HorseRacingNation.com NewsWire

Rebel’s Romance returns to U.S. for Joe Hirsch Turf Classic

Sun, 21 Sep 2025 16:19:37 GMT

Rebel’s Romance tries to add to his eight top-level international wins and $14,171,477 in earnings when he races Saturday against only four other grass entrants in the Grade 1, $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at the Belmont at Aqueduct meet.

The 1 1/2-mile race is an automatic qualifier for the Nov. 1 running at Del Mar of the Breeders’ Cup Turf. Rebel’s Romance is trying to win again after scoring in 2022 and 2024. His most recent win in the 1 1/2-mile championship clinched his Eclipse Award as the top turf male in the U.S. and Canada.

Click here for Belmont at Aqueduct entries and results.

A 7-year-old Dubawi gelding based in England, Rebel’s Romance is coming off a narrow win Aug. 10 in the Grosser Preis von Berlin (G1). The Godolphin homebred trained by Charlie Appleby finished fourth to repeat winner War Like Goddess in the 2023 Turf Classic at the Big A.

Frankie Dettori will ride Rebel’s Romance for the first time. They will break from post 3.

Sword Dancer (G1) winner El Cordobés, a 4-year-old Frankel gelding also trained by Appleby, is paired with John Velázquez in post 1.

Far Bridge, who won last year’s Turf Classic, finished fifth in last month’s Sword Dancer at Saratoga. The 5-year-old English Channel entire trained by Miguel Clément breaks from post 5 with Joel Rosario.

United Nations (G2) victor Redistricting looks for his third straight win. The 5-year-old Kingman gelding is trained by Chad Brown and will be ridden by Flavien Prat from post 2.

Stakes winner Rebel Red, a 5-year-old Frankel horse trained by Cherie DeVaux, will carry José Ortiz from post 4.

Five-time stakes-winning 5-year-old Bank Frenzy and 4-year-old allowance winner Le Gris, both trained by Rudy Rodríguez, were entered for the main track only.

The Turf Classic at 2:37 p.m. EDT is the fifth of 12 races on Saturday’s card that includes four other win-and-you’re-in qualifiers for the Breeders’ Cup. The first post is at 12:35 p.m.

2025 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic G1

No.	Horse / Sire	Rating	Trainer / Jockey	Last start	Status
1	El Cordobés Frankel	7.73	Charlie Appleby John Velázquez	1st, 2025 Sword Dancer G1	Entered
Last race	1st, 2025 Sword Dancer G1
2	Redistricting Kingman	7.61	Chad Brown Flavien Prat	1st (129), 2025 United Nations G2	Entered
Last race	1st (129), 2025 United Nations G2
3	Rebel’s Romance Dubawi	7.79	Charlie Appleby Frankie Dettori	1st, 2025 Grosser Preis von Berlin G1	Entered
Last race	1st, 2025 Grosser Preis von Berlin G1
4	Rebel Red Frankel	6.72	Cherie DeVaux José Ortiz	2nd, 2025 Sword Dancer G1	Entered
Last race	2nd, 2025 Sword Dancer G1
5	Far Bridge English Channel	7.85	Miguel Clément Joel Rosario	6th (119), 2025 Sword Dancer G1	Entered
Last race	6th (119), 2025 Sword Dancer G1
6 mto	Bank Frenzy Central Banker	6.09	Rudy Rodríguez	5th (123), 2025 John Morrissey	Entered
Last race	5th (123), 2025 John Morrissey
7 mto	Le Gris City of Light		Rudy Rodríguez	4th (119), SAR alw OC (8/31/25-R3)	Entered
Last race	4th (119), SAR alw OC (8/31/25-R3)

Horse Racing Nation speed figures are in parentheses.

Mystik Dan drills for Lukas Classic; 43 others also work

Sun, 21 Sep 2025 15:10:04 GMT

Mystik Dan and Hit Show breezed this weekend for the last time before they race in the Grade 2, $500,000 Lukas Classic on Saturday at Churchill Downs.

The winner of Kentucky Derby 2024, Mystik Dan worked a half-mile in 47.6 seconds. Last year’s Dubai World Cup (G1) winner Hit Show drilled five furlongs in 59.4 seconds.

Keep track of graded stakes on HRN:
Stakes schedule | Stakes Tracker | Stakes results

Mystik Dan, owned by 4G Racing, Lance Gasaway, Daniel Hemby and Valley View Farm, was among the first horses on the track Saturday when training opened at 5:30 a.m. EDT. The Kenny McPeek trainee breezed with jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. aboard. He completed an opening quarter-mile in 24.6 seconds and galloped out five furlongs in 1:00.0, according to Churchill Downs clocker John Nichols.

Shortly after, McPeek sent out Sharaf Mohamad Alhariri and Lucky Seven Stable’s Rattle N Roll to work a half-mile. The multiple graded-stakes winner, unraced since an eighth-place finish in the Dubai World Cup more than five months ago, recorded a sharp move in 46.8 seconds under retired jockey Robby Albarado. Saturday’s work was Rattle N Roll’s third drill since returning to training. It followed three-furlong works of 36.0 seconds Sept. 6 and 35.6 last Saturday.

