Thoroughbred Daily News

The stewards at Belterra Park have imposed a $1,000 fine on that track's clerk of scales, Jose Sanchez, Jr., for failing to check the weight of apprentice jockey Summer Pauly before she rode the 3-2 favorite in the second race May 2.

A ruling issued Thursday, described what happened:

“During the post parade of race #2, the Board of Stewards radioed Outriders to bring #1 Bobby's Gift back to the Paddock to re-check jockey Summer Pauly's weight, due to Steward's concerns it was incorrect. The scale showed Ms. Pauly was six pounds under the required weight listed in the program, due to Clerk of Scales Jose Sanchez Jr. failing to check the jockey at time of weighing out. The weight was corrected and #1 Bobby's Gift returned to the racetrack.”

Bobby's Gift, a 7-year-old son of Into Mischief, was the 3-2 favorite in the one-mile-and-70 yards route for $5,000 claimers. He led until deep stretch and was caught by two closers, finishing third.

The ruling stated that Sanchez had waived his right to a formal hearing before meeting with the stewards, and that his fine would be cut in half to $500 if he did not appeal.

“Any further violations of this nature will lead to increased penalties and potential action regarding the conditions of the license,” the ruling stated.

Sanchez could not be reached for comment prior to deadline for this story.

Although the ruling did not elaborate on the circumstances, Pauly, a five-pound apprentice, was facing unusual time constraints in trying to get to Belterra to ride four mounts last Saturday because she was pulling double duty at two tracks.

Pauly rode in the second race on the GI Kentucky Derby undercard at Churchill Downs. That race had an 11:33 a.m. off time.

After finishing 11th and last on a 70-1 shot at Churchill, Pauly then had to make the 112-mile trek from Louisville to Cincinnati, a drive that normally takes about an hour and 45 minutes, but was likely exacerbated by Derby day traffic.

Post time for the second race at Belterra was scheduled for 2:05 p.m., but after the delay for Pauly needing to be called back to the scale to be properly weighed, the off time was 2:12 p.m.

Pauly then won Belterra's third race aboard the 7-10 favorite.

The post Belterra Clerk Fined $1,000 for Weigh-Out Omission appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Fasig-Tipton has catalogued 94 entries for its May Digital Sale, which opened for bidding Thursday. Amongst the full catalogue, which may be viewed online here, is the five-strong consignment of Tessa Walden's Evergreen Equine, including an exciting 2-year-old maiden special weight winner from Keeneland in Blessed Flyer (Dialed In) (hip 1).

“It's hard to get them to races this early and he did it very effortlessly,” Walden said. “There were some bullet works in there and some other flashy moves but the best move he made was when he won. I think he's the full package. He's a good-sized horse, around 16 hands. He's super strong. Looks like he's still got some growing to do even on top of that.”

What impressed Walden the most from Blessed Flyer's Apr. 16 debut was not so much that he won, but how he did it.

“It was a much larger field than some of the other 2-year-old races we saw, which were maybe five or six-horse fields. This was a 10-horse field,” said Walden. “And then on top of that, we got to see a horse that showed diversity in his first start. So many of the 2-year-olds that are impressive at this time are year are horses that leave the gate and never look back. But what this horse did was he left the gate and found himself mid-pack. He took dirt, and he didn't like it but he pinned his ears and instead of basically wussing out, he ran up between horses and then targeted the leader and ran that horse down and beat him on the wire. And then he continued to gallop out. It was this huge, mature move that is so much greater.”

“The last thing I want to see in a 2-year-old race, when you're looking towards the future, is a horse that runs to the wire on the lead and then stops. They've got to have continuance. It's the most important ingredient for a horse that's going to develop into being something good, and this horse has it. He's by Dialed In, who is a good, proven, blue-collar stallion. There's a lot to be excited about with this horse.”

Now in its second full year of operation, Evergreen Equine brings in a diverse slate of horses from across the country which Walden specifically points through the Fasig-Tipton Digital Platform.

“Anything that's a racehorse is going to sell well, especially if it has conditions,” Walden said. “I have four horses from California this time. They're all horses that are actively racing. One of them, Sterling Sea (Union Rags) (hip 16), just broke his maiden May 1 for $50,000 [at Santa Anita].  And he'll be a great purchase now being starter eligible. Then I have a couple that'll be fresh for turf season that are more turf-oriented. [Turf horses] are a hot commodity right now [ahead of the racing season] with Colonial Downs, New York and Laurel Park, and then Ellis Park and Kentucky Downs too.”

Walden acknowledged the ease of which Fasig-Tipton allows consignors the opportunity to market a horse from its stall over two thousand miles away all while saving prospective buyers money.

Tessa Walden | Sara Gordon

“In reality, someone isn't going to try to arrange a situation where they can claim a horse out there unless they're local to California and specifically looking for that horse,” Walden said. “[Fasig-Tipton] has created a really good, easy way to move horses who may stay [where they are]. I would say probably 50% of the horses I've sold that reside in California have stayed there.”

The Digital Platform afforded Walden an opportunity to sell horses on a flexible schedule as she kicked off on her own after nearly 10 years working under the tutelage of trainer Brad Cox.

“[Brad and I] talked a lot about bloodstock throughout my last six months of working for him,” Walden said. “And Carrie Brogden [of Machmer Hall] was the main person who told me, 'You need to do these digital sales. This is going to be amazing for you as a mom with your schedule.' She's the one that really pushed me and I'm so glad she did because it's really opened up a whole new realm of things that I can do. And the more you do it, the more momentum you get.”

“I'm so passionate about bringing [2-year-olds] along. What are their strong points? What are their good qualities? I think Fasig's provided a great platform for 2-year-olds especially that people maybe didn't want to push into the 2-year-old sales and they want to do something a little more laid back. This platform has grown and grown and I'm really blessed that I get to do what I do because it's been amazing.”

In addition to Evergreen Equine, the Fasig-Tipton May Digital Sale features offerings such as:

• 40+ horses of racing age
• Broodmares in foal to Drain the Clock, Early Voting, Mage, Munnings, as well as first season sires Barnes, First Mission, and Il Miracolo.
• Mares with foals at foot
• 2-year-olds in training
• Yearlings

“We're coming off a great April sale and an exciting weekend which saw Digital grads win two stakes on the Derby undercard,” said Leif Aaron, Fasig-Tipton Director of Digital Sales. “Despite the short turnaround from the April sale, which ended less than two weeks ago, we have a significant catalogue of horses of racing age, breeding stock, two-year-olds in training, and yearlings on offer.”

To create an account or register to bid for the May Digital Sale, prospective buyers should click here.

The post Fasig-Tipton Digital Platform An ‘Evergreen’ Opportunity For Walden appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

At this point in time, there is no reasonable argument to be made that the Preakness should remain two weeks after the Kentucky Derby. Four winners in just the last seven years (2019-2026) have bypassed the second leg of the Triple Crown. These include Golden Tempo (2026), Sovereignty (2025), Rich Strike (2022), and Country House (2019).

How stupid do you want to get? Would you like the American Triple Crown to be a practical non-entity as with the English Triple Crown, where you are extremely lucky to have a participant in the St. Leger that also ran in the Epsom Derby?  The English Triple Crown is not a “thing” anymore.

Ignoring Kentucky Derby winners, year after year as of late, few horses that ran in the Kentucky Derby run in the Preakness. For those that participated in the Kentucky Derby and did not win, there is even less incentive for them to run in the Preakness, since they have no chance at the Triple Crown. And this year, we have near perfection: as of May 7, save for the possibility of Ocelli, not a single horse that ran in the Kentucky Derby appears to be running in the Preakness.

