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PETA Raises Concerns About Lopez’s Preakness Ride; Laurel Stewards Reviewing Footage

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The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has raised concerns about the winning Preakness ride by Paco Lopez on Napoleon Solo, suggesting that Lopez raised his whip above his helmet on three different occasions before striking his horse, in violation of HISA regulations.

HISA announced Monday night that they were investigating the concerns.

“The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) is aware of the concerns raised regarding Paco Lopez’s ride in the referenced race at Laurel Park,” the organization wrote in an email. “In accordance with the standard regulatory process, the Stewards at Laurel will review the race footage and all relevant facts to determine whether any action is warranted under HISA’s riding crop rules. We will defer to the Stewards’ independent review and adjudication process and will not comment further while that review is ongoing.”

A spokesman for Laurel Park referred the TDN to HISA’s statement.

PETA circulated still photos taken from the head-on video of the Preakness which appear to show Lopez raising the whip above his head in violation of HISA rule 2280 (c) (1), which reads, “(c) A Jockey shall not: (1) raise the crop with the Jockey’s wrist above the Jockey’s helmet when using the crop.”

PETA’s email to media members reads, “PETA has reviewed video footage of Saturday’s Preakness Stakes, and the images appear to show yet another serious rule violation by winning jockey Paco Lopez. Video stills indicate that Lopez, riding Napoleon Solo, raised his whip hand above his helmet three different times before striking the horse—conduct prohibited under Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) rules (2280 (c)(1)). This apparent violation comes just weeks after Lopez completed a six-month suspension for multiple whip violations. His record speaks volumes: Prior to that suspension, Lopez was suspended at least six additional times in 2025 and amassed 22 whip violations since HISA’s Racetrack Safety Program took effect in July 2022. PETA has provided the stills to HISA and asked for an investigation.

“Jockeys who repeatedly flout rules designed to protect horses have no place in racing,” the PETA email continued. “Just weeks after serving a six‑month suspension for violating whip rules, Paco Lopez appears to have ridden to victory in Saturday’s Preakness Stakes while breaking the very same rule by yet again raising his whip hand above helmet level before striking Thoroughbred Napoleon Solo. Lopez has violated whip rules multiple times and served at least six suspensions in 2025 alone. He has shown again and again, particularly in big money races like the $2 million Preakness Stakes and the $500,000 Forego Stakes at Saratoga Race Course last fall, that he has no regard for the rules—or for the horses those rules are meant to protect. PETA is calling on racing officials to review the video and still shots to determine if this serial violator’s conduct warrants forfeiture of his $120,000 share of the Preakness prize money and banishment from racing.”

Lopez’s attorney, Drew Mollica, said, “We have no knowledge of any inquiry or any issues.”

The post PETA Raises Concerns About Lopez’s Preakness Ride; Laurel Stewards Reviewing Footage appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

$2.1-Million Flightline Colt Tops Vibrant Trade at Midlantic Opener

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TIMONIUM, MD – Midway through Monday’s first session of the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale in Timonium, one bloodstock agent quipped, “Turns out untimed works, work.” The final figures of the auction’s opening session–conducted a week after the company’s first untimed under-tack preview show–seemed to bear the sentiment out, with the session’s average and median concluding well ahead of last year’s sale record-setting figures.

“It was a tremendous start to the Fasig Midlantic May 2-Year-Olds in Training sale,” Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning said Monday evening. “There were pretty significant statistical increases over last year. It will be the end of the day tomorrow before we can make any absolute comparisons, but you could feel the energy and the activity in the pavilion today.”

For the session, 175 horses grossed $26,365,500 for an average of $150,000 and a median of $75,000. During last year’s auction, which was held in one continuous session following weather delays, 327 juveniles sold for a gross of $44,317,500. The average was $135,528 and the median was $60,000. All three were highwater marks for the May sale.

For the first time last week, Fasig-Tipton conducted its under-tack preview without published workout times and Browning admitted he came into Monday’s first session of the auction with some extra nerves.

“There was some apprehension,” Browning said. “We changed the format. And any time you change the format, there is uncertainty, there is anxiety, there is worry. And through the first half, with the great help of both our consignors and our buyers, we navigated that change in a rewarding fashion and a very positive manner. We still have half the catalogue coming tomorrow, but I would be lying if I didn’t say I was very, very relieved and pleased with the opening session.”

From 300 catalogued horses, 229 went through the ring with 54 failing to meet their reserves for a buy-back rate of 23.6%.

“It was a very vibrant market,” Browning said. “The RNA rate was very reasonable for a 2-year-old-in-training sale. The scratch rate was lower than in the past. So all signs are very, very positive after the first session.”