Hernandez has the call on Mystik Dan in the Lukas Classic from post 5. Julien Leparoux has the mount on Rattle N Roll from post 3.

Nearly two hours later, last year’s Lukas Classic winner Hit Show took to the track under jockey Florent Géroux. Owned by Wathnan Racing and trained by Brad Cox, Hit Show enters the Lukas Classic following another victory in the listed West Virginia Governor’s Cup, the same steppingstone he used before his Lukas Classic win a year ago. Oddly enough, Hit Show’s final work prior to last year’s Lukas Classic also was a five-furlong move in 59.4 seconds.

Géroux will be in the irons for Saturday’s race from post 2.

All seven contenders for the Lukas Classic are on site at Churchill Downs or its Trackside Louisville training center. Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Disarm, who shipped from Saratoga this week, was the final arrival. Trained by Steve Asmussen, the four-time winner went a half-mile in 48.6 seconds Sunday morning.

There were 43 graded-stakes winners on the Sunday work tab covering the U.S.

Sierra Leone (Gun Runner), a three-time Grade 1 winner (2025 Whitney, 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic, 2024 Blue Grass), worked four furlongs in 50.7 seconds at Saratoga on Sunday morning. It was the 29th fastest of 46 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Saratoga. In his last start he placed second in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) going 1 1/4 miles on the main track at Saratoga on Aug. 31 for trainer Chad Brown.

Citizen Bull (Into Mischief), a two-time Grade 1 winner (2024 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, 2024 American Pharoah), worked four furlongs in 47.0 seconds at Santa Anita. It was the fourth fastest of 124 works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he won the Shared Belief going one mile on the main track at Del Mar on Aug. 31 for trainer Bob Baffert.

Bottle of Rouge (Vino Rosso), a Grade 1 winner (2025 Del Mar Debutante), worked four furlongs in 47.6 seconds at Santa Anita. It was the 16th fastest of 124 works at the distance. This was her first work since her last race. In her last start she won the Del Mar Debutante (G1) going seven furlongs on the main track at Del Mar on Sept. 6 for trainer Bob Baffert.

Brant (Gun Runner), a Grade 1 winner (2025 Del Mar Futurity), worked five furlongs in 1:01.8 at Santa Anita. It was the 59th fastest of 86 works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he won the Del Mar Futurity (G1) going seven furlongs on the main track at Del Mar on Sept. 7 for trainer Bob Baffert.

Cavalieri (Nyquist), a Grade 1 winner (2025 Beholder Mile), worked six furlongs in 1:13.0 at Santa Anita. It was the second fastest of three works at the distance. Her previous work was seven days ago going five furlongs at Santa Anita. In her last start she won the Beholder Mile (G1) going one mile on the main track at Santa Anita on March 8 for trainer Bob Baffert.

Fionn (Twirling Candy), a Grade 1 winner (2025 Belmont Oaks Invitational), worked four furlongs in 49.2 seconds at Churchill Downs. It was the 48th fastest of 79 works at the distance. This was her first work since her last race. In her last start she won the Blackwood Dueling Grounds Oaks Invitational (G3) going 1 5/16 miles on the turf at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 10 for trainer Brad Cox.

Full Serrano (Full Mast), a Grade 1 winner (2024 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile), worked six furlongs in 1:12.4 at Santa Anita. It was the fastest of three works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going five furlongs at Santa Anita. In his last start he won an allowance race going one mile on the main track at Del Mar on Sept. 1 for trainer John Sadler.

Gaming (Game Winner), a Grade 1 winner (2024 Del Mar Futurity), worked six furlongs in 1:13.0 at Santa Anita. It was the second fastest of three works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Santa Anita. In his last start he placed third in the Shared Belief going one mile on the main track at Del Mar on Aug. 31 for trainer Bob Baffert.

Gold Phoenix (Belardo), a Grade 1 winner (2023 Frank E. Kilroe Mile), worked four furlongs in 48.6 seconds at Santa Anita. It was the 25th fastest of 43 works at the distance. His previous work was six days ago going four furlongs at Santa Anita. In his last start he won the Del Mar Handicap (G2) going 1 3/8 miles on the turf at Del Mar on Aug. 30 for trainer Phil D’Amato.

Power Squeeze (Union Rags), a Grade 1 winner (2024 Alabama), worked five furlongs in 1:03.4 at Monmouth Park. It was the seventh fastest of 12 works at the distance. Her previous work was 15 days ago going four furlongs at Monmouth Park. In her last start she placed third in the Serena’s Song going one mile and 70 yards on the main track at Monmouth Park on May 11 for trainer Jorge Delgado.

Sweet Azteca (Sharp Azteca), a Grade 1 winner (2024 Beholder Mile), worked four furlongs in 49.2 seconds at Santa Anita. It was the 69th fastest of 124 works at the distance. This was her first work since her last race. In her last start she won the Rancho Bernardo Handicap (G3) going 6 1/2 furlongs on the main track at Del Mar on Aug. 24 for trainer Richard Baltas.

