Triple Crown winner American Pharoah got off to a perfect start with his highly anticipated first crop, as first starter Monarch of Egypt became his first winner Saturday at Naas in Ireland.
Triple Crown winner American Pharoah is off to a perfect start with his highly anticipated first crop, as the young stallion's first starter, Monarch of Egypt, also became his first winner Saturday at Naas in Ireland.
Stage Magic, whose two graded stakes winners last season included unbeaten Triple Crown winner Justify, has been named Kentucky's Broodmare of the Year for 2018.
Top-flight racemare and broodmare Take Charge Lady had connections to the winners of both divisions of the Rebel Stakes last month at Oaklawn Park. Those winners are expected to meet in the Arkansas Derby on Saturday, as Omaha Beach ships back in from California to face Long Range Toddy in this final major Kentucky Derby prep.
The Malibu Moon mare Come Dancing earned the top Beyer Speed Figure of 2019 when she won the Grade 3 Distaff Handicap on Saturday at Aqueduct.
A filly from the first crop of Wicked Strong led a trifecta sweep for freshman sires in a maiden special weight for juveniles on Sunday at Keeneland. Secretly Wicked wore down Competitive Queen for a half-length victory in the 4 1/2-furlong maiden race, becoming the first starter and winner for her sire, who stands at Spendthrift Farm. Competitive Queen is from the first crop of Competitive Edge, who stands at Coolmore's Ashford Stud. Five lengths farther back in third was the favored Palace Duchess, by Spendthrift Farm's Palace.
Quality Road got a head start in this year's sire race when his son City of Light won North America's richest race, the Pegasus World Cup. But despite City of Light's immediate retirement to Lane's End Farm, where he stands alongside his sire, Quality Road has continued to strengthen his hand for the season.
No decision has yet been made on who the Australian superstar mare Winx will visit for her first mating after the expected conclusion of her racing career this weekend.
Undefeated Triple Crown winner Justify will shuttle to stand at Coolmore Australia during the Southern Hemisphere breeding season, which begins Sept. 1.
A newcomer to the Derby Watch list this week is undefeated Maximum Security, who was risked for a claiming tag in his debut, but has now punched his Kentucky Derby ticket with a victory in the Grade 1 Florida Derby.
