Blood-Horse

After a foot abscess prevented champion 3-year-old male Sierra Leone from running in the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1), he appears set to make his 4-year-old debut March 22 in the $500,000 New Orleans Classic (G2) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.

The Fasig-Tipton March Digital Sale closed March 18 with 85 horses sold from 100 offered for $3,095,000. The sale averaged $36,411 with a clearance rate of 85%.

Maiden Watch: Week of March 10-16

A perfect 5-for-5 lifetime, Good Cheer puts her undefeated record on the line in the March 22 Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.

Godolphin homebred Kinetic, an Oaklawn Park stakes winner Jan. 25, aims for a graded triumph this time in the $500,000 Essex Handicap (G3). He could possibly be joined by fellow Godolphin homebred Maycocks Bay.

John Battaglia Memorial Stakes winner California Burrito will play a crucial role in the $777,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) at Turfway Park March 22 as the key to the race's pace scenario.

This week's racing on radio and television schedule, as compiled by America's Best Racing.

The overall spending stats were down this year, with the sale grossing AU$14,348,500, down from AU$15,379,500 in 2024, with a drop in the average, median, and top price as well.

Byron King's Top 12 on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, presented by Spendthrift Farm.

The four-day sale will take place April 15-18 with each session beginning at 10:30 a.m. ET. The under tack show will run from April 6-12 starting at 8 a.m. ET each day.

An impressive performance by BC Stables' American Promise March 15 in the Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs has placed him among the top 10 in the National Thoroughbred Racing Association's Top 3-Year-Old Poll.

Debbie and Howard Appel of Surfside Stables welcomed twin fillies out of their broodmare, Kona Kai, at Meadowbrook Farm in Shelbyville, Ky., March 10. Farm manager Lori Hendrickson had the honor of birthing the Oscar Performance foals.

Dollars and Sense with Frank Angst

BH Interview: Phil Hatfield

The Florida House of Representative's Commerce Committee voted 13-7 in favor of a bill that would allow Thoroughbred racetracks to operate casinos and card rooms without being required to run live racing.

During the March 17 BloodHorse Monday podcast, Flying Dutchmen president Hunter Rankin confirmed that Tampa Bay Derby (G3) winner Owen Almighty will continue on the Kentucky Derby (G1) trail rather than wait for the Pat Day Mile (G2).

On the March 17 BloodHorse Monday: Flying Dutchmen's Hunter Rankin discusses Owen Almighty's Kentucky Derby status, Louie Rabaut and Sean Collins recap the Virginia Derby, and Frank Angst recaps the OBS March Sale and Oaklawn Park's show bets.

Millionaire sprinter The Chosen Vron, recently selected as the California-bred Horse of the Year for a second consecutive season, has been retired.

Barnes, who endured his first defeat in the San Felipe March 1, and standout debut winner Cornucopian worked six furlongs at Santa Anita Park in company March 17 for trainer Bob Baffert.

At the end of trade, Magic Millions reported that 138 lots sold at a clearance rate of 73% and recorded an aggregate of AU$6,732,500 (approx. US$4,300,776), a drop of 8.6% at the same point 12 months ago.