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Articles by Mike Smith
Meet the Jockeys of the 2026 Kentucky Derby
Winning the Kentucky Derby is the goal of any Thoroughbred jockey due to several factors. First, it’s the most famous and prestigious race in the world, and that’s enough for most riders. Second, it presents a challenge unlike any other race, requiring a jockey to navigate his horse 1 ¼ miles among a field with up to 19 opponents and in front of about 150,000 screaming fans.
Why Your Pain Isn’t Where the Problem Is
or a long time, I assumed that pain was simple. If something hurt, the problem had to be in that exact spot. When my shoulder started bothering me, I focused all my attention there—stretching it, resting it, trying to avoid movements that made it worse. At times it felt like it was improving, but the relief never lasted. The discomfort kept coming back, and eventually it became clear that I was missing something. What I didn’t understand at the time is that pain doesn’t always tell the full story.
Award season is upon us, and horse racing is no different. The year-end Eclipse Awards are always a highly-debated topic in the horse racing community. While there's some certain winners, others merit a lengthy discussion. Jun 7, 2025; Saratoga, NY, USA; Sovereignty with Junior Alvarado up wins the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. | Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images The conclusion of the year brings not just holiday cheer, but end-of-year awards in horse racing.
Forever Young holds off Sierra Leone for historic Breeders' Cup Classic victory
Forever Young became the first Japanese-based horse to win the Breeders' Cup Classic, holding off last year's winner Sierra Leone on Saturday at Del Mar. Japan is known as The Land of the Rising Sun. On what was Sunday, just as the sun was rising in Japan, Forever Young, the only Japan-based horse in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, landed the most impressive victory of his career at Del Mar.
Expert picks for each of Saturday's Breeders' Cup races
Saturday features nine Breeders' Cup races at Del Mar, highlighted by the Classic, which comes as the ninth race on the 12-race card. Even without Kentucky Derby, Belmont, and Travers winner Sovereignty, Saturday's Breeders' Cup Classic promises to be a heavyweight showdown. The rest of the card is equally as tasty, with nine Breeders' Cup races total. Below are picks for each race: Race 4 - Filly and Mare Sprint - 3:00 p.m. EST Top Pick: Tamara Kopion coming out of this made it more intriguing.
Cox counters favored Laurelin with Fionn and Destino d'Oro in Queen Elizabeth II
Saturday’s lone Grade 1 across the country takes place at Keeneland, nine 3-year-old fillies are set to go 1 1/8 miles on turf in the $800,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes. The undefeated Laurelin is the 5-2 morning-line favorite over multiple graded-stakes winner Fionn. Trained by Graham Motion, Laurelin scored her first graded stakes victory last out in the Grade 2 Saratoga Oaks.
Lamb Weston inauguró su planta en Mar del Plata con Milei y una inversión histórica de USD 300 millones
Por Agroempresario.com La compañía Lamb Weston, líder global en la producción de papas fritas congeladas, inauguró oficialmente su nueva planta en Mar del Plata, provincia de Buenos Aires. El acto contó con la presencia del presidente Javier Milei, quien participó de la apertura de una de las inversiones más importantes en territorio bonaerense de los últimos 40 años.
Sierra Leone gets another crack at Mindframe in Jockey Club Gold Cup
Having already disposed of his stablemate Fierceness, Sierra Leone gets another challenge from the Todd Pletcher barn in Mindframe for Sunday’s Grade 1, $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup at Saratoga. It’ll also be a chance for Sierra Leone to avenge a loss to Mindframe that came in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster. In the Whitney here five weeks ago, Sierra Leone came with a wide-swinging late move that propelled him to an easy one-length victory.
Journalism meets Nysos and Fierceness for test against older foes in Pacific Classic
With Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes, and Travers winner Sovereignty taking all the attention as the nation’s best 3-year-old, it’s easy to forget about Journalism, a three-time Grade 1 winner in his own right, and clearly the second-best 3-year-old at the moment. On Saturday at Del Mar, Journalism will finally get to stay home and attempt something Sovereignty hasn’t done yet - beat older horses in the Grade 1, $1 million Pacific Classic.
Kentucky Derby alums set for turf tango in Nashville Derby
A turf race named for a city not in the same state as the track and run over a European-style track certainly seems like a peculiar spot for a quartet of Kentucky Derby alumni to gather again. That’s just what will happen in Saturday’s Grade 3, $3.5 million Nashville Derby at Kentucky Downs. Kentucky Downs, which is about an hour north of Nashville, is in Franklin, Ky. and boasts a rich seven-day meet of all turf racing.