I could go through the history of the Triple Crown to show that there have been differences. Sir Barton ran in a mile and 3/8 (not 1/2) Belmont, and the Preakness was only 1 1/8 miles (not 1 3/8) and only four days after the Kentucky Derby. When Gallant Fox won the Triple Crown, the Preakness was 8 days before the Preakness. Heck, in 1890, a 5-year-old won the Preakness which was run as a handicap at Morris Park in the state of New York at 1 1/2 miles (the distance of the modern Belmont). If that wasn't enough, two races later on that 1890 Preakness day the Belmont Stakes was run at the same track at 1 1/4 miles.

Changes are not all relics of the past. While the Belmont has been a Saratoga ('24,'25,'26), it has been run a 1 1/4 miles and not the traditional 1 ½ miles.  By the way, when Belmont was under construction in the 1960's, for five years, 1963-1968, the Belmont was run at 1 1/2 miles at Aqueduct. So I don't want to hear anything about the need to preserve “tradition.”

“Traditionally,” the better horses ran in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness–they obviously do not anymore. You would have to be thick beyond belief to not take this new development into consideration when scheduling the Preakness. How stupid can horseracing get? The fans of the sport are sick and tired of not being listened to. The Kentucky Derby, the Preakness and the Belmont are not like other races. They should be placed one month apart, so that horses are encouraged to run in all three races, and the rest of horse racing should set their calendars around that fact.

There is a reason the old saying “the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result” is said over and over again. Here's to insanity, a deaf ear, and a much less interesting Preakness.

Rinaldo Del Gallo, III

The author is a horseracing fan and historian

The post Letter to the Editor: Rinaldo Del Gallo, III appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Turf Paradise had to cram them in on the day of the GI Kentucky Derby Day. Every seat in the track was sold out and, including those who bought general admission tickets, the estimated crowd was 7,500. While most tracks draw big crowds for the Derby simulcast and live racing, this was something new for Turf Paradise.

The facility had grown into such disrepair that no one had wanted to come. Things were so bad that, according to new

GM Tom Ludt, most people living in the Phoenix area did not even realize that Turf Paradise was still open.

“This sport was going to die here,” Ludt said.

Now, they had a sellout on Derby Day.

Not everyone was ready to give up on a track that had been open since 1956.

California horse owner and real estate developer Gary Hartunian's Skyfall 7 LLC entered into an agreement with track owner Jerry Simms, signing a two-year lease with an option for an extension. The deal was made in September, but due to required approvals from the Arizona Racing Commission, the new owner, who put Ludt in charge, wasn't able to fully take control of operations until mid-December.

Once given the green light, Ludt made fixing up the plant and reviving on-track attendance his main priorities. A lot of people live in or around Phoenix. The Greater Phoenix metropolitan area (Maricopa and Pinal counties) has a population exceeding

5 million. He just had to find a way to get them to discover or rediscover Turf Paradise.

“It's the reason I agreed to come out here,” said the veteran track executive, who has served as the chairman of the Breeders' Cup, and the president of Santa Anita, said. “As a horse racing fan all my life, if we don't start creating new fans, this industry's going to die. Phoenix is the perfect climate this time of year and have the perfect dates. If you don't get people to the track to fall in love with horse racing, you're going to lose your fans. We had to make a concentrated effort to get people here. We have to make coming to the track fun again. I've gotten into more arguments with people about this. Tracks that are abandoning the on-track experiences are killing the industry.

“You and I are going to continue to bet, but our kids aren't if they've never been to the track. You don't fall in love with it watching it on your phone. I mean, you just can't. People say, 'Well, but the sport's going in the wrong direction.' It's going the wrong direction because we've given up on it. Look at NASCAR, look at soccer, look at some of the sports that were dying. They had to find a way to have a resurgence and motivate people to come to the events and, a lot of times, at new facilities.”

It took a lot of work to bring back a facility that had been neglected for years. Things were so bad that what had been a director's room was boarded up and used for storage space. Several glass windows were covered with plywood and some areas of the grandstand were so dilapidated that they were closed off.

Ludt said it all started with cleaning the place up.

“The first thing we did was we cleaned it up,” he said. “We created a beautiful infield that had gone to hell. We created a nice general admission area. We created a good simulcasting area, and then we opened up a VIP room. And so we created three atmospheres for the different levels of play. We really emphasized cleaning our facility. We've got an incredible corporation that we've hired to do our cleaning. I'm very proud to hear customers say they see our cleaning crew everywhere, working all the time. You have to do that. You have to give people an environment that they're comfortable to be at. And we did that. Now we can bring people here and show them a facility we are proud of.”

It was also important to show the fans a good time. One particularly popular promotion involved a raffle. It costs $5 to get into Turf Paradise but the entire pool was raffled off toward the latter part of the card, with one patron taking home the entire gate.

Since Ludt's team officially took over in mid-December the people have started to come back. Between December 15 and May 2, the final day of the meet, on-track attendance rose by 70%. On-track handle was up 20 percent. Total all sources handle was up just one percent during that time, but Ludt noted that on-track bets produce far greater revenue for tracks than bets that come from ADWs or simulcast locations.

The struggle for Turf Paradise is to put together a decent betting product when it has small purses and does not receive any revenue from gaming.

“Obviously, in competing against other tracks, it is a big challenge because of purses,” Ludt said. “But the reality of the matter is, and I've said this about California because we're in the same boat, the Indian casinos are in a compact. You're not getting a casino. So quit talking about it and focus on how you can get people to the track. I mean, at the end of the day, horse racing lived very well for many, many years before anyone ever heard of a racino.”

Having less than five months to turn Turf Paradise around, Ludt didn't accomplish everything he had hoped to. He knows that increasing total handle and improving the quality of the racing is a must. But he believes the best is yet to come.

“We haven't even scratched the surface of letting people know about this place,” he said. “People still don't know about it. You've got to be wise where you spend your money to educate people, but the place has been here for 70 years. So we're really going to amp up our marketing and advertising and promotions to get people here for the next meet.

“They have created an environment at Del Mar and at Keeneland. Can we do what they do? No. But we can create the best environment possible for Turf Paradise. This industry needs to start focusing on what works versus complaining about what doesn't work. And is it easy? No. My dad used to say it all the time, 'Tom, if it were easy, everyone would do it.' This is a great challenge. We've got to focus on making people come and have fun and enjoy it.”

The post Focusing on Bringing People Back to the Track, Turf Paradise Appears Headed for a Brighter Future appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

The TDN Writers' Room team had so much to say and so many people to talk to when it came to this year's GI Kentucky Derby, that we decided that one podcast was not enough. Our traditional podcast features winning trainer Cherie DeVaux (watch that here), but how could we overlook jockey Jose Ortiz or co-owner Daisy Phipps Pulito? We couldn't, so we gave each of them a podcast of their own.

It was a memorable couple of days for Ortiz, who won both the Derby on Golden Tempo (Curlin) and the GI Kentucky Oaks on Always a Runner (Gun Runner). In the Derby, he edged out his brother, Irad Ortiz Jr., who rode runner-up Renegade (Into Mischief).

“Honestly, when you are riding, normally, there's a killer instinct and you aren't thinking about who you are riding against,” Ortiz said. “But I knew it was (Irad) because I was following him almost every step of the way in the second half of the race. Afterwards, I felt bad for him because I know what it means to him to win the Derby.”

Though his brother had suffered one of the toughest beats of his career, Jose said that Irad could not have been more gracious.

