Horse Racing News by Bloodhorse

The New Gaming Commission said March 20 it is investigating allegations of "abuse and mistreatment" of Thoroughbreds after receiving information gleaned from an undercover investigation performed by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

Coming up to his 2014 seasonal debut at Gulfstream Park, top 3-year-old prospect Honor Code breezed four furlongs March 9 in :47.97 seconds over the main track.

Top Billing, one of the leading prospects for the $1 million Besilu Stables Florida Derby sustained an injury during a workout at Payson Park the morning of March 8 that has knocked him off the Triple Crown trail.

Two-time Horse of the Year Curlin and trainer Steve Asmussen, who saddled him to nine group/graded stakes wins in the years he won those titles, are among 10 finalists on the National Museum of Racing's 2014 Hall of Fame ballot.

Foxwoods Champagne Stakes winner Havana, 9-5 program favorite for the $200,000 Swale Stakes at Gulfstream Park March 1, was scratched the morning of the race due to a quarter crack in his right front foot, trainer Todd Pletcher said.

Leading Gulfstream Park trainer Todd Pletcher saddles top-weighted Candy Kitty for the $100,000 Herecomesthebride Stakes, one of nine sophomore fillies set to contest the 1 ⅛-mile turf event March 2.

Awesome Baby, wire-to-wire winner of the Santa Ynez Stakes going 6 1/2 furlongs, stretches back out to 1 1/16 miles against seven other 3-year-old fillies March 1 in the $100,000 Santa Ysabel at Santa Anita Park.

Four months after his victory in the Nov. 2 Breeders' Cup Classic, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing's Mucho Macho Man will be returning to Santa Anita Park for his next start.

Some stakes will have new names and larger purses at Belmont Park this year as the New York Racing Association plans two big days of racing at the spring/summer meet along with its previously announced Belmont Stakes Festival June 6-8.

Sweet N Discreet ventured into unknown territory for her last start when asked to stretch her obvious speed around two turns for the first time at 1 ⅛ miles, a rather imposing distance for a horse with one-turn breeding.