thoroughbreds

The Puerto Rico Horse Owners Association, Inc. (PRHOA) has agreed to drop a year-old federal lawsuit over allegedly unsafe surface conditions at Camarero Race Track after the owners of the island's only racing venue finally agreed to a long-sought demand by the plaintiffs to allow John Passero, the noted track-safety consultant who once served as the track superintendent at Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course, to inspect the track. After a Feb. 10-12 inspection by Passero deemed that Camarero's dirt surface "was generally in good condition [and] not suffering at...

Always ready to open up a lane with a crisp pass or poised to hold for the last shot by spreading the floor, Fasig-Tipton announcers Jesse Ullery and Frank Alosa form a March Madness-like backcourt as they host the latest digital sale on the auction house's platform. For Ullery it is all about channeling the excitement of an online sale with his partner and informing would-be buyers about something they may not have heard. In other words, have a seat on the couch and stay awhile. "I don't know that...

Dan Piazza, a financial advisor from Chicago, won the 26th NTRA National Horseplayers Championship at the Horseshoe Las Vegas held from March 14-16, and took home $825,000, an Eclipse Award as 2025 Horseplayer of the Year and earned a return trip to next year's NHC, according to a press release late Sunday from the NTRA. Sticking to his strategy throughout the contest, Piazza prevailed by amassing a mythical bankroll of $356.52. "I didn't try to do anything different and didn't get me out of my comfort zone," he said. "That...

On Sunday at Gulfstream Park, White Abarrio (Race Day) drilled five panels for trainer Saffie Joseph in 1:00.20, ranking third of 20 horses. The four-time Grade I-winning millionaire, who captured the Jan. 25 Pegasus World Cup last out, is being pointed to the GIII Ghostzapper Stakes on the Florida Derby undercard. "He went well," Joseph said. "He sat off his workmate and went on strong in his gallop out. It was a good work, so he's going to the Ghostzapper in good order." Also making the rounds for the Florida-based...

'TDN Rising Star' Quietside (Malibu Moon) put in her last major workout for the GII Fantasy Stakes, covering five furlongs in :59.60 Sunday morning at Oaklawn under Ramon Vazquez. The 'Rising Star's' time was the fastest of 26 published at the distance, with clockers catching her galloping out six furlongs in 1:12 and seven furlongs in 1:26.80. The track was rated fast. "It was a strong five-eighths," said trainer John Ortiz. "We'll come back next week and give her a maintenance [half-mile]. She did it really well today." Entries will...

Last year's Champion 3-year-old male and 'TDN Rising Star' Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) will return to Fair Grounds to make his 4-year-old bow in the 100th running of the GII New Orleans Classic on Saturday. Tabbed as the 7-5 morning line favorite, Sierra Leone will face nine other opponents including the highly-regarded winner of the GIII Mineshaft Stakes at Fair Grounds Feb. 15, Hall of Fame (Gun Runner). As reported by TDN's Senior Contributing Editor Alan Carasso, Sierra Leone's trainer Chad Brown had made plans for the colt to make...

That the figures recently released by the Jockey Club from its Equine Injury Database showed another significant drop in the number of fatalities was good news, but hardly surprising news. The numbers seem to get better every year. But dig deeper into the data presented by the Jockey Club and there is a number that is quite surprising and encouraging. In 2024, dirt tracks were almost as safe as synthetic tracks. There were 1.18 fatalities per 1,000 starts on the dirt, which came very close to the number in the...

Top 3-year-old Journalism (Curlin) returned to the work tab Sunday at Santa Anita following his victory in the GII San Felipe Stakes Mar. 2. Journalism and jockey Umberto Rispoli hit the track together under darkness at about 6:30 a.m. PT. The colt, trained by Michael McCarthy, was clocked working four furlongs in :48.20. He is targeting the GI Santa Anita Derby at 1 1/8 miles Apr. 5. "Very good," McCarthy said of the drill. Rispoli reacted with a wide grin and a thumbs up. In the San Felipe, Journalism ran...

Saturday's canceled card due to a power outage at Fair Grounds will be moved in its entirety to Tuesday, Mar. 18, according to a Sunday press release from Churchill Downs Inc. First post is set for 12:45 pm CT. The track will conduct a six-day racing week culminating with the Louisiana Derby Day card on Saturday and closing day is Sunday, Mar. 23.

10th-Santa Anita, $68,500, Msw, 3-15, 3yo, f, 6fT, 1:10.39, gd, 1/2 length. MISLEADING (f, 3, Not This Time--Heart of Paradise {GSP}, by More Than Ready) executed a perfectly-timed rush to graduate in-style. A 10-1 shot here, the Keeneland September grad was in no hurry when it came to exiting the gate. Biding her time at the back of the field, the filly seemed out of it by the far turn, but the 3-year-old was gearing up for a late push. Misleading tipped towards the center of the course at the...

Trying graded company for the first time in his career in a race named in honor of a fan-favorite at Oaklawn, 'TDN Rising Star' Booth (Mitole--Sophia's Song, by Bellamy Road) made every pole a winning one as he took home the GIII Whitmore Stakes on Saturday afternoon. Earning a 'Rising Star' merit badge as a late juvenile at Keeneland in 2023, Booth claimed his first Listed black type when he won the Commodore Stakes in Hot Springs Feb. 24 and was given a career-best (and meet's highest) 105 Beyer for...

Added to the Kentucky Derby Trail for the first time, the Virginia Derby entered a new era over the dirt at Colonial Downs on Saturday and it was American Promise (Justify--Tapella, by Tapit) who deposited 50 points into his 'Run for the Roses' account. It took him six starts to graduate from the maiden ranks, but a patient progression has never dissuaded D. Wayne Lukas before, and once the chestnut got his first win, he was tasked with stepping up into graded company. Crossing the line in sixth, but disqualified...