Claimed for $40,000 in April at Oaklawn Park, C Z Rocket racked up a four-race win streak and punched his ticket to the Breeders’ Cup with a determined score in the $151,000 Pat O’Brien Stakes (G2) at Del Mar.

When Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt bid farewell to the blazingly quick Mitole upon his retirement last season, little did they know that a similarly speedy runner was waiting in the wings.

Breeze On By led a 1-2-3-4 finish for Stonehedge at Gulfstream Park Aug. 29 with a commanding 7 1/2-length victory in the $200,000 Affirmed division of the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes series.

On paper, the seven-furlong $300,000 Forego Stakes Presented by America’s Best Racing (G1) seemed like an ambitious spot as opposed to the proper one, but trainer Michael Trombetta was indeed “right.”

With a determined stretch run, Chart prevailed in a photo finish to take the CA$130,000 (US$99,243) Ontario Colleen Stakes (G3T) for 3-year-old fillies Aug. 29 at Woodbine.

Churchill Downs’ new 20-horse starting gate, specifically designed to accommodate the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), will receive an afternoon trial in the second race there Sept. 1, track officials said.

A clear early lead and a liking for a turf course softened by an afternoon thunderstorm was a recipe for success for Channel Maker in the $500,000 Sword Dancer Stakes (G1T) at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 29.

Moving off the turf proved to be no problem for Valiance, who Aug. 29 won the $153,500 Eatontown Stakes to keep her record at Monmouth Park a perfect 3-for-3.

Trainer Graham Motion is glad that tough beats are not necessarily passed along through bloodlines.

Canadian Shirl’s Speight was pulled from consideration for the Sept. 5 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) at Churchill Downs after becoming sick, trainer Roger Attfield said. The setback is not considered serious.

For the connections of Century Dream, the rain that drenched Goodwood this week was cause for celebration. So was what happened in the track’s showpiece prize Aug. 29.

Entrepreneur John Green, a lifelong equestrian, is eager to build on the successes of Northview PA.

Behemoth by name and by nature, but not by sales price, the gelding is now among that most exclusive of clubs for racehorses as a group 1 winner after he scored his first success at the highest level in the Magic Millions Memsie Stakes (G1) Aug. 29.

One of the racing industry’s most beloved ambassadors, Foster’s Melbourne Cup (G1) winner Subzero, was humanely euthanized Aug. 29 at the age of 32. 

Things are going so well for Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) favorite Tiz the Law that even Mother Nature seems to be on his side. He breezed Aug. 29, covering five furlongs in snappy :59.21.

As Jeff Cannizzo sees it, having a New York-bred as the favorite in the Kentucky Derby (G1) figures to bring some great exposure—helping the general public understand that breeding is an economic driver in the Empire State.

Thumbs Up Racing’s Sleepy Eyes Todd rewarded the faith of Carlos Delgado, who jumped aboard for the 11th-hour assignment, with a frontrunning 7 1/2-length victory Aug. 28 in the $600,000 Charles Town Classic (G2).

Though some of the usual Derby Week sights were missing on the Churchill Downs backstretch Aug. 28, as horses completed their final drills for the Sept. 5 Kentucky Derby (G1), one constant remained: 84-year-old D. Wayne Lukas on his stable pony.

Owned and trained by Alexander Patykewich, Saratoga Vision will look to record a couple of firsts in the Aug. 29 $125,000 Ontario Colleen Stakes (G3T) at Woodbine.