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Heavenly Sunday Cruises Clear In Off-The-Turf Mrs. Revere

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Heavenly Sunday, who made her first career start on dirt after eight previous starts on turf, rolled past pacesetter Callie’s Grit at the top of the stretch and widened her margin inside the final furlong to win Friday’s off-the-turf $298,250 Mrs. Revere by five lengths over Beach Walkin.

Owned by William B. Harrigan’s Miacomet Farm, Heavenly Sunday ran the 1 1/16 miles for 3-year-old fillies in 1:44.69 on a fast track. Florent Geroux rode the winner for trainer Brad Cox.

The field was reduced from 12 entries to nine starters when turf racing called off for the final three days of the Fall Meet after track officials were not satisfied with the turf course’s condition.

The Mrs. Revere was carded a Grade 3 event but was downgraded to listed status pending a review by the American Graded Stakes Committee.

Heavenly Sunday banked the $178,800 first prize and rewarded her backers $4.82 for the win.

“She’s always worked well on the dirt so we thought she’d handle things just fine,” Cox said. “When she started her career we put her on grass and because she did so well we’ve always kept her on it. She was impressive today and can give her another option moving forward on dirt.”

Breaking from post No. 9, Heavenly Sunday raced just off the tail of pacesetter Callie’s Grit, who set fractions of :23.95, :48.81, and 1:13.32 during the early stages of the race. Heavenly Sunday pulled her way to the front leaving the final turn and drew away down the stretch while geared down late for the comfortable win.

“We sat a great trip,” Geroux said. “She’s a pretty versatile filly with her running style. She worked like she would handle the dirt fine and did.”

Beach Walkin outfinished Make the Boys Wink by 1 ¼ lengths for second.

Callie’s Grit, Neecie Marie, Safeen, Sabalenka, Financial Advice (FR), and Cha Cha Tap completed the order of finish. Hay Stack, Bling and Watch This Birdie were scratched.

The winner’s share of the purse pushed Heavenly Sunday’s earnings to $708,683 from a record of 4-2-2 in nine starts. Prior to the Mrs. Revere, Heavenly Sunday finished second to Surge Capacity in the Valley View (G3) at Keeneland on Oct. 27. Earlier this year, she won the Edgewood (G2) on the Kentucky Oaks (G1) undercard at Churchill Downs.

Heavenly Sunday is a dark bay or brown daughter of Candy Ride (ARG) out of the Giant’s Causeway mare Alien Giant who and bred in Kentucky by Randal Family Trust.

The Mrs. Revere is named in honor of Mrs. Revere, an accomplished Churchill Downs fan favorite in the mid-1980s. Mrs. Revere won 12 races in 28 starts, finished second seven times and earned $429,545 for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. Her six wins in a dozen starts at Churchill Downs included stakes triumphs in the Regret, Dogwood and Edgewood in 1984 and the Kentucky Cardinal in 1985. She was owned by Dr. Hiram Polk and the late Dr. David Richardson, who have provided the winner’s trophy for the Mrs. Revere in each year of its existence.

Eyes Wide Open: Can Acetaminophen Aide In Equine Ocular Issues?

---

Researchers at Colorado State University have found that acetaminophen may alleviate pain from equine eye conditions like uveitis. 

Acetaminophen, the active ingredient in human Tylenol, is not used often in equine medicine, said Dr. Kathryn L. Wotman, but it shows promise as a viable alternative to traditional non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) like phenylbutazone (bute) and flunixin meglumine (Banamine). 

Acetaminophen works on different pain pathways so it might work for different types of pain, Wotman said. The drug also doesn’t have the same side effects as other NSAIDs and is less expensive. 

Wotman and a team of researchers studied acetaminophen use for ocular conditions as eye issues are notoriously difficult to treat: they can be painful and often require multiple ointments or drops or the placement of an ophthalmic catheter. 

Additionally, many systemic drugs don’t reach the clear fluid on the front part of the eye because of the blood/ocular barrier. Any drug that fails to penetrate that will be unable to relieve pain for inflammation, Wotman said. 

To test acetaminophen’s ability to address pain and swelling, Wotman and her team used six healthy horses with no history or eye issues. The horses were given a 20 mg/kg dose of oral acetaminophen every 12 hours for three days. 

