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Bam’s Bliss Kiss win the Biogio’s Rose Sunday for her sixth straight victory. Coglianese Photo.

Mad Dog Racing Stable’s Bam’s Bliss Kiss extended her win streak to six in her return to stakes company in Sunday’s $135,000 Biogio’s Rose at Aqueduct.

The 4-year-old daughter of New York-based sire Solomini added the 1-mile Biogio’s Rose to her victory last time out in the $80,000 Videogenic on last month’s Winter Claiming Championship card at Aqueduct. Trained by Jorge Abreu, Bam’s Bliss Kiss won the Biogio’s Rose by 8 1/4 lengths under regular partner Jaime Rodriguez.

“She ran huge; they’ve got a nice filly,” Rodriguez said. “She’s awesome. She’s improving every race she runs. We both get along, and we know each other. The first day, I said, ‘man, I love this filly.’ Then I rode her again and I said, ‘oh, I know how you like to run.’ I love her. She’s little, but she’s got a big heart.”

Abreu and Mad Dog Racing claimed Bam’s Bliss Kiss for $45,000 out of a victory in a 6 1/2-furlong state-bred optional claimer on New Year’s Eve at Aqueduct. She’d won her previous two starts for trainer Linda Dixon – at Finger Lakes Nov. 13 and at Aqueduct Dec. 10.

“I saw that she was winning for another trainer before my claim,” said Mad Dog Racing’s Larry Dorman. “She had already won the New York-bred non-winners of two condition. They put her back in for the tag. I figured the worst thing would be that I put her back in for the non-winners of two condition for the tag. Jorge Abreu did an amazing job. He got her to run some incredible numbers.”

Bam’s Bliss Kiss won her first start off the claim in an open-company optional claimer at 7 furlongs Feb. 13 at Aqueduct before her victory in the 6-furlong Videogenic. She successfully stretched out to the 1-mile trip Sunday, going to the lead shortly after the start.

Bam’s Bliss Kiss vied with favorite Collect the Data out of the chute and through the opening quarter-mile in :23.80, just ahead of Sweetest Princess and Sweet Brown Sugar. Bam’s Bliss Kiss, the 4-1 third choice in the field of seven, opened up a bit to the half in :47.15.

“I was a little bit worried because she had never run a mile,” Rodriguez said. “…The only thing that worried me was if someone came running out of there like a maniac and pressed me all the way. She broke good, and the two horses outside me got a little bit of speed, but when she got the jump in front of everybody, I said, ‘no, I’m going to let you do your own thing, free.’ She loved that. Once I let her run her own race, she got big in front.”

Collect the Data made progress on the leader to the far turn and into the bend, getting within a neck of Bam’s Bliss Kiss. The challenge proved short-lived, with Bam’s Bliss Kiss opening up again approaching the stretch and going past 6 furlongs 2 1/2 lengths clear in 1:12.41.

Bam’s Bliss Kiss poured it on through the lane, zipping past the eighth pole 6 1/2 lengths clear. Sweet Brown Sugar put in a mild rally in the stretch to finish second, a neck ahead of Midtown Lights with Walk With Me fourth. Lika Rolling Stone, Collect the Data and Sweetest Princess completed the field. Bam’s Bliss Kiss won in 1:38.22 over the fast track.

“This is just something,” Dorman said. “I never really expected to get a horse like this who could just keep on winning. Today, she did something she’s never done before going one mile. She did it so easily. I’m super happy. She is one of the best claims I’ve ever made.”

Bam’s Bliss Kiss improved to 7-for-18 with the win and boosted her bankroll to $404,540.

Bred by Torie Gladwell, Bam’s Bliss Kiss is the second foal out of the Into Mischief mare Kiska. She’s also the dam of the winning New York-bred Sharp Azteca mare Perfectly Mperfect.

Kiska is also also the dam of a yearling full brother to Bam’s Bliss Kiss, a 2-year-old New York-bred filly by Mind Control and the unraced 3-year-old New York-bred King for a Day filly Brighton My Day, a $50,000 purchase by Clear Stars Stable and Mitre Box Stable at last year’s OBS April sale. Brighton My Day breezed a half mile in :51.02 Sunday on the Belmont Park training track.

Bam’s Bliss Kiss also gave Solomini his seventh stakes winner and second of 2026, joining Say Florida Sandy winner National Identity. Solomini, an 11-year-old Grade 1-placed son of Curlin who stands for $7,500 at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds in Saratoga Springs, came into Sunday as the leading sire in New York with nearly $1.5 million in progeny earnings.

The post Bam’s Bliss Kiss keeps win streak intact in Biogio’s Rose appeared first on New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. News.

Taj Mahal earned his way into the $2 million Preakness Stakes (G1), the second jewel of the Triple Crown, with a dominant performance April 18 in the $150,000 Federico Tesio Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles at Laurel Park.

