Thu, 05/28/2026 - 13:18

Gold Phoenix to San Juan Capistrano Stakes

Barbara D. Livingston

Gold Phoenix has won 11 times and earned $2,377,087.

Gold Phoenix, winner of the Grade 3 San Luis Rey Stakes in March and eight other stakes in his lengthy career, is scheduled to start in the Grade 3 San Juan Capistrano Stakes at Santa Anita on June 14.

The $100,000 San Capistrano Stakes is run at about 1 3/4 miles on turf, the longest stakes in California, and is the closing-day feature of the track’s spring meeting. Los Alamitos begins a three-week meeting on June 19.

An 8-year-old, Gold Phoenix has started in 25 stakes in his 32-race career but has never run in the San Juan Capistrano.

Wed, 05/27/2026 - 14:09

Barbadian Runner returns to home track in Saturday allowance

By Patrick Moquin

Jeff Snyder/Maryland Jockey Club

Barbadian Runner will stretch out to 1 1/8 miles, the same distance he ran at when he won two stakes last fall.

Barbadian Runner, a six-time stakes winner last year, will return to Laurel Park in a $56,000 allowance on Saturday. It will be the 4-year-old gelding’s first start at home since finishing second in the $100,000 Robert T. Manfuso in December.

“I'm fortunate enough that the race went,” trainer Henry Walters said. “These races don't often go. He's eligible under the nonwinners-of-a-date condition, so if he's ready to run, we may as well run.”

Wed, 05/27/2026 - 13:48

Formidable Man, Thought Process, Forged Steel all pointed toward Del Mar races

By Steve Andersen

Benoit Photo

Off a victory in the Shoemaker Mile, Formidable Man will point to the Eddie Read and Del Mar Mile, both races he won last year.

Formidable Man may have a familiar summer schedule at Del Mar in coming months after winning his first start of 2026 in Monday’s Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile on turf at Santa Anita.

Formidable Man will be joined at that meeting by Thought Process and Forged Steel, who won the most prestigious races of their careers on Monday in the Grade 1 Gamely Stakes for fillies and mares on turf, and the Grade 2 Hollywood Gold Cup on dirt.

Wed, 05/27/2026 - 13:46

Acorn under consideration for Percy's Bar but Monomoy Girl more likely

By Marcus Hersh

Barbara D. Livingston

While under consideration for the Acorn at Saratoga, Percy's Bar is likely to start next in the Monomoy Girl at Churchill Downs.

Percy’s Bar had her first work since racing in the Kentucky Oaks when she breezed a half-mile May 24 at Keeneland – but toward what end, trainer Ben Colebrook isn’t yet certain.

Colebrook said the Grade 1 Acorn on June 5 at Saratoga is under consideration, but it sounds like Percy’s Bar could instead show up in the Monomoy Girl a week later at Churchill Downs.

Wed, 05/27/2026 - 13:40

Ward's Royal Ascot brigade could feature seven runners

By Marcus Hersh

Coady Media

Outfielder, winner of the William Walker, will start next in the Group 1 Commonwealth at Royal Ascot.

Wesley Ward could have seven chances next month to win his first Royal Ascot race since 2021.

Ward pioneered sending American horses to Royal Ascot, winning his first race there in 2009 long before the June meeting became a fashionable destination for a wide swath of American horse people. Ward has won a dozen Royal Ascot races but has gone winless since the 3-year-old filly Campanelle won the Commonwealth Cup five summers ago.

Wed, 05/27/2026 - 13:21

Bentornato pointing to True North

By Mike Welsch

Barbara D. Livingston

Bentornato has made just one start since the Breeders’ Cup, finishing second in the Dubai Golden Shaheen on March 28.

While trainer Jose D’Angelo continues to be based primarily at the Palm Meadows training center in South Florida, he will be at Saratoga early next month, where he’ll send out 2026 Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Bentornato in the Grade 3 True North Stakes on June 6. Bentornato is expected to meet Book’em Danno, who edged him out by a narrow margin in the voting for the 2025 Eclipse Award in the sprint division.

Wed, 05/27/2026 - 12:58

Jockeys sidelined after spill at Lone Star

By Mary Rampellini

Coady Media

Jockey Ernesto Valdez-Jiminez had successful surgery Monday for injuries sustained in an area below his right knee.

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas – Jockeys Ernesto Valdez-Jiminez and Isaiah Wiseman may miss the remainder of the Lone Star meet due to injuries sustained in a Sunday spill.

Wiseman suffered deep bone bruising and a laceration on his face and tongue, according to agent Bradley White. Wiseman could return to action at the end of the meet or wait until the start of Remington Park’s meet, White said.

Valdez-Jiminez had successful surgery Monday for injuries sustained in an area below his right knee, according to agent Travis Church.

Wed, 05/27/2026 - 12:57

Tight Canadian connections have Heroic Move eyeing Cornhusker Handicap

By Mary Rampellini

Coady Media

Heroic Move's next trip could be to the Grade 3, $300,000 Cornhusker Handicap on July 11 at Prairie Meadows.

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas – Norm Tremblay traveled 2,300 miles from his home in Grande Prairie in Alberta, Canada, to Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas, to watch a horse he owns in partnership, Heroic Move, win the Grade 3, $400,000 Steve Sexton Mile for the second time in his career Monday.

Tremblay’s next trip could be to Altoona, Iowa, for the Grade 3, $300,000 Cornhusker Handicap on July 11 at Prairie Meadows.

Heroic Move is under serious consideration for the race after emerging from the Steve Sexton Mile in good order, trainer Robertino Diodoro said Tuesday.

Mon, 05/25/2026 - 17:48

First day of Belmont Stakes Racing Festival will have pick six carryover of $23,616

By David Grening

Jim Sewastynowicz

There will be a pick 6 carryover of $23,616 for the June 3 card at Saratoga.

There will be a pick six carryover of $23,616 when racing on this circuit resumes June 3 at Saratoga for the beginning of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival.

Mon, 05/25/2026 - 13:44

Grade 1 winner Far Bridge sidelined until fall

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Far Bridge won the Grade 3 Pan American in March at Gulfstream off a lengthy layoff.

Far Bridge, the three-time Grade 1 turf stakes winner and earner of more than $2.5 million, will be sidelined through the summer with an unspecified injury. His connections hope the 6-year-old can make it back to the races this fall with the Breeders’ Cup Turf on Oct. 31 as a goal.

Far Bridge, trained by Miguel Clement, came off a lengthy layoff to win the Grade 3 Pan American at Gulfstream Park on March 28. That race was to be a stepping-stone to races like the Manhattan and Sword Dancer this summer at Saratoga, races he will undoubtedly miss.

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