Kellie Reilly
Kellie Reilly is a journalist and turf writer specializing in international horse racing.
First-crop sires: Gun Runner's Echo Zulu flashes star potential at Saratoga
On opening day at Saratoga, Gun Runner furnished arguably his most impressive winner so far in Echo Zulu. The well-bred filly brought up his total to eight winners, following Joyrunner’s debut victory the preceding week.
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Five storylines for the 2021 Haskell Stakes
With the runners-up from the Kentucky Derby (G1), Preakness S. (G1), and Belmont S. (G1) all set to compete, Saturday’s $1 million Haskell S. (G1) promises to be a fascinating renewal at Monmouth Park.
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First-crop sires: Gun Runner keeps blazing with Costa Terra, Gunite
Currently the leading freshman sire in North America, Gun Runner added three more winners to his tally between June 20 and July 1. Two scored at Kentucky tracks – Costa Terra and Gunite – and Gran Aplauso prevailed on turf in Japan.
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2021 Belmont Oaks international scouting reports: Santa Barbara, Cirona, Nazuna
As with stablemate Bolshoi Ballet in the Belmont Derby (G1), Santa Barbara brings a lofty profile into Saturday’s Belmont Oaks (G1) as a beaten classic favorite for Aidan O’Brien. Santa Barbara is also taking the same path as O’Brien’s only Belmont Oaks winner, Athena (2018).
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2021 Belmont Derby international scouting reports: Bolshoi Ballet, Tokyo Gold
Aidan O’Brien has won the Belmont Derby (G1) once, in 2016, when he dispatched Epsom Derby (G1) also-ran Deauville to Belmont Park. On Saturday, the master of Ballydoyle sends out an even more accomplished colt looking to rebound from Epsom – beaten Derby favorite Bolshoi Ballet.
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Horse Racing: Galawi an import to follow for Graham Motion
A royally bred son of Dubawi and “nephew” of mile legend Goldikova, Galawi could be poised to fulfill his potential stateside. The sparingly-raced four-year-old broke his maiden in his U.S. debut for Graham Motion at Belmont Park June 27.
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Horse racing: Amy C an import to follow for trainer Chad Brown
No secret in her U.S. debut for Chad Brown, Amy C lived up to 0.95-1 favoritism in a June 25 allowance at Belmont Park. Moreover, the British-bred sophomore did so in a manner suggesting that graded stakes are in her future.
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First-crop sires: Gun Runner's Red Run, Pappacap fire on debut
Horse of the Year Gun Runner is off to a blazing start with his first crop. Considering his own profile, as a colt who progressed at three and blossomed into a champion at four, it’s a most encouraging sign that he can get precocious early-season juveniles.
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Selections for Saturday at Royal Ascot 2021
A Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” for the Turf Sprint (G1), Saturday’s Diamond Jubilee S. (G1) is just one of the terrific betting races on the final day of Royal Ascot.
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Reilly: Longshot plays for Friday at Royal Ascot 2021
Another super-competitive card at Royal Ascot Friday offers more opportunities for price plays. Here are a few capable of outperforming their odds.
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Selections for Wednesday's Group races at Royal Ascot 2021
The Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Prince of Wales’s S. (G1) is the highlight of Wednesday’s card at Royal Ascot. There’s a beatable favorite in the small field, and we’ll look for value in the day’s three other Group races as well.
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Reilly: Handicapping the 2021 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot
Trying to sift through a 17-strong field of promising juveniles, all developing at varying rates, with limited form, plus a Wesley Ward wildcard, makes Tuesday’s Coventry S. (G2) a brain teaser.
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Reilly: Handicapping the 2021 King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot
Defending champion Battaash is the best horse in Tuesday’s King’s Stand S. (G1) at Royal Ascot, but is he going to deliver his best effort? If not, the five-furlong dash suddenly looks open, offering a handicapping conundrum along with a potential for a bigger profit if you’re right.
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Handicapping the 2021 St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot
The St James’s Palace S. (G1), Royal Ascot’s fourth race at 11:20 a.m. (ET) Tuesday, is the marquee event for three-year-old milers. Held over the round course, the mile prize once again shapes up as a referendum on the 2000 Guineas (G1) winner.
A few of the Guineas also-rans are clearly better than they showed at Newmarket, so I’m expecting a reversal of form here.
