Remember Mamba

Trainers Cherie DeVaux and Steve Asmussen reported in on their Saratoga winners Saturday morning with the former providing updates on Englishman (Maxfield) and Remember Mamba (Kitten's Joy) and the latter offering a good prognosis for recent Smart and Fancy victress Zeitlos (Curlin). The DeVaux barns at Keeneland and Saratoga were active ones over the last couple days as Englishman continued preparations for his upcoming target. Dual Classic winner Golden Tempo (Curlin) was also out, and you can read DeVaux's thoughts on his progress in Tim Wilkin's Saratoga Notebook segment. Englishman...

European invader Glacius (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) made his North American debut a winning one Saturday, upsetting the GI Saratoga Derby under Luis Saez. While multiple group-stakes placed in England, the 9-1 shot was seeking his first win since breaking his maiden on debut at Newmarket nearly one year ago. He's filled up the show slot in each of his last three starts dating back to October of last year in the G3 Autumn Stakes, at Ascot this year in the G3 Hampton Court Stakes and most recently the...

For as clear as the winner of the GI Belmont Oaks was just two races prior, the GI Belmont Derby was a diametrically opposed result. It came down to a desperate photo on the wire that ultimately went to Title Role (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) over a fast-closing West End Kid (Twirling Candy). Title Role spent 2026 accumulating frequent flier miles with trips to Meydan, Newbury, and Cologne in Germany credited to his passport since Jan. 2 when he ran third in the Jumeirah Stakes. He claimed the Jumeirah...

No fewer than four 'TDN Rising Stars' presented by Hagyard are among the 10 3-year-olds expected to face the starter for Saturday's $750,000 GI Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes at Saratoga and, to varying degrees, a logical argument can be made for each of the quartet. C R K Stables' Remember Mamba (Kitten's Joy) is the only one of the eight U.S.-based entrants with Grade I form on his page, and a cracking effort it was to come from near the tail of the field to complete the exacta in the...

Stark Contrast (Caravaggio), an impressive 2 1/4-length winner of the GI American Turf S. with a career-high 99 Beyer Speed Figure on Kentucky Derby day, is being aimed at the GI Belmont Derby at Saratoga July 4. The Amerman Racing homebred has worked three times at trainer Michael McCarthy's Santa Anita base since, including a four-furlong breeze in :50.20 (27/31) June 11. C R K Stable's 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Remember Mamba (Kitten's Joy), winner of the GIII UK HealthCare Transylvania S. at Keeneland and runner-up in the...

Connections of Stark Contrast (c, 3, Caravaggio--Catch the Eye, by Quality Road), second in the GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks Mar. 21 behind scratched GI Kentucky Derby contender Fulleffort (Liam's Map), could have entertained a Derby bid with the 50 points he earned at Turfway, but opted instead for the 35th running of the GI American Turf Stakes Saturday on the Derby undercard at Churchill Downs. And boy, did it pay off for the Michael McCarthy-trained Amerman homebred, who took home his first Grade I score. Sent as the 6-5 favorite,...

An additional quartet of Grade I contests and a Grade I-quality renewal of the GII Pat Day Mile highlight Saturday's Kentucky Derby undercard races at Churchill Downs. Knightsbridge Rates Top Billing In Churchill Downs S. A field of 11 comes together for yet another compelling renewal of the $1-million GI Churchill Downs Stakes, a seven-furlong contest in which Godolphin's 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Knightsbridge (Nyquist) goes in search of a maiden top-level success while looking to extend his current winning streak to five. A half-brother to Grade I-winning...

Hat Creek Racing's Percy's Bar (Upstart) has emerged from her comebacking victory in Friday's GI Central Bank Ashland Stakes in good order and will train up to the GI Longines Kentucky Oaks at Keeneland, trainer Ben Colebrook told the Keeneland media office on Saturday. "She will have all her works here," the conditioner said. "She's a Keeneland horse and she has already won at Churchill. We will wait until the last second to when we have to be there." Given that Percy's Bar bounced off the inside rail during her...

He was named in honor of a legend and Keeneland has become the latest stepping stone to creating his own. Remember Mamba (Kitten's Joy) showed all the telltale signs of inexperience late, but his turn of foot was more than enough to run down the leaders and claim the GIII UK Healthcare Transylvania Stakes on opening Friday at Keeneland. Debuted at this venue last October going long on the grass, he produced an eye-catching rally where he sailed home by 4 1/2 lengths best and earned 'TDN Rising Star, presented...

7th-FG, $54K, Msw, 3yo, f, 1 1/16m, 4:45 p.m. ET. Bred by Three Chimneys, PURE JOY (Gun Runner) was purchased for $1.5-million by Mandy Pope at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale. After the breeder stayed in for a piece, the filly was sent to Steve Asmussen. Pure Joy's dam is MGISW Pure Clan (Pure Prize) who died in 2023. She counts among her offspring SW Princesa Carolina (Tapit), herself the dam of 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard', Muhimma (Munnings). The first-time starter's extended female family includes MGSW Greater...

Crunched from a morning line of 5-1 into 8-5 favoritism while attempting to negotiate nine furlongs at first asking, C R K Stable's Remember Mamba (c, 2, Kitten's Joy--Gizmo, by Uncle Mo) turned in a performance as professional as the late NBA legend for whom he his named, streaking away through the final 100 yards to become a 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Saturday at Keeneland. Drawn gate three, the $270,000 Keeneland September yearling bounced well and was able to secure a prominent position just behind the speed with...