News

Justify’s British Isles Wins Santa Anita’s ‘Big Cap’

on 03/07/2026 8:03 PM

British Isles (g, 5, Justify–Purely Hot, by Pure Prize) has spent the majority of his 24-race career in allowance company, but took full advantage of the scratched-down field of five in Saturday's GI Santa Anita Handicap in Arcadia to emerge a winner at the elite level. Parked for much of t...

Justify’s British Isles Wins Santa Anita’s Big ‘Cap

on 03/07/2026 8:03 PM

Slam Dunk Racing, Deborah Baltas, and Cynthia McClanahan's British Isles (g, 5, Justify–Purely Hot, by Pure Prize), a private purchase by the team from Coolmore connections two years ago, has spent the majority of his 24-race career in allowance company, but took full advantage of the scrat...

Potente Up In Time In San Felipe Upset; Brant Finishes Fifth

on 03/07/2026 6:57 PM

Trainer Bob Baffert had a two-strong chance in Saturday's GII San Felipe Stakes with the 4-5 favorite and 'TDN Rising Star' Brant (Gun Runner) making his first start since running third in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Del Mar last November. But it was his other runner, 8-1 shot POTENTE (c, 3, I...

Majestic Oops Upsets Champion Nitrogen in Azeri

on 03/07/2026 6:14 PM

All eyes may have been on Eclipse champion 3-year-old filly Nitrogen (Medaglia d'Oro) in Oaklawn's GII Azeri Stakes Saturday, but it was Majestic Oops (m, 6, Majestic Harbor–Miss Oops, by Olmodavor) who sprung the upset. Racing in the colors of Medallion Racing, Evan Trommer Ward, Arrieta Agave Racing Stable, and Shelia Regan, Majestic Oops left

The post

Crude Velocity Overcomes Impossible Trip, Gets Up for ‘Rising Star’ Honors

on 03/07/2026 6:11 PM

Crude Velocity (c, 3, Beau Liam–Sweetnsour Kitty, by Lemon Drop Kid) overcame a nightmare journey to become the first 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' for his young sire. Overlooked at odds of 10-1, he was off to a slow start from his rail draw and trailed the field shortly after the brea...

Cat Call: The Puma A Maiden No More In Tampa Bay Derby Win

on 03/07/2026 5:54 PM

THE PUMA (c, 3, Essential Quality–Eve of War, by Declaration of War) out-hustled 2-1 favorite and 'TDN Rising Star' Further Ado (Gun Runner) to the line to break his maide...

A Game of Inches: Destino d’Oro Denies Whiskey Decision in Hillsborough Thriller

on 03/07/2026 5:31 PM

Turf mares sure know how to put on a show. It came down to a blanket finish in the GII Hillsborough Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs, but Destino d'Oro (Bolt d'Oro) showed her heart with an ultra-game performance to win the photo. Crowned the 2026 queen of the GII Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare

The post

$1.05M OBS 2YO Buy Dandona Prevails in Florida Oaks

on 03/07/2026 5:30 PM

Last year, Nitrogen (Medaglia d'Oro) used the GIII Florida Oaks as an unlikely springboard to the 3-year-old filly championship. This year, it was Tagermeen Racing's  Dandona (f, 3, Tiz the Law–Tulsa Queen, by Cactus Ridge) who captured the 1 1/16-mile turf race at Tampa Bay Downs. Bou...

Drain The Clock, Jack Christopher Juveniles Lead Final Day Of OBS March Under-Tack Show

on 03/07/2026 5:26 PM

An already standout week for Gainesway stallion Drain the Clock finished on a high note Saturday when a chestnut colt (hip 748) by the first-season stallion consigned by Doble J Equine Sales became the second horse by the sire to equal the OBS track record this week, breezed a quarter-mile in :20 ...

Splendora Makes It Five Straight Wins In Beholder Mile

on 03/07/2026 4:46 PM

Never looking anything but a winner, SPLENDORA (m, 5, Audible–Miss Freeze, by Frost Giant) picked up fifth win in a row and her second Grade I in Saturday's GI B. Wayne Hughes Beholder Mile at Santa Anita. Last year's GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint winner went off the no-brainer...

