Blood-Horse

Dean Reeves named the colt after a long-dormant nickname for the Georgia Tech University football team, a suggestion that came from a corner of the racing world that one might not expect to be up on obscure United States football monikers.

Diego Velazquez earned his first group 1 success in the Prix Jacques le Marois (G1) in a photo-finish Aug. 16, holding off a challenge from the fast-finishing Notable Speech. The colt was recently purchased by Sangster Bloodstock.

British racing is set to stage a one-day strike on Wednesday, Sept. 10 in a remarkable protest against plans to raise taxes on horseracing betting. It is thought to be the first voluntary blackout in British racing's modern history.

Owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and trained by Michael McCarthy, the team involved with Journalism, Velocity became a grade 1 winner in the Del Mar Oaks (G1T), just her second stakes attempt.

The King's Plate Stakes is Canada's race, the country's equivalent of the Kentucky Derby (G1) for 3-year-olds foaled in the country, but Aug. 16, the historic $725,444 contest belonged to two American owners: Bill and Al Ulwelling.

Trade might not have fully erupted during the opening session of the Arqana August Yearling Sale, with a clearance rate in the low 70s telling its own story, but there was still a string of hot prices at the head of the market on Saturday evening. 

D. J. Stable's Nitrogen showed that her off-the-turf victory in the June 7 Wonder Again Stakes (G3) was no fluke as she defeated the former leaders of the 3-year-old filly division Aug. 16 in the Alabama Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course.

Chiefswood Stables' Simcoe took the lead and never looked back en route to a dominating 5 3/4-length victory in the $122,874 Bold Venture Stakes (G3) Aug. 16 at Woodbine.

The California Thoroughbred Breeders Association announced three groundbreaking programs designed to bolster and invigorate the California breeding industry during a time of uncertainty and significant change for California horse racing.

She Feels Pretty didn't disappoint in the $545,981 E. P. Taylor Stakes (G1T), delivering her fifth career grade 1 victory Aug. 16 at Woodbine.

Nearly one month after scoring a shocking upset over heavily favored Just a Touch in the Monmouth Cup Stakes (G3), Premier Stable's Surface to Air defeated 1-5 First Mission in the $245,000 Philip H. Iselin Stakes (G3) Aug. 16.

Market favor for the Aug. 17 Prix Jacques le Marois (G1) has fallen on the untapped potential of the Coolmore partners' The Lion In Winter and the intriguing global form of Ascoli Piceno. 

Trainer Keri Brion is often well-represented in top-level steeplechase races at Saratoga Race Course, and the Aug. 20 Jonathan Sheppard Handicap (NSA-1) is no exception. Brion runs Jimmy P and The Insider in the 2 3/8-mile hurdle test.

The New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association announced Aug. 16 that the inaugural D. Wayne Lukas Award will be presented to Christophe Lorieul, who assisted Christophe Clement and now Miguel Clement.

After leaving the track in an ambulance Aug. 15, Luis Rivera Jr. was back at Saratoga Race Course before the sun rose Aug. 16 to ride 2024 Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna in her final breeze for the Aug. 23 Personal Ensign Stakes (G1).

The New York Racing Association announced Aug. 16 the stakes schedule for the 32-day 2025 Belmont at the Big A  fall meet and the traditional 27-day fall meet at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Ritzaphena, the first winner for Lexitonian, is now the his initial stakes winner. Following up a debut maiden victory July 13 on grass, the 2-year-old filly improved to 2-for-2 in capturing the six-furlong Prairie Meadows Debutante Stakes Aug. 15.

After earning their first victory with their first starter one month ago, Jayson Werth's Icon Racing is eyeing a big weekend at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 16-17.

After finishing second on debut, Freely Held dominated in his next outing Aug. 15 at Delaware Park, becoming the first winner for WinStar Farm's first-crop sire Independence Hall.

Notorious Gangster enters the CA$1 million King's Plate Stakes at Woodbine Aug. 16 as one of the most accomplished entrants, and his trainer, Josie Carroll, has the King's Plate qualifications to match.