Blood-Horse

Katsumi Yoshida's Aperitivo wins first-out going 5 1/2 furlongs on the dirt May 5 at Mombetsu Racecourse.

Incredibolt was entered May 11 to the May 16 Preakness Stakes (G1) at Laurel Park, according to Michael Hardy, director of operations for the colt's owner, Pin Oak Stud. The draw will be held later Monday afternoon.

To Derby or not to Derby. It's an interesting predicament facing trainers who have horses "on the cusp" of the leaderboard earning points to be a Kentucky Derby contender. Preakness contender Talkin was one such horse.

Trainer Mark Casse said John Oxley's son of Tacitus had a protective shoe removed from a bruised foot and regular shoe put on. The colt galloped fine May 11 but is not jogging at 100%, according to Casse.

A final decision on whether Silent Tactic, the probable favorite, runs in the Preakness Stakes will come the morning of May 11. It appears, though, that the decision has been made.

Considering he is named after a television spy, it should come as no surprise that the grade 1-winning 3-year-old Napoleon Solo's career has been filled with thrills, drama, and plot twists.

When Farfellow Farms' Expensive Queen (IRE) hit the wire simultaneously with Segesta in the Jenny Wiley Stakes (G1T) at Keeneland this April, the Knelman clan which operates the farm turned the winner's circle celebration into a family affair.

The increasing globalization of Thoroughbred racing provides opportunities for horsemen to test their horses against the best across the world. One of those is the Goodwood Festival at Goodwood Racecourse.

Trainer Michael McCarthy reported May 10 that the Juddmonte homebred Marjoram was doing well the morning after winning her stakes debut in Saturday's Senorita Stakes (G3T) for 3-year-old fillies.

Aga Khan Studs' Rayif appears bound for Royal Ascot after victory in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French Two Thousand Guineas, G1) at Longchamp May 10.

Chip Honcho completed his major training for the 151st Preakness Stakes (G1) May 16 with a half-mile work in :50.20 at Churchill Downs May 10.

Trainer Chad Brown said the Belmont Stakes (G1) or the Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth Park are both logical choices for Growth Equity's next start.

Rodeo Drive, sticking to the formula of 1-mile races, got up in the final strides to win the May 10 NHK Mile Cup (G1T) at Tokyo Racecourse while some prominent distance experimenters faltered.

Marjoram is now a grade 3 winner sprinting on grass, just like her older brother Spiced Up, after catching favored Light Won Up in the Senorita Stakes (G3T) May 9 at Santa Anita Park.

As much as the $194,000 Peter Pan Stakes (G3) is New York's steppingstone race to the Belmont Stakes (G1), the victorious Growth Equity may not be taking that big step.

Horse Racing Women’s Association expands its "Day at the Races" series to Canada at Century Mile.

Late-running Zabeel Champion uses almost every yard of the 3-mile Calvin Houghland Iroquois Stakes (NSA-1) to catch Swore in the closing strides.

Fillies outperform their male counterparts by running 1-2 in the May 9 Royal Palm Juvenile Stakes at Gulfstream Park. Celtic Dispute wore down favored Skara Brae for a neck victory.

Ercel Ellis Jr., a trainer, writer, clocker, and longtime horse racing radio broadcaster, died May 7 in Lexington at the age of 94.

A filly by the same sire, bred on the same cross, and consigned by the same vendor as classic hopeful Zanthos reached the seven-figure mark midway through the Arqana Breeze Up Sale May 9 in Deauville, France.