The scientists then drew blood and aqueous humor samples from the horses to test for acetaminophen concentrations. The drug was detected in both samples. 

Next, the team will test if the drug can reduce pain in the eye like that associated with ulcers and uveitis. If the drug is effective in reducing ocular pain, it may be able to be alternated with other NSAIDS, offering horses even greater relief, Wotman said. 

Read more at EQUUS magazine. 

Five Fleet Fillies Of The Week, Feb. 2-8

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5. ME AND MOLLY McGEE, SA, 2/7-6th, 7 furlongs (Video)
Beyer Speed Figure-93 (2nd).
(f, 4, by Vekoma-Molly McGee, by Quality Road)
O-Exline-Border Racing, Aaron Kennedy, Mike Burns, Susanna Wilson and Dan Hudock. B-Four Pillars Holdings (Ky). T-Peter Eurton. J-Hector Berrios.
This was a best-case-scenario return after she was vanned off the Saratoga track following the GI Test Stakes last August with a left-hind splint bone fracture and a laceration. Fortunately, her injuries didn’t require surgery, and she made a splashy comeback in the GII D. Wayne Lukas Stakes despite the layoff to clearly hold second behind 2/5 Splendora (below) after setting the fractions–and now she’s Grade II stakes placed.

4. RUNAMILEINMYSHOES, SA, 2/6-8th, 1 mile (Video)
Beyer Speed Figure-94
(m, 5, by Street Boss-Intoitagain, by Into Mischief)
O-Wachtel Stable and Gary Barber. B-Red Baron’s Barn and Rancho Temescal (Cal). T-Peter Miller. J-Emisael Jaramillo.
First time back off a $50,000 claim, she immediately picked up a $54,600 payday with a solid win. And it was on dirt, which might be the key. She had run 17 of her 19 races on grass, but now is 3-for-3 on dirt–and even if you don’t look at figures, this jumps out as her strongest effort to date. She’s well named, too: 15 of her 20 starts have been at a mile.

3. SPLENDORA, SA, 2/7-6th, 7 furlongs (Video)
Beyer Speed Figure-96.
(m, 5, by Audible-Miss Freeze, by Frost Giant)
O-By Talla Racing. B-The Elkstone Group (Md). T-Bob Baffert. J-Juan Hernandez.

Splendora | Benoit

The talented GI PNC Bank Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint heroine picked up right where she left off in the newly- christened D. Wayne Lukas Stakes, and this time even overcame a somewhat sluggish break. She lost an Eclipse Award to Shisospicy (Mitole) in what looked like a coin flip decision, but that’s the only loss she has suffered over the last 6 1/2 months.

2. NITROGEN, OP, 2/7-9th, 1 1/16 miles (Video)
Beyer Speed Figure-97.
(f, 4, by Medaglia d’Oro-Tiffany Case, by Uncle Mo)
O/B-D J Stable (Ky). T-Mark Casse. J-Jose Ortiz.
Jose Ortiz rode her like a 1/5 shot, and once he woke her up at the 3/16ths she powered past improving stablemate Nerazurri (Protonico) and the GIII Bayakoa Stakes trophy was in the case. With his 1-2 finish, Casse’s 45% Oaklawn juggernaut continues and Nitrogen surely looms the early favorite for the Apr. 11 GI Apple Blossom Handicap.

1. MOON SPUN, GP, 2/7-10th, 5 furlongs (turf) (Video)
Beyer Speed Figure-99.
(m, 5, by Hard Spun-Moonlit Bay, by Malibu Moon)
O-Town and Country Racing. B-Jack Liebau Sr (Ky). T-Brian Lynch. J-Javier Castellano.
“She always beats the gate,” jockey Javier Castellano said of Moon Spun, and that was definitely the case in Gulfstream’s Ladies Turf Sprint. She can be tough and spirited, and the waters will surely get much deeper than this ungraded stakes–but she has won four straight including three her return from a forced 13-month layoff.

The post Five Fleet Fillies Of The Week, Feb. 2-8 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Letter to the Editor: Why Showing Up Matters: KEEP at the Capitol

---

Kentucky’s horse industry is strong by any measure: economically, culturally, and politically. But that strength did not happen by accident. It was built through years of consistent engagement with lawmakers by groups such as the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association (KTA), the Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Managers Club (KTFMC), and the Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP). Participation by industry members at KEEP Day at the Capitol on Thursday, February 12, is critical, even without a pressing legislative crisis.

