Blood-Horse

White Abarrio upsets the reigning Horse of the Year Sovereignty and 2025 Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Journalism in the April 18 Oaklawn Handicap (G2) at Oaklawn Park.

Despite most of the attention on Sovereignty April 18, Bill Mott's barn fires in the $350,000 Ben Ali Stakes (G3) as Stars and Stripes and Batten Down complete the exacta at Keeneland.

Three Chimneys Farm's Ottinho, runner-up to Further Ado in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1), will bypass the Kentucky Derby (G1) in favor of a start in either the Preakness Stakes (G1) or Peter Pan Stakes (G3), trainer Chad Brown said April 18.

Florida Derby (G1) runner-up The Puma and Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) winner Albus were among the Kentucky Derby (G1) contenders who breezed across the country April 18, two weeks out from the May 2 1 1/4-mile classic.

Grand National hero Noble Yeats has died at the age of 11 after suffering from colic, shortly after the fourth anniversary of his Aintree triumph for the Waley-Cohen family and trainer Emmet Mullins.

The Inglis HTBA Australia Yearling Sale this April 19 provides a proven opportunity to buy bargain-priced colts and fillies now that the big players have already done their shopping at the majors.

Alpine Princess scores in the Doubledogdare Stakes (G2) April 17 at Keeneland by a nose over post-time favorite Eunomia.

Three Amigos struck for a speedy filly by first-crop sire Early Voting during the final day of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale April 17. Donato Lanni, bidding on behalf of Three Amigos, went to $850,000 for Hip 1037.

Journalism lost the first two rounds to Sovereignty, but those matches were in 2025. Round 3 is April 18 at Oaklawn Park where the now-4-year-old heavyweights tangle again in the $1.25 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) for older horses at 1 1/8 miles.

Near the end of the final session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale, Jacob West secured a fast filly by Girvin for $1.6 million on behalf of Robert and Lawana Low.

Woodbine begins its 128-day Thoroughbred racing season April 18 with a seven-race card. Forty-five horses are entered on opening day, and 40 are in seven races April 19.

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association presents the first NTRA Statesman of the Year Award to retiring Senator Mitch McConnell. The award recognizes a lawmaker who has worked to improve the Thoroughbred racing industry.

The Jockey Club of Canada announced April 17 the death of chief steward Doug Anderson. He recently received a 2025 Special Sovereign Award.

Brazen Persuasion, winner of the 2013 Schuylerville Stakes (G3), has been supplemented to the Fasig-Tipton April Digital Sale. Her 2-year-old Jackie's Warrior filly sold for $2.3 million earlier this week.

The atmosphere in the pavilion turned electric as the highly anticipated Flightline colt made his entrance into the ring at the OBS Spring Sale. Following a spirited bidding war, Zedan Racing Stables prevailed with a record $10.5 million bid.

Top 2-year-old colts from 2025 clash again in the Satsuki Sho (Japanese Two Thousand Guineas, G1T) April 19 at Nakayama Racecourse.

StrideSAFE has reached an agreement with the shareholders of StrideMaster to acquire 100% of the Australian company, enabling sensor production to transfer from Australia to Kentucky.

Trendsetter, winner of the April 11 Lexington Stakes (G3) at Keeneland, has been supplemented to the Keeneland April Selected Horses of Racing Age Sale to be held the evening of April 24, following racing on closing day.

Eric Hamelback, CEO of the National HBPA, writes that HISA was created to enforce medication control and racetrack safety standards, but he argues that the regulator has gone beyond its defined scope.

The Road, presented by Gainesway and WinStar Farm, looks at Equibase Ratings of this year's United States-based Kentucky Derby (G1) hopefuls.