O Besos is on the brink of a Kentucky Derby berth after igniting with a sustained rally to finish third in Saturday’s $1-million Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds. The Greg Foley-trained colt earned 20 qualifying points for the Run for the Roses, boosting his total to 25, which ranks 11th in the current points standings.

O Besos barely missed second in the Louisiana Derby, falling a head short of Midnight Bourbon, which was the difference between 40 and 20 points. Read More

Hard Not to Love, the one-eyed mare who developed into a Grade 1 winner for trainer John Shirreffs, has been retired from racing and was bred to top sire Curlin on Thursday afternoon.

The 5-year-old daughter of Hard Spun will be offered at the Fasig-Tipton November sale.

“She is the total package,” West Point CEO Terry Finley said. “She has got the physicality, the pedigree, and the race record.” Read More

A week after O Besos put himself in line for the Kentucky Derby, King’s Ovation will take his chances for a spot in the Run for the Roses on Saturday in the $250,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) at Turfway Park.

King’s Ovation finished second in Gulfstream’s Grade 3 Swale Stakes on January 30 before stretching out around two turns for the first time and finishing a troubled sixth in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth on February 27. Read More