Breeders’ Cup Challenge

U. Carrot Farm’s 5-year-old mare Lys Gracieux (JPN), the only female in the field, passed the favored Kiseki (JPN) in mid-stretch to win Sunday’s 60th running of the 1 3/8-mile, US$2,826 million Takarazuka Kinen (G1) at Hanshin Racecourse by three lengths, and earned an automatic berth into the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) through the […]

Led by U. Carrot Farm’s 5-year-old 2017 Japanese Derby (G1) winner Rey de Oro (JPN) and rival Tatsue Ishikawa’s 5-year-old Kiseki (JPN), runner-up in last year’s Japan Cup (G1), a field of 12 has been entered for Sunday’s 60th running of the 1 3/8-mile, US$2.826 million Takarazuka Kinen (G1) at Hanshin Racecourse. The winner of […]

Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier and Michael Tabor’s 4-year-old filly Magical (IRE), second to Enable (GB) in last year’s Longines Breeders Cup Turf (G1), and unbeaten in three starts this year, headlines an all-star cast of eight runners in Wednesday’s 1 1 ¼-mile Prince of Wales’s Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot, with the winner receiving […]

Royal Ascot gets under way with no fewer than eight Group 1 performers crossing swords in Tuesday’s Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes, which forms part of the Mile Category in the QIPCO British Champions Series and also offers an expenses-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Mile this fall at Santa Anita Park. The first two […]

Britain will host the first races in the 2019 Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series to be run in Europe this year when the prestigious Royal Ascot meeting opens at Ascot Racecourse on Tuesday, June 18. The Breeders’ Cup Challenge is an international series of 86 stakes races, whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid […]

Veteran trainer Dallas Stewart was back to work Sunday at Churchill Downs to figure out the next option for Saturday’s $600,000 Stephen Foster Presented by GE Appliances (Grade I) winner Seeking the Soul. “We got back at it at 5 a.m. this morning and looking forward to the future,” Stewart said. “He bounced out of […]

Adele Dilschneider and Claiborne Farm’s homebred Elate hadn’t won since last July, but the 5-year-old daughter of Medaglia d’Oro found her way back to the winner’s circle with a big effort in Saturday’s Grade 2 Fleur de Lis Handicap at Churchill Downs. Ridden by Jose Ortiz for trainer Bill Mott, Elate was stuck down inside […]

As ever, there is a wealth of international flavor to the racing at Royal Ascot with Japanese, Australian, Singapore, American and New Zealand-trained horses all set to run at the meeting. Japanese interest comes from the classy Deirdre who represents trainer Mitsuru Hashida and is an intended runner in the G1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes […]

William and Corinne Heiligbrodt’s Mitole proved in his last start that he could stretch his speed to seven furlongs, and this Saturday he stretched it even farther to win a talent-laden edition of the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park. The 4-year-old Eskendereya colt and Ricardo Santana were sent to post at 7-2, rated […]

She was sent to post as the 8-5 second choice, but Bloom Racing Stable, Madaket Stable, and Allen Racing’s Midnight Bisou staked her claim on top her division this season with an easy win in Saturday’s Grade 1 Ogden Phipps at Belmont Park. The 4-year-old Midnight Lute filly and jockey Mike Smith sat off early […]