blacksmith

8th-CD, $120k, Msw, 2yo, f, 6 1/2f, post time: 4:25 p.m. ET Juddmonte's MARJORAM (Quality Road) is the second foal to race from Cardamon (Pioneerof the Nile), a debut winner over this surface back in 2019 and already responsible for this year's GIII Mahony Stakes hero and similarly cleverly named Spiced Up, also a son of this Lane's End stallion. Cardamon is one of six winners out of Soothing Touch (Touch Gold), also the dam of MGISW Emollient (Empire Maker); SW & GISP Hofburg (Tapit); and SW & GSP Courtier...

6. SOLITUDE DUDE, GP, 11/1, 6 1/2 furlongs. (VIDEO) Beyer Speed Figure- 86 (c, 2, by Yaupon--After the Party, by Into Mischief) O-Chris Fountoukis. B-Martha Buckner and Matthew Ernst (Ky). T-Saffie Joseph, Jr.. J-Micah Husbands. Debuting as third betting choice (another Saffie Joseph first-timer was favored), he drubbed the competition by 9 1/2 lengths after setting the fractions. Joseph signed the $300k ticket in June at OBS for the son of first-crop sire Yaupon. The jury is still out on Yaupon's stamina genes, and Solitude Dude's dam was also a...

1st-GP, $70k, Msw, 2yo, f, 7 1/2fT, post time: 12:50 p.m. ET The produce of Machmer Hall's sensational broodmare Special Me (Unbridled's Song) have earned nearly $4.4 million to date, and KEEPSAKE BOX (Twirling Candy) is set to become her 10th runner when she debuts in the Saturday opener at Gulfstream. Since being purchased by Machmer Hall for just $6,000 at the 2009 Keeneland January Sale, Special Me has thrown seven winners, including this filly's Grade I-winning full-brother Gift Box; Gina Romantica (Into Mischief), a three-time Grade I winner on...

   To become truly great, one has to stand with people, not above them - Montesquieu In the past, I frequently attended riding instruction clinics of a very sought after Olympic medal winning rider and trainer who opened every session with the following statement (paraphrasing), "I have been doing this my whole life, 50 plus years. I don't consider myself an expert and if I'm not an expert, than you most certainly are not an expert." That statement always received uncomfortable laughs from the participants, most likely connected to their...