BloodHorse.com | Horse Racing News

Sheppard Hoping to be Ever So Lucky

Unbelievably, Hall of Famer Jonathan Sheppard has never saddled a Derby starter

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Mr. Bowling a Determined Lecomte Winner

Brereton Jones' homebred Mr. Bowling delivered a game effort in his 3-year-old debut, turning back Z Dager and Shared Property in an exciting finish to win the $175,000 Lecomte Stakes (gr. III) Jan. 21 at Fair Grounds.

Bradley Handicap: Mr. Vegas Cashes In

Mr. Vegas set a comfortable pace and had enough left in the stretch to defeat Dubious Miss in the $100,000 Colonel E. R. Bradley Handicap (gr. IIIT) Jan. 21 at Fair Grounds.

Dubious Miss Seeks Breakthrough in 'Bradley

Eight-year-old gelding Dubious Miss has been close to winning graded stakes numerous times on Fair Grounds' turf course, and he will be given another shot Jan. 21 when he takes on seven in the Col. E. R. Bradley Handicap.

Triple Crown Prospects Line Up For Lecomte

The $175,000 Lecomte Stakes (gr. III), Fair Grounds' first graded 3-year-old race leading up to the Louisiana Derby (gr. II), drew a field of 13, a handful of them thought to be early Triple Crown prospects.

Triple Crown Talk: Eclipse Awards Review

A shoddy telecast and a couple of questionable winners stole the show.

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Dominguez Repeats As Top Jock

Ramon Dominguez dwarfed his 2010 numbers en route to winning a second consecutive Eclipse Award.

My Miss Aurelia Lives Up to Expectations

My Miss Aurelia's championship status was affirmed Jan. 16 when it was announced that My Miss Aurelia had been voted champion 2-year-old filly of 2011, garnering 247 of the 248 total first place votes.

Silver Medallion Rallies in Ft. Lauderdale

Silver Medallion continued to show his affinity for the turf, rallying five-wide around the final turn to win his second graded stakes in a row by a neck in the $100,000 Ft. Lauderdale (gr. IIIT) Jan. 14 at Gulfstream Park.

Flat Out, Teaks North Top Ft. Lauderdale Cast

The Fort Lauderdale Stakes (gr. IIIT) not only drew a full field, but many of the entrants are recognizable names with both turf and dirt experience. It should make for an interesting race, as a field of 12 will do battle.

Jackson Bend Draws Rail in Hal's Hope

Jackson Bend, who reignited his career in the second half of 2011, will try to begin his 5-year-old campaign on the right note when he leads a field of nine in the $100,000 Hal's Hope Stakes (gr. III) Jan. 14 at Gulfstream.

Matz Ready for Another Derby Run

Six years after Barbaro, Matz is back on the Derby trail.

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Union Rags Begins With Easy 3 Furlong Breeze

Early Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) favorite Union Rags had his first work of his 3-year-old season Jan. 11 at Palm Meadows, breezing an easy three furlongs in :38 1/5.

Royal Delta Gets Started For Dubai World Cup

Royal Delta, the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic (gr. I) winner and likely champion 3-year-old female, had her first official work of the year Jan. 10 at Payson Park Training Center in Florida.

Heavenly Landing, 19-1, Takes Marshua's River

Summerplace Farm's Heavenly Landing remained perfect on turf when she rallied late and denied La Reine Lionne at the wire to win the $100,000 Marshua's River (gr. IIIT) at odds of 19-1 Jan. 7 at Gulfstream Park.

Daveron Leads Jam-Packed Marshua's River

German-bred Daveron, who won three of her four starts in 2011, will tote top weight of 123 pounds in the $100,000 Marshua's River (gr. IIIT), which drew a full field of fillies and mares Jan. 7 at Gulfstream Park.

Rapid Redux Scores 22nd Straight at Laurel

Just as he did last time out, Rapid Redux held off a stretch bid from Awesome Rhythm at Laurel Park to continue his record-setting win streak, which has now reached 22 in a row.

