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TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack provides analysis for Saturday's three GI Kentucky Derby preps–the GI Santa Anita Derby, GII Wood Memorial S. & G2 UAE Derby–and Tuesday's postponed GI Toyota Blue Grass S. GI Toyota Blue Grass S. – I'm banking on a big performance from Chancer McPatrick, who should move forward nicely off his runner-up effort while making his sophomore debut in the GIII Tampa Bay Derby. Despite just a field of seven entered, there figures to be plenty of pace (East Avenue sporting first-time blinkers, the rail-drawn River Thames and wire-to-wire Tampa Bay Derby winner Owen Almighty all want to be forwardly placed) for last year's head-turning, come-from-behind GI Hopeful S. and GI Champagne S. winner to close into. Chancer McPatrick will be much more in his comfort zone (and tighter with a race under his belt) taking back and making one run after sitting much closer than he prefers in the Tampa Bay Derby. Selection: #6 Chancer McPatrick (7-2). GI Santa Anita Derby – Journalism established himself as the horse to beat on the first Saturday in May with a top-shelf win with a flashy 108 Beyer in the GII San Felipe S. and is a deserved favorite in this compact, but very talented field of five. Hard not to love how the son of Curlin finishes off his races and he could potentially take another leap forward as the distances continue to increase. Should be a fantastic showdown with last year's champion 2-year-old and last-out GIII Robert B. Lewis winner Citizen Bull, who will be the one to catch on the engine here. Excited to see what the blue-blooded Baeza can do as well off his breakthrough maiden win at third asking. Selection: #1 Journalism (6-5). GII Wood Memorial S. – Captain Cook could still be any kind and has been training with a purpose for Rick Dutrow, Jr. since his fantastic track-and-trip score in the Withers. He's drawn well on the inside, is tactical enough to secure a favorable trip beneath Manny Franco and certainly wouldn't mind the wet weather in the forecast, either. Statesman is a very interesting longshot to consider after punching home impressively for back-to-back wins at Tampa. There is other speed on paper, but the rail-drawn, morning-line favorite Rodriguez scares me the most if he's able to shake free early. Selection: #2 Captain Cook (7-2). G2 UAE Derby – This race absolutely goes through Flood Zone, who couldn't have been more impressive while making his first start for Wathnan Racing and Brad Cox in the GIII Gotham S. He'll be heavily favored (and rightfully so) for this two-turn debut. I'll attempt to get a little cute here though and take a swing on Heart of Honor (GB). He has plenty of experience at Meydan (4-2-2-0), closing impressively for runner-up finishes in the G3 UAE Two Thousand Guineas and Al Bastakiya, and wants every bit of this 1 3/16-miles distance. Would be some spot for Honor A. P. to collect his first graded/group winner. Let's see if we can sneak Dragon (Jpn) into the gimmicks at a big number, too. He's gonna really appreciate this added ground, especially after resenting the kickback in the Hyacinth. Selection: #6 Heart of Honor (GB) (4-1). The post Handicapping the Kentucky Derby Preps: Blue Grass, Santa Anita Derby, UAE Derby & Wood Memorial appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Stellenbosch and Sixpence look to make a mark for the 4-year-old generation in the Osaka Hai (G1) April 6 at Hanshin Racecourse.View the full article

Betting on Thoroughbred racing in the United States continued to drop through the first quarter of 2025, with overall wagering declining 3.28% to $2,505,271,758, largely due to a 5.17% reduction in race days.View the full article

Keeneland announced April 4 the launch of artificial intelligence technology within the Keeneland Race Day App, making it the first race track to offer AI-driven insights to enhance the fan experience.View the full article

