Top picks for Thursday’s features at Royal Ascot
Thursday is Ladies Day at Royal Ascot, and four of the stoutest staying mares in Europe will be among the 14 participating in the beloved 2 1/2-mile Gold Cup before what is typically the biggest […]
Articles by Vance Hanson
Kasaqui makes amends with winning rally in Wise Dan
Worn down late a year ago after attempting to lead all the way in the $200,000 Wise Dan (G2), the veteran gray Kasaqui used closing tactics to seal the deal in the 2017 renewal of […]
Sircat Sally hangs tough, stays unbeaten in Honeymoon
Despite enduring the stiffest stretch challenge of her career, odds-on favorite Sircat Sally pulled out yet another victory, her seventh in as many starts, in the $200,345 Honeymoon (G2) at Santa Anita on Saturday. Under […]
Pleuven faces tough repeat bid in Wise Dan
Proving further his fondness for the Churchill Downs turf when taking the $56,000 Opening Verse by 2 1/2 lengths during Kentucky Derby week, Pleuven will look to make it three wins from five starts on […]
Rapid Rise: A brief history of the Stephen Foster Handicap
The Stephen Foster Handicap will be run for the the 37th time at Churchill Downs on Saturday. A race born of humble beginnings, the Foster has evolved not only into the premier summertime race for […]
First Dude colts tops first OBS June session
A son of First Dude sold for $400,000 to David Dizney Racing Syndicate on Tuesday, topping the first day of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s 2017 June Two-Year-Olds in Training and Horses of Racing Age […]
Bob & Mike Show continues as Mor Spirit romps in Met Mile
Belmont Stakes Day 2017 may be remembered more as the Bob & Mike Show. The Hall of Fame duo of trainer Bob Baffert and jockey Mike Smith teamed up for their fourth stakes win on […]
Disco Partner picks up pieces in Japiur
Owner Patricia Generazio and trainer Christophe Clement had a speedy front-runner, Pure Sensation, and a solid closer, Disco Partner, entered in Saturday’s $300,000 Jaipur (G3) at Belmont Park. As it turned out, Pure Sensation’s hot splits […]
West Coast rolls as Easy Goer favorite
West Coast made a sweeping move to the lead at the top of the stretch and drew off convincingly to validate favoritism in Saturday’s $150,000 Easy Goer at Belmont Park, the first of 10 stakes […]
Fenian a “wanted” Belmont winner for owner-breeder August Belmont
When Thoroughbred breeder, owner, and executive August Belmont died in 1890, his obituary noted that he generally showed up at the races when he thought that his horse had a shot to win; it was […]