AINTREE, England – A year ago, Grangeclare West finished third in the famous Grand National steeplechase at Aintree Racecourse, an unlucky performance considering he nearly unseated his jockey after a pivotal jumping error at the 30th and final fence.
Since then, Saturday’s $1.34 million Grand National has been a clear goal for the 10-year-old Grangeclare West.
Rahy’s Attorney, One for Rose, Richard Dos Ramos, John Burness, and Dale Saunders are among the 2026 inductees into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame.
Rahy’s Attorney gained his 15 minutes by upsetting the 2008 Woodbine Mile, a prestigious Grade 1 stakes. He was voted the Sovereign Award as outstanding male grass runner that year and went on to capture the Grade 2 King Edward and Grade 2 Nijinsky while banking $2.1 million for trainer Ian Black.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – There have been a lot of developments since Hymn made his last start, and all of them point him out as a chief contender in the featured ninth race on Friday at Oaklawn Park.
Hymn is part of a field of 11 in the first-level allowance for 4-year-olds and up at six furlongs. The competitive group includes the Grade 3-placed runners Innovator and Risk It, and notable Beyer Speed Figure earners Master Mule and Tap Me a Song.
Despite all the major points-scoring races having been completed, there are still many decisions that need to be made before getting a total handle on the field for Kentucky Derby 152 on May 2 at Churchill Downs.
There are at least four horses among the top 21 point-earners who are less than certain to be entered by their connections come April 25. Ottinho, Class President, and Stark Contrast – who currently rank 15th through 17th on the points list – are uncertain to run. Additionally, Iron Honor, who ranks 21st, also is questionable to be entered.
Michael Trombetta was disappointed when he lost Sky’s Not Falling in a $35,000 claiming race at Gulfstream Park in December, ending a working relationship that went all the way back to July 2020. But when the 8-year-old gelding reappeared at the same level on March 1, the trainer was quick to make things right.
With She Feels Pretty retired, there’s a heavy preseason favorite to win an Eclipse Award as champion older turf female of 2026.
Gezora took down She Feels Pretty last fall in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf and is set to make her first start this year in the same race She Feels Pretty would have targeted had she made it back to the races – the Grade 3, $500,000 Modesty on May 1 at Churchill.
Trainer Chad Brown confirmed the Modesty as a comeback spot for Gezora, with connections eyeing the Grade 1, $750,000 New York Stakes on June 5 at Saratoga.
David Fiske, racing manager for Ron Winchell’s Winchell Thoroughbreds, sent a video a couple days after Magnitude returned to Kentucky after what ought to have been an arduous journey to the Middle East. In it, Magnitude has a joyful roll around his stall in the international quarantine barn at Churchill Downs. He leaps athletically to his feet, shakes straw off his coat, and jaunts to the stall door, craning his head alertly, full of life.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The Arkansas Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association has established a scholarship fund in honor of the late Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas.
Jeanette Milligan, the organization’s executive director, said the idea for both the scholarship and naming it for Lukas came from Arkansas HBPA president Bill Walmsley. It will be announced Friday night, when Lukas is inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame alongside Oaklawn president Lou Cella.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Haulin Ice, the all-time leading earner among Arkansas-breds with a bankroll of $1.2 million, could make her next start in a turf stakes at Churchill Downs, trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said.
Haulin Ice won the $250,000 Matron over open company March 27 at Oaklawn. Before that, she surpassed $1 million in earnings with an 11-length romp over statebreds in the track’s $150,000 Downsthedustyroad.
WHO’S HOT
Brad Cox won a Kentucky Derby points-scoring race for the third straight week, this time with Further Ado galloping to an 11-length victory in the Grade 1 Blue Grass. Further Ado, who earned a division-best 106 Beyer Speed Figure was lowered by David Aragona from 25-1 before the Blue Grass to co-second choice at 5-1 with his Cox-trained stablemate, Commandment, winner of the Grade 1 Florida Derby on March 28.
Cox also has Jeff Ruby Steaks winner Fulleffort pointing to the Derby.
