Thoroughbred Daily News

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.

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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.

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 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

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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).

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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.

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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%).

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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.”

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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.”

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The 2025-2026 Oaklawn Park racing season concluded Saturday with across-the-board gains, the track announced Tuesday.

Across 62 race days, Oaklawn conducted 627 races, an increase from 621 races last season, while distributing $54,477,160 in purses with a daily average purse of $878,663. With an average of just over 10 races per day, Oaklawn put an average of 8.81 starters in the gate per race.

The average daily handle rose to $6,938,183, an increase over last year's $6,737,332, generating a total meet handle of $430,167,353–surpassing last season's total of $417,714,571. On-track handle reached $27,723,037, while average handle per race climbed to $686,072.

“Another remarkable season at Oaklawn,” said Louis A. Cella, President of Oaklawn. “From the level of competition on the track to the continued support from our fans and horsemen, this meet showcased the strength and momentum of our program. Each season builds on the last, and we're proud to see Oaklawn continue to elevate the standard for racing in America.”

Steve Asmussen led all trainers with 62 wins and over $5,338,521 in earnings, while also topping the owners standings by wins with 24. John Oxley earned the most for an owner with purse earnings of over $1,187,500.

Ramon Vazquez took home the riding title with 76 wins good for $4,284,296 in earnings.

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With a view to pulling the veil back on the hows and whys of their operations, a representative of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) Authority will every week answer a question of industry importance posed by the TDN.

If you have any questions you'd like to ask HISA, please feel free to send them over to us at the following email address: danross@thetdn.com

Q: During the recent virtual HISA town hall, there were several questions about the outside vendors that HISA has hired. Could you provide a full list of the outside vendors HISA has hired since its inception, the amounts paid for their services, and an explanation of your procurement process?

Lisa Lazarus:

The following is a summary of Lazarus's response. To read her response in full, please click here.

For vendor payments of more than $5,000 made between 2023 through 2025, please click here.

The procurement process is broken into three categories. For transactions of $5,000 or less, the HISA representative procuring the vendor must exercise sound judgment and, where practicable, “seek competitive offers to ensure lowest cost or best value for goods or services to be provided,” wrote Lazarus.

For contracts of between $5,001 and $9,999, the HISA representative also needs the prior sign-off from their supervising director and the chief financial officer.

For Procurement Transactions estimated to cost $10,000 or more, “the HISA Representative shall exercise sound business judgment and accompany the Procurement Action with documented market research (e.g., comparing the prices and other terms offered by the selected vendor against the prices and other terms offered by at least two other vendors) to ensure lowest cost or best value for goods or services to be provided.

“The HISA Representative shall seek and secure the approval of their supervising Director and the Chief Financial Officer prior to entering into the Procurement Transaction. Documentation demonstrating compliance with this section should be sent to Niki Robb at Niki.Robb@hisaus.org,” wrote Lazarus.

There are exceptions to these procurement requirements-when done in reaction to an unforeseen crisis or incident, and when, after a thorough search has been conducted, only one good source can be identified.

HISA can also enter into an interim contract to prevent a lapse of contract performance “whenever an existing contract has been or will be terminated or suspended prior to the end of its original term or whenever a vendor is unable to complete performance under a contract,” wrote Lazarus.

To avoid any potential conflict of interest issues, “all HISA Representatives who participate in the selection or acceptance of a Procurement Transaction must comply with HISA's Conflicts of Interest and Business Ethics Policy (the “Conflict Policy”), a copy of which is available on HISA's website,” wrote Lazarus.

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While a decision on Golden Tempo (Curlin)'s participation in the May 16 GI Preakness Stakes at Laurel Park is still to be determined, Vinnie Viola's St. Elias Stable, co-owner of the GI Kentucky Derby winner, has another colt waiting in the wings for the second leg of the Triple Crown in GIII Gotham Stakes winner Iron Honor (Nyquist). Viola co-owns the 3-year-old, most recently seventh in the GII Wood Memorial, in partnership with William Lawrence and Glassman Racing.

“He's a nice, nice horse,” St. Elias racing and bloodstock manager Monique Delk said of Iron Honor. “He kind of had a tough trip in the Wood, got banged up a bit, so we wanted to give him some extra time. [Trainer] Chad [Brown] opted to skip the Derby with the potential target being the Preakness. If all stays well and the horse takes us there, that's where he'll be headed.”