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Reilly: Handicapping the 2021 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot
A tribute to the monarch who inaugurated racing at Ascot more than three centuries ago, the Queen Anne S. (G1) kicks off the Royal meeting at 9:30 a.m. (ET) on Tuesday. A son of Kingman is heavily favored to wear the crown in this “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1).
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Ward's squad leads Team USA at Royal Ascot
Trainer Wesley Ward returns to Royal Ascot with another robust team, led by Group 1 heroine Campanelle. As Ward seeks to pad his total of 11 wins at the prestigious meeting, two other American-based horsemen are trying for their first.
Racing
Essential Quality reasserts divisional leadership in historic Belmont Stakes
When champion Essential Quality prevailed over brave frontrunner Hot Rod Charlie in the Belmont S. (G1), he was delivering an historic victory. But history also says that the battle for divisional leadership is ongoing.
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2021 Belmont Stakes one-liners
After unresolved questions from the first two jewels of the Triple Crown, the Belmont S. (G1) can provide some clarity to the three-year-old division. At least that’s the hope for Saturday’s 1 1/2-mile classic at Belmont Park.
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Belmont Gold Cup international scouting report: Baron Samedi
Joseph O’Brien has been a trainer for only five years, but he’s already won the Melbourne Cup (G1) that has eluded father Aidan—and he’s done it twice. Both Rekindling (2017) and Twilight Payment (2020) prevailed over his father’s runners at Flemington, and Baron Samedi could put himself on a similar path in Friday’s Belmont Gold Cup (G2).
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New York Stakes international scouting report: Thundering Nights
Irish trainer Joseph O’Brien is sending two upwardly mobile contenders for turf stakes on Friday at Belmont Park. While the streaking Baron Samedi is the 8-5 morning-line favorite in the Belmont Gold Cup (G2), stablemate Thundering Nights brings top form as a 6-1 chance in the New York S. (G2).
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Just a Game international scouting report: Althiqa and Summer Romance
You’ll be seeing double in Saturday’s Just a Game S. (G1) with a pair of gray fillies both sporting the Godolphin blue. Stablemates of Belmont S. (G1) contender Rebel’s Romance from the Charlie Appleby yard, Althiqa and Summer Romance likewise ship to Belmont Park in pursuit of a first Grade 1 laurel.
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Belmont Stakes international scouting report: France Go de Ina
France Go de Ina is pursuing a $1 million bonus for a Japanese shipper who can make history by winning the Belmont S. (G1). Although only seventh in the Preakness (G1), he has a plausible case to move forward in the third jewel, as a couple of other Japanese sophomores have done in recent years. Yet the sticking point remains his unproven class.
Racing
Belmont Stakes international scouting report: Rebel's Romance
Rebel’s Romance earned a Kentucky Derby (G1) ticket with a dominant display in the UAE Derby (G2), but his Godolphin team circled the Belmont S. (G1) as a more suitable target. Trainer Charlie Appleby’s discretion could pay dividends at Belmont Park.
Racing
Rombauer a revelation in Preakness, but will another come in Belmont?
A few of the Preakness (G1) new shooters had a case to improve, but only Rombauer stepped up to the plate with a resounding victory at Pimlico.
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2021 Preakness Stakes one-liners
Analysis of the Preakness S. (G1) historically turns on what you think of the Kentucky Derby (G1), but Saturday’s renewal ups the ante.
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Preakness Stakes international scouting report: France Go de Ina
France Go de Ina is only the second Japanese-trained runner to try the Preakness, after Lani finished fifth in 2016. While Lani brought some credentials, France Go de Ina relies more on untapped potential.
Racing
Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit faces stiff Triple Crown challenge
Day-after reflections on the Kentucky Derby (G1) involve not only an analysis of how the race was won and lost, but also what it portends for the remaining jewels of the Triple Crown. While Medina Spirit’s victory was both brave and historic, his task only gets tougher from here.
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Malathaat stays unbeaten in Kentucky Oaks
Shadwell Stable’s Malathaat overcame a problematic start and a stubborn Search Results to extend her record to 5-for-5 in Friday’s $1.25 million Kentucky Oaks (G1).
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2021 Kentucky Derby one-liners
If you’re finding it challenging to sift through the Kentucky Derby contenders this year, you’re not alone.
Racing
Brotherly love and sister acts: The greatest siblings on the racetrack
Siblings Day on April 10 is an occasion to celebrate our brothers and sisters. As a racing fan and pedigree aficionado, I’d like to expand on that idea and recall some of the greatest sibling acts of the turf.
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