Clement continues solid meet with trio in Flower Bowl
Trainer Miguel Clement has quite the start to his training career, winning at 24 percent at the current Saratoga meet. Following the death of his father, Christophe, Miguel Clement took over the stable and continued those winning ways, especially in turf races. Clement has a trio of runners in Saturday’s Grade 2 Flower Bowl to continue that success. The 1 3/8-mile Flower Bowl is part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series as a “Win and You’re In” race for the BC Filly and Mare Turf on Nov.
Sovereignty reigns supreme with Travers triumph
Already with a victory in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes, Sovereignty, the obvious top 3-year-old in the country, added a victory in the Grade 1, $1 million Travers Stakes Saturday at Saratoga. Sovereignty became just the fifth horse to win the Derby-Belmont-Travers trio. With other 3-year-olds scared away by Sovereignty, just four other horses lined up to take on Sovereignty.
Travers Stakes: Is Sovereignty just inevitable or can someone upset the Derby and Belmont winner?
In a race that dates back to 1864, there have been just four horses to win the Kentucky Derby and Belmont, and then win the Travers at Saratoga. On Saturday, Sovereignty will be heavily favored to accomplish that feat, as he leads just a five-horse field in the $1 million race for 3-year-olds going 1 1/4 miles. Sovereignty burst onto the Triple Crown scene with a fast-closing victory in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream in February.
Travers Stakes: Is Sovereignty just inevitable or can someone upset the Derby and Belmont winner?
In a race that dates back to 1864, there have been just four horses to win the Kentucky Derby and Belmont, and then win the Travers at Saratoga. On Saturday, Sovereignty will be heavily favored to accomplish that feat, as he leads just a five-horse field in the $1 million race for 3-year-olds going 1 1/4 miles. Sovereignty burst onto the Triple Crown scene with a fast-closing victory in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream in February.
Loaded field for H. Allen Jerkens could steal the show on Travers Day
While the Sovereignty and the short field for the Travers drew all the attention, the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens drew a stack field that may not only be the race of the day but the race of the meet. The field of eight 3-year-olds set to go seven furlongs have combined for 10 stakes wins, five of them graded. Patch Adams drew the rail following his last-out victory in the Grade 1 Woody Stephens and is the slight 3-1 morning-line favorite.
How to wager and find value in the Travers
With all the attention on the short field topped by Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner Sovereignty, Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Travers has left bettors with a sour taste in their mouth. Many trainers and owners have decided not to challenge Sovereignty, who’s coming off a victory in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy, and send their horses to other races like the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby. Now, the question remains if there’s any value to be had in the Travers or if it’s simply un-betable.
Book'em Danno and Mullikin renew rivalry in Forego
For a $10,000 New Jersey-bred, Book’em Danno has done more than alright for himself. As a promising juvenile, Book’em Danno looked primed for a run on the Kentucky Derby trail but his connections, trainer Derek Ryan and owners Atlantic Six Racing, opted to keep their gelding in some shorter races. Now as a 4-year-old, Book’em Danno will look to extend his two-race win streak in Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Forego Stakes at Saratoga.
Juddmonte International leads quartet of BC "Win and You're In" races at York
The historic Ebor Festival at York kicks off Wednesday, marking one of Britain's biggest racing days, headlined by the Group 1 Juddmonte International. The four-day festival features four races that are part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series. Each “Win and You’re In” race offers a fees-paid berth into corresponding races at the Breeders’ Cup Championship, held for the second straight year at Del Mar on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1.
King's Plate features robust field on Canada's biggest racing day
Canadian racing takes center stage Saturday, as the 166th King’s Plate highlights a stacked card on Canada’s biggest racing day at Woodbine. The $1 million King’s Plate drew a wide variety of 13 3-year-olds. The 1 1/4-miles race on Tapeta drew a pair of last-out maiden winners, a total of eight stakes winners, a last-out Grade 3 winner, and even a filly, No Time, set as the 7-2 morning-line favorite. The King’s Plate is the first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, run over three different surfaces.
Casse's duo of La Cara and Nitrogen take on Good Cheer in the Alabama
Trainer Mark Casse will send out two opposite fillies in Saturday’s Grade 1, $600,000 Alabama Stakes at Saratoga. Casse’s pair of La Cara and Nitrogen will be joined by four other 3-year-old fillies, including Good Cheer, set to go 1 1/8 miles. La Cara has turned into a formidable filly in the division, after showing promise as a 2-year-old.
