Horse Racing

6th-NII, ¥14,250,000 ($96,772), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800m, 1:55.2, ft. MATENRO DA VINCI (c, 2, Uncle Mo--Spring Eclipse, by Unbridled's Song) opened his account at first asking with a thoroughly dominating display. Alertly away from gate 10 for Yuga Kawada, the 17-10 favorite was tossing his head pretty good down the lane for the first time, but ultimately settled better to stalk the pace from second. Traveling smoothly through the middle furlongs, the $1-million Keeneland September acquisition was asked to kick in upper stretch and was never in serious trouble en route...

During Keeneland September last year, bloodstock agent Steve Young signed the ticket to the tune of $150,000 on a dark bay colt bred by Gainesway (hip 1408) for his client Harrell Ventures. Sent to Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, Sunrise (Karakontie {Jpn}--Spanish Bunny, by Unusual Heat) made his second start a winning one after a gritty battle over the turf in the ninth race at Saratoga on Sunday afternoon. When reached by phone, Young said that in the days leading up to the sale that the colt was high...

The GI Spendthrift Farm Hopeful Stakes is carded as the anchor for Monday's Labor Day festivities, which marks the last set of races for the season upstate. A scan through the past winners of the top-level affair over the past 25 years include a strong list of future sires. How about for starters Sky Mesa (2002), First Samurai (2005), Shanghai Bobby (2012) and Competitive Edge (2014)? More recently Practical Joke (2016), Mind Control (2018), Basin (2019), Jackie's Warrior (2020), Gunite (2021) and Forte (2022) got their picture taken before heading...

Some of the most highly anticipated races during the summer season are the 'baby' races during the boutique meetings at Saratoga and Del Mar and at Ellis Park, which attract its fair share of high-priced juveniles from a variety of top national outfits. Summer Breezes, sponsored by OBS Sales, highlights debuting and stakes-entered 2-year-olds at those meetings that have been sourced at the breeze-up sales earlier in the year, including links to their under-tack previews. Here are the horses entered for Monday at Saratoga.  Monday, September 1, 2025 Saratoga 1,...

1st-SAR, $100K, Msw, 2yo, 6f, 12:05 p.m. ET. On closing day at the Spa, EPIC QUEST (Nyquist) makes his first start after clocking a 10 flat during the OBS under tack show--according to Alan Carasso's 'Summer Breezes'--then going to Epic Horses for a cool million at the March auction. The Todd Pletcher trainee is out of unraced Alottalute (Midnight Lute), who claims multiple stakes winners Street Lute (Street Magician) and Alottahope (Editorial). The first-time starter's extended female family includes $1.2-million earner Texcess (Excess {Ire}). Also set to debut is Fasig-Tipton...

East Coast shipper Reef Runner (The Big Beast) crossed the wire narrowly first in Saturday's GIII Green Flash Handicap at Del Mar, but was disqualified and placed second, as Motorious (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) was elevated to the victory, completing a three-peat in the 'Win and You're In' qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint over the same course and distance on Nov. 1. It was the 7-year-old gelding's third consecutive win in the race. Reef Runner was one of the first away from his double-digit box, but came over...

Formidable Man continues to be a formidable horse when it comes to his turf at the seaside oval. With his win in the GII Del Mar Mile on Saturday, the 4-year-old is now perfect in all six of his attempts over the local course. The bay burst on the graded scene when he finished as the runner-up as a 3-year-old 24-1 shot in the GII American Turf Stakes on the Derby undercard at Churchill Downs. Coming back to Del Mar last summer--the site of his juvenile maiden-breaking debut--Formidable Man rattled...

The Gredley Family's Wimbledon Hawkeye (GB) (Kameko) made what appeared to be a winning, sweeping move past the quarter pole of Saturday's GIII Nashville Derby at Kentucky Downs, but he was seriously tested in the final furlong by Triple Crown alum Burnham Square (Liam's Map) and dug deep in the final stages to hold that stiff challenge by a head. Though he would be eligible to contest a second-level allowance in this county, Wimbledon Hawkeye's form at two and three reads very strong. Winner of last year's G2 Royal Lodge...

Charles Marquis's hard-knocking Bear River (Flameaway) grab command of Saturday's $2-million GII Mint Kentucky Turf Sprint soon after the start and never relinquished the advantage while reversing form with comebacking favorite Howard Wolowitz (Munnings) to earn a fees-paid berth into the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar on Nov. 1. A no-excuses sixth to Howard Wolowitz in last year's GI Franklin-Stamps Stakes in his lone previous attempt at this quirky layout, the chestnut ridgling was returning to southern Kentucky off a narrow victory at 17-1 in the Turf...

Looking to repeat as the winner of the GII Never Say Die Ladies Turf Sprint Stakes at Kentucky Downs, Ag Bullet once again set the tone from the bell and got to the wire first as she broke the track record going 6 1/2 furlongs on Saturday. A year ago, the Calvin Nguyen and Joey Tran-owned gray set the pace and torched the Ladies Turf Sprint field by a comfortable 5 1/4 furlongs. After finishing off the board in the GI First Lady Stakes at Keeneland in early October, the...

6th-Saratoga, $100,000, Msw, 8-30, 2yo, 7f, 1:23.63, ft, neck. TALKIN (c, 2, Good Magic--Rote, by Tiznow) came into this contest with a bullet of 94 works Aug. 23 to his credit--blitzing the four furlongs over the main track in :47 flat. Tabbed as a 9-1 shot here, the bay chased a top flight led by Stradale (Yaupon) up the backstretch and around the far turn through :22.37 and four panels in :44.62. The Danny Gargan trainee made his move to run down that leader entering the lane and with an...

8th-SAR, $100k, Msw, 2yo, 7f, post time: 3:52 p.m. ET DRAGONES (Gun Runner) is the latest highly coveted produce out of Lady Godiva (Unbridled's Song) and the Apr. 17 foal is closely related to Leofric (Candy Ride {Arg}), whose eight victories from 14 starts included the 2018 GI Clark Handicap. Out of a half-sister to MGSW & GISP Multiple Choice (Mt. Livermore) and to the dam of the stakes winners Inspired (Unbridled's Song), Silver City (Unbridled's Song), Elope (Gone West) and Initiation (Deputy Minister), the gray was hammered down to...