About a year ago, RRP executive director Kirsten Green mused about a future in which we might see a headline such as “Leading sire X has prolific influence on track and beyond, produces record number of 5* starters.” A year later, that's almost exactly the headline I just got to write, which is thrilling as a fan of both racing and equestrian sport: the late Malibu Moon, inarguably an influential sire of Thoroughbred racehorses, is also leaving a lasting impact on equestrian sport. Malibu Moon's three starters are contesting the Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S: in lay terms, this is the second highest level of competition available in the sport of eventing, easiest described as an equestrian triathlon. Horse and rider combinations first perform a dressage test, in which accuracy of prescribed maneuvers and quality of movement are paramount. Next, they compete cross-country, a grueling test of stamina and courage as horses thunder over miles of undulating terrain and footing, navigating over large solid fence. In the final phase, combinations tackle a show jumping course in an arena, a challenge of accurate footwork and nimbleness. Out of a total of 12 full Thoroughbreds entered in the 4*, Malibu Moon has sired a quarter of them. As of press time, there are 66 horses entered in total in the 4* (this number will drop in coming weeks: riders may only compete on two horses, so some have made multiple entries in advance to finalize later). Therefore, Malibu Moon has sired 4.5% of the entire 4* field. For context, only one other stallion has sired more entries, and we had to go across both the 5* and 4* divisions to find him: Diarado, a Holstein warmblood stallion approved across multiple breed registries, recognized worldwide as a top sire of horses in multiple arenas. In 2024, Diarado was recognized for the third year in a row as the top sire for the sport of eventing by the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses. Diarado is represented in the 5* by three offspring, and in the 4* by one. Yeah, you read that correctly: the only stallion to sire more Kentucky Three-Day starters across both levels than Malibu Moon is literally the top ranking stallion in the world for that job. And yet as I scroll through social media and racing publications, I see… nothing. What Malibu Moon has achieved here, albeit perhaps somewhat by accident, is a remarkable achievement in equestrian sport. One could argue, reasonably, that equestrian sport simply isn't on the radar of the racing industry. And siring a string of horses who are competitive at the upper levels of a challenging sport completely separate from racing doesn't do much for a stallion's rankings in the Thoroughbred sire lists, nor improve the commercial appeal of his offspring. One could even argue that flaunting success in a totally different sport than racing might lessen a stallion's appeal as a sire of potential racehorses. Malibu Moon | Sarah Andrew But this achievement doesn't diminish a bit of Malibu Moon's legacy–if anything, it enhances it. It paves the way for the Thoroughbred industry to celebrate everything it's doing right in producing athletes. Because this is not a coincidence: these three Malibu Moons didn't just happen to end up here, contesting one of the highest levels of what is viewed as one of the most physically demanding horse sports, after they already had racing careers. Horses don't get to the 4* level by chance: they are in rigorous physical and mental training to handle the pressure of this kind of competition. Any breeder or stallion owner should be proud to have a horse reach this level. Looking back at Kirsten's article from last year, as much as I'm thrilled to be celebrating the achievements of Thoroughbreds in sport, I am reminded how much work we still have to do. We've certainly showcased the athleticism and trainability of the Thoroughbred in careers beyond racing through our work at the Retired Racehorse Project, but the next step looks clear: we as an industry need to better measure the impact of the breed in equestrian sport. While researching the bloodlines of the Kentucky Three-Day entrants, it became apparent that most, if not all, of the horses entered do have some amount of Thoroughbred blood in their pedigrees. But when a Thoroughbred is bred to a warmblood, the resulting foal is considered a warmblood, and the Thoroughbred's contributions–the stamina, speed, and heart–are generally overlooked. Thoroughbred ancestors are not always identified by breed in a horse's pedigree as recorded by the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI). The same is true in the American Quarter Horse Association, which generally sets the standard for the majority of western sport