Blood-Horse

Brian Hernandez, Jr. was named Jockey of the Week after he rode Mystik Dan to victory in the Blame Stakes at Churchill Downs, the site of the colt's biggest triumph. Mystik Dan won the 2024 Kentucky Derby, for which Hernandez was also in the irons.

Should Baeza win the June 7 Belmont Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course, it would make history for his dam, Puca, as the first mare to produce three American classic winners and the second to produce consecutive Belmont winners.

In this monthly BH interview, Karen M. Johnson profiles young racing personalities.

When Chad Brown started training in 2007, he, like anyone else, had a list of hopes and ambitions. Winning the Belmont Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course was not one of them.

The June Digital Sale closed June 3 with 53 horses sold for $1,401,500. The sale averaged $24,587 with a clearance rate of 78%, and a median of $12,000.

Maiden Watch Week of May 26-June 1

Lael Stables' She Feels Pretty, undefeated in three starts since equipped with blinkers, aims for her fourth consecutive graded stakes victory when rematched against Gimme a Nother in the $750,000 New York Stakes (G1T) June 6 at Saratoga Race Course.

Proven top turf miler Filo Di Arianna has a chance to show his younger rivals that age is simply but a number when he lines up in the $300,000 Poker Stakes (G3T) June 5 at Saratoga Race Course.

While the top three Kentucky Derby (G1) finishers are set to battle once more in the Belmont Stakes (G1), five more Derby alumni will return to the Churchill Downs starting gate June 8 for the $400,000 Matt Winn Stakes (G3).

More is on the line in the June 7 Metropolitan Handicap (G1) than the $1 million purse. The prestigious middle-distance Met Mile is also known as a stallion-making race, and it regularly carries championship implications.

With Kentucky Derby (G1) dreams in the rearview mirror, 2024's 2-year-old champion male Citizen Bull is aiming to get his career back on track as he cuts back in distance in the $500,000 Woody Stephens Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course June 7.

A colt by Harry Angel bought as a weanling for just AU$1,500 turned into a dream horse for a New South Wales boutique breeder when he sold for a session-topping AU$525,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast National Yearling Sale June 3.

Fierceness, last seen setting a track record in the May 2 Alysheba Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs, the second week in a row leads the National Thoroughbred Racing Association's Top Thoroughbred Poll released June 3.

After nearly 25 years as a mainstay in Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher's operation, Maggie Sweet was ready for a new challenge. She found a rewarding but massive one with the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation.

With victories in four of his past five starts, including a clear victory in the Man o' War Stakes (G2T) May 10 at Aqueduct, LSU Stables' Far Bridge will try to continue that good form June 7 at Saratoga in the $1 million Manhattan Stakes (G1T).

With 10 career graded stakes placings, including in his last three starts, 2-1 morning-line favorite Limited Liability will try to get over the hump and into the winner's circle in the $250,000 Belmont Gold Cup (G2T) June 6 at Saratoga Race Course.

Good Cheer will try for a second straight grade 1 score and fifth straight graded stakes victory when she starts as the 1-2 favorite in the Acorn Stakes (G1) June 6. She's one of seven 3-year-old fillies entered in the 1 1/8-mile test.

Top-class sprinter Believing is set for a tilt at the King Charles III Stakes (G1) on opening day of Royal Ascot. The 5-year-old Mehmas filly will return in what is to be her final season on the track. Connections confirmed she's in foal to Frankel. 

The group of jockeys assembled to ride in this year's Belmont Stakes (G1) June 7 at Saratoga Race Course is a mix of accomplished veterans (nine Belmont wins among them) and rising talent (two riders will be making their Belmont debuts). 

The List: An Update and Review of the Top 25 General Sires List Rankings