Wandering Eyes

Waikato Stud’s private trainer Kris Shailer has had a whirlwind last few months, and that is set to continue at Ellerslie on Champions Day when he lines-up homebred filly Convinced (NZ) (Super Seth) in the $4 million NZB Kiwi (1500m). Shailer has had four wins from six starts this season, including victory in the Group Three Matamata Slipper (1200m) a fortnight ago with Justin Case (NZ) (Banquo), and he is hoping his golden run continues. Justin Case is set to step up to elite-level at Ellerslie next Saturday in the Group One Sistema Stakes (1200m), while Convinced will represent Waikato Stud’s slot in The NZB Kiwi. Bred and raced by Garry Chittick, Convinced is by the farm’s former stallion Super Seth, who has recently been sold to Coolmore for a landmark figure, and is out of Group Two winner The Real Beel (NZ) (Savabeel). Convinced won on debut for Shailer last month at Matamata over 1200m before running eighth in last weekend’s Group Three Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie, doing enough to get the green light for The NZB Kiwi. “It was a good debut win in a mid-week maiden and then we threw her in the deep end in the Uncle Remus, with The NZB Kiwi in mind, to have a look around Ellerslie,” Shailer said. “It was a good run. She got a little bit lost, being new up there, but we were happy.” Shailer said he is thrilled to be representing his employer in The NZB Kiwi and he is hoping his filly can repay their faith. “It is very exciting,” Shailer said. “She was bred on farm and is trained on farm. “We are under no illusion that we are throwing her in the deep end, but it is not every day that you get to run around for $4 million.” Shailer is also looking forward to testing his filly over 1500m for the first time. “The Uncle Remus was a month between runs, and that was 1400m, and she probably felt the pinch a little bit late,” he said. “Two weeks between runs (into The NZB Kiwi), it’s (1500m) a query, but everyone has got to do it.” Jockey Samantha Collett rode Convinced in the Uncle Remus Stakes, and she has elected to stick with the filly for The NZB Kiwi. She will also ride Justin Case in the Sistema Stakes, and Shailer said he has progressed well since his last start Group Three win. “He has come through Matamata well, he looks great and you can hardly get his head out of the feed bin. I am really happy with him,” Shailer said. “He has only beaten two four-horse fields but that is not his fault, he can only beat what he is up against. Back on a Good track will be very interesting.” Shailer has just two members in his current race team and he is excited to take them both to compete on one of New Zealand’s biggest days on the racing calendar. “It’s the biggest day on the calendar and it’s exciting for everybody, the whole farm included,” he said. View the full article

In just her second season in the professional jockey ranks, Amber Riddell brought up her 100th win at Hawera on Friday, and she was rapt to achieve the milestone so early in her career. Riddell started competing in the amateur ranks, winning four races before progressing into an apprenticeship under Kevin Myers and subsequently transferred to Awapuni trainer Lisa Latta earlier this season. It was on the Latta-trained Starpello that she rode her 100th winner, at her 900th start, but Riddell admitted she wasn’t sure whether she had won on the line and she was relieved when she heard her charge’s name called out first over the loudspeaker. “I am really stoked to get it so early in my career,” Riddell said. “I didn’t think I had won, I thought Gryllsy (Craig Grylls) had got it, so I was relieved to hear the judge call out our name as the winner. “I have ridden that horse a few times before and he went really well two starts back where he should have won, he just got held up late.” Friday began an action-packed weekend for Riddell, who flew down to Dunedin to ride at Wingatui’s Otago Classics Day meeting on Saturday before she was straight back on a place north to ride at Trentham on Sunday. Riddell has been clocking up the frequent flyer points this season and the move to Palmerston North has made travelling around the country a lot more viable. “I am travelling a lot this season, which I am really enjoying,” she said. “I love riding down south and the racing down there is pretty strong, and the fields are big and competitive. “A lot of the South Island trainers have supported me and I have become a regular rider down there. I just want to continue riding as much as I can and continue to support the South Island.” Her propensity to travel has also opened further opportunities, particularly at stakes level, and Riddell said her next goal is to attain an elusive stakes victory. “I have also been getting more opportunities to ride in the Group and Listed races and on premier days,” she said. “I am still yet to win a big race, but that is my next goal I am hoping to achieve.” Riddell said another positive of moving to Palmerston North is that she can ride work alongside her father, veteran jockey Jonathan Riddell, who she said has been a massive help in developing her skillset as a rider. “I am enjoying being based at Awapuni and I am able to ride a lot of work with my Dad, which helps,” she said. “He has been really helpful and he goes over my raceday replays and gives me advice on what I could have done better.” Riddell was also pleased to bring up her milestone in the same season that her father brought up one of his own. “It happened in the same season that my Dad got his 1000th winner, so that is pretty special,” she said. Reflecting on her 100 wins, Riddell was quick to thank her supporters over the last couple of years. “I am really grateful to all of the owners and trainers who have given me opportunities and have helped me out in my career so far, especially the ones who put me on when I was first starting out,” she said. “I want to repay them by riding winners and getting the best possible result for them in every race.” Riddell recorded her 101st win later on the card at Hawera, and she is hoping to further add to that tally when she heads to Riccarton on Wednesday where she has a handful of rides, and she is particularly upbeat about the chances of the Stephanie Faulkner-trainer Bodleian in the Book A Suite For Autumn Racing (1400m). “He has come first and second in his last two starts, so he should go well,” she said. View the full article

