Burnham square wow… Geared down

God damn it. I finally stop betting and losing with Napoleon Solo and he screws me. I knew he was full of talent after that monster Champagne win. Fuckin hell.

2025 Preakness Stakes - Journalism Incredible performance here, was boxed, bumped and still ran down the leader. Also incredible to see him still running at 4 years old. We need more of this for the game to progress! Enjoy

🚨 ‼️ Breaking Horse Racing Industry News!!!!! I’ve spent months asking The Jockey Club and its Stewards for ONE thing… get the real decisionmakers in a room and let’s come up with a REAL action plan to save this sport. My only motive here is to make racing better, fix the sport and help the sport grow again for everyone. I want to help every participant in the industry and protect the Horse. All I have asked for is REAL meeting with people empowered to make change. Instead, The Jockey Club offered me another one-on-one meeting with Everett Dobson. I said no. Then they offered a Zoom call where “maybe” some other Stewards would join. A Zoom call is supposed to fix what’s broken in Thoroughbred racing??? NO CHANCE. We need the leaders of this industry sitting face-to-face, committing to transformational change with real solutions and accountability!!!!! So Wednesday, my lawyers proposed a day-and-a-half IN PERSON meeting June 3-4 in Saratoga Springs during Belmont week. At a minimum, Chairman Everett Dobson and the lead Stewards Stuart Janney, Vinnie Viola, Bill Farish, Bill Lear, and Terry Finley must all be there. We should be talking about: • Aftercare • The SAFE Act • HISA • The collapsing foal crop • CAWs • Access to data • Declining owners, breeders & racetracks • California & Florida concerns • Lack of innovation • Board overlap conflicts • Transparency around TJC subsidiaries • Marketing & fan engagement and EVERYTHING else threatening this sport. I even offered to buy dinner and let them pick the wine!!!!! Mr. Dobson says he agrees with me on 90% of the issues. GREAT. Then let’s sit down and fix 90% of the problems. No more excuses!!!!! The Jockey Club just has to say YES or NO to this meeting. They have a deadline til the end of the day to accept my meeting invitation. If the answer is NO, then everybody in racing will CLEARLY know they have no interest or intention about saving this sport. I am trying!!!!! How do you think they will respond???

Record Audiences for Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks on NBC & Peacock More: nbcsports.com/pressbox/press…

I sold Ocelli for 12k, yesterday he ran 3rd in the @KentuckyDerby & won 500k. And gues what? I'm celebrating. Because of what this means for everything we still have. Ocelli's brothers just became a lot more valuable. His mom Zalia is now a queen. The bloodline we've been building for years just got validated on the biggest stage in racing. One horse running 3rd at @ChurchillDowns does more for your breeding program than a decade of "he has potential" conversations ever could. But there's a bigger lesson here. Everyone passed on Ocelli because he had a "weird gait." Moved different. Didn't fit the template. Turns out that weird gait was elite. Top 3 in the world elite. The market constantly undervalues things that don't fit the mold. In horses. In real estate. In people. The ones who move different aren't always broken. Sometimes they're just built for something the rest of us can't see yet.

The moment through my lens:

Cherie- please tell me you brought tissues, because I can barely see through this as I write it. I am so unbelievably proud of you. Of your team. Of David and Reagan. From a trainer’s perspective, what you did with Golden Tempo was masterful, you didn’t just show up, you brought a horse over that belonged, a horse that looked like a winner every step of the way. But from a sister’s perspective… I don’t even have the words for what this means. Growing up with so many years between us meant I didn’t just have a sister, I had a window into your world. Those daily phone calls while you were at Churchill Downs with Chuck… they weren’t just updates, they were little pieces of a life I wanted so badly to understand. I’ll never forget being 8 years old, getting sent to Kentucky to visit you, and somehow ending up in the winner’s circle with Chuck that week. Like it was normal. Like that was just what life looked like around you. All those mornings you brought me to the barn in Saratoga… I can still see it so clearly. You out there galloping, and me standing next to Chuck, completely in awe, watching you move like you belonged out there long before the world ever told you that you did. I remember standing at the rail, so small, so certain, saying my dream was to ride a horse at Saratoga. And somehow… I did plenty of times(more than I wanted some days) And then time kept moving, like it does. And suddenly we were standing next to each other in the winner’s circle again, this time for your first graded stakes with Gam’s Mission, back at Churchill. I didn’t think I could ever cry harder for a horse than I did that day. Until Nickel crossed the wire at Aqueduct, a horse I trained. And I understood, just a little more, what this life takes from you… and what it gives back. And then last night. I stood in that paddock next to Pearl like plenty of times before at Churchill Downs and watched my sister walk in and make history. Not just for women. Not just for the sport. But for herself. For every single morning, every sacrifice, every moment where it would’ve been easier to walk away, but you didn’t. We may be on very different paths in the same industry… but please know this, there is nothing but admiration from this direction. I love you.

spent all week on the churchill backside. from 4am to the end of the race days these horse men and women work their asses off to make derby day happen. we all talk shit because we gamble and at the end of the day it's sports. talking shit and having strong opinions is what sport is supposed to be. but man oh man, whole new props to brad cox, todd pletcher, cherie devaux, wayne catalano, whit beckman, lynch, ian, asmussen, walsh, the motts, etc. it is nonstop and they do it for their horses.

