Claiborne Farm

Charting a course then declaring 'here be dragons' when she made land in the seaside oval winner's circle, Explora (Blame--Collections Choice, by Bernardini) set sail from the gate and never looked back in a maiden-breaking performance on Sunday which earned her a 'TDN Rising Star' flag for her top mast. The heavy favorite established her lead up the backstretch and tacked around the far turn like she had even pulled out her pocket handkerchiefs. With rider Juan Hernandez playing the role of bosun, Explora went easy en route to win...

Like an everlasting gobstopper, Swamp King (Silver State--El Piba, by Lookin At Lucky) kept going to best his opponents at second asking in a Pea Patch maiden on Sunday. Getting his picture taken was the signal that his freshman sire celebrated his first winner. Owned by Claiborne Farm, the dark bay made his first start over the grass at Ellis and was well-beaten July 21. Fitted with blinkers and off as a 5-1 shot here, the 2-year-old bided his time along the rail as a scramble for supremacy between longshots...

6th-SAR, $100K, Msw, 2yo, 1 1/16mT, 4:06 p.m. ET. Amo Racing went to $900,000 to acquire GUITARIST (Quality Road) at last year's Keeneland September Sale. Sent to trainer Chad Brown, the colt is out of GISP Bernina Star (Harlan's Holiday), who was a $1.2-million buy for Don Alberto at the 2019 Keeneland November Sale while Sheza Shining Star (Curlin) was in-utero. Guitarist's dam is a half-sister to GSW National Flag (Speightstown) and SW Perfect Flight (Uncle Mo). Under the first-time starter's third dam we find GISW & MGISP Eddington (Unbridled)....

It has taken more than 40 years in the industry to build the resume, but it's a pretty good bet that there's not a more well-rounded, experienced person at the helm of a bloodstock agency than Bernie Sams. Sams will launch a new chapter in that storied career with the debut of BF Sams Bloodstock Advisory, which will be representing clients at a sale for the first time under that banner in July at Fasig-Tipton. Sams has worked for farms large (Claiborne, Gainesway) and small (Wimbledon, Manchester), at home and...

Bernie Sams will be launching a new venture, BF Sams Bloodstock Advisory, according to a press release from the new company this morning. Drawing upon his extensive experience working for some of the world's top Thoroughbred farms, Sams said he would offer a variety of consulting services, including broodmare band management, advice on matings, purchases of stallion seasons and shares, securing equine insurance, and more. Born in Louisville, Kentucky, Sams began working with Thoroughbreds while attending the University of Kentucky. Early in his career, he worked at Wimbledon Farm, Haras...

Last week, 'Five Fastest Maidens' became six because of a fifth-place tie. This week, only four maidens met our minimum threshold of an 80 Beyer Speed Figure 4) KAPOOR, CD, 5-31, Race 4, 7 furlongs Beyer Speed Figure- 80 (f, 3, Uncle Mo--Kareena, by Medaglia d'Oro) O/B-Godolphin; T-Bill Mott; J-Irad Ortiz, Jr. She was Mott's second promising maiden to graduate on Saturday's strong Churchill Downs card, leading all the way after starting her career with third-place efforts at both Gulfstream and Keeneland. Godolphin bought dam Kareena for $400,000 from Jane...

Mindframe (Constitution--Walk of Stars, by Street Sense), most recently winner of the GI Churchill Downs Stakes, will take up stud duties at Claiborne Farm at the conclusion of his racing career, the farm announced Sunday evening. Tabbed a 'TDN Rising Star' following his 13 3/4-length debut victory at Gulfstream Park last March, the dark bay colt was second--beaten just a half-length by Dornoch (Good Magic)--in the GI Belmont Stakes in just his third trip to the post. He was second again after recovering from a stumbling start in the GI...

Claiborne Farm and Lane's End Farm will return as the co-sponsors of the Former Broodmare division at the 2025 Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium Oct. 8-11 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. The Former Broodmare division offers a competition avenue at the Makeover for recently retired broodmares to compete alongside the traditional retiring racehorse division in all 10 offered disciplines. Broodmares are pinned and recognized separately, competing for their own pot of $10,000 in prize money. "At Claiborne, we've always believed in supporting the full journey of a horse--from...

While a lot of press has been given to Into Mischief and Medaglia d'Oro this week--and rightfully so, as one got his third GI Kentucky Derby winner and the other his third GI Kentucky Oaks winner--another exceptional sire once again proved why he's been at the top of the sire lists for years. You may even have missed his big weekend, as War Front didn't sire one of Saturday's headline winners. However, of the 11 graded races contested across the nation on Derby Day, three of his sons did. Three...

The R.A.C.E. Fund online auction--featuring halters from champions, farm tours, and other memorabilia to bid on--is set to go May 9, the group announced Monday evening. Kicked off with an online auction on eBay beginning at 8:00 p.m. EST and ending May 16, the non-profit's annual fund drive looks to raise money which will be used to help Thoroughbreds in need of retirement and rescue from slaughter. All proceeds from this auction will go toward that goal. Featured items include halters of champions like fan-favorite California Chrome; Serena's Song; Essential...

11th-GP, $94K, Msw, 3yo, 1 1/16m, T, 5:52 p.m. ET. A $650,000 Keeneland September grad, WEAPONIZED (Gun Runner) makes his first start for N Theory Racing and trainer Brad Cox. The colt is out of Lady Tapit (Tapit), who went for a cool $1.8-million to Whisper Hill Farm & Gainesway during last year's Keeneland November Sale while in foal to Good Magic. This productive mare is also responsible for GII Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby hero and current sire Kingsbarns (Uncle Mo), and her filly Irresistible (Munnings) was purchased for $700,000 by...

The first mare bred to 2023 GI Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Bright Future (Curlin--Sophia's Song, by Bellamy Road) has checked in foal, Claiborne Farm announced Monday. The mare, My Way (Unbridled's Song), is the dam of nine winners from 10 to race, and is a half-sister to graded winners Academy Award (Secretariat), Good Mood (Devil's Bag), and Statuette (Pancho Villa). Bright Future won five of 11 career starts and earned $947,940 for owners Repole Stable and St. Elias Stables and trainer Todd Pletcher. In addition to the Jockey Club...