The loss of Ghibellines was further emphasised at Wingatui where the late resident of White Robe Lodge was the dominant force. The son of Shamardal was represented by two new stakes winners at the weekend and sired a trifecta on Saturday’s undercard. His son Cluedo Lane (NZ) claimed top honours in the Gr.3 White Robe Lodge Weight-For-Age (1600m) for trainer Joseph Waldron while Noble Knight (NZ) and Capo Dell Impero (NZ) quinellaed the Listed Dunedin Gold Cup (2400m). The Sandy Cunningham-prepared Noble Knight was bred and sold by White Robe stud managers Wayne and Karen Stewart. “He deserved that, he’s a very handy horse and has won just under $500,000 now,” Wayne Stewart said. “It’s a great effort and with the increased prizemoney it shows you can race them and keep them here. “Those horses come into their own with a bit of maturity and the White Robe winner showed a good turn of foot when he let rip.” Noble Knight was sold for $22,000 at the New Zealand Bloodstock South Island Yearling & Mixed Sale and is the last foal of the Yamanin Vital mare Flight Arrival (NZ). “We lost the mare unfortunately, but we’ve still got part of the breed going including Direct Flight (NZ) (Ghibellines) who won four and has a yearling by The Chosen One and is in foal to Alflaila,” Stewart said. Ghibellines, who passed away just after Christmas, currently has an impressive 5.2 percents stakes winners to runners. “That’s pretty good, normally you’re doing well if you get up to three or four,” Stewart said. “He’s been quite consistent in Australia too with his runners, it was a great shame we lost him, but that’s just the way it turned out and we’ve got a good few daughters of his we’re breeding from.” Ghibellines has produced 11 individual stakes winners, headed by his homebred Gr.1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) winner Smokin’ Romans (NZ) while Campaldino (NZ) won the Gr.2 Brisbane Cup (3200m) last season. “Campaldino went a really good race fresh-up the other day and he’s heading toward the Sydney Cup (Gr.1, 3200m),” Stewart said. On Saturday, the progressive Trader (NZ) won for the fourth time for Brian and Shane Anderton when he headed a Ghibellines domination of the Rating 75 sprint with stablemate Cherryville (NZ) and Kelvin Tyler’s Monaghan Boy (NZ) filling the minors. Meanwhile, White Robe’s Ancient Spirit continued the good start he has made to his career when the stakes-winning son of Invincible Spirit produced his second black type strike. Bobby McGee (NZ) won the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1400m) on Boxing Day and on Saturday another daughter Golden Spirit (NZ) was a luckless second in the Listed Dunedin Guineas (1600m) for the Andertons. “I was talking to Kylie Williams and she said she had to come off heels and got held up and lost momentum, if she had got a run through then I think she could have won easily,” Stewart said. “She’s a lovely filly and a half-sister to Our Approval (by Ghibellines) who ran second in the Southern Mile Final.” White Robe is also delighted with the popularity of Ancient Spirit’s young associate sire Alflaila, a multiple Group winner by Dark Angel. “He’s had a great start with the book of mares he got, he covered over 100 and has been supported by the Dennis boys and from all over the country, including Cambridge Stud, Pencarrow and Waikato Stud,” Stewart said. View the full article

