Fair Grounds

7th-FG, $54K, Msw, 3yo, f, 1 1/16m, 4:45 p.m. ET. Bred by Three Chimneys, PURE JOY (Gun Runner) was purchased for $1.5-million by Mandy Pope at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale. After the breeder stayed in for a piece, the filly was sent to Steve Asmussen. Pure Joy's dam is MGISW Pure Clan (Pure Prize) who died in 2023. She counts among her offspring SW Princesa Carolina (Tapit), herself the dam of 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard', Muhimma (Munnings). The first-time starter's extended female family includes MGSW Greater...

This week's list features a pair of Minnesota-breds and one 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' who is now on a two-race win streak. 4 (tie). THUNDERS ROCKNROLL, WRD, 1/12-5th, 6 furlongs Beyer Speed Figure-87 (m, 6, by Maclean's Music--Thunder and Honey, by Thunder Gulch) O/B-Bob Lindgren (Minn). T-Patrick Swan. J-David Cabrera. The Minnesota-bred dominated the Wilma Mankiller Stakes by 8 1/2 lengths at Will Rogers Downs for her fifth added-money win. This female line has been kind to prominent Minnesota owner Lindgren, who raced the six-times-stakes-placed dam and well...

Although Cherie DeVaux sent out the first and second choices in the wagering, the trainer knew that her horses had something to prove in Saturday's GIII Lecomte Stakes at the Fair Grounds. Both Golden Tempo (Curlin) and Mesquite (Union Rags) had done nothing more than win maiden races and both seemed to be horses that still needed time to mature and develop. That may still be the case. But after Golden Tempo and Mesquite ran one-two, with Golden Tempo winning by three-quarters of a length, DeVaux knows she has two...

Spendthrift Farm and Repole Stable's Accelerize (c, 4, Omaha Beach--Motion Emotion, by Take Charge Indy) tackled a seasoned field in Saturday's 1 1/16-mile GIII Louisiana Stakes at Fair Grounds in just his fourth career start and prevailed in a hard-fought stretch battle. The 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' was making his stakes debut. Just a Touch (Justify), the 3-5 favorite after returning from six months on the sidelines and multiple Grade I placings, hopped awkwardly out of the Louisiana gate. Meanwhile, Accelerize had left the stalls sharply and went...

Golden Tempo (c, 3, Curlin--Carrumba, by Bernardini), tabbed as a 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' in a last-to-first debut victory sprinting at Fair Grounds Dec. 20, ran by them all once again to stay perfect with a 3/4-length victory in Saturday's GIII Lecomte S. at Fair Grounds, good for 20 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Mesquite (Union Rags) rounded out the Cherie DeVaux-trained exacta. Longshot Carson Street (Street Sense), forwardly placed throughout, held on for third. The 5-2 favorite raced toward the rear through fractions of...

A field of 11, led by Gun Runner S. winner Chip Honcho (Connect), will line up in Saturday's GIII Lecomte S. at Fair Grounds, good for 20-10-6-4-2 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. The Gun Runner was Chip Honcho's first try around two turns and third career start for Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen. The Leland Ackerley Racing colorbearer is drawn widest of all in post 11. The re-opposing Ohio-bred Crown the Buckeye (Yaupon), favored at 4-1 on the Lecomte morning-line, set the pace and tired late to...

Every week in the TDN, we have been running the five fastest maidens as judged by the Beyer Speed Figure. An astute reader suggested that since all breeders like fast fillies, we should have a look and see who the five fastest fillies of the week are each week. Here you go. 5. GRATEFULLY, SA, 1/8-5th, Alw, 6 furlongs (turf) Beyer Speed Figure-91 (f, 4, by Laoban--Selflessly, by More Than Ready) O- Adelphi Racing Club and Shelly & Russell Hume. B-WinStar Farm (Ky). T-Robert Falcone. J-Umberto Rispoli. In her '26...

6th-FG, $60k, Msw, 3yo, 6f, 3:30 p.m. ET A pair of Keeneland September acquisitions by Belladonna Racing and C R K Stable, each sold for better than a half-million dollars, debut for the in-form Cherie DeVaux barn in what appears to be a hot maiden on the Lecomte Stakes undercard. MOJACAR (Essential Quality) looks to become the fifth winner from as many to the races for dam Spanish Star (Blame), who is responsible for 2025 GI Test Stakes victress Kilwin (Twirling Candy); the crack Grade II-winning turf sprinter One Timer...

The dual Louisiana-bred Horse of the Year from 2022 and 2024, Free Like a Girl (El Deal--Flashy Prize, by Flashy Bull), was euthanized after a recent trailer accident. The story was first reported on Tuesday, Jan. 13 by the Daily Racing Form. The all-time highest earner in the Pelican state's history with over $2.5-million, Free Like a Girl made 55 starts and got her picture taken on 21 occasions. The $5,500 Equine Sales of Louisiana Yearling Sale grad was owned by Gerald Bruno, Carl Deville, Jerry Caroom and Chasey Deville...

Making only this third career start in as many seasons to race, the impeccably-bred Rothko (Tapit--Covfefe, by Into Mischief) proved best as the heavy favorite to graduate in a one-mile maiden test at Fair Grounds on Sunday. The LNJ Foxwoods homebred was fourth in his career debut at Ellis Park in the summer of 2024 but wouldn't be seen again until the fall of his sophomore year, when he finished a solid second going 6 1/2 panels at Churchill Downs this past November. Sent off the hot 1-5 choice while...

Veteran jockey agent Tony Martin has returned from a brief retirement to represent apprentice Jamison Mudd, currently based at Fair Grounds. "I've seen some good ones come, and some good ones go," Martin said. "I think this kid has got a lot of talent." Martin represented Joe Talamo, who captured the Fair Grounds riding title at the 2006-2007 meet and later earned the Eclipse Award for outstanding apprentice jockey. "I've been watching [Mudd] since the first weekend he rode at Louisiana Downs and I liked what I saw," Martin said....

4th-FG, $54k, Msw, 3yo, f, 1mT, 3:15 p.m. ET Spendthrift Farm's ABILENE (Gun Runner) is one of three entered for main track only and may well gain a run is forecast rains pay a visit. A maternal granddaughter of champion and GI Kentucky Derby victress Winning Colors (Caro {Ire}), the gray filly is a half-sister to 2018 GI Alabama Stakes upsetter Eskimo Kisses (To Honor and Serve); SW Princess Aliyah (Into Mischief); and GISP Silver Ride (Candy Ride {Arg}) and was purchased for $900,000 at the 2024 Keeneland September Sale....