Brian Robin

Muck Rack profile
An in-foal Oleksandra had just enough to hold off favored Raging Bull in Sunday's Grade 3 Poker Stakes at Belmont Park. The 7-year-old mare retired after her eighth career victory. (Image: Joe Labozzetta/NYRA)

After a Pregnant Pause, In-Foal Oleksandra Wins Poker Stakes

Oleksandra provided the perfect blueprint for how to go out on top: win your final race as the lone mare in a nine-deep field of colts and horses as a 17/1 long shot. But the 7-year-old mare threw in an irresistible and endearing plot twist to her racing finale. Not […]

Letruska and jockey Jose Ortiz wired the field in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps earlier this month. The pair just became the favorites for Saturday's Grade 2 Fleur de Lis at Churchill Downs. (Image: Seth Wenig/AP Photo)

Red Hot Mare Letruska Will Run Fleur de Lis at Churchill Downs

Trainer Fausto Gutierrez turned Churchill Downs’ Spring Meet closing day from impressive to electric when he told the Daily Racing Form on Sunday that his star mare, Letruska, will run the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis Stakes. That turns the already-deep, 1 1/8-mile Fleur de Lis into a Grade 1-worthy […]

Pink Lloyd won the 2020 Jacques Cartier Stakes at Woodbine last June. The 9-year-old Canadian-bred gelding goes for his fifth Cartier title Sunday. (Image: Michael Burns Photo)

Canadian Champion Pink Lloyd Ready for His Swan Song Season

Given his horse’s cute name, trainer Robert Tiller explained Pink Lloyd’s future plans without a trace of irony. The 9-year-old gelding will head to a Canadian retirement farm for Thoroughbreds sometime this year. Emphasis on the “sometime.” “He’ll be a movie star there after being a rock star on the […]

Dr Schivel and Flavien Prat made their move just in time to score a head victory in the colt's return from a 9 1/2-month layoff. (Image: Benoit Photography)

The Doctor is In: Dr Schivel, Mailman Money Win Key Allowance Races

There was Dr Schivel returning on one side of the country, Enforceable, Finnick the Fierce, Core Beliefs and Sonneman tangling on the other. This eclectic group of familiar names made up for a weekend devoid of Grade 1 races in North America with two intriguing allowance races on both sides […]

Raging Bull won this third Grade 1 race at April's Maker's Mark Mile at Keeneland. He faces non-Grade 1 competition for the first time since October 2018 in Saturday's Grade 3 Poker Stakes at Belmont Park. (Image: Coady Photography)

Raging Bull Goes All-In On Class Relief in Poker Stakes

The last time Raging Bull didn’t face Grade 1 competition came more than two years and nine months ago. It came in the Grade 2 Hill Prince Stakes at Belmont Park, and it came with a fifth-place finish – albeit by only 1 ¾ lengths. That was 13 races ago. […]

Campanelle (left) and Dragon Symbol needed a photo finish and stewards' inquiry to decide the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot. Campanelle prevailed after Dragon Symbol was cited for interference. (Image: Rex Features)

Royal Theater at Royal Ascot: Ward, Campanelle Win Commonwealth Cup

Having stewards elevate Campanelle to victory was a novel way for trainer Wesley Ward to win his 12th Royal Ascot race. But after the American trainer endured a less-than-regal slog at Royal Ascot this week, Ward was not throwing this Group 1 Commonwealth Cup victory back. Off as the 5/1 […]

A proposal merging fantasy sports and pari-mutuel wagering could be the first step toward sports wagering in the Golden State. (Image: Ethan Miller/Getty)

California Could Merge Fantasy Sports and Pari-Mutuel Wagering

Fantasy sports meets pari-mutuel wagering and spawns visions of an endless revenue stream for California. That’s the dream, and an actual possibility, by this coming August if a proposal by the California Association of Racing Fairs (CARF) gains traction with the California Horse Racing Board. CARF officials presented the proposal […]

Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit remains the focus of a legal battle over his urine sample. On Wednesday, a Kentucky judge allowed further testing on the colt. (Image: Churchill Downs/Coady Photography)

Judge Grants Baffert’s Request for More Testing of Medina Spirit’s Urine

Kentucky Judge Thomas Wingate granted permission on Wednesday for a urine sample of Kentucky Derby champion Medina Spirit to undergo extra testing at a New York lab. Blood-Horse first reported that Wingate, a Circuit Court Judge from Franklin, Kentucky, specified the details for the sample’s transfer from the Kentucky Horse […]

Just like the last time Del Mar played host to the Breeders' Cup in 2017, the seaside track will open to 100% of capacity. (Image: Sean M. Haffey/Getty)

Saratoga, Breeders’ Cup Opening Gates to 100% of Capacity

Officials from both Saratoga Race Course and the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar announced Wednesday that their facilities will open to 100% capacity this year. The NYRA also announced the full reopening of Belmont Park, beginning June 24. The NYRA’s announcements came on the heels of New York Gov. Andrew […]

Stradivarius can tie Yeats' record with his fourth consecutive Gold Cup victory Thursday at Royal Ascot. (Image: britishchampionsseries.com)

Stradivarius Seeks to Write His Name in the Royal Ascot Record Book

Can Stradivarius, a horse named after a musical instrument, equal Yeats, a horse named after a poet? That next landmark awaits the 7-year-old horse as Thursday’s Day 3 storyline at Royal Ascot. That landmark would be a fourth consecutive Gold Cup title, which would tie Stradivarius with Yeats. He won […]

Lord North took command of last year's Prince of Wales's Stakes. Yet he's not the favorite for Wednesday's lone Group 1 race at Royal Ascot. (Image: Racenews)

Can Defending Champion Lord it Over Love in Prince of Wales’s Stakes?

