Blood-Horse

Frankie Dettori's frustrating first day at Royal Ascot ended with the stewards handing him a nine-day ban for careless riding.

Edges in racing and betting never last forever. Wesley Ward is now Suspect No. 1 with bookmakers for the Royal Ascot juvenile races, and his runners are generally overbet as a consequence.

The native of Peru is the ninth-winningest jockey by earnings with more than $272 million. He won the 2006 Kentucky Derby (G1) aboard Barbaro in addition to winning the Belmont Stakes (G1) twice.

Three stallions, all at Spendthrift Farm, lead the class with three winners each as of June 20: Maximus Mischief, Omaha Beach, and Vino Rosso.

The $300,000 Texas Turf Classic, one of four stakes races worth $150,000 or more at Lone Star Park June 24, lured out-of-state equine and human talent.

Paddington, ridden by Ryan Moore, surged impressively clear of Two Thousand Guineas (G1) winner Chaldean to help Aidan O'Brien become the most successful trainer in Royal Ascot history as he recorded his 83rd winner at the prestigious meeting.

Though two of the top three finishers from the May 6 Derby City Distaff (G1) headed north to run in the June 17 Bed o' Roses Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park, the race's winner, Matareya, runs instead in the June 24 Chicago Stakes (G3) at Ellis Park.

Week 21 of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association's Top Thoroughbred poll remains unchanged as Cody's Wish maintains a commanding lead.

Last year's Coventry Stakes (G2) winner, Bradsell, won at Royal Ascot for the second year in a row, holding off the charging favorite Highfield Princess to land the King's Stand Stakes (G1) June 20 at Ascot Racecourse.

River Tiber under Ryan Moore held off the fast-finishing Army Ethos to give Aidan O'Brien his 82nd Royal Ascot winner, equaling Sir Michael Stoute's record, June 20 in the Coventry Stakes (G2) at Ascot Racecourse.

The first race of Royal Ascot 2023 went the way of Neil Callan, Kevin Ryan, and Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum as Triple Time held off Inspiral, Light Infantry, and Modern Games to land the Queen Anne Stakes (G1) June 20 at Ascot Racecourse.

A location has been found for a proposed gaming and simulcast facility that will help build purses at nearby Ellis Park.

MaidenWatch: June 12-June 18

MarketWatch Interview: Michael Copeland

The St James's Palace Stakes (G1) is at its best as a race when it pits the English and Irish Two Thousand Guineas (G1) winners against each other.

All eyes are likely to be on Kentucky Derby (G1) runner-up Two Phil's when a field of eight 3-year-olds head to the Thistledown surface June 24 for the $500,000 Ohio Derby (G3) going 1 1/8-miles over the main track.

Boniface is a returning Maryland Horse Breeders Association member and Hofstetter will serve her first term.

The son of Tale of the Cat, who stood in Turkey beginning in 2010, has sired 15 graded/group winners and three champions.

Con Marnane has pulled a few rabbits out of the hat over the years, but turning an €11,000 yearling into the £1.1 million top lot at the Goffs London Sale undeniably ranks among the biggest touches in horse trading history.  

Only Sir Michael Stoute has saddled more winners than Aidan O'Brien at Royal Ascot, but with a formidable team to run over the next five days, it is logical to think the Ballydoyle trainer will top the standings by close of play June 24.