Blood-Horse

Owner Bjorn Nielsen has said Stradivarius' outstanding efforts in defeat at Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood this summer mean his widely anticipated retirement could be put on hold, with the superstar potentially staying in training next year.

The Arlington Million Day program at Churchill Downs allows trainer Greg Foley to keep his graded stakes star Sconsin in Kentucky to prep for a return to the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1).

Jockey Dylan Davis received a seven-day suspension Aug. 12 for his ride in the Aug. 10 seventh race at Saratoga Race Course that resulted in another horse falling during the 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint.

Kentucky-based trainer Philip Bauer has started six horses at Saratoga Race Course so far and won three times.

There are indeed some New York-breds with impressive pedigrees. Yet few, if any, can boast bloodlines as regal as Chester and Mary Broman's 2-year-old homebred filly, Im Just Kiddin.

Susan and John Moore, already celebrating the maiden victory of Catnip, now will watch that colt's half sister Princess Grace try to win her first grade 1 in the Beverly D. Stakes (G1T).

Two-time Super Bowl-winning coach Bill Parcells named 2-year-old filly Maple Leaf Mel for Melanie Giddings, an assistant to trainer Jeremiah Englehart. She won her debut at Saratoga earlier this week.

The first leg of the European yearling sales circuit, Arqana's flagship August Yearling Sale, kicks off its three-day run at 2 p.m. local time Aug. 13.

Thomas Victor "T.V." Smith trained grade 1 winner For Once'n My Life and Holy Bull Stakes (G3) winners Grits'n Hard Toast and Offlee Wild.

Bolt d'Oro colts Arman, Agency, and Pop d'Oro are entered in the $200,000 Best Pal Stakes (G3) Aug. 14 at Del Mar. Two will try to match their sire by winning a graded stakes off a debut maiden win.

Procrastination and Absolutely Zero are among four first-out winners entered in the Aug. 13 Sorrento Stakes (G2) at Del Mar.

One-time Epsom Derby (G1) favorite Luxembourg will face five rivals when he makes his highly anticipated return from injury in the Aug. 13 Royal Whip Stakes (G3) at the Curragh.

The $150,000 Galway Stakes Aug. 11 presented a rematch between Coronation Cup runner-up Poppy Flower and winner Empress Tigress, but it was Arnmore Thoroughbreds' Poppy Flower that came out on top this time around.

Lady Speightspeare in the Trillium Stakes (G3) and Candy Overload in the Bold Venture Stakes (G3) are among featured runners Aug. 13 at Woodbine.

Mr. 4000 was accepting congratulations from just about everyone on the backstretch at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 11. Trainer Tom Amoss, who won his 4,000th career race on Aug. 10, was humbled as he got the good wishes on his personal milestone.

When Maria Mann was galloping her unraced 2-year-old around Saratoga Race Course last year, her fellow exercise riders would kid around with her. They would look at the gelding and chuckle.

Twelve years ago Frankel made his first racecourse appearance and, while it is wishful thinking that any of the runners in 'his' maiden at Newmarket Aug. 12 will emulate the unbeaten champion, there are plenty with appealing pedigrees. 

Flightline ranks second with a 127 rating and Life Is Good moved up to fourth after winning the Whitney Stakes (G1).

Noel Hickey became the first trainer to breed a Breeders' Cup World Championships winner in 1998 with Buck's Boy, who won the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T).

Churchill Downs Inc. announces a plan to sell 49% of United Tote to a subsidiary of the New York Racing Association.