Chad Brown

The GI Kentucky Derby winner is here. So is the champ of the GI Preakness S. Neither of them--Mystik Dan (Goldencents) or Seize the Grey (Arrogate)--were installed as the morning-line favorite for the 156th running of the $2 million GI Belmont S. which will be run at Saratoga Race Course on Saturday. Post time is scheduled for 6:41 p.m. That honor went to Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) at the draw, which was held Monday evening at Universal Preservation Hall in downtown Saratoga Springs. Sierra Leone was made the 9-5 morning-line...

Delahaye closed powerfully to earn her first graded victory in the GIII Mint Julep S. Sunday at Churchill Downs. The even-money favorite was jostled between rivals at the break and was taken in hand to settle well off the pace as longshot Safeen went out to the early lead. Safeen was unchallenged through pedestrian splits, while Delahaye raced three wide with two horses beaten down the backstretch. The favorite rushed up into contention with a four-wide move approaching the stretch, inhaled the pacesetter inside the final furlong and strode clear...

by Tim Wilkin and Editorial Staff For the first time since before the GI Kentucky Derby, Mystik Dan (Goldencents), had a workout. And trainer Kenny McPeek is getting more and more confident that his colt, winner of the Derby and second in the GI Preakness, will be in the starting gate at Saratoga Race Course for the GI Belmont S. on June 8. Mystik Dan, with exercise rider Danny Ramsey aboard, went five furlongs in 1:01.59 (2/5) on the Oklahoma Training Track Saturday morning. He worked in company with Gould's...

Emily Bushnell and Ric Waldman's Resilience (Into Mischief), most recently sixth behind Mystik Dan (Goldencents) in the GI Kentucky Derby May 4, is under consideration for the June 8 GI Belmont S., trainer Bill Mott told the NYRA media office Friday. The Hall of Famer said a decision would likely come this weekend after the GII Wood Memorial S. winner breezes at Saratoga. "We've got some discussions to have with the owners, but we're giving it strong consideration," Mott said. "We're going to work on the weekend and once he...

Sent off at 4-1 with 'TDN Rising Star' Sweet Rebecca (American Pharoah) taking the lion's share of the pari-mutuel action in Monday's GII Wonder Again S. at a rainy Aqueduct Racetrack, Juddmonte's beautifully bred Segesta (Ghostzapper) was given a heads-up ride by Irad Ortiz, Jr. to cause a mild upset. Quickly into stride from the inside gate in a scratched-down field of six, the dark bay--whose dam was highly impressive in winning the GI Just A Game S. for this barn in 2017--led into the first turn, but Ortiz, Jr....

A trio of graded stakes, led by the GI Gamely S. and GI Shoemaker Mile S., will anchor a stacked Memorial Day holiday program at Santa Anita on Monday. Making her first start since capturing the GI American Oaks Dec. 26, Anisette (GB) (Awtaad {Ire}) headlines a deep nine-horse field set for the Gamely. The Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners colorbearer also captured last term's GI Del Mar Oaks. "We gave her a small vacation that was much deserved," trainer Leonard Powell said of the Gamely's 5-2 morning-line favorite. "She's come back...

'TDN Rising Star' Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) will have a new running mate in the GI Belmont S. at Saratoga Race Course on June 8. After watching the GI Kentucky Derby runner-up work five furlongs in 1:02.64 (5/6) on the Oklahoma Training Track Saturday morning, Brown said he was making a rider change. Tyler Gaffalione is out; Flavien Prat is in. Sierra Leone lost the Derby by a nose to Mystik Dan (Goldencents) and finished a nose ahead of Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}). Sierra Leone is owned by...

Legend of Time (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), a tiring fifth as the favorite while making his U.S debut in the GII American Turf S. on the GI Kentucky Derby undercard, could go favored again while facing six rivals as Memorial Day weekend kicks off with Saturday's GII Pennine Ridge S. at the Belmont at the Big A meeting. The Godolphin colorbearer won four of his five previous starts overseas, including three straight earlier this season at Meydan. "It was a big learning curve in that first race at Churchill,...

Listed winner Intellect (Fr) (Intello {Ger}) has been sold and left French shores for America on May 22, the Jour de Galop reported on Thursday. The deal was brokered by Hubert Guy. The 3-year-old colt, bred by Ecurie Michel Sardou, has never been worse than fourth in nine starts for Sophie, Antonia, and trainer Henri-Francois Devin. A three-time winner from six to seven furlongs, he landed the Listed Prix du Pont Neuf in front-running fashion over the latter distance at ParisLongchamp on Apr. 25. Out of winning Iffraaj (GB) mare...

There's not a trainer in the country who would have won the GI Preakness S. with Seize the Grey (Arrogate) other than Wayne Lukas because no one would have run him in this race except for Wayne Lukas. Horses need six, seven weeks between races. Good horses can't run more than four or five times a year, no one should ever mess with their winning percentage and run a 25-1 shot and don't dare use a jockey with no prior experience in the Triple Crown. Apparently, Lukas never got that...

The field for the GI Preakness S., ranked in "likeliest winner" order: 1) MYSTIK DAN (c, Goldencents--Ma'am, by Colonel John). O/B-Lance Gasaway, Daniel Hamby, 4G Racing, LLC, & Valley View Farm LLC (Ky); T-Kenneth G. McPeek. Lifetime Record: GISW, 7-3-1-1, $3,650,050. Last start: WON May 4 GI Kentucky Derby. The Derby champ will go favored in the Preakness on Saturday after the scratch of 'TDN Rising Star' Muth (Good Magic). This son of Goldencents upset the first leg of the Triple Crown at 18-1 odds. In the last three Derbies,...

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This column is highlighted by the victory of Pipsy during the Belmont at the Big A meeting in New York. Pipsy Soars In New York  Pipsy (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), who races for Woodford Throughbreds, LLC, earned the first graded win of her career in the GIII Soaring Softly S. during Belmont's spring meeting at Aqueduct on Sunday (video). Trained by Will Walden, the filly is now three-for-four. The Noel Finegan-bred was a...