Two-time champion Indian Blessing has been retired from racing and booked to recently retired Zensational.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Zensational, the first horse to win three consecutive grade I sprint stakes, has arrived at John Sikura's Hill 'n' Dale Farms near Lexington to stand the 2010 breeding season.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
The eagerly anticipated 3-year-old debut of 2008 champion juvenile male Midshipman will occur Friday, Sept. 18, in the third race at Belmont Park, a 6 1/2-furlong conditioned allowance that represents his first start over a conventional dirt track.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
The 2009 National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame inductions, held on Aug. 14, came together like a great American tapestry.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Recent grade I winner Zensational is the clear standout in the $300,000 Bing Crosby Stakes (gr. I) Aug. 8 at Del Mar in a field that was buoyed by the surprise addition of Eddie Read Handicap (gr. IT) victor Global Hunter.
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
Trainer Bob Baffert won the first stakes of his career with a horse he bred when Misremembered led all the way to upset 7-10 choice Grazen in the $284,000 Swaps Stakes (gr. II) at Hollywood July 18.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
After showing her fondness for Belmont Park with a front-running triumph in the Acorn Stakes (gr. I) one month ago, Gabby's Golden Gal will cut back in distance for trainer Bob Baffert in the Prioress Stakes (gr. I) July 4.
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
Bob Baffert's lightly-raced homebred Misremembered, two-for-two on Hollywood Park's Cushion Track, presents an intriguing possibility in the $100,000 Affirmed Handicap (gr. III) June 20. The 1 1/16-mile test for 3-year-olds includes no heavyweights.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Trainer Bob Baffert said he wanted to test his champion Indian Blessing over Hollywood Park's Cushion Track before deciding which way to go with her this summer. After her fourth-place finish in the $72,800 Desert Stormer Stakes June 14, a race won in front-running style by Coco Belle, the Hall of Fame conditioner had his answer.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
As of about 6:45 a.m. EDT, every horse was on the grounds at Pimlico Race Course for the May 16 Preakness Stakes (gr. I), the middle jewel of the Triple Crown.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Zayat Stables' homebred Pioneerof the Nile, second in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), breezed a half-mile in :47 3/5 at Churchill Downs May 11 as the Empire Maker colt prepped for the May 16 Preakness Stakes (gr. I). The time was fourth-fastest of the morning among 48 horses working four furlongs.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Hall of Fame trainers D. Wayne Lukas and Bob Baffert kicked off the annual Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders' trainers' dinner April 28 with humor and vivacity, and that attitude lasted throughout the evening.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
D. Wayne Lukas, the dean of Kentucky Derby trainers with four winners from 42 previous starters, expressed confidence in Flying Private following the colt's four-furlong work in :47 2/5 April 27.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Godolphin's pair of contenders for the $2 million-guaranteed Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) Desert Party and Regal Ransom turned in sharp works April 18 in their first serious training at Churchill Downs, while Illinois Derby (gr. II) winner Musket Man worked a strong six furlongs under Derby jockey Eibar Coa.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
California stars Pioneerof the Nile and Chocolate Candy, the first two finishers in the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) April 4, arrived at Churchill Downs April 16 to prepare for the May 2 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) winner Pioneerof the Nile had his final workout at Santa Anita on a blustery but sun-drenched morning April 15, busting four furlongs on the Pro-Ride racing surface in a bullet :46 1/5, the fastest of 39 drills at the distance.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Chocolate Candy, runner-up in the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I), worked five furlongs under new rider Mike Smith on Pro-Ride in :59 1/5 April 12. The son of Candy Ride is scheduled to leave April 14 for Louisville to prepare for the 135th Kentucky Derby.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Even as he prepares to ship Pioneerof the Nile to Churchill Downs April 14 for the 2009 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), trainer Bob Baffert says he's still trying to figure out what kind of running style the son of 2003 Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Empire Maker possesses.
Sunday, April 05, 2009
A lack of pace changed the game plan for odds-on choice Pioneerof the Nile, but jockey Garrett Gomez improvised, enabling the son of Empire Maker to hold off Chocolate Candy for a one-length win in the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) on a picture-perfect day in Arcadia, Calif.
