Trainer Gary Contessa successfully bookended graded stakes races at the Saratoga meet with a pair of Kentucky-breds. He sent out Kentucky-bred Becky’s Joker to win the Schuylerville S. (G3) on opening day and saddled Kentucky-bred Nutella Fella, winner of the Hopeful S. (G1) on closing day, Monday, Sept. 4. Last to First Owned by Bell… Read more
September 6, 2023
Kentucky-bred Brightwork remained undefeated with a sparkling victory in the $300,000 Spinaway S. (G1) at Saratoga on Sunday, Sept. 3. Owned by Bill Simon’s WSS Racing and trained by John Ortiz, Brightwork turned back post-time favorite Ways and Means in the seven-furlong sprint for juvenile fillies. Milestone Victory Fresh off a win in the Adirondack… Read more
September 6, 2023
Zedan Racing Stables’ Kentucky-bred Arabian Knight led all the way in the $1 million Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar on Saturday, Sept. 2, and held off a late rally from Geaux Rocket Ride to win the prestigious event by a neck. The impressive victory earned Arabian Knight an automatic entry into the $6 million… Read more
September 4, 2023
Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable’s Kentucky-bred Bright Future made his Grade 1 debut a winning one, fending off fellow Kentucky-bred Proxy to win the 105th running of the $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) at Saratoga on Saturday, Sept. 2. In winning the 10-furlong event, a “Win and You’re In” for the $6… Read more
September 4, 2023
Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Arcangelo followed his history-making score in the final leg of the Triple Crown with a facile win in the $1.25 million Travers S. (G1) at Saratoga on Saturday, Aug. 26. With the win in the 154th running of the historic Travers, he stakes his claim atop the 3-year-old rankings. Ridden by… Read more
August 28, 2023
Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Kentucky-bred Gunite fended off reigning Champion Male Sprinter Elite Power to win the $500,000 Forego (G1) at Saratoga on Saturday, Aug. 26. In earning his second Grade 1 victory following the 2021 Hopeful S. (G1), Gunite handed Elite Power his first loss in nine races, dating back to May of 2022. Elite Power… Read more
August 28, 2023
L and N Racing and Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Echo Zulu fought off Champion Female Sprinter Goodnight Olive to win the Ballerina H. (G1) at Saratoga on Saturday, Aug. 26. With the win, Echo Zulu secured a berth in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) as the Ballerina is a “Win and You’re… Read more
August 28, 2023
The $500,000 Personal Ensign (G1) at Saratoga on Saturday, Aug. 26, was billed as a showdown between Nest and Clairiere. In the end, however, it was Juddmonte’s Kentucky-bred Idiomatic who surprised the two favorites with a front-running victory in the 76th running of the Grade 1 event. Idiomatic broke sharply from the rail and took… Read more
August 28, 2023
The field is set for the 154th running of the $1.25 million Travers S. (G1) at Saratoga on Aug. 26, and Kentucky-breds comprise the entire field. In a rare occurrence, the winners of each of the three legs of this year’s Triple Crown and last year’s Champion 2-Year-Old Colt will clash over 10 furlongs. Among… Read more
August 25, 2023
Klaravich Stables’ Kentucky-bred Randomized took command of the $600,000 Alabama S. (G1) at Saratoga on Saturday, Aug. 12, and never looked back, taking the 143rd running of the prestigious race as much the best. Ridden by Joel Rosario, Randomized cleared her rivals early, leading the field through a quarter-mile split in :23.45 seconds. After six… Read more
August 21, 2023