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Recent allowance winner Bourbon War (Tapit) breezed an easy half-mile in :48.68 (15/43) Friday morning at Gulfstream Park in preparation for a start in the GII Xpressbet.com Fountain of Youth March 2 (video). "It went great, just what I was looking for," trainer Mark Hennig said. "He's doing very well. I wouldn't change a thing." A debut winner Nov. 14 at Aqueduct, Bourbon War was fourth in the GII Remsen S. a month later and captured a Gulfstream allowance Jan. 18. Also on the worktab Friday was FOY contender and...

A bill that would restore $11 million in annual purse funds to the West Virginia racing industry cleared the House of Delegates on Friday by an 86-10 margin and now goes to Governor Jim Justice for his approval or veto. According to the Parkersburg News and Sentinel, that money has traditionally been generated by gaming at the state's two Thoroughbred and two greyhound racinos and gets deposited into the state's "excess lottery fund." But starting in 2006, instead of allowing that money to pay for purses, the state redirected the...

A free berth to the GI Preakness S. and the winner's share of $300,000 is on the line for the inaugural running of the Oaklawn Invitational to be held May 4 at Oaklawn Park. "We're very happy to partner with Oaklawn Park on this unique initiative," said Maryland Jockey Club President and General Manager Sal Sinatra. "We believe this provides racing fans across the world an opportunity to see a promising, and possibly late-developing, young horse run against the winner of the Kentucky Derby and other top horses exiting the...

2nd-Tampa Bay Downs, $20,000, Alw (NW1X)/Opt. Clm ($75,000), 2-22, 3yo, 1m 40y, 1:40.25, ft. SPINOFF (c, 3, Hard Spun--Zaftig {GISW, $408,700}, by Gone West), a debut winner as the 3-1 favorite in his Gulfstream debut last June, was last seen completing the trifecta behind Call Paul (Friesan Fire) in the 6 1/2-furlong GII Saratoga Special S. Aug. 12. Working bullets for this first spin around two turns off the layoff, the 3-5 favorite vied for command from the inside through an opening quarter in :22.68. He briefly backed off and...

Video of the top Triple Crown race contenders will be available for the first time on XBTV's Triple Crown Trail, a portal on the XBTV website (www.xbtv.com) designed specifically with Classic-bound 3-year-olds in mind. The portal will contain exclusive workout videos, interviews and handicapping insights. Included will be workout videos from horses California, New York, Florida and more, trainers and jockey interviews and features, an interactive Kentucky Derby Points list, updated weekly and replays of prep races. The Triple Crown Trail will also include analyst Jeff Siegel's Triple Crown Daily...

Continuing our series assessing the chances of the first-season sires with runners in 2019, bloodstock agent Alex Elliott gives us his verdict. TDN: Who do you think will be leading first-season sire? AE: I think Gleneagles (Ire) is the horse with the racetrack performance, stallion's pedigree and number of troops on the ground to win the war. We managed to buy a filly out of Sogno Verde (Ire) (Green Desert), making her a half-sister to Lilbourne Lad (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), at Tattersalls October Book 1 for 300,000gns, and the early...

Justify (Scat Daddy)'s year-younger half-sister Egyptian Storm (Pioneerof the Nile) made her career bow Wednesday at Tampa Bay Downs with a disappointing fifth on the turf, but connections are still hopeful for her future on the track. "We thought she would run better," admitted part-owner Terry Finley. "Sometimes you scratch your head a little bit and turn the page. Mr. Evans, Christophe [Clement] and I will sit down and we will see. She certainly has shown more in the mornings than she showed [Wednesday] at Tampa. We know she can...

A bill that passed 42-3 in the Oklahoma Senate Thursday would create a new Medication Advisory Committee whose purpose would be to make recommendations to the state racing commission prior to the adoption of any new rules related to equine medications and drug testing. If the bill gets signed into law, horsemen would now have a formal say in Oklahoma's equine drug-related rulemaking process, as SB 633 mandates that two of the new committee's 13 members be representatives "from each of the recognized horsemen's representative organizations." The other committee members...

The Lone Star Park Racing Club is accepting members for the 2019 season which runs Apr. 18 through July 21. The minimal investment is $500 and 150 shares will be sold. Membership can be purchased online by clicking here. In addition to being part owner in a racehorse, membership perks include free admission for club members and a guest for the season, a parking pass, barn tours, e-mail updates and more.  

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) will auction Triple Crown winner Justify's halter at their annual fundraising event Bourbon and the Bayou. The Mardi-Gras themed event will be held Mar. 1 at the Carrick House in Lexington, Kentucky. "Individuals interested in the halter or any of the other amazing products we have can bid on the items online without attending the event and from any location. The wonderful part is all of the proceeds from the auction and event go directly to provide advocacy for child abuse and neglect victims right...