Semaphore Racing and Homewrecker Racing’s Sailor’s Valentine broke through in a big way April 8, upsetting seven other 3-year-old fillies to win the $500,000 Central Bank Ashland Stakes (G1) at Keeneland.

Irish War Cry put doubts to rest April 8 in the $750,000 Wood Memorial Presented by NYRA Bets (G2), clearing Battalion Runner by open lengths to rebound from his lackluster performance last out.

Live Oak Plantation’s homebred Awesome Slew rallied in the center of the track and ran down favorite A. P. Indian to win Keeneland’s Commonwealth Stakes (G3) April 8.

Live Oak Plantation, trainer Mark Casse, and jockey Joel Rosario made it two straight stakes scores at Keeneland when they teamed to win the Shakertown Stakes (G2T) on turf with Holding Gold

John Oxley’s reigning juvenile champion Classic Empire turned in his final serious drill in advance of his expected run in the $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1), breezing an easy half mile in :50 at Winding Oaks Farm in Ocala the morning of April 8.

The offspring of Galileo belonging to the Coolmore/Ballydoyle connections finished on top April 8 Ballylinch Stud One Thousand Guineas and the Leopardstown Two Thousand Guineas Trial at Leopardstown.

Chris Waller trainee Foxplay (AUS) capped a huge day at Royal Randwick April 8 for the conditioner, who also sent out supermare Winx to her 17th straight win earlier on the card.

Consider this your weekly guide to the best stakes in North America. This week we have massive stakes cards at Aqueduct Racetrack, Keeneland, and Santa Anita Park built around three top Triple Crown preps.

The wonder from down under put the latest exclamation point on her resume April 8 at Royal Randwick, cruising to a 5 1/4-length victory in the Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) with the ease of a Saturday stroll.

The New York Racing Association, operating under the control of the state government since 2012, will be returned to private hands under a deal that came together April 7 at the New York Capitol.

What is already a successful comeback by any definition could take a storybook twist when jockey Rajiv Maragh pilots grade 2 winner Irish War Cry in Saturday’s Wood Memorial Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G2).

From the time he purchased the colt at the 2003 Keeneland November breeding stock sale, George Krikorian believed the day would come when Mr. Big would get an opportunity to showcase some real talent.

Back to serious training in 2017, the only horse to beat Unique Bella will make her return to racing April 9 in the $75,000 Santa Paula Stakes at Santa Anita.

His head is still swathed in bandages, a reminder of how close jockey Bryce Alderson came to losing his life during a race at Tampa Bay Downs on Dec. 21.

Although he is confident Joe Turner’s undefeated Sircat Sally can run on either turf or dirt, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer is keeping the homebred Surf Cat filly on the grass April 8 in the $150,000 Providencia Stakes (G3T) at Santa Anita Park.

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) announced April 7 that the 47th Annual Eclipse Awards will be held Jan. 25, 2018; the Thursday before the $16 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) at Gulfstream Park.