Nature dictates that the Thoroughbred bloodstock industry proceed with its business, even as the world grapples with the coronavirus pandemic. In the Northern Hemisphere, the breeding season was well under way as various jurisdictions began to declare states of emergency, and this week, both The Jockey Club and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture issued additional guidelines to help the season continue unabated and with as little chance of spreading the virus as possible.

Tiz the Law

Constitution – Tizfiz, by Tiznow

Bred in New York by Twin Creeks Farm ($110,000 Fasig-Tipton New York-bred yearling purchase by Jack Knowlton)

A Munnings filly out of a Tapit mare won the Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks on Saturday – just not the one everyone expected.

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Bonny South won her third consecutive race as she upset the Fair Grounds Oaks. Heavy favorite Finite, bred on the same pedigree cross, faded to fourth.

The Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders has unveiled its statebred champions and associated merit award winners, led by Broodmare of the Year Beyond the Waves, via press release. The award winners are typically revealed at a luncheon in April at Keeneland, which has been postponed until the fall due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Beyond the Waves, the dam of 2019 Horse of the Year Bricks and Mortar, was honored as Kentucky’s Broodmare of the Year on Thursday, days after being bred to Oscar Performance, a major vote of confidence for the second-year stallion, who stands at Mill Ridge Farm in Lexington, Ky.

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Nature dictates that the Thoroughbred bloodstock industry proceed with its business, even as the world grapples with the coronavirus pandemic. In the Northern Hemisphere, the breeding season is well under way, and with mares and their attendant staff shipping to stallion farms, the farms have begun rolling out policies to limit interactions between people that may spread illness.

:: DRF BREEDING LIVE: Real-time coverage of breeding and sales

Enforceable

Tapit–Justwhistledixie, by Dixie Union Bred in Kentucky by Clearsky Farms

The road to the 2020 Kentucky Derby has been thrown into flux, but for now it continues with Saturday’s Grade 2 Louisiana Derby, with the regally bred Enforceable the favorite.

:: KENTUCKY DERBY 2020: Derby Watch, point standings, prep schedule, news, and more

The New York Thoroughbred Breeders’ announced Thursday it has canceled the organization’s awards dinner scheduled for April 6 in Saratoga due to concerns about the coronavirus pandemic.

At the dinner, the NYTB would have announced and honored the 2019 New York-bred champion horses. The NYTB will publicly announce the award winners on April 6 via press release and later it will distribute a video through its website and social media channels. The NYTB is contacting individual attendees about their previous reservations.

Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner War Emblem, famous on the track and off for his strong will, has died at age 21.

War Emblem was found dead early Wednesday morning at the Old Friends Thoroughbred retirement facility in Georgetown, Ky., where he had been pensioned since 2015. A fatal paddock accident is suspected, but a full necropsy report is pending.

:: DRF BREEDING LIVE: Real-time coverage of breeding and sales

Three Technique

Mr Speaker – Nite in Rome, by Harlan’s Holiday

Bred in Kentucky by Omega Farm LLC and Bally Breeders ($50,000 Keeneland November weanling purchase by Spin to Win Stables; $180,000 Fasig-Tipton July yearling purchase by August Dawn Farm)