Silent Tactic (Tacitus), scratched from the Derby with a minor foot ailment, is doing well, but a decision on whether to run in the Preakness will hinge on a mid-week workout, according to trainer Mark Casse.

“He's actually great,” Casse said Sunday morning. “I want to see how he trains for a couple of days. If we're happy with his foot, we'll probably breeze him mid-week and then make a decision. Right now his foot is perfect–of course.”

Casse said the foot issue was part bruise and part a tiny separation in the hoof wall.

“He has a little separation in the wall, but it actually looked pretty good when we pulled the shoe off,” he said. “He's just kind of tender all over his left foot. We put a pad over it, just to try to give it a little relief for a few days. That's really seemed to help him.”

Silent Tactic, winner of the GIII Southwest Stakes, was second behind Kentucky Derby runner-up Renegade (Into Mischief) in the Mar. 28 GI Arkansas Derby.

“As it turned out, the race would have set up very nice for us as well, the closer that he is,” Casse said of the Kentucky Derby. “That's what could have been, but it didn't. Can't worry about it. But it was nice to see Renegade show up and run so well.”

Two horses under Preakness consideration are already at Laurel, Taj Mahal (Nyquist) and The Hell We Did (Authentic), who both breezed over the main track Saturday.

Taj Mahal, who went five furlongs in 1:00.40 (1/12), is undefeated in three starts–all at Laurel. He won the Apr. 18 Federico Tesio Stakes, which earned the Brittany Russell trainee an automatic Preakness berth.

The Hell We Did worked five furlongs in 1:00.60 (3/12). He has raced at four different racetracks in as many starts and most recently ran second in the Apr. 11 GIII Stonestreet Lexington Stakes at Keeneland while making his two-turn debut. Trained by Todd Fincher, he shipped from Kentucky to Maryland Apr. 28.

Other possible Preakness horses include: Cherokee Nation (Not This Time), Chip Honcho (Connect), Crude Velocity (Beau Liam), Crupper (Candy Ride {Arg}), Express Kid (Bodexpress), Great White (Volatile), Napoleon Solo (Liam's Map), Ottinho (Quality Road), Pretty Boy Miah (Beau Liam), Talkin (Good Magic) and Talk to Me Jimmy (Modernist).

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Journalism (Curlin), who finished third in the GII Oaklawn Handicap in his 4-year-old debut April 18 in Hot Springs, returned to the work tab Saturday at Santa Anita for trainer Michael McCarthy.

Also working for McCarthy was MGISW Formidable Man (City of Light), who has been off since finishing second in the Breeders' Cup Mile on Nov. 1.

Journalism worked four furlongs in :48.40. In the 1 1/8-mile Oaklawn Handicap, Journalism finished two lengths back of winner Sovereignty (Into Mischief), his rival from last year's Triple Crown run.

McCarthy has reported Journalism could return in the GI Met Mile at Saratoga Race Course June 6.

Formidable Man drilled four furlongs in :48.60. It was his fourth work on the comeback trail.

A 6-year-old, Formidable Man won the GI Frank E. Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita last, and both the GII Eddie Read and GII Del Mar Mile during the Del Mar summer meet. He is a candidate to return in the GI Shoemaker Mile May 25.

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An additional quartet of Grade I contests and a Grade I-quality renewal of the GII Pat Day Mile highlight Saturday's Kentucky Derby undercard races at Churchill Downs.

A field of 11 comes together for yet another compelling renewal of the $1-million GI Churchill Downs Stakes, a seven-furlong contest in which Godolphin's 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Knightsbridge (Nyquist) goes in search of a maiden top-level success while looking to extend his current winning streak to five.

A half-brother to Grade I-winning Darley stallion Speaker's Corner (Street Sense), Knightsbridge has three wins from four tries over this specialist distance, including a 4 3/4-length victor in the GIII Mr. Prospector Stakes at Gulfstream last December. His two most recent scores have come at a mile and he earned a lofty 112 Beyer in running away with the Feb. 28 GIII Gulfstream Park Mile when last seen Feb. 28.

'Rising Star' Cornucopian (Into Mischief) couldn't quite make it to the Derby last year and since returning from an April layoff, has posted a pair of easy tallies, most recently taking the seven-furlong GIII San Carlos Stakes by an unextended 2 3/4 lengths on Mar. 29.