Trikari (Oscar Performance), a Grade 1 winner (2024 Belmont Derby Invitational), worked five furlongs in 1:01.6 at Fair Hill. It was the fastest of eight works at the distance. His previous work was six days ago going four furlongs at Fair Hill. In his last start he placed third in the Prince George’s County going 1 1/8 miles on the turf at Laurel Park on June 28 for trainer Graham Motion.

Cabo Spirit (Pioneerof the Nile), a two-time Grade 2 winner (2024 John Henry Turf Championship, 2022 Twilight Derby), worked five furlongs in 1:01.4 at Santa Anita. It was the 47th fastest of 86 works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last star

With fewer dates in 2025, Canterbury Park reports handle drop

Sun, 21 Sep 2025 14:34:40 GMT

With three fewer race dates than last year, Canterbury Park experienced a 3% fall in average daily handle and a 14% drop in total betting dollars for its meet that ended Saturday night.

The total handle was $45,752,143 with a daily on-track of $154,570 and out of state $798,192. The all-sources average of $952,762 was off from the $981,040 last year.

Click here for Canterbury Park entries and results.

There were 405 races run during this year’s Canterbury meet, 34 fewer than last year. Weather challenges in Shakopee, Minn., including high heat indexes, rain and lightning which caused two full cards to be canceled and two to be shortened. An additional date was added in July bringing total race days to 50. Four races postponed from Thursday were added to closing night, creating a 13-race card which handled $1,746,078.

Average daily attendance reported by the track was 5,105, up 4%.

The 31st season of racing at Canterbury Park ended the same way it began May 24. With Minnesota-bred filly I C Gold and leading jockey Harry Hernández in the winner’s circle.

Hernández won 70 races and was atop the jockey standings the entire meet. This was his third Canterbury riding title.

Total purses paid to owners, trainers and jockeys were 23% less than 2024. That resulted in a smaller average field size of 6.7 horses per race compared with 2024’s 7.4.

“We will continue to work with the state legislature during the upcoming session to address purses,” general manager John Groen said. “Horse racing and the equine industry have an important economic impact across the entire state, touching families and farms in every community.

“There are a number of commonsense solutions that would benefit horse racing as well as the tribes and charities, and we remain committed to working cooperatively with all interested parties to make Minnesota’s racing the premier racing circuit in the upper Midwest.”

Canterbury Park will submit an application for its 2026 season to the Minnesota Racing Commission in November.

José Silva Jr. won his first Canterbury training title with 34 wins. Novogratz Racing Stables was leading Thoroughbred owner with 13 wins.

Frosty View, owned by Charlene Gabler and trained by Joel Berndt, was voted horse of the meet. Summer Winner, trained by Time Padilla, who co-owns the Minnesota-bred filly with Pete Mattson, was the 2-year-old of the meet.

Mad House, a 3-year-old who won three times at Canterbury and captured Saturday’s Grade 2 Gallant Bob Stakes at Parx, was voted the sprinter of the meet. The Florida-bred is owned by James Thares and trained by David VanWinkle.

Ramón Vázquez rides 5 winners Saturday at Remington Park

Sun, 21 Sep 2025 14:00:03 GMT

The Remington Park return of jockey Ramón Vázquez is paying dividends in the win column. A former five-time leading rider at the Oklahoma City track from 2013 to 2017, Vázquez piled up five wins Saturday night.

Vázquez wasted no time beginning his winner’s circle parade in the opener on Wilburnsclassylady ($6.00 to win) for owners Angela Mancino and Nancy Oliver of Fair Oaks Ranch, Texas, and trainer Ronnie Cravens III. The score was the 30th of the season for Vázquez.

Click here for Remington Park entries and results.

The daily double was handled by Vázquez when he rode Slam Diego ($3.40) to victory for owner-trainer Robertino Diodoro of Hot Springs, Ark.

Pass Line ($5.60) provided the hat trick for Vázquez in race 4, winning for owner Timothy Guidry of Arnaudville, La. and trainer Abel Ramírez-Rodríguez.

Vázquez teamed with Diodoro for his final two wins of the night, scoring in race 7 with first-time starter Sooner Red ($4.40). The 2-year-old Oklahoma-bred filly was game in victory for owner Rosette Ranch of Mesa, Ariz.

The race 9 finale concluded the five wins with Dr. Ray D. ($7.60) flying through traffic, splitting rivals and getting up with a big rally over the turf at about five furlongs. Owned by Charles Garvey of Nisku, Alberta, the 4-year-old filly gave Diodoro his third training victory of the night.

Vázquez has 34 wins this season. He is eight ahead of Stewart Elliott, who is the two-time defending riding titlist at Remington Park. This is the first full season of action at Remington Park for Vázquez since he left after the 2021 season.

The three wins for Diodoro gave him 17 for the season. He jumped to the lead in the trainer standings. Steve Asmussen is second with 15 victories.

4 juvenile stakes will highlight Los Alamitos winter meet

Sun, 21 Sep 2025 13:21:03 GMT

Four stakes for 2-year-olds, including a pair of graded races, highlight the upcoming winter Thoroughbred meet at Los Alamitos.

