Samantha Decker

Cuteness overload at Mahoney Eden Manor in Saratoga this afternoon!

Quality foal time at Mahoney Eden Manor in Saratoga!

The first Mind Controls hit the track this year. Pictured is a filly out of Palace Romance from his first crop at Irish Hill Century Farm in Stillwater, NY.

This Saturday is the Grade III Whitmore Stakes at Oaklawn Park. Pictured is 2021 winner C Z Rocket, who won it when it was called the Hot Springs Stakes. These days, the 12 year old gelding calls Old Friends home.

A lot of great horses make their way through the Spa. 14 of the top 25 Kentucky Derby horses were either sold at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga and/or trained and/or raced at Saratoga. Among them are Paladin, Class President, Commandment, and Iron Honor. #racingsky 🏇

Shot for The Saratoga Special

Saratoga will experience temperatures in the 60s this week, which serves as a great reminder that this stuff is right around the corner! #racingsky 🏇

Shot for The Saratoga Special

A Visit to Spendthrift Farm - Photography by Samantha Decker In 2025, I visited Spendthrift Farm, a Thoroughbred breeding farm in Lexington, KY, for the second time. Click here to see photos from my first visit. In this post, I’ll...

New post on the blog, featuring photos I took last year at @spendthriftfarm.bsky.social!

Sunrise at Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, 2017.

Farm manager Lolly LaRue with a Jackie's Warrior colt out of Sassy Sienna at Thirty Year Farm in Saratoga, 2024. This guy's a two-year-old now!

Majestic Oops sprang quite an upset yesterday, winning the G2 Azeri S. at Oaklawn! Congrats to all connections, which include trainer Dan Ward, jockey Francisco Arrieta, and owners Medallion Racing, Evan Trommer, Agave Racing Stable, and Sheila Regan. #racingsky 🏇

Shot for The Saratoga Special

Happy International Women's Day! Here's to all the women involved in breeding, training, racing, and caring for Thoroughbreds! #racingsky 🏇

Point Dume in Malibu, CA, 2012.

Yearling fillies at Irish Hill Century Farm in Stillwater, NY, 2025.

Today is the Grade III Challenger Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs. Pictured is the winner of the past three consecutive runnings, Skippylongstocking, who was entered to sun in the Grade I Santa Anita Handicap today but had to be scratched. #racingsky 🏇

Shot for The Saratoga Special

Thanks!

Today is the Grade II San Felipe Stakes on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Pictured is last year's winner, Journalism. #racingsky 🏇

Shot for The Saratoga Special

Mares All Dressed Up and Miss Munnings at Mahoney Eden Manor in Saratoga in January.

Powershift is entered in the Grade III Tampa Bay Derby on Saturday. The Todd Pletcher trainee was a very game second in his debut at Tampa Bay Downs last month. #racingsky 🏇

Shot for The Saratoga Special

This Saturday is the Grade III Tampa Bay Derby. Pictured is 2024 winner Domestic Product, pictured here after winning the Grade I H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes at Saratoga later in the year. #racingsky 🏇

Shot for The Saratoga Special

MGSP Just a Touch is entered in the Grade I Santa Anita Handicap on Saturday. The Brad Cox trainee has placed in five graded stakes, most recently finishing second in the Grade III Louisiana Stakes at Fair Grounds. #racingsky 🏇

This Saturday is the Grade II Azeri Stakes at Oaklawn. Pictured is last year's winner, Thorpedo Anna. #racingsky 🏇

Happy 5️⃣th Birthday to 2024 Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan! #racingsky 🏇

This Saturday is the Grade I Santa Anita Handicap. Pictured is last year's winner, Locked. #racingsky 🏇

Stablemates Nitrogen (far left) and La Cara (far right) are entered in the Grade II Azeri Stakes at Oaklawn on Saturday. The Mark Casse trainees will face five other rivals, all of whom, in addition to the two former, have trained or raced at Saratoga. #racingsky 🏇

Shot for The Saratoga Special

Newborn foals are awfully cute, but yearlings at this time of year are pretty darn adorable in their own right. I love seeing them interact with each other. I photographed these two yearlings at Mill Creek Farm in Stillwater, NY.

Happy 1️⃣8️⃣th Birthday to Old Friends at Cabin Creek resident King Congie!

New York City in winter, 2013.

MSW Strategic Risk is entered in the Grade II Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn today. The Mark Casse trainee is seeking his third stakes victory, and first in graded company. #racingsky 🏇

Shot for The Saratoga Special

Once again, a solid runner-up finish from Reign It In at Aqueduct! So proud of his effort here! Thanks to Charlie Baker for conditioning him and Ruben Silvera for another great ride! #racingsky 🏇

Reign It In is entered in the first today at Aqueduct! Ruben Silvera, who rode him to a second place finish last out, has the mount again. Go Reign!