Jonathan’s Way won the first points race toward the 2025 Kentucky Derby on the front end by a professional 2 3/4 lengths in the Grade 3, $300,000 Iroquois Stakes on Saturday at Churchill Downs. The Vekoma colt is now targeting the Grade 1, $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Del Mar.
Between Sept. 11 and Sept. 15, trainer Brittany Russell won seven races from 18 starts, including a facile victory with stable star Post Time in Laurel Park’s $100,000 Polynesian Stakes.
The Russell barn looks to continue its hot streak Wednesday at Delaware Park with Saddle Up Jessie, the 5-2 morning-line favorite in the $125,000 Obeah Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – It’s been 20 years since jockey Robert Landry rode Niigon to victory in the prestigious Queen’s Plate for Chiefswood Stables.
Landry, who went on to become Chiefswood’s longtime general manager, was hoping for another Plate score this year for the operation, which didn’t materialize, but their homebred Kin’s Concerto took the Woodbine Oaks over the eventual King’s Plate winner, Caitlinhergrtness.
Purse levels for the Golden State Racing meeting at Pleasanton this fall had not been finalized as of Sunday and were scheduled to be subject of discussions by racing officials early this week in advance of a key meeting of the California Horse Racing Board on Thursday.
Grand Mo the First returned to his Gulfstream base Monday following a runner-up finish in the Grade 3 Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs.
Grand Mo the First was beaten a neck in the race run last Saturday.
“He came back very well,” trainer Victor Barboza Jr. said. “I don’t know what will be the next race. He ran very hard. It was a long trip. He needs time before the next race.”
Barboza said he will see how Grand Mo the First trains over the next few weeks before making in plans with Granpollo Stable.
R Morning Brew won the $100,000 Desert Vixen division of the Florida Sire Stakes last Saturday at Gulfstream to remain perfect in two career starts. She covered six furlongs in a sharp 1:10.85 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 74.
Saffie Joseph Jr., who trains the daughter of Curlin’s Honor for Averill Racing, said she emerged from the race in good order. He said plans are to advance to the $200,000 Susan’s Girl division Oct. 19 at seven furlongs.
Rated by Merit has emerged as one of the fastest 2-year-olds in North America based on Beyer Speed Figures and next-race options for the Gulfstream Park-based runner include upcoming preps for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
The championship race is Nov. 1 at Del Mar.
Rated by Merit has won the first two starts of his career by a combined margin of 16 lengths. He earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 92 in his debut July 13 and came back and earned a 93 last Saturday, when he captured the $100,000 Dr. Fager division of the Florida Sire Stakes.
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Nyquist is teed up for success in coming years, thanks to the support he received following his strong freshman season. That support is coming to fruition, with multiple Grade 1-winning 2-year-olds in the crop on the track and multiple seven-figure yearlings from the crop at the sales.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Bank Frenzy made an auspicious debut for new connections when he overcame a slow start to win the $125,000 Evan Shipman Stakes for New York-breds at Saratoga last month.
With an eye toward the $250,000 Empire Classic versus state-breds next month at Aqueduct, Bank Frenzy will start in an open second-level allowance going a one-turn mile which serves as the feature on Sunday’s nine-race program at Aqueduct.
Fittingly, New Jersey-breds are on display this closing Sunday of the 2024 Monmouth Park meet with a pair of $85,000 handicaps for 3-year-olds and up at five furlongs on the turf.
Mia’s Crusade looks to win the Pinot Grigio Handicap for fillies and mares for the second consecutive year. Named 2023’s New Jersey champion older mare, the versatile Mia’s Crusade has won statebred stakes races this year on dirt and turf at distances ranging from six furlongs to one mile.
