thoroughbreds

Thursday Insights: Out Of Winter Quarters Dragoon Guard To Begin Campaign At Churchill

1st-CD, $141K, OC100k/C, 3yo/up, 1m, 5:00 p.m. ET. DRAGOON GUARD (Arrogate) turned in a strong 2024 campaign as the gray broke his maiden second out by 3 3/4 lengths at Keeneland in April then cleared an optional claimer at Churchill Downs in early June. The colt captured both the GIII Indiana Derby in July and the GIII West Virginia Derby in August before running third to Seize the Grey (Arrogate) in the GI Pennsylvania Derby at Parx to close out his season in September. Back on the work tab at...

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Honeymoon Stakes Thriller As Firenze Flavor Wins Photo At Santa Anita

It may've started slow, but Firenze Flavor (Liam's Map) was flying late to contribute her part toward a thrilling finish in the GIII Honeymoon Stakes at Santa Anita, pulling a 7-1 upset in the process. Last seen Apr. 25 when she defeated optional claiming company over this turf course, the Patrick Gallagher charge had broken her maiden Jan. 20 by three-quarters of a length, but ran a flat seventh in between her two victories Feb. 21. in her first attempt at beating the optional claiming condition. In no rush after...

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Final Session Of Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May Under Tack Show Will Be Gallop Only

Following severe weather Friday evening in Timonium, Maryland, Fasig-Tipton has adjusted the format of Sunday's final session of its Midlantic May Two-Year-Olds in Training under tack show as all horses will now gallop only and there will be no timed breezes, the auction company said in a press release Saturday. "The severe thunderstorms that moved through here last night dropped torrential rains in a very short amount of time," said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. "In light of these conditions, we feel that the responsible course of action is for horses...

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Sovereignty Back To Work At The Spa While White Abarrio Drills For Met Mile

Godolphin's GI Kentucky Derby-winning homebred Sovereignty (Into Mischief) returned to the work tab Saturday at Saratoga Race Course, breezing a solo half-mile over the Oklahoma dirt training track for trainer Bill Mott in preparation for the GI Belmont Stakes next month. Guided through the work by Eclipse Award-winner Neil Poznansky, Sovereignty stretched his legs with a gallop around most of the oval first before assuming position on the backside to break off into his work and post splits of :12.88 seconds, :25.02 and the half-mile in :49.76. He galloped out...

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AmWager To Offer Zero Percent Takeout On Preakness

AmWager is offering zero percent takeout on the GI Preakness Stakes, according to the advanced deposit wagering company on Friday. All AmWager customers who opt in and bet the Preakness Win pool will receive a total payout for their successful wagers which is calculated with zero takeout. For instance, when Seize the Grey (Arrogate) won the 2024 edition of the of the big race and paid $21.60 for a $2 bet, the same wager would pay $26.35 this year. Once the Preakness race is made official, AmWager customers will receive...

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Freshman Sire Rock Your World Has First Winner As New 'TDN Rising Star' Color Comin' In Scores At Churchill

Overcoming a troubled start and getting back in the game before the far turn, first timer Color Comin' In (Rock Your World--Sleepless Dixie, by Dixie Union) handed freshman sire Rock Your World (by Candy Ride {Arg}) an inaugural win on Thursday afternoon at Churchill Downs. The effort netted the filly a 'TDN Rising Star' badge. Off as a 7-1 shot here, Color Comin' In did not have the best beginning, but the Norm Casse trainee was able to resume the chase as short-priced favorite Shez Twisted (Twirling Candy) led up...

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Friday Insights: 'TDN Rising Star' Verifire Levels Up On Black-Eyed Susan Undercard

1st-PIM, $54K, OC62K/N1X, 3yo, 6f, 11:30 p.m. ET. In what amounted to a smart debut at Colonial Downs Mar. 15, VERIFIRE (Authentic) was confirmed as a 'TDN Rising Star' after the colt won by 6 1/4 lengths and posted a 92 Beyer. Initially a $260,000 Keeneland September purchase, John Stewart went to a $1-million to acquire the chestnut during the 2024 OBS March Sale. Verifire is out of SP Ruby Trust (Smart Strike), whose own dam is GSW Queen Ofthe Castle (Tale of the Cat). Resolute's second out starter is...

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Buyers Assemble! Lionel Offers 'Blue Sky' On Fasig-Tipton Digital

With a soft ping that sounds like a digital chef's kiss, another bid is in for Fasig-Tipton's May Sale online. The diverse catalogue might be conducted via fiber, but the horse flesh here is once again bona fide as the platform continues to set a virtual ring standard. One of the more intriguing hips you will find among the lots is no. 122. Holding down that page we find 3-year-old Lionel (Authentic--Sweetgrass, by Street Sense). The colt broke his maiden at first asking by an eye-catching 9 1/2 lengths at...

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Mendelssohn's Sandal's Song Wins Royal Palm Juvenile And Trip To Ascot

Sandal's Song (Mendelssohn) booked his ticket to the Royal Meeting and earned a $25,000 voucher for the trip with a late-running score in the Palm Juvenile Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Saturday afternoon. Making his debut as a 7-1 shot here the colt chased a pair of pacesetters up the backstretch in favorite Squire (Leinster) and Beers On Me (Catalina Cruiser). The chestnut tipped off the rail around the far turn with a three-wide move. Showing plenty of zip down the lane, the 2-year-old cleared inside the final furlong and...

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Godolphin Flying Start Trainees Host Leadership Lexington for 'Thoroughbred Industry Day'

Though Lexington, Kentucky is commonly known as the 'Horse Capital of the World,' serving as a central hub for the Thoroughbred industry, there are many who live in the area that have no knowledge of how multi-faceted the world of horse racing truly is. In an effort to bridge that gap, first-year trainees on the Godolphin Flying Start (GFS) course—currently based in Lexington—coordinated with leaders across the greater equine industry to host a "Thoroughbred Industry Day" for the Leadership Lexington group on Thursday, May 8. Spanning eleven months, Leadership Lexington...

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Leinster's Lennilu Punches Ticket To Ascot In Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies

Lennilu (Leinster), who beat both Kadabra (Good Magic) and Chambourcin (Copper Bullet), both return winners in recent days, in her Apr. 6 Keeneland slop debut took another step forward in her stakes debut over this turf course. Partnered by Luis Saez, she bumped into Satisfied Mind (First Samurai) leaving the gate before forcing the pace in the early stages. The 4-5 favorite in a field of 11 took over from Satisfied Mind turning for home and readily kicked clear from the rallying debutante Bibi Dahl to prevail by 3 3/4...

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Coping with High Heat, Santa Anita Institutes Safety Protocols

With continued heat advisories in the region, and a forecasted high of 98 degrees Saturday, officials at Santa Anita Park have instituted a series of safety measures for people and horses. With the weather reaching a scorching 100 in some places and Sunday calling for 91 degree heat before the temperatures return to the low 70s Monday, racing officials have included in the heat protocols ice buckets and hoses throughout the grounds for convenient access. Riders will be legged up in the saddling barn and horses will go directly to...

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