Quality Road

1st-Belmont, $87,300, Msw, 5-4, 2yo, f, 5f, :59.35, my, 6 1/2 lengths. PRINCESA CELINA (f, 2, Quality Road--Lastofthsummerwine, by Sky Mesa) kept her trainer's momentum from the Keeneland spring meet rolling with an impressive performance to open Belmont's spring/summer meet. Bet like a sure thing at 1-5, the imposing bay broke alertly and chased outside of the early speed of Leslie's Loot (Fast Anna) through a quick quarter in :21.98. Kept under a hand ride by jockey Jose Ortiz, Princesa Celina easily maneuvered past her rival as they swung off...

4th-CD, $120k, Msw, 3yo/up, f/m, 1 1/16mT, 2:15 p.m. ET LE LEVRE (Le Havre {Ire}) makes her first trip to the races for the sneaky debut barn of Al Stall, Jr. and is a half-sister to four winners from as many to race out of Sunny Again (GB) (Shirocco {Ger}), whose notable produce include Italian highweight and Group 3 winner Elisa Again (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}); Berkshire Rocco (Fr) (Sir Percy {GB}), a winner at listed level in England and narrowly beaten in the 2020 G1 Pertemps St Leger; and...

The TAA-accredited R.A.C.E. Fund, a 501c3 that stands for "Retirement Assistance and Care for Equines," will launch its 2023 fundraising drive May 12. The online auction will appear on eBay and end May 19. A number of halters--including those of Essential Quality, Serena's Song, Quality Road, Mandaloun, and Upstart--horseshoes, and signed pictures will be part of the auction, as will a VIP farm tour of Three Chimneys. "We have some very exciting and amazing auction items again this year," said R.A.C.E. Fund president Marlene Murray. "We would like to especially...

Veteran New York trainer Jimmy Jerkens, 64, whose stable has been slumping in recent years, has agreed to train in Saudi Arabia for Prince Faisal bin Khalid Al Saud. Jerkens said he will likely start his new job in Saudi Arabia in mid-May. The Daily Racing Form's David Grening was first with the story. Jerkens, the son of Hall of Famer Allen Jerkens, has been around the New York tracks for nearly 50 years. After working for his father as an assistant, he went out on his own in 1997....

6th-KEE, $100K, Msw, 3yo, 6f, 3:40 p.m. At Keeneland on Sunday afternoon, MAGIC TAP (Tapit) debuts for Winchell Thoroughbreds breaking from post three with Irad Ortiz Jr. in the irons. The $450,000 KEESEP purchase, bred by Don Alberto, is a half to MGISW American Gal (Concord Point). Dam GSP American Story (Ghostzapper) is herself a sibling to G1 Golden Shaheen victor Reynaldothewizard (Speightstown) and GI Apple Blossom scorer Seventh Street (Street Cry {Ire}), who went on to produce GSW Lake Avenue (Tapit). This Steve Asmussen firster fired a bullet work...

A new kingpin graces the No. 1 slot after a wild, final weekend of 100-point preps. The rankings below are independent from the "Road to the Derby" leaderboard Churchill Downs uses to determine starting berths, with several horses included here who are currently below the cut.   1) PRACTICAL MOVE (c, Practical Joke--Ack Naughty, by Afleet Alex) O-Leslie & Pierre Jean Amestoy & Roger Beasley; B-Chad Brown & Head of Plains Partners (KY); T-Tim Yakteen. Sales history: $90,000 RNA yrl '21 KEESEP; $230,000 2yo '22 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: GISW, 7-4-1-2,...

Providing it survives a morning inspection, with the ground currently heavy and more rain forecast, Leopardstown's intriguing Sunday fixture will see a trio of Classic trials flooded with a big Ballydoyle presence including the exciting 'TDN Rising Star' Alexandroupolis (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). Due to make his eagerly-awaited second career start in the G3 P W McGrath Memorial Ballysax S., the centre of much attention at Rosegreen oozed class when beating his talented stablemate and eventual G1 Criterium International runner-up Espionage (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the extended mile maiden at Galway...

Talk of the Nation blew away local optional claiming foes last out Feb. 4, and did the same to stakes company here. Off as the chalk breaking from the far outside, the dark bay hopped a bit at the start but was pushed along by Samy Camacho to track from fourth while hung a bit wide. Scrubbed on to assert three deep entering the lane, he seemed to be stuck in neutral for a few strides while figuring out his leads, but as soon as he found his footing he...

7th-Oaklawn, $103,000, Alw (NW2L)/Opt. Clm ($100,000), 3-9, 3yo, 1 1/16m, 1:45.38, sy, 1 1/2 lengths. MENDELSSOHNS MARCH (c, 3, Mendelssohn--Unappeased {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) led the whole way when debuted over a mile on the grass at the Fair Grounds Feb. 2 just to be nailed on the line by a drifting rival and awarded the win via a steward's decision. A distant 8-1 behind heavily favored Heroic Move (Quality Road), the Triple Crown-nominated colt raced in the second flight along the rail, taking kickback on the dirt for the...

In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this weekend running at Hanshin and Nakayama Racecourses: Saturday, February 25, 2023 1st-NKY, ¥10,480,000 ($78k), Maiden, 3yo, 1800m KEEP SMILING (JPN) (f, 3, Quality Road--Weep No More, by Mineshaft) turned in an auspicious debut over this course and distance Dec. 17, sitting an inside...

Listed winner Missed The Cut (Quality Road) is pleasing trainer George Boughey in advance of a try in the G3 Neom Turf Cup on the G1 Saudi Cup undercard on Saturday. "He has come a long way in a short space of time," said the trainer, who saw the son of Quality Road breeze on the Riyadh track ahead of the extended 10-furlong test on Saturday. "There was a rapid rise through the summer last year, possibly too much too soon when we took him out to France for a...

6th-Tampa Bay Downs, $24,000, Msw, 2-19, 3yo, 1mT, 1:36.33, fm, 1 1/4 lengths. SILVER PEAK (c, 3, Quality Road--Dreamologist {GSW, $203,710}, by Tapit) debuted over the synthetic track at Woodbine Nov. 13 and got up to be second when traveling 6 1/2 furlongs. Given the stretch out and the change of surface Sunday, the gray jumped from the blocks as the narrow 7-5 second choice and dove to the front to lead narrowly into the first turn. Showing the way through opening fractions of :23.63 and :48.85, Silver Peak held...