“He told me he thought at one point that he was going to win, but then he felt something coming on the outside and when he looked, he saw the black and cherry and he said, 'Wow, that is Jose.' I mean, it's great because as close as he was, his first reaction was just being happy for me and congratulating me,” Ortiz said. “He didn't even think about him losing the race of his dreams. I think that was pretty remarkable. It speaks to the kind of person he is.”

The Phipps Stable, which owns Golden Tempo in partnership with St. Elias Stable, is one of the most renowned stables in the history of the sport and its roots go all the way back to the formation of the Wheatley Stable in 1926. As the stable's racing manager Phipps Pulito is now in charge of what is a racing institution. To see the iconic cherry and black silks in the Kentucky Derby winner's circle was among the highlights of the day.

“I'm proud, really proud of what we accomplished,” she said. “Look at what my grandfather, my father, and my great grandmother built, and I got to reap the rewards of that on Saturday. That  is absolutely amazing. That is not lost on me in the slightest bit. And winning it for St. Elias and the Phipps Stable in the Phipps Stable silks is something really special.”

The post Daisy Phipps Pulito And Jose Ortiz Feature In First Ever TDN Writers’ Room Overtime Podcasts appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Lighter (Constitution), sent off the 6-5 choice for this unveiling over a muddy track, wasn't particularly hurried off the blocks as Exodus (Not This Time) sprinted to the front while leading Playonwords (Thousand Words) through a quick opening quarter in :21.64. Starting to launch his rally leaving the far turn and heading to the quarter pole, Lighter swung out to the three path turning for home, took over from the fading pacesetter and drew off to score by an eye-catching 7 1/2 length margin over longshot Jr. Bartholomew (Danish Dynaformer). Exodus held on for third.

Lighter is out of Galina Point, purchased by WinStar for $145,000 at Keeneland January in 2018. A half to SW Overbore (Speightstown, $272,634), Lighter also has a year-younger sister by the WinStar stallion.

1st-Horseshoe Indianapolis, $32,000, Msw, 5-6, 3yo, 6f, 1:10.62, gd, 7 1/2 lengths.
LIGHTER (c, 3, Constitution–Galina Point {MSW & MGSP, $486,561}, by Saffir)
Sales history: $400,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $19,200. Click for the Equibase.com chart
O-Ann Harrison & Renata Hendrickson; B-WinStar Farm, LLC (KY); T-Rodolphe Brisset.

The post Constitution’s Lighter Debuts a Winner at Horseshoe Indianapolis appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

'Kentucky Roses,' a new Hallmark movie that premiered on their channel May 2 and began streaming through Hallmark+ May 3, is nothing short of a triumph for the sport of Thoroughbred racing.

Set on the grounds of iconic Churchill Downs during Kentucky Derby week, here's a film that has something for everyone. It's good, clean fun, but it also deals with myriad issues including class division, gender identity and the labyrinth that is family history.

Most of all though, if you are trying to hook someone that knows next to nothing about the sport, then this is one way to reel them in.

Directed by Clare Niederpruem with Jamie Pachino's hotly paced script, 'Kentucky Roses' stars Hallmark stalwart Andrew Walker.

The actor knows his way around horses and luckily has a best friend who is a relative of Churchill's CEO Bill Carstanjen. The racetrack was open to doing a movie and those involved cleverly rolled it out in time for Derby 152.

Walker stars as Ash Taylor, an architect who is trying to make a name for himself professionally without resting on his family's laurels. Taylor is the son of the CEO of Churchill Downs and goes to great lengths–even dropping his surname in favor of his mother's maiden name–so he can avoid any calls that he earned his stripes through nepotism.

As is prone in many a Hallmark tale, trouble in paradise comes two weeks prior to the running of the Derby. Walker's character is called on by his father to repair one of the Twin Spires that was damaged in a recent storm.

Opposite Walker is Odette Annable, who plays Sadie Moore. Her character works for Churchill's greenhouse and she is also trying to strike out on her own as a florist. Her ancestors worked diligently to supply the Derby with the famous garland of roses that is always draped across the winner.

As a budding romance blooms between Moore and Taylor, the pair discover that in 1932 their relatives were broken up because of class differences. A series of flashbacks are effectively used to give the viewers a window into that bygone era.

Back in the present, the modern day couple fight through issues like sourcing historic shingles and finding replacement roses for the Derby garland, which are juxtaposed against larger themes like duty and heritage.

Probably the most interesting character in the whole production is Abigail Esmena's Camila Ortiz. She portrays a racehorse trainer and Moore's closest friend. Ortiz has a longshot Derby entry named Angel Face. At the Derby draw–which includes a cameo from Churchill's Dan Bork–Angel Face is handed the post that no horse has ever won from, number 17. It was a clever nod to see that Angel Face's purple and white jockey silks sport the famous Hallmark crown.

Ortiz and Moore constantly support one another through trials and tribulations.

Spoiler alert! What is terribly ironic is that Angel Face and Ortiz win the Derby a la Golden Tempo and Cherie DeVaux. Hallmark must have one heck of a crystal ball.

Andrew Walker as Ash Taylor in 'Kentucky Roses' | courtesy of Hallmark

As for Taylor, whose sharp threads include a mean three-piece seersucker suit at one point, he does his bit to allow Moore access to his family's land which happens to be loaded with roses. It's Hallmark at its best, of course.

Instead of relying heavily on set design, 'Kentucky Roses' uses the backdrop of Churchill Downs in effective ways. Viewers get to see the Spires, a shedrow, the newly designed paddock, the club levels, the Prohibition-style speakeasy and we get a glimpse over Ash Taylor's shoulder as he uses the Derby winner's circle pagoda as an office during the restoration work. What a treat!

The film reaches the Derby Day climax in the third act. There is a brief scene where Taylor convinces his father that partnering to build a new Thoroughbred aftercare facility is the right move. It's a moment to cherish where the past and present intersect with the future in a powerful way.

Teaming with a juggernaut like Hallmark was a brilliant move by Churchill Downs.

Yes, the shroud of marketing is present, but let's not forget that telling a good story and emphasizing how a community works together isn't pure fiction. As the movie reminds us, the generational racetrack exists from the front to the backside and from the Spires to the greenhouse. It does take a village to save the day.

The industry and race fans should encourage anyone and everyone to see 'Kentucky Roses.' It's time to download the app.

What a big win for a sport that needs to embrace different forms of media that reside 'out there' in the public's popular imagination.

There was one question though that wasn't answered by the time the credits began to roll. Is Angel Face headed to the Preakness?

____________________

Niederpruem, C. (Director). (2026). Kentucky Roses [Film]. Hallmark Media.

The post Movie Review: Hallmark’s ‘Kentucky Roses’ A Garland For The Sport appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Every week, the TDN posts a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) related rulings from around the country.

The following rulings were reported on HISA's “rulings” portal and through the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit's (HIWU) “pending” and “resolved” cases portals.

Among this week's rulings, owner and trainer Raul Beltran-Moreno has been suspended for 18-months and fined $12,500 after he was found in possession of Pitcher Plant Extract, a banned substance (which goes by the brand name Sarapin) due to its analgesic properties. The suspension began on April 30.

According to a brief explanation in the case resolution, the substance was found in Beltran-Moreno's possession at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino in Sunland Park, New Mexico on January 8. According to Equibase, Beltran-Moreno has been training since last year, making 49 starts and winning five races.

Resolved ADMC Violations

Dates: 05/05/2026
Licensee: Jose A. Gallegos, trainer
Penalty: 7-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on May 6, 2026; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $1,000; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Distinct, who finished ninth at Tampa Bay on 3/20/26.

