Brendan Walsh

Godolphin's Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief), who was slated to start in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff on Saturday at Santa Anita, will scratch from the race and return to Kentucky due to not being 100%, said trainer Brendan Walsh, in a release from the Breeders' Cup Notes Team midday Friday. Walsh confirmed that she would prepare for her 4-year-old campaign. "After traveling, she got a little bit colicky and we had to treat her the next day," said Walsh. "She's looked great on the track, but that's just her....

Richard Nicolai, who sold the record-setting sale topper at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Fall Mixed Sale Tuesday, hopes the month ends on another high note in the winner's circle at Keeneland where Secret Money (Good Samaritan) goes postward in the Oct. 27 GIII Valley View S.. Nicolai knew he was sending a good horse through the ring when the weanling son of Good Magic was offered at Fasig-Tipton Tuesday, but the breeder admitted he was surprised when the colt brought a sale-record $230,000 from C F Farm. "I thought he would...

8th-Keeneland, $96,906, Msw, 10-13, 2yo, f, 1 1/16m, 1:47.33, ft, 3 1/2 lengths. INTRICATE (f, 2, Gun Runner--Complex Analysis, by Distorted Humor) made belated progress to finish a never-nearer fifth, beaten just over two lengths, on six-furlong debut at Churchill Sept. 16, and was the 2-1 second choice stretching out to a distance of ground for the first time. Prominent through the opening exchanges, the chestnut eased back to sit midfield, but close, as they turned up the backstretch. Steered out into the four path entering the second bend, Intricate...

Keeneland's lawn debuted during the 1985 Fall meet in an era when American turf courses were just coming into vogue. According to a back issue of the track's media guide, through 2016 they had two names for their grass course. The Keeneland Course referred to the one with rail up, while the normal configuration with it down was called the Haggin Course. Named for Louis Lee Haggin II, who was not only Keeneland's President from 1940-1956, but the decade before had purchased the 550-acre Sycamore Farm in Woodford County. Serving...

Edited Press Release Tyler Gaffalione capped off his third Kentucky Downs riding title in style, winning three races on Wednesday's closing-day card to finish with 12 victories for the FanDuel Meet, five more than 2021 riding champion and second-finisher Joel Rosario. Brendan Walsh earned his second training title, and first outright, at the track with eight wins, three more than Kentucky Downs' all-time win leader Mike Maker, who had a meet-high 10 seconds and nine thirds. Ken Ramsey, the winningest owner in Kentucky Downs history as well as Kentucky, won...

Austere, never far from the lead, powered home to an easy three-length victory in the Global Tote Juvenile Fillies S. at Kentucky Downs Sunday. The dark bay filly settled in third and was within striking distance racing up the hill. Waiting for racing room nearing the stretch, she tipped out three wide at the top of the lane and reeled in pacesetting Bella Haze with a furlong to run before drawing clear to the wire. Bella Haze held on to second as Latte Lizzie and Kodiac Wintergreen (Ire) (Kodiac {GB})...

The going sticks will get stuck and with the rails down or out, the Saturday graded stakes lineup trucks in with heaps of sod for your turf racing enjoyment. Whether you are a dabbling duck or one that takes a deep dive, there is something for everyone as the Downs--Kentucky and Colonial--plus Woodbine Racetrack and the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, all feature high-level grass action. KENTUCKY DOWNS GRADED SIX PACK The uniquely designed turf course at Kentucky Downs cards the most graded stakes this Saturday, which will lead off with...

3rd-Kentucky Downs, $120,500, Alw (NW3$X)/Opt. Clm ($80,000), 9-7, 3yo/up, f/m, 1mT, 1:41.01, gd, 1 1/4 lengths. LINDY (FR) (f, 3, Le Havre {Ire}--Llanita {GB} {SP-Fr, SP-USA, $135,802}, by Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}), backed down to 1-5 in this scratch depleted U.S. unveiling, settled in a stalking third behind Delight (Mendelssohn) through an opening quarter in :25.25. With Do You Love Me (English Channel) assuming control through a :50.36, the French-bred took aim at the leader in the final furlong, gained control late en route to a confident 1 1/4-length victory...

On a day that was supposed to be a celebration of the Grade I Travers S., a pall was cast over Saturday's card at Saratoga when two horses broke down on the card and had to be euthanized. Including racing and training, they were the seventh and eighth equine deaths during racing at the meeting. Four horses have died during training. One Saturday fatality was on the turf, the other on the dirt. Both horses were ridden by Tyler Gaffalione. Travers Day continued a very difficult stretch for horse racing,...

Godolphin's Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief), who crossed the wire first in Saturday's GI Test S., has exited her race well, trainer Brendan Walsh confirmed Sunday. The filly won the GI Kentucky Oaks and GI Acorn S. earlier this spring. "She's fine, she ate up good and has been eating peppermints all morning here, hanging over the door," Walsh said. "She ran well [Saturday], but it was just a little sharp for her, though she beat some very good fillies. The filly that broke down was the best of the day,...

SARATOGA  SPRINGS, NY -- With a simple but poignant salute Sunday morning, trainer Brendan Walsh honored Maple Leaf Mel (Cross Traffic) the ill-fated standout of the GI Test S., by giving the winner's blanket of flowers for the race to her trainer she was named for: Melanie Giddings. The flowers were placed as a memorial at the front of the filly's vacant stall. Maple Leaf Mel, unbeaten in her five-race career, was on her way to victory Saturday afternoon when she suffered the injury about 10 yards from the finish....

6th-Ellis, $70,000, Msw, 7-31, 2yo, f, 6f, 1:11.17, ft, 7 3/4 lengths. CONDON CANDY (f, 2, Unified--Sweetness 'n Light, by Distorted Humor) broke well enough to go on and set the pace from two off the rail, drawing away from her rivals at the three furlong marker. Widening her advantage while being kept to her task, Condon Candy made the margin 7 3/4 lengths over Regal Humor (Kantharos), who would come on from midpack to claim second after bouncing off runners at the break. A half-sister to Stormy Sky (Sky...