She Feels Pretty looks to rebound with another Grade 1 win in E.P. Taylor
She Feels Pretty will return to the site of her first Grade 1 victory Saturday, looking to take down another Grade 1 in the E.P. Taylor for fillies and mares going 1 1/4 miles at Woodbine. Since winning the Grade 1 Natalma in September of 2023 as a 2-year-old, the Cherie DeVaux-trained She Feels Pretty has won three Grade 1 races. She Feels Pretty had a four-race win streak snapped last out when she was upset in the Grade 1 Diana at Saratoga.
Travers Stakes: Few expected to take on Derby and Belmont winner Sovereignty
With the nominations released for the Grade 1 Travers, Saratoga’s biggest race set for Aug. 23, many are asking who will run in the race. It appears the better question may be: who’s going to run second? Just 15 were nominated for the Travers, topped by Sovereignty, the winner of the Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes, and Jim Dandy. Drawing comparisons to his fellow Bill Mott-trained star, Cigar, Sovereignty is likely to scare away the competition for the Travers.
El Cordobes steals the show with Sword Dancer victory
With all the attention on his stablemate and on Far Bridge’s need for the rail, El Cordobes stole the show in Saturday’s Grade 1, $750,000 Sword Dancer at Saratoga. Flavien Prat rode the winner for trainer Charlie Appleby, who also trains third-place finisher Nations Pride. Prat gave a very patient ride on El Cordobes, splitting horses late and getting up over Rebel Red, who held Nations Pride at bay for second.
Red-hot Clement sends out Far Bridge for Sword Dancer repeat
The name Clement has become frequent when talking about Saratoga’s biggest turf races. While Christophe Clement passed away in May, his son Miguel has carried on the stable’s success at Saratoga. More success is likely on the way Saturday, as Miguel Clement has entered Far Bridge, arguably the stable’s top horse, in the Grade 1, $750,000 Sword Dancer at 1 1/2 miles on turf.
Picks & Plays: Stay away from Derby winner Mystik Dan in turf debut in Arlington Million
Since 2022 the Arlington Million just hasn’t quite felt like the Arlington Million. That’s partially because it’s no longer held at the now-shuttered Arlington Park. Instead, it’s being run Saturday at Colonial Downs in New Kent, Va., more than 800 miles away from Chicago. The entries for the Grade 1 race at 1 1/4 miles also drew a peculiar entrant. Mystik Dan, the 2024 Kentucky Derby winner, will make his turf debut Saturday as part of an intriguing field of eight.
Sierra Leone uses last-to-first move to land Whitney
Just how trainer Chad Brown drew it up. With Sierra Leone, a talented but pace-dependent 4-year-old, Brown knew he needed to inject some speed into Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Whitney at Saratoga. Sierra Leone, with Flavien Prat aboard, got that pace and stormed down the center of the stretch to land another Grade 1 win. Brown entered Contrary Thinking in Saturday’s field, who was just purchased by Peter Brant, co-owner of Sierra Leone, after an allowance win at Aqueduct.
Group of heavyweights ready to throw it down in Whitney
Trainer Chad Brown is deploying some interesting tactics in Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Whitney Stakes at Saratoga. Brown entered the pair of Sierra Leone, last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic winner and 3-year-old champion, and Contrary Thinking, a recent allowance winner, who was just purchased by Peter Brant, co-owner of Sierra Leone. By entering a pair that seem on the opposite ends of the class spectrum, Brown is ensuring that Sierra Leone will get pace to close into in the Whitney.
Obliteration and Ewing go one-on-one in Saratoga Special
Saturday’s Grade 2 Saratoga Special unfortunately turned into a somewhat two-horse race, after the death of Dazzle d’Oro earlier this week after a training injury. Now, a field of five 2-year-olds are set to sprint 6 1/2 furlongs. Obliteration, trained by Steve Asmussen, who knows a thing or two about training standout sprinters, will be looking to attempt a feat only four horses have ever completed.
Echo Sound takes on battle-tested sprinters in Grade 1 Test
The Grade 1 Test at Saratoga often provides 3-year-old fillies a chance to verify that they are indeed sprinters, sometimes after an attempt on the Kentucky Oaks trail. However, Saturday’s edition of the $500,000 race at seven furlongs drew an ultra-competitive field of proven sprinters. As the morning line suggests, the race is relatively wide open, although Echo Sound was made the 9-5 favorite.