Dates: 05/05/2026
Licensee: Mark S. Tubbs, trainer
Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horses' Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. The following are treated as one violation. Final decision of HIWU.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone–a class C controlled substance–in samples taken from C'S Lilly Dancer, who won at Turf Paradise on 2/28/26; and from Lotsa Kitty, who won at Turf Paradise on 3/16/26.

Dates: 05/04/2026
Licensee: S. Matthew Kintz, trainer
Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision of HIWU.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Dantrolene–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Busker, who finished 10th at Tampa Bay on 3/22/26.

Dates: 05/01/2026
Licensee: Juan Carlos Gotera, trainer
Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Patty's Having Fun, who finished fourth at Mahoning Valey on 3/26/26.

Dates: 04/29/2026
Licensee: Raul Beltran-Moreno, trainer
Penalty: 18-month period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on April 30, 2026; a fine of $12,500.
Explainer: Breach of rule 3214(a), concerning “Possession of a Banned Substance”–in this case Pitcher Plant Extract–for an event dated 1/8/26.

Pending ADMC Violations

05/06/2026, Todd Fincher, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Dantrolene–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Sunset Sizzle on 3/31/26.

05/05/2026, Leslielyn Hardesty, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Methocarbamol–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from That's My Cat, who finished fifth at Tampa Bay on 2/25/26.

05/01/2026, Eddie Kenneally, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Tramadol–a class B controlled substance–in a sample taken from Bowling Blue, who finished seventh at Turfway Park on 2/28/26.

04/30/2026, Rogelio Labra, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Cobalt Salts (e.g. CoCl2)–a banned substance–in a sample taken from Shallus, who finished third at Turfway Park on 3/12/26.

4/30/2026, Maria G. Gonzalez, trainer: Pending alleged violation of rule 3229, regarding the “Status During Provisional Suspension or Ineligibility,” for an undescribed event (concerning the horses I'magambler and Warriors Mark) dated 2/9/26. Gonzalez is already serving an 18-month suspension (which began on Feb. 7) after one of her trainees tested positive in an out-of-competition test for the banned substance, Albuterol.

Crop Violations

Aqueduct
Kendrick Carmouche – reporting date May 4; $1,000 fine, two-day suspension
Omar H. Moreno – reporting date May 4; $250 fine, no other information
Dalila Rivera – reporting date May 4; $500 fine, one-day suspension
Kendrick Carmouche – reporting date May 4; $500 fine, one-day suspension

Fairmount Park
Emmanuel Giles – reporting date May 2; $250 fine, one-day suspension

Oaklawn Park
Luis Fuenmayor – reporting date April 30; $250 fine, no other information

Parx Racing
Jorge A. Vargas – reporting date May 1; $35 fine, no other information

Santa Anita
Victor Espinoza – reporting date May 1; $500 fine, one-day suspension

Tampa Bay
Cesar D. Gonzalez – reporting date May 1; $250 fine, one-day suspension

Thistledown
Jose A. Bracho – reporting date May 2; $250 fine, one-day suspension

The post Weekly Rulings: April 30-May 6; Raul Beltran-Moreno Banned 18 Months appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

There was little question as to who would be the primary Gainesway Guest of the Week on this week's edition of the TDN Writers' Room Podcast presented by Keeneland. Trainer Cherie DeVaux not only won the GI Kentucky Derby with Golden Tempo (Curlin), she also became the first female trainer to win the race.

But there were so many good storylines out of this year's Derby, that the podcast split off into three parts. In what we are calling the “TDN Writers' Room Podcast Overtime” we also featured in-depth interviews with winning Jockey Jose Ortiz and winning co-owner Daisy Phipps Pulito in separate podcasts. Stay tuned for those episodes in the coming days.

DeVaux has been a media darling since her victory and her appearances have included segments on the CBS Morning News and the Today Show. She understands why a victory in the Derby by a female trainer resonated with the public and the media, and that it is important to be a role model.

“To be honest, none of this, the enormity of it, has sunk in,” she said. “It's been a whirlwind. I wasn't really expecting to be whisked off to New York City and go all over different studios and get to be a representative for the industry. It's been fun, but I'm averaging about four hours of sleep a night. I am looking forward to a regular bedtime and getting some semblance of normalcy. It's not going to be normal for a while and I have to acknowledge that something happened in my life that is going to change it forever.

“I don't view my gender as being a female trainer as my whole identity, but I do acknowledge that being a female in the racehorse world is a big deal when big things happen,” she said. “I'm a person that just has always done my own thing. You guys have known me for quite some time. So if I can just be myself and be true to myself and that inspires others, then why not take advantage of that?”

Though Golden Tempo was sent off at odds of 23-1, DeVaux said she was growing increasingly confident as the week progressed.

“I was very confident in Golden Tempo,” she said. “He has trained so well throughout the winter. He trained even better when we freshened him a little bit and just gave him a little bit more time. And physically, he looked fantastic. He's kind of always been a little bit on the heavier side. He really started to trim up. And then the week of the Derby, he went from being a horse that was as quiet as a church mouse to something different. We're coming off the track and he's nickering at the pony trying to audition for his hopeful next career. So that gave me a lot of confidence.”

It has taken some quality horsemen decades to win a Kentucky Derby. Some of the very best have never won the race. DeVaux did it in just her eighth year as a trainer. How?

“Well, I don't think it's fair to say how did I make it happen?” she said. “It happened. In the beginning, we were just trying to persevere. We went almost a full year without winning a race. So it was almost seven years of training and winning races before we got here. I made a conscious effort and thought in the beginning of my career that my core principle was going to always be to put the horse first. And I'm going to surround myself with clients and a support team that had that same concept in mind. And I think that to do this and to be successful, the horses have to be the priority along with the care  of each individual horse. But you have to have the clients behind you. And I'm so grateful for these clients, St. Elias, the Violas and the Phipps family. I'm also thankful for every other client who has supported me in this journey.”

The “Fastest Horses of the Week” was T O Elvis (Volatile), the Japanese import who won the GI Churchill Downs Stakes. He earned a 108 Beyer. The Fastest Horse of the Week segment is sponsored by WinStar, which stands the sire Life Is Good.

Elsewhere on the podcast, which is also sponsored by the PHBA, 1/ST TV, the KTOB and West Point Thoroughbreds, Randy Moss, Bill Finley, and Zoe Cadman gave their thoughts on the many stories that came out in the Derby. There was speculation that Renegade (Into Mischief) may have won the race if he had not been banged around at the start after breaking from the one hole. They talked of how successful the move to shift the GI Kentucky Oaks to primetime television turned out to be and discussed the massive late odds drops on T O Elvis courtesy of the CAW players and how that had to have left a bad taste in the mouths of every “regular” player who wagered on the horse.

Click here to watch the podcast or watch below.

The post Cherie DeVaux Joins The TDN Writers’ Room Podcast Presented By Keeneland appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

In a statement posted Tuesday afternoon on X, trainer Cherie DeVaux announced that the GI Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo (Curlin) will not be running in the GI Preakness Stakes. It's another blow to the race that has clearly become the weak link in the Triple Crown. The only horse who ran in the Kentucky Derby to commit to the Preakness at this point is the maiden, Ocelli (Connect), who was a surprising third.

“After much thoughtful discussion as a team, we have decided that Golden Tempo will bypass the Preakness Stakes,” read a statement attributed to Cherie DeVaux Racing.