The Churchill Downs has attracted three runners that are exiting group-level scores on foreign soil in their most recent trips to the races. Banishing (Ghostzapper) dead-heated with Nysos (Nyquist) for second behind Mindframe (Constitution) in last year's renewal and caused a mild surprise with a 2 1/4-length win in the G2 Godolphin Mile at Meydan Mar. 28. Imagination (Into Mischief), runner-up in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Sprint, overcame a sluggish start to win the G2 Riyadh Dirt Sprint on the Saudi Cup undercard Feb. 14. T O Elvis (Volatile) is himself on a four-race winning streak capped by an impressive five-length victory in Nakayama's G3 Capella Stakes on Dec. 14. The 4-year-old, to be ridden by Ryusei Sakai, lands here after passing on the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen at the 11th hour. —Alan Carasso

A race before Not This Time will have Six Speed vying to become his first GI Kentucky Derby winner, the versatile super sire will be represented on the lawn by Rhetorical, who is the 5-2 morning-line favorite in the GI Turf Classic.

The 5-year-old gelding will be seeking his second top-level success in the nine-furlong precursor to the Derby following his victory in the GI Coolmore Turf Mile at Keeneland last October. He was on the lead in upper stretch before settling for a close-up fourth behind Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the Nov. 1 GI Breeders' Cup Mile and was never able to reel in pacesetting Zulu Kingdom (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) when third in his 2026 debut in the GI Maker's Mark Mile at Keeneland last time out Apr. 10.

Amerman Racing Stables' Test Score (Lookin at Lucky), 7-2 on the morning-line, will be looking for his second straight Grade I victory–and third overall–following his gritty score in the Jan. 24 GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational last time out.

Always with a strong hand on the turf, trainer Chad Brown saddles a pair of runners in the Turf Classic. Peter Brant and St. Elias Stable's Asbury Park (GB) (Frankel {GB}), 8-1 on the morning line, makes his first start since winning the GII Jockey Club Derby Invitational last October. Klaravich Stable's Program Trading (GB) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), whose three Grade I wins include last year's Turf Classic, will be adding blinkers following a third-place effort in the Mar. 21 GII Muniz Memorial Classic at Fair Grounds. He is listed at 4-1.

In the GI American Turf Stakes, a capacity field has assembled to contest eight and half furlongs.

Named after the late Laker superstar Kobe Bryant by C R K owner Lee Searing, 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard', Remember Mamba (Kitten's Joy) is a deserving favorite. The Cherie DeVaux trainee was last seen winning the GIII Transylvania Stakes at Keeneland last month, which was the colt's third victory in as many tries.

The Transylvania runner-up Honey Dutch (Knicks Go), third-place horse Vasy (Ire) (Space Blues {Ire}) and fourth-place finisher Street Beast (Street Sense) also make the American Turf barrier.

Stark Contrast (Caravaggio) bypassed the GI Kentucky Derby in favor of this spot. Amerman Racing and trainer Michael McCarthy send out the runner-up from the GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks.

Horses who could be peaking at the right time include Greenwich Village (Quality Road). The Bob Baffert trainee has strung together a pair of route stakes wins over the grass at Santa Anita and happens to be the lone American out of 88 entries for June's G1 Epsom Derby.

Also looking to make a top-level splash is the ultra-consistent Alpyland (Vekoma). The winner of the Columbia Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs is campaigned by D J Stable and trained by Mark Casse.

Coming back to the races after a juvenile season that saw him win the GIII With Anticipation Stakes at the Spa and the GII Castle & Key Bourbon Stakes at Keeneland, Final Score (Not This Time) is set for his 3-year-old unveiling. The Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearling buy for Mike Repole is trained by Todd Pletcher.

Finally, if you are after a wild card or two, then don't overlook Kenny McPeek trainee Blackout Time (Not This Time). The 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard', will try the grass for the first time after finishing a well-beaten fifth in the GI Arkansas Derby.

Michael McCarthy has one other member of his shedrow entered in this spot. Graded stakes placed Let's Be Frank (Liam's Map) could play the role of the wise guy. Of note, he's the only American Turf entry to face older company. @campbellparlay

The GI Derby City Distaff, the first of eight graded stakes races on the Kentucky Derby card Saturday, highlights a competitive field of both current and returning stars in the female sprint division.

Trainers Bob Baffert and Saffie Joseph Jr. each hold a two-strong hand with Baffert shipping in MGISW Splendora (Audible). Undefeated in her last five starts, the 5-year-old Breeders' Cup champion comes in off a 5 3/4-length cruise in the GI Beholder Mile at Santa Anita March 7.

