Mon, 06/12/2023 - 12:20

Arcangelo gives Arrogate first classic victory

Barbara D. Livingston
Arrogate, who died in 2020, became a classic-winning sire when Arcangelo won the Belmont Stakes.

With every passing month, the loss of champion Arrogate early in his stallion career becomes starker. It was apparent again Saturday evening, as Arcangelo won the Belmont Stakes, conferring classic sire status on Arrogate posthumously.

Mon, 06/12/2023 - 12:05

Clairiere follows in mother's footsteps with Ogden Phipps victory

Justin N. Lane
Clairiere (outside) took home the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps and is the first foal of Cavorting, who won the 2016 rendition of that race.

It was like mother, like daughter in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps Stakes on Saturday at Belmont Park. Cavorting, a three-time Grade 1 winner in New York, captured the race in 2016. Her first foal, Clairiere, is now a two-time Phipps winner after claiming Saturday’s edition.

“I am very proud, and of course her mother won this race, too,” said owner Barbara Banke of Stonestreet Farm. “It’s been a family tradition.”

Wed, 06/07/2023 - 11:45

Tapit could set record with fifth Belmont Stakes winner

Barbara D. Livingston
Tapit Trice is one of two Belmont Stakes starters that is sired by the legendary Tapit, who will become the Belmont Stakes all-time leading sire with a win.

There are few names better to find in the pedigree of a Belmont Stakes candidate than Tapit – and he has an outsized mark on Saturday’s renewal. Tapit, who is seeking to claim outright the record he co-holds with the great Lexington as the Belmont’s leading sire, is the sire of entrants Tapit Trice and Tapit Shoes. He is also the broodmare sire of four other entrants in the nine-horse field, in Arcangelo, Hit Show, Il Miracolo, and Red Route One.

Tue, 06/06/2023 - 15:20

Secretariat's broodmare legacy includes a galaxy of stars

Barbara D. Livingston
A.P. Indy was one of Secretariat's greatest products from his female line. Foaled by Secretariat's daughter Weekend Surprise, A.P. Indy was a star as a sales horse, a racehorse, and possibly most of all, as a stallion.

Tapit, the most successful sire in the modern history of the Belmont Stakes and looking to secure the race’s sire record outright this weekend, wouldn’t be here without him. Neither would Quality Road, sire of Preakness Stakes winner National Treasure. And nor would four-time reigning leading sire Into Mischief, who will have Kentucky Oaks winner Pretty Mischievous in action this weekend at Belmont Park.

Wed, 05/31/2023 - 13:15

Dorth Vader will run out of Weaver's barn in Acorn

Lauren King
Dorth Vader upsets the Davona Dale at 45-1.

Dorth Vader, who upset the Grade 2 Davona Dale at odds of 45-1 earlier this winter at Gulfstream Park and most recently finished a game fifth after being hung wide pressing the early pace in the Kentucky Oaks, has been transferred from trainer Michael Yates to George Weaver in preparation for her upcoming start a week from Friday at Belmont Park in the Grade 1 Acorn.

Wed, 05/31/2023 - 12:45

Impeccably bred American Rascal heads to Ascot off impressive debut

Coady Photography
American Rascal is a son of Horse of the Year Curlin. His first two dams were champions.

American Rascal was born to international royalty, as his sire and first two dams are champions. He’ll look to begin growing into that legacy when, off an impressive debut victory, he targets the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes on June 22 at the Royal Ascot meeting.

Sun, 05/21/2023 - 12:56

National Treasure brings quite the crowd to Preakness winner's circle

National Treasure (right) beats Blazing Sevens in Preakness May 20 2023
Barbara D. Livingston
National Treasure (right) was given a 98 Beyer Speed Figure for Saturday's triumph in the Preakness.

Kentucky Derby winner Mage tested the capacity limits of the winner’s circle at Churchill Downs, as he is owned by the four-pronged partnership of OGMA Investments, Ramiro Restrepo, Sterling Racing, and Commonwealth, the latter involving several hundred partners. But, improbably, the winner's stand for the Preakness Stakes two weeks later looked even more likely to overflow as the owners of National Treasure took their turn with the Woodlawn Vase.

Fri, 05/19/2023 - 12:00

This week's Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sale has high bar to top

Barbara D. Livingston
Mage, winner of this year's Kentucky Derby, sold for $290,000 at last year's Fasing-Tipton Midlantic 2-year-old in training sale.

Mage, a graduate of the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-year-olds in training sale, returned to Maryland a year after that auction as the Kentucky Derby winner.

Less than 48 hours after he was expected to start in Saturday’s Preakness Stakes, horsemen will head to the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium, some 15 minutes away, for this year’s Midlantic May sale. The auction has steadily grown in prominence from a solid regional sale into one of the leading auctions in the nation, buoyed by a constant stream of graded stakes-winning graduates.

Tue, 05/16/2023 - 13:10

Secretariat's stud career produced brilliant stars, dimmed only by comparison

Barbara D. Livingston
Preakness winner Risen Star trains for the 1988 Belmont Stakes, which he won by 14 3/4 lengths in 2:26 2/5. At the time only his sire, Secretariat, had won the Belmont in faster time.

This is the second in a three-part series examining Secretariat’s influence on the Thoroughbred bloodstock industry as we mark the 50-year anniversary of his historic Triple Crown triumphs. This week, learn about Big Red’s record as a sire, with his breakthrough performer in the American classics being Preakness and Belmont Stakes winner Risen Star, 35 years ago.

Mon, 05/15/2023 - 12:55

National Treasure female family traces directly to Man o' War

National Treasure wins debut at DMR Sept 3 2022
Emily Shields
Preakness contender National Treasure links to Man o' War through his ninth dam, Masda.

National Treasure is considered one of the primary challengers to Kentucky Derby winner Mage in the Preakness Stakes. Passing on the Kentucky Derby worked out well for one of the most prominent names deep in National Treasure’s family. His female line traces directly to Masda, full sister to the great Man o’ War, who skipped the 1920 Kentucky Derby before dominating the Preakness and Belmont Stakes.