Churchill Downs
Bruce Lunsford's Art Collector (Bernardini), winner of last year's GII Toyota Blue Grass S., is expected to make his 4-year-old debut in the June 25 Kelly's Landing S. at Churchill Downs. The bay colt was fourth in last year's GI Preakness S. and has been off since finishing eighth in the Nov. 7 GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. Art Collector has been back on the work tab at Churchill Downs for the last four weeks, most recently working a half-mile in :50.60 (9/9) on the turf Sunday at Churchill Downs...
4th-Churchill Downs, $100,000, Msw, 6-11, 2yo, 5 1/2f, 1:03.61, ft, 4 1/2 lengths. CANDY LANDING (c, 2, Twirling Candy--Pearl Bay, by Rush Bay) hinted at some zip with a :35 4/5 (2/21) breeze from the gate here last Thursday, but was let go at 17-1 for a barn that boasts pretty strong debut numbers. Showing speed from a high draw, the homebred dueled outside of 2-1 second timer Woodline (Gun Runner) through an opening quarter in :21.57. He always seemed to be going a bit easier than his rival, was...
Churchill Downs Incorporated has suspended Bob Baffert for two years effective immediately through the conclusion of the Churchill 2023 spring meet. The suspension prohibits Baffert, or any trainer directly or indirectly employed by Bob Baffert Racing Stables, from entering horses in races or applying for stall occupancy at all CDI-owned racetracks. This decision follows the confirmation by attorneys represening Bob Baffert of the presence of betamethasone, a prohibited race-day substance, in Medina Spirit's (Protonico) bloodstream on the day of the 147th running of the GI Kentucky Derby in violation of...
Four weeks after the commonly owned 'TDN Rising Star' and stablemate Mandaloun (Into Mischief) crossed the line second in the GI Kentucky Derby, Juddmonte's Fulsome (Into Mischief) was afforded his own chance to shine and made the most of the opportunity in Saturday's GIII Matt Winn S., overcoming a sluggish break to defeat Derby fifth O Besos (Orb) and that race's eighth-place finisher Helium (Ironicus) in convincing fashion. Sent off the 17-10 chalk to remain perfect in three tries on the main track, the impeccably bred bay walked out of...
Carrying the silks of the famed Lazy F Ranch, Gam's Mission (Noble Mission {GB}) rallied through the final eighth of a mile to take out Saturday's GIII Regret S. at Churchill, giving trainer Cherie DeVaux her first stakes winner since going out on her own. Bumped soundly at the break by her inside rival Postnup (Declaration of War), the homebred settled slightly worse than mid-division from fifth, as favored Spanish Loveaffair (Karakontie {Jpn}) argued a moderate pace from the fence inside of Postnup, who raced in the two path. Ground-saving...
Beau Liam (c, 3, Liam's Map--Belle of Perintown, by Dehere) stamped himself as a sophomore to watch for the second half of the season with an eye-catching 'TDN Rising Star' performance over older horses on debut at Churchill Downs Saturday. The 5-1 chance broke well from his outside draw and sat just off the leaders in third through a sharp opening quarter in :21.73. The Stonestreet homebred, trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, revved up three deep at the quarter pole and took off in the stretch like a...
Lucky Seven Stable's Behave Virginia (Unified) launched her career in style, rolling home an impressive 5 1/2-furlong winner at Churchill Downs Friday to become the first winner for freshman sire Unified (Candy Ride {Arg}). Narrowly in front into the far turn, she was briefly headed by 6-5 favorite Trade Secret (Goldencents), but wrested the lead back from that rival turning for home. In command from there, the 7-1 chance drew clear through the stretch, crossing the wire 5 1/2 lengths ahead of Trade Secret while under a hand ride. Her...
Spanish Loveaffair (Karakontie {Jpn}) seeks her graded stakes badge in Saturday's GIII Regret S. at Churchill Downs. Crossing the line first in her seasonal bow in Gulfstream's GIII Herecomesthebride S. Feb. 27, she was disqualified and placed fourth for interference and finished a non-factor sixth next out in Keeneland's GII Appalachian S. Apr. 3. Brendan Walsh saddles a live contender in Flown (Kitten's Joy). A third-out graduate at Keeneland in October, the chestnut was fifth in the Appalachian and missed by a neck to Gam's Mission (Noble Mission {GB}) in...
O Besos (Orb) and Helium (Ironicus), fifth and eighth, respectively, in the GI Kentucky Derby, return in Saturday's GIII Matt Winn S. at Churchill Downs. The late-running O Besos, just 5 1/2 lengths off the mark on the first Saturday in May, was previously a good third in the GII TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby Mar. 20. "We love running at Churchill and this race gives us plenty of options going forward," trainer Greg Foley said. "He worked an easy half-mile [in :49] Monday morning and is doing well from the Derby....
Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 8th-CD, $100K, Msw, 3yo/up, 5 1/2fT, 8:23 p.m. LEAD (Runhappy) brought $700,000 from owners Robert and Lawana Low as a Keeneland September yearling, the most expensive of 59 first-crop runners to change hands by his sire in 2019. Out of the unraced Indian Charlie mare Ms. Cornstalk, he is a half-brother to Canadian champions Biofuel (Stormin Fever) and Tu Endie Wei (Johar) as well as SW & GSP 'TDN Rising Star' Indian Pride (Proud Citizen). Trained by Dan Peitz, the bay has drawn the fence...
DARRS Inc.'s Extravagant Kid (Kiss the Kid), winner of the G1 Al Quoz Sprint Mar. 27, turned in his third work at Keeneland Saturday since his Dubai performance, covering five furlongs in 1:02.20 in company with stakes-placed winner Lontano (Street Boss) over a fast dirt track. Keeneland clockers caught him in fractions of :11.80, :24, ;36, :49.60 and 1:02.20. "He worked great. He's doing good," said trainer Brendan Walsh. "Looks like he came out of the race in Dubai good and got back in good shape." The 8-year-old is being...
Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency PRICEY UNIFIED COLT DEBUTS AT CHURCHILL 1st-CD, $100K, Msw, 2yo, 5f, 6:00p.m. Carolyn Wilson's ROGER MCQUEEN (Unified) makes his career bow in this spot for trainer Larry Rivelli. A $77,000 KEENOV weanling turned $190,000 KEESEP yearling, the dark bay summoned $530,000 at OBS March after breezing in a sharp :20 2/5, making him the most expensive offspring by his first-crop sire. TJCIS PPs