BloodHorse.com | Horse Racing News

Featured Horse Profile: Mark Valeski

Mineshaft victory was his first since the 2012 Peter Pan Stakes.

More

National HBPA to Breeders' Cup: Keep Salix

The National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association Medication Committee voted Feb. 23 to endorse the use of race-day furosemide, also called Salix or Lasix, at this year's Breeders' Cup World Championships.

Orb Overcomes Violence in Fountain of Youth

Fast-improving Orb was golden in his stakes debut for trainer Shug McGaughey in the $400,000 Besilu Stables Fountain of Youth (gr. II), coming from off the pace to run down odds-on choice Violence for a narrow win Feb. 23.

Dry Summer Too Hot for Mine That Bird Rivals

Dry Summer relished a slow early pace and surged home to gain a definitive 1 1/2-length win in the $120,000 Mine That Bird Derby at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino Feb. 23.

Sahara Sky Runs a Scorcher in San Carlos

Sahara Sky, benefitting once again by a super-hot pace, flew home on the outside to capture the $200,750 San Carlos Stakes Feb. 23 for his second grade II stakes win in a row at Santa Anita Park.

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.

Unlimited Budget Scores Rich Win in 'Rachel

Repole Stables' favored Unlimited Budget kept her record perfect when she easily captured the Rachel Alexandra Stakes (gr. III) by 3 3/4 lengths over 20-1 shot Promise Me More at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.

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.

Data Link Doesn't Disappoint in Canadian Turf

Data Link notched his second straight graded stakes victory in his 2013 debut when he got up late and prevailed by a length over Joes Blazing Aaron in the Feb. 23 Canadian Turf Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Gulfstream Park.

Live Lively Tops 'Julia in Davona Dale Theft

Live Lively got the jump on odds-on choice Dreaming of Julia in the $245,000 Davona Dale (gr. II) and never looked back while registering a front-running 1 1/2-length victory in her stakes debut Feb. 23 at Gulfstream Park.

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.

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.

Rachel Alexandra Off IV Fluids, Nutrition

Rachel Alexandra, the 2009 Horse of the Year, was able to be taken off IV fluids and nutrition Feb. 23 as she continues to recover from foaling complications at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital near Lexington.

All Too Hard Wins on Big Day at Caulfield

All Too Hard, the younger half brother of superstar Black Caviar, launched an eye-catching acceleration off the turn at Caulfield Feb. 23 and rolled to a 3 1/4-length victory in the $500,000 Futurity Stakes (Aus-I)

Mucho Macho Man Preps for Gulfstream Handicap

Reeves Thoroughbreds' multi-millionare Mucho Macho Man breezed five furlongs in 1:02 the morning of Feb. 23 at Gulfstream Park, prepping for a probable start in the $300,000 Gulfstream Park Handicap (gr. II) on March 9.

Itsmyluckyday Gets Back to Work

Trilogy Stable and Laurie Plesa's 3-year-old Itsmyluckyday worked a half mile in :48 4/5 the morning of Feb. 23 at Calder Casino & Race Course for trainer Eddie Plesa Jr.

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.

Rare Vertebral Disease of Foals Described (AAEP 2012)

Recognizing vertebral osteomyelitis/diskospondylitis (VOD), a rare and potentially fatal degenerative spinal disease, early is critical to successful treatment, said Michelle C. Coleman, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, of Texas A&M University's College of Veterinary Medicine.