The six-day season is scheduled to begin Dec. 5 and continue through Dec. 14. Racing will be conducted on a Friday-Sunday basis Dec. 5, 6, 7, 12, 13 and 14. Post time will be 3:30 p.m. EST.

Click here for Los Alamitos entries and results.

The Grade 2, $200,000 Starlet Stakes for 2-year-old fillies will be run for the 12th time at Los Alamitos on Dec. 6. That is one week before the $200,000 Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) which was captured in 2024 by eventual Santa Anita Derby (G1) and Preakness winner Journalism.

Won last year by Bob Baffert-trained Tenma, the Starlet will be contested at 1 1/16 miles as will the Futurity.

The other two stakes for juveniles will be run at one mile and are ungraded. The $100,000 Soviet Problem for fillies will be offered Dec. 7, and the $100,000 King Glorious will be run Dec. 14. Both are for horses bred or sired in California.

Rain, incoming typhoon lead to cancellations in Hong Kong

Sun, 21 Sep 2025 10:36:16 GMT

Stormy weather that will become dangerous this week forced the Hong Kong Jockey Club to cancel the last two races Sunday at Sha Tin and Wednesday’s entire card at Happy Valley.

“In light of the approach of super typhoon Ragasa and the latest forecasts issued by the Hong Kong Observatory, the Hong Kong Jockey Club has decided that the Happy Valley race meeting scheduled for Wednesday will be canceled,” the HKJC said in a Sunday statement. “This decision has been made in the interest of public and equine safety and to support the operational needs of stakeholders across the racing industry.”

Heavy rain already fell Sunday at Sha Tin, where races 9 and 10 were called off after an inspection of the course.

“Due to the deterioration of the track under adverse weather conditions, and with the safety of the horses and horsemen as our top priority, the club has decided to abandon the last two races of the race meeting at Sha Tin,” the HKJC said a little more than an hour before it called off the Wednesday card.

One HKJC supervisor said the turn into the homestretch was the most soaked part of the course.

“We had about (5 1/2 inches) of rain since 3 a.m. this morning,” operations manager Stephen Higgins told reporters. “There’s just one area of the track that’s about two horse lengths long that’s causing us concern. It’s much softer than the rest of the track. It’s just on the apex of the band where the drain runs into the infield.

“We had a delegation of the stewards, ourself and three of our leading jockeys, champion jockey (Zac) Purton and Hugh Bowman and Alexis Badel. We all agreed that to ask them to gallop over that particular section would not be in the best interest in racing.”

Wind exceeding 135 mph has been forecast as soon as Monday. The typhoon is expected to intensify Tuesday before leaving Hong Kong sometime Wednesday. Remnant rain is forecast to last through the week.

Racing is scheduled to resume Saturday at Sha Tin.

Coverage of the entire Hong Kong Thoroughbred season at Horse Racing Nation is made possible through a sponsorship by the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

Coal Battle tries to finish rare double in Oklahoma Derby

Sun, 21 Sep 2025 09:47:11 GMT

Coal Battle, winner of the 2024 Springboard Mile at Remington Park and a two-time stakes winner as a 3-year-old, returns to Oklahoma City next Sunday for the Grade 3, $400,000 Oklahoma Derby.

The only graded race at Remington Park, the Oklahoma Derby drew a field of eight for the 1 1/8-mile test around two turns of the main track.

Click here for Remington Park entries and results.

Owned by Robert Norman’s Norman Stables of Thomasville, Ala., and trained by Lonnie Briley, Coal Battle will try to become just the third horse to win both the Springboard Mile and Oklahoma Derby at Remington. Going Ballistic was the first to accomplish this in 2006-07, and then Golden Yank did it in 2007-08.

Coal Battle has been tabbed as the 2-1 morning-line favorite breaking from post position 8. Jockey Corey Lanerie will be up for his third consecutive race with Coal Battle. The pair finished second, beaten by a half-length in the Indiana Derby (G3) at Horseshoe Indianapolis on July 5. They were third in the Matt Winn Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs on June 8, beaten by 1 1/4 lengths.

The $1.25 million Rebel (G2) at Oaklawn on Feb. 23 was the last victory for Coal Battle. That race was the last in a four-race winning streak which started in the Jean Lafitte at Delta Downs in Nov. 24 and included the Springboard Mile and then the Smarty Jones at Oaklawn in January.

Coal Battle is the top earner in the Oklahoma Derby field with $1,287,675. He posted a five-furlong breeze Saturday morning that was clocked at 59.8 seconds at Ellis Park before traveling to Remington Park.

Publisher still seeks his first career victory, but he is not a normal maiden. Owned by Gus King and the estate of Brereton Jones, he has finished in the top four in three graded stakes for trainer Steve Asmussen. The colt by American Pharoah finished fourth in the Rebel and was then second to Sandman in the $1.5 million Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn. He was 14th in the Kentucky Derby and then fourth in the Indiana Derby.

Publisher is the second-choice on the morning line at 7-2. Erik Asmussen will have the mount for the first time since riding the colt’s first five races. Publisher has made nine starts with no wins, two seconds and three thirds.

