Blood-Horse

Sent to post at long odds once again, Gigante rewarded his backers—for the third time in stakes company—with a win going away in the off-the-turf $257,500 Commonwealth Turf Stakes Nov. 26 at Churchill Downs.

When Gray Williamson handed over the stud duties of Playing God to fellow Western Australian farm Darling View Thoroughbreds, he told Brent Atwell that the horse would set him up.

A total of 90 horses spread over eight races were entered for the 25th Claiming Crown, to be held for the first time since 2011 at New Orleans' Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots Dec. 2.

Downes has called at Emerald Downs in Auburn, Wash., for their last two race seasons and comes to Golden Gate with over two decades of experience in the announcer's booth.

Vandeek's name looms large over both sections of this week's action in Park Paddocks, with the unbeaten winner of the Prix Morny (G1) and the Middle Park Stakes (G1) slipping through virtually unnoticed in both the Yearling and Foal Sale.

He began his career as a jockey and a horse trainer, then owned his own construction company before beginning his career as the director of operations for Ellis Park.

Trailing Panthalassa by 20 lengths through the first half of the 2,400 meter (about 12 furlongs) test Equinox showed why he is truly the world's best racehorse in more than just name. 

Full fields and great betting opportunities will be the highlight of Wednesday's opening night program as live racing returns to Turfway Park Racing & Gaming for the 2023-24 season.

Saffie Joseph Jr. and Victor Barboza Jr. finished in a dead heat for the training title for the Sunshine Meet that came to a close Saturday at Gulfstream Park with 33 winners each.

St. Armands Key became the first winner of Hill 'n' Dale Farms' first-crop stallion Lost Treasure in scoring a front-running victory in a $52,000 maiden special weight race Nov. 25 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.

Easter, new to D'Amato's barn, defeated stablemates Hong Kong Harry and Balnikhov to give D'Amato his fifth Seabiscuit Handicap (G2T) victory.

Whit Beckman won his first graded race as a trainer Nov. 25 at Churchill Downs when Ribble Farms' Honor Marie closed to take the $400,000 Kentucky Jockey Club (G2).

One of the fillies flying below the radar before the start of the Golden Rod Stakes (G2), Intricate stamped herself as a contender to watch on next year's Kentucky Oaks trail by the race's end with a commanding victory Nov. 25 at Churchill Downs.

For the connections of the 3-year-old filly Raging Sea, the theme of the $200,000 Comely Stakes (G3) was "better late than never."

Rebounding from a trio of losses following a fast maiden win this summer at Saratoga Race Course, Just Steel circled the field four-wide to capture the Ed Brown Stakes for 2-year-old sprinters Nov. 25 at Churchill Downs.

One in Vermillion, who closed to win the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course this summer, has been retired due to a fetlock injury, according to a report in Daily Racing Form.

Jackson Racing's Touch of Trouble became the first black-type stakes winner for Hill 'n' Dale Farms stallion World of Trouble in capturing the Nov. 23. Accion de Gracias (Thanksgiving) Stakes at Camarero Race Track in Puerto Rico.

America's Day at the Races, the acclaimed national telecast produced by the New York Racing Association (NYRA) in partnership with FOX Sports, will provide live coverage of the Cigar Mile Day card from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET on FS2.

The $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) Jan. 27 at Gulfstream Park is a possible target for BBN Racing's Trademark, trainer Vicki Oliver told Churchill Downs publicity.

Can a white horse win the Kentucky Derby in its 150th running? Amante Bianco took a first step toward achieving that goal with a victory Nov. 25 in the Cattleya Stakes at Tokyo Racecourse, first race in the "Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby."