Blood-Horse

Head of Plains Partners’ homebred filly Fluffy Socks looks to get her year started in style in the April 18 $100,000 Memories of Silver Stakes over the inner turf at Aqueduct Racetrack.

A head separated the winner and second-place finisher Royal Flag, who was a head in front of Graceful Princess in third. Speech, the 3-2 favorite, faded to last and was later found to have a "less than satisfactory endoscopic examination."

As part of regular track maintenance, the Maryland Jockey Club, owned by 1/ST Racing, identified April 14 that the Laurel Park main track had not responded sufficiently to wintertime cushion repairs.

Mayor Linda Gorton proclaimed April 15, 2021, as 'Tapit Day' in Lexington, Ky. The mayor's official proclamation recognized Tapit as one of the most influential and breed-shaping stallions of the past half century.

Five fillies shared the fastest one-furlong time of :09 4/5 during the fifth under-tack session April 16 that precedes the Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale. Two males were co-fastest over a quarter-mile timed in :20 3/5.

Phoenix Thoroughbreds had action taken against them for the first time in Australia April 16, as Racing New South Wales and Racing Victoria moved to freeze all prize-money won by the group after an investigation into allegations of money laundering.

On a busy morning April 16 at Churchill Downs, Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) contenders Bourbonic, Dynamic One, Helium, Known Agenda, and Sainthood all recorded published workouts in preparation for the May 1 Run for the Roses.

Two days after winning Canada's top horse racing prize April 15—the 2020 Sovereign Award for Horse of the Year—Mighty Heart showcases his skills in America.

Sky Judge won a five-furlong maiden special weight in near gate-to-wire fashion.

The co-featured Tokyo City Cup Stakes (G3) and Kona Gold Stakes (G3) April 18 at Santa Anita Park are at near-opposite ends of the distance spectrum, with the former a 1 1/2-mile stamina test and the latter a 6 1/2-furlong sprint.

The 2021 Japanese Triple Crown series kicks off April 18 at Nakayama Racecourse with lots of questions yet to be answered by the major players. That group includes Danon the Kid, Titleholder, Efforia, Gratias, and Admire Hadar.

Dave Litfin analyzes stakes action around the country April 18.

Lawrence Cordes' homebred Mighty Heart took home the award for Canadian Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old male April 15 during The Jockey Club of Canada's 46th annual Sovereign Awards ceremony.

WinStar Farm and CHC's Fearless will put his moniker to the test April 17 when he faces down a well-respected field of graded stakes winners in the $1 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) at Oaklawn Park. 

Topping the fourth day of workouts at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale under tack show April 15 was a speedy of Hill 'n' Dale Farms' Violence who breezed an eighth-mile in :09 4/5. 

Nineteen horses under quarantine have been cleared to resume training.

In a tremendous boost to the profile of Widden Stud's expansion into Victoria, the famed Thompson family-owned Thoroughbred nursery will stand Russian Camelot and Doubtland at its new Kerrie base, formerly Sun Stud, this spring.

The operators of Laurel Park announced April 15 the cancellation of racing at the Maryland track April 17-19 due to an ongoing evaluation of the main track.

Although trainer Charlie Appleby already has top Guineas contender in One Ruler, Master of The Seas made sure he is not to be forgotten about and stamped his own ticket for the Guineas with a three-quarter-length success over La Barrosa.

Panadol, runner-up in the UAE Derby Sponsored By Emirates NBD (G2) at Meydan March 27, will not travel to compete in the May 1 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), Churchill Downs announced April 15.