Bracket Buster is third in the morning-line odds at 4-1 for owner BBN Racing and trainer Vicki Oliver. Winner of the Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth Park in June, Bracket Buster was fourth there in the Haskell (G1) before going to Saratoga to finish second by 10 lengths to division leader Sovereignty in the Travers (G1). Luis Sáez has the ride.

Canadian Derby (G3) winner Take Charge Tom will try to give trainer Robertino Diodoro a second Oklahoma Derby win following the same path. He won in 2013 with Broadway Empire, who also scored the Canadian Derby in Edmonton.

Take Charge Tom is 8-1 on the morning line. The gelding by Tom’s d’Etat has been getting acclimated to Oklahoma City for more than a week with a workout Sept. 13 covering four furlongs handily in 49.62 seconds.

Take Charge Tom shares the top-winner status for Oklahoma Derby entrants with Colonel Yorke, each with six victories.

Colonel Yorke comes into the race off two straight wins at Remington including the restricted Oklahoma Stallion colts and geldings handicap Aug. 29. Owned by Richard Chandler of Dallas, Colonel Yorke is trained by Mindy Willis.

New York-bred Iron Dome competes for Asmussen and owners L&N Racing and Chester Broman. The colt by Into Mischief has won his last three races, all against New York-breds at Saratoga. He won the $200,000 Albany Stakes on Aug. 21. Jockey José Ortiz keeps his mount on Iron Dome, who is 9-2 in the program.

Oklahoma-bred Mister Omaha seeks improvement off his fourth-place run in the Super Derby at Louisiana Downs in Bossier City on Sept. 6. The winner of the Don McNeill Stakes at Remington Park in November is owned by Bryan Hawk and trained by Joe Offolter. Jockey Luis Quiñónez gets back on Mister Omaha, who will break from the rail post at 8-1 odds on the morning line.

The Oklahoma Derby will be the 8:48 p.m. EDT finale on a 10-race program at Remington Park. The first post is at 4 p.m.

2025 Oklahoma Derby G3

No.	Horse / Sire	Rating	Trainer / Jockey	Last start	Morn. line
1	Mister Omaha Omaha Beach		Joe Offolter Luis Quiñónez	4th (117), Super Derby	8-1
Last race	4th (117), Super Derby
2	Iron Dome Into Mischief	6.59	Steve Asmussen José Ortiz	1st (104), 2025 Albany	9-2
Last race	1st (104), 2025 Albany
3	Hot Gunner Exaggerator		Scott Young Floyd Wethey Jr.	4th (88), RP alw (9/13/25-R9)	20-1
Last race	4th (88), RP alw (9/13/25-R9)
4	Bracket Buster Vekoma	7.73	Vicki Oliver Luis Sáez	2nd (126), 2025 Travers G1	4-1
Last race	2nd (126), 2025 Travers G1
5	Publisher American Pharoah	6.37	Steve Asmussen Erik Asmussen	4th (115), 2025 Indiana Derby G3	7-2
Last race	4th (115), 2025 Indiana Derby G3
6	Take Charge Tom Tom’s d’Etat	6.09	Robertino Diodoro Ramon Vázquez	1st (120), 2025 Canadian Derby G3	8-1
Last race	1st (120), 2025 Canadian Derby G3
7	Colonel Yorke Excaper		Mindy Willis Stewart Elliott	1st (120), Oklahoma Stallion Hcp	15-1
Last race	1st (120), Oklahoma Stallion Hcp
8	Coal Battle Coal Front	7.55	Lonnie Briley Corey Lanerie	2nd (118), 2025 Indiana Derby G3	2-1
Last race	2nd (118), 2025 Indiana Derby G3

Horse Racing Nation speed figures are shown in parentheses.

New York: Majestic Oops tries again vs. Randomized in Beldame

Sun, 21 Sep 2025 07:32:43 GMT

Majestic Oops looks to turn the tables on dual Grade 1 winner Randomized on Friday in the Grade 2, $250,000 Beldame Stakes, a 1 1/8-mile test for five fillies and mares at the Belmont at Aqueduct meet.

The Beldame is a part of the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Dozen series for the $2 million Distaff on Nov. 1 at Del Mar. The nominated winner of the Beldame will receive a credit of $30,000 toward entry fees for the Distaff with second and third places receiving credits of $15,000 and $7,500.

Click here for Belmont at Aqueduct entries and results.

Owned by Medallion Racing, Evan Trommer, Agave Racing Stable, Sublime Stables and Janet Kropp and trained by Dan Ward, Majestic Oops won three of her last five starts. She added a pair of graded placings including a three-length, runner-up effort to Randomized in the 1 1/16-mile Molly Pitcher (G3) on July 19 at Monmouth Park. There the 5-year-old Majestic Harbor bay stalked the pace and launched a three-wide bid to chase pacesetting Randomized. That earned Majestic Oops a career-best 96 Beyer Speed Figure, according to Daily Racing Form.

Majestic Oops validated that performance cutting back to seven furlongs in the Ballerina (G1) last out Aug. 23 at Saratoga, rallying for a six-length third to favored Hope Road at odds of 13-1.

