Mon, 06/03/2024 - 11:30

West Memorial looks to continue success for freshman sire Caracaro

Coady Media
West Memorial beat males last out in the Kentucky Juvenile at Churchill Downs.

Caracaro showed the potential for top-level ability on the racetrack, but never got the chance to deliver a breakthrough victory. Now, his first foals are showing potential – and if fate is kind to them, perhaps they’ll deliver their sire to the top ranks of this freshman class.

Sat, 06/01/2024 - 14:43

Authentic lands first winner

Coady Media
Adeera, the first winner sired by Authentic, won a maiden race at Churchill Downs on May 31.

Horse of the Year Authentic, tabbed as one of the top prospects in this year’s freshman sire class, got his first winner on May 31, as Adeera dueled and drove clear for a 3 3/4-length victory in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden at Churchill Downs.

Authentic is by five-time reigning leading sire and emerging sire of sires Into Mischief, and stands alongside his sire at Spendthrift Farm. Authentic never finished worse than second in eight starts while earning more than $7.2 million, highlighted by victories in the 2020 Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup Classic to earn championship honors.

Sat, 06/01/2024 - 14:32

Justify receives more high praise after City of Troy wins Epsom Derby

Barbara D. Livingston
Justify sired City of Troy, the first U.S.-bred winner of the Epsom Derby since 2003.

Triple Crown winner Justify notched another international accomplishment in his blazing early stallion career as his son City of Troy won the Epsom Derby on Saturday.

The colt was bred in Kentucky by affiliates of the international Coolmore group, and became the first U.S.-bred winner of the English classic since Kris Kin in 2003. Afterward, Aidan O’Brien, who trains for Coolmore, heaped more praise on Justify.

Mon, 05/20/2024 - 14:40

Seize the Grey adds to Arrogate's extraordinary legacy

Seize the Grey takes the Preakness May 18 2024
Debra A. Roma
In his only three crops Arrogate has sired Secret Oath, Arcangelo, and Seize the Grey (above).

“And when you’re gone,
who remembers your name?
Who keeps your flame?
Who tells your story?”

– Broadway’s “Hamilton”

With every passing year, the depth of the loss of champion Arrogate, who died at age 7 after just three seasons at stud, becomes more pronounced. His first crop was led by Kentucky Oaks winner Secret Oath; his second by Belmont and Travers winner and champion Arcangelo. His third crop now includes Seize the Grey, front-running victor of last Saturday’s Preakness Stakes – and a candidate for the Belmont Stakes.

Mon, 05/13/2024 - 13:20

Imagination tries to follow in the footsteps of National Treasure

Benoit Photo
Imagination (inside) finished a close second last out to Stronghold in the Santa Anita Derby, who later came back to run in the Kentucky Derby.

Can history repeat itself? That’s one question for Santa Anita Derby runner-up Imagination in the Preakness Stakes. The colt races for many of the same connections as last year’s Preakness winner, National Treasure, and is from the same extended female family as that colt – one that has had a great deal of success throughout racing history.

Mon, 05/13/2024 - 13:15

Second-generation progeny of Uncle Mo continue to excel

Barbara D. Livingston
The top progeny of Uncle Mo include Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist and Belmont Stakes winner Mo Donegal.

Uncle Mo is, in less than a decade with runners on the track, already an accomplished classic influence as the sire of Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist and Belmont Stakes winner Mo Donegal. With his progeny continuing to produce runners who excel in the second generation, he added another accomplishment to his résumé as the broodmare sire of recent Kentucky Oaks winner Thorpedo Anna. He has a chance to continue building his reputation in that regard with Muth, one of the favorites for the Preakness Stakes.

Mon, 05/13/2024 - 13:10

Mugatu can add to Blofeld's Maryland success

Barbara D. Livingston
Mugatu was a late-running fifth last out in the Grade 1 Blue Grass.

Mugatu was foaled in Kentucky and trains at Belterra Park in Ohio. But in some ways, he’ll be coming home when he runs in the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course. The colt was conceived in Maryland, as he is sired by Blofeld, a prominent young sire in the state who stands at Murmur Farm in Darlington.

Wed, 05/08/2024 - 14:52

Nest, the champion 3-year-old filly of 2022, has been retired; will be bred to Uncle Mo

Debra A. Roma
Owner Mike Repole intended to race Nest this year at age 5, but a recent examination revealed an ankle abnormality.

Nest, the champion 3-year-old filly of 2022 and a four-time Grade 1 winner, has been retired from racing, her owner Mike Repole said Wednesday.

Mon, 05/06/2024 - 12:40

Thorpedo Anna's family known for overcoming challenges

Barbara D. Livingston
Thorpedo Anna won the Kentucky Oaks over a sloppy track as the second betting choice.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Thorpedo Anna dominated last Friday’s Kentucky Oaks as the second betting choice, leading all the way and splashing clear to a 4 3/4-length victory. But in some ways, the filly was the biggest of longshots. Her mere existence is a credit to breeder and co-owner Judy Hicks, as Thorpedo Anna’s dam, Sataves, had a premature and troubled start to life and required painstaking care.

Mon, 04/29/2024 - 12:00

Sierra Leone, Forever Young share broodmare connection

Debra A. Roma
Forever Young will look to become the first Japanese-based winner of the Kentucky Derby.

It would be virtually impossible for a broodmare to have two Kentucky Derby starters in the same year; the race is, of course, only for 3-year-olds, and surviving, thriving twins are rare in horses. But the pensioned broodmare Darling My Darling has found a way to get her name into this year’s lineup twice. Two of the mare’s daughters have foals in the race, represented by Sierra Leone and Forever Young.