“We are incredibly appreciative of the excitement and support surrounding the possibility of a Triple Crown run. The enthusiasm from racing fans, owners, and our entire team has meant more to us than we can properly express.

“Golden gave us the race of a lifetime in the Kentucky Derby, and we believe the best decision for him moving forward is to give him a little more time following such a tremendous effort. His health, happiness, and long-term future will always remain our top priority.

“We are looking forward to pointing him toward the Belmont Stakes and are excited for what lies ahead with this very special horse.

“Thank you again to everyone who has supported and believed in this journey alongside us.”

This will be the last Preakness run by the team at 1/ST Racing. Mike Rogers, the executive vice president of racing for 1/ST, said the news of 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Golden Tempo's defection was a blow.

“Initially, when I heard the news, it was a gut punch,” he said. “You're always hoping for the best. When someone like Cherie and (co-owner) Daisy (Phipps Pulito) put their horse first, you can't criticize that decision. You respect it and you move on.”

Sovereignty (Into Mischief) also passed the 2025 Preakness to point for the Belmont. In 2022, Derby winner Rich Strike (Keen Ice) also bypassed the second jewel of the Triple Crown and ran next in the Belmont.

The issue has become the spacing of the Triple Crown races. Most trainers are very wary of running their horses back in just two weeks, especially when there is the option of waiting five weeks and coming back in the Belmont.

“I've long been a proponent of spacing these races out and I think it is something that has to be done,” Rogers said.

NYRA, for its part, said that it was willing to entertain the discussion.

“We are always willing to engage with Churchill Downs and the Maryland Jockey Club to ensure the continued success of the Triple Crown,” said NYRA Vice President of Communications Patrick McKenna.

Efforts to change the spacing of the races have not yielded any results, but perhaps the defection of another Derby winner from the Preakness could reignite the conversation. If Derby winners continue to pass the Preakness, that also puts NYRA in a bad situation as it means losing out on the chance to present a race with the potential of crowning a Triple Crown champion.

With Golden Tempo out, the Preakness favorite could be 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Crude Velocity (Beau Liam), the impressive winner of the GII Pat Day Mile on Derby Day. Reached by text Wednesday, trainer Bob Baffert said: “It's very tempting, but no decision yet.” Not only would Crude Velocity be coming back in two weeks, but he would be stretching out from a mile to a mile and three-sixteenths.

Trainer Whit Beckman had originally ruled out starting in the Preakness with Ocelli, but after reevaluating the situation he is ready to give the Triple Crown another try.

“I grew up watching the Preakness and it was all Derby runners in there,” Beckman said. “You never had a Preakness without a Derby runner. When you have a horse that is this fit, this healthy and giving you all the signs, I don't think there's anything wrong with running them back in two weeks. I understand it is challenging, but I don't think we're sacrificing anything. The Triple Crown is a prestigious thing to be a part of. Wayne (Lukas) never shied away from a Preakness and he won a ton of them.”

Preakness announcement pic.twitter.com/8JQu7VZlRC

— Cherie DeVaux (@reredevaux) May 6, 2026

The post Golden Tempo Will Pass Preakness, Aim for Belmont appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

We skipped last week as America focused on the Kentucky Derby, thus this slightly expanded list covering the last two weeks.

9) LOVELY EMMA, KEE, 4-22, Allowance, 5 1/2fT VIDEO
Beyer Speed Figure-95
(f, 4, Twirling Candy–Salsa Diavola, by Mineshaft)
O-C R K Stable. B-Nursery Place, Donaldson, Broadbent. T-Peter Eurton. J-Jose Ortiz.
The Searing family's $600,000 yearling purchase appears ready to tackle stakes company now. This was her third consecutive win and third straight career-best Beyer.

8) SHOOT IT TRUE, CD, 5-1, GII Unbridled Sidney Stakes, 5fT
VIDEO
Beyer Speed Figure-95 (2nd)
(f, 4, Munnings–To the Moon Alice, by Malibu Moon)
O-Ice Wine Stable and Smart Choice Stable. B-Old Tavern Farm (NY). T-Wesley Ward. J-Joel Rosario.
The first of two Ward trainees to appear on this week's list– both in defeat. Given a perfect rail trip by Rosario, she just missed earning graded stripes with her late kick against Moon Spun (below).

7) KATHYNMARISSA, CD, 5-1, GII Modesty Stakes, 1 1/8mT VIDEO
Beyer Speed Figure-96
(m, 5, American Pharoah–La Dalila {Chi}, by Milt's Overture)
O-Michael Caruso and Michael Dubb. B-Don Alberto Corporation (Ky). T-Chad Brown. J-Jose Ortiz.
Brown had the exacta covered with Breeders' Cup heroine Gezora and Kathynmarissa, but this American Pharoah/Chilean cross finished strongest to nab her first graded score.

6) REAGAN'S FLAME, WO, 5-2, GIII Whimsical Stakes, 6f VIDEO
Beyer Speed Figure-96
(m, 5, Flameaway–Mizzen Donald, by Mizzen Mast)
O-B A G Racing Stables, Turf Express and Watkins Diamond Stables. B-Jason Hall, Herschel Martindale & Stephen Mott (Ky). T-Saffie Joseph Jr. J-Sahin Civaci.
Flameaway started only once on Tapeta–a debut victory–but has sired four Tapeta SWs, this being the latest. Reagan's Flame is now 2-for-2 on the surface with markedly higher Beyers. The same figure as Kathynmarissa, but the tiebreaker? She carried one more pound.

5) COLD SPELL, KEE, 4-23, MSW, 6f VIDEO
Beyer Speed Figure-97 (2nd)
(f, 3, Gun Runner–Chalon, by Dialed In)
O/B-Lael Stables/Mr & Mrs Roy Jackson. T-Wesley Ward. J-John Velazquez.
The second foal of seven-time stakes winner and GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint runner-up Chalon was dialed in for her debut, but simply outgunned by Mashallah's historic 106 debut Beyer (below).

4) MOON SPUN, CD, 5-1, GIII Unbridled Sidney Stakes, 5fT VIDEO
Beyer Speed Figure-98
(m, 5, Hard Spun–Moonlit Bay, by Malibu Moon)
O-Town and Country Racing. B-Jack Liebau Sr (Ky). T-Brian Lynch. J-Javier Castellano.
Champion Shisospicy didn't have her usual sharpness off the bench, leaving 13-1 longshot Moon Spun to grab a clear lead–and that's the name of her game.

3) WAYS AND MEANS, CD, 5-2, GI Derby City Distaff, 7f VIDEO
Beyer Speed Figure-98 (2nd)
(m, 5, Practical Joke–Strong Incentive, by Warrior's Reward)
O/B-Klaravich Stable. T-Chad Brown. J-Jose Ortiz.
She gave a valiant effort against R Disaster (below), and she'll undoubtedly be tough to handle in Saratoga's June 5 GII Bed O'Roses, which she won last year by 7 3/4 lengths. She is 5-for-6 in New York, but now 0-for-5 elsewhere.

2) R. DISASTER, CD, 5-2, GI Derby City Distaff, 7f VIDEO
Beyer Speed Figure-103
(m, 5, Awesome Slew–Making Havoc, by Gottcha Gold)
O-Averill Racing and ATM Racing. B-Ocala Stud & J Michael O'Farrell Jr (Fl). T-Saffie Joseph Jr. J-Tyler Gaffalione.
Allow her to control the pace and Richard Averill's speedy mare “R” very tough to beat, as she proved again against talented Ways and Means and defending GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint champ Splendora. In 16 career starts, she has 10 races in which she led by at least one length at an official point-of-call, and she has won nine of those.

