Heart of Honor

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - When the phone rang, Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith was on the other end. "I'm on the treadmill," Smith said. Of course he was. Smith, who will ride 'TDN Rising Star' Rodriguez (Authentic) in Saturday's $2-million GI Belmont Stakes at Saratoga Race Course, has always been obsessed with working out. And, as he closes in on his 59th birthday (Aug. 10), he has no intentions of pulling the plug on his two-hour, five-day-a week workout schedule. Nor are there any plans to hang up his...

Trainer Jamie Osborne joins this week's TDN Writers' Room to discuss his Belmont contender Heart of Honor and share what it means to him to share the Triple Crown experience with his daughter, jockey Saffie Osborne.

The field for the GI Preakness Stakes, ranked in "likeliest winner" order. 1) JOURNALISM (c, Curlin--Mopotism, by Uncle Mo). O- Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, LaPenta, Robert V., Elayne Stables 5 LLC, Magnier, Mrs. John, Tabor, Michael B. and Smith, Derrick; B-Don Alberto Corporation (KY); T-Michael W. McCarthy. Sales history: $825,000 Ylg '23 FTSAUG. Lifetime record: GISW, 6-4-1-1, $1,638,880. Last start: 2nd May 3 GI Kentucky Derby. Favorites have lost the last six editions of the Preakness and eight of the last nine (lone exception: the 2-5...

Baltimore, MD--It was very evident that something big is looming following a simple stroll around the Pimlico backstretch Wednesday morning. Despite the intermittent rain and the resulting soggy conditions following several days of drenching downpours, several fan tours could be seen milling about, getting a behind-the-scenes look of many of Saturday's GI Preakness Stakes participants. While most trainers can outmaneuver Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas physically these days, few will beat him and his horses to the racetrack in the mornings. Outfitted with his brand-spanking new rain gear,...

GI Kentucky Derby runner-up Journalism (Curlin) continues to give his connections positive indicators coming out of his run at Churchill Downs nearly two weeks ago. The GI Santa Anita Derby winner, who drew post 2 for the GI Preakness Stakes, vanned from Louisville to Pimlico Tuesday. "From top to bottom, it's a very competitive field that we have a lot of respect for," said co-owner Aron Wellman. "Really our primary focus is on Journalism. We've been very, very intent on making sure that he's giving us all the right signs...

G2 UAE Derby runner-up Heart of Honor (Honor A.P.) is scheduled to ship to the U. S. Thursday to begin preparations for a start in the GI Preakness Stakes May 17 at Pimlico Race Course, British trainer Jamie Osborne reported from his Lambourn stable Tuesday. "He has to quarantine at Churchill. It's a bit of a pain," said Osborne, whose stable is located an hour from London. "He's going to van to Pimlico on Monday. He'll be on the track at Pimlico Tuesday morning." Heart of Honor ran five races...

Heart Of Honor (GB) (Honor A.P), who came agonisingly close to providing the Osborne family with an emotional victory in the UAE Derby at Meydan last week, has been nominated for the Triple Crown. However, trainer Jamie Osborne has revealed that the Kentucky Derby would come too soon for the Jim and Claire Bryce-owned colt who went down by just a nose to Admire Daytona (Jpn) (Drefong) in the Group 2 contest.  "We're not going to go to Kentucky," Osborne told TDN Europe. "The turnaround is just too quick on...

G2 UAE Derby winner Junko Kondo's Admire Daytona (Jpn) (Drefong) and runner up Heart of Honor (GB) (Honor A.P.) Are amongst five additional 3-year-olds made eligible to compete in the 2025 Triple Crown through a late $6,000 payment that was due Monday. The other late nominees are Brereton's Baytown (Upstart), 'TDN Rising Star' Colloquial (Vekoma) and Just a Fair Shake (Laoban). In total, 378 3-year-olds are now eligible for the Triple Crown series. Horses not originally nominated can be supplemented for $200,000 to become eligible for all three races, or...

DUBAI, UAE--Owners Jim and Claire Bryce have admitted to feeling "like kids in a sweet shop" ahead of Saturday's UAE Derby where their own Heart Of Honor (GB) (Honor A. P.) could help jockey Saffie Osborne create history by becoming the first female jockey to win a race on Dubai World Cup night. Trained by Jamie Osborne, who won the same race 11 years ago with Toast Of New York (Thewayyouare), Heart Of Honor is the most high-profile Flat performer for the husband-and-wife owners who admitted to having mixed emotions...

Golden Vekoma (Vekoma) stretched out to the metric mile following up on his sound success in the UAE 2000 Guineas Trial over 1400 meters on Jan. 3, wrested command with about a furlong and a half to travel and held off the well-fancied Heart of Honor (Honor A.P.) to take out Friday's G3 UAE 2000 Guineas at Meydan. Drawn 13 in a full field of 16, the bay colt bounced well enough from out wide and took up a position just ahead of midfield as dirt debutant High Season (GB)...