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Saffie Joseph Jr. has two horses in each of Friday's co-featured optional-claiming and allowance races, both of which are restricted to Florida-bred fillies and mares. City Minute and Sapphire Girl go 7 1/2 furlongs on turf in the fourth race, while Love Like Lucy and Jestina are among the key contenders in the sixth.
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Kentucky Derby: Who's hot, who's not for March 18, 2026
Streisand, the Southern Hemisphere 2-year-old filly, has already won a seven-figure race in Australia this year, in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne on Feb. 21. The manner of her victory in that six-furlong race, stalking the pace and winning by three-quarters of a length, has pushed Streisand to the fore of contenders in Saturday's Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes at six furlongs at Rosehill Gardens in Sydney.
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Connect, a son of Curlin, has Grade 2 Risen Star runner-up Chip Honcho looking to punch his Kentucky Derby ticket in Saturday's Louisiana Derby – and Connect's sireline will need to help balance out a sprint-type female family.
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Martha Claussen has spent 29 years championing racing at Sam Houston Race Park since the track brought her on as publicity director in 1997, and on Saturday her efforts will be lauded during the Texas Champions Day card in Houston.
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The successful stallion Stormy Atlantic, who spent the last several years of his life back at his birthplace, Bridlewood Farm in Florida, has died from the infirmities of old age at 32, the farm reported Tuesday evening.
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Goodall emerged from the $150,000 Purple Martin on Saturday at Oaklawn Park with the year's co-highest Beyer Speed Figure for a 3-year-old filly. She earned a 94, the same number Grade 3 winner Mythical put up Saturday taking the Any Limit at Gulfstream Park.
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The early pick five Friday at Santa Anita offers appeal for two groups of bettors – those aiming for a modest score, and those who appreciate maiden races.
The Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit will return in 2026 and be held on June 29-30 at the Keeneland Sales Pavilion in Lexington, the sponsors of the conference announced on Wednesday.
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Trainer Brittany Russell was left with a deepened respect for Dazzling Dame when the front-running filly held second in the $250,000 Virginia Oaks at Colonial Downs last Saturday. She might not have been a match for Bob Baffert-trained filly Bottle of Rouge, but the local talent still has sky-high prospects early in her 3-year-old campaign.
