Neoequos

HOT SPRINGS, Ark.--Trainer Jimmy DiVito celebrated with his longtime clients at Doubledown Stables in the special winner's circle reserved for graded heroes at Oaklawn Park after Nu What's New (Munnings--Heavenly Scat, by Scat Daddy) went gate to wire in the GIII Oaklawn Mile Stakes on Saturday. It was the gelding's first higher-level score. The $300,000 OBS April buy who was picked out by DiVito two years ago at the sale took his time to break his maiden, but when it happened it was in-style over the local strip--by 7 1/2...

Looking every bit the 3-2 morning-line favorite for the GI Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park on Saturday, Renegade (Into Mischief) strode out of paddock schooling with top marks shortly before noon on Thursday. The colt had that, 'Take the test, don't let the test take you' sort of look. Renegade's trainer Todd Pletcher has won the Hot Springs track's signature race five times, but it hasn't been since 2018 when Magnum Moon (Malibu Moon) took the prize. Of course, that hero was campaigned by Robert and Lawana Low, who happen...

The field for the GI Kentucky Derby, ranked in "likeliest winner" order. 1) JOURNALISM (c, Curlin--Mopotism, by Uncle Mo). O-Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Elayne Stables 5 LLC, LaPenta, Robert V., Magnier, Mrs. John, Smith, Derrick and Tabor, Michael B.; B-Don Alberto Corporation (KY); T-Michael W. McCarthy. Sales history: $825,000 Ylg '23 FTSAUG. Lifetime record: GISW, 5-4-0-1, $638,880. Last start: WON Apr. 5 GI Santa Anita Derby. Journalism is the legitimate and deserving favorite. He checks many of the Derby desirability boxes by being a big, long-striding...

Built (Hard Spun) will bypass the GI Kentucky Derby and point to the GII Pat Day Mile, according to a Friday post on X by owner Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners. A $260,000 OBS April purchase, Built worked five furlongs in :59.40 (1/9) at Churchill Downs Thursday. "It's a huge honor to have qualified for the Kentucky Derby, but we have opted for the GII $600k Pat Day Mile, a race we believe is better suited for Built," the post read. "Thanks to our wonderful Eclipse TBP & Cat Racing Stable for...

GI Curlin Florida Derby and GII Coolmore Fountain of Youth Stakes third Neoequos (Neolithic) breezed a half-mile Thursday morning at Gulfstream Park, getting the distance in a bullet :48.43. The Saffie Joseph, Jr. trainee worked in company with stablemate Mr Narcissistic (Signature Red). A video of the work can be seen here. "It went good," said Joseph. "He worked in company. He was inside his workmate. It was his last breeze and we were just looking for maintenance. It went well. He's in good form." Racing for C2 Racing Stable...

Having produced a five-furlong breeze which pleased trainer Brad Cox and completed his winter season in Indiantown, FL Friday morning, GI Florida Derby hero Tappan Street (Into Mischief) is scheduled to ship to Churchill Downs Saturday morning. Going the five panels in company in 1:01.40 at Payson Park Training Center, it marked the penultimate breeze on the sophomore's schedule in advance of his expected start in the GI Kentucky Derby May 3. Tappan Street worked with stablemate 'TDN Rising Star' Rapture (Uncle Mo) for the second straight week. The son...

On Sunday at Gulfstream Park, White Abarrio (Race Day) drilled five panels for trainer Saffie Joseph in 1:00.20, ranking third of 20 horses. The four-time Grade I-winning millionaire, who captured the Jan. 25 Pegasus World Cup last out, is being pointed to the GIII Ghostzapper Stakes on the Florida Derby undercard. "He went well," Joseph said. "He sat off his workmate and went on strong in his gallop out. It was a good work, so he's going to the Ghostzapper in good order." Also making the rounds for the Florida-based...

Godolphin's Sovereignty (Into Mischief), who closed from last to first to capture Saturday's Coolmore GII Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park, emerged as an exciting Triple Crown prospect in the first start of his 3-year-old season. "We were sort of hoping that was the way the race would pan out," Godolphin USA's director of bloodstock Michael Banahan said Sunday. "We didn't really know if he'd have enough ground to actually catch the horses on the lead with his running style, especially with the way the track seems to play for...

Godolphin homebred Sovereignty (Into Mischief) kicked off his sophomore campaign in style with a dramatic, last-to-first victory in Saturday's GII Coolmore Fountain of Youth S. at Gulfstream Park, good for 50 points on the road to the GI Kentucky Derby. Last of six and urged along by Junior Alvarado to keep pace through a half mile in :47.07, Sovereignty began to get going with a four-wide blitz on the far turn. Still with his work cut out for him in third as they straightened, the 3-1 third choice leveled off...