Kaleem Shah’s Bellafina pulled away in the stretch to win the Santa Anita Oaks (G1) by an impressive 5 1/4 lengths April 6 at Santa Anita Park.

Imprimis won for the seventh time in nine starts and notched his first graded stakes win in the Shakertown at Keeneland after having won three previous black-type events

Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (G2) winner Tacitus secured another Road to the Kentucky Derby win when he rallied to take the Wood Memorial Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G2) April 6 at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Highly regarded by his connections, Bobby’s Wicked One broke through in a big way April 6 in the $250,000 Commonwealth Stakes (G3) at Keeneland.

Vekoma took command off the final turn and drew off to a 3 1/2-length victory in the $1 million Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) April 6 at Keeneland.

Former claimer turned grade 1 winner Vasilika joined the million-dollar club when she won as she pleased in the April 6 Royal Heroine Stakes (G2T) at Santa Anita Park. The 5-year-old daughter of Skipshot remains three-for-three in 2019.

A trip from her Southern California base paid dividends for Spiced Perfection’s connections April 6 when she prevailed in a stretch duel to win the $300,000 Madison Stakes (G1) by a neck over a game Amy’s Challenge at Keeneland.

In beating Three Chimneys Farm’s Much Better, the 6-5 favorite, Mind Control ($6.30) confirmed his status as a premier 3-year-old sprinter, a distinction he first earned when he won the Hopeful Stakes (G1) as a 2-year-old.

Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, and Bethlehem Stables’ World of Trouble battled three wide in the stretch and prevailed over his competition to win the $400,000 Carter Handicap (G1) April 6 at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The 3-year-old daughter of Hard Spun entered stakes competition for the first time Saturday for trainer Dallas Stewart and turned back 5-2 second choice Restless Rider after putting away even-money favorite Jaywalk off the turn for home.

Kaleem Shah’s Bellafina pulled away in the stretch to win the Santa Anita Oaks (G1) by an impressive 5 1/4 lengths April 6 at Santa Anita Park.

Katsumi and Yasuyo Yoshizawa’s Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby competitor Master Fencer has accepted an invitation to participate in the 145th running of the $3 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) May 4.

As the 4-1 favorite, Tiger Roll was the shortest-priced winner in 100 years

Anthony Freedman has indicated a trip to Europe could be on the cards with Santa Ana Lane after his emphatic success in the group 1 Aquis TJ Smith Stakes at Randwick April 6, one of four group 1 wins on the card.

Second time proved to be the charm for Juddmonte Farm homebred Honest Mischief, who made quick work of a $79,0000 seven-furlong maiden special weight April 6 at Keeneland. 

Each Saturday NTRA and BloodHorse will provide a one-stop guide to the day’s top stakes races in North America and beyond. Races are listed in chronological order (all times Eastern). 

Sugar Bowl Stakes winner Gray Attempt and Los Alamitos CashCall Futurity (G1) winner Improbable both worked April 5, both with eyes on a start in the upcoming April 13 Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park.

A new state budget plan put together earlier this week in New York is more about items not getting addressed than major new changes to state gambling and pari-mutuel laws that might affect the state’s Thoroughbred industry.

Patience paid off April 5 for owner-breeder Ivan Dalos as Avie’s Flatter rallied between horses and stormed through the stretch to win the $150,000 Kentucky Utilities Transylvania Stakes (G3T) at Keeneland.