Jill Williams

Journalism at Del Mar
Journalism Overcomes Abysmal Start, Wins San Diego

After facing just about every top horse in the country in his career, Journalism (c, 4, Curlin-Mopotism, by Uncle Mo) looked to be assigned his simplest task since he was a maiden in Saturday's GII San Diego Handicap at Del Mar. However, anyone who was thrilled by how he inexplicably overcame trouble in his GI [...]

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Cy Fair at Saratoga
Cy Fair Struts her Stuff in Coronation Cup

GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner Cy Fair (f, 3, Not This Time–Remarqued, by Arch) captured Saturday's GIII Coronation Cup Stakes at Saratoga, soundly beating the only two in-training fillies who have ever finished in front of her. It was something of a return to her roots, as Cy Fair was named a 'TDN [...]

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Leading Change at Horseshoe Indiana
'Rising Star' Leading Change Wins Indiana Derby, Stays Unbeaten

It's a tall order to go from a maiden sprint to a two-turn graded race, but Wathnan Racing's Leading Change (c, 3, Gun Runner–Starship Warpspeed, by Congrats) did it with aplomb, staying unbeaten with a score in Saturday's GIII Indiana Derby at Horseshoe Indianapolis. “He's a nice colt that's lightly raced, just had the one [...]

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120 Graded Races in the Second Quarter of 2026: What Did We Learn?

Spring racing in North America always packs a punch, particularly with the public's eyes on the Triple Crown. With all 120 graded races in the U.S. and Canada from 2026's second quarter in the books, let's look back at some of the stats stretching from April 1 to June 30. The 120 graded races for [...]

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Reef Runner at Saratoga
Reef Runner Denies Ag Bullet Repeat in Jaipur

It's been nearly six months since Alex and JoAnn Lieblong's homebred Reef Runner (g, 5, The Big Beast–Paradise Bay, by Blame) has competed on these shores (a win in the Janus Stakes at Gulfstream in December), but he hasn't been idle. He brought a G2 1351 Turf Sprint win home from Saudi Arabia and barely [...]

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Classic Q Takes Them All the Way in the Just a Game

Classic Q (f, 4, Classic Empire–Lovely Em, by Scat Daddy) is proving classy “to a T.” Last seen securing her first graded win on Kentucky Derby Day in the GII Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile Stakes, the Gary Barber, Blue Crevalle Racing, and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners colorbearer doubled up on Belmont Stakes Day, capturing the [...]

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Om N Joy at Santa Anita
Cal-Bred Om N Joy Upsets Heavy Favorites in Santa Margarita

If redemption was the name of the game in Saturday's GII Santa Margarita Stakes at Santa Anita, the first horse to come to mind likely would have been $2.5-million Fasig-Tipton November purchase Seismic Beauty (Uncle Mo) as the one with something to prove, but it was California-bred Om N Joy (f, 4, Om-Margie's Minute, by [...]

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Sweet Treasure at Churchill
How Sweet It Is: Mint Julep Goes to Sweet Treasure

Pin Up Betty (Constitution) may have been looking for a repeat in the GIII Old Forester Mint Julep Stakes, but it was Full of Run Racing II LLC and Frank Silva's Sweet Treasure (f, 4, Twirling Candy–Stellium, by Empire Maker) who led every step of the way to capture the 1 1/16-mile turf contest on [...]

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Thought Process Much the Best in Gamely
Thought Process Much the Best in Gamely

Mission accomplished. Three months ago, after Thought Process (f, 4, Collected–Creative Thinking, by Creative Cause) kickstarted her 4-year-old campaign with a win in the Feb. 28 GII Buena Vista Stakes at Santa Anita, Billy Koch of Little Red Feather Racing said, “Ultimately, our goal has always been the Gamely.” On Monday, that vision became reality [...]

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The Producers: Atomic Blonde, Dam of Preakness Winner Napoleon Solo

Pop quiz: what do 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify and Atomic Blonde, dam of last week's GI Preakness Stakes winner Napoleon Solo (Liam's Map), have in common? Both are by Scat Daddy, both were bred by the Gunther family, and both were raised at Glennwood Farm near Versailles, Kentucky. Justify and Atomic Blonde also have [...]

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Carrumba at Claiborne
The Producers: Carrumba, Dam of Kentucky Derby Winner Golden Tempo

That must have been a good sandwich. It was certainly a memorable one. Walker Hancock of Claiborne Farm distinctly remembers eating subs from Jersey Mike's one fall afternoon in 2021 with Daisy Phipps Pulito and Claiborne's farm manager Bradley Purcell in Claiborne's conference room. The three of them sat down over those sandwiches to hash [...]

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Stark Contrast at Churchill
Stark Contrast Bypasses Kentucky Derby, Wins American Turf

Connections of Stark Contrast (c, 3, Caravaggio–Catch the Eye, by Quality Road), second in the GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks Mar. 21 behind scratched GI Kentucky Derby contender Fulleffort (Liam's Map), could have entertained a Derby bid with the 50 points he earned at Turfway, but opted instead for the 35th running of the GI American [...]

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