Fri, 04/17/2026 - 13:02

Bam's Bliss Kiss, Collect the Data put win streaks on the line in Biogio's Rose

Adam Coglianese / NYRA
Collect the Data, 3 for 4 at one mile at Aqueduct, looks to extend her win streak in Sunday's Biogio's Rose.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Bam’s Bliss Kiss has won five straight races. Collect the Data has won three consecutive and four of her last five. Further, they both have achieved their success in the same front-running manner.

So, something will have to give when both attempt to claim their first stakes victory in Sunday’s $135,000 Biogio’s Rose Stakes for New York-bred females going one mile at Aqueduct.

Fri, 04/17/2026 - 12:46

Slight cutback should suit Cooey

Ryan Thompson/Coglianese Photos
Back at six furlongs on Sunday, Cooey will be the likely pacesetter.

Saffie Joseph Jr. had things pretty easy when Cooey first entered his barn late last year and rattled off two straight victories, but the filly hit a wall when she stepped up to face open-company winners in January. Still winless this year, her trainer believes she is due for a breakthrough in the seventh race on Sunday at Gulfstream Park, a first-level allowance on dirt.

Fri, 04/17/2026 - 12:07

Thistledown's 100-day meet gets underway; Ohio Derby set for June 20

JJ Zamaiko Photography
An eight-race Monday program kicks off Thistledown’s 100-day live racing season, which runs through Oct. 8.

After the long fall and winter stand at Mahoning Valley Racetrack in Youngstown, the Ohio Thoroughbred circuit is on the move. Spring and summer action in the Buckeye State begins with Thistledown’s meet opener on Monday in North Randall, just outside of Cleveland. Belterra Park in Cincinnati will follow, opening its season on Friday, May 1.

An eight-race Monday program kicks off Thistledown’s 100-day live racing season, which runs through Oct. 8. The track runs four days a week, generally on a Monday-Thursday schedule.

Fri, 04/17/2026 - 12:04

Three contenders warrant consideration in small Santa Maria field

Debra A. Roma
Simply Joking has trained well since finishing fourth in the Grade 1 Beholder Mile last month.

ARCADIA, Calif. – The dwindling female dirt division visits Santa Anita for the Grade 3 Santa Maria Stakes on Sunday.

Just five fillies and mares, including two from low-level claiming races, entered the Santa Maria, a 1 1/16-mile race downgraded this year from Grade 2 to Grade 3. The purse of the Santa Maria underwent a similar pitch, from $200,000 to $100,000.

Fri, 04/17/2026 - 11:57

Hawthorne opens after three-week delay

Four-Footed Fotos
Hawthorne plans to run two days a week, Sundays and Thursdays.

Hawthorne Racecourse, the Chicago-area Thoroughbred track currently undergoing bankruptcy reorganization, opens its live meet Sunday after a roughly three-week delay due to the track’s recent bankruptcy filing.

The track has drawn seven races, all of them claiming or maiden claiming, for its opening-day card, attracting a total of 42 horses. The total amount of purses for the seven races is $82,500, or an average of just less than $12,000 per race, far below the overall industry average of $41,517 in 2025.

Fri, 04/17/2026 - 11:42

Henro will have to run down speedy group topped by Red State

Coady Media
Henro should have plenty of pace to chase in Sunday's featured allowance at Oaklawn.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Henro might have to run down Red State to win the featured eighth race Sunday at Oaklawn Park.

At least that’s one take on the allowance sprint for 4-year-olds and up that carries a claiming option of $62,500. The six-furlong race has a purse of $127,000.

Henro is a serious closing sprinter who has registered three of his five career wins at Oaklawn. He could get a decent setup behind Osbourne, a speed horse who breaks from the rail, and Devil’s Tower, who figures to show pace from post 3.

Fri, 04/17/2026 - 11:20

Mad House targeted for races at Laurel or Churchill

Coady Media
Mad House broke through last weekend with this victory in the Grade 3, $500,000 Count Fleet Handicap.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Mad House ran arguably the best race of his young career in the Grade 3, $500,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap last weekend at Oaklawn Park and now he could take his sharp form to either Churchill Downs or Laurel Park.

Mad House was a determined half-length winner over Roll On Big Joe in the Count Fleet. He covered six furlongs on a fast track in 1:08.93 and for the effort earned his best Beyer Speed Figure, a 102. Mad House invaded off an allowance win at Tampa Bay Downs.

Fri, 04/17/2026 - 10:56

North America's lone five-star three-day event set to get underway in Kentucky

Barbara D. Livingston
The Defender Kentucky five-star and four-star three-day events begin Thursday at the Kentucky Horse Park.

The Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Oaks, and a myriad of undercard stakes featuring top-level runners at Churchill Downs will dominate much of the attention in the coming weeks. But down the highway in Lexington, more Thoroughbreds also will be contesting the pinnacle of the sport in which they’ve found a home.

Fri, 04/17/2026 - 10:41

War Strategy's balmy winter could provide an edge

Julie Wright
War Strategy had an abbreviated three-race campaign in 2025, during which he ran competitively against some formidable opposition.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Among all the comebackers in Sunday’s featured fifth race, War Strategy has been off the longest. But he may have the best chance in the five-furlong dash because he wintered in Florida, unlike the others.

Thu, 04/16/2026 - 14:47

Sovereignty, Journalism headline clash of heavyweights in Oaklawn Handicap

Barbara D. Livingston
Sovereignty will make his first start since his Travers Stakes romp in Saturday's Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The Grade 2, $1.25 million Oaklawn Handicap on Saturday has all the makings of a classic renewal of the storied race with reigning Horse of the Year Sovereignty and Triple Crown warrior Journalism both launching their 4-year-old seasons against an elite older horse in White Abarrio.

The 1 1/8-mile fixture will be showcased on a 12-race card that includes two other stakes, the $200,000 Bathhouse Row, which offers a berth into the Preakness, and the $200,000 Valley of the Vapors.