Santa Anita

A pair of highly touted sophomores returned to make their 4-year-old debuts with mixed results Sunday. First Captain (Curlin), sent off the 4-5 favorite in a seven-furlong allowance at Gulfstream Sunday, looked to have left himself too much to do before making a furious late rally to win by a head in his first start since finishing third in the Curlin S. last summer. The 'TDN Rising Star' and $1.5-million Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling won last year's GIII Dwyer S. for West Point Thoroughbreds, Siena Farm, Bobby Flay and Woodford Racing...

Baoma Corp.'s Ganadora (Quality Road), installed the 6-5 choice in this first go, slugged it out early with So It Would Seem (Honor Code), but was peerless in the stretch, running away to win by an impressive 6 1/2-length margin over 2-1 second choice Lady T (Into Mischief). Mixing it up through a sharp opening pace in :21.58 and :44.74, the $1-million KEESEP buy kicked clear turning for home and proved much the best late to earn 'TDN Rising Star' honors. So It Would Seem faded to second last. Ganadora...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 10th-GP, $63K, Alw/OC, 4yo/up, 7f, 5:14 p.m. ET 'TDN Rising Star' First Captain (Curlin) makes his 4-year-old debut against a relatively accomplished field here. The $1.5-million FTSAUG yearling kicked off his career three-for-three, annexing the one-turn-mile GIII Dwyer S. at Belmont in July. He has been off since finishing third as the favorite in Saratoga's restricted nine-panel Curlin S. later that month, and trainer Shug McGaughey told TDN's Steve Sherack recently that the son of MGSW and MGISP America (A.P. Indy) was given a freshening...

Every week, the TDN publishes a roundup of key official rulings from the primary tracks within the four major racing jurisdictions of California, New York, Florida and Kentucky. Here's a primer on how each of these jurisdictions adjudicates different offenses, what they make public (or not) and where. California Track: Santa Anita Date: 02/18/2022 Licensee: Jonathan Wong, trainer Penalty: $500 fine Violation: Late declaration Explainer: Trainer Jonathan Wong, who was scheduled to start She Said Yes in the third race at Santa Anita Park on Feb. 13, 2022, is fined...

Every week, the TDN publishes a roundup of key official rulings from the primary tracks within the four major racing jurisdictions of California, New York, Florida and Kentucky. Here's a primer on how each of these jurisdictions adjudicates different offenses, what they make public (or not) and where. California Track: Santa Anita Date: 02/11/2022 Licensee: Aaron Eric Kroul, owner Penalty: Suspension Violation: Failure to appear before stewards on financial responsibility charges Explainer: Owner Aaron Eric Kroul, having failed to respond to written notice to appear before the Board of Stewards...

At first glance, it looks like a movie you've probably seen already. A horse-crazy girl leads her family into racing and, against all odds, they end up in the winner's circle after a big race. Only, for Gaylene Smith and her family, it's no movie. It's real life after Smith's 8-year-old granddaughter London asked for a racehorse early last year. Less than a year into operation, Smith's Willow's Green Stable won its first stakes race with Timeless Bounty (Elusive Hour), a $15,000 claim who took the family to Santa Anita...

Unbeaten 'TDN Rising Star' and jaw-dropping GI Runhappy Malibu S. winner Flightline (Tapit) has had a setback and will miss an intended start in the GII San Carlos S. at Santa Anita Mar. 5. "He had a little bit of a strain in his hock," trainer John Sadler said on TVG. "The good news is the X-rays are negative. He's not going to work tomorrow. He's not going to run in the San Carlos. But it's not a big thing. He's a little bit off pattern." Sadler added, "There's no...

The 51st Annual Eclipse Awards ceremony at Santa Anita Park will begin at 5:30 p.m. PT/8:30 p.m. ET., 30 minutes later than originally scheduled because of excessive heat in the Los Angeles area. The ceremony will be televised live on TVG and the Racetrack Television Network, and streamed live on other outlets, including www.thetdn.com. The TVG "Green Carpet" show will be airing live at 4:30 p.m. PT/7:30 p.m. ET. The Keeneland Cocktail Party will begin at 3:30 p.m. PT and will be followed by the Eclipse Awards ceremony at 5:30...

The 51st annual Eclipse Awards Ceremony will be held Thursday at Santa Anita beginning at 8 p.m. ET. Honoring Thoroughbred racing's 2021 champions, horse and human awards in 17 categories will be presented during the program, culminating with the announcement of the 2021 Horse of the Year. Also during the ceremony, Ambassador Earle Mack will be presented with the Eclipse Award of Merit and Justin Mustari will be honored with an Eclipse Award as the 2021 Horseplayer of the Year. TVG's coverage will begin with a "Green Carpet" Preview Show...

Messier gave trainer Bob Baffert and jockey John Velazquez their second dominant graded winner of the afternoon when he flew home an unchallenged victor of the GIII Robert B. Lewis S. at Santa Anita Sunday. Shedding the blinkers after getting outkicked in the Dec. 11 GII Los Alamitos Futurity last time out, the 3-5 favorite tugged his way to the fore with little encouragement from Velazquez. Second choice Sir London (Malibu Moon) chased the pace with longshot Cabo Spirit latched on the top two while racing three deep. Sir London...

'TDN Rising Star' Messier (Empire Maker) looks to make amends after finishing second as the heavy favorite last out in the GII Los Alamitos Futurity S. as the people's choice once again in Sunday's GIII Robert B. Lewis S. A dominant second-out graduate at this oval in October, the bay captured the GIII Bob Hope S. at Del Mar Nov. 14 and was run down late and forced to settle for second last out at Los Al Dec. 11. His Hall of Fame conditioner Bob Baffert also saddles Wharton (Candy...

Michael Lund Petersen's Adare Manor (Uncle Mo) looks to take her first step down the GI Kentucky Oaks trail Sunday in Santa Anita's GII Las Virgenes S. Run down late to be a close second on debut at this venue Oct. 31, the dark bay was fourth next out at Del Mar Nov. 20. The $375,000 OBSOPN buy stormed off to a 12-length graduation when extended to a mile last time at this oval Jan. 7, earning a field-best 92 Beyer Speed Figure. Adar Manor is joined in the gate...