In an exhibition of pure sprinting prowess, Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum's Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) brought all his power to bear on his rivals on Friday to register back-to-back successes in Goodwood's G2 King George Qatar S. Despite the contrasting ground conditions to the easy turf he encountered 12 months ago and the obvious questions posed by defeat in the June 19 G1 King's Stand S. at Royal Ascot, the bay attracted heavy support as the 8-11 favourite and was in front before he had raced two...
The 17th edition of the Claiming Crown, held Saturday at Gulfstream Park, generated total handle of $10,118,000--up 0.57% from 2014 despite rainy conditions which caused four races to be taken off the turf. Gulfstream was hosting the event for the fourth year. "We're extremely pleased with the success of Saturday's Claiming Crown," said P.J. Campo, General Manager of Gulfstream Park and Vice President of Racing for The Stronach Group. "We had big fields and tremendous participation from horsemen throughout North America. We're confident the numbers would have been even more...
Well, just take a look at the video--and then show us a horse more eligible for stardom, the year the soccer World Cup comes to America. As a yearling, he would roll a beach ball around his paddock 45 minutes at a time. Using his feet, his nose, arching his body. As a rule, other youngsters on the farm do no more than pick it up with their teeth, shake it. "And that kind of gives you the essence of this colt," Kris Gibbons suggests. "We just want to stop...
Repole Stable and Spendthrift Farm's Make My Day (Gun Runner), a distant third to 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard and GII Louisiana Derby hopeful Emerging Market (Candy Ride {Arg}) trying a distance of ground on Tampa debut Feb. 7, took control of a Friday afternoon maiden at Gulfstream Park right from the start and proved not for catching. Off as the 5-2 third betting choice, the $1.1-million Keeneland September acquisition broke a bit inward from the rail draw, but nevertheless made an easy lead entering the first turn. Laying...
STAR ACTRESS (f, 3, Justify--Star Act {SP, $147,605}, by Street Cry {Ire}) was unveiled Feb. 8 at this venue trying a seven-furlong maiden race on the main track, and despite a wide trip, closed ferociously late to claim second by a half-length. Back here as the 3-5 favorite with added real estate to work with, Star Actress went one better while stalking the pace from much closer. Improving her position down the backstretch to come even with the pacesetter and another challenger by the half-mile marker, she was vying for...
Turf mares sure know how to put on a show. It came down to a blanket finish in the GII Hillsborough Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs, but Destino d'Oro (Bolt d'Oro) showed her heart with an ultra-game performance to win the photo. Crowned the 2026 queen of the GII Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf Invitational Stakes in her most recent performance, via an equally exciting finish no less, the Brad Cox filly has now strung together three consecutive wins. The first of the group was a head decision...
LEINANI (f, 3, Omaha Beach--Romy, by Karakontie {Jpn}) debuted Jan. 24 over this main track in a six-furlong maiden dash, closing from the back of the field to run fourth. Well supported to the tune of even-money favoritism for this second jump, she was away alertly this time and moving well behind fractions of :23.93 and four panels in :47.30. In hand from four off the rail and clearing those early pacesetters coming off the bend, Leinani drew away from Slow Kara (Medaglia d'Oro) to win by 8 1/4 lengths....