Lee Pokoik has spent more than 35 years mastering the art of Thoroughbred breeding, and now he looks toward a historic first: a trip to the Kentucky Derby (G1) to cheer on a star he bred.View the full article

Less than four months after being seriously injured in a frightening on-track accident, jockey Dylan Davis' comeback is in full swing at Gulfstream Park.View the full article

In a thrilling stretch duel, Class President was able to fend off Silent Tactic to win the $1 million Rebel Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park March 1 in his first start around two turns.View the full article

In a display of heart and determination, Explora secured her first graded stakes win of 2026 in the $750,000 Honeybee Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park, earning 50 points on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks. View the full article

It was desperately close on the wire, but the stewards did confirm that Class President (Uncle Mo) and the evergreen John Velazquez denied an equally game Silent Tactic (Tacitus) to win the GII Rebel Stakes. The son of the late, great Uncle Mo debuted in December for Todd Pletcher, and comfortably handled that maiden field by 3 1/4 lengths. He was last seen Jan. 31 finishing second in the Swale Stakes to MSW & GSP Solitude Dude (Yaupon), who went on from that race to close the trifecta in the GII Fountain of Youth Feb. 28. In no rush early as Litmus Test (Nyquist) went out to lead through an opening quarter in :23.06 and a half-mile in :46.62, positions had not changed much after six panels in 1:11.77. As they went into the far turn, ranks tightened through the bend and Class President was looming the danger as that pacesetter folded along the rail when they arrived at the head of affairs. Fighting off that longtime leader, but with Silent Tactic now the danger to his outside, Class President courageously met the challenge late to get his head down just in time. Litmus Test rank on well for third. The final time was 1:43.21. Class President takes home 50 Kentucky Derby points with his victory here. #3 CLASS PRESIDENT ($19.00) is on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard after a gutsy win in the $1,000,000 Rebel Stakes (G2) at @OaklawnRacing! @ljlmvel piloted the Uncle Mo colt for trainer @PletcherRacing and owners @WinStarFarm, @ChinaHorseClub, and First Go Racing! pic.twitter.com/pVSTF2uhqj — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) March 1, 2026 Sunday, Oaklawn Park REBEL S.-GII, $1,000,000, Oaklawn, 3-1, 3yo, 1 1/16m, 1:43.21, ft. 1–CLASS PRESIDENT, 119, c, 3, by Uncle Mo 1st Dam: Top Quality (SW & GSP-Can, MSW-USA, $139,704), by Quality Road 2nd Dam: Lemon Bay, by Bernardini 3rd Dam: Sweet Fervor, by Seeking the Gold 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. O-WinStar Farm, LLC, First Go Racing and CHC, Inc.; B-WinStar Farm, LLC (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher; J-John R. Velazquez. $540,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, $593,700. *1/2 to American Speed (More Than Ready), SP, $163,910. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Silent Tactic, 124, c, 3, Tacitus–Magical Sign, by Gun Runner. ($60,000 Ylg '24 FTKOCT; $500,000 2yo '25 OBSAPR). O-John C. Oxley; B-Don Alberto Corporation (KY); T-Mark E. Casse. $180,000. 3–Litmus Test, 121, c, 3, Nyquist–Study Hard, by Malibu Moon. ($875,000 Ylg '24 FTSAUG). O-SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Bashor, Dianne, Determined Stables, Golconda Stable, Waves Edge Capital LLC and Donovan, Catherine; B-Machmer Hall (KY); T-Bob Baffert. $90,000. Margins: NO, 5 1/4, 2 3/4. Odds: 8.50, 3.60, 1.50. Also Ran: Blackout Time, Soldier N Diplomat, Strategic Risk, Honey's to Blame, Rancho Santa Fe, Time for Music. Scratched: Bravaro. Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. The post Two Turn Tradition: Class President Takes Rebel Vote At Oaklawn appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Within the industry, TSG is currently getting batted around like a pinata, and many of the company's woes are self-inflicted. In recent years TSG has pulled the plug on racing at Portland Meadows and Golden Gate Fields, and in many aspects is leaving Maryland racing in a worse-off state than when the company acquired Pimlico and Laurel 15 years ago. TSG is also currently embroiled in a controversial “decoupling” attempt in Florida to sever its live racing obligation from its casino privileges at Gulfstream Park. And just last week, TSG was instrumental in lobbying for the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) to