El Kodigo Bypasses Saudi Cup Meeting, Continues Preparation for Return El Kodigo Training Over Riyadh Dirt Ahead of Competitive Return / JCSA RIYADH, Saudi Arabia.— When the nomination lists for the Saudi Cup (G1) and its formidable undercard were released a few days ago, it was highly striking that the Argentine champion El Kodigo was not entered in any of them. The colt has been based here since a disappointing run in the 2025 edition of the world's richest race. Questi

The 2025 Champion Juvenile Filly Grandinata Impresses in Turf Debut at Maroñas Grandinata Notches Perfect Turf Debut / MAROÑAS MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay.— Returning from a layoff and dropping back to a sprint distance, the talented Grandinata rebranded her campaign on Sunday, promising a 2026 season that could rival her formidable haul from last year. Inactive since September, the daughter of Trinniberg and Granduca (Exchange Rate) was the star of the show at Hipódromo Naciona

Returning from a layoff, she finished second, a half-length behind Literate on the Turfway Park synthetic surface, capping an excellent weekend for South American mares Devassa yielded in the final strides / TURFWAY PARK FLORENCE, Kentucky.— Turfway Park became a stage of vindication for South American racing. In a card marked by regional talent, the Brazilian-bred Devassa —a standout in Maroñas—delivered a highly encouraging performance, finishing a gallant second in the

The jockey teamed up with Antonio Cintra and Julio Olascoaga for the first victory of Camilo Bautista's silks in the United Arab Emirates Nam Phrik and Francisco Leandro were unstoppable when they launched their late bid / JEBEL ALI JEBEL ALI, United Arab Emirates.— Life is sweet for the team of Francisco Leandro and trainers Antonio Cintra and Julio Olascoaga , who are enjoying a high-flying start to the season. After shining on Friday with Miss Yechance (Cotai Glory) —wh

Returning from a layoff of several months, the Argentine mare finished third, beaten 3 lengths, after trailing far back in the early stages Ooty’s head appeared along the rail, while Margarita Girl secured her biggest career victory / BENOIT PHOTO ARCADIA, California.— The weekend at Santa Anita Park turned into a dream come true for trainer Mark Glatt and the Saints or Sinners stable. Just 24 hours after capturing the San Vicente Stakes (G2) with So Happy (Runhappy) ,

The son of Runhappy upset the heavy favorite, punching his ticket to the Santa Anita Derby at Santa Anita Park So Happy handled the task with ease / BENOIT PHOTO ARCADIA, California (Special to Turf Diario).- Those who dismissed his 38-1 winning debut at Del Mar as a stroke of luck were forced to yield to the evidence this Saturday at Santa Anita Park . So Happy (Runhappy) demonstrated he possesses the class necessary for the big leagues by authoritatively capturing the Sa

The daughter of Dabster aims to become the second Argentine-bred mare to capture the event, following in the footsteps of Miss Terrible in 2005 Ooty set to finally take the track at Santa Anita Park / JUAN I. BOZZELLO ARCADIA, California.— Only one Argentine-bred mare has ever captured the Las Flores Stakes (G3-1200m, dirt, $100,000) at Santa Anita Park : the unforgettable champion Miss Terrible (Numerous) in 2005 . This Sunday, Ooty will attempt to secure a second victo

The Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner will head to the Middle East under the care of José D'Angelo Shisospicy, formidable in her quest for a Riyadh score / BREEDERS' CUP HALLANDALE, Florida.- Shisospicy , the filly who dazzled in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) , has finalized her 2026 calendar for a year that promises high-stakes excitement. Connections of the bay utilized the FanDuel TV airwaves to announce a five-stop campaign aimed at crowning her the absolute queen o

Enrique Martín Ferro and Martín Valle celebrated their first international victory with the daughter of Fortify Martana, Martín Valle, and Enrique Martín Ferro, a formidable team / JUAN I. BOZZELLO By Diego H. Mitagstein (Special Correspondent to Montevideo, Uruguay) MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (Special for Turf Diario). — While some victories can be chalked up to luck, Martana’s triumph in last Tuesday’s Gran Premio Ciudad de Montevideo (G1) at Maroñas belongs in a different cate

The Bob Baffert trainee is the heavy favorite for this Saturday’s San Vicente Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park Baffert, Hernandez, and the Zedan silks, eyeing another major score / BENOIT PHOTO ARCADIA, Californoia (Special to Turf Diario).- Saturday’s card at Santa Anita Park will begin to shape the first classic paths of the season with two key tests for the 2023 generation: the G2 San Vicente S. for colts and the Santa Ynez S. for fillies. Both events are contested over

