Christophe Clement

They say that once horse racing gets in your blood, it never leaves. Lee Vickers has no doubts about that. For him, a passion for the sport was practically embedded into his genetic code. Both his father and his grandfather were jockeys in his native England and Vickers was riding racehorses himself by age 12. Over the past three decades since, Vickers has ridden dozens of top-level horses on both sides of the Atlantic. This year, the assistant trainer and exercise rider for Christophe Clement is enjoying the ride with...

"If I can make it there, I can make it anywhere" is a classic lyric synonymous with the relentless spirit of New York City. It encapsulates the belief that conquering the city's challenges equips one to overcome any obstacle. A testament to the city's allure and its reputation as a place where dreams are made or broken, the line places the ultimate test of one's mettle squarely on the shoulders of the Big Apple. This spirit not only exemplifies Adelphi Racing Club's managing partner Matt Cutair, but also the enthusiasm...

At the start of this year's Saratoga meet, jockey Dylan Davis had a goal of beating the 19 wins he came home with last year. With two weeks still left to go before the NYRA circuit heads back downstate, Davis has already accomplished what he set out to do. He has scored 23 wins, including multiple stakes victories and his first Grade I in the U.S., and is currently ranked fourth in a highly competitive Saratoga jockey colony. The 29-year-old has finished in the money in 45% of his 119...

6th-Saratoga, $90,000, (S), Msw, 8-14, 2yo, f, 5 1/2fT, 1:03.13, fm, 3 lengths. ANNASCAUL (f, 2, American Pharoah--Epping Forest {SP, $306,000}, by Exchange Rate) took play to be off as the 7-4 favorite while making her career debut against fellow New York-breds Wednesday afternoon at Saratoga, and she duly treated them to a three-length beating from the front beneath Frankie Dettori. The beautifully bred chestnut bounced alertly and was soon at the head of affairs, clicking off an opening quarter-mile in :22.04. Taking pressure to her outside from a lugging-out...

By winning last Sunday's GI Saratoga Derby Invitational, Carson's Run (Cupid) secured a spot in the AUS$5-million Ladbrokes G1 W. S. Cox Plate on October 26 in Australia. In U.S. dollars, the race is worth about $3.3 million. It's an invitation his connections  are seriously considering. "We're interested," said Terry Finley, the managing partner of West Point Thoroughbreds, which owns the horse with Steven Bouchy. "It is a very lucrative package. I haven't talked to (trainer) Christophe Clement about it yet but we are definitely game. That's an awful lot...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY - The Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred Yearling Sale kicked off its two-day run with an abbreviated session featuring competitive bidding from start to finish Sunday evening in the Humphry S. Finney Pavilion in Saratoga. "It was a strong start to the 2024 Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred Yearling Sale," said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning, Jr. "There was very consistent trade from start to finish. I think the thing that was probably most encouraging tonight was the buy-back rate. This sale has traditionally had a little bit of a higher buy-back...

In a story reminiscent of 2023 Horse of the Year Cody's Wish (Curlin), Carson's Run (c, 3, Cupid--Hot N Hectic, by Henny Hughes) found a sequel to his own fairy tale Sunday, detailed last year here and here. The West Point Thoroughbreds and Steven Bouchey runner, a winner June 23 of the Tale of the Cat Stakes at Monmouth Park, doubled up on his juvenile form, adding the GI Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes Sunday to his GI Summer Stakes victory last year at Woodbine. He crossed the Saratoga wire Sunday...

2nd-SAR, $100K, Msw, 3yo/up, 5 1/2fT, 1:44 p.m. ET. LSU Stables's LETTER PERFECT (Audible), a $425,000 OBS March breezer (:10) from the Eddie Woods consignment in 2023, kicks off his career--weather permitting--sprinting on the grass for Christophe Clement. Letter Perfect, previously a $140,000 FTKJUL yearling, was the highest-priced colt from his sire's first crop to change hands at the 2-year-old sales in 2023 and the third most expensive from 44 sold overall. He is the first foal from his winning dam Syllable (Super Saver). TJCIS PPS

With the Breeders' Cup a little over four months away, the 'Win and You're In' tickets to the signature event, the GI Longines Classic, are definitely numbered. The road to Del Mar currently goes through Churchill Downs on Saturday as Classic hopefuls enter the starting gate for the GI Stephen Foster Stakes. Looking to punch his ticket to the seaside oval is Godolphin homebred First Mission (Street Sense). The 'TDN Rising Star' certainly burned brightest when he took home the GIII Essex Handicap by five lengths at Oaklawn Park in...

Signaling the beginning of the 2024 Thoroughbred season, Colonial Downs's barn area will open on Monday, June 24 with training scheduled to begin on Thursday, June 27, the track said in a press release on Friday. Multiple leading trainer Mike Stidham and Hall of Fame conditioner Mark Casse are among the trainers preparing to return to the Tidewater track. The latter put in a successful debut meet where he won 10 races, which included Fev Rover (Ire) (Gutaifan {Ire}). The Canadian Horse of the Year took home the GI Beverly...

Tisbury Stud's Austin and Amanda Luttrell have purchased Springland, a 260-acre horse farm located in Bourbon County, Kentucky. Founded in 1962 by W.K. Taylor while he was the general manager at Claiborne Farm, parts of Springland's original parcel were eventually sold to Hidden Brook and Beau Lane. However, it was Taylor's grandson, Bill Nicholls, who added to the estate in the late 1990s. The Luttrells--who started Tisbury Stud two years ago by leasing 130 acres--intend to offer the ultimate in racehorse care with breeding, foaling, racetrack lay ups and sales...

Last year's champion 3-year-old colt Arcangelo (Arrogate) captured the GIII Peter Pan S. before adding top-level victories in the GI Belmont S. and the GI Travers S. A scratched-down field of six is expected to line up for Saturday's renewal of the Peter Pan at Aqueduct, which serves as the local prep for the final leg of the Triple Crown, which will be held at Saratoga and run at 1 1/4 miles June 8. 'TDN Rising Star' Deterministic (Liam's Map), a fantastic winner of the one-turn mile GIII Gotham S....