Oaklawn To Reward Larger Fields Through End Of ’26 Racing Season

on 03/07/2026 3:41 PM

Oaklawn Park will support a new purse incentive designed to reward horsemen who support the track for the remainder of the 2025-2026 racing season, Oaklawn announced Saturday. Beginning with Condition Book 4 released March 19, 2026, the incentive will apply to the 25 remaining scheduled race days of the meet and, per the release, “will

The post

John Shirreffs Celebration Of Life Set For March 15 At Santa Anita

on 03/07/2026 2:34 PM

Santa Anita Park will host friends of late trainer John Shirreffs for a Celebration of Life to be held Sunday, March 15 in the Chandelier Room from 1-3 p.m. The public gathering is open to all who knew the trainer during his tenure as a fixture on the Southern California racing circuit, including his many

The post

‘TDN Rising Star’ Disruptor Made Of Stern Stuff In GIII Challenger Stakes At Tampa

on 03/07/2026 2:22 PM

Facing down a heavy favorite, Disruptor (Gun Runner) was extremely game down the lane in the GIII Michelob Ultra Challenger Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday. Named a 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard', at second asking a little over a year ago when he graduated by 9 1/4 lengths at Gulfstr...

Letter To The Editor: The Heart Of Horse Racing

on 03/07/2026 1:18 PM

I have been reading the opinions of many respected people who have invested greatly in the racing industry and have been involved in it for decades. Many of their observations about the state of the sport and the organizations that are supposed to lead it are correct. I would like to share what I have

The post

Gulfstream Notebook: ‘Skippy’ Possible For Ghostzapper

on 03/06/2026 7:20 PM

Daniel Alonso's Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator), who acted up badly on the plane that was meant to transport him to California for Saturday's GI Santa Anita Handicap and was subsequently scratched, is possible for one of two races over the coming weeks. “I always look at it as everything happens for a reason. No regrets,” said trainer

The post

Fixed-Odds Bill Introduced Into Kentucky State Legislature

on 03/06/2026 5:48 PM

Fixed-odds wagering has already made it to states like New Jersey and Colorado. It could also be a fixture in Kentucky thanks to a bill just introduced into the state legislature by Republican Representatives Matthew Koch and Michael Meredith. HB 904 is a sweeping piece of legislation with several key components designed to essentially expand

The post

Jockey Carmoma Hospitalized Following Thursday Spill

on 03/06/2026 5:07 PM

Jockey Serafin Carmoma remained hospitalized at CHI-St. Vincent in Hot Springs following a spill in Thursday's ninth race at Oaklawn Park. Carmoma, riding for the first time at Oaklawn this season and with five wins to his credit, was aboard 84-1 Balandeen Storm (Balandeen) in a state-bred maiden $50,000 claimer and was making a move

The post

Jockey Carmona Hospitalized Following Thursday Spill

on 03/06/2026 5:07 PM

Jockey Serafin Carmona remained hospitalized at CHI-St. Vincent in Hot Springs following a spill in Thursday's ninth race at Oaklawn Park. Carmona, riding for the first time at Oaklawn this season and with five wins to his credit, was aboard 84-1 Balandeen Storm (Balandeen) in a state-bred maiden $50,000 claimer and was making a move

The post

Are Prediction Markets A Threat To Horse Racing?

on 03/06/2026 4:36 PM

So-called prediction markets have become all the rage across a wide swath of topics, from election results to gas prices to the amount of snowfall might occur in a given place. The Kentucky Derby and horse racing at large? That topic was the subject of a panel entitled 'Prediction Markets and Wagering: An Emerging Threat

The post

Mad House Flirts with Track Record on Seasonal Bow at Tampa

on 03/06/2026 4:20 PM

MAD HOUSE (g, 4, Vekoma–Stifled Heiress, by Munnings) was last seen fading to the back in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint at Del Mar last November, but before that he'd strung together a respectable tally of four consecutive victories which culminated with him taking home the hardware in the S...