Wild On Ice

After four equine fatalities suffered on the track over five days at Churchill Downs, the track issued a statement Wednesday saying that they share the concern fans had expressed over the past week, and would continue to "press for answers." Kentucky Derby hopeful Wild On Ice (Tapizar) suffered a fatal hind-end injury on April 27 after a work at Churchill and was later euthanized. Take Charge Briana (Curlin) broke down in the fifth race over the Churchill turf course Tuesday. While there would appear to be no connection between those...

GIII Sunland Derby winner and GI Kentucky Derby hopeful Wild On Ice (Tapizar) was euthanized Thursday after the colt sustained a left hind leg injury that occurred following his workout just before 6 a.m. (EST) at Churchill Downs, Felix Chavez of the El Paso Times shared via Twitter after speaking with owner Frank Sumpter. The Texas-bred gelding clocked five furlongs in 1:01.40 and then was pulled up while galloping out down the backstretch. Wild On Ice was evaluated at the Churchill Downs Equine Medical Center and was transported to Lexington...

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. View the qualifying list here. 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, $884,200. Last Start: 1st Apr. 8 GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby. Kentucky...

Frank Sumpter's GIII Sunland Park Derby hero Wild On Ice (Tapizar) worked five furlongs in 1:00 with regular jockey Ken Tohill in the irons at Churchill Downs Monday morning. It was the gelding's first workout over the Louisville oval's main track. Churchill's clocker John Nichols caught the Texas-bred in splits of 11:40, :23, :35.20 and :47.60 before galloping out six furlongs in 1:13.20 and seven furlongs in 1:28. "Everything seemed to work perfectly this morning and you don't really see that a lot in horse racing," trainer Joel Marr said....

Frank Sumpter's Wild On Ice (Tapizar), winner of Sunday's GIII Sunland Park Derby, is one of a dozen 3-year-olds nominated to the Triple Crown with a late payment of $6,000 by Monday's deadline. The other late nominees (pending late mail) are:  Middleham Park Racing's Road to the Kentucky Derby Condition Stakes winner Brave Emperor (Ire) (Sioux Nation); Adam Ference and Bill Dory's El Camino Real Derby winner Chase the Chaos (Astern {Aus}); John Salzman Jr., Fred Wasserloos and Anthony Geruso's multiple stakes winner Coffeewithchris (Ride on Curlin); Mrs. John Magnier,...

Once a year, a small track in New Mexico plays host to some big names as everyone chases points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby in the GIII Sunland Park Derby. While Tim Yakteen scratched his transfer in Fort Bragg (Tapit) Saturday, the field still included Bob Baffert's Hard to Figure (Hard Spun) and Steve Asmussen's How Did He Do That (Good Magic), as well as local Mine That Derby winner Henry Q (Blame). But for all the big connections, it was the longest shot on the board that...