Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners

Classic Q (f, 4, Classic Empire--Lovely Em, by Scat Daddy) is proving classy "to a T." Last seen securing her first graded win on Kentucky Derby Day in the GII Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile Stakes, the Gary Barber, Blue Crevalle Racing, and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners colorbearer doubled up on Belmont Stakes Day, capturing the $500,000 GI Just a Game Stakes at Saratoga in front-running fashion. In addition to kicking off the graded action on a stellar day of racing for the much-heralded Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, the Just a...

Using her speed from the outside gate, Roja (Karakontie (Jpn)--Redmeansgo, by Red Ransom) made the lead and never looked back in the GII Intercontinental Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on Thursday afternoon. The win was the first graded victory of her career. In her lone 2026 start, the blazing fast filly hurdled a turf sprint versus optional claimers at Churchill Downs Apr. 29. Her first visit to the winner's circle came when she broke her maiden at third-asking just over a year ago at Laurel Park. Roja was the runner-up...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - For the third time in four years, another entry in Journalism's (Curlin) story will be written close to the corner of Union and East avenues. In 2023, he was purchased as a yearling for $825,000 by the Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale. Last year, with a distinctive name and a pair of Grade I wins on his resume, he finished second in the showdown of Triple Crown race winners to Sovereignty (Into Mischief) in the GI Belmont Stakes at Saratoga Race Course, approximately...

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...

The 2025 GI Preakness Stakes winner Journalism (Curlin) will ship to Hot Springs for the Apr. 18 running of the GII Oaklawn Handicap where the colt could face reigning Horse of the Year Sovereignty (Into Mischief), according to a Friday post on X by co-owner Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners. The tweet read, "JOURNALISM turned in a strong 5-panel move at Santa Anita Park in 1:00 3/5 this a.m. and has been declared all set by Michael McCarthy to make his seasonal debut in next Saturday's GII $1.25 million Oaklawn Handicap with...

Meaning (f, 3, Gun Runner--Figure of Speech, by Into Mischief), a Bridlewood Farm and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners colorbearer, proved her win over Eclipse champion 2-year-old filly Super Corredora (Gun Runner) in the Las Virgenes Stakes Feb. 8 was no fluke and asserted herself as California's division leader with a resounding victory in the GII Santa Anita Oaks Saturday. The Santa Anita Oaks awards 100-50-25-15-10 qualifying points toward the May 1 GI Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs. The complexion of Saturday's race changed shortly out of the gate when GIII Santa...

Joel Cunningham has joined Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners as vice president of communications, bringing more than two decades of experience in marketing, brand strategy and communications within the Thoroughbred industry, the syndicate said in a press release on Thursday. "Joel brings a unique combination of strategic vision, creative leadership, and deep industry understanding," said President and Founder of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners Aron Wellman. "His experience building and leading high-level communications and brand strategy will be invaluable to the team and our partners. We're excited to welcome him." Cunningham spent the last...

BUILT (c, 4, Hard Spun--Sea Garden, by Curlin) twice hit the board last season on Louisiana's Road to the Kentucky Derby, second and third in the GIII Lecomte Stakes and GII Risen Star Stakes, respectively, before missing the money in two subsequent starts. Sent to the shelf in early May after disappointing in the GII Pat Day Mile, he resurfaced Dec. 18 at this venue to wrap his '25 season with a win against allowance company. Tried on the turf last out Feb. 14 to kick off his 4-year-old campaign,...

At the OBS March Sale, trainer Michael McCarthy confirmed that his prize pupil Journalism (Curlin) continues to work well out in California as the colt prepares for his 4-year-old debut. "He's training great," McCarthy told TDN. "I don't see a whole lot of difference in him this spring compared to last. He's holding his weight well. Obviously, he's put some on since having a little bit of a break. He's training forwardly." McCarthy said that Journalism has drilled two good half-mile works at Santa Anita Park. "We're going to work...

8th-OP, $110K, Msw, 3yo, 6f, 4:39 p.m. ET. Novogratz Racing Stables Inc. homebred Munnings Challenge (Munnings) kicks off his career for Brad Cox. The dark bay was produced by the talented and overachieving $20,000 FTKOCT yearling buy Amy's Challenge (Artie Schiller), a five-time stakes winner and narrow runner-up in the 2019 GI Madison S. at Keeneland and third-place finisher in the GI Humana Distaff S. at Churchill Downs. He is the 2-1 morning-line favorite. TJCIS PPS 2nd-SA, $70K, Msw, 3yo, f, 1m, 4:03 p.m. ET. Mass (Not This Time), a...

Journalism (Curlin), winner of last year's GI Preakness Stakes, GI Santa Anita Derby and GI Haskell, had his first official workout of the year at Santa Anita Sunday. Also working for trainer Michael McCarthy was Meaning (Gun Runner), winner of the Feb. 8 Las Virgenes Stakes. Journalism worked three furlongs in :36.80. "Nice and easy," trainer Michael McCarthy said when asked about Sunday's move. "He got in a good rhythm and galloped out well. It's kind of a maintenance pattern with him right now." Journalism has been off since finishing...

On February 9, TDN published my Letter to the Editor criticizing The Jockey Club for its January 27 rebuttal of Mike Repole's sustained effort to hold the organization accountable for the most pressing issues facing Thoroughbred racing, breeding and aftercare. That statement alone was enough to make my blood curdle. The Jockey Club labeled Repole's concerns "unfair," referred to itself as a body of "volunteers," and again refused to accept responsibility for its own failures. Then came the February 13 "Industry Impact Report," and what had curdled began to boil....