Michael Trombetta

As is tradition with turf races, the GIII Giant's Causeway Stakes at Keeneland came down to a thriller on the wire as the Maryland-bred Future Is Now (Great Notion) got the best of the photo to win her 2025 seasonal now. Racing almost on a monthly basis last year, she wrapped her 2024 campaign on a win streak with a three-quarter length victory Oct. 13 in Keeneland's GII Franklin Stakes. That lifetime best 99 Beyer there came on the back of her half-length win in Saratoga's Listed Smart N Fancy...

Courvoisier (Tapit), last-out winner of the Jan. 1 Jerome S., tuned up for Saturday's GIII Withers S. with a five-furlong work in 1:02.41 (2/15) over the Belmont training track Friday. "He's doing well," trainer Kelly Breen said. "He breezed Friday by himself. It was a maintenance workout and he's good to go." Owned by Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings and James Spry, Courvoisier is a son of 2014 champion 2-year-old filly Take Charge Brandi (Giant's Causeway). Jerome fourth-place finisher Unbridled Bomber (Upstart) was declared ready for the Withers following a...

Live Oak Plantation's homebred Win Win Win (Hat Trick {Jpn}--Miss Smarty Pants, by Smarty Jones), victor of the GI Forego S. at Saratoga in his most recent start Aug. 29, has been retired from racing due to a tendon injury. The versatile 4-year-old was targeting a start in the GI Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Keeneland for trainer Michael Trombetta. Stud plans will be announced at a later date. "I would like to thank Mike Trombetta and his staff and the Live Oak Stud crew for all...

Independence Hall (Constitution) tuned up for Saturday's 1 1/16-mile GIII Sam F. Davis S. with a  four-furlong drill in :48.60 (10/82) at Tampa Bay Downs Sunday. "He kicked on nice. I'm very happy with the breeze," trainer Michael Trombetta said. "The way he started off [an opening eighth of a mile in about :13 seconds], you wouldn't have thought he'd breeze in :48 and change. The 'ask' was somewhere in the :48-49 range and out in the 1:01 range, and he galloped out in 1:00 4/5. So if you're choosier...