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BloodHorse.com Articles by Claire Novak

Unlimited Budget, Flashy Gray Head FG Oaks

Unlimited Budget, Flashy Gray Head FG Oaks

Undefeated Unlimited Budget and Honeybee Stakes runner-up Flashy Gray head a quality field that includes grade I winner So Many Ways in the $500,000 Fair Grounds Oaks (gr. II) March 30 at Fair Grounds Race Course.

 Thursday, March 28, 2013
Revolutionary Leads 14 in Louisiana Derby

Revolutionary Leads 14 in Louisiana Derby

WinStar Farm's Revolutionary, winner of the Withers Stakes (gr. III), has been installed as the 3-1 morning line favorite in a field of 14 for the $1 million Louisiana Derby (gr. II) March 30 at Fair Grounds.

 Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Animal Kingdom Draws Post 12 in World Cup

Animal Kingdom Draws Post 12 in World Cup

Animal Kingdom, winner of the 2011 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), drew post 12 of 13 when the field was drawn March 27 for the $10 million Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) at Meydan March 30.

 Wednesday, March 27, 2013
He's Had Enough, Dice Flavor Try UAE Derby

He's Had Enough, Dice Flavor Try UAE Derby

American interests He's Had Enough and Dice Flavor take on top Godolphin contender Secret Number in the $2 million UAE Derby (UAE-II) March 30 at Meydan, three of 12 sophomores entered for the 1900-meter event.

 Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Black Onyx in Derby Picture After Spiral Win

Black Onyx in Derby Picture After Spiral Win

Sterling Racing's Black Onyx ran his way into the picture for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) with a 1 1/2-length victory in the $550,000 Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati Spiral Stakes at Turfway March 23.

 Saturday, March 23, 2013
Last Gunfighter Draws Clear in Excelsior

Last Gunfighter Draws Clear in Excelsior

Last Gunfighter overcame a troubled start and came through on the rail to win the $150,000 Excelsior Stakes (gr. III) March 23 at Aqueduct, while 2011 Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Ruler On Ice finished fifth.

 Saturday, March 23, 2013

Rushaway is Crop Report's Last Derby Chance

Team Valor is sponsoring the $75,000 Rushaway Stakes at Turfway March 23, and as fate would have it, it will also use the race as a last-ditch effort to get highly-regarded Crop Report to a Kentucky Derby prep.

 Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Intriguing Group Lines Up for Pan American

Intriguing Group Lines Up for Pan American

Four runners from the Feb. 16 Mac Diarmida Stakes, headed by Resolute Group Stables' second-place finisher Teaks North, are among 10 entered to contest the $150,000 Pan American Stakes (gr. IIT) March 23 at Gulfstream Park.

 Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Will Take Charge Tops Lukas Exacta in Rebel

Will Take Charge Tops Lukas Exacta in Rebel

Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas is holding the hottest hand of 3-year-olds he's had in a while, and that talent showed March 16 when stablemates Will Take Charge and Oxbow finished 1-2 in the $600,000 Rebel Stakes.

 Saturday, March 16, 2013
Tiz Miz Sue Upsets Azeri Again

Tiz Miz Sue Upsets Azeri Again

Tiz Miz Sue upset the Azeri Stakes (gr. III) at Oaklawn Park last year at odds of 8-1, and this season she did it again. The Cresran homebred ran down top contenders My Miss Aurelia and Don't Tell Sophia to get the job done.

 Saturday, March 16, 2013
Centre Court Sharp in Honey Fox Season Debut

Centre Court Sharp in Honey Fox Season Debut

There was no moss growing on Centre Court, who made her 2013 debut a winning one by 1 3/4 lengths in the $150,000 Honey Fox Stakes (gr. IIT) March 16 at Gulfstream Park.

 Saturday, March 16, 2013
THS: Rebel Stakes

THS: Rebel Stakes

Claire Novak and Pete Denk handicap the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park this weekend. Can Super Ninety Nine repeat his efforts from his last race?

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 Friday, March 15, 2013
Revolutionary Heads Louisiana Derby Probables

Revolutionary Heads Louisiana Derby Probables

Withers Stakes (gr. III) winner Revolutionary heads a group of 13 sophomores considered probable for the 100th running of the Louisiana Derby (gr. II) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots March 30.