Almendares scores a neck over Genius Jimmy in the April 18 American Stakes (G3T) at Santa Anita Park.

Burnham Square scores in the Elkhorn Stakes (G2T) April 18 at Keeneland. The 4-year-old son of Liam's Map, who was last year's winner of the Blue Grass Stakes (G1), is now a graded stakes winner on turf and dirt.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Taj Mahal (Nyquist) led them every step of the way while making his two-turn debut to romp in the $150,000 Federico Tesio S. at Laurel Park, a “Win and You're In” qualifier for the GI Preakness Stakes.

The 6-5 favorite cleared the field of 10 from his outside draw and it was pretty much over from there. He was well clear through fractions of :23.93 and :47.80. The advantage shrunk to about a length on the far turn, but he had another gear. The $525,000 Keeneland September yearling opened up again and dropped the hammer in the stretch to win by 8 1/4 lengths.

Taj Mahal, a debut winner sprinting at Laurel Feb. 6, was a game winner of the one-turn mile Miracle Wood S. in the mud here Feb. 21.

The winner's dam had a filly by Nyquist in 2024, a filly by Up to the Mark in 2025 and a filly by Arabian Knight this year.

FEDERICO TESIO S., $150,000, Laurel, 4-18, 3yo, 1 1/8m, 1:52.92, ft.
1–TAJ MAHAL, 124, c, 3, by Nyquist
                1st Dam: Oola Gal (SP, $117,257), by Quality Road
                2nd Dam: Geisha Gal, by Agnes Tachyon (Jpn)
                3rd Dam: Danzig Withwolves, by Danzig
($525,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP). O-SF Racing, LLC, Starlight Racing,
Madaket Stables, LLC, Stonestreet Stables, LLC, Bashor Racing,
LLC, Determined Stables, Golconda Stable, Waves Edge Capital,
LLC & Donovan, Catherine; B-Vegso Racing Stable (FL);
T-Brittany T. Russell; J-Sheldon Russell. $90,000. Lifetime
Record: 3-3-0-0, $178,200.
2–Wild Warrior, 124, c, 3, Improbable–Inaweofnooneatall, by
Lemon Drop Kid. ($25,000 Ylg '24 FTKOCT). O-Rose Petal Stable
LLC; B-Titletown Racing Stables (Paul Farr) & BRS (KY); T-Gary
Capuano. $30,000.
3–Let's Go Lando, 118, g, 3, Game Winner–Steady N Love, by
Not For Love. O-Eagle Up Stables, London Reid Thoroughbreds
and Non Stop Stable; B-ZWP Stable & Non Stop Stable (MD);
T-Gary Capuano. $15,000.
Margins: 8 1/4, 1 1/4, 1 3/4. Odds: 1.20, 6.90, 5.10.
Also Ran: Volendam, Hixon, Code of Silence, Higher Sense, Close the Gate, Classic Nofty, Chayton.

Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

It was all #10 TAJ MAHAL ($4.40)) who from the start of the race ran away from the field to easily win the $150,000 Federico Tesio Stakes at Laurel Park. The son of Nyquist (@DarleyAmerica) was ridden by @SheldonRussell1 and is trained by @BTRracingstable. pic.twitter.com/BUFkUihJF5

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) April 18, 2026

The post Unbeaten Taj Mahal Romps in Preakness Qualifier at Laurel appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Sandtrap (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}–Zindaya {GSW, $567,240}, by More Than Ready) began her career as a juvenile in the care of trainer Ralph Beckett and the dark bay broke her maiden at first asking to earn a 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard', at Salisbury that September.

The filly was the runner-up to eventual GI Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf heroine Gezora (Fr) (Almanzor (Fr) in the G3 Prix des Reservoirs Stakes at Deauville a month later. Both Sandtrap and Gezora were transferred to Chad Brown's shedrow to start 2026.

As the 1-5 favorite here, Sandtrap took up a position towards the rear of the field into the first turn and remained on hold up the backstretch.

Roused into action around the far turn, the 4-year-old gunned her engine, drove down the lane and cleared the condition by 4 1/2 lengths. Thiene (Ire) (Cotai Glory {Ire}) was the runner-up.

Sandtrap is now pointing to the GI Just a Game Stakes at the Spa in early June.

The winner is a full-sister to former Brown trainee and current sire Carl Spackler (Ire), MGISW, $1,944,331.

Herself a half-sister to GISW Western Aristocrat (Mr. Greeley) and a full-sister to MSP Noble Ready–the dam of Japanese group stakes winner Noble Roger (Palace Malice)–Zindaya is responsible for a 2-year-old colt by Uncle Mo, a yearling colt by Justify and she foaled a filly by Into Mischief Mar. 25.

