race results

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...

And you thought a March Madness-esque upset would be limited to basketball. A proverbial 16 seed nearly took down the favorite in the Louisiana Region when maiden winner and 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Emerging Market (Candy Ride {Arg}), the narrow 2-1 favorite, had to gut out a win over 21-1 longshot Pavlovian (Pavel) to win Saturday's GII Louisiana Derby by a head. Named a 'Rising Star' for his debut win at Tampa Bay Downs Feb. 7 that netted him an eye-catching 97 Beyer Speed Figure, Triple Crown-nominated Emerging...

Last year's Rags to Riches Stakes winner, Life of Joy (Gun Runner) booked herself a return trip to Churchill Downs Saturday, taking down the GII Fasig-Tipton Fair Grounds Oaks and with it, 100 points on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks. Debuted late in her 2-year-old season by trainer Brad Cox, the $375,000 Keeneland September grad was a bit under the radar initially when making her first start at Horseshoe Indianapolis. But, after putting up a devastating 14 3/4-length win going one mile Oct. 2, was anonymous no more and...

Trainer Bob Baffert had a two-strong chance to earn a record-extending 10th win in Saturday's GII San Felipe Stakes. His best shot looked to be with the 4-5 favorite and 'TDN Rising Star' Brant (Gun Runner) who was making his first start back since running third to Ted Noffey (Into Mischief) in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Del Mar last November. But it was his other runner, 8-1 shot and $2.4-million Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale graduate Potente (Into Mischief) who secured the win and 50 Kentucky Derby points for the...

After hitting the board behind the likes of 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Chief Wallabee (Constitution) on debut and most recently, Renegade (Gun Runner) in the Sam F. Davis Stakes Feb. 7, The Puma (Essential Quality) finally got his day Saturday and earned Derby points to boot with a gutsy win in the GIII ESMARK Tampa Bay Derby. Given just a 7-1 shot here despite that third over course and distance in the Sam F. Davis, the son from the first crop of Essential Quality broke towards the outside...

Last year's GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint winner Splendora (Audible) picked up her second Grade I Saturday, easily taking down the GI B. Wayne Hughes Beholder Mile at Santa Anita for Bob Baffert. Saturday's win, the mare's fifth straight in a streak that began back at Del Mar last summer, was her second of her year after she returned victorious in the emotionally-poignant seven-furlong GII D. Wayne Lukas Stakes Feb. 7. Having shown the ability to be versatile in her wins, the 1-9 favorite needed no help in...

Godolphin knows a thing or two about prepping a filly for the Kentucky Oaks through the Fair Grounds meet. Just last year, the then-undefeated Good Cheer (Medaglia d'Oro) rolled through the Rachel Alexandra and the Fair Grounds Oaks en route to the lilies on the first Friday in May. And in 2023, 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief) took the same route, capturing the Rachel Alexandra as well and settling for second in the Fair Grounds Oaks on her way to victory in Kentucky. Flash forward...

Still undefeated now in two starts, French Friction showed her six-length maiden score was no fluke as she wired the field in Saturday's Dixie Belle Stakes at Oaklawn Park. A proven winner over course and distance in that Dec. 27 debut, the daughter of City of Light stepped into stakes company in her second start amidst a downpour for trainer Mark Casse and owner DJ Stable, the same powerhouse duo behind freshly-crowned champion filly Nitrogen (Medaglia d'Oro). Breaking from the rail under Cristian Torres, French Friction was outrun in the...

GRANDE (c, 4, Curlin--Journey Home {GSW, $225,997}, by War Front), unraced since a runner-up finish in last year's GII Wood Memorial in April and since the subject of a controversial day-before scratch in the GI Kentucky Derby, returned to the races Saturday for trainer Todd Pletcher and owner Mike Repole. Tabbed the 7-5 favorite racing with the addition of blinkers, Grande would have to deal with fellow comebacker Praetor (Into Mischief), himself unraced since a third in April's GIII Lexington Stakes for Chad Brown. Both drawn outside, the favorite opted...

Two turns, zero problems. With racing action largely limited to the far south across the rest of the country, Nearly (Not This Time) gave the frozen East Coast something to cheer about and passed his stretch-out test with authority Saturday, capturing the GIII Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park and picking up 20 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. A Florida-bred and Virginia-certified son of Not This Time, Nearly built on a lackluster Aqueduct debut in October, coming back less than a month later to destroy fellow Florida-breds...

Midnight Martini (Yaupon) wasn't the quickest from the gate but found her feet within a few strides and was intent on the lead, rushing up from the middle of the line to set the fractions in this turf debut. Hounded early by Sugar Doll (Into Mischief), this 9-1 shot had to work to put that rival away into the far turn as the half went in :43.82. With a safe enough margin built up, Midnight Martini was able to kick away for home without fear of the closers, crossing the...

Jockey Junior Alvarado and trainer Bill Mott partnered up again for another win on Saturday's Pegasus World Cup card as Grand Job (Justify) romped home as the favorite in the GII Inside Information Stakes. Bred in Kentucky but debuted as a 2-year-old in Ireland for then-trainer Joseph O'Brien, the daughter of Coolmore super-sire Justify hit the board in three of four starts but failed to break through for the win. Imported to North America as a 3-year-old, Grand Job found her footing in her first start for newly-crowned Eclipse-winning trainer...