KENTUCKY — By Matthew Lomon   Run for the Roses The marquee event on the North American racing calendar, the $5 million Kentucky Derby (G1), is set to be contested this Saturday at iconic Churchill Downs. Regarded as the “Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports,” the storied 1...

TORONTO —  By Matthew Lomon   Worth Waiting For Some of the best players in their respective sports are late bloomers: Sam Reinhart, Jarren Duran, Jalen Brunson, to name a few. While Public Assembly isn’t there yet, the 4-year-old filly is trending in the right direction...

TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon   Set a Course for the Winner’s Circle When Harbor Springs takes post six in Saturday’s $200,000 Roxelana Stakes at Churchill Downs, it will mark the 3-year-old filly’s first taste of stakes action since last April. Eight starts have come and...

TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon   Mission: Complete A first-rate effort from First Mission in Saturday’s $1.25 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) propelled the hard-nosed 5-year-old over $2 million in lifetime earnings. Slotted into post three, the 6-5 closing line choice hovered...

TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon   Fantastic Four There’s a ‘Final Four’ feel with Saturday’s $1.25 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) at, you guessed it, Oaklawn Park. The quartet responsible for providing that energy consists of 2-1 opening line favorite First Mission,...

TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon   What Else is New? Thorpedo Anna made things interesting in Saturday afternoon’s $1.25 million Apple Blossom (G1) when she looked unhurried leaving the gate. That, however, was the extent of the intrigue, as the reigning Horse of the Year...

TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon   A Worthy Endeavour Where’s My Ring isn’t just a question Chris Paul asks himself in the mirror, it’s also the name of the 4-year-old filly with the best chance to dethrone Thorpedo Anna in Saturday’s $1.25 million Apple Blossom (G1) at Oaklawn...

TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon   Extra, Effort! While it wasn’t the open-and-shut case his trainer Michael McCarthy may have hoped for, Journalism still penned a satisfying ending to Saturday’s $500,000 Santa Anita Derby (G1). After getting off to a slower than usual start...

TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon   Blue Chip Blue Grass A $750,000 top prize and up to 200 Kentucky Derby (G1) qualifying points are up for grabs this Tuesday in the $1.25 million Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland. While heavy rains moved Keeneland’s bustling Saturday card to...

TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon   Sweet Dreams Sandman entered Saturday’s $1.5 million Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park with $444,595 to his name and exited $810,000 richer after an impressive 2 ½-length score. Slotted into post six as the third choice in the field of nine,...