Keeneland

Lexington, KY-Following a jam-packed Tuesday of racing at Keeneland, highlighted by the postponed running of the GI Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, industry members ventured out to the Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Managers' Club (KTFMC)'s monthly meeting held at Fasig-Tipton. The evening was highlighted by a panel on racehorse ownership with prominent owners Brook Smith, John Stewart and Jayson Werth leading the discussion. Each panelist followed a unique path into the industry. Smith, a Westport, Ky. native, launched a successful career in the insurance industry, specifically surety. He later caught the 'racing...

To say that Integration (Quality Road) was facing some quality individuals in year's GI Maker's Mark Mile Stakes might be somewhat of an understatement. In that soggy renewal at Keeneland last April, the West Point Thoroughbreds and Woodford Racing runner finished third behind Godolphin's Master of The Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who stole the show following wins in the GI Woodbine Mile and GI Breeders' Cup Mile the previous season. The runner up that day was another Godolphin representative, Group 2 scorer Naval Power (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}), who followed up...

A colt from the first crop of Independence Hall (hip 619) tied the time for the fastest quarter-mile of the week so far in Ocala when he worked the distance in :20 2/5 at the fourth session of the under-tack show for the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training Wednesday. Consigned by Wavertree Stables, the juvenile is out of Waltzing (Candy Ride {Arg}), a half-sister to graded winner Dancing Solo (Giant's Causeway) and to Grade I-placed Dancing (Bernardini). He was purchased by Ron Fein's Superfine for...

Prep season is over, and now it's time to get down to business. A deep field will line up for the GI Kentucky Oaks, led by the undefeated Good Cheer (Medaglia d'Oro). In most years, she'd be 4-5 or lower, but there are enough quality fillies lining up for the race that you might see 2-1 on her. Since the last installment, La Cara (Street Sense) moved up the charts with a win in the GI Ashland S., Ballerina d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro) nosed out Early On (Union Rags) to win...

3rd-Keeneland, $108,925, Msw, 4-9, 3yo/up, 6f, 1:11.45, ft, 1/2 length. DR. PARK (c, 4, Uncle Mo--Queen Caroline {MSW, $401,608}, by Blame) debuted in California for then-trainer John Shirreffs, weakening to fourth in a 6 1/2-furlong sprint Jan. 25. Shipping to Keeneland under new direction from Peter Eurton, the half-brother to 2-year-old champion Forte (Violence) drew outside as one of the more inexperienced runners in the scratched-down field of six. Lacking much early foot, the 3-5 favorite was outrun in the opening furlong by a trio of runners to his inside...

Trainer Ian Wilkes enjoyed a banner day Tuesday, winning both of Keeneland's Grade I features--the Toyota Blue Grass with Burnham Square (Liam's Map) in addition to Positano Sunset's (Goldencents) score in the Resolute Racing Madison. "Both horses got back last night to Churchill," Wilkes said Wednesday morning from his main base in Louisville. "Everything is all good. It was a really exciting day for everyone involved." Whitham Thoroughbreds' Burnham Square got up in the last stride to edge East Avenue (Medaglia d'Oro) by a nose in the Blue Grass with...

Whitham Thoroughbred's homebred Burnham Square (g, 3, Liam's Map--Linda, by Scat Daddy), a disappointing fourth as the 9-5 favorite in the GII Coolmore Fountain of Youth S. at Gulfstream Park last out Mar. 1, bounced back in a big way with a well-timed, last-to-first, nose victory over 'TDN Rising Star' East Avenue (Medaglia d'Oro) in Tuesday's postponed GI Toyota Blue Grass S. at Keeneland. It was another 3/4 of a length back to 'TDN Rising Star' River Thames (Maclean's Music) in third. Favored MGISW and 'TDN Rising Star' Chancer McPatrick...

Rail-drawn Positano Sunset (Goldencents) slipped through a gap at the top of the stretch and joined a four-wide calvary charge to the line, out-lasting the race favorite to upset the GI Resolute Racing Madison Stakes at odds of 14-1 for trainer Ian Wilkes. After finishing out her 4-year-old season off the board in the one-mile GIII Chilukki Stakes at Churchill Downs in late November, Positano Sunset got some time off, resurfacing at Tampa Bay Downs to win a $50k handicap race at seven furlongs March 9. Clearly a fan of...

Fresh off a pair of wins to launch her sophomore campaign, D J Stable's Nitrogen (Medaglia d'Oro) closed from off the pace to annex Tuesday's GII Appalachian Stakes at Keeneland. Content to survey a moderate opening pace of :23.31 and :47.45 set by longshot Fast Market (Volatile) from near midpack, the 6-5 choice began to mount her challenge while swinging to the outside turning for home. Gaining control midstretch, the favorite drifted out slightly, however, drew clear and was able to maintain a comfortable advantage late, finishing 2 1/4 lengths...

Jockey Luis Saez, who was unseated during Keeneland's second race Tuesday, spent the afternoon at the UK Medical Center and was reported to be "sore" but have no broken bones according to his agent Kiaran McLaughlin. Saez was aboard 2-1 race favorite Fateful Lightning (Tapit) when he came off awkwardly at the eighth pole in the stretch run of the 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight race on the turf. Fateful Lightning was uninjured in the incident and caught by the outrider.   Just spoke with the doctor at UK said...

1st-Keeneland, $110,000, Msw, 4-8, 3yo, 7f, 1:23.51, ft, 2 1/2 lengths. INVICTUS (c, 3, Into Mischief--Serengeti Empress {MGISW, $2,175,653}, by Alternation) had not been seen since finishing a well-beaten seventh in the 6 1/2-furlong Saratoga maiden race won in 'TDN Rising Star' style by Chancer McPatrick (McKinzie) last July. The 8-5 second choice was hustled out to the early lead, but allowed favored Camp Hale (Mo Town) to take control and then settled in third as longshot Ship Ship Hooray (Midshipman) shot up the rail to lead as the quarter...

7th-KEE, $120k, OC125k/NW1X, 3yo, 1 1/16m, 4:12 p.m. ET. 'TDN Rising Star' LION OF JUSTICE (Into Mischief), a $1.1-million KEESEP yearling purchase, stretches to two turns following a jaw-dropping, front-running debut score with a 92 Beyer Speed Figure going a one-turn mile at Colonial Mar. 15. His dam Ever So Clever (Medaglia d'Oro), a 'TDN Rising Star' herself, won the 2017 GIII Fantasy S. and has also produced GSW Everso Mischievous (Into Mischief). Lion of Justice is campaigned in partnership by St. Elias Stable, Talla Racing, West Point Thoroughbreds and...