Fri, 05/30/2025 - 14:39

Far Bridge tops Clement trio confirmed for Manhattan Stakes

Barbara D. Livingston
Far Bridge worked five furlongs in 1:00.02 over the Oklahoma turf course in company with Tawny Port on Friday.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – A trio of horses now under the care of Miguel Clement – Far Bridge, Carson’s Run, and Deterministic – are confirmed for the Grade 1, $1 million Manhattan Stakes at 1 3/16 miles.

Miguel Clement is now the head trainer of the stable following his father Christophe’s death last weekend.

Fri, 05/30/2025 - 14:00

No real standouts in French Derby

The last horse to come out of the Poule d’Essai des Poulains and win the Prix du Jockey Club was the Aidan O’Brien-trained St Mark’s Basilica in 2021, O’Brien’s lone victory in the French Derby. But the O’Brien-trained Camille Pissarro, who last raced in the one-mile Poulains and rates among the favorites Sunday for the 1 5/16-mile Prix du Jockey Club is no St Mark’s Basilica.

Fri, 05/30/2025 - 13:54

Repole sending Uncaged to run in Belmont Stakes

Susie Raisher
Uncaged, a son of 2007 Belmont runner-up Curlin, is 2 for 4 in his career.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – When it comes to the Triple Crown, owner Mike Repole appears to have a case of FOMO.

Fear not, Repole does not plan on missing out on this year’s Belmont Stakes. He has looked deep down trainer Todd Pletcher’s bench of 3-year-olds and has plucked Uncaged from it to run in the $2 million Belmont Stakes on June 7.

Fri, 05/30/2025 - 13:29

Barn 85 at Saratoga placed under quarantine after strangles case

Barbara D. Livingston
Due to a case of strangles, Barn 85 at Saratoga has been placed under a 14-day quarantine.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Barn 85 at Saratoga has been placed under a 14-day precautionary quarantine by the New York Racing Association and the New York State Gaming Commission due to a reported case of strangles in that barn, according a press release sent out by the NYRA.

The quarantine is not expected to have a significant impact on the five-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival scheduled to begin Wednesday. The Belmont Stakes is scheduled for June 7.

Fri, 05/30/2025 - 12:16

Durham wins trifecta of Texas Thoroughbred Association awards

Coady Media
Danele Durham, who bred the Texas horse of the year Too Much Kiki, was honored by the TTA with two other awards.

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas – Danele Durham on Saturday was set to pick up some significant hardware from the Texas Thoroughbred Association during a luncheon at Lone Star.

She is the organization’s 2024 breeder of the year. Durham bred the TTA’s horse of the year, Too Much Kiki, and she owns her dam, Soft Music, who is the TTA’s broodmare of the year.

“It’s a trifecta,” quipped Durham.

Fri, 05/30/2025 - 12:13

Perfect on turf, Usually Wrong to start next in Grand Prairie Turf Sprint

Coady Media
After winning the Chamberlain Bridge, Usually Wrong will likely start next in the Grand Prairie Turf Sprint also at Lone Star Park.

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas – Usually Wrong, who won his stakes debut in the $100,000 Chamberlain Bridge last Monday at Lone Star, will likely run back in the track’s $125,000 Grand Prairie Turf Sprint on June 28.

He improved his career record to 5 for 6 when closing with a rush in the five-furlong race run on yielding turf. Usually Wrong is now 2 for 2 on turf.

Fri, 05/30/2025 - 12:10

Asmussen will try to get Neom Beach back on turf for Wasted Tears

Coady Media
After winning the off-turf Ouija Board Distaff, trainer Steve Asmussen is pointing Neom Beach back to turf in the Wasted Tears.

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas – The versatile Neom Beach became a stakes winner, after a number of close calls, in the $200,000 Ouija Board Distaff last Monday at Lone Star. The race was moved from turf to a sloppy main track during a rain-soaked card.

“It was going to fall her way one of these days and [Monday] was the day it happened,” trainer Steve Asmussen said. “Lovely mare. It just all came together.”

Neom Beach had placed in stakes on both dirt and turf prior to the Ouija Board Distaff.

Fri, 05/30/2025 - 12:08

Cox aiming Instant Replay toward Indiana or Iowa Derby

Coady Media
Instant Replay, winner of the Texas Derby last out, will likely start next in either the Indiana or Iowa Derby, according to trainer Brad Cox.

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas – Instant Replay likely has more derby starts in his future after winning his second consecutive stakes race last Monday in the $300,000 Texas Derby at Lone Star Park.

Trainer Brad Cox said Thursday that Instant Replay has emerged from the race in excellent condition and options for his next start include the Grade 3, $300,000 Indiana Derby at Horseshoe Indianapolis and the $250,000 Iowa Derby at Prairie Meadows. Both races will be run over 1 1/16 miles on July 5.

Fri, 05/30/2025 - 11:25

Wenzel holding strong pair in allowance sprint

Coady Media
Aloha Breeze wintered at Turf Paradise, taking 2 of 3.

In his infinite wisdom, the fictitious anchorman Ron Burgundy once said, “I like a good, strong lady and a tasty BLT.”

His sandwich preference notwithstanding, trainer Tom Wenzel has two good, strong ladies entered in Sunday’s fourth race at Emerald Downs, a $26,000 allowance for fillies and mares ages 3 and up over six furlongs.

Fri, 05/30/2025 - 10:54

Piper's Factor heads north to regain mojo after tough Kentucky run

Michael Burns
Piper’s Factor notched his first stakes wins in the Toronto Cup on the main turf last August under Sofia Vives.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Piper’s Factor drops out of a Churchill Downs stakes Sunday to contest Woodbine’s featured conditioned allowance with an $80,000 claiming option, scheduled for 7 1/2 furlongs on the inner turf.