Should Justify complete a Triple Crown sweep Saturday, the Belmont Park winner's circle will be filled to overflowing with members of his various ownership groups, media, and other entities. But a similarly raucous winner's-circle celebration could take place some hours earlier, should the Churchill Downs Racing Club's Warrior's Club continue a solid season with a victory in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap.
The Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap has a history of being a stallion-making race because it showcases the brilliance that is so desired in the American market. Solid sires have continued to emerge from the historic race in recent years – including Ghostzapper and Quality Road, who are positioned to showcase themselves on Belmont's major weekend of racing.
Sparkman: Masar's Derby victory extends influence of Urban Sea
Less than a decade after he was a classic winner himself, Lookin At Lucky hopes to get lucky in next week's Belmont Stakes as the broodmare sire of the enigmatic Gronkowski – and is looking ahead to a big summer after closing May with a bang.
Sovereign Award champion Wonder Gadot is a Grade 2 winner on dirt and finished second in the Kentucky Oaks in her most recent outing. She is a Grade 3 winner on synthetic and is Grade 1-placed on turf. She is the latest star filly for sire Medaglia d'Oro, and that versatility will serve her well as she heads to the Canadian classics, which reward proficiency on multiple surfaces.
Sparkman: Accelerate helps sire Lookin At Lucky enjoy breakout weekend
Blue hen Leslie's Lady has been bred to Not This Time, the connections of the stallion announced on Wednesday evening.
Queen's Plate hopeful Cooler Mike brings a proven classic sire line to the Canadian Triple Crown, balancing out a speed-oriented female family that is cause for concern ahead of the series.
Mind Your Biscuits, winner of the Group 1, $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen in March for a second consecutive year, has been bought by Japan’s Shadai Farm and will stand stud there next year.
The #metoo movement in American culture and politics has reminded us all of the gender inequality baked into our small world’s traditionally, historically patriarchal culture. There are few better examples of gender inequality, though, than in the world of Thoroughbred breeding.
