Fri, 04/10/2026 - 12:51

White Abarrio at top of his game coming into Oaklawn Handicap

White Abarrio works at GP March 26 2026
Barbara D. Livingston
White Abarrio works on March 26. Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. was pleased with his Friday breeze for Saturday's Oaklawn Handicap.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – White Abarrio put the finishing touches on preparations for his much anticipated showdown with Horse of the Year Sovereignty next Saturday in the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap by breezing an easy half-mile in 49.79 seconds Friday at Gulfstream Park.

Fri, 04/10/2026 - 12:02

Questions abound regarding top players

Coady Media
Queen Mallard figures to be prominent from post 10 under Keith Asmussen.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The are plenty of questions for the leading contenders in the featured ninth race Sunday at Oaklawn Park. Will Queen Mallard carry her speed around two turns? Can Lady Woopig overcome post 12? Does Principal Anita’s focus improve with blinkers on?

These questions will be answered during the running of the first-level allowance for fillies and mares bred in Arkansas. The $125,000 race will be held over 1 1/16 miles and could produce starters for the $150,000 Natural State Breeders’ on April 30.

Fri, 04/10/2026 - 10:54

Over 1,200 2-year-olds cataloged for OBS spring sale

Coady Media
Suspicions won on April 3 at Keeneland for sire Corniche.

Charlie O’Connor, director of sales for Coolmore’s Ashford Stud in Kentucky, was standing in the winner’s circle at Keeneland when the phone began ringing. Suspicions, the first starter for the farm’s sire Corniche, had just won the first race on opening day, and breeders were already angling to get into the stallion for the ongoing breeding season.

“The phone’s ringing already,” O’Connor said. “We couldn’t be happier.”

Thu, 04/09/2026 - 14:46

Roll On Big Joe goes for four in a row in Count Fleet

Coady Media
Roll On Big Joe has won his last three starts in a streak that began with the $269,500 Bet On Sunshine on Nov. 1 at Churchill Downs.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Roll On Big Joe has arguably emerged as the dominant sprinter this meet at Oaklawn Park. As such, the Grade 3, $500,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap would seem to go through him Saturday.

“He’s healthy, happy, and ready to run,” trainer Bob Hess Jr. said.

Thu, 04/09/2026 - 14:16

Nitrogen leads field loaded with stakes winners for Apple Blossom

Barbara D. Livingston
Nitrogen heads a field full of stakes winners with a Breeders' Cup berth on the line for Saturday's Apple Blossom at Oaklawn.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – A Breeders’ Cup Distaff berth is up for grabs Saturday, when champion Nitrogen leads a competitive cast of fillies and mares in the Grade 1, $1.25 million Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park.

The race has been the spring objective for the 122-pound highweight. Nitrogen is among nine set to start in the 1 1/16-mile offering that, for the first time, carries the distinction of being a Breeders’ Cup Challenge race.

Thu, 04/09/2026 - 13:49

Sculcos Folly goes for third straight win in Mind Your Biscuits

Barbara D. Livingston
Sculcos Folly will look to extend his win streak in Saturday's Mind Your Biscuits Stakes at Aqueduct.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer Rick Dutrow ran Sculcos Folly for a claiming price three times so, yes, he is surprised the son of Redesdale is going for his second straight stakes victory in Saturday’s $200,000 Mind Your Biscuits Stakes, one of two New York Stallion Series races that comprise a rare eight-race Saturday card at Aqueduct.

Thu, 04/09/2026 - 13:24

Weekend GamePlan: Picks for Apple Blossom Handicap, Jenny Wiley, Count Fleet Sprint Handicap

Regaled at DMR Oct 25 2025
Barbara D. Livingston
Regaled had an excellent tune-up for the Apple Blossom in the Azeri Stakes. She finished ahead of Nitrogen in that race and came up just three-quarters of a length short of catching the winner, Majestic Oops.

Having failed in my quest to gain the open Kentucky Derby mount on Commandment – I concede that Luis Saez is a stronger finisher than I am – it is back to touting Saturday stakes races. Surprisingly limited menu this week. We’re keeping it to two venues.

Apple Blossom

Zenyatta won two Apple Blossoms. So did the great Argentine import Paseana, who wasn’t as good as the other Ron McAnally-trained, Argentina-bred Apple Blossom winner, Bayakoa. Azeri landed three in a row, 2002-04.

Thu, 04/09/2026 - 12:09

Brown duo to battle Walsh pair in Jenny Wiley

Barbara D. Livingston
Segesta, one of two trained by Chad Brown, must overcome a wide draw in Saturday's Jenny Wiley at Keeneland.

An odd thing happened last year in the Jenny Wiley Stakes: Chad Brown didn’t train the winner.

Brown had won three straight Jenny Wileys, six out of seven, and seven of 10, and in truth, he probably should have won last year. Excellent Truth finished second by a half-length to Choisya, who hampered her in the stretch run.

Thu, 04/09/2026 - 12:04

To stretch streak, Miss Vyvyanne must overcome pace pressure

Miss Vyvyanne wins at GP March 14 2026
Lauren King/Coglianese Photos
Front-running Miss Vyvyanne is drawn just outside the quick Demar’s Legacy in the Golden Beach overnight handicap on Saturday.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Although Woodbine-based Gail Cox spends most of the winter freshening her stable at the Payson Park training center in Indiantown, Fla., she will on occasion make the 90-minute drive down the turnpike to run one of her horses at Gulfstream Park. On Saturday, Cox will send out Miss Vyvyanne as one of the favorites in the $75,000 Golden Beach overnight handicap.

Thu, 04/09/2026 - 11:50

Big, balanced field hooks up in the Lexington

Tom Keyser
Confessional has continued to face strong company for Brad Cox since winning his debut.

A field of 11 3-year-olds who last raced at seven different tracks converge in Lexington for the Lexington, a Grade 3, $400,000 dirt race going 1 1/16 miles that could propel horses toward bigger things.