Curlin

In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this Sunday running at Kyoto Racecourse: Sunday, May 17, 2026 3rd-KYO, ¥11,280,000 ($71k), Maiden, 3yo, 1900m WE MOVE (c, 3, Curlin--Shamrock Rose, by First Dude) got his career off to a promising start when third, beaten 1 1/2 lengths, on his 1800-meter debut at...

Chip Honcho (Connect) had his final major tune-up for the May 16 GI Preakness Stakes when he worked four furlongs in :50.20 (39/47) at Churchill Downs Sunday. Exercise rider Luiyi Ortiz was aboard for the work, which was one of trainer Steve Asmussen's typical easy half-mile moves the week of a race. Chip Honcho's big work came May 2, when he worked five furlongs in 1:00.00 (1/14). "I think we're in a very good place with him right now," said Asmussen, who won the Preakness in 2007 with Curlin and...

That must have been a good sandwich. It was certainly a memorable one. Walker Hancock of Claiborne Farm distinctly remembers eating subs from Jersey Mike's one fall afternoon in 2021 with Daisy Phipps Pulito and Claiborne's farm manager Bradley Purcell in Claiborne's conference room. The three of them sat down over those sandwiches to hash out mating plans for the Phipps mares for 2022. "It all goes back to some Jersey Mike's subs," said Hancock with a laugh. "We did the matings for her mares for that following year that...

In a statement posted Tuesday afternoon on X, trainer Cherie DeVaux announced that the GI Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo (Curlin) will not be running in the GI Preakness Stakes. It's another blow to the race that has clearly become the weak link in the Triple Crown. The only horse who ran in the Kentucky Derby to commit to the Preakness at this point is the maiden, Ocelli (Connect), who was a surprising third. "After much thoughtful discussion as a team, we have decided that Golden Tempo will bypass the...

Every dogmatist will have his day. Overall, however, our sport is too variable and unpredictable to sustain inflexible rules. As an old school type, admittedly, it's hard to resist treating Golden Tempo (Curlin)-culmination of a multi-generational breed-to-race project-as a reproof to those who breed horses to stand on a dais, rather than in the winner's circle. After all, the Phipps program is no longer as extensive as when it acquired his sixth dam, champion Lady Pitt (Sword Dancer), in 1969. So a GI Kentucky Derby winner in its centenary year...

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Friday evening wasn't the only 'Ladies Night' at Churchill Downs this weekend. Cherie DeVaux became the first female trainer to win the GI Kentucky Derby, saddling Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable homebred Golden Tempo (Curlin) to a last-to-first upset at odds of 23-1 in the 152nd renewal on an unseasonably chilly first Saturday in May. The 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' stormed home down the center to narrowly outkick the unlucky Renegade (Into Mischief), slammed hard at the start from his rail draw, by a...

With a smashing five-length victory in the G3 Capella Stakes at Nakayama in December, Tomoya Ozasa's T O Elvis (Volatile) earned a place in the field for the G2 Riyadh Dirt Sprint in February. Connections elected to take a pass on that 1200-meter test--won by Imagination (Good Magic)--to give the colt more time to prepare for the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen at the back end of March. But owing to the ongoing hostilities in the region, T O Elvis's trip to Meydan was called off at the 11th hour and...

Journalism (Curlin), who finished third in the GII Oaklawn Handicap in his 4-year-old debut April 18 in Hot Springs, returned to the work tab Saturday at Santa Anita for trainer Michael McCarthy. Also working for McCarthy was MGISW Formidable Man (City of Light), who has been off since finishing second in the Breeders' Cup Mile on Nov. 1. Journalism worked four furlongs in :48.40. In the 1 1/8-mile Oaklawn Handicap, Journalism finished two lengths back of winner Sovereignty (Into Mischief), his rival from last year's Triple Crown run. McCarthy has...

Corporate Power (Curlin) out-finished the veteran Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator) and a closing Baeza (McKinzie) to earn his first graded stakes win in Friday's GII Alysheba Stakes at Churchill Downs. The 5-1 shot, making his third start here for trainer Steve Asmussen, was last second by just a half-length to classy Louisiana-bred Touchuponastar (Star Guitar) in the GII New Orleans Classic at Fair Grounds March 21. As a 3-year with Shug McGaughey, he tried his hand on the Triple Crown trail with a narrow win in the Sir Barton Stakes at Pimlico....

SOARING HIGH (f, 3, Curlin--Songbird {Ch. 2-year-old Filly, Ch. 3-year-old Filly, MGISW, $4,692,000}, by Medaglia d'Oro) made her second try a winning one when she turned in a sterling campaign opener on the Kentucky Oaks undercard Friday afternoon. The Cherie DeVaux trainee was unveiled beneath these Twin Spires last September, and ran midpack in a field that yielded Kentucky Oaks contender GSW Counting Stars (Honor A.P.) and SW Coco Connect (Connect). She went on the shelf after that effort and returned to the public worktab Mar. 26 at Keeneland when she...

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - After Jacob West signed the ticket on Renegade (Into Mischief) for $975,000 at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling sale, breeders Robert and Lawana Low weren't quite ready to say goodbye. "We made the decision, reluctantly, to put him through the sale, and by the time the hammer dropped, I was quizzing Jacob," Robert Low said. "'Can we buy half of this horse back?' And Mike was kind enough to do it." Mike, as you've probably figured out by now, is prominent and outspoken owner Mike Repole. West...

Chip Honcho (Connect), winner of the Gun Runner Stakes and a close second in the GII Fasig-Tipton Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds will bypass the GI Kentucky Derby in favor of the May 16 running of the GI Preakness Stakes, Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen said Saturday morning at Churchill Downs. With the defection of Chip Honcho, GSW Litmus Test (Nyquist) will now drawn in for the big race. The colt's Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert was asked early on Saturday morning what "Plan B" was if...