Kopion and Royal Spa meet Baffert trio in Clement Hirsch
In a division that seemingly lacked depth, Saturday’s field for the Grade 1 Clement Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar drew a field of seven older fillies and mares, six of which are graded stakes winners. Kopion may be the most intriguing member of the group, as she stretches out to 1 1/16 miles, but trainer Bob Baffert entered a strong trio looking for his fourth win in the race.
Glorious Goodwood hosts trio of Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" races
This week’s Goodwood Festival, held south of London near Portsmouth, England, features three Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” races, in which the winners will earn a fees-paid berth into corresponding races at the Breeders’ Cup Championships at Del Mar on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. Racing begins Tuesday and ends Saturday, but Wednesday features the most intriguing race of the festival. The Group 1 Sussex drew a stack field of seven 3-year-olds and up going one mile.
Three-time MVP Jokic shows rare emotion after prestigious harness victory
A usually stoic and emotionless Nikola Jokic was brought to tears Sunday when his prized horse brought home the most prestigious harness race in Subotica, Serbia. The three-time MVP showed more emotion Sunday than when he won the NBA Finals in 2023 with the Denver Nuggets. Jokic’s horse, Demon Dell’Est, won the Dužijanac 2025 at Subotica Hipodrome. Demon Dell’Est, a 6-year-old Italian standardbred, was guided by Carmine Piscuoglio, who regularly teams with Jokic’s Dream Catcher Racing.
Three-time MVP Jokic shows rare emotion after prestigious harness victory
A usually stoic and emotionless Nikola Jokic was brought to tears Sunday when his prized horse brought home the most prestigious harness race in Subotica, Serbia. The three-time MVP showed more emotion Sunday than when he won the NBA Finals in 2023 with the Denver Nuggets. Jokic’s horse, Demon Dell’Est, won the Dužijanac 2025 at Subotica Hipodrome. Demon Dell’Est, a 6-year-old Italian standardbred, was guided by Carmine Piscuoglio, who regularly teams with Jokic’s Dream Catcher Racing.
Lovesick Blues earns Breeders' Cup spot with 18-1 shocker in Bing Crosby
Not only did Lovesick Blues land a shocking 18-1 upset in Saturday’s Grade 1 Bing Crosby at Del Mar, but Lovesick Blues landed his trainer Librado Barocio his first Grade 1 victory. “Miracles happen,” a speechless Barocio barely got out following the race. It was also the first Grade 1 and graded stakes victory for Lovesick Blues, who had previously raced on turf in his last five starts. The 7-year-old gelding was making his 41st career start in the Bing Crosby.
Sovereignty just too good in Jim Dandy; Travers up next
Even though it was “just a prep,” as jockey Junior Alvarado said after the race, Sovereignty was just too good for his four rivals in Saturday’s Grade 2, $500,000 Jim Dandy at Saratoga. The Kentucky Derby and Belmont winner landed another victory and looks primed for another in the Aug. 23 Travers. After stumbling slightly at the start, Mo Plex set somewhat slow early fractions of 24.54 to the opening quarter mile and 48.49 to the half. Sovereignty broke sharp and initially sat right off Mo Plex.
Jim Dandy: Is now the time to beat Kentucky Derby and Belmont winner Sovereignty?
Flattered by Journalism’s victory in the Grade 1 Haskell last weekend, Sovereignty makes his return against just four others in Saturday’s Grade 2, $500,000 Jim Dandy. At 1 1/8 miles, the Jim Dandy is the main local prep for the Grade 1 Travers on Aug. 22. Journalism, who Sovereignty beat in both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes, stormed down the stretch late to nip Gosger and Goal Oriented in the Haskell. It was a similar victory to his Preakness win.
East Coast shipper Crazy Mason should get pace to chase in Bing Crosby
They say pace makes the race - and whoever “they” are, they’re usually right. That will also likely be the case Saturday at Del Mar when nine horses line up to contest the Grade 1 Bing Crosby at seven furlongs. A leading California sprint race, the Bing Crosby is a part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series, offering a fees-paid berth into the BC Sprint.
It's all about Nysos in San Diego Handicap
After looking like a promising dirt router, and even a Kentucky Derby contender last year, trainer Bob Baffert will stretch Nysos out in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap Saturday at Del Mar. It will be the first try beyond one mile and his first start around two turns since last February. A $550,000 purchase in April of 2023, Nysos won on debut in October of 2023, then rattled off wins in the Grade 3 Bob Hope at Del Mar and the Grade 3 Robert Lewis at Santa Anita the following year.
