Champs of the Track

Jocelyn Russell’s bronze depiction of the record-smashing Triple Crown winner Secretariat in downtown Paris, Kentucky is truly awe-inspiring. It perfectly captures the power and commanding presence he possessed both on and off the track — a worthy tribute to the legend born on this day in 1970. 👑

Full Serrano 🌶, the winner of the 2024 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, travels to Oaklawn Park for Saturday's Oaklawn Mile (G3). He was most recently seen completing the trifecta of seven-year-olds in the Jan. 24 Pegasus World Cup (G1) behind winner Skippylongstocking and runner-up White Abarrio. Full Serrano began his career in his native Argentina, where he won four races and placed in a Grade 3. He came to America in late 2024 and quickly proved he belonged, winning his stateside debut before running second in the Pacific Classic (G1) and picking up his aforementioned Breeders' Cup win. After the World Championships, he was sidelined until September 2025, when he returned with a resounding 7 1/4-length victory in an allowance. That performance, paired with a placing in the Goodwood (G1), earned him a trip back to the Breeders' Cup. Though his attempt to defend his title was unsuccessful, his Pegasus run last out proves he's still got it. Full Serrano is trained by @johnwsadler for @Hronis_Racing. @Antonio1Fresu will be aboard. 💡 The Oaklawn Mile (G3) runs as Race 11 on Saturday, March 28. Post time is 6:22 p.m. ET.

Peach Tie added a fourth consecutive win to her record over the weekend, capturing Laurel Park's Wide Country Stakes by an easy three lengths. The victory was her second in stakes company — she won the Gin Talking Stakes by a dominant eight lengths in February. In total, the @BTRracingstable trainee has won five of six starts! Brereton C. Jones, founder of @AirdrieStud and former governor of Kentucky, paired Grade 1 winner Preservationist with Belles Orb (Orb) to produce Peach Tie. RNA'd at $19,000 at Keeneland September in 2024, Peach Tie has now earned $229,995 for the estate of her breeder.

American Pharoah

Sired by Indiana-bred Bucchero 💛

A most heartfelt congratulations to 2025 Eclipse Award-winning trainer Bill Mott! This is Bill's fifth such award.🌟 Photos: Hall of Famer Bill Mott with 1995-1996 Horse of the Year Cigar, in Jan. 1996 ... and in Oct. 2025 with Sovereignty, now the 2025 Horse of the Year

Just moments before chasing a second Breeders’ Cup trophy, the striking light grey White Abarrio was scratched at the starting gate. He returns this Saturday in search of redemption. 📚 Read Our New Post: champsofthetrack.com/post/white-aba… @C2RacingStable @SaffieJosephJr

🩷🐎 First foal for Angel of Empire! G1 Arkansas Derby winner ANGEL OF EMPIRE was represented by his first foal, a filly out of Love Ava Love (Mr. Greeley) born Saturday at @TaylorMadeSales! Look at the leg! @TaylorMadeMark @Albaughstables @cyfanatic

Happy Birthday, Ted Noffey! 🎉🎂 He rings in his third year as an undefeated, three-time Grade 1 winner, an early Kentucky Derby favorite, and a lock for Champion Two-Year-Old Male of 2025. The @SpendthriftFarm-owned Todd Pletcher trainee is shown here fueling up just two days before his victory in the @BreedersCup Juvenile.

@reaganswinbank Glad you like it! We’re big fans of her. 🩷

@ChampsTrack Wow. Thanks. Great article.

Cy Fair, a filly with dazzling speed and a love for competition, emerged in the summer of 2025 not only as a rising star on the turf, but as a source of light during one of the darkest moments her connections would face. Named for a Texas high school and co-owned by a family from the Lone Star State, Cy Fair’s debut came just days after catastrophic flooding devastated Hill Country. As her career continues to unfold, she serves as an example of the love and joy horses can bring people, even in the hardest of times. 🤎 Read all about this talented young filly in our newest blog post "Cy Fair: Boy-Beating Breeders' Cup Winner & Source of Smiles After the Texas Floods": champsofthetrack.com/post/cy-fair-b… @MedallionRacing @reaganswinbank @TMStallions

La Wally, a filly with an unforgettable face, continues her journey to the Kentucky Oaks today at Santa Anita Park. The Constitution (@WinStarFarm) filly is already on the Oaks leaderboard with five points thanks to her runner-up finish to Explora in the Oak Leaf Stakes (G2) back in October. She will face that foe again today in the Santa Ynez Stakes, along with Bottle of Rouge, whom La Wally finished third behind in the Del Mar Debutante (G1) in September (with Explora second in that race). La Wally may be the longest shot on the morning line for the Santa Ynez, largely due to her off-the-board finish in the tough Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, but she’ll be an easy bet for those who make their selections based on flashiness. La Wally is out of the Gemologist mare Moonstone. A $300,000 Keeneland September Yearling purchase for owners Muir Hut Stables, she is trained by Mark Glatt. Umberto Rispoli will ride her for the first time in this start. 🌸 Santa Ynez Stakes 🌸 ✨ 1. Himika ✨ 2. La Wally ✨ 3. Bottle of Rouge ✨ 4. Revera ✨ 5. Explora Post time is 4:00 p.m. ET / 1:00 p.m. PT