The final session of the Midlantic May sale gets underway Tuesday morning at 11 a.m.

‘The Hype Is Real’: $2.1-Million Flightline Colt to KAS Stable

Bloodstock agent Pedro Lanz, bidding on behalf of the Saudi-based KAS Stable, went to $2.1 million to acquire a colt from the first crop of champion Flightline (hip 54) from the Sequel consignment. Bred by Chester Broman, the chestnut colt is out of GI Breeders’ Cup F/M Sprint winner Bar of Gold (Medaglia d’Oro) and is a half-brother to graded winner Coinage (Tapit).

“This horse is going to race here in the United States,” Lanz said after signing the ticket on the colt. “I don’t know who is going to train him yet. We were waiting to secure the horse first before we decided.”

Of his impressions of the colt, Lanz added, “The first time I saw him was in a video of him breezing on dirt that Sequel posted on X. He is a very nice mover. He is a beautiful, balanced horse with a good hip and shoulder and a nice walk. He is out of a Breeders’ Cup champion mare. And then there is all the hype with Flightline. I think the hype is real.”

Hip 54 during his under-tack preview | Fasig-Tipton

Lanz later revealed that his pricey purchase would be joining the California barn of John Sadler, who, of course, conditioned Flightline throughout his undefeated career and Horse of the Year honors.

The hype around Flightline reached a fevered pitch last month at the OBS Spring sale when a colt from the champion’s first crop sold for $10.5 million to Amr Zedan and has now been named Zedan in honor of the owner’s father.

“Everyone is excited about them,” Lanz said of the Flightlines. “The comments we are hearing from Japan are great and then you see the amazing Zedan in April. So I knew this horse was going to bring a lot of money.”

The works at last week’s under-tack preview were untimed by the sales company, but Lanz said he saw enough from the colt on the track in Timonium to be confident in his bidding.

“He galloped into the turn on his left lead and then immediately changed leads perfectly,” he said. “I don’t care about the time, but I was clocking. The horse went in :35 4/5, which is a very nice three-furlong breeze for a 2-year-old.”

While he accepted congratulations on the purchase, Lanz admitted, “I celebrate this, but the real celebration is when they can win races at the track.”

King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz & Sons’ KAS Racing goes to $2.1 million to secure blue-blooded Flightline colt out of G1 @BreedersCup Filly & Mare Sprint champ Bar of Gold. Pedro Lanz @2yovar wins the bidding battle & signs the ticket. #FasigMD #FasigGrad pic.twitter.com/OUEiYlxhvU

— Michael Adolphson (@AdolphsonRacing) May 18, 2026

Flightline Colt Stars for Broman, Sequel

The $2.1-million session-topping bid made by bloodstock agent Pedro Lanz to secure a New York-bred colt by Flightline (hip 54) was no great surprise for the Sequel team which consigned him to the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sale on behalf of his breeder, Chester Broman.

“He was an absolutely terrific colt,” said Sequel’s Carlos Manresa. “We had posted a video of him stretching his legs out on the farm and it was very well received by everyone and started spreading around. People started coming to the farm to see the horse. We really knew we were going to be up here with something special. And with his pedigree, the stars aligned on that horse. That doesn’t happen very often, so it was really great for everyone on the team.”

This colt by FLIGHTLINE @LanesEndFarms o/o G1W Bar of Gold and 1/2 to GSW Coinage is stretching his legs at the farm ahead of the @FasigTiptonCo Midlantic 2YOs in Training Sale!      pic.twitter.com/ch5HcdWJWR

— Sequel at Winding Oaks (@SequelAtWO) April 22, 2026

The colt is out of Bar of Gold (Medaglia d’Oro), last-gasp, 66-1 winner of the 2017 GI Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint in the colors of Broman and his late wife, Mary.

Later in the session, a filly by Curlin out of Broman’s multiple graded stakes-winning mare Highway Star (Girolamo) (hip 240) sold for $560,000 to Milk River Racing.

“I have trained for Mr. Broman for decades,” said Sequel’s Becky Thomas. “I had Highway Star, I trained the entire family. So it’s particularly special. It gives me goosebumps. Mr. Broman has created a phenomenal team. His farm manager Greg Falk, Alan Porter does the matings with me, and I get the babies after they are weaned. He always says he hired professionals and he lets the professionals make the decisions. He just has a great team behind him.”

While hip 54 had been entered in previous sales, Thomas said the Midlantic May sale was always his preferred target.

