Blood-Horse

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority released an Equine Health Advisory after their findings suggest horses in early stages of training or those returning from an extended layoff may be at higher risk for fatal proximal forelimb fractures.

Grade 2-winning filly Non Compliant suffered a catastrophic breakdown during training April 17 at Los Alamitos Race Course according to California Horse Racing Board records.

Brian Hernandez Jr., who joined trainer Ken McPeek in completing the  Kentucky Oaks (G1)–Kentucky Derby sweep last year with Thorpedo Anna and Mystik Dan, is back again with mounts in the marquee events.

A cool, calm, and collected Cabo Spirit entered the Santa Anita starting gate for the $101,000 American Stakes (G3T) April 20. When his competition decided to leave him alone on the lead, he made them pay late as he coasted to the wire in victory.

After a 10-year absence, veteran jockey Martin Garcia is headed back to the Kentucky Derby (G1). He is set to ride Citizen Bull, last year's champion 2-year-old male, for trainer Bob Baffert in the 151st Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs May 3.

Top 3-year-olds Rodriguez and Baeza each had their final local works April 20 at Santa Anita Park prior to shipping to Churchill Downs.

It appears that the Hawkes team has another stallion prospect on their hands in the form of Nepotism, who on April 19 laid his claim to being the best juvenile colt around with an awe-inspiring late run to win the Champagne Stakes (G1) at Randwick.

Museum Mile swept by the previously undefeated favorite, Croix du Nord, in the closing strides to win the Satsuki Sho (Japanese Two Thousand Guineas, G1) April 20 at Nakayama Racecourse.

Godolphin homebred First Mission has always shown plenty of promise throughout his career, but after his strong victory in the $1.25 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) April 19, his connections are hopeful 2025 will be his breakout season.

Chilean-bred Richi has acclimated well for trainer Bob Baffert, "getting stronger and stronger," he said, and she proved it emphatically with an easy win in the Santa Maria Stakes (G2) April 19 at Santa Anita Park.

The new Maryland Jockey Club set a handle record of $5,536,944 the April 19 "Preakness Preview Day" program at Laurel Park. 

A day after Gin Gin lit up the toteboard at odds of 38-1 in the Doubledogdare Stakes (G3), Utah Beach delivered another healthy stakes payoff for the Keeneland crowd with an 11-1 upset victory in the $394,188 Elkhorn Stakes (G2T) April 19.

Lexington residents traveling down Versailles Road to Keeneland see neighboring Calumet Farm on their way, and they have seen the farm's impact on the sport at the historic track just as much in recent days.

Local hope Pay Billy could be on to the May 17 Preakness Stakes (G1) after scoring a workmanlike victory in the $150,000 Federico Tesio Stakes April 19 at Laurel Park.

Professor Gordon Jones died April 18, only four days after his 95th birthday.

Tampa Bay Downs jockey Hector Rafael Diaz Jr., suffered a dislocated left shoulder April 18 when he was unseated in the stretch run of the seventh race on the turf after his mount, 3-year-old filly Hidden Recipe, clipped heels with Mia Vita.

Coming off a third-place finish in the Louisiana Derby (G2), Instant Replay outclassed his five rivals to capture the $200,000 Bathhouse Row Stakes April 19 at Oaklawn Park.

1/ST TV has curated the workouts by contenders for the 151st Kentucky Derby (G1) hopefuls in one location in one location on the 1ST.TV website under the heading "Triple Crown Trail."  

Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner Journalism had his final work April 19 at Santa Anita Park before shipping to Churchill Downs, where he is expected to be the favorite in the May 3 Kentucky Derby (G1).

The $350,000 Bewitch Stakes (G3T), won three times by multiple grade 1 winner War Like Goddess in 2021-23, marks the final graded stakes feature of the 15-day Keeneland spring meet.