Triple Crown Talk blog, with host Jason Shandler, analyzes the Wood Memorial, and the Santa Anita and Illinois Derbies. Plus, join Jason and Dick Downey from the TheDowneyProfile.com for a live chat at noon Eastern on April 4.
Jason, Suzanne, and the Wizard analyze the Wood Memorial (gr. I) and the Santa Anita Derby. Watch Video
Jockey Leslie Mawing, who sustained compound fractures of both the tibia and fibula in his left leg in a spill at Golden Gate Fields,had emergency surgery on the leg the evening of April 1 at Highland Hospital in Oakland, Calif.
A California court of appeal recently affirmed a $2.7-million judgment awarded to retired Hall of Fame jockey Laffit Pincay Jr. against the ambulance company that handled the injuries that ultimately ended his career
Hull, a recent late nomination to the Triple Crown, remained undefeated on April 2 with a 7 3/4-length allowance win at Turfway Park. He covered 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:16.21 in his second career race.
Vallenzeri set a world Thoroughbred auction record last year as a $7.7-million buy-back at the Keeneland September yearling sale. He's back at Keeneland trying to find a new home again, this time as Hip No. 22 in the April sale of 2-year-olds in training.
Saarland, who was one of the top 2-year-olds of 2001, died March 11 because of injuries suffered after running into a feeder.
Irish group winner Mingun was represented by his first winner when his initial starter, his juvenile son Coo Cachoo, won April 2 at Santa Anita.
Helen Alexander and Helen Groves' homebred Acoma has been terrific in her last three wins and now the 4-year-old Empire Maker filly will try to add a grade I victory to her resume when facing a short field in the $500,000 Apple Blossom April 4 at Oaklawn Park.
Grade I winner and millionaire Request for Parole will shuttle to Argentina to stand his second breeding season at Estacion de Monta Don Petiso near Buenos Aires.
Three of the main players from last month's New Orleans Handicap (gr. II) will return for the $500,000 Oaklawn Handicap (gr. II), a wide-open event for older horses at Oaklawn Park on April 4.
Adele Dilschneider's Terrain, runner-up in last fall's Lane's End Breeders' Futurity (gr. I), is scheduled for a five-furlong work on April 4 in preparation for the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) according to trainer Al Stall Jr .
Churchill Downs and Mattel have announced release of the Kentucky Derby Barbie Doll in conjunction with the 135th Run for the Roses.
Joining in the parade of objectors to Magna Entertainment Corp.'s proposed debtor financing and sale of assets is the unsecured creditors committee, which primarily singled out company chairman Frank Stronach for his role in MEC's bankruptcy reorganization process.
Got Koko, a grade I winner for Aase Headley and Paul Leung and a broodmare for Jess Jackson's Stonestreet operation, died from foaling complications.
Ridden in TheStars, dam of 2005 TVG Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) winner Silver Train, was found dead in her paddock at Joe Mulholland Sr.'s Mulholland Farm near Georgetown, Ky.
PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter
Well Armed's runaway victory in the Dubai World Cup was due to a combination of factors, including his improvement with age and an affinity for 10 furlongs on dirt.
Having a horse on the Kentucky Derby trail is something that most horsemen can only dream about. But for trainer Ian Wilkes and owners Joseph Rauch and David Zell, having fun is more important than dreams of Derby glory.
The Grade I Wood Memorial looks like a two-horse race, and of course one of them has to be outside the other. On Saturday, Imperial Council gets that advantage as he and Edgar Prado will have their sights set on I Want Revenge and Joe Talamo.
Grade I winner Wildcat Heir came through with his first winner when his daughter 2-year-old Kitty in the Bag won April 1 at Santa Anita in her first start.
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Owner: Kaleem Shah, Inc.
Jockey: Mike E. Smith
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