Blood-Horse

After D. Wayne Lukas' death was announced June 29, his former assistants Dallas Stewart and Mike Maker were successful in accomplishing what he taught them to do: win.

Jockey Jose Ortiz, trainer Joe Sharp, and owner Godolphin topped their respective standings for the 2025 Churchill Downs Spring Meet, which concluded June 29.

Haras Phillipson's undefeated homebred Touch of Destiny dominated the Asociacion Uruguaya de Propietarios de Caballos de Carrera (G3) at Hipodromo Maronas June 29 with a gate-to-wire victory and earned a spot in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1).

Joseph Lloyd's Romeo romped home to win the $225,000 Bashford Manor Stakes at Churchill Downs June 29 by three lengths, finishing in a stakes record for the six furlong race.

Calandagan finally made his breakthrough in group 1 company June 29 when running out the impressive winner of the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (G1).

Lambourn followed in his sire and grandsire's footsteps to become the 20th horse to complete the Epsom Derby (G1) and Irish Derby (G1) double.

Twenty-five-time group 1 winning Winx's colt by Snitzel will sell at next year's Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. The colt has been raised at Coolmore Stud which will also consign him.

The inaugural edition of the Goffs Classic Breeze-Up Sale generated €2,565,500 in turnover, a €65,783 average price and a median of €45,000 June 28. A colt by Starspangledbanner was the sales-topper at €330,000.

Racing Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, whose life included many different chapters—nearly all of which shaped today's racing—died June 28 in Louisville, Ky. He was 89.

The final group 1 of Australia's 2024-25 season went the way of Tashi as the Peter Snowden-trained mare swept to victory June 28 in the 1,400-meter (about seven-furlong) Tattersall's Tiara (G1) at Eagle Farm.

2024 Canadian Horse of the Year Patches O'Houlihan took an early lead under Sofia Vives and hung on to win despite bearing out badly in the lane of the $171,337 Highlander Stakes (G2T), one of five graded stakes June 28 at Woodbine.

An unexpected victory by Roll On Big Joe dethroned a four-race win streak for Booth and foiled Durante's attempt at a longshot victory at Churchill Downs.

Brilliant Berti's late-running score over stablemate Taking Candy provided trainer Cherie DeVaux a satisfying exacta in the $499,250 Wise Dan Stakes (G2T) June 28 at Churchill Downs.

Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable's Mindframe pressed a slow early pace then proved best in the lane to defeat a star-studded field in the $940,000 Stephen Foster Stakes (G1) June 28 at Churchill Downs.

Thorpedo Anna put to rest any lingering doubts about her talents as a 4-year-old June 28, thundering to her seventh stakes score in the $498,500 Fleur de Lis Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs.

Trainer Charlie Johnston is relishing round three between Lazy Griff and Lambourn, with the German-bred colt set to lead the British challenge in the June 29 Irish Derby (G1) at the Curragh, where the first three in the Epsom Derby (G1) meet again.

Barry Hills, one of the outstanding trainers of his generation and the founder of a major racing dynasty, has died at the age of 88. 

The New York Racing Association announced June 28 that the 14-day quarantine of Barn 28 at Belmont Park has been lifted by the New York State Department of Agriculture.

Francis-Henri Graffard has managed to keep Goliath and Calandagan apart from one another since their twin emergence as major middle-distance forces last summer, but the June 29 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (G1) is the perfect spot for both.

Whirl pulled out all the stops to deny Kalpana in a barnstorming renewal of the Pretty Polly Stakes (G1) June 28.