Horse Racing News by Jack Shinar

Front-running La Verdad left her rivals behind leaving the turn en route to her initial grade stakes win, a 3 3/4-length romp in the $200,000 Distaff Handicap at Aqueduct Racetrack April 19.

Danza sent shock waves through the crowd of 63,186 at Oaklawn Park when he took command in upper stretch at odds of 41-1 and rolled to a 4 ¾-length victory in the $1 million Arkansas Derby on closing day April 12.

Tapiture, Strong Mandate, and Ride On Curlin butt heads once more at Oaklawn Park in the The $1 million Arkansas Derby April 12, and they'll be joined by another new shooter from the Bob Baffert barn in Bayern.

Lemon Drop Dream, tracking a blistering pace into the stretch, charged home to register a well-timed victory in the $294,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap in his graded stakes debut April 10 at Oaklawn Park.

Fashion Plate, staked to an early lead by jockey Gary Stevens, repulsed a bid from 6-5 favorite Ria Antonia to record her second grade I victory in a row in the $400,000 Santa Anita Oaks April 5.

Newsdad, making just his second start in the past year, closed with authority to nip outsider Vertiformer at the wire in the $200,000 Pan American Stakes on the turf at Gulfstream Park March 29.

Godolphin Racing's African Story was guided off the inside at the head of the straight to overtake pacesetter Mukhadram en route to a comfortable victory in the $10 million Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline March 29 at Meydan.

Fire With Fire, rated well on the lead by Tyler Baze, outfought stablemate Lucayan in deep stretch to register his first graded stakes win for trainer Neil Drysdale in the $200,000 San Luis Rey Stakes on the turf March 22 at Santa Anita Park.

California Chrome is headed for the $1 million Santa Anita Derby April 5, trainer Art Sherman confirmed from his headquarters at Los Alamitos Race Course.

Awesome Baby, a back-to-back graded stakes winner this season at Santa Anita Park, stands out for trainer Bob Baffert in the $200,000 Sunland Park Oaks March 23.