disciplines: Thoroughbreds are a viable outcross, but those foals are considered Appendix Quarter horses–and can “earn” their way into becoming full Quarter horses via competitive performance, which further erases the Thoroughbred influence. The AQHA recently announced its own free pedigree service, in which the Thoroughbreds in a Quarter horse's pedigree are only subtly identified via the last two digits of their year of birth–not their breed. (To its credit, AQHA did acknowledge our suggestion that Thoroughbreds be better identified in this pedigree service.) While the goal of the Thoroughbred industry is not necessarily to breed sport horses, with all the unique trappings of individual disciplines within that sport horse industry, the Thoroughbred industry does generally pride itself on breeding athletes. It's high time that we honor the achievements of Thoroughbreds in spaces other than racing. In no other aspect of the horse industry will you find animals intentionally and carefully bred and produced for one specific job so often transitioning with relative ease to another, vastly different from that original purpose–let alone to the upper levels of those new sports. Isn't that worth celebrating? The Retired Racehorse Project is following the progress of the total of 16 Thoroughbreds entered in the 5* and 4* divisions at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event on April 24-27. Learn more about the Thoroughbred entrants on the RRP's website. –Kristen Kovatch Bentley, the Retired Racehorse Project The post Letter To The Editor: Malibu Moon Is Second-Most Prolific Sire Of Kentucky Three-Day Event Starters appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The final weekend of major preps for both the GI Kentucky Derby and the GI Kentucky Oaks got a few extra days tacked on as significant rain around Lexington pushed Keeneland to delay their spring racing features back to Monday and Tuesday next week. While the races will be missed as part of Saturday's action, there is certainly no void as Santa Anita and Aqueduct both offer their final stops on the Road the Kentucky Derby. The 1 1/8-mile GI Santa Anita Derby features a small yet mighty field with trainers Bob Baffert and John Shirreffs each sending out a pair to try and tackle Michael McCarthy's GII San Felipe Stakes winner Journalism (Curlin) who put up a 108 Beyer Speed Figure when upsetting previously undefeated Baffert runner Barnes (Into Mischief) in that March 1 effort. “I let him run a little bit down the lane with a solid gallop-out (in his last work going five furlongs in 1:01.40),” said McCarthy of Journalism. “He did everything we asked of him. We'll keep him in his regular routine going into the race–nothing special.”   The Santa Anita Derby will be the last west coast test for Eclipse Award-winning juvenile Citizen Bull (Into Mischief) who kicked off his 3-year-old campaign with a strong win in the February's GIII Robert B. Lewis Stakes and now seeks what would be his third career Grade I win following the GI American Pharoah and the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile last year. Shirreffs brings in a pair of longshots in maiden winner Baeza (McKinzie) and Westwood (Authentic) who is still looking for his first win in what will be his fourth start. Baffert will also feature across the country in the GII Wood Memorial Stakes at Aqueduct, having shipped in rail-drawn 'TDN Rising Star' Rodriguez (Authentic) who will race without blinkers after trailing home third in the San Felipe. “He showed a big run,” said Baffert. “I think he's a nice horse that just needs to mature mentally and physically. Hopefully, he breaks well, gets into a nice rhythm and we'll see what happens. Mike Smith will go up to ride him and he's very good on those types of horses. I think he's very talented. He just needs to break well and get a good trip. He's been doing well. He came back and worked well, and I thought the Wood would be a good spot for him.” He'll face a much larger field Saturday of 12 (before the scratches of longshot Bear Claw Necklace {Lord Nelson} and Breeders' Cup Juvenile third Hill Road {Quality Road}). Lined up just outside of Rodriguez is Richard Dutrow's 'Rising Star' Captain Cook (Practical Joke) who took the listed Withers Stakes in his last effort Feb. 1. Captain Cook | Sarah Andrew “He's doing good… very good,” said