deny permits for two geographically distant Northern California fairs to conduct short race meets in 2026 out of concern that the TSG-owned Santa Anita Park, which has been financially strained in recent seasons, would suffer because of lost simulcasting revenue. At that Feb. 27 CHRB meeting, the board's vice-chair, Oscar Gonzales, openly questioned why other commissioners were deferring to the TSG-backed plan to consolidate all of California's racing in the Southern part of the state, where Santa Anita tenuously remains the flagship track. “We see what [TSG has] done in Maryland,” Gonzales said. We see what they're doing in Florida. But we're willing to put all of our chips [in SoCal, essentially on Santa Anita] rather than spreading them out?” The number of GI Kentucky Derby starters who went on to compete in the Preakness began to really tail off around the same time TSG took over Maryland racing in 2011. That decline is certainly not the outright fault of TSG. It is actually more attributable to the “less is more” training methodology that has cycled into vogue over the past several decades. But it did happen during TSG's stewardship of Maryland racing. Historically, the resilient Preakness has been able to overachieve by making the most out of being an “event” as much as a horse race. And in all fairness, even if you didn't like some of the company's specific ideas, TSG did try to capitalize on and boost the entertainment aspect of the Preakness as best as it could. At the moment, the legacy of the Preakness under TSG spans roughly from Kegasus (the beer-swilling centaur mascot who was introduced just before TSG took control of Pimlico and Laurel in 2011) to the cryptocurrency craze that spawned TSG's issuance of Preakness-themed non-fungible tokens in 2021 (a highly speculative collectibles concept that few people in the racing world understood before the marketplace for them completely cratered within a year). But now it looks like we'll have to leave room in the record books to see whether the 2026 Preakness attendance cap of 4,800 needs to have its own unique chapter written up in better-than-expected terms, or if the idea fizzles to the point where it's just a footnote describing a dubious move at a precarious time for the Preakness. The post The 4800 Preakness Cap is Low. Should Expectations Be Even Lower? appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Aaron Bidlake admits he has always been a dreamer and this Saturday he is hoping one dream can turn into reality when his smart three-year-old Tulsa King (NZ) (Staphanos) lines-up in the Gr.1 HKJC World Pool New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie. The Hastings horseman has long held aspirations of competing in the $1.25 million Classic, and later this week he will realise that ambition when he treks north with his diminutive gelding, who he bought online for just $1,500. The son of Staphanos, who barely reaches 15 hands, failed to flatter in his first two starts for former trainer Barry Donoghue as a two-year-old, beating just one runner home on debut at Trentham last May before finishing last at Te Rapa a fortnight later. Tulsa King was subsequently offered on gavelhouse.com, and after some analysis, Bidlake thought he was worth a gamble, and he faced minimal opposition in the online auction, with his $1,500 bid securing the gelding, who he syndicated amongst family and friends. “He had two starts up north with Barry Donoghue and didn’t show a lot, but I had looked at his trials and I liked the way he trialled up,” Bidlake said. “He was obviously a very small horse, so he didn’t really suit the selling market, so they decided to move him on and we managed to get him for next to nothing.” While diminutive in stature, Bidlake said Tulsa King had a presence about him from day one, and he thought he had something special on his hands, which was vindicated with a first-up victory at New Plymouth in September, with his $23,000 winning stake more than recouping his purchase price. Well and truly in the green on the gelding, Bidlake began to dream big, and decided to set a path towards the Derby with his stable newcomer. “Right from the day we got him I just loved his attitude,” Bidlake said. “He was a little shit when he arrived, trying to front foot me after about five minutes, and I thought he had a bit of something about him. “We didn’t really know what we had racing-wise, I had galloped him on our plough at home, but then he had that first raceday start for us and just ran away from them. We were no chance at the 600m and then won by a length. We knew we had something