Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) winner Essential Quality, Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) winner Fire At Will, and Sham Stakes (G3) winner Life Is Good take the top three spots in the first Derby Dozen of 2021.

Trainer Mike Maker seems to have a barn full of horses who succeed at long distances on the turf, so it’s no surprise he’s won seven of the past nine runnings of the John B. Connally Turf Cup (G3T), a 1 1/2-mile race at Sam Houston Race Park.

The final results for the Jan. 26 opening day of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Winter Mixed Sale saw similar figures to those achieved during the 2020 renewal with the help of some late six-figure sales in the horses of racing age section. 

Multi-champion and 2010 Horse of the Year Zenyatta has lost the 2021 filly foal by Lane’s End stallion Candy Ride that she was carrying, Zenyatta.com announced in a Jan. 26 blog post. 

During a ceremony hosted by presenter Francesca Cumani at the National Horse Racing Museum in Newmarket, England, Ghaiyyath was recognized as the 2020 Longines World’s Best Racehorse.

In conjunction with Woodbine and Ontario Racing, the Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association of Ontario announced Jan. 26 an equine welfare payment of $1,500 per horse to owners impacted by the early closure of the 2020 Woodbine meet.

Together for Racing International, a global alliance to promote and progress education, community engagement, and career opportunities in the Thoroughbred industry has launched the website togetherforracinginternational.com.

Trainer Joe Sharp said Jan. 26 he will appeal a 30-day suspension issued to him this month by Kentucky stewards after five of his horses tested positive for levamisole in races at Churchill Downs in November 2019.

Pegasus World Cup, Pegasus World Cup Turf, Inside Information, W. L. McKnight, Marshua’s River, La Prevoyante, Fred W. Hooper, Palos Verdes, Busanda, Clockers’ Corner, Jazil, Pippin, Smarty Jones, & Fifth Season.

Four Wheel Drive, a son of American Pharoah and winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2T), was bought by the Thoroughbred Breeders Club in Monbetsu, Hokkaido.