 Friday, March 15, 2013
Oaklawn Park is Baffert's 'Lucky Place'

Oaklawn Park is Baffert's 'Lucky Place'

Bob Baffert's reputation at Oaklawn Park is that of a phenomenon, one you cannot afford to bet against. Selectively shipping in from his West Coast base with a remarkable 59% win rate, he has captured 17 of 29.

 Friday, March 15, 2013
Went the Day Well to Undergo Tieback Surgery

Went the Day Well to Undergo Tieback Surgery

Team Valor International's Went the Day Well, winner of the 2012 Vinery Racing Spiral Stakes (gr. III) and fourth in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), will undergo a tie-back operation in Versailles, Ky.

 Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Verrazano Stays Unbeaten in Tampa Bay Derby

Verrazano Stays Unbeaten in Tampa Bay Derby

Verrazano lived up to his billing as a top Triple Crown contender March 9 with a solid three-length score in the $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II) at Tampa Bay Downs.

 Saturday, March 09, 2013
'Dancer Takes GP Cap as Fort Larned Stumbles

'Dancer Takes GP Cap as Fort Larned Stumbles

E. Paul Robsham Stables' Discreet Dancer picked up the pieces of an incident-marred running of the Gulfstream Park Handicap (gr. II) March 9, when Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) winner Fort Larned stumbled at the start.

 Saturday, March 09, 2013
Believe You Can Dominates New Orleans Ladies

Believe You Can Dominates New Orleans Ladies

Believe You Can blew away the competition in the $150,000 New Orleans Ladies March 9 at Fair Grounds, posting her second straight win off the layoff; the $150,000 Duncan F. Kenner went to Delaunay for owner Maggi Moss.

 Saturday, March 09, 2013
Mr Palmer Seals Deal in Private Terms Stakes

Mr Palmer Seals Deal in Private Terms Stakes

Mr Palmer had the highest Beyer speed figure of nine 3-year-olds who went to the gate for the $100,000 Private Terms Stakes March 9 at Laurel Park, and teh favorite prevailed when he closed with a strong late run.

 Saturday, March 09, 2013
Old Tune, Mystical Star Head Hillsborough

Old Tune, Mystical Star Head Hillsborough

A strong group of 12 older fillies will contest the $150,000 Hillsborough Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Tampa Bay Downs March 9, including Endeavour Stakes (gr. IIIT) victress Old Tune and grade II winner Mystical Star.

 Wednesday, March 06, 2013
Believe You Can In Top Form for NOLA Ladies

Believe You Can In Top Form for NOLA Ladies

Believe You Can looks to parlay a Feb. 2 tally at Fair Grounds into victory in the New Orleans Ladies Stakes March 9; Louisiana Derby winner Hero of Order will wheel back in the Duncan F. Kenner on the same day.

 Wednesday, March 06, 2013
Verrazano Makes Tampa Bay Derby Stakes Debut

Verrazano Makes Tampa Bay Derby Stakes Debut

Highly-regarded sophomore Verrazano makes his stakes debut against eight others March 9 in the $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II) at Tampa Bay Downs, rolling in off an impressive 16 3/4-length allowance win at Gulfstream Park.

 Wednesday, March 06, 2013
Paynter Progresses with Half-Mile Work

Paynter Progresses with Half-Mile Work

Haskell Invitational (gr. I) winner Paynter turned in his second work since making a comeback from severe illness and the subsequent surgery he underwent last year, breezing four furlongs in :50 1/5 at Santa Anita Park.

 Tuesday, March 05, 2013
Wise Dan 'Ahead of Schedule' for 2013 Debut

Wise Dan 'Ahead of Schedule' for 2013 Debut

Wise Dan, Morton Fink's 2012 Horse of the Year, turned in his second work of the season at Keeneland March 2, a four-furlong move in :49 1/5. Stablemates Turallure and Successful Dan are also training well.

 Sunday, March 03, 2013
Suggestive Boy Wins Kilroe Mile Thriller

Suggestive Boy Wins Kilroe Mile Thriller

Pozo de Luna's Argentine-bred Suggestive Boy held off a late-flying Silentio by a nose in a thrilling edition of the $300,000 Frank E. Kilroe Mile (gr. IT) at Santa Anita Park March 2.