In the second leg of his South American farewell tour, the legendary rider guided Soy Poronguero to victory MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (Special to Turf Diario).- He knows it; he feels it. The final chapter of Lanfranco “Frankie” Dettori’s storied career moved one step closer to its conclusion Tuesday at Hipódromo Nacional de Maroñas . As the star attraction of the G1 Gran Premio José Pedro Ramírez international festival, the legendary rider proved once again why his presence remai

The series will span 14 countries during the current campaign, featuring 45 total qualifying events; however, the G1 Grande Premio Brasil is a notable scratch for 2026 "Ricardo Colombo Punches Ticket to Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile with Herr Kitten Success / JUAN I. BOZZELLO LEXINGTON, Kentucky (Special to Turf Diario).- The Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2026 with a record-breaking commitment. Officials announced an inve

The Brazilian runner edged the game Pluto by a neck, with heavy favorite Obstable finishing third, after a ride that sparked countless reactions Wide on the course, Native Extreme got the better of Pluto; behind them came heavy favorite Obstacle / JUAN I. BOZZELLO By Diego H. Mitagstein (Special correspondent of Turf Diario to Montevideo, Uruguay) MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (From a special correspondent).— What the Gran Premio José Pedro Ramírez (G1–2400m, dirt) generates—the pinn

The colt defeated Maroñas’ top older horse at level weights in the G3 Gran Premio Pedro Piñeyrúa, earning a coveted berth to Keeneland Herr Kitten y Carlos Lavor pudieron con Sí Señor / JUAN I. BOZZELLO By Diego H. Mitagstein (Special correspondent to Turf Diario at Montevideo, Uruguay) MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (Special to Turf Diario).- One of the biggest storylines heading into the international Jan. 6 meeting at Hipódromo Nacional de Maroñas was the Breeders’ Cup qualifying st

For the first time, a dirt performer has captured the highest honor in Japanese racing Forever Young was crowned Horse of the Year in Japan / JRA TOKYO, Japan (TDN Special) — Japanese racing history added one of its most unexpected and groundbreaking chapters this year as Forever Young was crowned Horse of the Year for 2025 by the Japan Racing Association (JRA), becoming the first dirt performer ever to claim the sport’s highest annual honor in the JRA Awards. It was a di

The Argentine mare landed a resounding victory on the Maroñas dirt, defeating the best local females to seal her first Grade I success The joy of Martín Valle after celebrating his first Grade I victory outside Argentina / JUAN I. BOZZELLO By Diego H. Mitagstein (Special correspondent for Turf Diario in Montevideo, Uruguay) MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (Special for Turf Diario).— With a smaller delegation this time, Argentine racing added another golden chapter at Hipódromo de Maroñ

The filly will line up in the G1 Ciudad de Montevideo, while the colt is set for the G3 Pedro Piñeyrúa, both chasing a coveted berth in the Breeders’ Cup Martana will look to carry her talent across the River / JUAN I. BOZZELLO MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (Special for Turf Diario).- As is tradition every Jan. 6, the Gran Premios Ciudad de Montevideo (G1-2000m, dirt), Pedro Piñeyrúa (G3-1600m, dirt) and Maroñas (G3-1000m, dirt) will once again serve as the perfect supporting cast to

They will be presented next January 22, with a few surprises already stirring debate—most notably the absences of Mindframe and Fierceness from the ballot for Champion Older Horse Sierra Leone and Forever Young locked in a thrilling stretch duel in the Classic, ultimately won by the Japanese star / BREEDERS' CUP The National Thoroughbred Racing Association , in partnership with the Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters , released on January 4 the

The Chilean runner finished second in the G3 Dubawi Stakes, showing clear improvement off his comeback run El Nasseeb swept past Mufasa late to land the Dubawi Stakes / DRC DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (Special to Turf Diario).- The opening fixture of the 2026 Dubai Racing Carnival at Meydan Racecourse delivered an action-packed program and plenty of early talking points. While the Dubawi Stakes (G3-1200m, dirt) was not the night’s headline act, it did provide a notable regi

After a long layoff and shouldering a hefty 62 kilos, the Argentine colt finished second, 3 1/4 lengths behind Six Speed in the UAE 2000 Guineas Trial, while Uruguay’s Namaguederaz checked in ninth Six Speed, racing wide, got the better of Legalaized on the inside in the stretch / DRC DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (Special to Turf Diario).— Everything was stacked against Argentine colt Legalaized on Friday in his Meydan debut in the UAE 2000 Guineas Trial, contested over 1400