GI Pacific Classic

As noted by colleague Bill Finley earlier in the week, we've just passed the 50th anniversary of Secretariat's sophomore debut. Yet even two years ago hardly anyone had heard of an unraced son of Tapit, meanwhile acclaimed by many as the best American Thoroughbred since. Okay, so he had been a seven-figure yearling; and everyone who had participated in his education knew that he was something special. In fact, John Sadler was so aware of the impending responsibility that he was saying nothing. For one thing, if people had any...

Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Farm in Georgetown, KY, will host an Open House Saturday, Nov. 26 from noon until 2pm for fans to meet new retiree Lava Man (Slew City Slew). The event is free and open to the public. Pizza and lava crunch cakes will be served. The now 21-year old posted an impressive resume during a racing career that spanned seven years including victories in the GI Pacific Classic, GI Hollywood Gold Cup, and the GII Goodwood H., now called the Awesome Again. Lava Man retired as...

The race is not always to the swift. Pretty old news, by this stage: it's right there in Ecclesiastes and, nearly as long ago now, you could see as much when More Than Ready cut the last corner in the Kentucky Derby. He transparently didn't get home, flattening into fourth behind Fusaichi Pegasus.

Darby Dan Farm's Higher Power (Medaglia d'Oro--Alternate, by Seattle Slew) confirmed the Grade I winner's first mares are in foal. Confirmed in foal, Gold Club (Majestic Warrior), out of the Touch Gold mare Be Golden, was the first mare he bred Feb. 11. She is owned by Brandywine Farm. Also confirmed in foal is Talking Audrey (Thunder Gulch--Diversa, by Tabasco Cat), a half-sister to Grade I winner Love Theway Youare, who was bred Feb. 12. Talking Audrey is owned by RAH Bloodstock. A 5 1/4-length winner of the 2019 GI...