Blood-Horse

The $750,000 Ashland Stakes (G1) was essentially over as soon as it started as La Cara bounced beautifully from her No. 2 post position, took command, and never looked back en route to victory by about a half-length at Keeneland April 7.

Trainer Mark Casse joins the April 7 BloodHorse Monday podcast to discuss Sandman and the fight against decoupling. Also, OBS president Tom Ventura previews the spring sale and co-hosts Louie Rabaut and Sean Collins recap recent Derby preps.

At the close of the Inglis Easter Sale April 7, the average was AU$451,913—smashing last year's record of AU$426,447. The gross stood at AU$150 million, only down AU$1.8 million on 2024 despite only 332 lots being sold.

Multiple grade-1 placed colt Ferocious died April 7 as a result of laminitis. Co-owner Ramiro Restrepo said it had been a downward slide for the son of Flatter since running in the Feb. 1 Holy Bull Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park.

Godolphin's Verity did not hang around Keeneland long the afternoon of April 6 following her 5 1/4-length victory over a sloppy track in the $400,000 Beaumont Stakes (G2) on opening day of the spring meet.

Tom Pedulla offers takeaways from major Kentucky Derby (G1) prep races held on each coast April 5, the Santa Anita Derby (G1) in California and the 100th Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct. He also looks at international action in Dubai.

Bookended by a strong opening week and a robust Santa Anita Derby weekend, the track's total all source handle topped $510 million. The total handle on just Santa Anita's races increased 5% from the 2023-24 Classic Meet.  

For America's Best Racing, Tom Pedulla is interviewing prominent owners, trainers, and jockeys as they travel the Road to the $5 million Kentucky Derby (G1) May 3 at Churchill Downs.

Godolphin homebred Verity aced were first stakes test April 6 when she rolled to a 5 1/4-length win in the $365,000 Beaumont Stakes at Keeneland.

The on-track attendance, bolstered by a big turnout for the Derby Day 5K who stayed for the races, was 34,312, a 7% jump. It was the largest turnout for Santa Anita Derby day since 2018.

Normandy Coast skipped over the sloppy track in the $300,000 Palisades Stakes at Keeneland April 6, taking full advantage of the 5 1/2 furlong sprint being taken off the turf, winning by 3 1/2 lengths over the filly Long Neck Paula.

The first day of the under tack show for the @OBSSales Spring 2-Year-Olds in Training sale began April 6 with a trio of youngsters breezing an eighth of a mile in :09 4/5.

At the close of the day April 6, 129 lots had been sold out of 163 to go through the ring, with the average AU$488,798, the median AU$375,000, and the gross AU$63,055,000. The clearance was 79%.

Journalism rallied to win the Santa Anita Derby (G1) by three-quarters of a length after encountering trouble near the eighth pole. He was forced to check near the three-eighths pole, but quickly regrouped and gamely ran down a stubborn Baeza.

Pleasant Acres Stallions' Leinster got his stallion career off to a quick start April 6 as his 2-year-old filly, Lennilu, took the opening race of Keeneland's spring meet, a 4 1/2-furlong maiden race.

The $750,000 Wood Memorial (G2) saw its 100th running won by the talented Rodriguez for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert April 5, providing his 10 owners with their third likely contender for the May 3 Kentucky Derby (G1).

Bellagio Opera ended a year-long win drought with a repeat victory in the Osaka Hai (G1) April 6 at Hanshin Racecourse.

The connections of Rodriguez are hoping they have a case of "like father, like son" on their hands after their colt, a son of 2020 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Authentic, won the April 5 Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Overcoming a troubled trip, Journalism ran down Baeza in the final strides to solidify Kentucky Derby (G1) favoritism with his victory in the $500,000 Santa Anita Derby (G1) at Santa Anita Park April 5.

Om N Joy became the first black-type stakes winner for third-crop sire Om in capturing the April 5 Evening Jewel Stakes at Santa Anita Park.