Stablemate Usha (Tiz the Law), the “baby” of the field as the lone 4-year-old, drew the rail for her first start since an equally-dominant 5 1/4-length win in the GI La Brea Stakes Dec. 28. Baffert owns the most wins in this race, having previously taken it three times, most recently in 2021 with Gamine (Into Mischief).

Joseph Jr. brings in Arkansas-bred Haulin Ice (Coal Front) who is still looking for her first top-level win despite plenty of success in graded stakes company. She's won her last two starts, both stakes at Oaklawn Park, by a combined 13 lengths. Drawn widest of the six, Joseph, Jr.'s other entry is R Disaster (Awesome Slew), a Florida-bred 5-year-old also on a run of good form including a last-out third in the GI Madison Stakes at Keeneland Apr. 4.

The wild card of the group, Ways and Means (Practical Joke) makes her return to races here off nearly an 11-month layoff. Last seen at Saratoga winning the GII Bed O' Roses by 7 3/4 lengths, the Klaravich Stables runner already has a Grade I to her name, having won the GI Test Stakes on a muddy Saratoga track in August 2024.

Longshot Autumn Evening (Malibu Moon), making her first start Saturday for Jose D'Angelo after running previously for Todd Pletcher, completes the field.

A pair of twice-raced 'TDN Rising Stars' presented by Hagyard are set to go toe-to-toe in a cracking renewal of the GII Pat Day Mile, which kicks off the second half of the Derby program at Churchill.

C R K Stable comes to Louisville minus a runner in the main event–they finished third with late call-up Baeza (McKinzie) in 2025–but arrive with several big shots to fire elsewhere over the weekend.

Englishman (Maxfield) kicked off his career in the best possible way for trainer Cherie DeVaux, leading every step of the way and clocking a slick 1:21.35 in a seven-furlong maiden Sept. 19, good for a 97 Beyer and a 'Rising Star'. The bay colt, a $400,000 Keeneland September yearling returned to action exactly six months later at the Fair Grounds and validated 1-10 favoritism  with a no-doubt-about-it 7 1/2-length success Mar. 19.

In the opposite corner comes Crude Velocity (Beau Liam), who overcame a slow start and made multiple moves en route to a narrow debut score, also good for 'Rising Star' honors. He was that much more impressive in a first-level allowance on the Santa Anita Derby undercard Apr. 4, sitting out wide before accelerating away from his rivals by 6 3/4 lengths. If a fast pace materializes, as is usually the case in this one-turn mile, Crude Velocity could possess the superior running style of the 'Rising Stars'.

Tim Yakteen sends out a fourth Pat Day Mile runner since 2022, though the previous three occurred while trainer Bob Baffert was banned from running his horses at Churchill. In the form of Virginia-bred Secured Freedom (Practical Joke), he has something of an interesting longshot to run in his own name.

An even fourth on Del Mar debut in November, he launched a rally from midfield to graduate by 4 1/2 lengths at Santa Anita Dec. 28, good for an 88 Beyer. Not disgraced when third in the Feb. 7 GIII Robert B. Lewis Stakes going a mile and fourth to Derby runner Potente (Into Mischief) in the GII San Felipe Stakes. John Velazquez has the riding assignment. —Alan Carasso

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The runner-up from the GII Wood Memorial Stakes at Aqueduct, Right to Party (Constitution) was scratched from the GI Kentucky Derby by state regulatory veterinarians on Friday morning and Robusta (Accelerate) will take his place in the Churchill Downs starting gate on Saturday.

Trainer Kenny McPeek said he was upset with the scratch itself and the timing, as well as what he feels is a growing trend of regulatory scratches in Kentucky.

“They said he [Right to Party] was lame all week.” said McPeek. “Why didn't they call it before everyone got here? I feel bad for Mr. [owner Chester] Broman. This horse has never been medicated, injected, had a surgery. Look, is he a perfect jogger? No, but he's certainly not a risk of catastrophic breakdown. Shouldn't that be the question? He's a grinder, he's a plodder, he keeps coming, but this is a whole other era that we're in that a lot of horsemen don't understand it. And it's only Kentucky.”

McPeek said that veterinarians had requested that the horse be X-rayed earlier in the week, and then followed up with a request for a PET-scan. McPeek provided the TDN a copy of the results of the scan.

The comments read, “The most significant finding is the bilateral remodeling of the medial palmar condyles. Remodeling in this location is quite common in racehorses. In this horse, the remodeling is more severe than average and could be responsible for the clinical signs, however this finding is most likely not associated with an increased risk for breakdown. Pending clinical signs, there is no contraindication to racing based on the current 18F-NaF PET scans.”

