Churchill Downs

Every week, the TDN posts a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) related rulings from around the country. NEW HISA/HIWU STEWARDS RULINGS The following rulings were reported on HISA's "rulings" portal and through the HIWU "pending" and "resolved" cases portals. Resolved ADMC Violations Date: 09/26/2024 Licensee: Miguel Hernandez, trainer Penalty: 7-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on Sept. 27, 2024; Disqualification of Covered Horses' Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as...

The Kentucky Derby Museum began its new fiscal year Tuesday with the approval of the 2025 budget. The Museum, which will celebrate its 40th anniversary next year, also added three new Board members in Michael Guenthner, Josh Heird and Seema Sheth. "We are deeply grateful for the wisdom and commitment that our outgoing Board members have brought to the museum," said Chair of the Kentucky Derby Museum Board David Nett. "As we prepare to celebrate the museum's 40th anniversary, we look forward to the fresh perspectives and expertise our new...

10th-Churchill Downs, $123,375, Msw, 9-29, 2yo, f, 6f, 1:11.35, ft, 3/4 length. SOUK PLAZA (f, 2, Street Boss--Glittering Jewel, by Bernardini) debuted as the even-money favorite here but was slow from the gate and had to settle back off the pace as Nancy Lynn (Justify) put up a quick :21.85 opening quarter. Still mid pack but making steady progress through the field into the far turn, the homebred fanned out to the grandstand side with a quarter to run and wore down 10-1 longshot Banking Silver (Liam's Map) to get...

Hit Show got up late to cap a huge day for Wathnan Racing with a win in the GII Lukas Classic at Churchill Downs Saturday night. The 3-1 shot angled to the rail under the wire the first time and into the first turn while many of his foes opted to angle outside over the sloppy going. Settled in fourth off the pace down the backstretch as Cooke Creek set a moderate pace, the gray began making forward progress approaching the far turn. He rolled up five wide approaching the...

Three Technique (Mr Speaker) earned a berth in the upcoming GI Breeders' Cup Big Ass Fans Dirt Mile when he took home the GIII Ack Ack Stakes at Churchill Downs on Saturday evening. Named a 'TDN Rising Star' at third asking as a 2019 juvenile and picking up a graded stakes score last year, Three Technique participated in two prior editions of the Ack Ack under the Twin Spires and finished in third place both times. The Jason Cook trainee is also no stranger to the Breeders' Cup since he...

10th-CD, $120K, Msw, 2yo, f, 6f, 5:25 p.m. ET. Bred by Speedway, LADY LIBERTY (Constitution) makes the races for Lael and trainer Cherie DeVaux. The $625,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling buy is out of MGSP Shayjolie (Indian Charlie). A half-sister to MGSW Mythical Power (Conagree), the first-time starter's dam also produced current 3-year-old GSP Jane Austen (Tapit), and a colt by Essential Quality, who Mike Repole took home for $500,000 at this year's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale. Drawn for her unveiling, Whitman homebred Jewel Box (Street Sense) is trained by Ian...

4th-CD, $120K, Msw, 2yo, 6f, 7:26 p.m. ET. Well-bred MISCHIEVOUS TIME (Not This Time) makes his first start for trainer Steve Asmussen. The Whisper Hill homebred is from unraced dam Daisy Mason (Orientate), who Mandy Pope and Gainesway acquired for $475,000 during the Keeneland November Sale while Mischievous Time was in-utero. This dam is herself out of Broodmare of the Year Leslie's Lady (Tricky Creek) who prolifically produced all-conquering sire Into Mischief (Harlan's Holiday), current sire Mendelssohn (Scat Daddy) and the multiple Eclipse winning Beholder (Henny Hughes). Also set for...

With just a neck separating National Treasure (Quality Road) and Senor Buscador (Mineshaft) in a thrilling renewal of the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes back in January, the two will meet for the third time this season in Saturday's inaugural GI California Crown Stakes at Santa Anita. Senor Buscador turned the tables on National Treasure and delivered a come-from-behind head victory in the $20-million G1 Saudi Cup Feb. 24, then was a well-beaten third in the $12-million G1 Dubai World Cup. Given plenty of time to bounce back following...

3rd-Churchill Downs, $136,640, Alw (C)/Opt. Clm ($175,000), 9-27, 3yo/up, 6f, 1:09.76, sy, 2 1/4 lengths. BANGO (h, 7, Congrats--Josaka, by Smart Strike) had not visited the winner's circle at his home track since the Louisville Thoroughbred Society Stakes over a year ago. On the hunt for his 12th victory which would give him the all-time Churchill record over Ready's Rocket (More Than Ready), the 7-year-old was last seen finishing off the board over this surface in the Kelly's Landing Stakes June 29. Facing three others and as the 9-5 second...

4th-Churchill Downs, $118,875, Msw, 9-26, 2yo, 5 1/2f, 1:03.98, ft, 2 lengths. PERFECT MAGIC (c, 2, Maclean's Music--You Asked {MGSP, $245,934}, by Yes It's True) made the most of his first spin on the dirt here at overlaid odds. Off at 10-1 from a 3-1 morning line, the bay colt veered in sharply from gate seven, bothering each of the rivals to his inside to varying degrees, but ultimately set up shop outside of Troubleshooting (Not This Time) through an opening couple of furlongs in :22.38. Narrowly in front passing...

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar. There was a fair bit of steam behind Admiral Dennis (c, 2, Constitution--Gulf Coast, by Union Rags) as he entered the starting gate first time out for trainer Brad Cox in a deep maiden special weight at Churchill Downs Sept. 19. There will be even more next time. Off as the 5-2 favorite, the Albaugh Family Stables colorbearer broke in at the start and was outsprinted in...

8th-CD, $120K, Msw, 2yo, 1m, 4:22 p.m. ET. Juddmonte homebred BURNING GLORY (Into Mischief) makes his first start for trainer Bill Mott. The 2-year-old colt is out of SP Hail (Tapit). This dam is a half-sister to 'TDN Rising Star' and champion older mare Close Hatches (First Defence), who herself produced offspring by Tapit such as current sire Tacitus, 'TDN Rising Star' Scylla and GSW Batten Down. Hail's other prominent sibling is MGISP Lockdown (First Defence), the dam of champion older dirt female Idiomatic (Curlin). From the same shedrow as...