Kellie Reilly
Kellie Reilly is a journalist and turf writer specializing in international horse racing.
Five up-and-comers to follow at 2022 Dubai World Cup Carnival
As the Dubai Carnival begins Friday, here are five up-and-comers who have impressed recently at Meydan.
Racing
American Icon, McLaren Vale hot prospects for Gun Runner
Crowning his record-setting season as a freshman sire, Gun Runner closed out 2021 strong with seven new winners between Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve. We’ll focus on the four most promising prospects who could join the 2022 Kentucky Derby (G1) trail.
Racing
Top 10 themes to watch on horse racing scene for 2022
Horse racing fans have plenty to look forward to in 2022, so it’s not easy to sift through the possibilities for a “Top 10” list. Here are the themes – and horses – who intrigue me the most as we turn the calendar for a brand new season.
Racing
2021 in review: Seven best storylines in international horse racing
Just as 2021 threw some curveballs in the life of the world at large, this passing year also served up a few unexpected plot twists in international Thoroughbred racing. With my Northern Hemisphere-centric focus, here are my seven favorite storylines of the season.
Racing
2021 in review: Top 10 thrilling finishes in U.S. horse racing
For my look back at the American Thoroughbred racing scene of 2021, I’d like to highlight the year’s most riveting finishes. From the classic brigade to turf performers, sprinters, and distaffers, several divisions are represented in this Top 10 list.
Racing
First-crop sires: Record-setting Gun Runner passes $4 million mark
Led by sure-to-be-champion Echo Zulu, the unbeaten Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) winner, Gun Runner’s progeny have amassed more than $4 million in earnings.
Racing
First-Crop Sires: Gun Runner into exclusive Breeders' Cup club
Four years after Gun Runner won the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), his first-crop daughter Echo Zulu took out the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1).
Racing
Breeders' Cup stars Knicks Go, Life Is Good eye Pegasus World Cup
After Knicks Go and Life Is Good ran their rivals ragged in their respective Breeders’ Cup races on Saturday, a burning question presented itself: what might have happened if they’d squared off against each other? If all goes according to plan over the next couple of months, we’re likely to have an answer, because both are pointing to the Jan. 29 Pegasus World Cup (G1).
Racing
Trends, angles to note for 2021 Breeders' Cup turf races
To borrow an observation from the iconic jockey Frankie Dettori, the Europe-versus-America dynamic in the Breeders’ Cup is reminiscent of golf’s Ryder Cup. While the parallel extends to American success in a few of the turf races, others have been more evenly matched, and Europeans remain historically dominant in the 1 1/2-mile Turf (G1).
Racing
Breeders' Cup International Scouting Report: Jasper Great
From the first crop of the late champion Arrogate, Jasper Great sports a superb pedigree as well as an imperious debut victory on the dirt at Hanshin.
Racing
Breeders' Cup International Scouting Report: Loves Only You
The complete Breeders’ Cup International Scouting Report, covering Friday and Saturday, will be available on Brisnet.com early in the week. Here is a sample featuring the top contender from Team Japan, Loves Only You.
Racing
Breeders' Cup: Top seven Turf moments
The Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) has served up thrillers and poignant moments over the course of its 37-year history. In the spirit of last week’s walk down memory lane for the Mile (G1), here are my top seven editions of the Turf.
Racing
Breeders' Cup: Six under-the-radar internationals to watch
Aside from the big names, a few internationals not as well-known stateside are worth a look.
Racing
Breeders' Cup: Top seven Mile memories
As we gear up for Breeders’ Cup 2021, thoughts turn to championships past. Here’s my idea of the seven most memorable runnings of the Mile (G1).
Racing
International scouting reports for 2021 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup
Irish 1000 Guineas (G1) winner Empress Josephine is the best of the trio of Europeans set for Saturday’s Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) at Keeneland. We’ll give a quick update on her before examining the stateside debutantes – fellow Irish invader Nicest and progressive British shipper Cloudy Dawn.
