Horse Racing News

Alex G. Campbell Jr.'s homebred Karlovy Vary took advantage of an easy pace under James Graham and went wire-to-wire in the $500,000 Central Bank Ashland April 7 at Keeneland.

Gemologist rallied three wide on the turn, took the lead into the stretch and held off a late run from 2-1 second choice Alpha to win Saturday's $1 million, Grade 1 Wood Memorial by a neck.

Horse of the Year Havre de Grace will not run in the Grade 1, $500,000 Apple Blossom at Oaklawn Park on April 13, owner Rick Porter said shortly after the weights for the race were released on Saturday.

Calibrachoa, one of the favorites for the $400,000 Carter Handicap Saturday at Aqueduct Racetrack, has been scratched.

Cat Talk beat Don Perico by three-quarters of a length in the $76,800 Kitty Hawk Purse at Santa Anita on Friday, moving Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith within two wins of 5,000.

Joe Talamo notched his 1,000th career victory on Thursday at Santa Anita, winning the 4TH race aboard heavily favored Splendid Fortune, who is conditioned by Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert and is owned by her breeder, Arnold Zetcher.

Nine days removed from having a heart attack, and fewer than 24 hours after arriving back in California from Dubai, trainer Bob Baffert strolled into Santa Anita on Wednesday morning, his humor still intact.

Nearly unbeatable at Aqueduct Racetrack, Calibrachoa will attempt to extend his dominance when he takes on a field that includes million-dollar earners Caleb's Posse, Shackleford, and Jackson Bend in the $400,000 Carter Handicap April 7.

Stephanie's Kitten, a leading juvenile filly last year on both the main track and the turf, heads a field of seven 3-year-old fillies in the Central Bank Ashland Stakes on opening weekend at Keeneland April 7.

In what is easily the most wide-open field of all the final Kentucky Derby preps, the $500,000 Illinois Derby drew a full field of 14 for the April 7 event at Hawthorne Race Course.