Gulfstream Park

Three Diamonds Farm's Cross Border (English Channel), a late-closing third behind Colonel Liam (Liam's Map) in the Jan. 23 GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational, will try to take advantage of that foe's absence and some extra real estate when he goes postward in the 1 1/2-mile GII Pan American S. at Gulfstream Park Saturday. "He ran another big race last time and was flattered the other day by Colonel Liam," trainer Mike Maker said. "We expect another strong effort from him." Colonel Liam returned from the Pegasus to win...

Trainer Ken McPeek, who won last year's GII Gulfstream Park Oaks with 3-year-old filly champion Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil), will look to take a second straight renewal of the 1 1/16-mile race when he saddles Phoenix Thoroughbreds' Crazy Beautiful (Liam's Map) Saturday in Hallandale. The gray filly, the 5-2 morning-line favorite, was second in both the GIII Pocahontas S. and GI Darley Alcibiades S. last fall before ending her juvenile campaign with a sixth-place effort in the Nov. 6 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. She rallied from well back to finish...

Three Chimneys Farm and e Five Racing Thoroughbreds' Collaborate (Into Mischief), last seen with a 'TDN Rising Star' graduation at Gulfstream Feb. 27, tuned up for an expected start in the Mar. 27 GI Curlin Florida Derby with a sharp four-furlong work in :47.05 (1/51) at the Hallandale oval Sunday. He worked in company with Sound Machine (Into Mischief), a 4-year-old stakes-winning filly. "He showed great progression today. He's always been a good work horse," trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. said. "He worked with Sound Machine. She was a little keen...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 6th-GP, $55K, Msw, 3yo, f, 1m, post time: 3:41 p.m. EDT Hall of Famer Bill Mott will unveil a big ticket in ZURI (Union Rags), a $1 million graduate of the 2019 Keeneland September sale who is looking to add to the monumental success already achieved by her dam, Zayanna (Bernardini). The mare's previous four foals are all stakes performers and include GISW Wicked Whisper (Liam's Map), as well as GSW & MGISP Point of Honor (Curlin). Zuri goes to post in the Godolphin colors...

7th-Gulfstream, $45,000, Msw, 3-13, 3yo, 7f, 1:22.95, ft, 7 3/4 lengths. BEARS WATCHING (c, 3, Karakontie {Jpn}--Reunited {GSW, $326,771}, by Dixie Union) continued to live up to his moniker, building on a strong debut third--two spots ahead of subsequent 'TDN Rising Star' Collaborate (Into Mischief)--in the local slop Feb. 6 to dismantle an overmatched group of Gulfstream maidens Saturday afternoon. Speedy enough to argue the pace through the early exchanges, the 3-5 pick was eased back out of a potentially tight spot to stalk the pacesetters while racing on his...

Los Angeles Times columnist John Cherwa has seen a lot in just a handful of years on the Southern California racing beat, and Wednesday morning he joined the TDN Writers' Room podcast presented by Keeneland to discuss the past, present and future of racing in the Golden State. Calling in via Zoom as the Green Group Guest of the Week, Cherwa talked about the progress in Santa Anita's safety record, the top 3-year-olds on the west coast and the effect of last week's protest at Golden Gate Fields. "I wrote...

The quarantine on two barns at Gulfstream Park imposed after a horse died from unknown circumstances Tuesday night at the track has been lifted after tests for Equine herpesvirus type 1 came back negative, according to Dr. Dionne Benson, the Chief Veterinary Officer for The Stronach Group. The the quarantine prompted a number of scratches on the Wednesday card. Benson said that a filly had gotten loose on the track yesterday morning, and run back to the barn area, entering a barn that was not hers. She was walked back...

After scuffling Friday at Gulfstream Park with Irad Ortiz, Jr., which caused him to be put on probation for the remainder of the meet, Paco Lopez told the TDN Monday he is ready to move on. That there was a fight between Ortiz and Lopez was first reported by the Daily Racing Form's Mike Welsch. The fight was captured on a video that shows Ortiz landing at least three punches on Lopez following the fourth race Friday at Gulfstream. Lopez did not fight back. "For me, it's over. I don't...

Three Chimneys Farm and e Five Racing's Collaborate (Into Mischief), tabbed a 'TDN Rising Star' following his impressive maiden score at Gulfstream Park Saturday, has put himself on track for the Mar. 27 GI Curlin Florida Derby, trainer Saffie Joseph confirmed Sunday. "The Florida Derby is at home and he just has to walk out of his stall," Joseph said. "I talked to the owners briefly yesterday and it will probably be between the Florida Derby, the [GII] Wood [at Aqueduct Apr. 3] or the [GII Toyota] Blue Grass [at...

Birthdays with a zero on the end are supposed to be momentous occasions, and 20-year-old Tapit sure knows how to celebrate in style. On Saturday, the Gainesway stallion even supplied the party favors for a double-barreled bash in his honor on the GI Kentucky Derby trail. Exactly two decades after Tapit's Feb. 27, 2001, foaling date, two of his sons delivered sky's-the-limit performances as winning favorites in key 3-year-old prep stakes that firmly established both atop of the current crop of aspirants to wear a blanket of roses on the...

Reigning Eclipse Award-winning juvenile filly Vequist (Nyquist) was bet like she could not lose her 3-year-old debut in Saturday's GII Davona Dale S. at Gulfstream Park, but she never so much as truly reached contention, as Wholebodemeister (Bodemeister) got loose and brave on the lead and scampered clear to cause a 52-1 boilover. Crazy Beautiful (Liam's Map) was a bit hesitant to load, but closed off decently for second ahead of 53-1 Competitive Speed (Competitive Edge) in third. Drawn the fence with Edgard Zayas calling the shots, Wholebodemeister put herself...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency FULL-SIBLING TO CLASSIC EMPIRE DEBUTS 3rd-GP, $50K, Msw, 3yo, 6f, 1:08p.m. China Horse Club and WinStar Farm's HARVARD (Pioneerof the Nile), a full-brother to champion Classic Empire, makes his career bow Sunday in Hallandale. Classic Empire was named champion juvenile colt of 2016 after victories in the GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity S. and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile. He captured the GI Arkansas Derby at three and was second in the GI Preakness S. before retiring to Ashford Stud. China Horse Club privately acquired his dam...