Crazy Mason Makes Season Debut in Commonwealth Stakes

Donna Wright and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing's 2025 Carter Stakes (G2) winner Crazy Mason  will make his first appearance in the Bluegrass State April 4 in the $350,000 Commonwealth Stakes (G3) at Keeneland. 

The son of Coal Front  , who makes his seasonal debut Saturday, enters the race off a third-place finish in the 2025 Cigar Mile Handicap (G2). Trainer Gregory Sacco opted to ship the horse from his base at Tampa Bay Downs to Kentucky, rather than send the 5-year-old to New York to defend his title in the Carter. 

"It was a tough decision, but this is a good starting point, and if he runs well, we will stay in Kentucky and come back on Derby Day (for the $1 million Churchill Downs Stakes)," Sacco said.

"He always breaks good, but then he settles back. I'd like to see him closer (early)," Sacco said. "But I am sure Irad (Ortiz Jr.) will work out a trip. The way he has been training, he will come rolling, and I expect a big effort."

Seven horses were entered in the 7-furlong race, including the Brad Cox-trained Saudi Crown . The 2023 Pennsylvania Derby (G1) winner returned to his winning ways March 5 at Oaklawn Park with a confidence-boosting victory in a ratings handicap.

Reeves Thoroughbred Racing will also send out its New York-bred National Identity , who ventures outside the Empire State for the first time in his career. He enters the race off a four-race win streak, with the latest victory coming in the Feb. 14 Say Florida Sandy Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack.

"He is just as good as any of them," trainer Danny Gargan said of National Identity. "I am not afraid of any of them in there, and the New York-breds ... Will Walden won a grade 1 here with Rhetorical, and I won the Frizette with Iron Orchard."

Lion Lake, Sister Troienne Meet Again in Appalachian

Emcee Stable's Herecomesthebride Stakes (G3T) winner Lion Lake  and Woodslane Racing's homebred Sister Troienne , who finished a head behind Lion Lake in that Feb. 28 race at Gulfstream Park, will face off once again in Saturday's $500,000 Appalachian Stakes (G2T). 

Brendan Walsh trains Lion Lake, and also entered last year's Jessamine Stakes (G2T) winner Imaginationthelady . The 3-year-old daughter of Not This Time   was last seen finishing fourth in the Oct. 31 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T).

Sister Trioenne has never finished off the board in all of her seven career starts. The Brian Lynch trainee was on a five-race win streak—three of them stakes—before being nabbed at the wire by Lion Lake in the Herecomesthebride.

"That was a tough beat the other day," Lynch said. "This will be a little bit more of a test for her."

Lynch also enters Storm's Wake , who finished third in the Herecomesthebride.

"She got some pace to run at the last time (in the 1-mile Herecomesthebride) and another sixteenth of a mile, she would have won," Lynch said. "Being by Oscar Performance, she will get better with more distance."

Stone Farm's Litigation Heads Shakertown

Stone Farm's homebred Litigation  will look to secure a third straight win Saturday in the $400,000 Shakertown Stakes (G2T). The 4-year-old son of Twirling Candy   is off to a great start in 2026 with back-to-back stakes wins. 

Litigation is not the only one to enter Saturday's race off dual stakes victories. BG Stables and Selman Shaby's Usually Wrong  won back-to-back stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in his last two starts. Since switching to the turf, the Robertino Diodoro trainee has shown his true talent. 

"He has a better turn of foot on the grass, and he's the kind of horse that doesn't need the front and can sit off the pace," Diodoro said. "You have a horse that can do that at any level, and that makes it nice.

"He has already beaten a couple of those in there. I would rather be a few spots in (from post 12), but it is better than the 1 or 2."

Rezasrolex , who finished second to Litigation in the Silks Run Stakes, and Gary Barber's My Boy Prince , who won the Turf Dash Stakes at Tampa Bay, will be the main threats in the 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint.