Michael Slezak

"Looking for the hidden gem." That, to Mike Slezak, is the point of crossover; the place where his breakout success dovetails with a personal passion that has now evolved into a way of life. "Which means trying to ask questions in a different way," he elaborates. "Not making assumptions, looking a little closer." To the many who first encountered Slezak in his American Idol debrief shows, the next stage of the analogy will make perfect sense. "It's scouting for a contestant like David Cook," he explains. "No-one thought he was...

Multiple graded stakes winner Arzak (Not This Time--Delightful Melody, by Tapit) has been purchased by Amsterdam Two Farm in Middleburgh, New York, where he will retire to stud for a fee of $6,000, with special consideration to approved mares. A $575,000 OBS Spring 2-year-old in 2020, Arzak won the 2023 GII Woodford Stakes and 2024 GII Shakertown Stakes on the grass at Keeneland and he was also runner-up behind Cogburn (Not This Time) in the 2024 GI Jaipur Stakes. He won the 2022 GIII Jacques Cartier Stakes and Thorncliffe Stakes--where...

6th-Saratoga, $90,000, (S), Msw, 7-31, 2yo, f, 6f, 1:12.85, my, 4 1/2 lengths. GRAZIE (f, 2, Modernist--Ascot Walk, by Daaher) became the fourth North American winner from the first crop of her sire (by Uncle Mo) with a convincing debut success at soggy Saratoga. Off as the 14-5 second choice, Grazie was part of a four-way scramble for the lead through the opening furlong before poking through from between rivals to take up the running heading into the turn. Chased around the bend by 1.15-1 favorite Tuthilltown (Classic Empire), Grazie...

Michael Slezak may have been watching the Kentucky Derby alongside his 11-year-old twin boys from his living room in Jersey City, but he celebrated like he was about to receive the trophy himself when Rich Strike (Keen Ice) scored the second-largest upset in the race's 148-year history. A former TVLine and Entertainment Weekly journalist, Slezak is now a full-time bloodstock agent who also dabbles in TV pilot script writing. One month and a day before Rich Strike made Derby history, Slezak claimed the colt's half-sister My Blonde Mary (Oxbow) for...

by Jessica Martini & Christie DeBernardis The Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale, propelled by a pair of power-packed dispersals and held in the shadow of the ongoing global pandemic, concluded its four-day run Thursday in Lexington. The dispersal of the Estate of the late Paul Pompa, Jr., which, along with the Sam-Son broodmare dispersal dominated much of Tuesday's action, provided the auction with one last round of fireworks late in the day Thursday with a bevy of high-priced racehorse prospects. Leading the way was Carillo (Union Rags) (hip...

Graded stakes winner Name Changer (Uncle Mo--Cash's Girl, by Northern Afleet) will enter stud next year at Peter Kazamias's Kaz Hill Farm in Middletown, New York. A homebred runner for Richard Santulli's Colts Neck Stables, the 7-year-old won the 2018 GIII Monmouth Cup S. He was also third in the 2016 GII West Virginia Derby. On the board in 18 of 24 starts, Name Changer won eight times and earned $567,080. He will stand for a fee of $2,500 live foal, stands and nurses, as property of Kaz Hill Farm....