Wandering Eyes

Despite getting squeezed at the start, the Speightstown colt used a rush along the outside to win the $250,000 Bay Shore Stakes (G3). View the full article

Midnight Bisou had been plenty impressive in her racing career prior to the $400,000 Santa Anita Oaks (G1), but what she did April 7 was above and beyond any of her past performances. View the full article

MIDNIGHT BISOU (f, 3, Midnight Lute–Diva Delite, by Repent) will head to Churchill next month as one of the likely favorites for the GI Kentucky Oaks after an eye-catching victory in the GI Santa Anita Oaks Saturday. Running second last early as Thirteen Squared (Liaison) clocked early fractions of :23.47 and :47.63, the 3-5 chalk circled the field to move into contention on the backstretch run. The dark bay swept to the lead in the stretch and rolled clear down the three path to win by three lengths in 1:44.79. GII Sorrento S. winner Spectator (Jimmy Creed) made a solid run for second. Winning rider Mike Smith scored a Grade I double, having captured the GI Santa Anita Derby two races earlier aboard undefeated ‘TDN Rising Star’ Justify (Scat Daddy). Missing by a nose to recently sidelined Grade I winner Dream Tree (Uncle Mo) in her first two starts, including the Nov. 18 Desi Arnaz S., Midnight Bisou earned her diploma with a decisive victory in the GII Santa Ynez S. going seven panels here Jan. 7. The $80,000 OBSAPR buy followed suit with a 2 1/4-length defeat of Thirteen Squared in the GIII Santa Ysabel S. Mar. 3. Lifetime Record: 5-3-2-0. O-Bloom Racing Stable & Allen Racing; B-Woodford Thoroughbreds (KY); T-Bill Spawr. View the full article

Multiple graded stakes winner Finley'sluckycharm won the $300,000 Madison Stakes (G1) April 7 at Keeneland and retained her spotless record in Kentucky. View the full article

Chin's copybook ride on Webster vindicates Meagher View the full article

Ideal conditions see Siam Sapphire sparkle again View the full article

Classic-bound Zac Kasa jogs in View the full article

Placais-Takaoka lose a Star to win a Sun View the full article

Nova Vocal makes himself heard loud and clear on debut View the full article

Early scratchings April 8 View the full article

Track conditions and course scratchings April 8 View the full article

Horses' body weights April 8 View the full article

Multiple grade 1 winner Bolt d'Oro did his best to cut into the large lead Justify built on the front end in the final turn of the 1 1/8-mile test at Santa Anita Park, but that powerful stride just kept forging on. View the full article

Unbeaten ‘TDN Rising Star’ JUSTIFY (c, 3, Scat Daddy–Stage Magic, by Ghostzapper) passed his first real class test with flying colors, effortlessly wiring the GI Santa Anita Derby to secure his spot in the starting gate on the First Saturday in May. Arguably the most hyped horse on the GI Kentucky Derby trail on the back of a pair of dominant victories at Santa Anita this winter, the $500,000 KEESEP buy was originally being pointed to the GI Arkansas Derby next weekend, but was re-routed to this test after stablemate and fellow ‘Rising Star’ McKinzie (Street Sense) was sidelined. Billed as a two-horse race between Justify and MGISW Bolt d’Oro, the Bob Baffert pupil was given the nod at 4-5 with his chief rival at even-money. Seizing the early advantage, Justify was well within himself as he ticked off early fractions of :23.96 and :47.85 while well clear of Bolt d’Oro. The Ruis runner closed the gap on the backstretch and the stage appeared set for the showdown everyone expected. However, Justify always had his rival’s measure and was still under a hand ride in the stretch, while Bolt d’Oro was asked for everything he had and guided to the inside of the leader by Javier Castellano. Hall of Famer Mike Smith gave Justify two taps of the whip in the final sixteenth and the he coasted home to win by 2 3/4 lengths in 1:49.72. Bolt d’Oro held second over longshot Core Beliefs (Quality Road). Justify is the 25th Grade I winner for the late Scat Daddy, who was also represented by GII Toyota Blue Grass S. runner-up Flameaway. The winner shares ownership with last Saturday’s GI Florida Derby hero Audible (Into Mischief), who he will face off with in Louisville. Part owners China Horse Club, WinStar and SF Racing are also the connections of today’s impressive GIII Bay Shore S. winner National Flag (Speightstown) and GII Tampa Bay Derby victor Quip (Distorted Humor), who takes Justify’s place in Arkansas. Justify’s breeder John Gunther is also responsible for today’s GII Wood Memorial S. winner Vino Rosso (Curlin). Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0. O-China Horse Club, WinStar, Head of Plains, Starlight & SF Racing; B-John Gunther (KY); T-Bob Baffert. View the full article

Monomoy Girl secures the first grade 1 win for trainer Brad Cox in the $500,000 Central Bank Ashland Stakes (G1) at Keeneland April 7 and ensures herself a spot in the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1). View the full article

Making his stakes debut at the highest level, Army Mule found room inside off the turn and rolled to 6 1/4-length score in the $400,000 Carter Handicap April 7 at Aqueduct Racetrack. View the full article

