Wed, 01/21/2026 - 12:59

Aloha Breeze, reigning top horse at Emerald Downs, will return as 6-year-old

By Steve Andersen
Coady Media
Aloha Breeze, who won three stakes at Emerald Downs last year, will return to racing in 2026.

Aloha Breeze, the 2025 Horse of the Meeting at Emerald Downs in Washington, will race as a 6-year-old later this year.

“We turned her out this winter,” trainer Tom Wenzel said over the weekend. “Hopefully, we can have another successful year.”

The goal is a return to action at the Emerald Downs later this year, Wenzel said.

Owned by George Todaro, Aloha Breeze won three stakes for fillies and mares at distances of 6 1/2 furlongs and 1 1/16 miles at Emerald Downs from mid-June to early September.

Wed, 01/21/2026 - 12:59

Seeking more opportunities, Antongeorgi moving tack to Kentucky

By Steve Andersen
Benoit Photo
Jockey William Antongeorgi, who won the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf aboard Grand Slam Smile, is moving to Kentucky.

Jockey William Antongeorgi is moving from California to Kentucky this week in an effort to gain more mounts.

Antongeorgi, formerly among the leading riders in Northern California, was based in Southern California in 2025. He won 21 races from 269 mounts compared to 83 wins from 463 mounts in Northern California in 2024.

There has been no racing in Northern California since December 2024. Golden Gate Fields, the hub track for that circuit, closed in June 2024.

Antongeorgi said over the weekend that he plans to be based at Turfway Park in coming months.

Wed, 01/21/2026 - 08:52

Millionaire Repo Rocks retired at age 8

By Patrick Moquin
Susie Raisher/NYRA
Repo Rocks retires having won 11 of 54 starts for earnings of $1.15 million.

Trainer Jamie Ness said Tuesday that popular East Coast runner Repo Rocks has been retired after six seasons. The 8-year-old gelding is currently stabled at Ness’s barn in Chesapeake City, Md., and will remain there in retirement.

In the Grade 3 Greenwood Cup on Sept. 20 at Parx Racing, Repo Rocks finished seventh after suffering a setback early in the race. He was expected to miss time to recover from the injury, but after seeing the early stages of the process, Ness concluded that retirement was the best option.

Tue, 01/20/2026 - 14:07

Keeneland unveils spring 2026 stakes schedule worth record $9.55 million

By Nicole Russo
Coady Media
Shisospicy won the 2025 Limestone as part of a campaign that ended with a victory in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.

Keeneland’s 15-day spring meet will offer 19 stakes worth a season-record $9.55 million in total, including a number of upgraded races, the track announced on Tuesday.

Those stakes purses include $2.25 million from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund, pending approval from the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation. 

Mon, 01/19/2026 - 13:23

Jockey agent Bergquist dies after battling cancer

By Mary Rampellini

Shawn Bergquist, a top jockey agent across the Southwest who in recent times had been the stall superintendent at Remington Park, has died, Oklahoma chaplain Carl Criswell confirmed. Friends said Bergquist had been battling cancer.

During his career, Bergquist represented a number of notable journeymen when they were apprentices, including Jeremy Beasley, Roman Chapa, Jeremy Collier, and Quincy Hamilton.

Bergquist leaves behind a high school-age son. Criswell said last week that service plans were being determined with family.

Mon, 01/19/2026 - 13:22

La Cara leads field for Houston Ladies Classic

By Mary Rampellini
Barbara D. Livingston
La Cara, who is making her 4-year-old debut, earned her Grade 1 wins in last year’s Acorn and Ashland.

Multiple Grade 1 winner La Cara leads a cast of eight entered for the Grade 3, $300,000 Houston Ladies Classic on Saturday at Sam Houston Race Park.

The 1 1/16-mile race for fillies and mares is one of five stakes on the annual Houston Racing Festival card. The program includes the $200,000 John B. Connally Turf Cup. The 12-race card begins at 1 p.m. Central.

La Cara, who is making her 4-year-old debut, earned her Grade 1 wins in last year’s Acorn and Ashland. Cristian Torres has the mount from post 8 for Tracy Farmer and trainer Mark Casse.

Mon, 01/19/2026 - 13:13

Obliteration heading to Saudi Derby

By Mary Rampellini
Coady Media
In the Renaissance, Obliteration romped by 7 1/2 lengths and earned a Beyer Figure of 90.

Obliteration was a dominant winner of his 3-year-old debut earlier this month in the $150,000 Renaissance at Oaklawn Park, a performance that will send him to the Middle East.

“He’s targeting the Saudi Derby,” trainer Steve Asmussen said. “He’ll fly over with Magnitude on Feb. 2, and the race is on Feb. 14.”

Asmussen trainee Magnitude is running on the same card in the $20 million Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racecourse. The Group 3, $1.5 million Saudi Derby is being run at a distance of about a mile.

Mon, 01/19/2026 - 13:10

Asmussen eyeing Razorback for Tap Into This

By Mary Rampellini
Coady Media
Tap Into This won a second-level allowance at Keeneland ahead of his victory in The Coach.

Tap Into This, who won his fourth race in his last five starts in The Coach overnight stakes earlier this month at Oaklawn Park, is likely headed for graded stakes company.

Trainer Steve Asmussen said Tap Into This is being pointed for the Grade 3, $500,000 Razorback Handicap at Oaklawn. The 1 1/16-mile race is scheduled for Feb. 28.

Tap Into This won at the distance in The Coach, which was held Jan. 2, closing from last for a half-length win and a Beyer Speed Figure of 96.

Mon, 01/19/2026 - 12:45

Holy Bull nominees revealed, with a sleeper looming

By Mike Welsch
Ryan Thompson/Coglianese Photos
Global Aviator earned a solid 85 Beyer Speed Figure in his debut performance despite an eventful trip.

Nominations have been released for the Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes, the first major Kentucky Derby prep held locally each winter, to be contested at 1 1/16 miles on Jan. 31.

A total of 21 3-year-olds have been made eligible for the race, a group headed by the very impressive allowance winner Nearly for trainer Todd Pletcher. Other potential contenders include the Riley Mott-conditioned Incredibolt, who captured he Grade 3 Street Sense at Churchill Downs in one-sided fashion in his juvenile finale.

Mon, 01/19/2026 - 12:33

Balnikhov gets an owner change ahead of next start

By Steve Andersen
Debra A. Roma
Balnikhov will start next in the William L. McKnight or Pegasus World Cup Turf at Gulfstream Park.

Balnikhov, the millionaire four-time stakes winner, has had a change of ownership in advance of his 2026 debut at Gulfstream Park on Saturday.

A 6-year-old gelding, Balnikhov will now race for Andrew Molasky’s Old Bones Racing, having been purchased for $70,000 at the Fasig-Tipton December digital sale.

Molasky was previously part of a partnership that owned Balnikhov, whose last stakes win was the Grade 3 Dinner Party Stakes at Pimlico in 2024.

Balnikhov, trained by Phil D’Amato, was eighth of nine in the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup at Del Mar on Nov. 28.

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