Shadow Sphinx News Today

If it weren’t for tough luck, English Bee wouldn’t have much at all. Since winning the Virginia Derby (G3) and Parx Derby back-to-back in the summer and fall of 2019, the 7-year-old gelding has raced 18 times with two wins and been beaten by five lengths or fewer in 10 graded stakes.

Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Peter and Patty Searles’ City Man, under patient handling from jockey Joel Rosario, found a seam along the rail in mid-stretch and sprinted clear late to extend his win streak to three races in Saturday’s $200,000 Fort Lauderdale (G2) at Gulfstream Park.

Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 Ft. Lauderdale Stakes drew a full field of 12, plus one also-eligible, running nine furlongs on turf at Gulfstream Park.

Colonel Liam was entered in an optional claiming allowance Dec. 15 at Gulfstream, where he was the first of three also-eligibles in an overflow field of 15. He ultimately was scratched when the race was rained off the grass to the all-weather Tapeta course.

Joel Rosario notched his fourth win on the card by guiding Big Everest to a gate-to-wire score in Sunday’s $135,000 Artie Schiller, a one-mile inner turf test for 3-year-olds and upward at Aqueduct Racetrack.

“It was incredible. I couldn't believe it,” Atras said by phone of winning his Kentucky Downs debut. “I never expected to win first time at that track."

The 15 horses entered Saturday for Kentucky Downs' Tapit Stakes include the winners of last year’s Grade 1 Keeneland Turf Mile (In Love)