 Saturday, March 02, 2013
Clearly Now Shortens Up for Swale Triumph

Clearly Now Shortens Up for Swale Triumph

Clearly Now came off a third-place finish behind Itsmyluckyday and Shanghai Bobby in the Holy Bull Stakes (gr. III) to claim a victory of his own in the $150,000 Swale Stakes (gr. III) March 2 at Gulfstream Park.

 Saturday, March 02, 2013
Vyjack Makes Big Impact With Late Gotham Run

Vyjack Makes Big Impact With Late Gotham Run

Pick Six Racing's Vyjack remained unbeaten in four starts and proceeded on the road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) with an impressive late run March 2 in the $400,000 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct.

 Saturday, March 02, 2013
My Happy Face Hit with Virus, to Miss KY Oaks

My Happy Face Hit with Virus, to Miss KY Oaks

My Happy Face, runner-up in the 2012 Frizette Stakes (gr. I) and winner of that year's Tempted Stakes (gr. III) at Aqueduct Racetrack, is off the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) trail with a virus contracted at Gulfstream Park.

 Friday, March 01, 2013
Rachel Alexandra Doing 'Better Than Expected'

Rachel Alexandra Doing 'Better Than Expected'

Veterinarians at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital near Lexington remain pleased with the progress of 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra following her abdominal surgery resulting from foaling complications Feb. 13.

 Thursday, February 28, 2013
Went the Day Well Returns to Action March 3

Went the Day Well Returns to Action March 3

Went the Day Well, winner of the 2012 Spiral Stakes (gr. III) and fourth after traffic trouble in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), returns March 3 at Aqueduct Racetrack.

 Thursday, February 28, 2013
Mucho Macho Man Out of Gulfstream Handicap

Mucho Macho Man Out of Gulfstream Handicap

Defending Gulfstream Park Handicap (gr. II) winner Mucho Macho Man will miss the March 9 event because of a mild virus, owner Dean Reeves confirmed Feb. 28.

 Thursday, February 28, 2013

Horseman Donald Divine Dies in Florida

Donald H. Divine, a longtime horseman, trainer, and bloodstock consultant, died Feb. 21 at his home in Ocala, Fla.

 Sunday, February 24, 2013
Ive Struck a Nerve, 135-1, Shocks Risen Star

Ive Struck a Nerve, 135-1, Shocks Risen Star

A 135-1 shot took the Risen Star Stakes (gr. II) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots Feb. 23, Matthew W. Bryan's Ive Struck a Nerve closing late in the furlong grounds and catapulting himself onto the Derby trail.

 Saturday, February 23, 2013
Mark Valeski Overcomes Trouble in Mineshaft

Mark Valeski Overcomes Trouble in Mineshaft

Brereton Jones' homebred Mark Valeski overcame traffic troubles and ran down a cavalcade of horses in the stretch of the $148,500 Mineshaft Handicap (gr. III) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots Feb. 23.

 Saturday, February 23, 2013
Optimizer Handles Soft Fair Grounds 'Cap Lawn

Optimizer Handles Soft Fair Grounds 'Cap Lawn

Optimizer hopped at the break of the $150,000 Fair Grounds Handicap (gr. IIIT) but drew clear in the end, earning his second straight victory over the turf at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots Feb. 23.

 Saturday, February 23, 2013
Snuggs and Kisses Upsets 'Daisy' in Bayou

Snuggs and Kisses Upsets 'Daisy' in Bayou

Snuggs and Kisses upset Daisy Devine in an off-the-turf edition of the $75,000 Bayou Handicap at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots Feb. 23, fighting gamely down the lane to manage a gate-to-wire score by a head.

 Saturday, February 23, 2013

Falling Sky, Sky Captain Scratch from FOY

Falling Sky, winner of the Feb. 2 Sam F. Davis Stakes (gr. III) at Tampa Bay Downs, was scratched from the Besilu Stables Fountain of Youth (gr. II) the morning of the race, as was maiden winner Sky Captain.

