Kentucky-bred Lexitonian, a Calumet Farm homebred, won a dramatic renewal of the Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. (G1) on July 31 at Saratoga Race Course. Ridden by Jose Lezcano, Lexitonian flashed good speed from his inside draw and led early. After receiving some pressure from Special Reserve, he relinquished command to that rival in the lane… Read more
July 31, 2021
Kentucky-bred Maracuja, owned by Beach Haven Thoroughbreds, parlayed a strong move around the far turn to a determined victory over fellow Kentucky-bred and Kentucky Oaks (G1) victress Malathaat in the $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) at Saratoga on July 24. Ridden by Ricardo Santana Jr., Maracuja tracked the early pace in second, chasing Malathaat… Read more
July 27, 2021
Juddmonte Farms’ Kentucky-bred Mandaloun, trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Florent Geroux, earned his first Grade 1 victory as a result of the disqualification of Hot Rod Charlie in the 54th running of the Haskell Stakes (G1) at Monmouth Park on July 17. In a historic renewal of the Haskell—it was the first time… Read more
July 19, 2021
With their respective wins in Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series races at Churchill Downs on June 26, Kentucky-breds Maxfield and Letruska secured berths in this year’s Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar. In winning the $600,000 Stephen Foster S. (G2), Maxfield earned an automatic berth in the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), while Letruska, winner of… Read more
June 29, 2021
Godolphin homebred Essential Quality returned to his winning form on June 5 with an impressive victory in the 153rd Belmont Stakes (G1) a Belmont Park. The win marked the 103rd time that the third leg of the Triple Crown, known as “The Test of a Champion,” has been won by a Kentucky-bred. Last year’s Champion… Read more
June 5, 2021
A talented group of eight Kentucky-breds—featuring last year’s Champion 2-year-Old Male Essential Quality and Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Rombauer—will decide the 153rd Belmont Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park on June 5. The $1.5 million Belmont Stakes is race 11 on a 13-race stakes-loaded program with a post time of 6:49 p.m. Essential Quality is the… Read more
June 4, 2021
Kentucky-breds dominated the Grade 1 racing action at Santa Anita on Memorial Day with Smooth Like Strait winning the Shoemaker Mile (G1) and earning a berth in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1), Country Grammar taking down top prize in the Hollywood Gold Cup (G1), and Maxim Rate capturing the Gamely Stakes (G1). Smooth Like Strait,… Read more
June 1, 2021
John and Diane Fradkin’s Kentucky-bred Rombauer rallied strongly in the stretch and pulled away late from fellow Kentucky-bred Midnight Bourbon to win the 146h Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico Race Course on May 15. The victory marks the 102nd time that a Kentucky-bred has captured the second jewel in racing’s Triple Crown. Zedan Racing’s Medina… Read more
May 17, 2021
Nine of the 10 runners in the 146th running of the Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico May 15, are Kentucky-breds, including leading contenders Concert Tour and Midnight Bourbon. Concert Tour and Midnight Bourbon, along with Ram, Keepmeinmind, Crowded Trade, Rombauer, France Go de Ina, Unbridled Honor, and Risk Taking will try to knock off Kentucky… Read more
May 14, 2021
Kentucky-bred Channel Cat led at every call and fended off race favorite Gufo to win the $700,000 Man o’War Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park on May 8. Ridden by John Velazquez, Channel Cat broke sharply and led the eight-horse field through fast early fractions of :22.60 for the quarter-mile and :47.53 for the half over… Read more
May 10, 2021