Blood-Horse

Riding from far off the pace is not usually recommended. But for Nitti, lately that has become a recipe for success. The latest example is the San Juan Capistrano Stakes at Santa Anita Park.

Lost in the shuffle of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival June 6-8, was Kilwin's victory in the Leslie's Lady Overnight Stakes at Churchill Downs June 8. She beat a field that included multiple graded stakes-placed Vodka With a Twist.

Darby Dan Farm's Modernist got his first winner when his son Stretch romped in a five-furlong maiden special weight race, winning by nine lengths at Lone Star Park June 15.

Mystik Dan is one of two horses trained by Kenny McPeek nominated to the Stephen Foster. The other, allowance winner and 1 1/8-mile track record holder Gould's Gold, also worked Sunday, covering five furlongs in 1:00 1/5.

One of only two sons of the mighty New Zealand-based stallion Savabeel standing in Australia, Cool Archie continued his irrepressible way with a fifth straight success in Eagle Farm's JJ Atkins.

Owner Jim Bryce has described his United States adventures with Heart of Honor as "crazy" and is relishing more international trips with his dirt star following a well-earned break.

Royal Ascot is expected to start on a mixture of good and good to firm ground, with no rain forecast through the week. And ticket sales are up on last year, according to director of racing and public affairs Nick Smith.

Meisho Tabaru led gate to wire for an upset victory over Bellagio Opera in the Takarazuka Kinen (G1) June 15 at Hanshin Racecourse in Japan.

The Goffs London Sale is set to kick off Royal Ascot week in style June 16, when a diverse and quality catalog of 28 lots will be offered on the grounds of Kensington Palace Gardens.

Gezora Fended Off Bedtime Story in the Prix de Diane (G1) June 15 at Chantilly Racecourse. She earned a spot in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) thanks to the new 'Arc Races' series.

Returning from a 6 1/2-month layoff, Motorious showed no signs of rust as he mowed down his competition to win the $100,500 Daytona Stakes (G3T) at Santa Anita Park June 14.

After the first three races were run without incident over a track labeled sloppy, Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races has canceled the remainder of its June 14 card as a result of lingering thunderstorms and heavy rain.

The New York Racing Association and the New York State Gaming Commission have placed Barn 28 at Belmont Park under a 14-day precautionary quarantine until further notice due to a positive case of strangles in that barn.

The two stakes races on the grass on Haskell Preview Day at Monmouth Park belonged to trainer Chad Brown.

Bouncing back from a disappointing run in the Kentucky Oaks (G1), Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Madaket Stables' Fondly took the field gate to wire in the $300,000 Delaware Oaks (G3) at Delaware Park June 14.

Racing June 14 in the $168,450 Monomoy Girl Overnight Stakes at Churchill Downs, Take Charge Milady did what no filly could do last year: beat champion Immersive.

Although he failed to pick up his feet over the slop on Derby Day, Bracket Buster was undeterred by Monmouth Park's wet track June 14, splashing home an eye-catching winner of the $162,000 Pegasus Stakes.

Hip 829, a colt by Beau Liam, equaled the Ocala Breeders' Sales track record for a quarter-mile when he worked in :20 1/5 during the fifth and final under tack session for the OBS June 2-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age Sale.

New York Stewards fined jockey Kendrick Carmouche $5,500 and suspended him one riding day for exceeding the limit for use of the riding crop in piloting Deterministic in the Manhattan Stakes (G1T) June 8 at Saratoga Race Course.

High-class talent Ghostwriter looks set to be the star attraction at this year's Goffs London Sale, which takes place in Kensington Palace Gardens the evening of June 16.