The Prince of Wales’s Stakes gives you defending champion Lord North with leading jockey Frankie Dettori and standout trainer John Gosden getting an assist from his son, Thady. What could possibly go wrong for the 5-year-old gelding in Royal Ascot’s Day 2 marquee race? Well, that’s what Love’s got to […]

Bob Baffert filed suit against the New York Racing Association Monday, claiming the organization had no legal jurisdiction to suspend him. (Image: Charlie Riedel/AP File Photo)

Baffert Continues Legal Offensive, Sues NYRA Over Suspension

Remaining on the legal offensive, even as he keeps a low profile, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert filed a lawsuit against the New York Racing Association Monday. The suit claims Baffert’s right to due process was violated when the organization suspended him. The Thoroughbred Daily News first reported that […]

With a Grand National title and Cheltenham Festival top jockey award, Rachael Blackmore has already celebrated plenty in 2021. She could add to that haul with a title in the Ascot Stakes Tuesday at Royal Ascot. (Image: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)

Rachael Blackmore Seeks to Conquer Royal Ascot

Not content with owning Cheltenham and the Grand National, standout jockey Rachael Blackmore will now tackle Royal Ascot on Tuesday’s first day of the five-day meet. Blackmore takes the reins of Cape Gentlemen for the Listed Ascot Stakes, the finale of Royal Ascot’s seven-race opening day. Headlining the day are […]

Art Collector and regular rider Brian Hernandez Jr. worked out four times at Churchill Downs. The one-time Triple Crown race threat returns for his 4-year-old campaign in the June 25 Kelly's Landing Overnight Stakes at Churchill Downs. (Image: Coady Photography)

Art Collector Set for 2021 Debut at Kelly’s Landing Stakes

Art Collector, one of last year’s most heralded 3-year-olds, will make his 4-year-old debut in the Black-Type Kelly’s Landing Overnight Stakes at Churchill Downs. The June 25 Kelly’s Landing is one of eight stakes on Churchill Downs’ closing weekend for its Spring Meet. It sends its competitors seven furlongs on […]

Informative (5) pulled away from favored Ny Traffic to win Monmouth Park's Salvator Mile at 79/1. (Image: Ryan Denver/EQUI-PHOTO)

Informative Makes his 79/1 Presence Known in Salvator Mile

Since Informative can’t explain himself or describe the impact of his 79/1 upset in Saturday’s Salvator Mile at Monmouth Park, let’s go to his jockey, Jose Ferrer. “The horse can’t read the board, so he didn’t know (his odds),” Ferrer told Monmouth Park. “I’ve always said you don’t have a […]

Order of Australia sent disorder into the betting markets when he won last year's Breeders' Cup Mile at 73/1. He is expected to meet favorite Palace Pier in the Queen Anne Stakes. A berth in the Breeders' Cup Mile at Del Mar awaits the winner. (Image: Breeders' Cup/Eclipse Sportswire)

Breeders’ Cup Crowns Royal Ascot With Four Challenge Series Races

For the fourth consecutive year, Royal Ascot’s 2021 meet not only features the usual pomp and pageantry, but four tickets to the 2021 Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar. The prestigious meet, which begins Tuesday and runs through Saturday, will play host to the season’s first four Breeders’ Cup “Win and […]

Historic Horse Racing machines like these in Virginia are headed to Louisiana and New Hampshire, after both states approved legislation for the slot-like machines. (Image: Rosie's Gaming Emporium)

Louisiana, New Hampshire Latest States Welcoming HHR Machines

Two more states joined the Historical Horse Racing machine parade this week, when Louisiana and New Hampshire passed legislation approving HHR machines. On Tuesday, the Louisiana Senate passed SB 209 by a 32-3 vote. That gives off-track betting facilities license to install up to 50 HHR machines per OTB facility. […]

Risen Star winner and Kentucky Derby runner-up Mandaloun looms as the one to beat in Sunday's Listed Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth Park. (Image: Jamie Newell/Racingfotos.com)

Mandaloun Looms Large and Fast in This Pegasus Stakes Field

Last year, the Pegasus Stakes ran as the final stop on the Kentucky Derby trail. As such, it enjoyed a large field, serious betting interest and more than casual interest from racing fans. This is a different Pegasus Stakes. Yes, it takes its five candidates – only five, mind you […]

Kentucky Derby runner-up Mandaloun returns from his six-week hiatus for the Listed Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth Park. (Image: Chad B. Harmon)

Kentucky Derby Runner-Up Mandaloun Returns for Pegasus Stakes

Vacation time is over for Kentucky Derby runner-up Mandaloun, who comes back from his six-week hiatus into favored status for Sunday’s Listed Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth Park. The reason for Mandaloun’s return to action doesn’t have to do with beating his four rivals in the 1 1/16-mile jaunt around Monmouth […]