Churchill Downs announced Feb. 20 that Godolphin’s undefeated Kentucky-bred Good Cheer tops a list of 117 3-year-old fillies nominated to the 151st running of the $1.5 million Kentucky Oaks (G1), set for Friday, May 2. The fillies were made eligible to compete in the 1 1/8-mile Kentucky Oaks through a $200 early nomination payment that… Read more
February 22, 2025
C 2 Racing Stable, Prince Faisal bin Khaled bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud and Antonio Pagnano’s Kentucky-bred White Abarrio ranged up to free-running pacesetter Saudi Crown midway on the far turn, drew on even terms straightened for home and opened up in impressive fashion through the stretch to register a stakes-record 6 ¼-length triumph in Saturday’s $3… Read more
January 27, 2025
Kentucky-bred Thorpedo Anna was named the 2024 Horse of the Year on Thursday night at The Breakers Palm Beach during the 54th annual Resolute Racing Eclipse Awards ceremony. The Eclipse Awards, honoring excellence in North American Thoroughbred racing, are voted on by the NTRA, Equibase, Daily Racing Form, and the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters…. Read more
January 24, 2025
Kentucky-breds City of Troy and Laurel River were recognized in January as the co-2024 Longines World’s Best Racehorse. Both horses were awarded the highest rating of 128. It was just the fifth in the award’s 22-year history that there was a tie at the top. City of Troy, a 3-year-old son of Triple Crown winner… Read more
January 23, 2025
Kentucky-bred Lemon Pop, campaigned by Godolphin, was awarded the Best Dirt Horse in Japan for the second straight year, it was announced in January. A recent addition to Darley Japan’s stallion roster, Lemon Pop won the prize in 2023 after becoming just the fourth horse in history to win both JRA G1 races on the… Read more
January 23, 2025
A total of 21 Kentucky-breds comprise 23 of the 33 Eclipse Award finalists that were announced on Jan. 5, by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA). The Resolute Racing Eclipse Awards recognize excellence over the past year in Thoroughbred racing. Winners in 17 horse and human categories will be announced on FanDuel TV and other… Read more
January 6, 2025
Kentucky-bred She Feels Pretty made it back-to-back Grade 1 wins with a dominant victory in the $300,000 American Oaks (G1) at Santa Anita on Dec. 26. Winner of the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1) at Keeneland by six lengths in October, She Feels Pretty was sent off as the 3-5 race favorite in the American… Read more
December 28, 2024
Despite the scratch of Spendthrift Farm’s Tamara from the $300,000 La Brea Stakes on Dec. 26 at Santa Anita, trainer Richard Mandella visited the winner’s circle following the seven-furlong event with Spendthrift’s Kopion. Making her first start in more than eight months, Kopion pressed the early pace three-deep. With jockey Kazushi Kimura aboard, Kopion moved… Read more
December 28, 2024
Kentucky-bred Raging Torrent finished best of all to win the $300,000 Malibu Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita on opening day, Dec. 26. Sent off as the race favorite in a compact field of six, Raging Torrent pursued the early pace from second early in the seven-furlong fixture. Ridden by Lanfranco Dettori for trainer Doug O’Neill,… Read more
December 27, 2024
Godolphin’s Kentucky-bred Lemon Pop, Japan’s Top Dirt Horse of 2023, capped of his stellar career with a repeat victory in the G1 Champions Cup at Chukyo Racecourse in Japan on Dec. 1. Bred in Kentucky by Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Tait, Lemon Pop is trained by Hiroyasu Tanaka. The 6-year-old son of Lemon Drop Kid… Read more
December 4, 2024