BloodHorse.com | Horse Racing News

Wilkes: Fort Larned could go for a Classic defense next year

Trainer Ian Wilkes had a not-so-surprising revelation Sunday morning, a little more than 12 hours after Fort Larned's front-running victory in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita.

Light finds her Rhythm late in Goldikova

Deal, Lowe and Silver's well-traveled Rhythm of Light was last seen landing the September 1 International Istanbul Trophy at Veliefendi Racecourse. Patiently handled by Garrett Gomez, the four-year-old daughter of Beat Hollow loped along near the rear of the field early in her U.S. debut.

Smith wins Bill Shoemaker Award

Powered by victories on Royal Delta in the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic and Mizdirection in the Breeders' Cup Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, Hall of Fame rider Mike Smith has won the Bill Shoemaker Award as the most outstanding jockey of the 29th Breeders' Cup World Championships, held November 2-3 at Santa Anita Park.

Southern California trainers re-group after Breeders' Cup

Richard Mandella reported all was well with his Breeders' Cup trio Sunday morning and that they all had earned a bit of vacation. Beholder captured the Juvenile Fillies while stablemates Jimmy Creed ran ninth in the Sprint and Rumor filled the fifth spot in the Filly & Mare Sprint.

Sprint winner Trinniberg atones for Juvenile Sprint loss one year ago

Trainer Shivananda Parbhoo said that Breeders' Cup Sprint victor Trinniberg came out of his three-quarters of a length victory over The Lumber Guy on Saturday in good order and opened the door to a return trip to Santa Anita next year.

Europeans head out in three waves

The first of three flights carrying most of the European Breeders' Cup team of two dozen horses left Santa Anita Sunday morning for LAX International Airport, according to Alastair Donald, managing director of the International Racing Bureau, the first contingent with Ireland's Coolmore team of eight runners trained by Aidan O'Brien.

Shanghai Bobby energetic; Awesome Feather in good shape

Trainer Todd Pletcher left for his return trip to the East Coast early Sunday morning. Assistant trainer Mike McCarthy said that all of the Pletcher horses were fine after participating in the Breeders' Cup.

Baffert disappointed by BC shut-out

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who had high hopes and 10 horses to run in the two-day Breeders' Cup events, was an 0-fer for the weekend, but still managed to smile and put a philosophical turn to things Sunday morning at Clockers' Corner.

Wise Dan back at Keeneland; Romans lobbies for Little Mike

Wise Dan, the course record-setting victor in Saturday's Breeders' Cup Mile, left Santa Anita early Sunday morning and arrived at Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, Kentucky, at 11:35 a.m. (EST).

Violence survives inquiry to take Nashua

Despite coming over twice on his opponents in Sunday's Grade 2, $200,000 Nashua at Aqueduct, Black Rock Stables' Violence crossed under the wire first and survived a stewards' inquiry to claim victory in the one-mile contest under jockey Javier Castellano.

Hernandez has little time to celebrate Classic birthday

Not many people get to celebrate their birthday with a $270,000 payday, but that's exactly what Brian Hernandez Jr. did when he guided Fort Larned to victory in the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita on his 27th birthday.

My Happy Face wires Tempted

Michael Dubb's My Happy Face got the head-bobbing win on Sunday in Aqueduct's Grade 3, $142,500 Tempted over Cue the Moon. The Rudy Rodriguez-trained daughter of Tiz Wonderful just missed by a head in the Grade 1 Frizette last out, but would not be denied a second time, completing this one-mile, fast-track in 1:36 1/5.

Breeders' Cup Feature

Breeders' Cup Saturday They Said It

BREEDERS' CUP SATURDAY THEY SAID IT

Wise Dan stakes Horse of the Year claim in record-setting Mile

Morton Fink's homebred Wise Dan stated his case for Horse of the Year by blitzing an international field in Saturday's $1,818,000 Breeders' Cup Mile, and put an exclamation point on his victory by speeding in a Santa Anita course-record 1:31.78 on the firm turf. With jockey John Velazquez orchestrating an ideal passage throughout, Wise Dan powered past longtime leader Obviously in midstretch and drew off to extend his winning streak to four.

Bobby 'shanghais' Breeders' Cup Juvenile

Despite some scary moments in the stretch, Shanghai Bobby lived up to his 6-5 favoritism to take Saturday's Grade 1, $1,818,000 Breeders' Cup Juvenile by a head over He's Had Enough.

Groupie Doll makes it five straight to take Filly & Mare Sprint

Groupie Doll overcame a wide trip in Saturday's Grade 1, $909,000 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at Santa Anita to score an easy win and wrap up the Eclipse Award as champion female sprinter. The Bowman's Band filly is now five-for-five since trainer Bill "Buff" Bradley added blinkers for her run in the Grade 1 Madison at Keeneland in April, and finished this seven-furlong, fast-dirt event in 1:20 3/5.

