Ballymacoll Stud has reached an agreement with Shigeyuki Okada of Big Red Farm in Japan to sell its homebred Conduit for stud duty.
Sunday, November 01, 2009
Jockey Calvin Borel was back on board Mine That Bird on the morning of Aug. 31 as the winner of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) worked a half mile in :51.16 over the main track at Saratoga Race Course.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Trainer Chip Woolley sent Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Mine That Bird back to the main track at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 21 following a clean endoscopic examination performed by Dr. James Hunt.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Saratoga is already the only racetrack in the country where fans can catch a glimpse of all three 2009 classic winners, and on Friday, Aug. 21, three lucky individuals will win a chance to meet one of these great horses face-to-face.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Cleanup crews are continuing the process of cleaning up water damage at the Kentucky Derby Museum, which is closed indefinitely, and items from the museum's collection that were damaged are being readied for shipment to a conservator in Chicago.
Monday, August 10, 2009
A trailer carrying Double Eagle Ranch and Buena Serte Equine's Mine That Bird, winner of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), departed Churchill Downs the morning of July 24 on an approximately seven-hour journey to West Virginia's Mountaineer Racetrack Casino and Resort.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Mine That Bird continued his preparation for a return to competition in the Aug. 1 West Virginia Derby (gr. II) with a strong five-furlong work July 13 at Churchill Downs.
Monday, July 13, 2009
A treatment of procaine penicillin for an infected hind foot more than two weeks ago will keep Hal and Patti Earnhardt's Indian Blessing out of the July 11 Princess Rooney Handicap (gr. I) during Summit of Speed Saturday at Calder Race Course.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Mine That Bird continued his progress toward the West Virginia Derby (gr. II) when he breezed four furlongs in :49 2/5 July 7 at Churchill Downs. The time was co-sixth fastest of the day among 66 horses working the distance over a fast track.
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
Edward P. Evans' Florida Derby (gr. I) winner Quality Road continued on the comeback trail as he breezed July 5 for the first time since being transferred to the stable of trainer Todd Pletcher on June 15.
Monday, July 06, 2009
Two leading contenders for the $1-million Haskell Invitational (gr. I) Aug. 2 worked five-eighths of a mile over a fast track at Monmouth Park the morning of July 6.
Monday, July 06, 2009
A wet track July 6 prompted trainer Chip Woolley to delay by a day a scheduled work at Churchill Downs for Mine That Bird, winner of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).
Monday, July 06, 2009
Double Eagle Ranch and Buena Suerte Equine's Mine That Bird remains without a confirmed rider for the West Virginia Derby (gr. II) on Aug. 1 at Mountaineer.
Friday, July 03, 2009
In his first workout since finishing third in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I), Mine That Bird went an easy half-mile in :51 at Churchill Downs on June 29 in preparation for his next start in the Aug. 1 West Virginia Derby (gr. II) at Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort. Jockey Calvin Borel was aboard for the breeze.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Summer Bird will not breeze this weekend as originally planned in preparation for the $1 million Haskell Invitational (gr. I) on Aug. 2, according to trainer Tim Ice.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Bill Woolley is handling his brother's stable while the Derby-winning trainer is on the road with Mine That Bird
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) and BlackBerry Preakness Stakes (gr. I) winner Rachel Alexandra was among the horses working at Churchill Downs on the morning of June 15 as horses trained under lights for the first time in the track's 135-year history.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Summer Bird, Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Mine That Bird, and Peter Pan winner (gr. II) winner Charitable Man are all targeting the Shadwell Travers (gr. I) later this summer at Saratoga, but will take different paths to the "Mid-Summer Derby."
Friday, June 12, 2009
Dunkirk, a brave second to Summer Bird in the June 6 Belmont Gr. I), continues to recuperate nicely in his stall from surgery to insert a screw in a non-displaced condylar fracture in his left rear cannon bone.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Without a Triple Crown on the line, this year's TV coverage of the June 6 Belmont Stakes (gr. I) attracted approximately half the number of viewers as last year, when Big Brown was attempting to win the Triple Crown at Belmont Park.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Mine That Bird returned to the racetrack for the first time since finishing third in the June 6 Belmont Stakes (gr. I) by leisurely back-tracking once around the Churchill Downs oval June 11 under exercise rider Charlie Figueroa.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
All the obvious thoughts on this year's bizarre, but memorable Triple Crown have been discussed regarding the major players. But there were unsung heroes as well who did not wind up in the winner's circle, yet contributed to the memories.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
There was only one person who correctly selected the winners of all six graded stakes races for the Pick 6 on Belmont Stakes (gr. I) Day, June 6, resulting in a payout of $969,345.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
One of the strangest Triple Crowns in memory has come to an end, leaving being a flood of memories and wild and wacky moments.
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
Dunkirk, the front-running, second-place finisher in the June 6 Belmont Stakes (gr. I), will undergo surgery today for a condylar fracture of the left hind cannon bone.
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
Mine That Bird, winner of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), arrived back at Churchill Downs Monday morning after his third-place finish in Saturday's Belmont Stakes (gr. I).