1) MASHALLAH, KEE, 4-23, MSW, 6f VIDEO
Beyer Speed Figure-106
'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard'
(f, 3, Maxfield–All in With Aces, by Quiet American)
O-JR Ranch. B-Taylor Made Stallions, Louis Brooks Ranch and Baysore Stables et al (Ky). T-Brendan Walsh. J-Joel Rosario.
Updated historical Beyer stats courtesy of racing data guru Jerry Nicholson: Mashallah became only the 22nd horse to record a debut Beyer Speed Figure of 106 or higher since Beyers were first published in DRF in 1992, and the sixth female.

The post Nine Fleet Fillies: From Apr. 19 to May 3 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Back in February, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that President Donald Trump's suite of International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) tariffs were unconstitutional.

That decision opened the door to potentially hundreds of millions of dollars in refunds to businesses that had paid those tariffs since they went into effect a year prior, including those who shipped in Thoroughbreds from abroad.

“We just did it unilaterally, figuring our customers would want their money back,” said Charles “Chuck” Santarelli, president of Mersant International, licensed custom brokers and freight forwarders which ships Thoroughbred racehorses worldwide, about his company's approach to applying for the tariff refunds.

“Most of our clients have been contacted that we're doing this,” Santarelli added. “There are some one-offs that we have not contacted yet.”

The refund process is being done through the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) Automated Commercial Environment system, within which is the Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries (CAPE) functionality, what the CBP says is designed to “streamline the submission and processing” of valid refund requests.

Santarelli said before applying for the refunds, he went through every single customs entry that Mersant filed from Apr. 9 last year through Feb. 24 this year.

During that time, Mersant filed 202 custom entries. Each entry could contain as many as a dozen or more horses. And each horse, of course, could have multiple paying partners.

Not anyone can access the ACE system, which opened on Apr. 20.

“You have to be registered to utilize the portal,” Santarelli explained.

“What I've done is I've created internal spreadsheets of each portal upload to keep track of who paid us for each particular horse and added a column for the interest accrued so we have an idea of what the clients will get back,” said Santarelli.

“When we file a CAPE portal transaction, we get a claim number assigned to it for us to check the status of the refunds internally in the ACE Portal,” he added.

According to Santarelli, their customers paid around $5 million in IEEPA tariffs. He said he doesn't know exactly how many paying individuals that entailed, but suggested it could have been between 100 and 200 different entities.

The tariffs ranged in severity, from 10% from horses bred in the UK to 15% from horses bred in Japan and Europe.

Immediately following the Supreme Court's decision, President Trump enacted an additional global 10% tariff, similar in effect to the IEEPA tariffs. These are set to expire July 24, 2026. The refunds in the process of being issued do not relate to this new set of 10% tariffs.

It's currently unclear how the funds will be reimbursed–whether it'll be done in chronological order, for example.

“In terms of order, I would assume they will pay out the entries that were liquidated already within the last 80 days. Those ones should be paid out first. And then they will break it out and go in submission order. That's the way I see it,” Santarelli guessed.

The first of the refunds are expected to be issued on or around May 11.

“One thing I will tell you is that until I actually see the funds in our account, I'm always skeptical,” said Santarelli. “But that's just my mentality.”

The tariffs, he said, have impacted Mersant's business, the majority of which comprises the movement of Thoroughbreds. At the 2025 October Tattersalls yearling sale, they shipped back around 30 horses to America.

“The previous year, we had close to 50,” he said. “Maybe they're just not buying 18, they're buying 15. They're just buying fewer.”

The tariffs have also impacted the way Thoroughbreds have been moved post purchase.

Rather than ship them to the U.S. to be broken in, “a lot of people have kept their horses there post sale to break them in England or with Europe,” said Santarelli.

Importantly, anyone interested in possible refunds should reach out to their shipping agent or whoever they used to ship horses, to see if they've applied for the tariff refunds on their behalf, said Santarelli.

Many of racing manager and bloodstock advisor Joe Miller's clients are having their refunds processed by Mersant. For the ones who didn't use the company, Miller is processing the refunds himself.

“It's a huge amount of paperwork that needs to be done,” said Miller, who explained that he's currently working with his clients to decide whether the refund process is worth it. “It's a lot of paperwork and a lot of follow-up and back and forth with them to get the funds back.”

Miller said, “We're always trying to do what's best for our clients,” but some of the potential refunds would be of such a small amount, “the juice might not be worth the squeeze,” he added.

When asked what advice he would give to others pursuing refunds, Miller pointed to an instructive February article by attorney and syndicate manager Bing Bush Jr.

“What I would tell people is speak with your shipping company,” said Miller. “Do the paperwork and be relentless and try to get the money back.”

The post Refunds on IEEPA Tariffs: ‘We Just Did it Unilaterally’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Kirsten Green, executive director of the Retired Racehorse Project, has been sworn in to serve on the Maryland Racing Commission, following an appointment by Governor Wes Moore and confirmation by the Executive Nominations Committee of the State Senate.

“On behalf of the Maryland Racing Commission, I am honored to welcome Kirsten Green as a commissioner,” said Chris Merz, executive director of the commission. “Kirsten's background in Thoroughbred aftercare and her passion for equine welfare will bring tremendous value to the commission's work. Her appointment reinforces a principle that must guide the future of our sport: horse welfare belongs at the center of every meaningful conversation about racing's growth, integrity, and sustainability. I am confident her leadership and perspective will help strengthen Maryland racing for horses, horsemen, and the public alike.”

Green said she was initially surprised when asked to join the commission.

“The extent of my involvement with racing as anything more than a fan is through my work over the last 12 years at the Retired Racehorse Project, but when Chris explained why he felt representation from the aftercare industry was essential, it immediately made sense,” she said. “In an era where scrutiny of racing is at an all-time high and preservation of its social license hangs in the balance, inclusion of aftercare perspective in regulatory bodies is a progressive, demonstrable commitment to the horses at the heart of the sport. I'm honored for the opportunity to represent the RRP in this capacity and to contribute more directly to a sport and industry I've come to love.”

The Maryland Racing Commission is comprised of nine members who serve on a volunteer basis. Three members must be knowledgeable in some aspect of Thoroughbred racing and another three members must be knowledgeable in some aspect of Standardbred racing. No more than six members may belong to the same political party. Members serve four-year terms which are renewable. The executive director of the commission is appointed by the Secretary of Labor.

The post Kirsten Green Appointed to Maryland Racing Commission appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

At a press conference and luncheaon held at Monmouth Park Tuesday afternoon, the highlights for the 2026 season were rolled out in advance of opening day on Saturday, May 9. The event was hosted by TDN's Christina Bossinakis.

Heading the 50-day meet is the $1-million GI NYRA Bets Haskell Stakes, which was won last year by Journalism (Curlin), also the winner of the GI Preakness Stakes.

The 45th running of Pegasus Stakes, for 3-year-olds at a mile and a sixteenth, is the track's prep race for the nine-furlong Haskell. The top two finishers in the Pegasus Stakes receive a free entry fee and start fees for the Haskell.

Last year's Haskell Stakes Day card produced an all-sources record handle of $21,999,963, marking the third straight year of a record handle. The crowd of 41,876 was the largest since 2015.

The 2026 Monmouth Park meet will feature 36 stakes races–nine at the graded level–worth $5.85 million.

First race post time on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays is 12:50 p.m. Post time for Friday racing, which begins June 26, is 2 p.m. Live racing at Monmouth continues through Sept. 13.