How good is STARK CONTRAST? So good that we may be seeing him in the Grade 1 American Turf on Kentucky Derby Day. The newly turned three-year-old delivered a dazzling performance yesterday in the Eddie Logan Stakes at Santa Anita, winning the one-mile turf event by an easy 2 1/4 lengths. That victory proved his runner-up finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1), where he was beaten just 3/4 of a length by the European Gstaad, was no fluke. Now a three-time winner, the young Caravaggio colt also captured the Zuma Beach Stakes (G3) in October. Stark Contrast’s win in the Eddie Logan marked the 500th career victory for his trainer, @mwmracing. We look forward to seeing how the Amerman Racing homebred progresses throughout the year! ✨

FOREVER YOUNG made history as the first dirt horse ever named Japanese Racing Association Horse of the Year. His standout 2025 campaign included three wins from four starts: 🏆 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) 🏆 Saudi Cup (G1) 🏆 Nippon TV Hai 🌟 3rd in Dubai World Cup (G1) In addition to Horse of the Year honors, Forever Young was also crowned Champion Older Male and Champion Dirt Horse. In the United States, he is a finalist for the Eclipse Award for Older Dirt Male, alongside Sierra Leone and Nysos, with the winner to be announced on January 22. The exceptional racehorse is expected to make his five-year-old debut in the $20 million Saudi Cup on February 14. #フォーエバーヤング

Amarillo is a striking member of the Bob Baffert barn. The @AQHA gelding has the important job of ponying, or escorting, the Hall of Famer’s racehorses during morning training, and he excels in the position. “He likes the racehorses, and they like him back,” Jill Baffert said in an interview with America’s Best Racing. Amarillo, registered as I’m In It To Whiz It, was bred and raised by Oak Ridge Ranch and purchased by Baffert for $110,000 at the 2020 Twombly Performance Horses Sale. He gained widespread recognition in racing the following year as the pony to Medina Spirit, who crossed the wire first in the 2021 Kentucky Derby.

Tacitus 🤝 Scylla These full siblings share elite genetics and racing success. Which one is your favorite? @JuddmonteFarms @Gainesway

New Kentucky Oaks contender! 🎼

Chip Honcho joined the Kentucky Derby leaderboard!👇🌹

Will the 2026 Kentucky Derby winner come from New Orleans? A competitive group of juveniles will compete for Derby points in the Gun Runner Stakes at Fair Grounds tomorrow. Check out the field & let us know who you'll be rooting for! 🌹 Mesquite - Colt by Union Rags out of Taurasi (Mineshaft). Broke his maiden on November 7 at Churchill Downs. 🌹 Chip Honcho - Colt by Connect out of Miss My Rose (Magician). Broke his maiden on November 20 at Churchill Downs. 🌹 Liberty National - Colt by Maxfield out of Virtuoso (Awesome Again). $525,000 yearling purchase. Broke his maiden on November 29 at Churchill Downs. 🌹 Quality Mischief - Colt by Into Mischief out of Quality Way (Quality Road). Broke his maiden on October 29 at Horseshoe Indianapolis. 🌹 Crown The Buckeye - Colt by Yaupon out of Feisty Tomboy (Unbridled's Song). Two-time stakes winning Ohio-bred. 🌹 Arabia Wild - Colt by Gun Runner out of Alpha Spirit (A.P. Indy). Half to multiple graded winner Protonico. Broke maiden on November 22 at Fair Grounds. 🌹 Very Connected - Colt by Connect out of C. J's Gal (Awesome Again). Broke his maiden on September 21 at Churchill Downs. Placed in the Street Sense (G3). 🌹 Mister Punch - Colt by Into Mischief out of Indy Punch (Pulling Punches). Broke maiden on November 5 at Churchill Downs. Pictured: 2024 Gun Runner Stakes winner Built, who just yesterday returned to the races victoriously after seven months off!

Meet Thirsty Rebel. 🍻 This California-bred juvenile delivered a dominant performance at Los Alamitos on Friday, besting an allowance optional claiming field by six lengths while sprinting six furlongs. It marked the second career victory for the @DougONeill1 trainee. Thirsty Rebel was bred by Terry C. Lovingier, owner of Loveacres Ranch and a major figure in California’s Thoroughbred industry. He is sired by two-time Grade 1 winner Stay Thirsty, who stands at Lovingier’s farm, out of the graded-placed Sky Mesa mare Argyle Pink. Argyle Pink is a half-sister to 1997 Champion Sprinter Smoke Glacken, as well as multiple graded winner Smokey Glacken. She is also from the family of Hall of Fame turf mare Tepin, along with graded winners Vyjack and Crown of Thorns, among others. The well-bred colt was purchased for $90,000 at the 2024 @FasigTiptonCo California Yearling Sale by Doug O’Neill on behalf of Breen Racing, and he showed promise immediately. Thirsty Rebel drew off by 3¾ lengths in his debut on opening weekend at Del Mar, then missed by just a nose in the I’m Smokin Stakes. He next tried turf in the Speakeasy Stakes without success before returning to dirt for the Golden State Juvenile Stakes on Breeders’ Cup Friday, where he finished fourth as the race’s second choice. Following his win at Los Alamitos over the weekend, Thirsty Rebel has a record of 5: 2-1-0 with earnings of $105,600 and looks like one to watch next season on the California circuit. @toc_racing @CTBACalbred