 Saturday, February 23, 2013
Jockey Maragh Plans Feb. 28 Racing Return

Jockey Maragh Plans Feb. 28 Racing Return

Jockey Rajiv Maragh is scheduled to return to the races Feb. 28, a little less than two months after sustaining a hairline fracture to the T3 vertebrae of his upper back in a Dec. 31 spill at Aqueduct Racetrack.

 Friday, February 22, 2013
THS: The Fountain of Youth

THS: The Fountain of Youth

Claire and Pete preview the Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II) at Gulfstream Park, and the Risen Star (gr. II) at Fair Grounds.

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 Thursday, February 21, 2013
Mark Valeski Ready for Mineshaft Rematch

Mark Valeski Ready for Mineshaft Rematch

After a hard-fought finish in the Louisiana Handicap, Mark Valeski and Infrattini will face off once again in the $150,000 Mineshaft Handicap (gr. III) Feb. 23 at Fair Grounds.

 Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Puerto Rican Jockey Legend Matos Dead at 91

Puerto Rican Jockey Legend Matos Dead at 91

Former jockey Mateo Matos, the regular rider of Puerto Rican Triple Crown winner Camarero, died in Puerto Rico Feb. 19. He was 91 years old.

 Wednesday, February 20, 2013
NE/Mid-Atlantic Regional: First Edition

NE/Mid-Atlantic Regional: First Edition

It Is foaling season at Edition Farm, and in the deeply straw-bedded stalls of a cozy barn, the miracle of new life occurs. As a mare stretches around to greet her newborn foal, 80-year-old Vivien Malloy is there.

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 Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Unlimited Budget Favored in Rachel Alexandra

Unlimited Budget Favored in Rachel Alexandra

Demoiselle Stakes (gr. II) victress Unlimited Budget has been pegged the 5-2 morning line favorite for the $200,000 Rachel Alexandra Stakes (gr. III) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots Feb. 23, in her season debut.

 Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Buena Vista Mile No Issue for Mizdirection

Buena Vista Mile No Issue for Mizdirection

When Mizdirection runs on the turf course at Santa Anita Park, victory seems assured. On Feb. 18 the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner added the $150,000 Buena Vista Stakes to her resume.

 Monday, February 18, 2013
Super Ninety Nine Romps in Sloppy Southwest

Super Ninety Nine Romps in Sloppy Southwest

Super Ninety Nine rolled to an 11 1/4-length win in the $300,000 Southwest Stakes (gr. III) Feb. 18 for Susan and Charles Chu's Tanma Corporation, muddling the 3-year-old picture even more.

 Monday, February 18, 2013
Violence Favored of 11 in Fountain of Youth

Violence Favored of 11 in Fountain of Youth

Undefeated Violence tops a Feb. 23 Fountain of Youth field that includes He's Had Enough, Cerro, Orb, and Falling Sky among 11 starters.

 Monday, February 18, 2013
Javerre the Victor in Eventful General George

Javerre the Victor in Eventful General George

Smith Farm and Stable's New Jersey-bred Javerre won his first graded- stakes race Feb. 18, taking the $250,000 General George Handicap (gr. III) at Laurel Park.

 Monday, February 18, 2013
Don't Tell Sophia Draws Off in Bayakoa

Don't Tell Sophia Draws Off in Bayakoa

Don't Tell Sophia was a $1,000 yearling purchase in 2009. On Feb. 16 she ran them off their feet at Oaklawn Park, easily putting 6 1/2 lengths over her nearest competitor in the $98,000 Bayakoa Stakes.

 Saturday, February 16, 2013
Mac Diarmida: Amira's Prince Has Perfect Run

Mac Diarmida: Amira's Prince Has Perfect Run

Amira's Prince remained a perfect three-for-three in the U.S. Feb. 16, collecting his first graded-stakes win in the $150,000 Mac Diarmida (gr. IIT) at Gulfstream Park.

 Saturday, February 16, 2013

Starformer Continues to Shine in The Very One

Juddmonte Farms' homebred Starformer continued to shine in the $100,000 The Very One Stakes (gr. IIIT) Feb. 16, cruising to 3 1/4-length victory as much the best over seven other older fillies and mares at Gulfstream Park.

 Saturday, February 16, 2013
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