Said McPeek, “I thought after the X-ray and the scan, we were fine. They don't like the way he moves. I didn't make the way he moves, but he's been steady. he just goes out there and grinds it out I think the state has to address this at some point. We're not dealing with this in New York. This type of extreme doesn't exist in Florida, or Louisiana. Only Kentucky.”

McPeek pointed to a rash of scratches at Keeneland in the later stages of the meet.

Kenny McPeek | Sarah Andrew

“They scratched 11 horses the last day of the Keeneland meet,” he said. “One day earlier in the meet, they scratched 10. One in a thousand breaks down, and who's sicker than any of us when it happens than the trainer? There's no motive on our side, and we're not hiding anything, but there doesn't seem to be a balance here. It's gotten way out of balance. Someone did a study that said five years ago, there was one regulatory vet scratch a day, and now there's five.”

McPeek, who won the 2024 Kentucky Derby with Mystik Dan (by Goldencents), said, “I'm sorry for Mr. Broman. It doesn't affect me. I've had my glory, but what I'm concerned about is the state of the industry and how we can continue like this. I have worked my tail off to build this game, to bring people in, to grow it. I built an app, I've done everything in my power to help this sport, but this industry doesn't help itself. I'm not optimistic. For me, I can take this bullet and stand right back up and keep playing. I'm gonna train another eight years and that will be it for me, but it seems like it's us against them, the trainers against the vets. We're supposed to be working together.

“The Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming cannot comment on the specifics of an individual scratch,” President and CEO of the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Commission Jamie Eads told the TDN via text. “However, we can say that the safety and well-being of the racehorses training and competing in Kentucky are the center of everything we do. KHRG closely monitors data pertaining to scratches, including those based on the advice of our regulatory veterinarians. It is one of the most difficult parts of the job, as we share the goal of each horse's connections for the horse to compete safely.

“KHRG will continue to work with our licensees, HISA, HIWU, and our racetracks to promote the safety of the horse, and protect the jockeys, horsemen, and horsewomen,” he added. “We are constantly evaluating our processes and procedures with the best interests of the horse in mind, and we will continue to engage with stakeholders, including trainers and attending veterinarians. We all want what is best for the horse.”

As for Robusta, the colt was last seen running a well-beaten seventh in the GI Santa Anita Derby last month. The Calumet homebred is trained by Doug O'Neill, who now has a pair of Derby starters. The other is Pavlovian (Pavel).

In the Derby, Robusta will wear saddle towel 23 and Cristian Torres will pick up the mount.

DRF reported that the remaining Derby also-eligible, Corona de Oro (Bolt d'Oro), would not draw into the race since by 9 a.m. ET on Friday there are no other defections from the race according to the horse's trainer Dallas Stewart.

The post Right To Party Scratched From Kentucky Derby; McPeek `Concerned About the State of the Industry’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Edited Press Release

The New York Knights seek a repeat victory in Maryland as the National Thoroughbred League (NTL) kicks off its 2026 season at Laurel Park on Saturday afternoon.

Now in its fourth season, the NTL is a first-of-its-kind racing league that reimagines America's oldest spectator sport in a team-based professional format. By prioritizing industry participation, equine safety, and consistent, high-level competition, NTL gives fans the opportunity to follow and support celebrated horses and jockeys month after month and year after year.

Beyond the track, NTL delivers a modern lifestyle experience, curating weekends of food, fashion, and entertainment inspired by the sport's most iconic celebrations.

Saturday's racing kicks off a six-event national season in which teams compete across the country for a league championship. Saturday's three NTL races (races 5-7) offer a combined purse of $98,000. All 10 teams entered at least two horses in each race.

Race 5, The Charm City Cup, drew 10 horses at one mile on the main track. Race 6, The Golden Horseshoe Classic, features a 10-horse going one mile on the turf. Race 7 is the Baltimore Blitz, a $56,000 allowance race at 1 1/16 miles on dirt.

Teams earn points based on their horse's finishing position in each race, with greater emphasis on the final race and bonus points for overall performance.

The NTL activities begin Friday evening between 7 and 10 p.m. with the NTL VIP Kickoff Party at the Horse You Came In On Saloon. On Saturday, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, owner of the Maryland Colts team franchise, will host the NTL races at Laurel Park.

“There's no better way to open a season than bringing the NTL back to Maryland with Lamar Jackson,” said Mike Monroe, CEO of the National Thoroughbred League.