“He’s a big two-turn colt, so we wanted to give him enough foundation,” Thomas said. “And then knowing that this sale was going to be an untimed dirt sale, we felt like we wanted to support Fasig-Tipton.”

Thomas said she had no concerns about this year’s untimed preview show after rain forced the later horses in the 2025 auction to gallop ahead of the auction.

“I wished I had been on that last day and a half,” Thomas said. “We had a big hiccup with our favorite horse in the sale last year who chipped a knee and had it been the day after, we would not have done that.”

“We loved [the untimed works],” she continued. “Our horses are breezing. They are going plenty fast.”

During Tuesday’s second and final session of the auction, Sequel will offer two more fillies on behalf of Broman. Hip 357 is a daughter of Gun Runner and hip 386 is a daughter of Nashville.

‘He Made it Real Easy’: Volatile Colt Rewards Crane

When Clovis Crane and Joe Besecker partnered up to purchase a colt by Volatile for $18,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Fall sale last year, Crane admitted the yearling was “a little immature.” Fast forward some eight months and the colt, named Mi Explosivo (hip 13), was all grown up and rewarded the partners when selling for $650,000 to the bid of bloodstock agent Donato Lanni, on behalf of Zedan Racing, Monday at Fasig-Tipton.

“He matured the right way and did everything right,” Crane said. “Every day that horse got up and he was excited to go train. He made it real easy.”

While last week’s under-tack previews were officially untimed, the gray juvenile was largely credited with the show’s fastest work (video), but Crane said the time was immaterial to Monday’s result.

Clovis Crane | Fasig-Tipton photo

“You didn’t have to time it to see what he did,” Crane said of the work. “He was visibly impressive. You didn’t have to have a timer on him. You could tell in the turn when he switched leads, he accelerated. And it was obvious. But he’s done that all along. Everything he has done has been exciting.”

Crane said he didn’t know what to expect when he returned the colt to the Midlantic ring Monday.

“I was in Miami to sell a horse a long time ago and I was in a somewhat similar situation and a friend of mine said, ‘Clovis, you are not in these positions very often, just sit back and enjoy the ride because these ones do it for you.’ And that was the case today. I was just trying to enjoy it. And be excited that it was going to happen and let it happen.”

Crane concluded, “Man, it was incredibly exciting.”

The post $2.1-Million Flightline Colt Tops Vibrant Trade at Midlantic Opener appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

PETA Raises Concerns About Lopez’s Preakness Ride; Laurel Stewards Reviewing Footage

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The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has raised concerns about the winning Preakness ride by Paco Lopez on Napoleon Solo, suggesting that Lopez raised his whip above his helmet on three different occasions before striking his horse, in violation of HISA regulations.

HISA announced Monday night that they were investigating the concerns.

“The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) is aware of the concerns raised regarding Paco Lopez’s ride in the referenced race at Laurel Park,” the organization wrote in an email. “In accordance with the standard regulatory process, the Stewards at Laurel will review the race footage and all relevant facts to determine whether any action is warranted under HISA’s riding crop rules. We will defer to the Stewards’ independent review and adjudication process and will not comment further while that review is ongoing.”

A spokesman for Laurel Park referred the TDN to HISA’s statement.

PETA circulated still photos taken from the head-on video of the Preakness which appear to show Lopez raising the whip above his head in violation of HISA rule 2280 (c) (1), which reads, “(c) A Jockey shall not: (1) raise the crop with the Jockey’s wrist above the Jockey’s helmet when using the crop.”

PETA’s email to media members reads, “PETA has reviewed video footage of Saturday’s Preakness Stakes, and the images appear to show yet another serious rule violation by winning jockey Paco Lopez. Video stills indicate that Lopez, riding Napoleon Solo, raised his whip hand above his helmet three different times before striking the horse—conduct prohibited under Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) rules (2280 (c)(1)). This apparent violation comes just weeks after Lopez completed a six-month suspension for multiple whip violations. His record speaks volumes: Prior to that suspension, Lopez was suspended at least six additional times in 2025 and amassed 22 whip violations since HISA’s Racetrack Safety Program took effect in July 2022. PETA has provided the stills to HISA and asked for an investigation.

“Jockeys who repeatedly flout rules designed to protect horses have no place in racing,” the PETA email continued. “Just weeks after serving a six‑month suspension for violating whip rules, Paco Lopez appears to have ridden to victory in Saturday’s Preakness Stakes while breaking the very same rule by yet again raising his whip hand above helmet level before striking Thoroughbred Napoleon Solo. Lopez has violated whip rules multiple times and served at least six suspensions in 2025 alone. He has shown again and again, particularly in big money races like the $2 million Preakness Stakes and the $500,000 Forego Stakes at Saratoga Race Course last fall, that he has no regard for the rules—or for the horses those rules are meant to protect. PETA is calling on racing officials to review the video and still shots to determine if this serial violator’s conduct warrants forfeiture of his $120,000 share of the Preakness prize money and banishment from racing.”

