Wed, 05/20/2026 - 13:05

Brion well-stocked for Fair Hill Turf Showcase

By Patrick Moquin
Barbara D. Livingston
Trainer Keri Brion has a combined 14 starters across the two cards Sunday and Monday.

Live racing in Maryland will shift away from Laurel Park to the Fair Hill Turf Showcase on Sunday and Monday. The newly renovated racecourse at the Fair Hill Training Center will host its second event since reopening, offering an eight-race flat racing card on Sunday and a nine-race steeplechase card on Monday.

It’s hard to argue that anyone is taking better advantage of the move to Fair Hill than trainer Keri Brion, who has been waiting for racing there for years. She and many others were forced to sit through the pandemic and a lengthy renovation process going back to 2019.

Wed, 05/20/2026 - 11:08

Meet opens with Quarter Horse trials after absorbing entire Ruidoso season

By Steve Andersen
Coady Media
The Friday and Saturday programs consist of 13 350-yard trials for the Ruidoso Futurity, which will be run on June 7.

For the third consecutive year, the Downs at Albuquerque will host the Ruidoso Downs race meeting in New Mexico that begins on Friday. Unlike in 2024 or last year, when only part of the Ruidoso Downs meeting was held in Albuquerque, the entirety of this year’s season will be conducted at the northern New Mexico venue.

Wed, 05/20/2026 - 10:39

Independence Rise re-routed to Iowa Derby

By Mary Rampellini
Coady Media
Independence Rise easily scores in the Turf Paradise Derby.

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas – Independence Rise, who was a dominant winner of the Turf Paradise Derby, could make his next start in the Iowa Derby at Prairie Meadows, according to his trainer, Robertino Diodoro.

Independence Rise is now based at Lone Star Park. He had been working toward an intended start in the Texas Derby, which will be run Monday,

Wed, 05/20/2026 - 10:35

The Hell We Did heads to Lone Star

By Mary Rampellini
Barbara D. Livingston
The Hell We Did finished seventh in the Preakness for trainer David Fincher.

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas – The Hell We Did, the Grade 3 Lexington runner-up who finished seventh of 14 in the Preakness Stakes, is scheduled to arrive at Lone Star Park on Thursday, according to trainer Todd Fincher.

Fincher has a division of horses at Lone Star.

He said the The Hell We Did emerged from the Preakness in excellent condition and that plans for his next start are to be determined. The Hell We Did is a half-brother to $12 million earner Senor Buscador.

Wed, 05/20/2026 - 10:32

Express Kid getting time off after setback

By Mary Rampellini
Dustin Orona Photography
Express Kid, winner of the Springboard Mile, will get some rest before pointing for races such as the Oklahoma Derby and Zia Derby.

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas – Express Kid, the runner-up in the Sunland Park Derby who had been under consideration for the Preakness Stakes, had a minor physical setback and is scheduled to return to action in the fall, according to his trainer, Justin Evans.

Express Kid is based at Lone Star Park. Last year, he won the Springboard Mile at Remington Park.

Wed, 05/20/2026 - 10:30

Baffert's connection to Lone Star goes deep

By Mary Rampellini
Benoit Photo
Desert Gate will be Bob Baffert's representative in the Texas Derby starting gate.

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas – It was 29 years ago this spring when Southern California-based trainer Bob Baffert traveled to Lone Star Park during its inaugural meet and saddled Anet to win the track’s Derby.

Fast forward to Monday, and Baffert will be looking for his fifth win in the race when he sends out Desert Gate in the $300,000 Texas Derby.

Tue, 05/19/2026 - 18:54

Navajo Warrior could log some miles en route to Saudi Cup

By Patrick Moquin
Susie Raisher
Navajo Warrior may get his next start in the Grade 3 Cornhusker Handicap at Prairie Meadows on July 11.

Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. is taking the long view with Navajo Warrior, who stretched out to 1 3/16 miles and won the Grade 3 Pimlico Special on the Black-Eyed Susan card at Laurel. After the race, he said he dreamed of getting the 5-year-old gelding ready for the $20 million Saudi Cup next year, but the road to get there might include many stops.

Tue, 05/19/2026 - 18:46

Black-Eyed Susan top two likely headed in different directions

By Patrick Moquin
Barbara D. Livingston
My Miss Mo’s Black-Eyed Susan victory snapped a three-race losing streak, which included two hard-fought Grade 2 defeats at Gulfstream Park.

My Miss Mo and Jumping the Gun, the winner and runner-up in the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan last Friday at Laurel Park, may part ways for now. Trainers Saffie Joseph Jr. and Andy Simoff have different goals for their 3-year-old fillies this summer, which could create a fork in the road, but both are planning returns to graded stakes company soon.

For the briefest moment at the top of the stretch at Laurel, Jumping the Gun pulled alongside My Miss Mo and ran on even terms with the 5-2 favorite, proving to be the only legitimate challenger to the eventual winner.

Mon, 05/18/2026 - 12:45

Gaines confident He's a Knockout can handle added ground for Snow Chief

By Steve Andersen
Benoit Photo
He’s a Knockout has started his career with two victories, a maiden win at Del Mar, and an allowance win at Santa Anita.

ARCADIA, Calif. – The wins, at two venues, came more than eight months apart and were accomplished in the same manner.

He’s a Knockout was quick enough to set the pace and too fast to catch in sprint races for California-bred maidens on turf at Del Mar last August, and again at Santa Anita on April 19 in an allowance race.

For his third start, He’s a Knockout has a significantly different assignment in Saturday’s $125,000 Snow Chief Stakes for statebreds at 1 1/8 miles on turf.

Fri, 05/15/2026 - 13:46

Midnight Horizon set to make U.S. debut in turf sprint

By Steve Andersen
Barbara D. Livingston
Trainer Dan Blacker sends out Midnight Horizon for her United States debut in an allowance turf sprint Sunday at Santa Anita.

The 4-year-old Irish-bred filly Midnight Horizon has had a challenging build-up to her American debut in an allowance race at six furlongs on turf at Santa Anita on Sunday.

Earlier this month, Midnight Horizon worked five furlongs in 58 seconds on the infield synthetic training track in company with the graded stakes winner El Potente.

El Potente, a candidate for the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile on turf at Santa Anita on May 25, and Midnight Horizon are trained by Dan Blacker.

Subscribe to Track Notes