For ticket information, please visit here.

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Nearly four years ago, I embarked on a mission to highlight the remarkable Thoroughbred while giving back to the aftercare system that supports them post-track. At that time, options for retiring Thoroughbreds were limited, and initiatives like the Retired Racehorse Project were just gaining traction.

So, what is BEYOND the Backstretch (Btb)? At its core, Btb operates as a Thoroughbred Reinvestment Manager, where competition meets purpose. Our model creates a sustainable cycle: sponsors invest in horse shows by underwriting prizes and ribbons, which helps offset event costs. This allows entry fees and division proceeds to be redirected into donations, turning participation in the show ring into vital financial support for aftercare and rescue efforts.

Btb hosts a flagship horse show, an all-breed event that proudly showcases Thoroughbreds. This year, the show will take place on June 13, 2026, in Horseheads, New York, featuring Thoroughbred Incentive Program awards and USEF outreach classes designed to encourage participation.

We also partner with horse show managers, offering Thoroughbred-only divisions at their events. In return for providing ribbons and prizes, a portion, many times all of the entry fees, are donated back to support our mission. In 2026, Btb divisions will be featured at 26 horse shows, including dressage and combined training events.

This model has the potential to become a significant funding source, driven by expanding sponsorships and partnerships, increasing the number of participating shows, and heightening visibility to attract more riders and supporters. As participation and sponsorship grow, so does the ability to generate reliable funding for aftercare, keeping the focus on the horse at every stage of its journey.

BEYOND the Backstretch is a grassroots initiative without institutional funding or grant support. It is not designed to replace national programs like the Retired Racehorse Project, the Thoroughbred Incentive Program, or the Take2 Thoroughbred Program, but rather to complement them, enhancing awareness, storytelling, and advocacy for Thoroughbreds beyond the track, and ensuring that the horse's next chapter matters just as much as the first.

Our initiative tackles four key challenges in the Thoroughbred community: limited engagement, inconsistent accountability, the need for greater recognition of the diversity and talent among Thoroughbreds, and insufficient sustainable funding for aftercare. Supporting Btb isn't about replacing current efforts; it's about reinforcing them. By enhancing engagement, improving accountability, and establishing sustainable funding, we ensure that our responsibility to Thoroughbreds continues well beyond the finish line.

For more information on BEYOND the Backstretch, visit www.beyondthebackstretch.com.

The post Letter to the Editor: Passion, Resistance, and the Cost of Doing Right by the Horses appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Keeneland Association, Fasig-Tipton Company Inc., Ocala Breeders' Sales Company Inc. and a group of leading North American stallion farms announced a significant expansion of their financial commitment to the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance in a press release Monday morning.

Beginning with the 2026 Fasig-Tipton July Sale, the three sales companies will double their contribution to the TAA, allocating 0.1% of each sale's gross proceeds. Participation in the program will also become mandatory for both buyers and consignors at every sale, with each contributing 0.1% of their respective transactions.

Based on 2025 sales figures and assuming comparable performance, the enhanced commitment from the sales companies is projected to generate more than $4.4 million annually.

“Aftercare is a shared responsibility across every segment of our industry,” Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said. “By taking this step together, we are demonstrating what is possible when organizations align around a common purpose. We hope this action encourages others throughout the industry to evaluate how they can further strengthen their investment in the lifelong welfare of the Thoroughbred.”

In addition, leading stallion farms across North America have committed to a new funding model in support of the TAA. Under this structure, stallions covering more than 50 mares annually will contribute an amount equal to 50% of their advertised stud fee, while those covering 50 or fewer mares will contribute 25%. All contributions are calculated on a per-stallion basis.

Based on 2025 advertised fees from participating farms, the initiative is projected to generate $2.2 million annually. The initiative has garnered support from the stallion farm community, according to Monday's press release, and the TAA is expecting additional participation as discussions continue.

The participating stallion farms issued the following joint statement emphasizing the importance of collective accountability:

“Anyone who makes a living from the Thoroughbred, who touches the horse or whose livelihood is impacted by the horse shares the responsibility for its well-being. This commitment reflects our belief that doing what's right for the horse isn't optional, it's essential. This is where we start and we invite others to stand with us.”

