Churchill Downs

For Leah and Aidan O'Meara, the path to producing the first Kentucky Oaks starter bred by Stonehaven Steadings has been a six-year masterclass in persistence and prowess in the face of high-stakes decisions. By trusting their instincts and taking one leap of faith after the next, the O'Mearas have seen a long-term vision come to life in Meaning (Gun Runner), a filly with such undeniable class that she was a Book 1 standout for her buyers Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Bridlewood Farm. Now, that same professionalism has carried her from...

Ruiva, a debuting homebred for Three Chimneys Farm, picked up a never-in-doubt win over a sloppy Churchill Downs track Wednesday. Catching a flyer from the outside of the gate, the 2-1 second choice had a clear advantage by the time most of the field was just getting into stride. Only Barometric (Frosted) made an attempt to run with her and that pair quickly opened up several lengths by the time Ruiva hit the far turn. Barometric made one last run at her nearing the furlong pole but this Wesley Ward-trainee...

The winner of the GIII Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park, Silent Tactic (Tacitus) has scratched from the GI Kentucky Derby after battling a bruised foot according to his trainer Mark Casse on Wednesday morning. The defection allowed Great White (Volatile) into the big race where he will carry the number 21. DRF was the first to report the story. Silent Tactic, a colt owned by John Oxley, was dealing with a sore foot before the GI Arkansas Derby. He came to Churchill Downs after serving as the runner-up to Renegade...

TDN's Chief Correspondent Bill Finley is joined by Senior Contributing Editor Alan Carasso and Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack to handicap Friday's GI Longines Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs. FINLEY: As a whole, this is not a particularly fast group, which is why the focus here is on horses who have cracked the 90 Beyer level. Note that the Beyer par for the Kentucky Oaks is a 94. 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Prom Queen (Quality Road) earned a 90 Beyer when winning the GII Gulfstream Park Oaks and...

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - A 7:22 a.m. announcement over the PA system on the Churchill Downs backstretch welcomed Kentucky Oaks/Derby runners as well as Kentucky Derby winners to the track for a special 15-minute training window on a humid and overcast Tuesday morning. With the surface in terrific condition and officially listed as fast despite torrential, late-night thunderstorms, last year's Kentucky Derby winner and physically imposing Horse of the Year Sovereignty (Into Mischief) showed this year's class how it's done with a powerful gallop to get things started. His Bill Mott-trained...

Coolmore's freshman sire Corniche (by Quality Road) picked up his second winner and first 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Tuesday when his daughter Fanshell Beach ran down the well-backed War Ready (Jackie's Warrior) at Churchill Downs, graduating by open lengths in this 4 1/2-furlong maiden special weight event. Drawn widest of the six, the 7-5 second choice missed a clean jump and had to work to keep up with even-money favorite War Ready who shot out to the early advantage into the far turn. That pair quickly opened up...

3rd-CD, 120K, Msw, 2yo, f, 4 1/2f, 1:45 p.m. A deep field of juvenile fillies headlines Wednesday's action at Churchill Downs with trainer Steve Asmussen and owner/breeder Winchell Thoroughbreds debuting a pair of daughters by their champion Epicenter. Drawn side by side, JUST EPIC is the more well-bred of the two, being a daughter of GSW Just Wicked and therefore a half-sister to MGSW/MGISP Wicked Halo (Gun Runner). She breaks inside of Epicure who is out of a winning half-sister to GSW/GISP Great Stuff (Quality Road) and GSW Coffee In...

Six Speed (Not This Time), coming off a runner-up effort in the Mar. 28 G2 UAE Derby, tuned up for Saturday's GI Kentucky Derby with a four-furlong drill in :48.80 (12/24) Monday at Churchill Downs. With exercise rider Declan Cannon in the irons, the colt covered his opening furlong in :13.20, reached the quarter-mile in :25 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:01.60. "We're not going to change too much in the Derby," trainer Bhupat Seemar said. "He's a horse that likes to be up there. If they go fast,...

NBC Sports' live coverage from Churchill Downs begins with five hours on GI Kentucky Oaks day Friday and continues Saturday with 7 1/2 hours on GI Kentucky Derby day. NBC Sports' Derby day coverage features 10 races, with five hours on NBC and Peacock on Saturday (beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET), following the opening 2 1/2 hours beginning at noon ET on Peacock and NBCSN. Kentucky Oaks day coverage begins at 4 p.m. ET on Peacock and NBCSN, leading into the first-ever Kentucky Oaks broadcast in prime time at 8...

On a cloudy Sunday morning at Churchill Downs, six entrants put in their final breezes over a fast track, led by Chief Wallabee (Constitution). Mike and Kay Ball's Chief Wallabee worked a half-mile in :49.20 in company with the 3-year-old maiden winner Steel (Tapit). Junior Alvarado was aboard for trainer Bill Mott. The TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard produced splits of :13.20, :25.40, :49.20 and out five-eighths in 1:01.80 and six furlongs in 1:15.20. "We did what we wanted to do and if it doesn't work out, then that's...

Grade I winner Bottle of Rouge (Vino Rosso), one of two GI Kentucky Oaks hopefuls for trainer Bob Baffert, will not contest Churchill's Classic for fillies, according to the Hall of Fame trainer on Sunday. At 5:30 a.m. Sunday morning, Bottle of Rouge who worked a half-mile in :48.80 with Martin Garcia aboard in company with the Grade III stakes-winning filly Forced Entry (Charlatan). Last year's GI Del Mar Debutante winner started to cough shortly after returning to the barn and subsequently failed to scope cleanly, prompting Baffert to scratch...

Trainer Brad Cox's trio of Kentucky Derby hopefuls--Commandment (Into Mischief), Fulleffort (Liam's Map) and 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard,' Further Ado (Gun Runner)--highlighted a bustling morning at Churchill Downs a week out from Derby 152. Working during the 7:15-7:30 (all times Eastern) training period reserved for Kentucky Derby and Oaks prospects, the Cox trio was joined by Chester Broman's Right to Party (Constitution) (five furlongs in 1:01.20) for trainer Kenny McPeek. For Team Cox the group included Wathnan Racing's Commandment (five furlongs in 1:01.40 in company with the 4-year-old...