Lopez’s attorney, Drew Mollica, said, “We have no knowledge of any inquiry or any issues.”

The post PETA Raises Concerns About Lopez’s Preakness Ride; Laurel Stewards Reviewing Footage appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

$2.1-Million Flightline Colt Tops Vibrant Trade at Midlantic Opener

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TIMONIUM, MD – Midway through Monday’s first session of the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale in Timonium, one bloodstock agent quipped, “Turns out untimed works, work.” The final figures of the auction’s opening session–conducted a week after the company’s first untimed under-tack preview show–seemed to bear the sentiment out, with the session’s average and median concluding well ahead of last year’s sale record-setting figures.

“It was a tremendous start to the Fasig Midlantic May 2-Year-Olds in Training sale,” Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning said Monday evening. “There were pretty significant statistical increases over last year. It will be the end of the day tomorrow before we can make any absolute comparisons, but you could feel the energy and the activity in the pavilion today.”

For the session, 175 horses grossed $26,365,500 for an average of $150,000 and a median of $75,000. During last year’s auction, which was held in one continuous session following weather delays, 327 juveniles sold for a gross of $44,317,500. The average was $135,528 and the median was $60,000. All three were highwater marks for the May sale.

For the first time last week, Fasig-Tipton conducted its under-tack preview without published workout times and Browning admitted he came into Monday’s first session of the auction with some extra nerves.

“There was some apprehension,” Browning said. “We changed the format. And any time you change the format, there is uncertainty, there is anxiety, there is worry. And through the first half, with the great help of both our consignors and our buyers, we navigated that change in a rewarding fashion and a very positive manner. We still have half the catalogue coming tomorrow, but I would be lying if I didn’t say I was very, very relieved and pleased with the opening session.”

From 300 catalogued horses, 229 went through the ring with 54 failing to meet their reserves for a buy-back rate of 23.6%.

“It was a very vibrant market,” Browning said. “The RNA rate was very reasonable for a 2-year-old-in-training sale. The scratch rate was lower than in the past. So all signs are very, very positive after the first session.”

The final session of the Midlantic May sale gets underway Tuesday morning at 11 a.m.

‘The Hype Is Real’: $2.1-Million Flightline Colt to KAS Stable

Bloodstock agent Pedro Lanz, bidding on behalf of the Saudi-based KAS Stable, went to $2.1 million to acquire a colt from the first crop of champion Flightline (hip 54) from the Sequel consignment. Bred by Chester Broman, the chestnut colt is out of GI Breeders’ Cup F/M Sprint winner Bar of Gold (Medaglia d’Oro) and is a half-brother to graded winner Coinage (Tapit).

“This horse is going to race here in the United States,” Lanz said after signing the ticket on the colt. “I don’t know who is going to train him yet. We were waiting to secure the horse first before we decided.”

Of his impressions of the colt, Lanz added, “The first time I saw him was in a video of him breezing on dirt that Sequel posted on X. He is a very nice mover. He is a beautiful, balanced horse with a good hip and shoulder and a nice walk. He is out of a Breeders’ Cup champion mare. And then there is all the hype with Flightline. I think the hype is real.”

Hip 54 during his under-tack preview | Fasig-Tipton

Lanz later revealed that his pricey purchase would be joining the California barn of John Sadler, who, of course, conditioned Flightline throughout his undefeated career and Horse of the Year honors.

The hype around Flightline reached a fevered pitch last month at the OBS Spring sale when a colt from the champion’s first crop sold for $10.5 million to Amr Zedan and has now been named Zedan in honor of the owner’s father.

“Everyone is excited about them,” Lanz said of the Flightlines. “The comments we are hearing from Japan are great and then you see the amazing Zedan in April. So I knew this horse was going to bring a lot of money.”

The works at last week’s under-tack preview were untimed by the sales company, but Lanz said he saw enough from the colt on the track in Timonium to be confident in his bidding.

“He galloped into the turn on his left lead and then immediately changed leads perfectly,” he said. “I don’t care about the time, but I was clocking. The horse went in :35 4/5, which is a very nice three-furlong breeze for a 2-year-old.”

While he accepted congratulations on the purchase, Lanz admitted, “I celebrate this, but the real celebration is when they can win races at the track.”