As part of its newly adopted strategic plan, the TAA will establish an Allocation Task Force. The Allocation Task Force will be responsible for evaluating and directing financial resources, supported by subcommittees comprising industry participants with subject-matter expertise. Each subcommittee aligns with a pillar of the TAA's strategic plan and will help inform funding priorities and program development. These subcommittees include: Second Career Development, Equine Welfare, Customer Service, Data Analytics and Education, and Racetrack Alliance and Placement. The TAA is actively conducting outreach to prospective participants and expects to announce its initial committee members this summer.

“This next phase of our strategic plan is centered on strengthening both accountability and impact,” said Walt Robertson, Chair of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. “Combined with the recent commitments from The Jockey Club and the Breeders' Cup, these efforts are projected to approach $10 million annually for aftercare programs, providing a meaningful and sustained level of support.”

Robertson added that the organization's evolving framework is designed to ensure those resources are deployed with greater transparency and effectiveness across the aftercare landscape.

“Through the Allocation Task Force and pillar-aligned subcommittees, we are creating a more transparent, collaborative framework to guide funding decisions and address unmet needs across the landscape,” Robertson said. “As this work evolves, we are focused on broadening engagement and evaluating new opportunities to support a wider range of programs across the aftercare ecosystem. These resources will enable us to ensure funds are deployed thoughtfully, responsibly and where they can have the greatest impact.”

Boyd Browning, President and CEO of Fasig-Tipton, said that the expanded contributions from sales companies reflect deliberate and meaningful progress.

“We talk often about doing what's right for the horse,” Browning said. “Doubling the portion of sale proceeds dedicated to aftercare was simply the right step. This is not the finish line for our industry; it is meaningful progress. The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance's strategic plan, including the Allocation Task Force and subcommittees, ensures these resources are guided by industry expertise and deployed with transparency and accountability.”

OBS President Tom Ventura added, “OBS has long supported aftercare initiatives, and we are proud to stand alongside Keeneland, Fasig-Tipton, our consignors, breeders and stallion farms in strengthening that commitment. By formalizing this structure and working collaboratively, we can direct meaningful resources to accredited programs and ensure measurable impact.”

The Consignors and Commercial Breeders Association (CBA) has also pledged support.

“Consignors and breeders are involved with these horses at every stage of their development, and our commitment to their welfare does not end when they leave our care,” CBA President Rob Tribbett said. “Strengthening our support for aftercare reflects the care, responsibility and respect we have for the animal at the center of everything we do.”

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NBC Sports' live coverage from Churchill Downs begins with five hours on GI Kentucky Oaks day Friday and continues Saturday with 7 1/2 hours on GI Kentucky Derby day.

NBC Sports' Derby day coverage features 10 races, with five hours on NBC and Peacock on Saturday (beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET), following the opening 2 1/2 hours beginning at noon ET on Peacock and NBCSN.

Kentucky Oaks day coverage begins at 4 p.m. ET on Peacock and NBCSN, leading into the first-ever Kentucky Oaks broadcast in prime time at 8 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.

Over the two days, NBC Sports will present 16 live races from Churchill Downs.

Telemundo Deportes will present live coverage of the 152nd Kentucky Derby, beginning Saturday at 6:30 p.m. ET on Universo, and streaming on the Telemundo app.

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Plaintiff Chrissy Laughlin, the founder of an equine welfare organization that protects the rights and well-being of racehorses in the Caribbean, has filed a motion asking Puerto Rico's horse racing administrative tribunal to reverse a ruling it made earlier this month that denied her organization access to evidence related to a complaint about the demise and euthanization of the racemare Kayseri in 2025 at Camarero Race Track.

Laughlin, according to an Apr. 23  press release issued by Caribbean Equine Advocacy, is also seeking to stay an adjudicative hearing in the matter scheduled for Apr. 28 and 29.

The motion seeks “full review of the Apr. 8 ruling; substantive reconsideration of what was denied and why; and restored access to the categories of evidence essential to the plaintiff's case against each respondent before the merits hearing proceeds.”

On June 10, 2025, Laughlin detailed the plight of the Kentucky-bred Kayseri in a letter published by TDN.

Kayseri had raced at Woodbine and Gulfstream between 2019 and 2021. Eased in her final Florida start June 3, 2021, she was then shipped to race at Camarero for parts of three seasons.

“On Jan. 9, 2025, a Thoroughbred mare named Kayseri was euthanized in Puerto Rico,” Laughlin wrote in her TDN letter last year. “She had no joint space left in her fetlocks. Her body was broken down from overuse, her mind likely exhausted from pain and confinement. Her death is not only a tragedy–it is the subject of three formal complaints now filed against the Puerto Rico Racing Commission, the track veterinarians, and her final owner.”

