Presque Isle Downs

Attempting to become the third winner for Freshman sire Corniche, Colucci came from just off the pace to graduate at first asking at Presque Isle Downs on Wednesday afternoon. Colucci broke alertly but was taken back to a stalking third as 2-1 chance Gangam Grey (Colonel Liam) and favored Zimomo (Twirling Candy) led the way through a quarter in :22.85. Gangam Grey straightened for home on top with Zimomo and Colucci in hot pursuit, however, it was the striking 8-1 chance Colucci knifing his way down the center of the...

"As a baby, he was mean," recalls Vickie Hewitt. "When we were prepping him for sale, as a short yearling, he would charge the door, ears back, rearing up." How they handled him on Cambrey Farm, back then, may have a lot to do with the fact that Trendsetter (Modernist) heads to the GIII Peter Pan Stakes on Saturday as a breakout winner of the GIII Lexington Stakes. "We didn't step in there and start yelling at him, or raise our hands," Hewitt recalls. "We'd be very patient. You don't...

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority has reached an agreement with Churchill Downs regarding the track's unpaid HISA dues, according to an order posted on HISA's website Tuesday. No specific details of the agreement were made public Tuesday other than that the case has been stayed "until notification from the parties that the conditions of the agreement have been satisfied," according to a joint motion dated March 24, and signed by Charles Scheeler, chair of HISA's board of directors. In that motion, it is also written that "[t]he parties have reached...

The 2026 Pennsylvania-Bred stakes schedule will offer $1,700,000 in purses across 20 stakes races. All three of Pennsylvania's racetracks will host stakes. Beginning Apr. 22, Parx Racing will feature three Pennsylvania-Bred stakes, including the $75,000 Wait for It Stakes for 3-year-old PA-Sired runners, which was carried over from December 2025. Contested over six furlongs, the Wait for It is restricted to Pennsylvania-Breds sired by registered Pennsylvania stallions. Also featured on the Wednesday card are the $100,000 Unique Bella Stakes for fillies and mares and $100,000 Page McKenney Handicap, both over...

by Dan Ross and T.D. Thornton The Horse Racing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) Authority on Wednesday summoned Churchill Downs Racetrack and its corporate parent, CDI, to a hearing before a panel of HISA board members in an attempt to secure payment of 2025 assessment fees that CDI has allegedly failed to submit on behalf of four racetracks the gaming corporation owns in Kentucky and Pennsylvania, including its flagship track in Louisville. HISA wants Churchill to pay $2,408,501 in allegedly overdue 2025 fees (plus $93,998 in interest) to the Authority...

Trainer Brad Cox's outfit was like a hen on a June bug towards the end of Keeneland's 'Fall Stars' meet and subsequently kept pouncing on wins at Churchill, Horseshoe Indy and Aqueduct as the calendar flipped to the more autumn-like weather of November. Louisville's favorite son collected 20 winner's circle visits across 61 starts from Oct. 21 on, which included a Hit Show (Candy Ride {Arg}) playlist in the GIII Hagyard Fayette Stakes, an Oaks points deposit for Life of Joy (Gun Runner) in the Rags to Riches Stakes and...

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...

5th-Presque Isle Downs, $35,890, Msw, 10-1, 2yo, f, 6f (AWT), 1:10.89, ft, 5 3/4 lengths. HEN PARTY (f, 2, Into Mischief--Fair Maiden {GISW-USA, SW & GISP-Can, $324,778}, by Street Boss), sent off a 7-2 under a feathery impost of 110lbs, settled in a ground-saving third under Amanda Poston as Broadway Musical (Mendelssohn) carved out an opening quarter in :22.79. Roused by her rider at the head of the lane, the ultra-green Hen Party drew off to win by 5 3/4 lengths over Intimate (Connect). Favored Sun Kiss (Girvin) was third....

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of new 'TDN Rising Star' The Big Con at Presque Isle Downs. 'TDN Rising Star' Nod For Dark Angel Colt Trainer Miguel Clement unveiled The Big Con (Dark Angel) at Presque Isle Downs on September 17, and the juvenile colt galloped his way to 'TDN Rising Stardom' after winning by 8 1/2-lengths (video). Bred by St Albans Bloodstock, the roan colt is owned by...

Third in the GII Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes last year, Gal in a Rush (m, 6, Ghostzapper--Hudson River Gal, by Dynaformer) went one better in 2025, capturing the Friday evening feature with aplomb. Away from the winner's circle for the past 14 months despite adding several black-type placings to her CV, the Miguel Clement trainee emerged from Friday night's fray with a dramatic inside bid to capture her first win since the 2024 GIII Hendrie Stakes at Woodbine. A closing Ellen Jay (Constitution)--the stakes-winning daughter of Eclipse champion Covfefe...

The royal blue of Godolphin continued to build on a banner year for the operation as Encino (Nyquist) proved too much for his Presque Isle Mile Stakes competition. Placed in the Mar. 22 GIII Twinspires Kentucky Cup Classic Stakes, and the winner of last season's GIII Stonestreet Lexington Stakes, Encino won the Listed Jonathan B. Schuster Memorial Stakes two back July 5 and hit the board last out Aug. 2 in the KY Downs Preview Mint Millions Turf Mile Stakes at Ellis Park. Supported here to the tune of 3-5...

It's clear that Stuart Angus touched the lives of many. A one of a kind human being, I don't think he knew a stranger. I met Stu in November of 2016, probably by complete happenstance, but like many others we met because of horses. I had finished working that summer at Presque Isle Downs and had decided to go back into healthcare. In the grand scheme of things, I had minimal knowledge and no idea what I was getting myself into when I came to Kentucky to work a November...