Champion GOOD MAGIC (c, 3, Curlin–Glinda the Good, by Hard Spun) returned to winning ways and stamped his ticket to the GI Kentucky Derby with a good-looking victory in the GII Toyota Blue Grass S. at Keeneland Saturday evening. Entering this off a best-of-54 half-mile in :48 flat at Palm Meadows Mar. 31, he was hammered down to 8-5 favoritism to improve off a disappointing third as the heavy favorite in his seasonal bow in Gulfstream’s GII Fountain of Youth S. Mar. 3. Breaking from post 11 in this full field, the $1 million KEESEP buy ran wide in mid-pack through an opening half in :47.40. Advancing on the backstretch run, Good Magic ranged up three-wide to take on pacesetting Flameaway (Scat Daddy) turning for home, took command in the stretch and kicked clear to score. Flameaway held second. Grade I winner Sporting Chance (Tiznow) veered out sharply in the final sixteenth, interfering with fellow GISW Free Drop Billy (Union Rags), but still crossed the wire third. Sporting Chance was taken down and Free Drop Billy was promoted to third after a stewards inquiry and jockey claim of foul. Runner-up to a ‘TDN Rising Star’ performance from Hazit (War Front) on debut at Saratoga on GI Travers S. day Aug. 26, Good Magic missed by a half-length in Belmont’s GI Champagne S. Oct. 7. The chestnut broke his maiden in style next out with a decisive score in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, which earned him an Eclipse Award. Lifetime Record: 5-2-2-1. O-e Five Racing Thoroughbreds & Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings (KY); T-Chad Brown. View the full article

Reigning juvenile male champion Good Magic takes home the $1 million Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) at Keeneland April 7 and adds 100 points to his previous 34 qualifying points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. View the full article

Monomoy Girl secures first grade 1 win for trainer Brad Cox in the $500,000 Central Bank Ashland Stakes (G1) at Keeneland April 7 and ensures herself a spot in the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1). View the full article

Fatale Bere has given a good account of herself since she moved from France to Southern California in the fall of 2017, but she put it all together April 7 at Santa Anita Park. View the full article

Vino Rosso fought past Enticed in the Aqueduct Racetrack stretch then survived an objection and inquiry regarding a bumping incident in the lane to capture the Wood Memorial Presented by NYRA Bets (G2) April 7. View the full article

VINO ROSSO (c, 3, Curlin–Mythical Bride, by Street Cry {Ire})finally put it all together then survived a steward’s inquiry to make the grade and stamp his ticket to the GI Kentucky Derby in Saturday afternoon’s GII Wood Memorial S. Sitting in midpack behind a hot pace set by a run-off leader, the $410,000 KEESEP yearling advanced outside of favored Enticed (Medaglia d’Oro) turning for home. The 4-1 shot brushed with his rival repeatedly in the run to the wire, but ultimately found more and kicked away late for a three-length tally in 1:49.79. Bob Baffert trainee Restoring Hope (Giant’s Causeway) rounded out the trifecta. Vino Rosso took his debut here in November followed by a Tampa optional claimer on the stretch out Dec. 22. Third in the GIII Sam F. Davis S. Feb. 10, he was a somewhat disappointing fourth in the GII Tampa Bay Derby Mar. 10. This victory represented the third straight on the card for trainer Todd Pletcher, who took the GI Carter H. with fellow St Elias Stable-owned Army Mule (Friesan Fire) followed by the GIII Bay Shore S. with National Flag (Speightstown). Lifetime Record: 5-3-0-1. O-Repole Stable & St Elias Stable. B-John D Gunther (Ky). T-Todd A Pletcher. View the full article

Monomoy Girl secures first grade 1 win for trainer Brad Cox in the $500,000 Ashland Stakes (G1) at Keeneland April 7 and ensures herself a spot in the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1). View the full article

MONOMOY GIRL (f, 3, Tapizar–Drumette, by Harlan’s Holiday) ran to the money in Keeneland’s GI Ashland S., taking the field gate-to-wire for a dominant victory. Breaking on top from her rail draw, the $100,000 KEESEP buy was hard held by jockey Florent Geroux as she registered a comfortable opening half-mile in :47.98. Showing the way into the lane, the chestnut effortlessly skipped clear to win as she pleased by five lengths in 1:43.74. Eskimo Kisses (To Honor and Serve) completed the exacta. Opening her account with a pair of wins on turf in September, Monomoy Girl romped in the Rags to Riches S. when switched to the main track in October and missed by a neck in the GII Golden Rod S. Nov. 25. She returned to winning ways last time in the GII Rachel Alexandra S. Feb. 17. Lifetime Record: 6-5-1-0. O-Michael Dubb, Monomoy Stables, The Elkstone Group & Bethlehem Stables; B-FPF LLC & Highfield Ranch; T-Brad Cox. View the full article

NATIONAL FLAG (c, 3, Speightstown–Date to Remember, by Bernardini) became the latest highlight in an incredible run of stakes success for the powerful team of WinStar Farm, China Horse Club and SF Racing as he flew home in the Aqueduct stretch like he was shot out of a cannon to take the GIII Bay Shore S. at Aqueduct Saturday by some five lengths. Last year’s GIII Futurity S. winner Engage (Into Mischief) completed the exacta, followed by pace-pressing Aveenu Malcainu (Into Mischief) in third. The final winning time was 1:23.16, and the winner’s performance came just one race after his ‘TDN Rising Star’ stablemate Army Mule (Friesan Fire) dropped jaws with a dominant performance in the GI Carter H. National Flag, a $600,000 KEESEP yearling, defeated Engage to break his maiden second out at Saratoga last August. Fifth in the GI Hopeful S. a month later, he bounced back with a big-figure optional claiming tally going this distance at Gulfstream Mar. 2. His owners have been represented recently by the likes of GI Florida Derby winner Audible (Into Mischief), and will have brilliant and unbeaten Justify (Scat Daddy) in the GI Santa Anita Derby later this afternoon. Lifetime Record: 5-3-0-0. O-WinStar Farm, China Horse Club & SF Racing. B-Siena Farms LLC (Ky). T-Todd A Pletcher. View the full article