Blood-Horse

A little more than a week after he was formally announced as the Eclipse Award-winning 2-year-old male of 2024, Citizen Bull kicks off his 3-year-old campaign Feb. 1 in the $200,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park.

Maiden Watch: Week of Jan. 20-Jan. 26

At a Jan. 28 Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission meeting, the University of Pennsylvania's Dr. Mary Robinson discussed how artificial intelligence and mathematical algorithms are helping to improve racehorse drug testing in the commonwealth.

The comprehensive Thoroughbred sales review for North America is available on BloodHorse+. The digest includes hip-by-hip results for the most commercial stallions.

Taylor Made Stallions' Dr. Schivel, a millionaire son of Violence who won grade 1 races at 2 and 3, sired his first reported foal Jan. 27 at Drion Thoroughbreds near Nicholasville, Ky.

Byron King's Top 12 on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, presented by Spendthrift Farm.

A year after its colt No More Time was ruled out of the Kentucky Derby (G1) due to injury, Morplay Racing begins a new quest for the Run for the Roses with Guns Loaded in the Feb. 1 $265,000 Holy Bull Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park.

At the close of selling, the Book 1 aggregate reached NZ$75,322,500, (US$42,686,400), down 5% on 12 months ago albeit from a slightly smaller offering of 588 yearlings. The average rounded out at NZ$164,819 (US$93,405), a drop of 2%.

In the first National Thoroughbred Racing Association Top Thoroughbred Poll of 2025, Pegasus World Cup (G1) winner White Abarrio tops Thorpedo Anna for the No. 1 spot.

Delaware Park has made some changes to their stakes schedule in 2025, shifting the Delaware Handicap (G3) to September and debuting the Delaware Derby in June. The meet will run May 14-Oct. 11.

Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation announced Jan. 28 that Kevin Lavin, who had been vice-chair, has been named chair, replacing Dell Hancock, and Geoffrey Russell has been named vice-chair.

Old Friends announced that graded stakes-winning stallions Intidab, age 32, and Kayrawan, age 33, that were donated to the farm for their retirements by Shadwell Farm, were euthanized due to the infirmities of old age.

Pleasant Acres Stallions announced the arrival of Verifying's first foal, a strong and healthy filly out of the Malibu Moon mare Selective Memory. Born Jan. 25 at 5:30 a.m., the foal is owned by Belvedere Farm in Reddick, Fla.

The Queens M G, winner of the Adirondack Stakes (G3), looks to return to her winning ways Feb. 1 in the Forward Gal Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park. She faces a deep field including stakes winners My Denysse and Stunner.

Apparently, the difference in temperatures is not the only polar opposite between New York and Florida at the moment. It also extends to their breeding programs.

There were conversations about sending Thorpedo Anna to the Dubai World Cup (G1), but McPeek said that while that hasn't been ruled out, the more likely follow-up to the Azeri Stakes (G2) would be the Apple Blossom Stakes (G1) at Oaklawn.

The single-session auction will begin Jan. 28 at 11 a.m. ET and features newly turned yearlings, broodmares, and broodmare prospects. White Abarrio, winner of the Pegasus World Cup Stakes (G1), sold for $7,500 at the Winter Mixed Sale in 2020.

The first reported foal by grade 1 winner Annapolis has been born at Claiborne, the farm announced Jan. 27.

Former champion rider Gavin Lerena repeatedly whipped a rival jockey during race Jan. 26 at Turffontein. Lerena stood in the irons and hit Jason Gates with his riding crop three times in the final furlong.

The New York Racing Association announced Jan. 27 that general admission tickets, hospitality offerings, and reserved seats for the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at historic Saratoga Race Course will go on sale to the public Feb. 13 at 10 a.m. ET.