“The Molly Pitcher was a tough test, a half-million dollar race against some Grade 1-winning horses, and she ran really well,” Ward said. “We were going to wait out the time until the Beldame, but the Ballerina was right in the middle, and she got a good race that served its purpose. It was seven-eighths between races with five weeks until the Beldame.”

Majestic Oops, who will be in post 4 with jockey Kendrick Carmouche, has three wins this year. They include the one-mile Dig a Diamond in April at Oaklawn and the 1 1/16-mile Lady’s Secret in June at Monmouth. She is 9: 3-3-1 this year, coinciding with her time with Ward. Overall she is 31: 7-11-4 with $596,559 in earnings.

“She wasn’t bothered by hot weather, but I think now that it is cooler outside, she’s doing better,” Ward said. “She comes off the track bouncing, jumping, all of that. I think cooler weather will help her form. Her numbers have been going up, and we got a good sprint prep right in the middle now.”

Randomized will be in post 5 with Flavien Prat. She was a distant sixth last out when fading from the lead in the 1 1/8-mile Personal Ensign (G1) on Aug. at Saratoga. Owned by Klaravich Stables and trained by five-time Eclipse Award-winner Chad Brown, the 5-year-old Nyquist bay entered that race off the Molly Pitcher win.

Randomized was fifth in a title defense in the Ogden Phipps (G1) in June at the Spa after a pacesetting third in her seasonal debut in the La Troienne (G1) in May at Churchill Downs.

In 2023, Randomized wired the Beldame vs. older rivals, and she utilized similar front-running tactics when capturing the Alabama (G1) and the restricted Wilton, both at Saratoga this year.

Randomized boasts a field-best $1,714,050 in earnings via a 14: 6-2-2 record. A $420,000 purchase at the 2021 Keeneland September yearling sale, Randomized is out of unraced Elusive Quality mare French Passport, a half-sister to Brown-trained multiple graded-stakes-winning millionaire Smooth Air and graded-stakes winner Overdriven.

Grade 1-placed Gun Song, in post 3 on Friday with John Velázquez, was a distant fourth to Grade 1 winner Leslie’s Rose last out in the 1 1/8-mile Shuvee (G2) on July 18 at Saratoga. Owned by Lee Lewis and trained by Mark Hennig, the 4-year-old Gun Runner chestnut was making her fourth start of the year after a three-length second to Malibu Beauty in the 1 1/16-mile Obeah on June 14 at Delaware Park.

“She’s doing super,” Hennig said. “After that race at Saratoga we figured we would regroup and point to a race in September. We are giving her a shot. Let’s see if she can earn her way somewhere. At a mile-and-an-eighth, you know she can lay fairly close.”

As a sophomore Gun Song hit the board in 7 of 9 outings including close seconds in the Mother Goose (G2) over Beldame course and distance in October and to eventual horse of the year Thorpedo Anna in the Cotillion (G1) at Parx.

Gun Song, out of graded-stakes-winning Mr. Greeley mare Nicole H, was bought for $400,000 at the 2023 Ocala Breeders’ Sale March auction of 2-year-olds in training. She has banked $778,220 through a 15: 4-5-2 record highlighted by a win in last year’s Black-Eyed Susan (G2) at Pimlico.

Grade 1-placed sophomore Margie’s Intention, in post 2 with Manny Franco, who was third last out in the 1 1/4-mile Alabama for dual Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox.

Three-time winner Just Music will be in post 1 with Dylan Davis for conditioner Linda Rice.

The Beldame is the seventh of nine races Friday at 4:09 p.m. EDT. The first post is at 1:10.

2025 Beldame G2

No.	Horse / Sire	Rating	Trainer / Jockey	Last start	Status
1	Just Music Audible		Linda Rice Dylan Davis	5th (103), SAR alw OC (7/20/25-R5)	Entered
Last race	5th (103), SAR alw OC (7/20/25-R5)
2	Margie’s Intention Honor A. P.	7.62	Brad Cox Manny Franco	3rd (112), 2025 Alabama G1	Entered
Last race	3rd (112), 2025 Alabama G1
3	Gun Song Gun Runner	7.14	Mark Hennig John Velázquez	4th (105), 2025 Shuvee G2	Entered
Last race	4th (105), 2025 Shuvee G2
4	Majestic Oops Majestic Harbor	6.80	Dan Ward Kendrick Carmouche	3rd (119), 2025 Ballerina G1	Entered
Last race	3rd (119), 2025 Ballerina G1
5	Randomized Nyquist	7.83	Chad Brown Flavien Prat	6th (91), 2025 Personal Ensign G1	Entered
Last race	6th (91), 2025 Personal Ensign G1

Horse Racing Nation speed figures are in parentheses.

Zipse: Try to repeat like Rebel’s Romance in Breeders’ Cup

Sun, 21 Sep 2025 06:12:52 GMT

In the 41-year history of the Breeders’ Cup there have been 29 horses to win at the world championships more than once. I expect that number to grow in 2025.

Rebel’s Romance is one horse who cannot add to the total of 29, because he already is on the list. Trainer Charlie Appleby has the grand gelding pointing for the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Aqueduct on Saturday. The winner of the Grosser Preis von Berlin (G1) last month is going as good as ever, and the 7-year-old will have a big shot to win the Breeders’ Cup Turf for a third time after victories at Keeneland in 2022 and at Del Mar last year.

