Vino Rosso will carry momentum into the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) following his breakthrough victory April 7 in the $1 million Wood Memorial Stakes presented by NYRA Bets (G2) at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Even though he only took command of the race officially as he entered the third and final turn of the 1 1/2-mile dirt test, the 7-year-old son of Any Given Saturday never looked in danger of losing April 8 at Santa Anita Park.

Four weeks in advance of the $2 million Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade I), lightly raced and unbeaten Santa Anita Derby winner Justify closed as a resounding 3-1 favorite in Pool 4 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager (KDFW).  

Trainer Jason Servis notched his 1000th career win Sunday at Gulfstream Park, reaching the milestone with Meant Tobe Mine in the ninth race.

In her first start since she captured the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T) in November, Rushing Fall showed who she was in the $200,000 Appalachian Stakes presented by Japan Racing Association (G2T) when she drew clear to win by a length.

A 1 1/2-length victory in the $150,000 Beaumont Stakes Presented by Keeneland Select (G3) for 3-year-old fillies at Keeneland April 8 marked the return to racing and stakes debut of Gas Station Sushi, in just her second start.

In her final work for the April 13 Apple Blossom Handicap (G1), Don Alberto Stable’s Unique Bella breezed with power and grace and covered four furlongs in :46 4/5 Sunday under the watchful eye of Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.

The Texas Thoroughbred Association will seek to build on momentum generated by last year’s 2-year-olds in training sale when the 2018 edition is held April 10 at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas.

A day after impressive winning performances in both the Santa Anita Derby (G1) and Santa Anita Oaks (G1), the West Coast contingent once again appears to be a top player for the action on the first week of May at Churchill Downs.

Champion Good Magic joined his caretakers in being in good order April 8, one day after his vindicating, 1 1/2-length victory in the $1 million Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) at Keeneland.

The Texas Thoroughbred Association will seek to build on momentum generated by last year’s 2-year-olds in training sale when the 2018 edition is held April 10 at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas.

Reigning juvenile male champion Good Magic took home the $1 million Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) at Keeneland April 7 and added 100 points to his Road to the Kentucky Derby total. 

In an unusual running of the $200,000 Royal Heroine Stakes (G2T) April 7, that saw favorite Enola Gray break slow, and a back-and-forth exchange of leaders, Beau Recall (IRE) flew from off the pace to score her first graded stakes victory.

Despite getting squeezed at the start, the Speightstown colt used a rush along the outside to win the $250,000 Bay Shore Stakes (G3).

Midnight Bisou had been plenty impressive in her racing career prior to the $400,000 Santa Anita Oaks (G1), but what she did April 7 was above and beyond any of her past performances.

Multiple grade 1 winner Bolt d’Oro did his best to cut into the large lead Justify built on the front end in the final turn of the 1 1/8-mile test at Santa Anita Park, but that powerful stride just kept forging on.