Also during Tuesday's press conference, Dr. Chris Samaha, who founded the industry-leading Backstretch Community Assistance Program at Monmouth Park more than 30 years ago, was honored as the 2026 recipient of the Virgil “Buddy” Raines Distinguished Achievement Award.

The 55-year-old Samaha, a sports psychologist, launched a substance abuse program for backstretch workers in 1995 that has since involved into a support system for all types of health issues. The program offers free counseling, as well as health education programs, for licensed stable hands, grooms, hot walkers and exercise riders and offers access to a variety of medical screenings.

“I would have burned out long ago if it was strictly a treatment program, but I have all of the other components that help everyone on the backstretch, whether directly or indirectly,” Samaha said. “I'm passionate about what I do and I would not have stayed in it this long if I didn't believe this a good industry.”

Dr. Chris Samaha, who runs BCAP (Backstretch Community Assistance Program) was named the 2026 of the Virgil “Buddy” Raines Award at the Monmouth Park Opening Day Press Conference and Luncheon at Monmouth Park | Photo By Bill Denver/EQUI-PHOTO

After edging out five-time Eclipse Award winner Chad Brown to earn his first Monmouth training title last year in a career that began in 2017, Jorge Delgado isn't subtle about his goals for the upcoming Monmouth Park meet.

“Win it again–hopefully,” said Delgado.

This season, Delgado has 60 stalls in Barn 1, with 51 occupied by horses currently on the grounds.

“I'll use the other 10 to claim horses, he said. “I have some new owners who want to claim so I will leave the stalls open for that.”

In 2025, the 36-year-old came into the meet with 39 horses, growing that total to 45 after claims. It was just enough to edge out Brown, 21-20, for the training title on the final weekend.

“It meant a lot to me, but it also meant a lot to my owners,” he said. “I saw how much it mattered to them, especially the owners who have been supporting me the past five or six years.”

According to Delgado, who has been Monmouth Park-based since 2022, “We have a different group of horses this year. We have more babies and more quality. We're trying to focus on developing these horses and trying to get them to big races. So we're trying to develop champions.”

Leon, embarking on his second year at Monmouth, will attempt to overtake Paco Lopez, who will try to collect a record-tying 13th riding title this season. Joe Bravo currently stands alone with 13 Monmouth titles.

“I'm very competitive, I like to win,” said Leon, who guided 80-1 Rich Strike to victory in the 2022 Kentucky Derby. “I try to go into every meet thinking I can be leading rider. It's not going to be easy beating Paco. But I know more people at Monmouth Park now so we'll see if I can use those connections to have an even better year than last year [fourth in the Monmouth standings].”

As for the long-time leader, Lopez said he will maintain the same schedule as he had last year, splitting time between Monmouth and Colonial Downs, where he also won the riding title last year.

“Nothing is really changing for me. I have the same plan for the summer as I had last year,” explained the 40-year-old rider. “For me, it's a big thing to tie Joe Bravo. He was a great rider here for many, many years. The record is something that is in your mind as you are winning titles but you never think it can happen. Every year the goal was just to win a title. But you never think about 13 of them and tying Joe Bravo. That seemed to be impossible, but here I am.”

For more information on the upcoming Monmouth Park meet, click here.

The post Haskell Highlights 81st Season at Monmouth Park, Dr. Samaha Named 2026 Virgil ‘Buddy’ Raines Award Winner appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

 Ocelli (Connect), third in the GI Kentucky Derby as a maiden and the biggest longshot in the field of 18 at odds of 70-1, is now under consideration for the 151st GI Preakness Stakes May 16 at Laurel Park.

Trainer Whit Beckman on Tuesday upgraded Ocelli's likelihood for the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown from “extremely unlikely” on Sunday to “maybe” Tuesday.

“If you look at it from a pace perspective, it could go as fast as the Derby,” Beckman said. “He's doing great. That's the only reason I'm saying 'yeah, maybe.' The horse is doing fantastic. The horse is made of iron. Generally, I run a horse, they may not come to the front of their stall for a week. He was right there.”

Asked if there was any downside to running Ocelli in the Preakness, he said, “The only downside is if the horse is not ready to do it.” He noted that the Preakness winner usually is a horse that ran two weeks earlier in the Derby.

The upside, Beckman said, “is the chance to win a Triple Crown race.”

Corona de Oro (Bolt d'Oro), who was the lone remaining also-eligible for the Derby, is also under consideration for the Preakness with trainer Dallas Stewart saying, “We're thinking about it. We just have to see,” Stewart said. “I'm going to work him again Saturday. He's a very nice horse.”

Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo (Curlin) had his third walk day Tuesday and will return to the track for light training Wednesday at Keeneland. Trainer Cherie DeVaux, speaking at a media availability arranged by Keeneland's communications department, reiterated that the Preakness decision will be made toward the end of the week.

“He's doing great,” said DeVaux. “He'll return to the track tomorrow for a light jog. He'll do that for two days, and then he'll resume galloping.”

As far as running in the 1 3/16-mile Preakness at Laurel Park, she said, “We're going to see how much energy he has when he's on the track, see how he's moving, see his attitude and things of that nature…. I appreciate there's history with the Triple Crown. I appreciate everyone is excited about it. However, the horse comes first. So, any of that pressure is outside information from our decision-making.”

“We're gonna give Golden Tempo a couple of days and he's going to dictate the Preakness decision..

There's a lot of conversation right now and we're gonna do what's best for him” ~ @reredevaux #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/Az1BJh04qs

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) May 5, 2026

The post Preakness Notes: Ocelli Upgraded To “Maybe”, Golden Tempo To Jog Wednesday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Ocala Breeders' Sales Company has catalogued 909 horses before supplements for its 2026 June 2-Year-Olds in Training & Horses of Racing Age Sale, which will be held over three days June 16-18 in Ocala, Florida. The catalogue is now available online here.

Sale sessions will begin daily at 10:30 a.m. Hips 1 – 302 plus supplements will sell June 16 with Hips 351 – 652 plus supplements going on June 17. The June 18 session will offer Hips 701 – 1002 plus supplements along with Horses for Racing Age Hips 1051 – 1053 plus supplements. Supplements close on Friday, May 22. The supplements will be added to the day that their dam's name would have landed if they were entered in the main catalogue.

The under-tack show will run from June 9-13 starting at 7:30 a.m. ET each day. The daily schedule for the under-tack show will be determined after supplemental entries are complete.

The under-tack show and sale will be streamed live via the OBS website as well as TDN, DRF, BloodHorse, and Past The Wire websites.

Featured graduates of last year's sale include a pair of 'TDN Rising Stars, presented by Hagyard' in GII Pat Day Mile winner Crude Velocity (Beau Liam) and Feminism (Curlin).

The post OBS Catalogues 909 Hips To June Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Childs Walker, who has covered Thoroughbred racing in Maryland and nationally for nearly 20 years, has been named recipient of the Old Hilltop Award for covering the sport with excellence and distinction, the Stronach Group announced Tuesday.

Walker will be presented with the Old Hilltop Award Thursday, May 14 at the Alibi Breakfast at Laurel Park.

The Alibi Breakfast, which began in the 1930s on the porch of the historic Pimlico Race Course, features a gathering of owners, trainers, jockeys, media and fans to celebrate the Preakness and gain interesting and humorous race predictions.

Walker, a Baltimore native, is a current contributor to the Baltimore Banner after spending 24 years at The Baltimore Sun. He covered his first Preakness, won by Curlin, in 2007 and, as he says, “hopped on the Triple Crown beat just in time to see American Pharoah break the 37-year drought in 2015.” He is a graduate of Emory University.

