notch in the stretch and kept on finding down the lane to graduate by 1 3/4 lengths. Energy Flows (Constitution) was a narrow second over favored House Boat Party (Flightline). Smidgeon, a $20,000 Keeneland November weanling, $60,000 Keeneland September yearling and $300,000 OBS March breezer, is the second winner for her freshman...

5th-WO $115k, Msw, 3yo/up, 1 1/16mT, post time: 3:00 p.m. CRYSTAL PEARL (Curlin) gets his belated start for Gold Standard Racing Stable and trainer Mark Casse. Out of GSW and GISP sprinter Miss Sunset, the now 4-year-old was secured for $1.1 million at the 2023 Keeneland September Sale. Working predominantly on the synthetic of late, the bay did post a bullet five-furlong turf work in 1:00 flat (1/24) at Woodbine on May 29. TJCIS PPS   6th-CD $115k, Msw, 3yo/up, 6f, post time: 3:18 p.m. STELLENBOSCH (Tapit) debuts for trainer...

Jockey Corey Lanerie will call it a career at the conclusion of the Churchill Downs spring meet Sunday, June 28 following 35 years in the saddle, the track announced Friday. Lanerie will leave the sport having totaled more than 5,000 victories and earning north of $172-million in prize money with at least 1,244 wins at Churchill alone. The mark ties him in second all-time behind Hall of Famer Pat Day, who claims 2,482 trips to the winner's enclosure in the shadow of the Twin Spires. The Louisiana native began his...

6th-CD, $120k, Msw, 2yo, f, 5f, 3:19 p.m. ET HOUSE BOAT PARTY (Flightline) is set to become the third starter in two days from the highly anticipated first crop of her sire (by Tapit) and should have her fair share of backers. A homebred for Flying Dutchmen, the Apr. 5 foal is out of Lake Garda (American Pharoah), purchased by Boardshorts for $600,000 in foal to Uncle Mo at Keeneland November in 2022. The mare is an unraced daughter of GSP Refugee (Unaccounted For), whose 11 winners include 'TDN Rising...

5th-CD, $120K, Msw, 2yo, 5f, 2:45 p.m. ET. As TDN's Bill Finley reported earlier this week, Horse of the Year Flightline (by Tapit) has his first foal ready to hit the track at Churchill Downs on Friday. GREENWELL was a $500,000 buy for Greg Tramontin during the 2025 Keeneland September Sale. Sent to trainer Mark Casse, the Flightline colt is out of MGSW Cambodia (War Front), who is a half-sister to the dam of GSW Danse Macabre (Army Mule). Also set for a start is another Keeneland grad in Grand...