West Will Power emerged victorious in the prestigious Grade I Stephen Foster Stakes at Ellis Park, earning a well-deserved $1 million prize. The racing world also saw Fort Bragg make a strong impression in the 3-year-old division, while Woodbine, Monmouth Park, Gulfstream Park, Delaware Park, and Lone Star Park offered thrilling stakes races. Internationally, Aidan O’Brien celebrated his 100th European Classic win with Auguste Rodin at the Irish Derby, a race in which he also trained the first four place-getters. South Africa’s Group 1 Durban July provided an exciting finish amidst its usual social festivities. In other news, discover which track has named a high-stakes race after King Charles and contemplate why Churchill Downs chose to reinstate a trainer involved in the death of two horses, despite expressing concern about their condition.
The 3-year-old division continues to captivate with its ever-shifting and dazzling performances. In the $200,000 Grade III Dwyer Stakes at Belmont Park, Fort Bragg and Saudi Crown battled neck and neck in a thrilling stretch run, with Fort Bragg ultimately crossing the finish line first by a mere nose. The closest rival trailed by 11 lengths. Under the guidance of trainer Bob Baffert, Fort Bragg ran the mile in 1:34.37, bouncing back from previous disappointments in longer races earlier in the year. Baffert believes that Fort Bragg’s struggle with longer distances may be a mental hurdle that can be overcome with time and development. He even mentioned the possibility of competing in the Grade II Jim Dandy or the Grade I Travers at Saratoga.
Meanwhile, in the $1 million Grade I Stephen Foster Stakes, West Will Power seized the lead around the stretch turn at Ellis Park and showed unwavering determination in the final furlong to clinch a 1/2 length victory over Rattle N Roll. Happy American finished a respectable 1 1/2 lengths behind in third place. Trained by Brad Cox, West Will Power, a 6-year-old homebred by Bernardini from the stables of Gary and Mary West, covered 1 1/8 miles on a fast track in 1:47.93. With this impressive win, West Will Power secured a coveted spot in November’s Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita. Having shown consistent form with 15 top-three finishes in 17 starts, including seven wins and seven seconds, West Will Power’s improvement over the years was not lost on Cox, who acknowledged that becoming a Grade I winner is a remarkable achievement. Looking ahead, Cox plans to chart a course back to the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
At Woodbine, trainer Chad Brown’s decision to enter Turf King in the $150,000 (Canadian) Marine Stakes proved to be a winning move. The Irish-bred Kingman colt displayed great courage, maneuvering inside his rivals during the stretch and emerging victorious by 1/2 a length over Kaukokaipuu. Midnight Rising secured third place. Guided by jockey Kazushi Kimura, Turf King completed 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.41, his third win in four starts, with two victories on all-weather tracks and one on the Keeneland grass. The older horses took to the track for the $150,000 Dominion Day Stakes at Woodbine, where Tyson rallied from the back of the pack to triumph over the favorite, Treason, by 1 1/2 lengths. Under the skilled guidance of jockey Rafael Hernandez, Tyson covered 1 1/8 miles on the all-weather course in 1:48.32.
Sunday’s $275,000 Hanshin Stakes at Ellis Park saw Zozos battle for the early lead before taking control and securing a decisive 3-length victory over War Campaign. Trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Florent Geroux, the 4-year-old Munnings colt completed the mile on a sloppy track in 1:35.73. The $400,000 Grade II Fleur de Lis Stakes at Ellis Park featured only three contenders due to scratches, yet the race still delivered excitement. Joel Rosario, aboard Pauline’s Pearl, delivered a sensational come-from-behind performance to win by 3/4 of a neck, narrowly defeating Bellamore. However, the stewards reversed the order of finish due to interference caused by Bellamore against the favorite, A Mo Rey, in the final moments of the race. This decision resulted in a $39,000 shift in purse money, although it did not impact the bets placed on the race, which were limited to win bets only. The victory marked a return to form for Pauline’s Pearl, a 5-year-old Tapit mare trained by Steve Asmussen and owned by Stonestreet Stables. Having previously won the 2022 Grade I La Troienne, Pauline’s Pearl had struggled to replicate her success in five subsequent starts. She completed the 1 1/8-mile distance on a fast track in 1:49.59.
Foggy Night prevailed in the $300,000 Grade III Delaware Oaks at Delaware Park, overtaking early leader Opus Forty Two in a tightly contested stretch run to secure a 1 3/4-length victory. Miracle finished just a nose behind Opus Forty Two to claim third place, while the odds-on favorite, Fireline, performed evenly to finish fourth. Under the guidance of jockey Paco Lopez, Foggy Night, a Khozan filly, completed 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:45.07. This win marked her second consecutive victory, having achieved a top-two finish in all but one of her eight career starts, with her sole miss in the Grade II Demoiselle last fall.
Solo Album made an impressive turnaround in the $150,000 (Canadian) Selene Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, securing a dominant 6 1/4-length victory. Trained by Mark Casse, the Curlin filly surged from the outside into the stretch and left her eight opponents in her wake. Honor D Lady finished as the runner-up, while Solo Album, ridden by Sahin Civaci, completed 1 1/16 miles on the all-weather track in 1:42.65.
At Monmouth Park, Miss New York showcased her competitive spirit by rallying from last place to win the $100,000 Boiling Springs Stakes for 3-year-olds. Jockey Isaac Castillo steered the daughter of Good Magic to a commanding 2 3/4-length victory over Shidabhuti. The race covered 1 mile and 70 yards on a fast track in 1:44.07.
With the 3-year-old division in a state of constant flux, sprinters have the opportunity to claim the spotlight. Ryvit, a son of Competitive Edge, proved his worth by securing a fifth consecutive win in the $225,000 Maxfield Stakes at Ellis Park. Leading from start to finish, Ryvit triumphed by 3 lengths over Mulliken, completing the 7-furlong race on a sloppy track in 1:22.33 under jockey Cristian Torres.
In the $250,000 Grade II John A. Nerud Stakes at Belmont Park, Three Technique found his stride, making a powerful surge in the final sixteenth of the race to pass the early leaders and win by 3 3/4 lengths. Synthesis claimed second place, narrowly edging out Candy Man Rocket. The favorite, Weyburn, struggled in last place throughout the race. With jockey Javier Castellano in the saddle, Three Technique, a 5-year-old son of Mr Speaker, completed the 7-furlong distance on a fast track in 1:22.88, securing consecutive wins for the first time since 2019.
Bango continued his ascent in the sprint division with a front-running victory in the $225,000 Kelly’s Landing Overnight Stakes at Churchill Downs. With his strong start, Bango never relinquished the lead and crossed the finish line with a comfortable margin of victory. The final time for the 7-furlong race was not provided.
These thrilling races showcase the incredible talent and competitive nature of the horse racing world. As the summer season unfolds, we eagerly anticipate more captivating performances and the potential for new stars to emerge.
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