Fort Larned battles to Classic victory

Fort Larned rewarded his connections' faith with a scintillating victory in Saturday's Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita, holding off a game Mucho Macho Man to score by a neck on the wire.

Breeders' Cup two-day handle, attendance off from past three runnings

The total two-day common-pool handle for the Friday and Saturday race cards of the 29th Breeders' Cup World Championships at Santa Anita Park was $144,272,332, Breeders' Cup announced Saturday.

Little Mike scorches the Turf in 2:22 4/5

Priscilla Vaccarezza's homebred Little Mike bounced back from a drubbing in the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational at a boggy Belmont Park to upstage Point of Entry and defending champion St Nicholas Abbey in Saturday's $2,727,000 Breeders' Cup Turf in record time at Santa Anita. Widely regarded as a doubtful prospect at the 1 1/2-mile trip with a hot pace scenario on tap, the Dale Romans charge showed a new dimension by drafting behind the pacesetters, pouncing at the top of the stretch, and blazing the firm turf in 2:22.83.

Trinniberg tops sophomore exacta in Sprint

Sherry Parbhoo's Trinniberg snapped a three-race losing streak and possibly clinched an Eclipse Award championship with a swift and decisive score in Saturday's $1,363,500 Breeders' Cup Sprint at Santa Anita.

Unusual Way kicks off Breeders' Cup Saturday in gate-to-wire-fashion

Mizdirection beats the boys in Turf Sprint

Noted sports broadcaster Jim Rome, a convert to Thoroughbred racing in recent years and operator of Jungle Racing stable, celebrated his biggest win as an owner Saturday when Mizdirection, a filly he owns in partnership with Strauss, Grohs, Beljak and KMN Racing, turned in a spectacular stretch run to win the $909,000 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita.

Brushed by a Star denies Joyful Victory in Chilukki

Team Forster's Brushed by a Star outdueled Joyful Victory by a head in Saturday's Grade 2, $168,900 Chilukki Stakes at Churchill Downs. Under a Corey Lanerie drive, the Grant Forster filly ranged up in midstretch and proved just the stronger. Her second graded stakes victory will serve as a nifty catalog update for Monday's Fasig-Tipton November Sale, where she is listed as Hip No. 29.

Tapizar shows fondness for Santa Anita in Dirt Mile

A return to Santa Anita revived the fortunes of Winchell Thoroughbreds' homebred Tapizar in Saturday's $909,000 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. A previous winner over the track in the 2011 Grade 3 Sham and Grade 2 San Fernando this past January, the Tapit colt turned in a dominating performance under Corey Nakatani at odds of 15-1.

George Vancouver navigates winning trip in Juvenile Turf

Michael Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier and Derrick Smith's George Vancouver showed a turn of foot worthy of his freshman sire, Henrythenavigator, to score handily in Saturday's $909,000 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. By beating the Chad Brown duo of Noble Tune and Balance the Books, the Irish shipper gave his Coolmore connections, and trainer Aidan O'Brien and jockey Ryan Moore, their second straight win in this race, following Wrote a year ago at Churchill Downs.

Boisterous retains Red Smith crown

Phipps Stable's homebred Boisterous successfully defended his title in Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 Red Smith Handicap at Aqueduct. Rating in third under Edgar Prado for more than a mile, Boisterous eased into the lead at the top of the stretch and drew off to win by a comfortable three lengths. The final time for 1 3/8 miles over yielding turf was 2:19 1/5. An overwhelming 1-5 favorite, Boisterous returned $2.70, $2.20 and $2.10.

Breeders' Cup Friday winners doing well

Trainer Bill Mott spelled out how Royal Delta was doing Saturday, the morning after her gate-to-wire victory in the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic. It was the four-year-old filly's second consecutive win in the race and Mott's third straight and fifth overall.

Calidoscopio outstays an international field in Marathon

If there is any crying occurring in Argentina, it's tears of joy following Calidoscopio's upset victory Friday in the $454,500 Breeders' Cup Marathon at Santa Anita.

BC Friday handle off 5 percent

A crowd of 34,619 was on hand at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California, on Friday for the first day of the 29th Breeders' Cup World Championships. The attendance figure was a slight decline over the 2009 Friday attendance at Santa Anita of 37,651, but up from the 2008 figure of 31,257.

Breeders' Cup Friday They Said It

BREEDERS' CUP FRIDAY THEY SAID IT

Grandeur rudely interrupts Speaking in Twilight Derby

Yvonne Jacques' Grandeur, who trailed much of the way after stumbling at the start in Friday's Grade 2, $150,000 Twilight Derby, flew home in deep stretch to catch 5-2 favorite Speaking of Which. Trained by Jeremy Noseda and ridden by William Buick, the English shipper bested the Irish colt by a half-length in the all-European exacta.