For legislators, KEEP Day is not about a single bill or budget line. It’s about relationships and understanding. Lawmakers are responsible for hundreds of issues each session and often only hear from industries when problems arise. When horse industry participants take time to introduce themselves, explain their work, and share how horses support jobs and communities back home, it creates context that lasts far beyond one meeting.

Speaker of the House David Osborne highlighted this during the 2025 KEEP Day, pointing to challenges facing the horse industry in states like Florida and California. In those cases, lawmakers are scrambling to understand an industry they haven’t been consistently engaged with. Kentucky has avoided that scenario precisely because the horse industry has stayed involved during both good times and bad.

Former Senate Floor Leader Damon Thayer also noted the importance of consistent engagement and would frequently highlight the work of the optometrists who would bring an army of advocates to Frankfort every year, whether they had an issue before the legislature or not.

I have seen first-hand how exposure to horses can completely alter a person’s perspective on our industry. I have experienced this with KEEP Day, too. Giving lawmakers a view of the industry and building those relationships opens up new perspectives that they previously did not have.

Legislators frequently note that it is far easier to support an industry when they know the people behind it. A breeder, farm employee, veterinarian, or small business owner brings meaning to economic statistics and reinforces why sound policy matters. Those relationships were essential to past successes, from protecting historical horse racing to establishing and protecting industry incentive funds.

KEEP Day at the Capitol also matters because the General Assembly is always changing. New lawmakers arrive each year, many representing horse country but lacking direct exposure to the industry. Early, informal conversations help shape how they view future policy questions.

Kentucky’s horse industry may be thriving, but legislators will tell you that success requires vigilance. Engagement prevents complacency and helps ensure Kentucky remains a national model rather than a cautionary tale.

Showing up matters. KEEP Day at the Capitol is a simple but powerful way to protect the industry’s future, by continuing the relationships that have already served Kentucky so well.

RSVP to KEEP Day here.

Rob Tribbett
Watercress Farm
KEEP Vice Chair

The post Letter to the Editor: Why Showing Up Matters: KEEP at the Capitol appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Heavenly Sunday Cruises Clear In Off-The-Turf Mrs. Revere

---

Heavenly Sunday, who made her first career start on dirt after eight previous starts on turf, rolled past pacesetter Callie’s Grit at the top of the stretch and widened her margin inside the final furlong to win Friday’s off-the-turf $298,250 Mrs. Revere by five lengths over Beach Walkin.

Owned by William B. Harrigan’s Miacomet Farm, Heavenly Sunday ran the 1 1/16 miles for 3-year-old fillies in 1:44.69 on a fast track. Florent Geroux rode the winner for trainer Brad Cox.

The field was reduced from 12 entries to nine starters when turf racing called off for the final three days of the Fall Meet after track officials were not satisfied with the turf course’s condition.

The Mrs. Revere was carded a Grade 3 event but was downgraded to listed status pending a review by the American Graded Stakes Committee.

Heavenly Sunday banked the $178,800 first prize and rewarded her backers $4.82 for the win.

“She’s always worked well on the dirt so we thought she’d handle things just fine,” Cox said. “When she started her career we put her on grass and because she did so well we’ve always kept her on it. She was impressive today and can give her another option moving forward on dirt.”

Breaking from post No. 9, Heavenly Sunday raced just off the tail of pacesetter Callie’s Grit, who set fractions of :23.95, :48.81, and 1:13.32 during the early stages of the race. Heavenly Sunday pulled her way to the front leaving the final turn and drew away down the stretch while geared down late for the comfortable win.

“We sat a great trip,” Geroux said. “She’s a pretty versatile filly with her running style. She worked like she would handle the dirt fine and did.”

Beach Walkin outfinished Make the Boys Wink by 1 ¼ lengths for second.

Callie’s Grit, Neecie Marie, Safeen, Sabalenka, Financial Advice (FR), and Cha Cha Tap completed the order of finish. Hay Stack, Bling and Watch This Birdie were scratched.

The winner’s share of the purse pushed Heavenly Sunday’s earnings to $708,683 from a record of 4-2-2 in nine starts. Prior to the Mrs. Revere, Heavenly Sunday finished second to Surge Capacity in the Valley View (G3) at Keeneland on Oct. 27. Earlier this year, she won the Edgewood (G2) on the Kentucky Oaks (G1) undercard at Churchill Downs.

