Churchill Downs

The trio of 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard', Emerging Market (Candy Ride {Arg}), Ottinho (Quality Road)and Growth Equity (Nyquist) trained by five-time Eclipse Award-winner Chad Brown and the 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard', Chief Wallabee (Constitution) for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott worked Saturday across Saratoga Race Course and Belmont Park in preparation for the GI Belmont Stakes at the Spa June 6, the NYRA press office said in a Saturday release. The pair of Ottinho and Growth Equity worked in company over the Belmont Park dirt...

Second-time starter In Scope (Gun Runner), third behind the eye-popping 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Mashallah (Maxfield) with a 90 Beyer Speed Figure at Keeneland Apr. 23, went two better Friday over a sloppy track at Churchill Downs to earn the moniker herself. Drawn wide in a deep field, the 2-1 favorite kept her face clear in this stretch out from six furlongs to one mile, racing prominently several paths off the rail under Axel Concepcion. Poised just off the flank of leader Aegis (Essential Quality), In Scope had...

The 3-year-old sprint division just keeps getting better. Deep Flame (c, 3, Into Mischief--Barbadia, by Speightstown) looks like another major player in the stacked division following a head-turning, seven-length maiden victory over older horses at third asking at Churchill Downs May 17. The Juddmonte homebred sat a press-and-pounce trip beneath Irad Ortiz, Jr. and stopped the timer for six furlongs in a sharp 1:08.96. He earned a 95 Beyer Speed Figure. He was previously a well-beaten second behind next-out Lafayette S. winner Trouble Calling (Dialed In) on debut for Brad...

GI Apple Blossom heroine Claret Beret (Not This Time) died Friday from a possible cardiac event after returning from a morning work at Palm Meadows, according to her trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.. The Not This Time mare completed the four-furlong breeze (:49.55) normally and returned to the barn, where she apparently suffered a medical incident and passed away. It was her third work since collecting her first elite-level win in the Oaklawn Park marquee for older fillies and mares. "Claret Beret unfortunately passed away at the barn," trainer Saffie Joseph...

Jockey Johan Rosado has moved his tack from Oaklawn Park to Kentucky, and has started picking up mounts at Churchill Downs, the track announced Friday afternoon. The son of Roberto Rasado, the 1997 Eclipse Award Outstanding Apprentice Jockey, Johan Rosado is represented by Ruben Munoz. He reportedly plans to ride in Kentucky throughout the spring and continue in the summer at Ellis Park. "My father was a jockey for 25 years," Johan Rosado said. "I always looked up to him. I grew up at the racetrack and have a lot...

Repole Stable and Robert and Lawana Low's Renegade (Into Mischief) returned to the worktab at Saratoga Thursday morning for the first time since being outfinished by 'TDN Rising Star' Golden Tempo (Curlin) in the May 2 GI Kentucky Derby, going a half-mile in :49.80 (8/22) in the company of Repole's Powershift (Constitution). Both are possibilities for the $2-million GI Belmont Stakes at Saratoga on June 6. Renegade, a flashy winner of the GI Arkansas Derby ahead of his effort at odds of 11-2 beneath the Twin Spires, worked to the...

1st-BAQ, $85K, Msw, 2yo, (S), 5f, 1:10p.m. Life Is Good is represented by a pair of juveniles, including Repole Stable's BEACH LIFE. Bred by Thirty Year Farm, the New York-bred brought $350,000 at last year's Keeneland September Sale. The filly by Achalaya (Bellamy Road) is a half-sister to multiple Grade I-winning turf horse Casa Creed (Jimmy Creed). Trained by Todd Pletcher, the firster will be ridden by Johnny Velazquez. The WinStar stallion is also represented by Twice the Life, out of C'Est La Vie (Medaglia d'Oro). The Jeremiah Englehart-trained filly...

The purse for Churchill Downs's marquee race for older horses, the Grade I Stephen Foster on Saturday, June 27, has been doubled from $1 million to $2 million, according to a press release from the track on Wednesday. Billed as the "Summer Showdown," the 45th running of the 1 1/8-mile dirt race for 4-year-olds--which is part of the Breeders' Cup 'Win and You're In' Challenge Series--will be broadcast on NBCSN and Peacock from 4:30-6:30 p.m. (all times Eastern). Five of the world's elite dirt horses have already expressed interest in...

3rd-CD, 120K, Msw, 2yo, 5fT, 5:58 p.m. Trainer Mark Casse and Kentucky Derby-winning jockey Jose Ortiz team up on PLAY IT AGAIN (Speightstown) from the rail in this five-furlong turf sprint. A $725,000 Keeneland September grad, the Kindred Stables-bred, from his sire's last crop, is the first to the track for an unraced daughter of American Pharoah. That mare is a daughter of GI Ogden Phipps Handicap winner Seattle Smooth, making her a half to GSW She Be Smooth (Lexitonian) and GSP Seattle Slang (Tapit). Casse and Ortiz have previously...

The Kentucky Derby Betting Challenge (KDBC) will return in 2027 with a record $400,000 guaranteed prize pool as TwinSpires also unveiled the second season of the TwinSpires Tour, which will award $50,000 in prizes throughout the year. The KDBC, scheduled for Kentucky Derby Day on Saturday, May 1, 2027, will feature a guaranteed $400,000 prize pool following the addition of $50,000 in seeded cash from TwinSpires. Kentucky Oaks Day on Friday, Apr. 30, 2027, will offer a $1,000 First Chance/Last Chance KDBC Qualifier with $25,000 in added cash from TwinSpires....

The connections of Movie Night (Speightstown) may have been the only ones happy to see the deluge that turned the Churchill Downs main track to slop Saturday as their filly, already experienced over an off surface, skipped over it to become a new 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard'. Second going just a half-furlong longer on a wet opening day at Keeneland Apr. 3 in an effort which netted her an 83 Beyer Speed Figure, the 3-5 favorite saw plenty of pace burst out in front of her as she...

Wathnan Racing's Commandment (Into Mischief), seventh with a less-than-ideal trip in the GI Kentucky Derby, has begun to gear up for the GI Belmont Stakes at Saratoga June 6. The GI Curlin Florida Derby winner breezed four furlongs for trainer Brad Cox in company in :48.80 (29/83) at Churchill Downs Friday, his first move since the Kentucky Derby. "The breeze went well today and he's come out of the Derby in good order," said Case Clay, Wathnan's Racing Manager, USA. "We'll shoot for the Belmont now." Clay continued, "He did...