insights

5th-WO $115k, Msw, 3yo/up, 1 1/16mT, post time: 3:00 p.m. CRYSTAL PEARL (Curlin) gets his belated start for Gold Standard Racing Stable and trainer Mark Casse. Out of GSW and GISP sprinter Miss Sunset, the now 4-year-old was secured for $1.1 million at the 2023 Keeneland September Sale. Working predominantly on the synthetic of late, the bay did post a bullet five-furlong turf work in 1:00 flat (1/24) at Woodbine on May 29. TJCIS PPS   6th-CD $115k, Msw, 3yo/up, 6f, post time: 3:18 p.m. STELLENBOSCH (Tapit) debuts for trainer...

6th-CD, $120k, Msw, 2yo, f, 5f, 3:19 p.m. ET HOUSE BOAT PARTY (Flightline) is set to become the third starter in two days from the highly anticipated first crop of her sire (by Tapit) and should have her fair share of backers. A homebred for Flying Dutchmen, the Apr. 5 foal is out of Lake Garda (American Pharoah), purchased by Boardshorts for $600,000 in foal to Uncle Mo at Keeneland November in 2022. The mare is an unraced daughter of GSP Refugee (Unaccounted For), whose 11 winners include 'TDN Rising...

PICKITUPTHATSGOOD (Girvin--Heart of Midway, by Stevie Wonderboy) was unveiled as the 4-5 choice here and settled midpack up the backstretch. With good energy around the far turn, the favorite began turn up the heat to the outside as the field entered the lane. The filly fired on all cylinders, seized the lead inside the final furlong and won by four lengths over the 'Insighted' Janie Not Jeanie (Mandaloun). The winner's dam is responsible for 3-year-old filly in-training On Ramp (Beau Liam) and a yearling filly by Complexity. A half-sister to...

4th-BAQ, $85k, Msw, 3yo/up, 1mT, 2:43 p.m. ET The final few weeks of racing in the history of Aqueduct kick off Thursday following a 17-day break in the action for the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival. The afternoon's turf maiden features Juddmonte homebred AUTHORITATIVE (Kingman {GB}), a maternal grandson of GSW & MGISP Filimbi (Mizzen Mast), whose five winners from five to face the starter includes GIII West Virginia and Indiana Derby winner and GI Pennsylvania Derby third Dragoon Guard (Arrogate). Daughters of the GI Kentucky Oaks-winning third dam Flute (Seattle...

1st-SAR, 115K, Msw, 3yo/up, 1 1/8m, 11:45 a.m. The first foal out of SW/GISP Lady Kate, STORMING (Curlin) cost $850,000 at Keeneland September in 2024 for the partnership of Arnmore Thoroughbreds, Pine Racing Stables, Belmar Racing and Breeding and Legendary Thoroughbreds. Bred by Stonestreet who purchased Lady Kate for $1.15-million at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale in 2021, Storming's impressive sales tag was usurped by that of his Into Mischief half-brother who sold to Resolute Racing for an eye-popping $3-million at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale last summer. Another son of Curlin,...

1st-SAR, 115K, Msw, 2yo, f, 5 1/2f, 12:35 p.m. Trainer Todd Pletcher debuts a pair of 2-year-old fillies in the Thursday opener at Saratoga. Rail-drawn PERPETUAL (Drain the Clock) impressed at OBS March earlier this year, working a quarter-mile in :20.1 before selling to Lee Ackerley Racing & Gainesway for $500,000. Her unraced Street Boss first dam has already produced two winners from as many to race and Pletcher will leg up Hall of Famer John Velazquez for this unveiling. In the middle of the gate, stablemate Dinner Party (Not...

7th-IND, $43k, Msw, 3yo/up, f/m, 5fT, 5:16 p.m ET A $400,000 purchase by Everett Dobson's Cheyenne Stable out of the 2024 Keeneland September Sale, PRIVATE TEXT (Nyquist) makes a belated first trip to the races Tuesday afternoon. The March foal marks the first runner for her unraced dam Batik (Honor Code), who was purchased by Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa for $390,000 with this filly in utero at the 2022 Keeneland November Sale. Batik is a daughter of the stakes-winning Private Gift (Unbridled), whose seven winners include SW & GSP...

8th-CD, $127k, AOC ($125k), 3yo, 6f, 4:22 p.m. A pair of big-figure 'TDN Rising Stars' presented by Hagyard from the back end of the meet at Oaklawn Park square off here with an eye on bigger and better down the road. Novogratz Racing Stables' MUNNINGS CHALLENGE (Munnings) showed sharp early speed on Mar. 1 debut before settling for second, but took them all the way last time Apr. 11, defeating Doublecents (Goldencents) by five resounding lengths, good for a 94 Beyer Speed Figure. He is a son of Novogratz's outstanding...

9th-GP, $68k, Msw, 3yo/up, f/m, 6f, post time: 5:04 p.m. ET STREET PLAY (Into Mischief), a $700,000 Keeneland September purchase, makes her first trip to the races for Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm and trainer Kent Sweezey. A May 1 foal, the bay looks to become the second winner out of a daughter of Contrive (Storm Cat), whose daughter Folklore (Tiznow) was champion 2-year-old filly of 2005 when taking out the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies for Wayne Lukas and Bob and Beverly Lewis. Folklore's GSP half-sister Delightful Quality (Elusive...

4th-CD, $120k, Msw, 2yo, 5f, post time: 6:27 p.m. ET CUT THROAT should have his fair share of admirers to get first-crop sire Cyberknife (Gun Runner) off to a flying start with his first runner. A half-brother to the stakes-placed Arman (Bolt d'Oro) and April Vintage (Vino Rosso), the February-foaled chestnut is out of an unraced half-sister to SW & MGSP Two Thirty Five (Stay Thirsty). The deeper female family includes Eclipse Award-winning juvenile filly Halfbridled (Unbridled). Cut Throat breezed an eighth of a mile in :10 flat at this...

13th-CD, $127k, Alw/OC ($125k), 3yo, 6 1/2f, 8:00 p.m. ET About an hour after the Derby goes official, a strong group of 3-year-olds are set to slug it out over 6 1/2 furlongs. Pin Oak Stud will be represented in the Run for the Roses by Albus (Yaupon) and Incredibolt (Bolt d'Oro) and the famed farm colors will be carried aboard GILDED BANDIT (Charlatan) in the evening's penultimate raced. A slow-starting fourth on Gulfstream debut Feb. 28, the $550,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga grad added blinkers and got just the better of...

3rd-CD, 120K, Msw, 2yo, f, 4 1/2f, 1:45 p.m. A deep field of juvenile fillies headlines Wednesday's action at Churchill Downs with trainer Steve Asmussen and owner/breeder Winchell Thoroughbreds debuting a pair of daughters by their champion Epicenter. Drawn side by side, JUST EPIC is the more well-bred of the two, being a daughter of GSW Just Wicked and therefore a half-sister to MGSW/MGISP Wicked Halo (Gun Runner). She breaks inside of Epicure who is out of a winning half-sister to GSW/GISP Great Stuff (Quality Road) and GSW Coffee In...