On an afternoon in which favorites won most of the six stakes at Laurel Park during its Winter Sprintfest program, Edward Seltzer and Beverly Anderson’s homebred Hibiscus Punch paid off for longshot backers in the Barbara Fritchie (G3).

Ken Copenhaver’s Queen Nekia benefited from a hotly contested early pace to earn graded-stakes credentials with a rallying victory in the $100,000 Royal Delta Stakes (G3) Feb. 20 at Gulfstream Park.

Racecourses and bookmakers in England were given a clear set of dates Feb. 22 to work towards for reopening as prime minister Boris Johnson gave the first details of a 60-page document laying out the steps to leaving lockdown.

Three of the five Maiden Watch winners are by Pioneerof the Nile: Adventuring, Hozier, and Quantum Leap.

Michael Dubb and Bethlehem Stables Maythehorsebwithu led every step of the way Feb. 20 to win the $99,000 Miracle Wood Stakes at Laurel Park by four lengths. The Bullsbay gelding bested four other 3-year-olds as he covered a mile in 1:37.02.

Courtlandt Farms’ Greatest Honour breezed an easy half-mile Feb. 21 at Payson Park Training Center in preparation for a start in the $300,000 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) Feb. 27 at Gulfstream Park.

The 2021 running of The Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Saudi Arabia won by Mishriff Courtesy Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia

Cafe Pharoah was purchased for current connections, owner Koichi Nishikawa and trainer Noriyuki Hori, by Emmanuel de Seroux’s Narvick International at $475,000 at the 2019 Ocala Breeders’ Sales March 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale.

Balanchine, who will always hold a special place in the history of Godolphin as their first classic winner and springboard to the superpower status they hold today, has died at age 30.

On a day when the well-fancied Americans thrice played bridesmaid and Japan celebrated twice, the Saudi Cup stayed home thanks to the efforts of a British trainer and a 21-year-old Irish jockey who guided Prince Faisal’s Mishriff to victory.