Dornoch

It's an immense accomplishment to be one of the 20 Thoroughbreds out of the current sophomore crop of 17,146 to earn a coveted starting berth in the GI Kentucky Derby. But the cruel fate of a random post-position draw annually assigns the dreaded No. 1 gate to a single member of that elite set. Because the Derby is unmatched in American racing in its outsized stature and jumbo field size, so too is the stigma of breaking closest to the inside fence prior to the chaotic first-turn free-for-all, where primo...

Five Kentucky Derby hopefuls were on track Saturday morning during the special training period for Oaks and Derby horses at Churchill Downs, but one, GISW Tappan Street (Into Mischief), has been withdrawn from the big race with an injury. As reported early Saturday morning, the son of Into Mischief had just completed a five furlong breeze when regular rider Luis Saez felt that 'something was off' afterwards. X-rays back at the barn revealed a condylar fracture, and while trainer Brad Cox reports it is not a major injury, it will...

The connections of Baeza (McKinzie) have had a change of heart and will ship him to Churchill Downs after all. Though some believe Baeza, the runner-up in the GI Santa Anita Derby, is among the best 3-year-olds in the sport, he has only 37.5 Derby points. That puts him at 23rd on the list. Only 20 horses can start in the race. Had this been last year, Baeza would have made it in no problem. His second-place finish in the Santa Anita Derby would have earned him 50 points, which,...

John Stewart's Resolute Racing has joined Horse Country and will begin offering tours of its Midway farm starting Mar. 25.   Tours of Resolute Racing will be offered three days a week through the spring and will include everything from the foaling barn to Resolute's efforts in aftercare. Notable broodmares residing at the farm include two-time Eclipse champion Goodnight Olive; Puca, the dam of GI Kentucky Derby winner Mage and GI Belmont Stakes Dornoch; Queen Caroline, the dam of Eclipse champion Forte; and Resolute's first Grade I winner Didia (Arg). Tours...

The New York Racing Association (NYRA) has expanded its overall investment in the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, the Belmont at the Big A spring/summer meet and the July 4th Racing Festival from 56 stakes worth $16.85 million in 2024 to 55 stakes totaling $17,250,000 this year, according to press releases from the racing entity on Friday. Highlighted by the 157th edition of the Grade I, $2 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets on Saturday, June 7 at Saratoga, the five-day 2025 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival will include 27 stakes...

The TDN staff is once again sitting down with leading breeders to find out what stallions they have chosen for their mares, and why. Today we caught up with Blue Heaven Farm. 2024 was Blue Heaven Farm's best year on record. In addition to several nice results at the Keeneland September sale, we were represented by five different stakes horses on the track, including two runners in the Breeders' Cup. We are hoping to keep the momentum going in 2025 and beyond.  Below are the mating plans for a handful...

C R K Stable and Grandview Equine's Baeza (McKinzie--Puca, by Big Brown), the 3-year-old, half-brother to Classic winners Mage (Good Magic) and Dornoch (Good Magic), is joining the GI Kentucky Derby trail following an impressive maiden victory at Santa Anita Feb. 14. "We're looking forward--I would think 99%--that the (GI) Santa Anita Derby (Apr. 5) is where we belong running," C R K Stable's Lee Searing said. "Staying at home, no matter who we run against, we got a nice horse and he deserves the chance." The John Shirreffs-trained Baeza...

6th-Santa Anita, $60,500, Msw, 2-14, 3yo, 1m, 1:37.84, ft, 4 3/4 lengths. BAEZA (c, 3, McKinzie--Puca {SW & GSP, $299,406}, by Big Brown) debuted over the grass at Del Mar Dec. 1 and finished a well-beaten ninth. Switching to the main track at Santa Anita Jan. 4, the pricey Keeneland September buy was the runner-up behind 'TDN Rising Star' Rodriguez (Authentic). Backed at the windows as the 2-1 second choice here, the bay came running out of the blocks to shadow a longshot into the first turn. The 3-year-old waited...

Needless to say, Dornoch didn't look as shocked as Jayson Werth had felt when someone once said much the same to him. But somehow he got the message, because next day he went out there as a longshot and came back the winner of the GI Belmont Stakes. It had just been the two of them, in his stall, Werth literally giving the horse a pep talk. So he wanted to be a stallion, a lot of pretty mares lining up? Wanted to be somebody in this game? Well, here's...

The first foal by GI Kentucky Derby winner Mage (Good Magic) was born in Kentucky at Machmer Hall Jan. 9 according to breeders Carrie and Craig Brogden and Dr. Sandra Fubini. The bay colt is the first foal out of stakes-placed Lil Miss Moonlight (City of Light) who was purchased by Machmer Hall at the 2023 Keeneland November Sale for $85,000 and sent to the Derby winner for her first covering. "Absolutely thrilled with our Mage colt--especially to be the first foal from a mare we're really excited about!" said...

Newly-turned second season sire Authentic was represented by his first 'TDN Rising Star' Saturday when Rodriguez (c, 3, Authentic--Cayala, by Cherokee Run) opened up on a maiden special weight field at Santa Anita to graduate at second asking. While only second best behind stablemate and Saturday's GII San Vicente Stakes runner up Romanesque (Practical Joke) in his debut debut going 6 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar Nov. 23, the 1-5 favorite clearly relished the stretch out to the mile Saturday. Drawn against the rail, he was ridden for the lead...

With 'TDN Rising Stars' Sierre Leone (Gun Runner) and Fierceness (City of Light) extending their rivalry into 2025, and the GI Kentucky Derby winner also persevering to a third campaign, there's no denying that the new intake of Bluegrass sires has a fairly bunched look. A cluster of second-tier names can duly compete for mares that might otherwise have favored one of the sophomore leaders, with eight of the 23 newcomers targeting broadly similar budgets between $40,000 and $30,000. Whether that qualifies any of them as "value" can only be...