Monday, June 08, 2009
Although TV ratings fell for the June 6 telecast of the Belmont Stakes on ABC, that figured to be the case because of the lack of a horse running for the Triple Crown.
Monday, June 08, 2009
BlackBerry Preakness Stakes and Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) winner Rachel Alexandra turned in solid six-furlong workout June 8 at Churchill Downs as the team behind the 3-year-daughter of Medaglia d'Oro considers her next start.
Monday, June 08, 2009
Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Summer Bird obviously loves New York. He loves it so much that he could return this summer to run at Saratoga Race Course in the Aug. 1 Jim Dandy Stakes (gr. II) and the Aug. 29 Shadwell Travers Stakes (gr. I).
Sunday, June 07, 2009
A crowd of 52,861 wagered $9,021,196 on Belmont Stakes Day races June 6, compared with $13,233,071 on-track handle a year ago when Big Brown's Triple Crown attempt was witnessed by 94,476. The 2008 handle figure was second-highest in Belmont Stakes Day wagering history.
Sunday, June 07, 2009
It was a bird that won the June 6 Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park, but it was not Mine That Bird but rather Summer Bird that won the final leg of the Triple Crown.
Saturday, June 06, 2009
Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr.I) winner Mine That Bird is the big even-money favorite in early wagering for the Belmont Stakes (gr. I), with Charitable Man and Chocolate Candy both at 5-1.
Saturday, June 06, 2009
Join Blood-Horse Editor-in-Chief Dan Liebman for a live blog from Belmont Park Saturday, June 6th, from Noon EDT to 1:00 pm.
Saturday, June 06, 2009
We tend to always knock weathermen, but they have been spot on with their predictions for Belmont week. The day before the final leg of the Triple Crown, as predicted, was as miserable as it gets, but race day itself, again as prognosticators said it would, dawned bright and beautiful.
Saturday, June 06, 2009
Warning: what you are about to read should be taken with extreme skepticism. Not to sound self deprecating, but yours truly is on one nasty losing streak in the Triple Crown, and the selection for the Belmont Stakes will be made as a means of self defense.
Friday, June 05, 2009
There were so many good stories being told, and re-told, in memory of Joe Hirsch June 5 at Belmont Park, it is hard to know which one Joe would have liked most. Well, Hirsch always saw the positive in everything, so he would have liked all the stories, equally.
Friday, June 05, 2009
The history of the track at Belmont Park is that is dries out quickly. According to the latest forecast, it will have about 17 hours to do so prior to the June 6 Belmont Stakes (gr. I).
Friday, June 05, 2009
Nothing seems to faze Mine That Bird, and lately, nothing seems to faze his trainer, Chip Woolley, either. There is a reason.
Friday, June 05, 2009
TVG has returned to Belmont Park to broadcast live pre- and post-race coverage of the June 6 Belmont Stakes (gr. I).
Friday, June 05, 2009
Jason, Tom, and the Wizard preview the Belmont Stakes (gr. I).
Thursday, June 04, 2009
Ok, I am officially smitten with Mine That Bird. I admit to being one of those misguided souls who paid no attention to him before the Kentucky Derby other than to comment what a beautiful mover he was. After the Preakness and seeing him on the Belmont track Thursday morning, I have to say in simplest of terms this is one cool horse.
Thursday, June 04, 2009
A reoccurring theme in this year's Triple Crown has been the game of musical chairs among jockeys. It couldn't have worked out more beautifully for Calvin Borel.
Thursday, June 04, 2009
After working Mine That Bird June 1 at Churchill Downs, jockey Calvin Borel "guaranteed" that the gelded son of Birdstone would win the June 6 Belmont Stakes (gr. I). Believe it or not, Borel is now even more confident.
Thursday, June 04, 2009
Jerry Hollendorfer has 135 horses in training at Golden Gate Fields in Northern California, but he has been making regular trips east the past month to keep tabs on the "big" horse in the stable, Chocolate Candy.
Thursday, June 04, 2009
When considering company that you'd be honored to be associated with, Penny Chenery would make a fine start. Owner Robert LaPenta has two chances to join Chenery and her Meadow Stable as the most recent back-to-back winners of the Triple Crown's third jewel.
Thursday, June 04, 2009
Insight into the pedigrees of this year's Belmont contenders is only a click away. This easy-to-read report includes pedigree analyses from Alan Porter and Avalyn Hunter. Order your copy today and separate the contenders from the pretenders.
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
The two key figures in the pace scenario for Saturday's Belmont Stakes are Miner's Escape and Charitable Man. The former will be a longshot in the field of 10, while Charitable Man was made the 3-1 second choice behind Mine That Bird. So, let's see how this may play out.
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
Mine That Bird will face nine rivals in the June 6 Belmont Stakes (gr. I). Jockey Calvin Borel will look to become the first jockey to win all three Triple Crown races on two different horses.
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Mine That Bird was among 10 3-year-olds entered for the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) on June 6.
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
If you happen to be walking the sidewalks of New York in the days leading up to the June 6 Belmont Stakes (gr. I), you just might run into diet guru Jenny Craig, who will be in town for the race.
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
