Curlin

2nd-CD, 120K, Msw, 2yo, f, 5f, 5:29 p.m. D.J. Stable, now in partnership with Gary Barber, went to $1,200,000 at KEESEP last year to secure AMERICATHEGREAT (Curlin), the full-sister to MGSW/GISP 'TDN Rising Star' First Captain. Both are out of Bobby Flay's GSW/MGISP A.P. Indy mare America who RNA'd first for $3.1m at FTKNOV in 2019 and most recently for $1.2m at the same sale in 2023. The mare, herself a half to the dam of GISW Paris Lights (Curlin), has found continued success for her foals in the sales...

GISW Sandman (Tapit) has picked up the services of John Velazquez for his anticipated start in Preakness 150, who will replace Jose Ortiz due to another commitment for the contest. Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse promised he'd have a Hall of Fame rider for his grey son of Tapit, and a legend he has procured. Velazquez will be replacing Jose Ortiz, who had the mount in the Derby, as Ortiz has a prior commitment aboard Clever Again (American Pharoah) for trainer Steve Asmussen. The Triple Crown trail has been...

1st-BAQ, $85k, Msw, 3yo/up, 6f, 1:10 p.m. ET FULLY BOOKED (Maclean's Music) debuts for Chad Brown and Klaravich Stables, who gave $460,000 for the March foal at the 2023 Keeneland September Sale. Stonestreet acquired dam Si Si Tequila (Yes It's True) for $155,000 at Fasig-Tipton July in 2017 and campaigned her to a runner-up effort in the Glorious Song Stakes during her juvenile season. A half-sister to GII Best Pal Stakes winner and GI Del Mar Futurity third Run Away (Run Away and Hide), Si Si Tequila is also responsible...

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Journalism (Curlin) has gotten plenty of ink--and rightfully so--ahead of the 151st running of the GI Kentucky Derby. But here's something that you may not know about the 3-1 morning-line favorite. How did Journalism--campaigned in partnership by the powerhouse partnership of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bridlewood Farm, breeder Don Alberto Stable, Robert LaPenta, Elayne Stables 5 and the Coolmore partners (Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor and Derrick Smith)--get his name? "We have always tried to mimic the Claiborne tradition of naming horses with one-word names with a...

In a race many thought was for second-place, it was Raging Sea (Curlin--Stormy Welcome, by Storm Cat) who stepped up to play the spoiler in her 2025 bow and claim the GI La Troienne Stakes as the 2024 Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) faded to last in the lane. Content to watch the action unfold in fifth as her stablemate Randomized (Nyquist) went loose on the lead by way of traffic behind her, Raging Sea was spared a lot of the inside drama when Dorth Vader (Girvin)...

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,...

Grande (Curlin) will not make the elongated Churchill Downs starting gate for the GI Kentucky Derby on Saturday because he was ruled off by the state veterinarians, according to a tweet on X from owner Mike Repole. Initially it was reported by Churchill Downs that trainer Todd Pletcher scratched the horse because of a foot bruise. The runner-up in the GII Wood Memorial Stakes was prepping last week for the Derby at Keeneland before making the trip over to train at Churchill Downs. A $300,000 Keeneland September buy, the 3-year-old...

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Bob Baffert stood in front of Barn 33--covered once again with green-and-white plaques celebrating his six GI Kentucky Derby winners and three GI Kentucky Oaks winners-- and held court with the media and posed for pictures with fans on a humid Wednesday morning at Churchill Downs. Following a well-documented, three-year suspension following the medication disqualification of Medina Spirit in the 2021 Kentucky Derby, it was business as usual for the Hall of Fame trainer, who will make his highly anticipated return beneath the Twin Spires this weekend...

Justin Curran, assistant trainer to Michael McCarthy, has described the Kentucky Derby as "the holy grail" and said Journalism (Curlin) winning the first leg of the American Triple Crown would complete a long-held ambition of being associated with a winner of the great race.  The Irish native, who spent time working with Dermot Weld and Todd Pletcher before joining McCarthy seven years ago, has been around some genuine top-notchers but freely admits that Journalism is close to entering that elite bracket.  Journalism has mopped up some of the key Kentucky...

Journalism (Curlin) was tabbed as the 3-1 morning-line favorite after drawing in a good spot in post position eight for next Saturday's 151st running of the GI Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Regular rider Umberto Rispoli will be at the controls. The GI Santa Anita Derby winner, an $825,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling graduate, is campaigned in partnership by Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Elayne Stables 5, Robert LaPenta and Lessees Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith and Michael B. Tabor. He is trained by Michael McCarthy. "No complaints,"...

Umberto Rispoli, the second-leading rider at the Hollywood Meet at Santa Anita, is off all his Saturday mounts due to his connecting flight from Kentucky being canceled, 1S/T Racing announced Saturday afternoon. Rispoli flew in to Churchill Downs overnight to partner with likely Kentucky Derby favorite GISW Journalism (Curlin) in his final pre-Derby work, but those plans were scrubbed when the work was postponed to Sunday due to the rain. The jockey was named on six rides for the Saturday card, including on 'TDN Rising Star' Eagles Flight (Curlin), the...

2nd-KEE, $90K, Msw, 2yo, 4 1/2f, 1:32 p.m. ET. Owned by Epic Horses, EPIC DESIRE (Uncle Mo) is ready for his unveiling. Out of Brooklynsway (Giant Gizmo)--who incidently won the GIII Doubledogdare Stakes which appears later on this card--the colt is trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher. Epic Desire's full-sister is MGISW Adare Manor. She was a $2.8-million purchase by Katsumi Yoshida at the Fasig-Tipton Fall Mixed Sale last year. Brooklynsway also claims current 3-year-old filly in-training Nosleeptilbrooklyn (Ghostzapper) and she foaled a filly by Curlin Feb. 9. TJCIS...