Blood-Horse

Recent times have been difficult for trainer Rudy Rodriguez, but there was a much different feeling Feb. 6 as he watched the stretch run of the $200,000 Withers Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The Inglis Digital USA February Sale closed Feb. 6, further displaying the auction company's status as a reliable venue for trade ahead of the broodmare season, led by broodmare prospect More Than a Diva at $50,000.

Barry and Joni Butzow, who raced Zozos, bred the stallion's first reported foal, who was born Feb. 6 at Equistar Training and Breeding in Pennsylvania.

Delaware Park Casino announces another successful year of raising awareness and funds for various nonprofit organizations in Delaware, donating more than $166,000 for more than 15 different charities. 

A protracted three-way tussle helped the progressive Space Invasion top this year's Tattersalls February Sale at 230,000 guineas Feb. 6. 

NYRA announces that guardrails requiring computer-assisted wagering activity to cease at one minute to post in many pools have been suspended for one racing day, Feb. 6, to allow for technical upgrades to the tote system.

"We're just hoping Wayne is looking after us from heaven," owner Dr. Aaron Sones said of Lemon Muffin in the Feb. 7 D. Wayne Lukas Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park. "If anybody can pull it off, it's him."

Delaware Park is expected to have 75 days of live racing during it's 89th season.

Roll On Big Joe makes his 2026 debut in the Feb. 8 King Cotton Stakes for older horses at 6 furlongs after completing a stellar 2025 campaign, capped by his win in the Dec. 13 Ring The Bell Stakes.

The Road, presented by Gainesway and WinStar Farm

Riding the rail under Ricardo Santana Jr., Will Take It came through a narrow opening in early stretch and outfought Woodcourt to win the $150,000 Fifth Season Stakes Feb. 5 at Oaklawn Park. 

Hill 'n' Dale Farms and Mario Serrani bred the chestnut filly born Jan. 1 out of Among the Roses, a winning daughter of Curlin.

The Spendthrift Farm stallions had their first reported foals arrive last month.

Turnover for the session closed at 1,863,000 guineas, a 26% year-on-year drop; the average price was down 19% at 17,745 guineas, while the median was down by 17 points at 12,000 guineas.

Promising 3-year-olds Confessional and Renegade square off against seven other rivals in the Feb. 7 Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.

1/ST announced a new partnership with Arranca TV Feb. 5, launching a dedicated Spanish-language horse racing channel on YouTube designed to deliver live race coverage, analysis, and original programming to Spanish-speaking fans.

After two runaway wins in ungraded stakes, Strategic Risk steps into graded company and a $1 million spotlight Feb. 6 in the Southwest Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park.

Canterbury Park announced Feb. 5, the 2026 Thoroughbred stakes schedule for its 51-day race meet that runs May 23-Sept. 19. The schedule includes 23 stakes and named allowances totaling $1.1 million in purses.

Tickets for the 2026 Breeders' Cup World Championships at Keeneland will go on sale to the general public on Tuesday, April 21.

Due to frigid temperatures and windy conditions, Aqueduct Racetrack, Laurel Park, and Charles Town have preemptively canceled racing Feb. 7. Aqueduct also canceled racing Feb. 8