Previous recipients of the Old Hilltop include Jim McKay, Joe Hirsch, Red Smith, Keith Mills, Bill Nack, Jeannine Edwards and Dale Austin.

Click here to purchase tickets for the Alibi Breakfast.

The post Childs Walker To Receive Old Hilltop Award appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

An increase in race days in April 2026 led to bumps in both wagering and purses across the United States compared to April of 2025.

The month saw 2,170 races (+2.99%) across 259 race days (+2.78%) which pushed wagering totals to $898,254,315 (+2.23%). Purses were also up, with paid purses jumping to $95,634,866 (+9.14%).

Average wagering per race day dipped slightly to $3,468,163 (-0.53%) while field size also fell to 7.30 (-5.38%) and starts dropped to 15,837 (-2.55%).

Year over year, available and paid purses remained in the green at $356,025,415 (+1.12%) and $337,882,857 (+1.26%) respectively. Wagering on U.S. races year to date finish the month at $3,225,170,563 (-4.69%).

The post Wagering, Purses Up In April Economic Indicators appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority's (HISA) Board of Directors has voted unanimously to make no changes to the current rules regarding the use of the medication Lasix, it was announced Tuesday.

With the decision from the nine-member Board of Directors, Lasix will still be banned in 2-year-old races and stakes races in all states that fall under HISA's jurisdiction. Had the board voted otherwise, the diuretic would have been banned in all races.

When HISA's Anti-Doping and Medication Control Program was launched on May 23, 2023.  it ushered in the rules that covered 2-year-old races and stakes and, at the same time, it placed a three-year moratorium regarding the possibility of a full ban on Lasix pending the outcome of several scientific studies it had commissioned. The studies delved into several issues involving the medication, focusing particularly on the effect of Lasix on equine health and the integrity of competition.

When those studies were completed, they were turned over to the Board of Directors, who were assigned the duty of assessing the details and making a decision about the future of Lasix in the sport.

The vote had to be unanimous. If just one member of the Board had voted to implement the new, stricter rules, then Lasix would have all but disappeared from America's racetracks. The HISA Board of Directors consists of Charles Scheeler, Steve Beshear, Adolpho Birch, Leonard Coleman, Joe De Francis, Terri Mazur, Susan Stover, Bill Thomason, and D.G. Van Clief.

The vote took place on April 24.

The Board was asked to vote on four criteria

-That the medication is warranted.

-That the modification is in the best interest of racing.

-That furosemide (Lasix) has no performance-enhancing effect on individual horses.

-That public confidence in the integrity and safety of racing would not be adveresely affected by the modification.

“In reaching its decision, the Board considered the findings and recommendations of the Furosemide Advisory Committee (FAC), which included a finding that available scientific evidence does not support the assertion that furosemide is a performance-enhancing substance,” HISA said in a press release.

The HISA Board's resolution and its findings, along with the FAC Report and scientific research reports, can be reviewed by clicking here

With the vote approaching, many horsemen were growing apprehensive about the possibility of having to do their jobs without the use of Lasix.

A letter was sent out on February 25 that was signed by Bill Mott, Chad Brown, Mark Casse, Jena Antonucci, Ron Moquett, and Eric Hamelback, CEO of the National Horsemen's Benevolent & Protective Association, that questioned the need for a complete ban of Lasix.

“The question before the Authority Board is not whether the sport must evolve–it must, it is and will continue to,” the letter read. “The question is whether eliminating a treatment that reduces lung bleeding serves the horse or simply satisfies a narrative. Treating pulmonary hemorrhage under veterinary supervision is not doping. It is responsible care.”

When reached Tuesday, Moquett, a Midwest-based trainer, praised the HISA Board of Directors for reaching the decision that it did,

“I'm glad that they relied on the science, which is how these issues should be decided,” he said. “And the science proved that Lasix is not a performance-enhancer or anything that damages the horses. It's good to know that trainers can continue to use a medication that we have always believed is beneficial to the horse. A lot of people in racing have a lot of different opinions on many subjects, and this was no different. Those who don't believe in Lasix don't have to use it. Those of us who are proponents of Lasix are free to use it in races where it will still be allowed.”

The National HBPA President Dr. Doug Daniels also expressed his satisfaction with the decision.

“We appreciate the thoughtful and measured decision by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority to reconsider the role of Lasix in race-day care,” he said in a statement. “As the Board approached its vote, it was clear that concern among horsemen and women was intensifying, rooted in the practical realities of managing equine health and welfare without a widely accepted therapeutic tool.

“Horsemen across the country are encouraged that the Authority acknowledged both the science and the lived experience of horsemen in concluding that furosemide is not supported as a performance-enhancing substance. This outcome reflects the importance of open dialogue and the willingness to listen to those on the ground who are directly responsible for the health and safety of the horse.

“Moving forward, we remain committed to working collaboratively to ensure that policy decisions continue to be guided by science, horsemanship, and the best interests of the horse.”

The NYTHA also issued a statement following the vote, saying, “The New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association appreciates HISA's decision to maintain the current Lasix rules. However, HISA must go further and permit 2-year-olds to receive Lasix. The elimination of Lasix for 2-year-olds to race could very well harm and cause irreparable damage to the horse. NYTHA believes New York-bred stakes races should also be allowed to use Lasix, since the elimination of Lasix is very detrimental to the field size and breeding programs all over the country. We are at a time where we need to take a close examination of our polices to make strategic changes to unlock the full potential of our great industry.”

Dale Romans, President of the Kentucky HBPA said, “Kentucky HBPA commends the collaborative efforts of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, its advisory committees, and horsemen across the industry in reaching this thoughtful decision regarding furosemide. This outcome reflects a balanced, science-based approach that prioritizes the health and safety of our horses while maintaining the integrity of the sport. We appreciate the willingness of all parties to engage in meaningful dialogue and work together toward a solution that supports horsemen and strengthens public confidence in racing. It is through this kind of cooperation that our industry continues to move forward in a responsible and unified manner.”

The post HISA Board Votes to Keep Status Quo on Lasix Rules appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Light Up Racing, a program launched in 2024 meant to address issues in the sport head on through conversation, will cease operations following this year's Breeders' Cup at Keeneland, the organization announced Tuesday.

In a letter submitted by Light Up Racing's interim executive director Amy Brin, the program reflects back on what was built and how messaging can be disseminated in the future, saying, “From the beginning, the work was based on a simple principle: confidence in the sport cannot be manufactured through messaging; it has to be earned through honesty, transparency and proof.”

But Brin noted that a lack of funding and 'alignment' continued to be an issue for Light Up Racing.

“There is broad agreement that racing needs this kind of communication, that public trust matters, and that misinformation, silence and fragmented responses are damaging,” the letter reads. “What has not yet been solved is how the industry funds this work properly. As initial support began to lessen, and following consistent feedback from industry leaders about the need for greater consolidation and alignment with existing organizations, the Board explored a number of possible long-term options. These efforts included direct outreach, merger proposals, integrated budgets with operational modeling, and multiple rounds of discussion to explore how this work could be sustained within existing industry structures. Despite those worthwhile efforts and shared agreement that the work needs to continue, a sustainable path forward was not secured. The need for the work remains clear. The alignment required to act on it was not.”

Light Up Racing will remain intact through the Breeders' Cup, with the program “continuing in a focused capacity, delivering content, supporting partners and contributing to the industry's efforts to strengthen public trust.”

The post Light Up Racing To Shut Down; Here’s What We Learned appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.