Churchill Downs

Pretty is as pretty does. And what Lael Stables' She Is Pretty (Karakontie {Jpn}) does, she does with routine brilliance. Pretty good. Pretty convincing. Pretty devastating. And pretty much the one they'll be trying to beat in the top-level middle-distance contests to come over the summer and fall in the distaff turf division following a comprehensive victory in Friday's GIII Modesty Stakes at Churchill Downs on her seasonal debut. Sent off at skinny, yet reasonable odds of 3-5--a penny shy of 4-5--the $240,000 Keeneland September graduate raced outside in the second...

They bet her like she would dominate, and so she did. With an electric turn of foot, Nitrogen (Medaglia d'Oro--Tiffany Case, by Uncle Mo) rolled past her rivals in the lane and scored an emphatic victory in the GII Edgewood Stakes at Churchill Downs to kick off the graded action on Kentucky Oaks day. Coming into this contest on a three-race win streak which began when she broke her maiden Jan. 4 in the Listed Ginger Brew Stakes at Gulfstream Park, Nitrogen has also been the betting choice for all...

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Who's been making the best physical impression in the mornings heading into the GI Kentucky Derby? Our boots on the ground and Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack reveals his top three favorite workouts recorded from the scratched-down field of 19 beneath the Twin Spires. 1) JOURNALISM April 27, 2025 | 5F | 1:01.40 (18/22) Not only does Journalism (Curlin) have the best form heading into the first Saturday in May. The physically imposing 3-1 morning-line favorite also posted the most visually impressive local breeze of the field,...

1st-Churchill Downs, $122,270, Alw (NW1X)/Opt. Clm ($125,000), 5-2, 3yo, f, 1 1/16m, 1:42.04, ft, 7 lengths. SHRED THE GNAR (f, 3, Into Mischief--Aspen Light, by Bernardini) just missed by a diminishing neck when debuted going six furlongs at Gulfstream Feb. 9 and was more than ready for her stretch out to one mile, wiring a field in Florida by 6 1/2 lengths March 16 to become a 'TDN Rising Star'. Trying two turns for the first time in the Oaks day opener Friday, the 4-5 favorite again flashed early speed...

As you review the entries for the marquee races this weekend at Churchill Downs, namely the GI Longines Kentucky Oaks on Friday and the GI Kentucky Derby on Saturday, you'll notice a common name listed among the connections: Brereton C. Jones. Though many outside of the Thoroughbred industry will recognize the name as that of the former governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, for those within it, it's one that evokes immense pride and gratitude for a man who was a true stalwart of the sport. Sadly, Brereton--the founder and...

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - After last year's Breeders' Cup, it wouldn't have come as much of a surprise to see an unbeaten, Godolphin homebred trained by Brad Cox bringing a perfect record into the GI Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs. But with last year's champion 2-year-old filly Immersive (Nyquist) unraced since capping her brilliant four-for-four season in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies--she's recently returned to training--it will instead be her unbeaten stablemate Good Cheer (Medaglia d'Oro) that will be in the spotlight for those same connections on the first Friday...

9th-Churchill Downs, $134,460, Alw (NW3$X)/Opt. Clm ($100,000), 5-1, 3yo/up, 6f, 1:07.84, ft, 2 1/2 lengths. WORLD RECORD (c, 4, Gun Runner--Marwa {GB}, by Exceed And Excel {Aus}), last year's GII Amsterdam Stakes winner who was unraced since a third in the Steel Valley Sprint Stakes at Mahoning Valley in late November, returned to the races with a winning effort Thursday. The 'TDN Rising Star' faced a salty allowance field led by GSW Track Phantom (Quality Road) and fellow 'Rising Star' MGSP Nash (Medaglia d'Oro) but was made the even-money favorite...

LOUISVILLE, KY-- Two months ago, trainer Dale Romans and California Horse Racing Board vice chairman Oscar Gonzales traveled to Washington, D.C. with the American Business Immigration Coalition (ABIC) to join more than 150 business leaders in a push for bipartisan immigration reform. On Thursday, May 1 after training hours concluded at Churchill Downs, the pair participated in a media briefing to share their insights from the trip and explain why the group believes that now is the time to reform U.S. laws and regulations affecting legal immigrant workers. Around 20...

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - With the legendary D. Wayne Lukas, white cowboy hat, shades and all, leading the charge aboard his stable pony, Thursday's exclusive 15-minute training session for GI Kentucky Derby and GI Kentucky Oaks entrants was off and running on another partly cloudy and warm, humid morning at Churchill Downs. The 89-year-old, four-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer was accompanying Virginia Derby hero American Promise (Justify), who will become his 51st starter in Saturday's Run for the Roses. Doesn't get much better than that. Flying Mohawk (Karakontie {Jpn}), an enticing 30-1...

One of two fillies in a scratched down field of six for Thursday's Kentucky Juvenile Stakes, Pinky Finger (Army Mule) made those that swallowed the 1-2 starting price sweat it out in the waning strides, but was home narrowly best to run her record to two wins from as many appearances. A 7 1/2-length debut winner at even-money at Keeneland while also facing the boys Apr. 7, the $90,000 Keeneland November weanling hit the ground running here and dueled through the early stages with Monster (Leinster) before opening up some...

2nd-Churchill Downs, $108,750, Msw, 5-1, 2yo, 4 1/2f, :52.59, ft, 1 3/4 lengths. MERCILESANIHILATOR (c, 2, Audible--Gadabout, by Bodemeister) looked in all sorts of trouble heading for home, but got his second wind in the final furlong to give this owner, trainer and jockey Jareth Loveberry their second straight success in as many days with a debuting 2-year-old beneath the Twin Spires. Sassy C W (Yaupon) became a new 'TDN Rising Star' in the fillies' equivalent exactly 24 hours prior. Sent off at odds just shy of 6-5, the April...

VALENTINIAN (Into Mischief) marks his return following a third-place effort going 8 1/2 furlongs at Keeneland Apr. 9. A solid3 1/4-length victor in his career debut at Tampa Mar. 1, the $1.5 million Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select yearling graduate is reunited with Hall of Famer John Velazquez, who was also in two last time out. Todd Pletcher trains the son of GI Spinaway heroine Rachel's Valentina (Bernardini), herself a daughter of Classic winner and champion Rachel Alexandra (Medaglia d'Oro). Also trying to bounce back from a last-out loss, Tiz Secure (Maximum...