Rebel’s Romance races Saturday in Turf Classic.

Where Rebel’s Romance already has turned the trick, there are several other horses who look to be in good shape as they approach the opportunity of winning for a second time at the Breeders’ Cup.

The Distaff has been a relatively fertile ground for repeat winners. This year Thorpedo Anna will look to join the likes of Bayakoa, Royal Delta, Beholder and Monomoy Girl, all two-time winners of the rich and prestigious race for females. Coming off an ultra-game win in the Personal Ensign (G1) at Saratoga, the 2024 horse of the year will have one final prep at either Keeneland or Delaware Park before taking her shot at a repeat victory.

The richest race in American racing, the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic is the crown jewel of the championships, and it has proven to be very difficult to win more than once. Tiznow did it with a pair of gutsy efforts, but he remains the only one. Last year’s winner Sierra Leone is in good form to make a run at it this year. A troubled trip led to a second-place finish last time in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1), but it will send the late-running son of Gun Runner to Del Mar in with a solid chance against a loaded field.

White Abarrio, the 2023 winner of the Breeders’ Cup Classic, would be only a long shot this year, so his connections wisely decided to go for the Dirt Mile instead. The winner of the Pegasus World Cup (G1) early this season should not be ignored when he cuts back in distance and drops into the easier spot.

Surprisingly, no Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner ever has gone on to win another race at the championships. That could change this year.

Fierceness, who won the 2023 edition on his way to an Eclipse Award, was a game second in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar last season and will be a strong contender again this year after his impressive win over the track in last month’s Pacific Classic (G1).

Bob Baffert-trained Citizen Bull, who won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile a year ago and then was named the champion 2-year-old male, has had an up and down season. He announced himself a contender for the Dirt Mile on Nov. 1, however, with an easy victory in the Shared Belief Stakes at Del Mar on Aug. 31.

The Dirt Mile may have three former Breeders’ Cup winners in the race this year. Although I already have mentioned White Abarrio and Citizen Bull, it may be Full Serrano who is the one to beat. The defending race winner looked great in cruising away from his competition in a recent allowance race at Del Mar in his first start of the year. He is expected to start in the Goodwood Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita on Saturday as a final prep for the Dirt Mile or possibly the Classic.

Although he has yet to run in the U.S. yet this year, do not forget about Straight No Chaser. The 2024 champion sprinter won the Riyadh Dirt Sprint (G2) in Saudi Arabia in February but finished eighth in the Golden Shaheen (G1) in Dubai after that. Owned by the MyRacehorse syndicate and trained by Dan Blacker, the winner of the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Sprint is working well in advance of next Sunday’s Santa Anita Sprint Championship (G2), which would serve as a prep for a chance to repeat at Del Mar.

Last but not least, the winner of last year’s Juvenile Turf is likely to return this year in the Breeders’ Cup Mile. Aidan O’Brien-trained Henri Matisse has not won a race since the France guineas (G1) in May but continues to run solid races against the world’s best milers. The classy son of Wootton Bassett seems well suited for the U.S. style of turf racing and should be a big threat to win a second time at Del Mar.

Winning at the Breeders’ Cup once is tough enough. Doing it a second or even third time places you in rarified air. Here is a complete list of those special 29 horses.

Bayakoa: Distaff, 1989, 1990
Beholder: Juvenile Fillies 2012; Distaff 2013, 2016
Cody’s Wish: Dirt Mile 2022, 2023
Conduit: Turf 2008, 2009
Da Hoss: Mile 1996, 1998
Elite Power: Sprint 2022, 2023
Goldencents: Dirt Mile 2013, 2014
Golden Pal: Juvenile Turf Sprint 2020, Turf Sprint 2021
Goldikova: Mile 2008, 2009, 2010
Goodnight Olive: Filly & Mare Sprint 2022, 2023
Groupie Doll: Filly & Mare Sprint 2012, 2013
High Chaparral: Turf 2002, 2003
Knicks Go: Dirt Mile 2020, Classic 2021
Lure: Mile 1992, 1993
Midnight Lute: Sprint 2007, 2008
Miesque: Mile 1987, 1988
Mizdirection: Turf Sprint 2012, 2013
Modern Games: Juvenile Turf 2021, Mile 2022
Monomoy Girl: Distaff 2018, 2020
Ouija Board: Filly & Mare Turf 2004, 2006
Rebel’s Romance: Turf 2022, 2024
Royal Delta: Distaff 2011, 2012
Roy H: Sprint 2017, 2018
Secret Circle: Juvenile Sprint 2011, Sprint 2013
Stephanie’s Kitten: Juvenile Turf Fillies 2011, Filly & Mare Turf 2015
Stormy Liberal: Turf Sprint 2017, 2018
Tiznow: Classic 2000, 2001
Wise Dan: Mile 2012, 2013
Zenyatta: Distaff 2008, Classic 2009

HRN speed figures: Daily top 10 plus fastest maiden winners

Sun, 21 Sep 2025 05:24:12 GMT

While winning a berth in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, Haulin Ice earned the second-highest Horse Racing Nation speed figure from Saturday’s races.