Apriority Wins Mr. Prospector Despite Stumble

Despite stumbling badly at the break and being rushed up into contention, Donald Dizney's homebred Apriority ran down pacesetter Zero Rate Policy to win the Mr. Prospector Stakes (gr. III) by a nose Dec. 31 at Gulfstream.

Triple Crown Talk: Eclipse Award Choices

There were only a few tough choices in 2011, but Horse of the Year wasn't one of them.

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3YOs Get Started in Old Hat, GP Derby

Awesome Belle, Bet to Win, and Say a Novena, all consistent performers until their most recent stakes efforts, will try to take a step back in the right direction when they contest the Old Hat (gr. III) Jan. 1 at Gulfstream.

My Miss Aurelia to Miss Some Training

Probable champion My Miss Aurelia has been given time off for a sore shin and probably won't resume light training until February, co-owner George Bolton said Dec. 29.

King and Crusader, 16-1, Steals MD Juvenile

James A. Riccio's New York shipper King and Crusader made a winning trip to Laurel Park when he scored a 16-1 upset in the $75,000 Maryland Juvenile Championship Dec. 17.

Finale Tries to Bounce Back in Dania Beach

Finale, who disappointed as the favorite in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (gr. IT) last month, attempts to rebound when he heads a field of 11 in the $100,000 Dania Beach Stakes Dec. 18 at Gulfstream Park.

KY Derby Winner Strike the Gold Dead at 23

Strike the Gold, the 1991 Kentucky Derby winner, was euthanized at Karacabey Stud Farm in Turkey Dec. 13, it was confirmed by the Turkish Jockey Club. The 23-year-old son of Alydar had been the oldest living Derby winner.

Triple Crown Talk: The Future is Now

Want to waste $100? The Derby future book is the perfect place.

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Rapid Redux Ties Single-Season Win Mark

Rapid Redux tied the modern-day United States record for wins in a single season Dec. 13, as he went wire-to-wire in a $5,000 starter allowance race at Laurel Park.

Sugar Swirl: Classy Pomeroys Pistol Too Good

Pomeroys Pistol began her season winning a graded stakes at Gulfstream Park and ended her season by doing the same, as she bounded away for a two-length win in the $100,000 Sugar Swirl (gr. III) on Dec. 10.

Big Things Expected From Stay Thirsty in 2012

With Uncle Mo retired, Stay Thirsty is now the top gun in Mike Repole's stable. And after a championship-caliber 3-year-old season in 2011, there are high expectations for the son of Bernardini next year.

Pomeroys Pistol Stands Out in Sugar Swirl

Pomeroys Pistol, winner of a graded stakes at Gulfstream Park earlier this year and coming off a solid effort in the Breeders' Cup, is the one to beat in the $100,000 Sugar Swirl (gr. III) Dec. 10.

Asmussen Has 3 Chances in Springboard Mile

The 2011 Remington Park Thoroughbred meet wraps up Dec. 10 with a nine-race program headlined by the $300,000 Springboard Mile Stakes for 2-year-olds.

Triple Crown Talk: Wilkes Has 2 to Watch For

Trainer has promising juveniles Motor City and Timely Tally.

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Zia Park Derby Goes to Claimer First Strike

Last out claimer First Strike kept Thirtyfirststreet at bay in the stretch to score the $150,000 Zia Park Derby Dec. 3.

Ancient Rome Gets Photo in Spectacular Bid

Michael Dubb's Ancient Rome edged longshot For Oby by a nose in the $100,000 Spectacular Bid Stakes on opening day at Gulfstream Park Dec. 3.

Casablanca Smile Wires La Prevoyante

After 11 months off, the 5-year-old mare was back at Calder Casino & Race Course for the same race, and this time she wired the field in the 1 1/2-mile turf race.