trainer Rick Dutrow of Captain Cook. “Two days after he ran, he seemed like he came out of it good. It was noticeable, and he's been following it up every day with good training, good breezing and good living. He put in a big run going one mile and an eighth, which was tough, and he nailed it. We set him up for another two-turn race and it happened to be this race in two months, which is beautiful because I love time.” Undefeated two-for-two Grande (Curlin) ships from Gulfstream for Todd Pletcher off a win over the distance facing optional claimers Feb. 27 while another perfect runner, Passion Rules (Friesan Fire) also jumps into stakes company for the first time for Brad Cox. GIII Gotham favorite Sand Devil (Violence), who wound up second March 1 in his first defeat, breaks mid pack for Linda Rice. “It's a big, bulky tough field,” said Rice. “I would think we will be forwardly placed, although maybe not on the lead and let's see how he likes the mile and an eighth. I'm hoping he'll like the off track as it looks like we'll have one–and that, of course, is an unknown as well.” The delayed GI Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, pushed from Saturday to Tuesday, features four 'TDN Rising Stars' including last-out GII Fountain of Youth runner up River Thames (Maclean's Music) and GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity winner East Avenue (Medaglia d'Oro) who adds blinkers off a disappointing 3-year-old premier in the GII Risen Star Stakes as the favorite Feb 15. That pair is joined by Chancer McPatrick (McKinzie), who ran second in the GIII Tampa Bay Derby to Owen Almighty (Speightstown), and longshot Admiral Dennis (Constitution) who was sixth in the GII Rebel Stakes Feb. 23. “The distance is always a concern,” admitted trainer Brian Lynch of Owen Almighty. “I think he will relish a possible off track and that is a thing that might be in his favor.” Ian Wilkes ships up Burnham Square (Liam's Map) who upset the GIII Holy Bull Stakes Feb. 1 but finished fourth as the favorite in the Fountain of Youth. “He made some mistakes in the Fountain of Youth but he did some good things, too,” Wilkes said of Burnham Square. “He came running down the lane and galloped out good.” A trio of 100 point races closes out the Road to the Kentucky Oaks this weekend with Aqueduct, Santa Anita and Keeneland all featuring. The GIII Gazelle Stakes in New York is a showcase between Ballerina d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro), who has hit the board in each of her last three graded attempts but is still seeking her first win since breaking her maiden at Kentucky Downs last September, and Pure Beauty (Malibu Moon) who jumps into stakes company for the first time in a field largely void of graded stakes experience. River Thames | Ryan Thompson “As she developed, she turned into a dirt horse,” said owner John Capek of Ballerina d'Oro. “She broke her maiden on the turf at Kentucky Downs, and that's a bit of a strange track there. I think it was the right choice to switch her to the dirt. She's done very well in her two starts over it, and we're looking forward to getting her back on a little longer stretch out here around two turns. I think it's in her wheelhouse.” Todd Pletcher keeps Vanilla Sundae (Gun Runner) races out of her stall after romping by 15 3/4 lengths to break her maiden Feb 27 while Saffie Joseph Jr. ships Early On (Union Rags) in off a second in the Virginia Oaks March 15. Bob Baffert brings in two runners for the GII Santa Anita Oaks in Silent Law (Tiz the Law) who races for the first time since Jan. 5 and the nearly-undefeated Tenma (Nyquist) who won her first start back in the GIII Las Virgines Stakes Feb. 2 and yielded her only defeat when third in last year's GII Oak Leaf Stakes. No Bad Beats (Midnight Storm) jumps into stakes company for the first time for Chief Stipe O'Neill as does Madame Secretary (Constitution) for Richard Mandella. Vodka With a Twist (Thousand Words) makes her 3-year-old debut off a third in last year's GII Starlet Stakes and a game second in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies for Phillip D'Amato. Pushed from Friday to Monday, the GI Central Bank Ashland Stakes at Keeneland has Shadwell Stable's 'TDN Rising Star' Muhimma (Munnings) look to get back on track after finishing third in the GIII Honeybee Stakes at Oaklawn in