2nd-Aqueduct, $83,000, Alw, 4-18, (NW1$X), 3yo/up, f/m, 1mT, 1:37.26, fm, 4 1/2 lengths.
SANDTRAP (IRE), f, 4, Lope de Vega {Ire}–Zindaya {GSW, $567,240}, by More Than Ready.
Sales History: 450,000gns Ylg '23 TATOCT. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, $86,071. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O-Bridlewood Farm; B-Fifth Avenue Bloodstock (IRE); T-Chad C. Brown.

Sandtrap much the best in R2 at the Big A. https://t.co/PDJbFKsdFE pic.twitter.com/p2XmUjw8M6

— Keith-TripleDeadHeat (@TripleDeadHeat) April 18, 2026

The post Sandtrap Gets Up And Down To Clear Allowance Turf Race At Aqueduct appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

While there isn't a definitive path yet, next-race plans are pending for GI Apple Blossom Handicap victress Claret Beret (Not This Time), according to trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.

The Florida-based mare has since returned to the Sunshine State. She posted a 105 Beyer figure in her upset over champion Nitrogen (Medaglia d'Oro) Apr. 11 and her final time of 1:42.21 was the fastest running of the race since Horse of the Year Havre De Grace in 2011. Her speed figure is the highest in the country this year for a female at a mile or over.

“She's back in Florida,” said Joseph on Saturday morning, who was in Hot Springs to saddle White Abarrio in the GII Oaklawn Handicap. “She just had an easy week, just kind of walking under tack for the whole week.”

“No plans yet. We'll probably come up with a plan next week. I'll be back next week. I've been at the [OBS] sales, so I want to go over her first and then come up with a plan.”

So far, the targets have landed on the GI Ogden Phipps Stakes June 5 at Saratoga and the GII Fleur de Lis Stakes June 27 at Churchill Downs. Both contests are at 1 1/8-miles.

“We're going to keep her at two turns, for sure.”

The post Claret Beret Doing Well, Next Plans Pending for Apple Blossom Star appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

GI Florida Derby runner-up The Puma (Essential Quality) put in his final local breeze at Gulfstream Park Saturday morning in advance of shipping out to Churchill Downs for an anticipated tilt in the GI Kentucky Derby.

Working five furlongs with Javier Castellano aboard, the chestnut clicked off 1:00.77 (5/15) over a fast track in his second work since being defeated by Commandment (Into Mischief) in a desperate photo in the Florida Derby. Clockers caught his six-furlong gallop out in 1:12.85 and a mile in 1:37.88.

“[The work] went really well. I'm very satisfied,” Castellano said. “He's a cool horse to ride. He's classy, laid back. It was a solid work, just what we were looking for. I'm happy the way he did it. Always in hand. Good level.”

Trained by Gustavo Delgado, and assisted by his son, Gustavo Jr., The Puma is expected to leave early next week for Kentucky and will have his final Derby prep at Churchill Downs. His connections are following a similar blueprint to the one which propelled them to the pinnacle when Mage (Good Magic)–also the Florida Derby runner-up–roared home best of all on the First Saturday in May three years ago. The Puma is owned by OGMA Investments, JR Ranch and High Step Racing.

“By the times and the video of the work, he's certainly doing it the right way,” said Ramiro Restrepo, bloodstock and racing manager for JR Ranch and racing manager for High Step Racing. “This was his big work. He'll be leaving Monday or Tuesday, I believe, headed for Churchill.”

“[He'll] do some galloping and probably have a little maintenance spin, but the heavy lifting was done today. For all intents and purposes everybody was very happy with how it went.”

Restrepo continued, “The partners are thrilled, which is great. Obviously, the trainer has done a hell of a job, you've got to tip your hat to him. To have a small barn and yet have two horses in four years, one of them win the Derby and the other to have a big shot coming up, it's really great.”

The post The Puma Puts in ‘Big Work’ at Gulfstream, Connections Riding High Ahead of Derby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Spring Classic preparations kicked off bright and early Saturday morning at Keeneland with GI Toyota Blue Grass runner-up Ottinho (Quality Road) working in company for trainer Chad Brown despite being ruled out of the Kentucky Derby.

Ottinho had been in consideration for the Derby but DRF's David Grening reported Saturday afternoon on X that Brown believed it was 'unlikely' the colt would go on to the spring marquee. The GI Preakness Stakes at Laurel May 16 or the GIII Peter Pan Stakes remain as targets later on. With his defection, Chief Wallabee (Constitution) will draw into the field.

The half-brother to Gun Runner cruised a half-mile with Flavien Prat in the irons on the outside of Praetor (Into Mischief), the third-place finisher in last year's GIII Stonestreet Lexington Stakes. They were clocked in :48.40 (15/84).

“It was a good maintenance work,” Prat said “We went a good clip. I think the blinkers have helped him a lot. I had a chance to breeze him before his first race [last fall]. Now he is more polished with the blinkers.”

