Godolphin

Catching Freedom, Tarifa Work At Churchill Downs For Cox

Albaugh Family Stable's GII TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby winner Catching Freedom (Constitution) began his preparations for the GI Kentucky Derby with a half-mile move in :48.40 early Friday morning at Churchill Downs, the track said in a release. Trained by Brad Cox, the 3-year-old worked at 5:30 a.m. ET with exercise rider Edvin Vargas in the saddle. The duo cruised through an opening quarter-mile in :24 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:01.20. "He's settled in nicely since we shipped him back to Churchill from Fair Grounds," Cox said. "He was...

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Keeneland Features Ashland Showdown As Spring Meet Opens Friday

Kentucky Senator Henry Clay might be considered one of the premier American politicians pre-Lincoln, but what is not up for debate was his fervent commitment to breeding equine athletes and attending the races. You cannot actually visit his home--Ashland--because the structure that stands on the Clay Estate just south of downtown Lexington is not original to "The Great Compromiser" and his time. However, interpretations of Clay-related objects enliven the tour. Ashland in name was imported as a stakes race when Keeneland opened in 1936. Some familiar female runners who graced...

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The Kentucky Oaks Top 10 for April 4

It's come down to the last few preps. An outstanding field will meet Friday at Keeneland in the GI Ashland S. Four horses on our Top 10 list will take part in that race. At Aqueduct, they'll be vying for a spot in the field for the GI Kentucky Oaks in the GIII Gazelle S. At Santa Anita, fillies will contest the GII Santa Anita Oaks, but the horse expected to be he heavy favorite, Kinza (Carpe Diem), is trained by Bob Baffert and is therefore ineligible to run in...

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The Road Back: After 46 Years, William Jackson Finds Solace in Stable Recovery

Stable Recovery is a rehabilitation program in Lexington, Kentucky that provides a safe living environment and a peer-driven, therapeutic community for men in the early stages of recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. Along with going to 12-step meetings and support groups, residents attend the School of Horsemanship at Taylor Made Farm to learn a new vocation in the Thoroughbred industry. The School of Horsemanship is a project that was created by Taylor Made two years ago and has since seen over 100 men go through the program. Many of...

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Saturday's Racing Insights: Deep Field of Sophomore Maidens on Display on Florida Derby Undercard

5th-GP, $89K, Msw, 3yo, 7f, 1:26 p.m. ET IDONEO (Uncle Mo), the first foal out of SW and GII Mother Goose S. runner-up Classic Fit (Bernardini), has been working smartly for this debut run for Bill Mott. The Godolphin homebred has posted six bullet workouts at Payson Park since January, including a three-furlong move in :36 3/5 (1/11) Mar. 25. The 'Boys in Blue' will also be represented by fellow debuting homebred Six Kings (Nyquist), who was produced by a half-sister to GISW Film Maker (Dynaformer). He is trained by...

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Unbeaten 'TDN Rising Star' Knightsbridge Back With Authority at Gulfstream

6th-Gulfstream, $72,000, Alw (NW1X)/Opt. Clm ($75,000), 3-28, 3yo, 1m, 1:36.75, ft, 9 lengths. KNIGHTSBRIDGE (c, 3, Nyquist--Tyburn Brook, by Bernardini), a jaw-dropping debut winner going seven furlongs at Churchill Downs Nov. 4, returned to the races in style at Gulfstream Park Thursday afternoon. The 1-9 favorite, drawn widest of all in post five, broke alertly and held a narrow advantage through an opening quarter in :23.40. Facing continued pressure through a half mile in :45.40, the 'TDN Rising Star' began to shake free turning for home and dropped the hammer...

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Appleby's Dubawi Double Heading to the Guineas

Godolphin's Ancient Wisdom (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) looks likely to use the Qipco 2,000 Guineas as a stepping stone to the Betfred Derby, according to trainer Charlie Appleby. He said, "Ancient Wisdom won the Futurity on very soft ground and has been held in high regard from very early in his career. "After getting beaten at Ascot he progressed physically, as you would expect from a Dubawi." Ancient Wisdom won four of his five starts last year, landing the G3 Autumn S at Newmarket prior to his Group 1 triumph. A...

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Thursday's Racing Insights: Rising Star Knightsbridge Returns at Gulfstream

6th-GP, $91K, Opt. Clm, 3yo, 1m, 3:40p.m. Godolphin's TDN Rising Star KNIGHTSBRIDGE (Nyquist), not seen since his TDN Rising Star-earning performance last fall, marks his return for trainer Bill Mott. The homebred is a half to GISW Speaker's Corner is out of Tyburn Brook (Bernardini), a daughter of dual Grade I winner Round Pound, who brought $5.75 million at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Sale in 2017. Knightbridge's unraced dam is a half-sister to GISW Long River (A.P. Indy) and SW & GSP Lake Lucerne (Dubawi {Ire}). Junior Alvarado gets the...

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Tarifa Triumphant In Fair Grounds Oaks

Godolphin's Tarifa (Bernardini) extended her win streak to three with a professional score in Saturday's GII Fair Grounds Oaks. Installed the 3-2 choice ahead of GII Golden Rod S. victress Intricate (Gun Runner), the Godolphin homebred broke well and wrestled her rider Flavien Prat into contention as 4-1 Our Pretty Woman (Medaglia d'Oro) led the way through a :23.84 quarter. Continuing to fight for her head through a half in :47.93, she was finally given some rein and duly responded, closing on the frontrunner turning for home. Taking over turning...

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'TDN Rising Star' Nash Wins Easily In Hot Springs S.

Nash, named a 'TDN Rising Star' after a 10 1/4-length romp in a 1 1/16-mile Churchill Downs maiden special weight Nov. 12, resumed winning ways after three straight placings at Fair Grounds this season. Nash was second behind Track Phantom (Quality Road) in the GIII Lecomte Jan. 20, then second again in a live optional claimer over a sloppy surface at Fair Grounds Feb. 17. Jockey Florent Geroux settled the even-money favorite four-wide behind Frost Free's pace set in fractions of :23.15, :47.64 and 1:12.56. Remaining four wide throughout, he...

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Classy Godolphin Runners to be Sold at ERA Racing in Dubai Sale

Royal Ascot and Dubai Carnival winners feature among 48 lots set to be offered by Godolphin at the 2024 Emirates Racing Authority (ERA) Racing in Dubai Sale, which will be staged at Meydan Racecourse on Tuesday, March 26, four days before the Dubai World Cup meeting. Godolphin have sold over 450 horses at the ERA Racing in Dubai Sale since it was introduced in December 2015. They include the former Charlie Appleby trainee North America (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who later won at the top level for Satish Seemar having been...

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The X-Ray Files, Season 2: David Scanlon

The X-Ray Files series, now in its second year and presented in cooperation with the Consignors and Breeders Association, uses conversations with buyers and sellers to contribute to the discussion on radiographic findings and their impact on sales and racetrack success. Ocala horseman David Scanlon is not just a leading 2-year-old consignor, but he has also built an impressive list of training graduates for leading owners like Godolphin, Coolmore, Don Alberto, and Calumet Farm. In both capacities, Scanlon's operation is well represented on this year's GI Kentucky Derby trail. He...

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