maiden special weight

Directive (Gun Runner), now with the experience of a start under her belt, made the most of her second start against an over-matched field of experienced maidens. Second going 6 1/2 furlongs on the local track Apr. 3, Thursday's 1-5 favorite had to contend with a muddy track but took advantage of her early speed to keep her face clean while largely left alone through fractions of :23.08 and :46.20. 18-1 longshot Moonlit (Daredevil), the other second-time starter in the field, did well to keep pace into the stretch but...

Ruiva, a debuting homebred for Three Chimneys Farm, picked up a never-in-doubt win over a sloppy Churchill Downs track Wednesday. Catching a flyer from the outside of the gate, the 2-1 second choice had a clear advantage by the time most of the field was just getting into stride. Only Barometric (Frosted) made an attempt to run with her and that pair quickly opened up several lengths by the time Ruiva hit the far turn. Barometric made one last run at her nearing the furlong pole but this Wesley Ward-trainee...

Purse levels for maiden special weight (MSW) races at Kentucky's two summer meets, Ellis Park and Kentucky Downs, are projected to remain level this year compared to 2025. At Ellis, that means $100,000 per MSW race over the course of a 25-date meet in July and August, and at Kentucky Downs, the MSW purses will be $170,000 over seven dates in August and September. The disclosures were made by representatives of each track at the Apr. 1 meeting of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund (KTDF) advisory committee. Although MSW purse...

Oaklawn Park will support a new purse incentive designed to reward horsemen who support the track for the remainder of the 2025-2026 racing season, Oaklawn announced Saturday. Beginning with Condition Book 4 released March 19, 2026, the incentive will apply to the 25 remaining scheduled race days of the meet and, per the release, "will reward races that attract larger fields." Under the new structure, Allowance and Maiden Special Weight races will receive an additional $5,000 in purse money for each official starter above nine betting interests, except for stake...

The Del Mar Thoroughbred Club will offer significant enhancements to its 2-year-old racing program, reinforcing the track's long-standing commitment to developing juvenile runners while expanding opportunities for owners, trainers and breeders, the track announced Wednesday. Beginning with the 2026 Summer season, which opens July 17, Del Mar will offer $100,000 open maiden races for 2-year-olds on the main track. These enhanced purses, for both colts and fillies, underscore the early success of California's new single-circuit structure and reaffirm the importance of juvenile racing to the seaside oval. In addition, Del...

Purses for 3-year-old and upward maiden special weight (MSW) races at Keeneland Race Course ($110,000) and Churchill Downs ($120,000) are projected to remain level this spring compared to the same seasonal race meets in 2025. Executives from both tracks disclosed those spring 2026 figures during the Feb. 3 Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund (KTDF) advisory board meeting. Keeneland's non-juvenile MSW purses had been $100,000 each April between 2022 and 2024 before getting bumped up to $110,000 last year. Churchill Downs has carded non-juvenile MSW races for $120,000 during its April-June meet...

Midnight Martini (Yaupon) wasn't the quickest from the gate but found her feet within a few strides and was intent on the lead, rushing up from the middle of the line to set the fractions in this turf debut. Hounded early by Sugar Doll (Into Mischief), this 9-1 shot had to work to put that rival away into the far turn as the half went in :43.82. With a safe enough margin built up, Midnight Martini was able to kick away for home without fear of the closers, crossing the...

7th-GP, $84K, Msw, 3yo, 1m, 3:21 p.m. ET. The full-brother of champion 3-year-old filly Nest (Curlin) makes the races under same trainer Todd Pletcher. SPARTACUS dam Marion Ravenwood (A.P. Indy) was a $2.6-million purchase by M.V. Magnier at the 2022 Keeneland November Sale while the first-time starter was in utero. Her other progeny includes GI 'Big Cap' victor Idol (Curlin) and MSW Lost Ark (Violence).     , Canaletto (Into Mischief) makes his first start after going for an even million at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale. Sent to trainer Chad...

Congressional (Constitution) made a winning debut Saturday going two turns on the grass facing several more experienced rivals for trainer Miguel Clement. Drawn inside, he was quickly outrun by fellow firster Friday Night Light (City of Light) who jumped out to a quick advantage around the clubhouse turn. Settling third on the fence, the 7-2 fourth choice saved ground and raced covered up through moderate fractions with a pair of rivals passing him to push the tempo into the far turn. That trio began to get away and Congressional had...

French Blue (Gun Runner), off as the 3-5 favorite, showed good early speed from the outside gate, clearing down to sit just off the pace while pressuring the early lead through fractions of :22.77 and :45.82. Moving up under her own power to gain a narrow advantage by the quarter pole, she had no issue putting separation on stablemate Cherry Cider (Tiz the Law) and was in no danger of being caught by a closing Feisty Red Head (Curlin) who picked up second but was 2 1/4 lengths back of...

Jackson Hole (c, 2, Nyquist), a $385,000 Keeneland November weanling turned $1.3 million Keeneland September yearling, kicked off his career with a debut victory for Todd Pletcher at Gulfstream Park Saturday. Drawn widest of all in post seven, the 4-5 favorite was fourth through an opening quarter in :23.06. He was ridden into third heading into the far turn, revved up three deep in the stretch and took care of business from there to graduate by a length over Ramajay (Knicks Go). Jackson Hole was produced by the winning Broman...

For the Ladies (f, 2, Upstart--Lovely Marissa, by Proud Citizen) served as the favorite on debut during the Belmont At The Big A meet Oct. 5 and missed by a nose. The 6-5 choice here fired out of the rail gate and immediately set the tone up the backstretch. Making every pole a winning one through the far turn, the filly poured on the speed entering the lane and ran up the score to graduate by 7 1/4 lengths over It's Carol's Way (McKinzie). A half-sister to SW Nasty, (Street...