Racing
Keeneland International Scouting Reports: Order of Australia, Empress Josephine
Trainer Aidan O’Brien has dispatched a trio of high-profile runners for Breeders’ Cup preps on Saturday. Since Japan was covered in a recent scouting report, we’ll give a quick update on him before focusing on the two in “Win and You’re In” events at Keeneland – Order of Australia and Empress Josephine.
Racing
First-crop sires: Echo Zulu rolls, Concept breaks through for Gun Runner
Still the leading freshman sire, Gun Runner also tops the overall juvenile sire list, as his first-crop progeny has earned more than two-year-olds by established patriarchs like Into Mischief.
Racing
Summer and Natalma international scouting reports: Albahr, Wild Beauty
Canadian International (G1) contender Walton Street has brought a couple of Charlie Appleby stablemates along for Sunday’s Breeders’ Cup Challenge races at Woodbine.
Racing
Jockey Club Oaks international scouting reports: Harajuku, Creative Flair
Saturday’s Jockey Club Oaks has lured two international shippers. Godolphin’s Creative Flair hopes for better luck than her third in the Saratoga Oaks (G3), and French maestro Andre Fabre sends Harajuku to Belmont Park.
Racing
Jockey Club Derby international scouting report: Yibir takes on Bolshoi Ballet
Yibir will take on the top two from the Belmont Derby (G1), Bolshoi Ballet and Tokyo Gold, as well as Saratoga Derby (G1) runner-up Soldier Rising, in the Jockey Club Derby at Belmont Park.
Racing
Woodbine Mile international scouting report: Duke of Hazzard meets old foe Space Traveller
The lone European shipper in the Woodbine Mile (G1), Duke of Hazzard, renews rivalry with recent import Space Traveller.
Racing
Canadian International scouting reports: Walton Street, Desert Encounter
European shippers have won nine of the last 10 editions of the Canadian International (G1). Two-time defending champ Desert Encounter and Walton Street will try to prolong the trend.
Racing
Flightline's itinerary a hot topic after 117 Brisnet Speed rating
“Beautiful looker, great action, has the talent. Is this the next superstar?”
Track announcer Trevor Denman aptly summed up Flightline’s tour de force in Sunday’s 8TH race at Del Mar.
Racing
Flower Bowl Stakes international scouting report: American Bridge
Although American Bridge comes to Saratoga by way of a lower-profile path – the French provinces and Italy – she enters Saturday’s Flower Bowl S. (G1) on the upswing with some sneaky collateral form.
Racing
Japan's white filly Sodashi could seek 'Sho-time' on world stage for horse racing
Japanese champion racehorse Sodashi has sparked a comparison to Major League Baseball star Shohei Ohtani, according to a recent Yahoo News report in Japan.
Racing
2021 Travers Stakes one-liners
After a wide trip contributed to his only career loss in the Kentucky Derby (G1), champion Essential Quality shouldn’t have that problem in the “Midsummer Derby,” Saturday’s Travers S. (G1).
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Sword Dancer Stakes international scouting report: Japan
Yet to return to the heights of his 2019 sophomore campaign, Aidan O’Brien’s Japan nevertheless brings respectable form into Saturday’s “Win and You’re In” Sword Dancer (G1) at Saratoga.
Racing
First-crop Sires: Guntown, Elusive Target bring Gun Runner's tally to 10 winners
Leading freshman sire Gun Runner has added two more juveniles to his win column, bringing up his total to 10 winners. Guntown and Elusive Target both scored at Ellis Park for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen.
Racing
Seven best Arlington Million winners
Arlington’s iconic turf race was renamed the Mister D. S. (G1) for 2021, but it will go down in history as the Arlington Million. To mark Saturday’s running of the 1 1/4-mile affair, here’s my idea of the seven best Arlington Million heroes.
Racing
Arlington international scouting reports: Armory, Space Traveller, Santa Barbara
The race historically known as the Arlington Million will be run under a different name on Saturday, the Mister D. S. (G1). But Arlington Park’s signature event retains its most fascinating dynamic – the international challenge.
Racing