Oaklawn

Edited Press Release Reigning Horse of the Year Sovereignty (Into Mischief) got his first feel of the Oaklawn racing surface Wednesday morning, galloping a mile in advance of his 2026 debut in Saturday's $1.2-million GII Oaklawn Handicap. Escorted to the track by his Hall of Fame trainer, Bill Mott, Sovereignty visited the indoor paddock and galloped after the first surface renovation break. "Easy day," Mott said. "He was ready to do something. He was happy that he was able to do something." The Oaklawn Handicap will mark the 4-year-old debut...

Predictably, last week's Grade I stakes for fillies and mares generated the week's highest Beyer Speed Figures. 6 - KAPOOR, KEE, 4/8/26, Allowance, about 7 furlongs (Video) Beyer Speed Figure - 94 (f, 4, by Uncle Mo--Kareena, by Medaglia d'Oro) O/B-Godolphin. T-Bill Mott. J-Junior Alvarado. Mott is exercising his trademark patience with the Godolphin filly, shepherding her through her conditions (maiden, allowance, allowance, allowance) and a resulting four-race win streak by a combined margin of 20 3/4 lengths. But now we'll almost certainly see Kapoor show up next in stakes...

Last year's OBS June topper Feminism (Curlin) became the latest 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' for her super-sire with a professional debut at Oaklawn Park Thursday. A $200,000 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling grad turned $975,000 OBS 2-year-old after breezing in :10, Feminism drew outside in a field of nine and broke nicely with the frontrunners to establish position as the pack sorted themselves out through the opening furlong. Sandwiched in a three-wide charge down the backstretch wtih Muskoka Katt (Vekoma) to her inside and Blondie'sincharge (Global Campaign) on the...

It will be very hard for the racing industry to replace what FanDuel TV meant to the sport with its wall-to-wall coverage of races from across the country and its ability to attract new fans to the sport. But according to Tony Allevato, NYRA's chief revenue officer and the president of NYRA Bets, his team is ready to do what it can to bring more racing to the television audience in an effort to make up for the loss of FanDuel TV. FanDuel announced last week that it will soon...

Eclipse Award-winner Nitrogen (Medaglia d'Oro) was one of two Mark Casse-trained runners to complete major preparations for the April 11 $1.25 million GI Apple Blossom Handicap with a five-furlong work over a fast track Wednesday morning under exercise rider Autumn Lavertu. Last year's top 3-year-old filly was timed in 1:01 (3/11) following splits of :25.20 for her opening quarter-mile and :37.60 for three furlongs. She galloped out six furlongs in 1:13.60. Trained by dual Hall of Famer Mark Casse, Nitrogen looks to rebound from a third-place finish in the $400,000...

This week's rankings include two Oaks-bound fillies and a remarkable Arkansas-bred mare. 6-RASHMI, SA, Wilshire Stakes (Gr. III), 3/28, 1 mile (turf) (VIDEO) Beyer Speed Figure-89 (m, 5, Oscar Performance--Ponytail, by Lonhro ({Aus}) O-Augustin Stables. B-George Strawbridge (Ky). T-Jonathan Thomas. J-Kasushi Kimura. The Strawbridge homebred came out firing despite a year-plus layoff to decisively earn her second graded score at 2/5 odds against four rivals with no graded black type. Thomas explained that Rashmi's layoff involved no major issues and that she has returned a "bigger, stronger version of herself."...

1) We still have one more Saturday of nine-furlong qualifying stakes for the GI Kentucky Derby, but it's a safe bet the GI Florida Derby will be the odds-on choice for being the prep race most likely to yield the winner on the first Saturday in May. Commandment (Into Mischief), The Puma (Essential Quality), and 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Chief Wallabee (Constitution) each overcame different aspects of in-race adversity to arrive at the Gulfstream finish wire separated by one nose and half a length. All three will be...

2nd-GP, 84K, Msw, 3yo, 1m, 11:59 a.m. Juddmonte homebred SILENT IMPACT (Gun Runner), a half-brother to MGISW Emollient (Empire Maker), makes his debut in Florida Saturday for trainer Bill Mott. Juddmonte acquired the dam, Soothing Touch, as a Keeneland September yearling for $500,000 in 2005. In addition to Emollient, who became a multiple graded stakes-producing mare herself, Soothing Touch is responsible for SW/MGISP Hofburg (Tapit) and SW/GSP Courtier (Pioneerof the Nile). Notably, her daughter Calm Water (Empire Maker) is the dam of G1 Emirates Airline Dubai World Cup victor Laurel...

Last seen running fourth as the favorite in the GIII Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita Feb. 7, heavily-favored Desert Gate (Omaha Beach) had no issue with a short field in the Hot Springs Stakes Thursday at Oaklawn Park, taking just three rivals gate to wire to win easily. The 2-5 choice, who was racing with blinkers on for the first time, broke just a step slow but rushed up to lead from the rail ahead of 9-5 second choice Soldier N Diplomat (Army Mule). The pair quickly separated...

Spendthrift's Goodall (f, 3, Yaupon--Moon Over Mag Bay, by Malibu Moon) made it two in a row Saturday, capturing Oaklawn Park's Purple Martin Stakes in authoritative fashion. Shipped in from Fair Grounds for the six-furlong test, Goodall was overshadowed in the wagering by 8 1/4-length track and trip debut winner River Wind (Lexitonian). The latter hopped at the break and settled in third, just to the inside of Goodall, who pressured the :21.53 and :44.70 pace set by You're in Heaven (Global Campaign) from the inside. Taken back off the...

1st-AQU, 80K, Msw, 3yo, f, 6f, 1:10 p.m. FUSION (Into Mischief), the second foal out of MGISW and 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Separationofpowers, debuts Sunday in New York for the partnership of Qatar Racing and Mountmellick Farm and trainer Chad Brown. The mare has already produced a winner from her first foal, this filly's full-brother, Poulsen, who went Japan's way for $925,000 at OBS April in 2024. Separationofpowers sold to Hunter Valley Farm for $2.1-million at Fasig-Tipton's November Sale in 2019 before going back through that same ring...

Daniel Alonso's Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator), who acted up badly on the plane that was meant to transport him to California for Saturday's GI Santa Anita Handicap and was subsequently scratched, is possible for one of two races over the coming weeks. "I always look at it as everything happens for a reason. No regrets," said trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr., who saddles three horses in Saturday's Barbados Gold Cup in his native country. "He'll probably run at Oaklawn in the Essex, or he'll run at Gulfstream in the Ghostzapper. I'm going to...