Shidabhuti

The Saturday graded stakes action across North America offers several options, but the Big A earns the spotlight as the venerable NYRA track plays host to some strong races. Even though the Cigar Mile Handicap was downgraded a tick from its top level status by the American Graded Stakes Committee in 2023, connections still consider the race to possess a certain cache and the rigor in this year's edition is evident. "It [Cigar Mile] came up pretty salty," said Book'em Danno's trainer Derek Ryan. "It is a Grade II now...

Approximately two hours after Amr Zedan bought the sale-topping $4-million Curlin-Beholder colt at Tuesday night's session of the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale, he pulled out his pocketbook again for a $3.2-million Into Mischief colt out of the unplaced All American Dream (American Pharoah). It was the third seven-figure yearling of the evening for four-time leading sire Into Mischief. Bred in Kentucky by Jeff Drown and Don Rachel, the $3.2-million bay colt was consigned by Indian Creek. While the Feb. 12 colt is the first foal out of his dam, he is...

Throughout prep season for the GI Kentucky Oaks no filly seemed capable of putting in the type of performance that stamped them as the clear leader of the division. It has been a rather uninspiring three months. As for the Oaks itself, it kept looking like the race would be a crap shoot that just about anybody could win. But, thankfully, that changed last week. The win by Wet Paint (Blame) in the GIII Fantasy S. at Oaklawn was decisive and stamped her as the clear leader of the division....

For the sport's best 3-year-old fillies it's where the rubber meets the road time. The last round of preps for the GI Kentucky Oaks is upon us. In the GII Fair Grounds Oaks and the Bourbonette Oaks, there were a pair of key races last weekend. This week, we have the GII Gulfstream Park Oaks and the GIII Fantasy S. It's a division where, since 2-year-old filly champ Wonder Wheel (Into Mischief) finished second at 1-2 in the Feb. 11 Suncoast S. at Tampa, there has been no clear leader....

With her undefeated record on the line, Shidabhuti earned 50 points on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks with a win in the  Busher S. at Aqueduct Saturday. Dismissed at 5-1 behind heavily favored Asset Purchase, she was forced back after contact at the break to track that favorite from third. Racing alongside Capella up the backstretch, Shidabhuti loomed four wide between rivals as the field swung around the bend and outdrove Asset Purchase down the lane, assuming command with a sixteenth to run and clearing off nicely for the...