King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz & Sons’ KAS Racing goes to $2.1 million to secure blue-blooded Flightline colt out of G1 @BreedersCup Filly & Mare Sprint champ Bar of Gold. Pedro Lanz @2yovar wins the bidding battle & signs the ticket. #FasigMD #FasigGrad pic.twitter.com/OUEiYlxhvU

— Michael Adolphson (@AdolphsonRacing) May 18, 2026

Flightline Colt Stars for Broman, Sequel

The $2.1-million session-topping bid made by bloodstock agent Pedro Lanz to secure a New York-bred colt by Flightline (hip 54) was no great surprise for the Sequel team which consigned him to the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sale on behalf of his breeder, Chester Broman.

“He was an absolutely terrific colt,” said Sequel’s Carlos Manresa. “We had posted a video of him stretching his legs out on the farm and it was very well received by everyone and started spreading around. People started coming to the farm to see the horse. We really knew we were going to be up here with something special. And with his pedigree, the stars aligned on that horse. That doesn’t happen very often, so it was really great for everyone on the team.”

This colt by FLIGHTLINE @LanesEndFarms o/o G1W Bar of Gold and 1/2 to GSW Coinage is stretching his legs at the farm ahead of the @FasigTiptonCo Midlantic 2YOs in Training Sale!      pic.twitter.com/ch5HcdWJWR

— Sequel at Winding Oaks (@SequelAtWO) April 22, 2026

The colt is out of Bar of Gold (Medaglia d’Oro), last-gasp, 66-1 winner of the 2017 GI Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint in the colors of Broman and his late wife, Mary.

Later in the session, a filly by Curlin out of Broman’s multiple graded stakes-winning mare Highway Star (Girolamo) (hip 240) sold for $560,000 to Milk River Racing.

“I have trained for Mr. Broman for decades,” said Sequel’s Becky Thomas. “I had Highway Star, I trained the entire family. So it’s particularly special. It gives me goosebumps. Mr. Broman has created a phenomenal team. His farm manager Greg Falk, Alan Porter does the matings with me, and I get the babies after they are weaned. He always says he hired professionals and he lets the professionals make the decisions. He just has a great team behind him.”

While hip 54 had been entered in previous sales, Thomas said the Midlantic May sale was always his preferred target.

“He’s a big two-turn colt, so we wanted to give him enough foundation,” Thomas said. “And then knowing that this sale was going to be an untimed dirt sale, we felt like we wanted to support Fasig-Tipton.”

Thomas said she had no concerns about this year’s untimed preview show after rain forced the later horses in the 2025 auction to gallop ahead of the auction.

“I wished I had been on that last day and a half,” Thomas said. “We had a big hiccup with our favorite horse in the sale last year who chipped a knee and had it been the day after, we would not have done that.”

“We loved [the untimed works],” she continued. “Our horses are breezing. They are going plenty fast.”

During Tuesday’s second and final session of the auction, Sequel will offer two more fillies on behalf of Broman. Hip 357 is a daughter of Gun Runner and hip 386 is a daughter of Nashville.

‘He Made it Real Easy’: Volatile Colt Rewards Crane

When Clovis Crane and Joe Besecker partnered up to purchase a colt by Volatile for $18,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Fall sale last year, Crane admitted the yearling was “a little immature.” Fast forward some eight months and the colt, named Mi Explosivo (hip 13), was all grown up and rewarded the partners when selling for $650,000 to the bid of bloodstock agent Donato Lanni, on behalf of Zedan Racing, Monday at Fasig-Tipton.

“He matured the right way and did everything right,” Crane said. “Every day that horse got up and he was excited to go train. He made it real easy.”

While last week’s under-tack previews were officially untimed, the gray juvenile was largely credited with the show’s fastest work (video), but Crane said the time was immaterial to Monday’s result.

Clovis Crane | Fasig-Tipton photo

“You didn’t have to time it to see what he did,” Crane said of the work. “He was visibly impressive. You didn’t have to have a timer on him. You could tell in the turn when he switched leads, he accelerated. And it was obvious. But he’s done that all along. Everything he has done has been exciting.”

Crane said he didn’t know what to expect when he returned the colt to the Midlantic ring Monday.

“I was in Miami to sell a horse a long time ago and I was in a somewhat similar situation and a friend of mine said, ‘Clovis, you are not in these positions very often, just sit back and enjoy the ride because these ones do it for you.’ And that was the case today. I was just trying to enjoy it. And be excited that it was going to happen and let it happen.”

Crane concluded, “Man, it was incredibly exciting.”

The post $2.1-Million Flightline Colt Tops Vibrant Trade at Midlantic Opener appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.