Horse Racing

7th-Belmont The Big A, $85,000, Msw, 9-13, 2yo, 1 1/16mT, 1:43.06, fm, nose. NOBLE DYNASTY (c, 2, Kingman {GB}--Delta's Royalty {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}), a hard-charging second on Saratoga debut Aug. 7, validated 8-5 favoritism--if only just--while making his second trip to the races Saturday afternoon at Aqueduct. By one of Europe's top stallions, the maternal grandson of three-time Eclipse Award winner Royal Delta (Empire Maker) was trapped out four wide entering the first turn, but when longshot Golden Rule (Goldencents) went on with it to put a bit of...

5th-Churchill Downs, $122,025, Msw, 9-13, 2yo, f, 6f, 1:10.55, ft, 3/4 length. BARACCA (f, 2, Oscar Performance--Shop Again {SW, $122,274}, by Wild Again) belied odds of 8-1 to score a good-looking victory while making her career debut sprinting over the main track at Churchill Downs Saturday afternoon. Away smartly from a wide gate, the $500,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling purchase was content to force the pace from the outside through an opening quarter in :22.52. With 3-2 favorite Frolicking (Not This Time) warming up to the task three deep approaching the...

1st-Belmont The Big A, $80,000, (S), Msw, 9-13, 2yo, 7f, 1:24.84, ft, 1 3/4 lengths. FROUTIEN (c, 2, Galilean--It's Timeless, by Mineshaft) was hammered into 1-4 favoritism to improve on a debut third at Saratoga Aug. 15 and did just that, becoming the first winner for his freshman sire (by Uncle Mo) with a workmanlike victory in the Saturday opener at Aqueduct. With Kendrick Carmouche taking over from John Velazquez, at Woodbine for the afternoon to ride that track's three Grade I contests, the $700,000 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic breezer was ridden...

Charlie Appleby and William Buick have teamed to take the GI Rogers Woodbine Mile--a 'Win and You're In' qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Mile--two out of the last three years, and in the form of Godolphin's 'TDN Rising Star' Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) they appear well positioned to add to that total Saturday afternoon in suburban Toronto. When Team Godolphin raid from Europe, you can rest assured that it isn't just for the Tim Horton's. They mean business and their record bears that out. Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi...

7th-Churchill Downs, $123,202, Alw, 9-12, (NW2L), 2yo, 6f, 1:10.37, ft, 5 1/4 lengths. GANAAS (c, 2, War Front--Shurakaa, by Tapit) rewarded his backers with a debut score by four lengths at Horseshoe Indy July 10. As a 7-1 shot here, the homebred raced between runners up the backstretch, but around the far turn the colt was ready to flash his speed. Ganaas pointed towards the wire, shifted into overdrive and then was steadily geared down as he cleared the condition by 5 1/4 lengths over Just Deeds (Liam's Map). The...

In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this weekend running at Hanshin and Nakayama Racecourses: Sunday, September 14, 2025 6th-HSN, ¥14,250,000 ($97k), Newcomer, 2yo, 1800m WAYNY SU (c, 2, Into Mischief--Cariba, by Cairo Prince) is set to become the second starter for her Caress Stakes-winning dam, a full-sister to 'TDN Rising...

4th-BAQ, $85K, Msw, 2yo, 6fT, 2:37 p.m. ET. A $500,000 grad from the Fasig-Tipton October Yearling sale, FOURTH DIMENSION (Not This Time) makes his first start for Wathnan and trainer Bill Mott. Initially going for $200,000 during Keeneland January, the dark bay is out of Aureum (Medaglia d'Oro), who was a 220,000gns purchase at the 2021 Tattersalls July sale by Blandford Bloodstock. Aureum--who also produced current filly 3-year-old in-training Loveontheleftbank (Invincible Spirit {Ire})--is herself a half-sister to MGISP Nemoralia (More Than Ready), the dam of GII Lake Placid Stakes heroine...

With Turf Paradise in the process of a racing permit transfer to a new leaseholder that puts the 69-year-old track on the cusp of a possible regime change, stakeholders who spoke about the longer-term future of racing in greater Phoenix were cautiously optimistic during Thursday's Arizona Racing Commission (AZRC) meeting. But representatives of the Arizona Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (AZHBPA) did articulate short-term concerns that at times vacillated between glass-half-full and glass-half-empty, echoing a nagging tone of uncertainty familiar to anyone who has followed the ups and downs of...

Charlie Appleby says it's not easy to come over to North America and win major stakes, even though he makes it look that way. On Saturday at Woodbine, Appleby will send out three horses, all of them in Grade I competition, and each one looks to have an excellent chance. He usually does well when he ships to anywhere in North America, but has been particularly tough at Woodbine, where he is 9-for-17 (53%). All nine of his Canadian winners have come in Grade I stakes. "We have sent the...

The Florida Gaming Control Commission (FGCC) has approved an amended awards plan that fixes in-state breeder and stallion awards at 15% of gross purses, down from the 20% rate established in 2024, according to a release from the Florida Thorougbbred Breeders' and Owners' Association (FTBOA). The new rates are effective as of Sept. 1, 2025. The adjustment reflects industry funding streams legislation, the release said, but despite the cut, total awards in 2026 for Florida breeders are expected to remain level thanks to the launch of new Florida-Bred 'Export' Incentives....

Set to begin Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 27 and run through Mar. 29, Gulfstream Park's 2025-2026 Championship Meet will offer a schedule with 68 stakes, 27 graded, worth $15.2 million in purses, 1/ST Racing said in a Thursday press release. The signature South Florida meet is highlighted by the $3 million GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational and the $1 million GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Jan. 24, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary. On closing weekend, the $1 million GI Curlin Florida Derby is scheduled for Mar. 28. The key...

The Jockey Club and The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) will host a state breeder organization workshop on Wednesday, Nov. 12 at 9 a.m. ET in the Oaks Room at Churchill Downs to share current programs to help identify best practices and areas of growth, according to a press release from the club on Thursday morning. Topics include everything from an overview of national trends to perspectives from various breeder programs. For more information, please contact Jamie Haydon at jhaydon@jockeyclub.com or (859) 224-2750.