Woodford Racing et al (West Point Thoroughbreds, Belladonna Racing, etc.) have had good success recently in stakes races around the country. On November 15, Ohana Honor captured the Knickerbocker Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack in his third race off almost a year layoff. While saving ground along the rail early in the race, Ohana Honor tracked the early pace. As the field approached the top of the stretch, jockey Flavien Prat tipped off the rail and asked Ohana Honor to make a run. He quickly seized the lead and went on to win by 2 1/4 lengths. The race should set Ohana Honor up nicely for stakes races at Gulfstream Park in Florida this Winter.

Chelsea Durand/NYRA

Watch a race replay here of Ohana Honor.

Paulick Report article on Ohana Honor.

Like the 2026 Kentucky Derby (3 year old colts), the field for the 2026 Kentucky Oaks (3 year old fillies) is determined by points earned in various qualifying races around the country. One of the first qualifying races for next year’s Kentucky Oaks is the Grade 2, $400,000 Golden Rod Stakes contested at Churchill Downs.

Beyond the opportunity to earn qualifying points, the Golden Rod Stakes gives owners some sense as to whether their horse will like the Churchill Downs dirt surface and appreciate longer race distances. In this year’s renewal of the Golden Rod on November 29th, ten horses went to the post including Atropa owned by Belladonna Racing, Woodford Racing, et al.

Atropa was coming off a convincing maiden win at Keeneland Racecourse on October 9th where she won by 10 lengths going a mile and a sixteenth. While the Golden Rod Stakes distance was also a mile and a sixteenth, Atropa was facing winners for the first time.

Sent off at odds of 5-1, Atropa laid off a quick early pace, never further back than fifth. As the field made its way around the final turn, jockey Jose Ortiz had Atropa rolling and the question became could she catch the leader. In the end, she finished a fast closing second, losing by a half length. Most importantly, she appeared to like the Churchill Downs track and more distance (Kentucky Oaks is a mile and an eighth) should not be an issue.

Watch a race replay here of Atropa.

The current plan is to give Atropa a short break and then continue on the Kentucky Oaks trail at The Fairgrounds (New Orleans) after the first of the year.

Hopefully, we (Woodford Racing, Phipps Stable, et al) can continue this weekend with Pentathlon running in the $500,000, Grade 2 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct! Pentathlon has drawn post position #3 and post time is 3:37 PM (EST). Past performances for Cigar Mile.