Churchill Downs

Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies winner Liberty Rings (Awesome Slew) will skip Royal Ascot and instead point towards the Debutante Stakes at Churchill Downs June 28, her trainer Nick Palmer told Gulfstream media Wednesday. "I had a family member pass away in the interim and I didn't want to miss her service, and it takes a lot out of your horses to go over there. The purses aren't really anything spectacular," Palmer said. "Although, for me personally, for my career, it would have been awesome to go and to network and...

Magnitude (Not This Time) continued preparations for the upcoming GI Stephen Foster S. with a five-furlong breeze in 1:01.80 (12/16) at Churchill Downs Sunday. The Winchell Thoroughbreds colorbearer has now posted five workouts for Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen--all beneath the Twin Spires--since defeating the globe-trotting 2025 GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) by a length in front-running fashion in the G1 Dubai World Cup at Meydan Mar. 28. "Very impressive horse, continues to train forwardly," Asmussen said. "Have two more scheduled workouts between now...

What kind of sire will Horse of the Year Flightline turn out to be? The first hints are right around the corner. Greenwell (Flightline) will make his debut Friday at Churchill Downs in the fifth race for trainer Mark Casse. He will be the first offspring of Flightline to start in North America. The next day, the filly House Boat Party (Flightline), will run in the sixth race at Churchill for trainer Brian Lynch. She will be the first Flightline filly to start in the U.S. Both races are at...

Last week, the fastest maiden by far was also the biggest surprise on our list with a $38.02 win mutuel.   5 - HAPPY DESTINATION, WO, 6/7-7th, 6 furlongs (video) Beyer Speed Figure - 83 (f, 3, by Runhappy--Destination Love, by Friesan Fire) O-Gary Barber. B-BHMFR (Ky). T-Mark Casse. J-Romero Maragh. Casse capped his sensational week with this gate-to-wire debut winner sold as a yearling for $35,000. The Hall of Fame trainer won eight races and made them count - four were stakes (including three Grade Is) at Saratoga, one...

There might be a touch of malaise come Sunday, but the GIII Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs for 3-year-olds is the way to revive any Belmont Stakes reveler with the proper racing tonic. Add in a pair of competitive graded grass races at the Spa for good measure and Sunday's higher level slate should make things right as rain. In the Matt Winn, a trio of GI Kentucky Derby entrants will get another crack at the surface that was less than kind to them on the first Saturday in...

3rd-CD, 120K, Msw, 3yo/up, 7f, 1:43 p.m. After bringing just $125,000 as a yearling at Keeneland September in 2024, PRESIDE (Tiz the Law) impressed the partnership of Spendthrift Farm, St. Elias Stable and West Point Thoroughbreds enough at the 2025 OBS April Sale to inspire a $1.5-million bid after working in :10 flat. Out of a stakes-placed half-sister to Canadian champion female sprinter River Maid (Where's the Ring), the 9-2 morning-line shot debuts for trainer Steve Asmussen and enters off a solid gate drill May 31 (four furlongs in :47...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - A star is born at the Spa. West Point Thoroughbreds's Counting Stars (Honor A. P.), third behind 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Always a Runner (Gun Runner) in the GI Kentucky Oaks, turned the tables on the previously undefeated 4-5 favorite with a spectacular performance in Friday's GI DraftKings Acorn S. at Saratoga. With Irad Ortiz, Jr. taking over the controls from Francisco Arrieta, the 9-2 chance raced under a snug hold on the inside in third as the longest shot on the board Maximum...

Twirling Aces (Twirling Candy) took plenty of money as the even-money favorite despite being the only first-time starter in this auction price-restricted field. Encountering plenty of early trouble from the gate, she had to settle wide in the middle of the pack as Annie Bee (Collected) showed the way. Coming with plenty of steam down the outside of the track, Twirling Aces kept driving, pushed past late leader By La Rina (Echo Town) and cleared off to graduate on debut by 2 3/4 lengths. A $50,000 Keeneland September pick up,...

Susan Casner, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, accomplished owner and breeder, and treasured member of the Thoroughbred community, passed away May 27 following a battle with Alzheimer's disease. She was surrounded by the love of the family and friends who defined her life. Born in Grand Island, Nebraska, Susan's journey in racing began at Aksarben Race Track in Omaha, Nebraska, where she worked as a mutuel clerk. It was there that she met the love of her life, Bill Casner, who made a habit of placing wagers at the window...

Churchill Downs has launched Gallop for Good: From Race to Retirement ("Gallop for Good"), a national online giving campaign supporting Thoroughbred aftercare nonprofits, centered around a one-day giving event on Churchill's Stephen Foster Day, June 27. Gallop for Good supports Thoroughbred aftercare, which includes programs and services that help retired racehorses transition into second careers, adoption, rehabilitation, sanctuary and lifelong care after racing. Hosted by CDI, the campaign will operate through a centralized online platform, giving participating organizations the opportunity to raise critical funds, expand their reach and engage new...

Many of the better 2-year-olds haven't gotten cranked up yet, but the 3- and 4-year-old maidens continue to put up nice performances.   5 - MISS HELLFIRE, SA, 5/30-4th, 6 furlongs (video) Beyer Speed Figure- 85 (f, 4, by Sir Prancelot (Ire)-Missilette, by Golden Missile) O/B-Bryan and David Willson (Cal). T-Mike Puype. J-Kazushi Kimura. This romping debut win is a career highlight as a partnership for owner/breeders David Willson and his grandson Bryan. David is a longtime breeder and Bryan joined him in 2014 in the purchase of dam Missilette....

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - As a most memorable May gives way to June, trainer Cherie DeVaux believes that Golden Tempo (Curlin) is ready for his next challenge, the GI Belmont Stakes Saturday at Saratoga Race Course. Four weeks and three works after his dramatic victory in the GI Kentucky Derby, which secured DeVaux a forever place in racing history, Golden Tempo breezed Saturday and shipped Sunday from central Kentucky to upstate New York for the third and final Belmont Stakes at Saratoga. Just before his victory by a neck at...