Silver Medallion Grabs Gold in Tropical Turf

Black Rock Stables' Silver Medallion pulled clear in the stretch and coasted home for an easy 1 3/4-length win in the $100,000 Tropical Turf Handicap (gr. IIIT) on closing day at Calder Casino & Race Course.

BC Winner Afleet Again Headlines Valedictory

Breeders' Cup Marathon (gr. II) winner Afleet Again is the headliner in the $150,000 Valedictory Stakes (Can-III) Dec. 4 at Woodbine, but for those looking for a better price there are reasons to look elsewhere.

Spectacular Bid Kicks Off Gulfstream Meet

The Spectacular Bid Stakes has traditionally been the first stakes of the Gulfstream Park meet for 3-year-olds. After a change in the meet schedule, it is now the opening day stakes for 2-year-olds.

Well-Traveled Awesome Bet Tops Zia Park Derby

Barbaro Stakes winner Awesome Bet, already a veteran of 13 starts in less than a year's time, will wrap up a long season when he leads a field of six in the $150,000 Zia Park Derby Dec. 3.

A Lot to Look Forward to in 2012

There is an impressive list of older horses returning next year.

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Unbeaten Gemologist Scores KY Jockey Club

WinStar Farm and Todd Pletcher, who won the Kentucky Jockey Club in 2009 with Super Saver before sending him off to win the Kentucky Derby, completed the first part of the double again with Gemologist Nov. 26 at Churchill.

McKnight: 9YO Musketier Keeps Plugging Along

Nine-year-old veteran Musketier sat a perfect trip under Luis Saez and held off a late run from a pair of rivals to notch the sixth group/graded stakes score of his career in the $150,000 W. L. McKnight Handicap (gr. IIT).

Jimanator Downs Mambo Meister in Hooper

Making his stakes debut, career claimer Jimanator outdueled odds-on favorite Mambo Meister to win the $100,000 Fred W. Hooper Handicap (gr. III) Nov. 26 at Calder Casino & Race Course.

To Honor and Serve Gets G1 Win in Cigar Mile

Cutting back in distance in search of his first grade I win, To Honor and Serve put away Calibrachoa in upper stretch and held off Hymn Book late to take the Cigar Mile Handicap Nov. 26 at Aqueduct.

Favored Arena Elvira Prevails in Falls City

Even-money choice Arena Elvira passed longshot Afleeting Lady in deep stretch to give trainer Bill Mott his fourth win in the $193,725 Falls City Handicap (gr. II) on Thanksgiving at Churchill Downs.

So Brilliant Wire-to-Wire in Hollywood Prevue

Favored So Brilliant fought hard to get the early lead and never gave it up, taking a field of juveniles all the way in the $100,000 Hollywood Prevue (gr. III) on Thanksgiving in Southern California.

Sunrise Smarty Game in Fall Highweight Score

Sunrise Smarty took all the heat up front and still had just enough to hang on for a half-length win in the $100,000 Fall Highweight Handicap (gr. III) on Thanksgiving at Aqueduct.

Oregon Lady Up Late to Claim My Charmer

Irish-bred filly Oregon Lady split horses in deep stretch and passed Trip for A. J. a few strides before the wire to claim her first graded stakes win in the $100,000 My Charmer Handicap Nov. 24 at Calder.

Haynesfield, To Honor and Serve Meet in Cigar

With four wins at the track and a strong comeback effort in his most recent start, Haynesfield figures prominently in the $250,000 Cigar Mile (gr. I), which headlines Aqueduct's Nov. 26 program.

Gemologist Tops KY Jockey Club Field

WinStar Farm and Todd Pletcher hope history will repeat itself, as likely favorite Gemologist leads a field of 11 juveniles in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (gr. II) Nov. 26 at Churchill Downs.

Winner's Circle - Head of the Posse

Donnie K. Von Hemel, trainer of Caleb's Posse, is Remington Park's all-time leader by wins.

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