Three-year-olds who have just one career start at this point in the year are usually not viewed as Triple Crown prospects. However, Iron Honor's dazzling Dec. 13 career debut was anything but typical.
With the usual approach of welcoming a massive crowd for the Preakness Stakes (G1) not an option for this year as the event moves to Laurel Park, 1/ST Racing will market this year's race as an exclusive event when seats go on sale Feb. 25.
Vazquez won his 500th race at Oaklawn Park Feb. 20, becoming just the 11th rider to reach that number of local wins. His total of 13 wins for the week vaulted him to the top of the Oaklawn jockey standings.
The Fasig-Tipton's February Digital Sale closed Feb. 24 with gross sales of $5,881,500 for 189 horses sold, led by Neom Beach, who sold for $300,000 to Amy Moore.
CDI's eighth historical horse racing entertainment venue, Marshall Yards, is set to open to the public Feb. 25. The Calvert City, Ky., venue features 225 state-of-the-art historical racing machines and a retail sportsbook.
Godolphin's undefeated Bella Ballerina leads a list of 89 3-year-old fillies nominated to the 152nd running of the $1.5 million Kentucky Oaks (G1), May 1 at Churchill Downs.
Stonegate Stables reported the most recent foal, a filly out of Pharoah's Fortune. Another filly bred by Little Rose Farm out of San Pantaleo was born Feb. 1 in Kentucky.
Favorite Iron Honor is a major contender in the Gotham Stakes, contested as a one-turn mile at Aqueduct. Balboa is a live longshot. The winner will receive 50 qualifying points toward the Kentucky Derby starting gate.
The "Race to the National Horseplayers Championship," a series of 25 free handicapping contests exclusively for subscribers of Race Lens, Equibase's interactive past performance product, concluded Feb. 21.