Will Walden

Since Bob Baffert made the shift from Quarter Horse racing to Thoroughbred racing in the early eighties, no one has been more loyal to Southern California racing. Especially when it came to stakes races, he filled the entry box like no other trainer. Consistency and quality were his trademarks. He has his critics and some have bristled at his dominance, but California racing has been lucky to have him. But with things being what they are in California, even Baffert had to make what must have been a tough decision...

La Rascasse (f, 3, Authentic--Hallawallah, by Candy Ride {Arg}), a 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' debut winner by a head going seven furlongs at Keeneland Apr. 11, backed up that performance with a smart victory in Saturday's $175,000 Monomoy Girl S. at Churchill Downs. The 9-5 second-choice was always traveling like the winner beneath Axel Concepcion in second in this two-turn debut, took over while in hand on the far turn and had 2 1/4 lengths over Point of Reference (Upstart) at the wire. "Axel (Concepcion) gave her a...

For 60 days straight over the winter at Will Walden's Palm Meadows base in Florida, MGISW Rhetorical (Not This Time) underwent a different kind of training. Instead of being turned out for the off-season like so many horses, his trainer decided that it was time to unveil a new project where skills like dressage would be emphasized. The work that the gelding put in over those months has paid off and now the New York-bred Horse of the Year owned by Gary Barber, Cheyenne Stable and Wachtel Stable will point...

The connections of Movie Night (Speightstown) may have been the only ones happy to see the deluge that turned the Churchill Downs main track to slop Saturday as their filly, already experienced over an off surface, skipped over it to become a new 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard'. Second going just a half-furlong longer on a wet opening day at Keeneland Apr. 3 in an effort which netted her an 83 Beyer Speed Figure, the 3-5 favorite saw plenty of pace burst out in front of her as she...

Back in the States and resurfacing on the worktab for the first time since his G1 Dubai World Cup heroics, Winchell Thoroughbreds's Magnitude (Not This Time) breezed at Churchill Downs Saturday morning. Out to work an easy half-mile, the Steve Asmussen trainee was clocked in :51.20, the 86th fastest move of 96 at the distance. It was his first published workout in North America since returning from Meydan. Also working four furlongs, among others from the barn, was MSW Braken Poppa (Aurelius Maximus), who is undefeated in 2026 from four...

Gary Barber, Cheyenne Stable and Wachtel Stable's Rhetorical (Not This Time) was trying nine furlongs for the first time in his career in Saturday's GI Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic at Churchill Downs, but the distance proved no hindrance whatsoever, as the New York-bred wrested command not long after the break over a course that had been playing kind to front-running types over the weekend and proved not for catching. The 5-year-old gelding is the second consecutive winner of the Turf Classic bred in New York, joining Spirit of St...

2nd-GP, $68k, Msw, 3yo, f, 5fT, post time: 1:21 p.m. ET CODE (Tiz the Law) gets her career underway here for Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Walmac Farm, who teamed to race her 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard half-brother Locked (Gun Runner) to six wins from 11 starts, including a blowout success in the 2025 GI Santa Anita Handicap. Unsold on a bid of $245,000 as a foal at Fasig-Tipton November in 2023, the Mar. 13 foal is out of a winning daughter of SW & GSP Gabriellina Giof (GB)...

So Like Silk (Tapit), the first foal out of her Grade I-winning dam, put in a winning debut on opening day at Horseshoe Indianapolis Tuesday. Purchased by OXO Equine for $925,000 as a yearling at Keeneland September in 2024, the 3-1 second choice drew outside and was caught wide for most of the run in this six-furlong spot. Unable to keep pace with the early sprinters, she had to settle back mid pack in sixth while still well in touch with 13-1 longshot leader Somnambulist (Liam's Map). With that rival...

4th-KEE, $110K, Msw, 3yo, f, 6 1/2f, 2:36 p.m. ET. PHANTOM BLUE (Ghostzapper), a Resolute Racing purchase for $1.2-million during the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale, was sent to trainer Brendan Walsh. Out of the winning Seeking the Blue (Arch), the filly is a half-sister to MGSP Janis Joplin (California Chrome), MSP Vino Rouge (Vino Rosso) and as of Mar. 27 she has a new half-brother by Not This Time. Phantom Blue's third dam is MGSW Atlantic Ocean (Stormy Atlantic). On the same Speightstown-Medaglia d'Oro cross that yielded current sires...

Less than 48 hours after Colonial Downs was coated in three inches of fresh snow, Saturday's Virginia Derby, the last 50-point prep race on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, will have competitors and visitors alike dreaming of warmer things to come on the first Saturday in May. Now in its second year, the newly-repositioned Virginia Derby (moved up from the track's traditional summer meet) drew a field of 10 after running with just seven entries in its inaugural edition won by the late D. Wayne Lukas's American Promise (Justify)....

HALLANDALE, FL--Kicking off the graded stakes action on Pegasus Day, Gary Barber, Bridlewood Farm and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Speed Shopper (Quality Road) closed stoutly from off the pace to earn her first graded stakes win in the inaugural running of the GIII Christophe Clement Stakes at Gulfstream. Arya Stark (Arg) (CosmicTiger {Arg}) popped out to the front straight out of the gate as Speed Shopper settled right behind Weighted Average (English Channel) through an opening quarter mile in :24.76. Remaining largely unchanged up front following a :50.20 half and three...

On the surface, hiring people who have battled substance abuse issues, some of whom have criminal records, might not seem like a good idea. But Elliott Walden, the president and CEO of racing operations for WinStar Farm, felt otherwise. His family had dealt with these issues for years. His son, Will, now a successful trainer who is sober, had dealt with addiction for years before turning his life around thanks to the Stable Recovery program, which was co-founded by Taylor Made's Frank Taylor and Christian Countzler. Stable Recovery helps addicts...