Via Sistina has again shown why she’s the finest import to have landed in Australia with another comfortable romp in the race that kicked it off for her in this country, the Ranvet Stakes (G1). Bought as a yearling in Britain in 2019 for around AU$9,700 and purchased four years later as a group 1…
The second leg of the Road to the Kentucky Derby Championship Series, in which points are awarded to the top 5 finishers on a 100-50-25-15-10 scale, is one of the more unique experiences in Thoroughbred racing for owners. Oftentimes, any bystander near the connections of the runner-up would think that those people jumping around and…
Stakes-winning jockey Philip Ernst, a mainstay on the old New England circuit for five decades, died peacefully in his Derry, N.H., home March 22 surrounded by his family. Ernst, 84, had battled leukemia for the past several years. Ernst was raised in Covington, Ky., and aspired to be a jockey from a young age. He…
Multiple graded stakes winner The Queens M G looks to build her resume ahead of the first Friday in May when she makes her expected start in the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) at Gulfstream Park March 29. The 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-old fillies offers qualifying points on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks (G1) on…
Half Hollow Stables’ My Mitole breezed five furlongs in 1:02.55 March 22 over the Belmont Park dirt training track toward a probable next start in the $750,000 Wood Memorial Stakes (G2), a 1 1/8-mile test for sophomores at Aqueduct Racetrack April 5. Trainer Carlos Martin equipped the Mitole chestnut with blinkers for the move after a last-out fourth…
Barnes , Rodriguez , Gaming and champion Citizen Bull all worked for trainer Bob Baffert March 23 at Santa Anita Park. Also on the tab was Vodka With a Twist , last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) runner-up, who is preparing to make her 3-year-old debut in the Santa Anita Oaks (G2) April 5. Working together in…
Trainer Brian Knippenberg couldn’t help but get emotional as he watched 5-year-old gelding Mercante soar across the Turfway Park finish line March 22 in the $290,000 Kentucky Cup Classic Stakes (G3), pulling the 13-1 upset. “Every minute we get with him is like a borrowed minute,” Knippenberg said in the winner’s circle. Mercante, dk b/br,…
Bless the Broken rallied four wide in the far turn to seize the lead in early stretch and then held off a late charge from As Catch Can to win the $280,000 Bourbonette Oaks March 22 at Turfway Park. With the 2 3/4-length win, Bless the Broken earned 50 qualifying points toward the Kentucky Oaks…
Hometown hero and Louisiana-bred Touchuponastar handily defeated last year’s champion 3-year-old male, Sierra Leone , in the March 22 $480,000 New Orleans Classic Stakes (G2) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. Sierra Leone, making his seasonal debut in the 1 1/8-mile dirt race, finished third, beaten 4 1/2 lengths by the winner. Hall of Fame , the…
Upsets seemed to be the order of the day March 22 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots—until Good Cheer stepped onto the track for the $396,000 Fair Grounds Oaks (G2). Defending Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner and champion 3-year-old male Sierra Leone had gone down to defeat two races earlier. The previous race went to…
