Keeneland

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 6th-Keeneland, $83K, AOC, 4/up, f/m, 8.5f, post time: 3:51 p.m. ET Robert and Lawana Low's current crop of 4-year-olds includes leading U.S. turf horse Colonel Liam (Liam's Map) and 'TDN Rising Star' SPICE IS NICE (Curlin), who dips down into allowance company for her seasonal debut. An impressive 12-length maiden winner at first asking last January, she was runner-up in the GII Davona Dale S., but only fifth to Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil) in the GII Gulfstream Park Oaks. An easy Belmont allowance winner last July,...

2nd-Keeneland, $55,240, Msw, 4-8, 2yo, f, 4 1/2f, :52.04, ft, 1 length. SHESGOTATTITUDE (f, 2, Tiznow--Mackenzie Capri, by Eskendereya) was allowed to drift up to 21-5--better than twice her morning line--in the face of the heavily backed Wesley Ward 3-5 firster Twilight Gleaming (Ire) (National Defense {GB}) and ran to some eye-popping morning trials to provide trainer John Ennis with his second debut winner of the meet. Exiting a bullet three-furlong blowout in :34 flat (1/32) over this main track Mar. 30, the bay filly hit the ground running and...

The winner of four straight races and six of nine overall, including a first-ever Grade I triumph for his trainer last out, progressive Hit the Road (More Than Ready) will travel outside of California for the first time in his career to face eight rivals in a competitive renewal of the GI Maker's Mark Mile Friday at Keeneland. Capturing his first two turf tries, the latter coming in the Zuma Beach S., as a 2-year-old, the bay ran seventh before being disqualified to last in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile...

Of all the different ways our community is slowly retrieving its bearings, few can be as heartening as the return of the Keeneland spring meet. Its loss, last year, was one of the first crashing waves of Covid's inundation across so many routine pleasures. And last weekend could scarcely have offered more reassuring navigational markers. The fans privileged to return to their boxes saw a Derby favorite warming up in the GII Blue Grass S. and, if uncertain in their wagering, could simply back the hometown barn of Wesley Ward,...

At one point this spring, it was conceivable that soon-to-be Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher would be faced with the unusual situation of not having a GI Kentucky Derby starter. Things change quickly in racing though, as now the seven-time Eclipse Award winner is likely to have four horses in the gate in Louisville and Wednesday morning, he joined the TDN Writers' Room presented by Keeneland to talk about his sudden Derby quartet. Calling in via Zoom as the Green Group Guest of the Week, Pletcher also talked about...

Keeneland will build six new barns and make other improvements at its year-round training facility, The Thoroughbred Center, located on Paris Pike on the Northeast side of Lexington. Two concrete barns will be demolished and replaced with six state-of-the-art barns--upgrades to walking rings, muck disposal and drainage, as well as landscaping and access to and from the track, are also in the works. "Keeneland is excited to break ground on these significant improvements to the barn area at TTC for the benefit of our horses and horsemen, many of whom...

A life as long and rich as that of Alice Headley Chandler, which drew to a peaceful close on Tuesday, Apr. 6, at her home in Lexington, Kentucky, at the age of 95, is measured by four generations--from her surviving contemporaries to her great-grandchildren--for whom the black raiment of mourning will surely be brightened by cheerful scarves of pride. And that's not just because of the consolations available in remembrance of a wonderful character or celebration of her wonderful achievements. For this iconic Kentucky horsewoman was always animated by a...

Keeneland has unveiled an interactive website, TheWorldsYearlingSale.com, which highlights the successes of its September Yearling Sale through video, photography, testimonials and storytelling. "The Keeneland September sale is a common thread that runs through many of the most pivotal moments in racing history," Keeneland President, CEO and Interim Head of Sales Shannon Arvin said. "This website is an innovative platform to showcase these connections and create even more excitement leading into September. Each step of the way we celebrate the heart-pounding sales with our sellers and buyers, and cheer on our...

Trainer Brad Cox was plenty pleased with how champion juvenile and 'TDN Rising Star' Essential Quality (Tapit) exited Saturday's hard-fought decision in Keeneland's GII Toyota Blue Grass S. "He looks good this morning and I am happy with the way he came out of the race," Cox said Sunday. "I liked that he got a test yesterday. It was not like he just galloped up to the leader and went on by." Essential Quality will join Cox's string at Churchill Downs after training Monday to prepare for the GI Kentucky...

Godolphin homebred Essential Quality (Tapit) gave his connections a few anxious moments in the stretch, but, in the end, he proved why he is a champion with a gutsy score in Keeneland's GII Toyota Blue Grass S. Saturday evening. Hustling up to contest the early pace, the 1-2 favorite allowed Highly Motivated (Into Mischief) to take control, settling on his outside hip through a :23.83 first quarter and :48.21 half-mile. The top two continued to duke it out as three-quarters went in 1:12.08 with the rest of the field watching...

The temperatures were on the cool side Saturday in Central Kentucky, but jockey Joel Rosario was hot. As in en fuego. The Dominican sensation had ridden, in succession, Flagstaff (Speightstown) to victory in the GIII Commonwealth S.; Bound For Nowhere (The Factor)--who was drawn somewhere in the middle of Versailles Road--to win the GII Shakertown S.; and produced 'TDN Rising Star' Malathaat (Curlin) at just the right time to snatch the GI Central Bank Ashland S. Rosario completed a spectacular stakes four-timer in the day's penultimate race, riding Ten Broeck...

With principal Sheikh Hamdan having passed away just 10 days earlier, unbeaten 'TDN Rising Star' Malathaat (Curlin) provided the Shadwell team with a major pick-me-up as she ran down Pass the Champagne (Flatter) in Keeneland's GI Central Bank Ashland S. Saturday under red-hot Joel Rosario. "I can't put it into words," said an emotional Rick Nichols--Vice President and General Manager of Shadwell--after the race. "I am sure [Sheikh Hamdan] is up there with a big smile on his face looking down on us. We really needed this." Already with 10...