Royal Delta wraps up championship with Ladies' Classic defense

Besilu Stable's Royal Delta proved herself a true champion on Friday when successfully defending her title in the Grade 1, $1,818,000 Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic at Santa Anita Park despite being taken out of her usual game.

Zagora kicks best late in Filly & Mare Turf

One year ago, owner Martin S. Schwartz and trainer Chad Brown endured the bitter disappointment of watching their 9-5 favorite Stacelita trudge home 10th in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf. But in Friday's renewal at Santa Anita, they experienced a much happier reversal of fortune, courtesy of the consistently classy Zagora.

Beholder wires Juvenile Fillies

Spendthrift Farm's Beholder justified trainer Richard Mandella's decision to enter her in the Grade 1, $1,818,000 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies instead of the Juvenile Sprint earlier on Santa Anita's Friday program with a wire-to-wire win under jockey Garrett Gomez.

Flotilla flows to Juvenile Fillies Turf victory

Sheikh Mohammed al Thani's Flotilla was sent off at 11-1 to continue the double-digit winners on Breeders' Cup Friday, taking the Grade 1, $909,000 Juvenile Fillies Turf by 1 1/4 lengths after coming with furious late rally down the middle of the lawn at Santa Anita. With Christophe Lemaire aboard, the dark bay daughter of Mizzen Mast was forced to swing wide around the turn but kicked into gear to get up and finish a mile on the firm turf in 1:34 3/5.

Hightail upsets Juvenile Sprint by a nose

Neck 'n Neck handles older rivals in Ack Ack

Trainer Ian Wilkes and jockey Brian Hernandez got their Breeders' Cup weekend off to a good start Friday, but at Churchill Downs rather than Santa Anita.

Southern Lights Stroll returns for 11th season

With the return of the Southern Lights holiday festival, the Southern Lights Stroll once again debuts as its opening night on November 15. The only evening of the entire event when the public is allowed to experience a major portion of the lighted route on foot, visitors may choose to run, walk or stroll their way through thousands of dazzling holiday lights in the heart of horse country, on the grounds of the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky.

Trainers talk about Breeders' Cup hopefuls

A number of trainers spoke of their runners for the 2012 Breeders' Cup races taking place at Santa Anita on Friday and Saturday.

Final preparations underway for Breeders' Cup runners

With co-owner and trainer Buff Bradley looking on for the first time this week, Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint favorite Groupie Doll jogged three-quarters of a mile and then galloped one mile under exercise rider Jada Schlenk.

Mott reflects on Classic winner Cigar ahead of possible record-setting weekend

Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott was smiling and content Friday morning with his horses safely back in their stalls after completing their exercise. Mott will run defending champion Royal Delta in the Ladies' Classic Friday afternoon and has three runners -- Flat Out, Ron the Greek and To Honor and Serve -- in the $5 million Classic on Saturday.

Sustained, Worth Repeating, Super Ninety Nine scratched from BC starts

Sustained was declared Friday morning from a start in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf and Worth Repeating came out of the $500,000 Breeders' Cup Marathon, both races to be run Friday afternoon at Santa Anita.

Internationals in the Breeders' Cup -- Friday

Baffert: Dude's on his game

Game On Dude, the Classic morning-line favorite, had another strong gallop Thursday morning, heading out with trainer Bob Baffert's 7:45 a.m. (PDT) set under regular exercise rider Dana Barnes. He returned to the Baffert barn on the Santa Anita backstretch and got a treat of a couple of carrots from Barnes, who is married to Baffert's chief assistant, Jim Barnes.

Motion says Animal's best on turf; McGaughey finds Point of Entry opens doors

Team Valor International's Animal Kingdom galloped 1 1/2 miles under exercise rider David Nava Thursday morning at Santa Anita in preparation for his scheduled start in the Mile off an eight-month layoff.

Team Europe takes to the track

Having cleared quarantine Wednesday evening, Aidan O'Brien's powerful Breeders' Cup team took to the Santa Anita track for the first time to stretch their legs Thursday morning.

Casse ready for BC blast-off; Calidoscopio sticks to his routine for Marathon

Gary Barber's Grade 3 Durham Cup winner Delegation, whom trainer Mark Casse termed as "a little wound up" earlier in the week, is settling into a routine with two days remaining before his start in the Dirt Mile.

Shanghai Bobby gets first look at Santa Anita

Undefeated Grade 1 winner Shanghai Bobby, trainer Todd Pletcher's morning-line favorite for Saturday's Breeders' Cup Juvenile, got his first glimpse of picturesque Santa Anita Thursday morning after arriving on the Tex Sutton flight Wednesday.

Amazombie, Musical Romance try for title defenses in Sprint races

Amazombie, defending champion of Saturday's Breeders' Cup Sprint, was put through what amounted to a faster-than-usual gallop on Thursday morning at Santa Anita under exercise rider Javier Meza that trainer Bill Spawr likened to the one or two days before the 2011 Sprint at Churchill Downs.