special then. “Once he did that at New Plymouth, I thought let’s map out some sort of plan to get to a Derby. His pedigree suggests that he was going to get over a bit of ground. “My theory is that every boy that comes into the stable is a Derby horse and every filly is an Oaks horse. I am a bit of a dreamer. You aim high and if you get halfway, you aren’t doing too bad.” While he was unplaced in his next two starts, Tulsa King secured black type at Otaki in November when runner-up in an action-packed Gr.3 Wellington Stakes (1600m). Bidlake then cast his eye north, lining Tulsa King up at Rotorua before heading to Ellerslie, the home of the Derby, where he proved his Wellington Stakes result was no fluke when filling the same position in the Listed Gingernuts Salver (2100m). “It (Gingernuts Salver) was a great run,” Bidlake said. “I didn’t watch a lot of the races that day, I stayed with my horse, but everybody said he was the only horse on the day to make up ground down on the inside. That got us excited going forward, so since then it has been maintenance and trying to look after him to get him there (Derby).” Bidlake elected to remain in the Central Districts for Tulsa King’s final lead-in run, opting to contest last month’s Wairoa Cup (2100m) at Waipukurau, a race C’est La Guerre (NZ) (Shinko King) won on his way to taking out the 2008 edition of the New Zealand Derby. “I am quite a big form analyst, I go through previous seasons and see how to get there (Derby),” Bidlake said. “Obviously we are doing things a little bit differently to others, and that is just because of travelling from the Central Districts. “We have made one trip north and have just stuck to home trying to save him for the Derby. “He ran in the Wairoa Cup, which was the same race C’est La Guerre won, but I don’t know if there are too many horses who actually had their lead-up run at Waipukurau to try and win a Derby.” Tulsa King was met by a Heavy8 track at Waipukurau, and while he didn’t manage to win the race, Bidlake was happy enough with his fourth placed run. “I think he has handled the Heavy track, he has just ended up on the inside,” Bidlake said. “Sectionally he was really good up until that last 200m and that is when he came down to the very inside and he has battled in that last bit. “When you are in an Open Handicap field, and you are only a one-win three-year-old, everything was up against him, but he was still close enough to some pretty handy horses. I am really happy.” Tulsa King has been ridden by Samantha Collett in his last two starts, but with the northern hoop committed to riding last-start Gr.2 Avondale Guineas (2100m) winner That’s Gold (Lucky Vega) in the Derby, Bidlake has called on the services of senior hoop Jonathan Riddell, who rode Jimmy Choux (NZ) (Thorn Park) to victory in the Derby 15 years ago for fellow Hastings trainer John Bary. Riddell sat on Tulsa King for the first time last week and Bidlake said he received positive feedback following his piece of work at Waipukurau. “It was his first feel of him, and he said ‘I know he is a small horse, but he doesn’t feel small, he rides so much bigger than he is’,” Bidlake said. “He is healthy and happy, so I am happy heading into Saturday.” Bidlake and Tulsa King will begin their journey north on Friday, stopping the night in Cambridge with good friend Shaun Phelan before heading to Ellerslie on raceday. Bidlake can’t wait for the big day and said he is excited about his gelding’s chances. “It is really exciting, we are only small players and only work a handful of horses,” he said. “I have had a bit of success as a jumps trainer and a couple of other handy flat horses, but to get a good three-year-old is great. I have always thought that the Derby was the ultimate goal, so to finally be getting one there is a great thrill.” Tulsa King will have an army of supporters barracking for him, with many of his owners set to be trackside on Saturday to cheer home their charge. “A lot of my family are involved in the horse,” Bidlake said. “Barry and Teresa are my Uncle and Aunty, who are up in Hamilton. Barry has raced a few horses with me over the years, he is right into the game. “Mum and Dad have got a small share in him with some friends of theirs, and there are about 12 people in the Grassroots Racing Kings Syndicate. They are all extremely excited and I think most of them are going to make their way up to Ellerslie to enjoy the day. “It (Champions Day) is developing into the biggest day in New Zealand racing, so to be a part of it with what I think is a realistic chance is great.” View the full article

