Today's Edition:  Record-Setting $1.4M Justify Filly Leads The Way at OBS · Baeza Set for Summer Showdown · Royal Ascot Coverage 2

first time starter

Daughter Of Leslie's Lady Breaks Maiden At Churchill

10th-Churchill Downs, $120,000, Msw, 5-20, 3yo/up, f/m, 5 1/2f, 1:04.98, ft, head. LADY IRENE (f, 3, Kantharos--Leslie's Lady {Broodmare Of The Year, SW, $187,014}, by Tricky Creek), racing in her second start but under Lasix for the first time, was a debut third last fall at Churchill Downs before being turned out for the winter. Sent on her way here as the 6-5 heavy favorite, the bay filly dueled early with Little Hot Mess (Army Mule), then backed off before the far turn. Saving her strength, the homebred began to...

[ Read More ]
Hootenanny Filly Graduates with Ease at Keeneland

2nd-Keeneland, $79,350, Msw, 4-12, 2yo, f, 4 1/2f, :52.39, ft, 7 1/2 lengths. HIBERNACLE (f, 2, Hootenanny--Searchingforahero, by Officer), installed the 3-2 choice in this career debut, broke alertly from her wide berth but was settled back in third as Unheard (Street Boss) and Happy Baytown) (Runhappy) carved out a :22.32 opening quarter. Picking up the tempo turning for home, the Wesley Ward trainee hit her best stride midstretch, and gained control near the sixteenth pole and ran off to win by a geared-down 7 1/2 lengths. Happy Baytown held...

[ Read More ]
Uncle Mo's Bishops Bay Gives Trainer Brad Cox Win #2,000

5th-Fair Grounds, $70,000, Msw, 2-18, 3yo, 6f, 1:10.07, ft, 3/4 length. BISHOPS BAY (c, 3, Uncle Mo--Catch My Drift {SW & GISP, $280,540}, by Pioneerof the Nile) was a popular wagering choice for his career bow, breaking from the gates as the 1-2 chalk under jockey Florent Geroux. With good early speed from mid pack, the $450,000 Keeneland yearling moved between rivals to just sit just off the flank of pacesetter Ocean City (American Pharoah) through a quick opening quarter in :22.14. Applying consistent pressure to that early leader into...

[ Read More ]
Cracksman Off The Mark In Milan

2nd-San Siro, €13,200, Debutante, 2yo, f, 1400mT, 1:22.40. ALOA (GB), (f, 2, Cracksman {GB}--Amber Silk {Ire}, by Lawman {Fr}), sent off at just over 7-5 favouritism, raced in third a few lengths off the pacesetter. Establishing a good rhythm on the turn, the blaze-faced chestnut tipped out inside the final 600 metres and drew into contention with a quarter-mile remaining. Kept to her task, she subdued Kinkawa (GB) (Camacho {GB}) by the furlong-pole and stayed on to win by a 2 1/4 lengths to become the first winner for her...

[ Read More ]
New Rising Star for Classic Empire at the Spa

Lawana and Robert Low's $550,000 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic purchase Classy Edition (Classic Empire) proved worth the money Sunday as she overcame a rough start to dominate a group of New York-bred fillies and garner the 'TDN Rising Star' distinction. Purchased by agent Jacob West off a swift :10 1/5 breeze at Timonium in May, the bay was 3-5 while bidding to become newly minted Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher's eighth juvenile debut winner of the Saratoga stand and third 'Rising Star'. Pletcher sent out smashing turf winner Annapolis (War Front) on...

[ Read More ]
Tapizar Filly Wins with Ease in Churchill Unveiling

3rd-Churchill Downs, $114,814, Msw, 4-28, 2yo, f, 5f, :58.75, ft, 3 lengths. MOLLIE KATE (f, 2, Tapizar--Forbidden Brew, by Milwaukee Brew), sent off at 4-1 for this unveiling, broke sharply and soon led Tranquil Times (Firing Line) through a crisp opening quarter in :22.19. Clear of her rival and moving easily straightening for home, the John Ennis trainee was given moderate encouragement by James Graham in the stretch, cruising home an unchallenged three-length winner over Murgatroyd (Brody's Cause). The winner, a half to Paige Anne (Take Charge Indy), MGSP, $114,540,...

[ Read More ]
Saturday's Insights: $1.5M Curlin Colt Debuts at Belmont
Saturday's Insights: $1.5M Curlin Colt Debuts at Belmont

1st-BEL, $90K, Msw, 3yo, 7f, 1:00p.m. Trainer Shug McGaughey unveils West Point, Siena Farm, Bobby Flay and Woodford Racing's FIRST CAPTAIN (Curlin), a $1.5 million purchase at the Fasig-Tipton's Saratoga Select sale last summer. The colt is the first foal out of GSW & GISP America (A.P. Indy), a homebred for the Iron Chef. The 3-year-old sports a bullet four-furlong work in :48 1/5 at Payson Apr. 10, and most recently, registered a :48 4/5 (28/63) for the same distance at Belmont Apr. 17. Also suiting up for the first...

[ Read More ]
Friday's Insights: 650K Candy Ride Debuts at Santa Anita

9th-SA, $61K, Msw, 3yo, 6f, 7:30p.m. Hronis Racing LLC and David Michael Talla's ROCK YOUR WORLD (CandyRide {Arg}) kicks off his career for John Sadler. Coming off a steady stream of breezes in preparation for this unveiling, the February foal was a $650,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase, the co-second highest price for the stallion in 2019. Joel Rosario gets the call. TJCIS PPs

[ Read More ]
Nyquist Colt Blitzes Rivals in Tampa Unveiling

6th-Tampa Bay Downs, $20,000, Msw, 12-9, 2yo, 6f, 1:10.24, ft, 13 1/4 lengths. WITSEL (c, 2, Nyquist--Bailzee {SP, $152,580}, by Grand Slam), sent off at 5-1 to become the 16th career winner for his GI Kentucky Derby-winning sire (by Uncle Mo), showed good early foot to settle just behind pace setter Thrown For A Loupe (Gemologist), who showed the way through a :22.62 quarter. Scraping the paint while 8-5 choice Equuleus (Maclean's Music) loomed three wide as the leading charged for the quarter-mile pole, Witzel gained the advantage turning for...

[ Read More ]
Sunday's Racing Insights: $950K Medaglia d'Oro Filly Debuts at the Spa

1st-SAR, $72K, Msw, 2yo, f, 6 1/2f, 1:10 p.m. ET Stonestreet Stable's CANTATA (Medaglia d'Oro) debuts for Steve Asmussen, who is winning with 20% of his runners at the current meet. Purchased for $950,000 at Keeneland last September, the bay is the second foal out of Stoweshoe, who is also responsible for Desert Peace (Curlin), who realized $1.3 million from Godolphin at the same venue one year earlier. The Doug and Felicia Branham-bred filly has been training steadily at Saratoga, including a four-furlong move two back Aug. 6 (XBTV Video)....

[ Read More ]