Heavyweights battle in King George VI and Queen Elizabeth with Breeders' Cup Turf spot on the line
This Saturday, Ascot Racecourse, just outside of London, plays host to one of the most prestigious events in the European racing calendar: the Group 1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, run over 1 1/2 miles. The race serves as a key qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Turf, offering the winner a fees-paid berth into the championship event at Del Mar on Nov.
Breeders' Cup Charities hosts Annual Day of Giving
The Breeders’ Cup Charities will host its Annual Day of Giving on July 23, 100 days out from the Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Del Mar on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. Each year, the Breeders’ Cup raises funds for a variety of important causes in the Thoroughbred industry. These funds also highlight the important work that non-profit organizations do in areas such as: aftercare, jockey health and wellness, backstretch and industry workers, and research.
Brown giving Chancer McPatrick another try going long in Curlin Stakes
For a race restricted to horses that haven’t won a graded stakes this year, Thursday’s $135,000 Curlin Stakes certainly drew a graded-stakes worthy field. The Curlin, at 1 1/8 miles on dirt, is one of Saratoga’s local preps for the Grade 1 Travers on Aug. 23. The Curlin was first run in 2009 and only once has its winner won the Travers, when V. E. Day scored an upset in the 2014 Travers.
Book'em Danno gets the best of Mullikin again in Vanderbilt
The stretch run of Saturday’s Grade 2 Alfred G. Vanderbilt looked awfully familiar, as Book’em Danno ran down Mullikin in a repeat of last month’s Grade 3 True North, also at Saratoga. Jockey Paco Lopez had Book’em Danno positioned just off Mullikin and pounced on that rival, drawing well clear in deep stretch. It was the third victory at Saratoga for Book’em Danno, as the New Jersey-bred won last year’s Grade 1 Woody Stephens to go along with the True North and Saturday’s victory.
Journalism takes Haskell with furious late run
In what appeared to be a little Preakness déjà vu, perhaps without the bumping, Journalism ran down Gosger to win Saturday’s Grade 1 Haskell at Monmouth Park. It was the third Grade 1 victory for the Michael McCarthy-trained 3-year-old, who once again showed his courage after a somewhat slow break. Jockey Umberto Rispoli had to urge Journalism just after the first turn, leaving some doubt in the mind of his backers as the 2-5 favorite.
Strong field brings Grade 1 vibe to Vanderbilt
While the Alfred G. Vanderbilt lost Grade 1 status this year, there’s certainly a Grade 1 vibe in Saturday’s renewal at Saratoga. Now a Grade 2 as part of the American Graded Stakes Committee’s sweeping downgrades, the field of eight set to go seven furlong is anything but Grade 2 level. In a field full of accomplished runners, it may be one of the less accomplished runners that rates a strong upset chance.
Haskell Stakes: Journalism the heavy favorite with Breeders' Cup berth up for grabs
Just three years ago, trainer Michael McCarthy made the decision to skip the Haskell with his Preakness winner Rombauer, instead targeting the Jim Dandy, a race he never ran in, eventually being retired after his third-place finish in the Belmont Stakes. Now, McCarthy has a Preakness winner, who ran second in the Belmont, that will run in the Haskell. Journalism tops a field of eight set to go 1 1/8 miles as the 4-5 morning-line favorite for the Grade 1, $1 million race at Monmouth Park.
Familiar bunch gathers again for Caress
If the field for Saturday’s Grade 3 Caress at Saratoga looks familiar - that’s because it is. Of the nine horses in the main body of the field, six of them met last time out in the Grade 2 Intercontinental during Belmont week at Saratoga. Most notably, Pipsy will look to extend her win streak off his win in the Intercontinental. When Pipsy came over to the United States from Ireland at the end of 2023, it looked like trainer Will Walden had a serious turf sprinter.
Far Bridge primed for a rebound in Bowling Green
When last month’s Grade 1 Manhattan was delayed a day and shortened to 1 1/8 miles, it only added to the obstacles in the way for Far Bridge. After running a solid third against less than ideal conditions, Far Bridge seeks a rebound in Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Bowling Green Stakes at Saratoga. The Manhattan was postponed from the Belmont Stakes card at Saratoga to the following day and run on the inner turf course, while also being shortened from 1 3/16 miles.
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