Heavenly Sunday is a dark bay or brown daughter of Candy Ride (ARG) out of the Giant’s Causeway mare Alien Giant who and bred in Kentucky by Randal Family Trust.

The Mrs. Revere is named in honor of Mrs. Revere, an accomplished Churchill Downs fan favorite in the mid-1980s. Mrs. Revere won 12 races in 28 starts, finished second seven times and earned $429,545 for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. Her six wins in a dozen starts at Churchill Downs included stakes triumphs in the Regret, Dogwood and Edgewood in 1984 and the Kentucky Cardinal in 1985. She was owned by Dr. Hiram Polk and the late Dr. David Richardson, who have provided the winner’s trophy for the Mrs. Revere in each year of its existence.

Eyes Wide Open: Can Acetaminophen Aide In Equine Ocular Issues?

---

Researchers at Colorado State University have found that acetaminophen may alleviate pain from equine eye conditions like uveitis. 

Acetaminophen, the active ingredient in human Tylenol, is not used often in equine medicine, said Dr. Kathryn L. Wotman, but it shows promise as a viable alternative to traditional non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) like phenylbutazone (bute) and flunixin meglumine (Banamine). 

Acetaminophen works on different pain pathways so it might work for different types of pain, Wotman said. The drug also doesn’t have the same side effects as other NSAIDs and is less expensive. 

Wotman and a team of researchers studied acetaminophen use for ocular conditions as eye issues are notoriously difficult to treat: they can be painful and often require multiple ointments or drops or the placement of an ophthalmic catheter. 

Additionally, many systemic drugs don’t reach the clear fluid on the front part of the eye because of the blood/ocular barrier. Any drug that fails to penetrate that will be unable to relieve pain for inflammation, Wotman said. 

To test acetaminophen’s ability to address pain and swelling, Wotman and her team used six healthy horses with no history or eye issues. The horses were given a 20 mg/kg dose of oral acetaminophen every 12 hours for three days. 

The scientists then drew blood and aqueous humor samples from the horses to test for acetaminophen concentrations. The drug was detected in both samples. 

Next, the team will test if the drug can reduce pain in the eye like that associated with ulcers and uveitis. If the drug is effective in reducing ocular pain, it may be able to be alternated with other NSAIDS, offering horses even greater relief, Wotman said. 

Read more at EQUUS magazine. 

Five Fleet Fillies Of The Week, Feb. 2-8

---

5. ME AND MOLLY McGEE, SA, 2/7-6th, 7 furlongs (Video)
Beyer Speed Figure-93 (2nd).
(f, 4, by Vekoma-Molly McGee, by Quality Road)
O-Exline-Border Racing, Aaron Kennedy, Mike Burns, Susanna Wilson and Dan Hudock. B-Four Pillars Holdings (Ky). T-Peter Eurton. J-Hector Berrios.
This was a best-case-scenario return after she was vanned off the Saratoga track following the GI Test Stakes last August with a left-hind splint bone fracture and a laceration. Fortunately, her injuries didn’t require surgery, and she made a splashy comeback in the GII D. Wayne Lukas Stakes despite the layoff to clearly hold second behind 2/5 Splendora (below) after setting the fractions–and now she’s Grade II stakes placed.

4. RUNAMILEINMYSHOES, SA, 2/6-8th, 1 mile (Video)
Beyer Speed Figure-94
(m, 5, by Street Boss-Intoitagain, by Into Mischief)
O-Wachtel Stable and Gary Barber. B-Red Baron’s Barn and Rancho Temescal (Cal). T-Peter Miller. J-Emisael Jaramillo.
First time back off a $50,000 claim, she immediately picked up a $54,600 payday with a solid win. And it was on dirt, which might be the key. She had run 17 of her 19 races on grass, but now is 3-for-3 on dirt–and even if you don’t look at figures, this jumps out as her strongest effort to date. She’s well named, too: 15 of her 20 starts have been at a mile.

3. SPLENDORA, SA, 2/7-6th, 7 furlongs (Video)
Beyer Speed Figure-96.
(m, 5, by Audible-Miss Freeze, by Frost Giant)
O-By Talla Racing. B-The Elkstone Group (Md). T-Bob Baffert. J-Juan Hernandez.