The Coal Front filly got a 134 figure at Gulfstream Park for her victory in the Grade 3, $200,000 Princess Rooney Stakes at Gulfstream Park. Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. for owners C2 Racing Stable, Miller Racing, Paul Braverman and Timothy Pinch, 4-year-old Haulin Ice won the seven-furlong dirt race at 5-2 odds, recording her 10th career win from 17 starts. She defeated her competition by 4 3/4 lengths.

Click here for Gulfstream Park entries and results.

Maida topped Saturday’s performers with a 137 HRN figure at Laurel Park. The 3-year-old filly by Improbable captured the Weather Vane Stakes over six furlongs on dirt at 2-1 odds in a dominant win by eight lengths. This marked her third career victory in her fourth start.

Cool Kiss completed the top three with a 130 figure at Woodbine in the Durham Cup (G3). The 5-year-old gelding by Kantharos scored the 1 1/16-mile synthetic race at 17-1 odds, securing his fourth career win from 23 starts.

Top 10 speed figures

HRN	Horse	Sire	Age	Race	Distance
137	Maida	Improbable	3 f	LRL 8	6 f dirt
134	Haulin Ice	Coal Front	4 f	GP 10	7 f dirt
130	Cool Kiss	Kantharos	5 g	WO 9	1 1/16 syn
129	J D Factor	The Factor	4 g	DEL 8	5 1/2 f dirt
126	Smoken Wicked	Bobby’s Wicked One	3 c	CD 7	7 f dirt
125	Vettriano	Liam’s Map	4 c	BAQ 9	7 f dirt
124	Bold Diversion	Blofeld	3 g	LRL 4	6 f dirt
123	R Morning Brew	Curlin’s Honor	3 f	GP 5	6 1/2 f dirt
123	Lord Berrier	Poseidon’s Warrior	7 g	GP 9	5 f syn
122	Steppe	Sky Mesa	3 g	GP 6	1 mi dirt

Fastest maiden winners

Piper’s Gift posted Saturday’s highest maiden winner figure with a 112 HRN speed figure at Woodbine. The 2-year-old filly by Yorkton captured a six-furlong race on synthetic at 5-2 odds in her third career start in a dominant win by eight lengths. She is out of Piper’s Legacy by Silent Name, a mare who earned $133,000, and her top sibling Pipers Reign by Yorkton has earned $53,000.

Cuando impressed with a 111 figure at Belmont at Aqueduct in a one-mile turf race. The 4-year-old gelding by Not This Time won at 8-1 odds in his 17th career start. His dam Fox Hunt by Saint Liam earned $5,000, and his top sibling Chancel by Temple City has earned $189,000.

Shout to the Lord earned a 109 at Laurel Park in her second career start. The 4-year-old filly by Curlin won a seven-furlong dirt win at 2-1 odds in a dominant win by five lengths. She is out of Intentional Cry by Street Cry, and her top sibling Telekinesis by Ghostzapper has earned $281,000 with Grade 3 placing.

Top maiden winners

HRN	Horse	Sire	Age	Race	Distance
112	Piper’s Gift	Yorkton	2 f	WO 6	6 f syn
111	Cuando	Not This Time	4 g	BAQ 5	1 mi turf
109	Shout to the Lord	Curlin	4 f	LRL 6	7 f dirt
109	Meaning	Gun Runner	2 f	LRC 1	6 1/2 f dirt
109	Sister Troienne	Munnings	2 f	CD 11	1 mi turf
107	Buds Notion	Great Notion	2 g	DEL 2	6 f dirt
106	Celebrity Ro	Oscar Performance	4 f	WO 8	1 mi turf
105	Bust Out	Complexity	2 c	LRC 4	6 1/2 f dirt
104	Minute by Minute	Not This Time	2 f	BAQ 4	6 1/2 f dirt
102	Cryptonym	Hello Broadway	4 g	GP 2	1 1/16 syn

About HRN speed figures

HRN speed figures are AI-generated using HRN’s proprietary machine-learning algorithms. Although they involve less human input than other speed figures, we see that as a plus as human adjustments often knock down surprisingly good performances to match expectations. HRN speed figures were launched in December 2024, and our expectation is also that the AI-generated speed figures will continuously get better over time.

The HRN speed figure scale goes from 1 to 160. Part of the reason for this higher scale is this helps us avoid assigning a speed figure of zero. For some products, in weaker races, half the field or more may get a speed figure of zero, which leads to inaccuracy and defeats the purpose of speed figures.

Because the HRN speed figures are based on machine learning, as we improve our models we can compute the numbers historically.

Using the top last-race speed figure as a benchmark, here are stats from 2021 to 2024 for HRN and other speed-figure providers:

Top HRN figure 26.2% winners.

Top Beyer figure 28.1% winners.

Top TimeformUS figure 28.4% winners.

Although all HRN speed figures are published on individual horse profile pages on a weekly basis, the daily reports are focused on the top and medium-tier tracks, which represent the majority of top speed figures.