her seasonal bow. She'll line up outside of La Cara (Street Sense) who took the Suncoast Stakes at Tampa before finishing second in the GII Davona Dale Stakes at Gulfstream March 1. The field also includes Supa Speed (Justify), who ships in for John Sadler off a nose defeat to 'Rising Star' Maysam (Game Winner) in the GIII Santa Ysabel Stakes March 2, and Running Away (Gun Runner) who took the Busanda Stakes at Aqueduct in her 2025 debut Jan. 18. Kenneth McPeek ships in Take Charge Milady (Take Charge Indy) who won the Martha Washington Stakes two back but disappointed in the Honeybee at Oaklawn Feb. 23. Older fillies and mares go seven furlongs in the GI Resolute Racing Madison Stakes at Keeneland Tuesday with plenty of talent lined up including GSW/GISP Emery (More Than Ready), My Mane Squeeze (Audible), 'TDN Rising Star' and MGISP Scylla (Tapit), 'TDN Rising Star' and Carousel Stakes winner Justique (Justify) and GII Inside Information Stakes winner Mystic Lake (Mo Town), many of whom have taken turns beating one another last year. The boys go the same distance one race earlier in the GIII Commonwealth Stakes. Cherie DeVaux brings in 'TDN Rising Star' Montalcino (Take Charge Indy) who drew inside of Hoist the Gold (Mineshaft) and Whatchatalkinabout (Dialed In). Keeneland will hope to keep its turf racing intact with the weather delays. The GII Shakertown Stakes, a 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint, sees much of the speed drawn inside with Run Carson (Maclean's Music), Our Shot (Kantharos) and Arzak (Not This Time) drawn side by side on the rail. European shipper Rogue Lightning (Kodiac {GB}) enters off a win in the G3 Dukhan Sprint while Steve Asmussen ships in a turf debuter in Valentine Candy (Justify) who has earned seven figures on the dirt and now tries the grass. Emery | Sarah Andrew Earlier in the card at Keeneland, the 3-year-old fillies in the GIII Appalachian Stakes go the two-turn mile led again by the inside runners (and Mark Casse stablemates) in GIII Florida Oaks winner Nitrogen (Medaglia d'Oro) and GIII Herecomesthebride Stakes winner Vixen (Vekoma). The Florida Oaks runner up Lush Lips (GB) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) also reappears here for Brendan Walsh. Monday sees the 3-year-old colts go 1 1/16 miles on the grass (weather permitting of course) in the GIII Transylvania Stakes. In an open wagering field, Mi Bago (Vekoma) stands out as the Colonial Liam Stakes winner (his third straight stakes win) at Gulfstream March 1. Two-time winner Scipio (Caravaggio) comes in off a win in the Baffled Stakes at Santa Anita Feb. 16 and drew outside of Columbia Stakes runner up Regan's Wit (Authentic) who won big over this distance at Fair Grounds two back. Keeneland's new opening day, now Sunday, features the GII Beaumont Stakes with 3-year-old fillies going seven furlongs on the main track. GIII Forward Gal Stakes winner Eclatant (Into Mischief) drew the rail for Brad Cox with two-time stakes winner G W's Girl (Munnings) drawn just outside for Greg Compton. Forward Gal runner up (and Cox stablemate) Stunner (Girvin) also looks to turn the tables while Godolphin homebred Verity (Nyquist) gets back on the main track off a pair of wins on the Tapeta at Turfway. Older horses at Aqueduct feature in the GII Carter Stakes with near-perfect runner Quint's Brew (Mosier) leaving Laurel for the first time to face GIII Tom Fool Stakes winner Full Moon Madness (Into Mischief) and Maximus Meridius (Maximus Mischief). Other racing held this weekend includes the down-the-hill GIII Monrovia Stakes at Santa Anita while Aqueduct hosts the GIII Distaff Stakes. The post Santa Anita, Aqueduct Star As Mother Nature Rains On Keeneland’s Parade appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The number of race days was lower and so was wagering compared to a year ago in March, according to information released by Equibase on Friday. Total wagering of $931,202,013 on races during the month represented a 4.20% decrease over the same period from 2024, while available purses of almost $98 million were lower by 4.23%. The figure of over $93 million for paid purses in March was also down by 4.84%. As for the total number of race days, they decreased from 285 to 263 (-7.72%) and the number of U.S. races was lower from 2,403 in March 2024 to last month's tally of 2,266 (-5.70%). Average field size in March was higher from over a year ago when it was 7.54, and checked in at an average of 7.71 runners, an increase of 2.33%. Average daily wagering increased by 3.82% to $3,540,692 and the average available purse number per race day was up 3.78% to $375,113 from the figure of $361,463 in 2024. When it comes to the year-over quarterly figures (Jan.