The Caribbean Equine Advocacy's press release from last week updated the organization's recent attempts to hold both individuals and regulators accountable for Kayseri's welfare.

“Her deterioration was documented, flagged, and ultimately ignored across multiple layers of the racing system,” the release stated. “The plaintiff's Amended Consolidated Complaint details how each respondent contributed to that systemic failure.”

The release continued: “The litigation names five distinct respondents–the Puerto Rico Gaming Commission, Carlos Ortiz Aponte (operating as Establo Analiján PR), the Confederacion Hípica de Puerto Rico, Equine Associates (owned and operated by Dr. José Gracia Blanco), and Dr. Federico Arbona–each bearing independent legal duties toward Kayseri, and each of whom the plaintiff contends failed her in different but compounding ways.”

The Caribbean Equine Advocacy's allegations represent only one side of the story. The respondents could not be reached for comment prior to publication of this article.

Laughlin, via the press release, said that the tribunal's denial of the documentation her organization had requested “is not a procedural inconvenience: it is a civil rights violation that simultaneously insulates every respondent in a multi-party case from scrutiny. That multi-party scope is central to understanding the significance of the discovery denial. Without this evidence, all five respondents can deny liability and the record will contain nothing to contradict them.

And, Laughlin contended, “This [denial of discovery] ruling does not just harm our case–it immunizes every respondent simultaneously. The Commission, the owner, the Confederacion, both veterinary practices–all of them benefit from a record that has been stripped of evidence before a single witness takes the stand. That is not an administrative proceeding. That is a predetermined outcome.”

Beyond the individual facts, the release stated, “the Kayseri litigation exposes a systemic vulnerability in Puerto Rico's equine regulatory framework: when an owner, a regulator, a governing body, and two independent veterinary practices all fail the same animal–and then collectively resist disclosure–the administrative system must decide whose interests it serves. The plaintiff contends that the tribunal's Apr. 8 ruling answered that question in the wrong direction. The Motion for Review is an opportunity to correct it.”

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Jockey Manny Franco and trainer Linda Rice were the respective leaders of the jockey and trainer standings at the conclusion of this year's Aqueduct winter meet, and they repeated by topping the Aqueduct spring meet, which ran from Apr. 2-26.

Franco, 31, earned 22 wins to land his fourth riding title at the Aqueduct spring meet, adding to wins in 2019 and 2023-24. The native of Carolina, Puerto Rico posted an overall record of 103-22-28-16, good for a win rate of 21.36% and in-the-money rate of 64.08% with $1,518,315 in total purse earnings.

“I'm just happy every day to have the opportunity from the trainers and owners,” said Franco, The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA)'s leading rider in 2018, 2019, 2023 and 2025. “I'm happy be here in New York and I'm blessed.”

Among Franco's wins was a stakes score with the Rice-trained Hot Currency in the NYSSS Fourstar Crook on Apr. 11 He also celebrated three-win days on three consecutive cards from Apr. 18-23.

Franco is represented by agent John Panagot.

Jaime Rodriguez finished second in the standings with 13 wins while Dylan Davis and Ricardo Santana, Jr. tied for third with 11 wins each.

Linda Rice, NYRA's leading trainer in 2025, posted 21 wins for her fourth consecutive and seventh overall win at this meet. The spring meet title was her third consecutive on the circuit, and came on the heels of a victory at the Aqueduct winter meet where she posted a personal-best 62 wins, and at the Aqueduct fall meet with 31 wins.

Rice, 62, compiled a record of 79-21-19-11 with $1,180,564 in total purses, good for a win rate of 26.58 percent and an in-the-money percentage of 64.56.

“It's been a tough winter here in New York and it wasn't for the faint of heart,” Rice said, with a laugh. “I'm anxious for the spring and summer meet and for Saratoga. It's been a great winter, and hopefully we can keep it going.”

Chad Brown finished second in the trainer standings with 11 wins while Rick Dutrow, Jr. finished third with six wins.

As she did at the winter meet, Rice also came out on top in the owners standings, posting seven wins with an overall record of 35-7-12-4 and $406,794 in purse earnings. Her wins as an owner were topped by a 4 1/4-length allowance romp by Commuted on Apr. 25.

Winning Move Stable and Michael Dubb tied for second with four wins each.

Live racing resumes Thursday on Opening Day of the spring/summer meet at Belmont at the Big A with an eight-race card. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern.

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