“I got him in 48 and 2 and out in 1:01 and 1,” said Baldo Hernandez, Brown's assistant overseeing the Keeneland string. “I am not sure when he is going over to Churchill Downs.”

Bella Ballerina Churchill-Bound After Keeneland Breeze

Godolphin homebred Bella Ballerina (Street Sense), half-sister of 2023 Kentucky Oaks victress Pretty Mischievous, completed a five-furlong breeze in company at Keeneland as her final prep before moving to Louisville.

With Tyler Gaffalione aboard, she started a couple lengths behind a pair of workmates before cutting the corner at the top of the stretch, and finishing two lengths clear of Diamond Eyed Jack (Tom's d'Etat) for a final bullet clocking of 1:00.20 (1/22). She galloped out six panels in 1:13.40.

“She will go to Churchill tomorrow,” trainer Brendan Walsh said. “The plan is to do something with her [next] Friday or Saturday or maybe even Sunday depending on weather.”

Bella Ballerina worked with Diamond Eyed Jack and Get Them Roses (Practical Joke) last Saturday as well, and rated behind those two for that work. Saturday she was asked to pass on the inside, and did exactly as they asked of her.

“It was designed that way,” Gaffalione said. “We've been trying to teach her to relax. She's been doing great. She's listening to all my cues, responding well. She's a very talented filly, everything comes to her easily. You can probably see that in the replay of the workout, but I'm very happy with her.”

“It was a nice routine maintenance work. Just let her come up the inside and she finished well. We're very happy, and we'll see how it goes into next week.”

“She relaxed well behind horses and coming inside rather than outside gave her something else to think about,” said Walsh. “She does things almost too easy. She looks great. We get another good week and a good work, then it is up to her.”

The post Ottinho Out of Derby But Works Well at Keeneland, Oaks Hopeful Bella Ballerina Breezes appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

It truly is spring in Kentucky when the penultimate preps for the marquee event in May start rolling out, and so was the story Saturday morning as Albus (Yaupon) and Right to Party (Constitution) led the work tab for GI Kentucky Derby hopefuls at Churchill Downs.

The top two from last month's GII Wood Memorial Stakes both went out Saturday morning with winner Albus spotted first for trainer Riey Mott. He breezed four panels in :49 flat (35/65) for his first move over the track since arriving at the venue in company with stablemate Theoretical (Nyquist). The pair went an opening quarter-mile in :24.40 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:02.20, according to Churchill clocker Adam Wallace.

“He worked in :49 for a half-mile and did it really easily on his own,” Mott said. “That's the move you're looking for in the first work back from a race.”

Mott's other hopeful, Virginia Derby winner Incredibolt (Bolt d'Oro), completed his major Derby prep in Southern Florida at Palm Meadows (4f, :49.95, [34/47]) and is scheduled to arrive in Kentucky early Monday morning.

“From what I saw on video, he worked :49 and change and did it very well on his own,” Mott said. “He's a good workhorse and pretty straightforward. We're looking forward to getting him up here to our division at Churchill Downs.”

A final pre-Derby breeze will come next weekend once Incredibolt is on site.

Two hours later, during the exclusive 15-minute training window for Kentucky Derby and Oaks contenders, Right to Party worked five furlongs in 1:00.80 (23/39) under Robby Albarado in company with GSP Very Connected (Connect). His sectionals were timed in :12.40, :24, :36, and :48.40 before a six furlong gallop out of 1:14.20, according to clocker John Nichols.

Trainer Kenny McPeek was happy with what he saw from Right to Party, stating, “He was clipping along in :12s. I didn't want to do anything too crazy with him, but if you can clip along in :12s in the Derby, you can win the race.”

Also spotted on the tab was Chip Honcho (Connect), who needs two defections to draw in the Derby field. The colt also went five panels in company, completing it in :59.80 (6/39) in company with stablemate SW & GSP Corporate Power (Curlin). Nichols clocked their splits in :12.20, :23.80, :35.20, and :47.20 before a six-furlong gallop out in 1:12.40.

Aside from the Derby workers, Saturday morning also saw several gate and paddock schooling in preparation for the First Saturday in May. Notably, G2 UAE Derby victor Wonder Dean (Jpn) (Dee Majesty {Jpn}) visited the gates while GI Florida Derby-third Chief Wallabee (Constitution) went to the paddock before a routine gallop. The former is in on a guaranteed spot and the latter was ruled in Saturday afternoon with the defection of Ottinho (Quality Road).

Brad Cox's trio of Derby contenders Commandment (Into Mischief), Fulleffort (Liam's Map), and Further Ado (Gun Runner) all had a walk day following their Friday morning works at Churchill. There are no scheduled Derby or Oaks workers Sunday morning.

The post Churchill Downs Update: Albus, Right to Party Post Penultimate Derby Preps appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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

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

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

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