-Mar.), through wagering on U.S. races in 2024 registered at over $2.59-billion, while this year the amount is $2.505-billion (-3.28%). Those numbers include worldwide commingled wagering on U.S. races. The post March Economic Indicators: Wagering Down Over Fewer Race Days appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Despite a massive contingent of Japanese horses set to contest the $30.5 million Dubai World Cup night card in the UAE on Saturday, a strong field of 15 is still set to line up at the recently renovated Hanshin Racecourse back home in Japan. With a berth in the G1 Irish Champion Stakes on the line, Sixpence (Jpn) is hoping to follow in the hoofsteps of his sire 11 years after Kizuna (Jpn) won the Hanshin showpiece. Leaving from stall 10, the four-year-old has won his last two starts, and five of his six lifetime starts. He set a new course record of 1:44.80 in the 1800-metre G2 Nakayama Kinen in early March, defeating Ecoro Walz (Jpn) (Black Tide {Jpn}). Trainer Sakae Kunieda said, “I think it shows what a talented horse he is, being able to win the Nakayama Kinen in record time after returning from a break and being about 80% ready. He's been at Northern Farm Tenei, and on his return to the stable, his hooves are in good condition and things have been as expected with him.” Last year's Oka Sho heroine Stellenbosch (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) is not only one of Sixpence's biggest rivals, but also his stablemate. She has been raced exclusively in top-level company in her last five starts and enters this test cutting back from a third-place run over 2400 metres in the G1 Hong Kong Vase in December. “It was tough for her last time in the Hong Kong Vase, having to race wide throughout the race,” said trainer Kunieda. “She's been a bit unlucky in her last two starts. We've had this race in mind for her next, and since returning from a spell at the farm, she seems to be in good condition.” Bellagio Opera (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) has been winless in three starts since taking the 2024 Osaka Hai, but he also hasn't been missing by far. Third in the G1 Takarazuka Kine in June, he was sixth to Do Deuce (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) in the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) and finished his campaign with a fourth in the G1 Arima Kinen over 2500 metres. “On his return to the stable, he's already put in some good training, on the flat and also uphill,” said trainer Hiroyuki Uemura. “He's not fully switched on yet, but his workload's been good so far.” Both Yoho Lake (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and Lord Del Rey (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) enter on the back of wins in the G2 Kyoto Kinen and the G2 Nikkei Shinshun Hai, respectively and could also be dangerous from posts seven and 13. The post Sixpence Aiming To Get Richer In Osaka Hai appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Keeneland has launched new AI technology within the Keeneland Race Day App, making it the first racetrack to offer such a mechanism in order to enhance fan experience, the organization said in a Friday release. Racing enthusiasts will have access to real-time data, predictive analytics and deeper insights during the meet. The introduction of AI technology reflects Keeneland's ongoing commitment to innovation. Fans can experience these new features by downloading or updating the Keeneland Race Day App. Generative Insights are available for April 6-8. “Keeneland is always looking for ways to enhance the fan experience,” Keeneland Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Christa Marrillia said. “Whether you're a first-time visitor or a seasoned handicapper, this AI-driven feature will provide valuable, real-time analysis to help you make the most of your day at Keeneland.” The post Keeneland Race Day App Now Features Generative AI Insights appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article