I love horse racing

Renegade got demolished out of the gate and then for all the world looked home. Just brutal. @RepoleStable may be cursed in this race. Can’t even put into words how tough that beat was. I know the ice cream and don’t feel bad for me photo is coming but that was devastating

What a race. Congrats to @reredevaux ! 1st woman ever to win the Derby. What a win! #goldentempo

GOLDEN TEMPO WENT FROM LAST TO FIRST IN THE KENTUCKY DERBY THIS IS WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT!!!

GOLDEN TEMPO WINS THE 152ND ANNUAL KENTUCKY DERBY CHERIE DEVAUX IS THE FIRST FEMALE TRAINER TO WIN IT!!!

🌹 Kentucky Derby 2026 🌹 Complete Analysis Key *^ = could be dynamic (more forward on the pace) Pace Setters: 4, 14, 17, 18 Off Pace: 2*, 3, 6, 7, 8*^, 9*, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16*^ Closers: 1, 5, 13, 19, 20 #1 Renegade – A horse I was very keen on early. Very talented and visually impressive, but the figures need a little work. In my opinion, too light for a potential favorite. Distance should be no issue, but traffic will be. I don’t hate the 1 post as much as others—2, 3, 4 should break quicker and give him a slot. Still, a lot to navigate. 4-1 or under is not for me. #2 Albus – Not in love with this one. Too many talented horses here. Would be a shock, though I like the versatility shown last out. Figures are light—needs a massive step forward. #3 Intrepido – Interesting last work (45). Not a fan of that heater he ran. Likely more forward here. Distance (10F) looks like a stretch. Needs a big jump in figures. #4 Litmus Test – Even tossing the last race, still leaves more to be desired. Experience is a plus, early speed too—but unlikely he gets loose. Looking elsewhere. #5 Right to Party – Not a fan. If this were 3 miles, maybe. Needs a total pace meltdown to have a chance. #6 Commandment – Loved this horse early and still can’t knock him. Has done nothing wrong. Would like to see more separation than these close wins, but still top tier. You can’t leave him off. Slight regression is possible, but overall very positive. #7 Dan Bourbon – Do we go back to this angle? Japan has been pushing hard for the Derby. This one is KY-bred, set a record time last out (25 years). I like the look and running style. One to include underneath. #8 So Happy – Runhappy hasn’t impressed overall, but this horse can get the distance. Has done nothing wrong. Likely sitting just off a hot pace—Mike Smith should have him in a good stalking spot. Include. #9 The Puma – Want to love this one. Castellano’s Derby record isn’t great (Mage was his first win). Has faced Renegade, Further Ado, and Commandment already. Familiar company. At 10–15-1 , worth strong consideration. #10 Wonder Dean – UAE form has been underwhelming historically in the Derby. Some have been compromised by insane paces. Could be improving and has tactical speed. Tread lightly, but don’t be shocked if he shows up somewhere. #11 Incredibolt – Not impressed. If he beats me, so be it—I won’t be using him. Needs serious improvement and hasn’t faced strong class. #12 Chief Wallabee – I’ve bet him three times and wanted more each time. Blinkers on (first-time Derby) isn’t ideal. Same connections as last year’s winner. I might get burned, but I’ll say it—I think he can outperform Commandment and The Puma. Lightly raced with questions, but I’m taking a stand. Must include. #13 Silent Tactic – Maybe unpopular, but I’m a fan. Six starts, nothing wrong. Big price, strong closer. Needs better figs, but I expect improvement. #14 Potente – Has done little wrong. Not huge on recent Cali shippers, but forward placement is a plus in the Derby. Didn’t race at 2—big red flag. #15 Emerging Market – Prat is always dangerous in Triple Crown races. Only two starts and didn’t race at 2—major question marks. Tough ask. Hard to see top 3. #16 Pavlovian – Essentially proved the distance last out with a top figure. Improving every start. Most experienced in the field (10 starts). Likely more forward—could absolutely hit underneath. #17 Six Speed – Probably like him more than I should. Strong pedigree, handled big fields, some dominant wins. The 17 post has never won—big hurdle. Still using underneath. #18 Further Ado – Not much to say. When he shows up, he’s elite. Feels like a Fierceness type—massive talent. Win contender. Question is which version shows up. #19 Golden Tempo – Improving every start, but figs still light. Deep closer who needs a pace collapse. Some sharp works suggest progress. Underneath use at best. #20 Fulleffort – 7 starts, never tried dirt—big concern. Jeff Ruby horses have run well lately. Brad Cox knows how to handle surface switches. Distance is fine, could be more forward with a clean break. I can see a big race here.

2022 @KentuckyDerby alum Barber Road is now a pony for trainer @johnnyortiz24, seen here riding him at @keeneland earlier this month.