Wathnan Racing's Commandment was looking good at Payson Park March 1 on the morning after passing the two-turn test in the $425,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park.View the full article

In perhaps a sign of some amount of relationship mending between the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association and The Jockey Club, the chairman of the latter will deliver the keynote address at this year's National HBPA Conference.View the full article

The top sprinter award—for the third year in a row—was awarded to Slew's Tiz Whiz, who also earned his fourth older horse title. The now 8-year-old gelding, who races for Slew's Crew Racing, received his third Washington Horse of the Year title.View the full article

He was green, and a bit lost in the lane, but Fancy Fairlane (McKinzie) showed more than enough talent to put his rivals away and sail home to 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' honors at Oaklawn Park. Unveiled Dec. 20 at Fair Grounds in a six-furlong maiden special weight, he was run down late thanks in part to a sensational effort by fellow 'Rising Star' Golden Tempo (Curlin) when that one closed from a different zip code to win going away. Clocked producing a final quarter-mile in :23.57 in that unveiling by the DRF Formulator, Golden Tempo went on from that debut to win the GIII Lecomte Stakes and run third in the GII Risen Star Stakes on Louisiana's Road to the Kentucky Derby. He currently sits in fifth on the Derby leaderboard with 35 points. Fancy Fairlane made his seasonal bow here as the 7-2 third choice, and contentedly watched the race unfold from third as Munnings Challenge (Munnings) stepped out to lead the tempo through an opening quarter in :21.40. Still tracking the leaders after a half-mile in :44.99, the son of McKinzie loomed the danger from the four path as they entered the upper stretch. Lugging in greenly past the three-sixteenths, but quickly corrected by John Velazquez, he powered home to win by 4 3/4 lengths over the longtime leader. Fancy Fairlane is out of an unplaced half-sister to MSW & GSP Sweet Cassiopeia (Five Star Day) and her full-brother MGSP All Star Red. The 'Rising Star' is the first to the races for Count On Caroline (Sky Mesa), who has since produced a juvenile colt named Olympic Champ (Olympiad) as well as a yearling colt by Maclean's Music. The dam, due to Cogburn in 2026, is a young broodmare hailing from the extended female family of Horse of the Year MGISW Knicks Go (Paynter), who was recently repatriated to stand in South Korea. This is also the family of Grade I winner Countus In. The McKinzie (@Gainesway) gelding #3 FANCY FAIRLANE ($9.00) broke his maiden in R8 at @OaklawnRacing. @ljlmvel was in the irons for @Foley_Racing. pic.twitter.com/LphSvVKcTh — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) March 1, 2026 8th-Oaklawn, $110,000, Msw, 3-1, 3yo, 6f, 1:09.62, ft, 4 3/4 lengths. FANCY FAIRLANE, g, 3, by McKinzie 1st Dam: Count On Caroline, by Sky Mesa 2nd Dam: My Sweet Carline, by Salt Lake 3rd Dam: Aube d'Or, by Medaille d'Or Sales history: $80,000 RNA Wlg '23 FTKNOV; $120,000 Ylg '24 FTKOCT. Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, $77,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. O-Terry L. Stephens; B-Drumkenny Farm & American Equistock Inc. (KY); T-Gregory D. Foley. The post McKinzie’s Fancy Fairlane Green, but Talented, En Route to ‘Rising Star’ Honors appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Pegram, Watson and Weitman's Explora (Blame–Collections Choice, by Bernardini) stayed close throughout and once in front, the even-money choice proved too tough to run down as she held off Counting Stars (Honor A.P.) to take Sunday's GIII Honeybee Stakes at Oaklawn Park. The 1 1/16-mile test for sophomore fillies is a point earning race for the GI Kentucky Oaks. The final time for the race was 1:43.52. The race was the second win on the day for jockey Flavien Prat. A first-out winner at Del Mar last summer, she finished runner-up in the GI Del Mar Debutante before annexing the GII Oak Leaf Stakes at Santa Anita. Second in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar on Oct. 31, the dark bay was an impressive 5 1/4-length winner of the Santa Ynez Stakes on Jan. 10 O-Pegram & Watson & Weitman; Mesingw Farm LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert. The post Blame’s Explora Proves Best in the Honeybee appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article