Splendora | Benoit

The talented GI PNC Bank Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint heroine picked up right where she left off in the newly- christened D. Wayne Lukas Stakes, and this time even overcame a somewhat sluggish break. She lost an Eclipse Award to Shisospicy (Mitole) in what looked like a coin flip decision, but that’s the only loss she has suffered over the last 6 1/2 months.

2. NITROGEN, OP, 2/7-9th, 1 1/16 miles (Video)
Beyer Speed Figure-97.
(f, 4, by Medaglia d’Oro-Tiffany Case, by Uncle Mo)
O/B-D J Stable (Ky). T-Mark Casse. J-Jose Ortiz.
Jose Ortiz rode her like a 1/5 shot, and once he woke her up at the 3/16ths she powered past improving stablemate Nerazurri (Protonico) and the GIII Bayakoa Stakes trophy was in the case. With his 1-2 finish, Casse’s 45% Oaklawn juggernaut continues and Nitrogen surely looms the early favorite for the Apr. 11 GI Apple Blossom Handicap.

1. MOON SPUN, GP, 2/7-10th, 5 furlongs (turf) (Video)
Beyer Speed Figure-99.
(m, 5, by Hard Spun-Moonlit Bay, by Malibu Moon)
O-Town and Country Racing. B-Jack Liebau Sr (Ky). T-Brian Lynch. J-Javier Castellano.
“She always beats the gate,” jockey Javier Castellano said of Moon Spun, and that was definitely the case in Gulfstream’s Ladies Turf Sprint. She can be tough and spirited, and the waters will surely get much deeper than this ungraded stakes–but she has won four straight including three her return from a forced 13-month layoff.

The post Five Fleet Fillies Of The Week, Feb. 2-8 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Letter to the Editor: Why Showing Up Matters: KEEP at the Capitol

---

Kentucky’s horse industry is strong by any measure: economically, culturally, and politically. But that strength did not happen by accident. It was built through years of consistent engagement with lawmakers by groups such as the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association (KTA), the Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Managers Club (KTFMC), and the Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP). Participation by industry members at KEEP Day at the Capitol on Thursday, February 12, is critical, even without a pressing legislative crisis.

For legislators, KEEP Day is not about a single bill or budget line. It’s about relationships and understanding. Lawmakers are responsible for hundreds of issues each session and often only hear from industries when problems arise. When horse industry participants take time to introduce themselves, explain their work, and share how horses support jobs and communities back home, it creates context that lasts far beyond one meeting.

Speaker of the House David Osborne highlighted this during the 2025 KEEP Day, pointing to challenges facing the horse industry in states like Florida and California. In those cases, lawmakers are scrambling to understand an industry they haven’t been consistently engaged with. Kentucky has avoided that scenario precisely because the horse industry has stayed involved during both good times and bad.

Former Senate Floor Leader Damon Thayer also noted the importance of consistent engagement and would frequently highlight the work of the optometrists who would bring an army of advocates to Frankfort every year, whether they had an issue before the legislature or not.

I have seen first-hand how exposure to horses can completely alter a person’s perspective on our industry. I have experienced this with KEEP Day, too. Giving lawmakers a view of the industry and building those relationships opens up new perspectives that they previously did not have.

Legislators frequently note that it is far easier to support an industry when they know the people behind it. A breeder, farm employee, veterinarian, or small business owner brings meaning to economic statistics and reinforces why sound policy matters. Those relationships were essential to past successes, from protecting historical horse racing to establishing and protecting industry incentive funds.

KEEP Day at the Capitol also matters because the General Assembly is always changing. New lawmakers arrive each year, many representing horse country but lacking direct exposure to the industry. Early, informal conversations help shape how they view future policy questions.

Kentucky’s horse industry may be thriving, but legislators will tell you that success requires vigilance. Engagement prevents complacency and helps ensure Kentucky remains a national model rather than a cautionary tale.

Showing up matters. KEEP Day at the Capitol is a simple but powerful way to protect the industry’s future, by continuing the relationships that have already served Kentucky so well.

RSVP to KEEP Day here.

Rob Tribbett
Watercress Farm
KEEP Vice Chair

The post Letter to the Editor: Why Showing Up Matters: KEEP at the Capitol appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.