Saturday, April 04, 2009
Trainer Julio Canani says The Pamplemousse doesn't need the lead to win the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) April 4. After a couple of interesting developments when entries were taken, that theory could be put to the test.
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
Gabby's Golden Gal, trained by Bob Baffert, romped to a 13-length win with Victor Espinoza in the saddle in the $200,000 Sunland Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at New Mexico's Sunland Park March 29.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Mayor Marv, one of two colts entered by trainer Bob Baffert, is the morning-line favorite for the $800,000 Sunland Park Derby March 29. It's the New Mexico racetrack's richest race.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
The Pamplemousse, Pioneerof the Nile and Chocolate Candy, the three top choices for the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) on April 4, each worked on the track's Pro-Ride racing surface March 25.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Odds-on choice Pioneerof the Nile got the test he needed in preparation for his big showdown with The Pamplemousse next month, turning back a challenge in the stretch to win the $200,000 San Felipe Stakes (gr. II) at Santa Anita March 14.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Pioneerof the Nile, heading into the $200,000 San Felipe Stakes (gr. II) March 14 as the West Coast's top Triple Crown contender, takes on an ambitious group of six up-and-coming colts at Santa Anita.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Indian Blessing might pass the $2 million Golden Shaheen (UAE-I) in Dubai on March 28, trainer Bob Baffert said.
Thursday, March 05, 2009
Last year's champion 2-year-old Midshipman will miss the Triple Crown after he sustained a minor soft tissue injury to his left fore leg during routine exercise at Godolphin's Al Quoz Stables in Dubai Feb. 28.
Monday, March 02, 2009
Southern California shipper Mayor Marv leads all the way for jockey David Flores in the $100,000 Turf Paradise Derby Feb. 21, winning for Bob Baffert and Mike Pegram.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Triple Crown contender Pioneerof the Nile, overcoming traffic problems on the final turn, charged from the back of the pack to win the $200,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes (gr. II) in the final strides over 17-1 shot Papa Clem at Santa Anita Feb. 7.
Saturday, February 07, 2009
Bob Baffert, an old hand at getting horses ready for the Kentucky Derby (gr. I), starts heading down the Triple Crown path once again when he saddles Pioneerof the Nile for the $200,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes (gr. II) at Santa Anita on Feb. 7.
Sunday, February 01, 2009
A day after entering Eclipse champion female sprinter Indian Blessing in the $300,000 Santa Monica Handicap (gr. I) at Santa Anita, trainer Bob Baffert said the 4-year-old filly would not participate in an anticipated rematch with Ventura after all.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
A rematch of last fall's Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint battle at Santa Anita between the victorious Ventura and champion filly Indian Blessing looms in the $300,000 Santa Monica Handicap (gr. I) Jan. 31. But after entries were taken Jan. 28, trainer Bob Baffert said he was unsure if Indian Blessing would run.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Every so often a juvenile filly comes along that just dominates her competition, and Stardom Bound did just that in 2008. What makes her accomplishments even more dramatic is she was able to inhale her rivals with hold-your-breath, last-to-first moves.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Like 19 other of his predecessors in the 25-year history of the Breeders' Cup, Midshipman used a Breeders' Cup victory as a springboard to being voted champion 2-year-old male.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Century Park, the least regarded of three fillies entered by trainer Bob Baffert in the $100,000 Santa Ysabel Stakes (gr. III) at odds of 24-1, made every pole a winning one thanks to a crafty ride by returning jockey Tyler Baze at Santa Anita Jan 11.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
CashCall Futurity (gr. I) winner Pioneerof the Nile remains on target for his 3-year-old debut on Feb. 7 after turning in a bullet five-furlong drill of :57 3/5 over Santa Anita's Pro-Ride track Jan. 11.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
With a talented trio of 3-year-old fillies, trainer Bob Baffert is looking forward to the $100,000 Santa Ysabel Stakes (gr. III) at Santa Anita Jan. 11.
Thursday, January 08, 2009
The champion filly Indian Blessing won her fifth grade I race when she inherited the lead from an injured Indyanne in the homestretch and went on to victory in the $250,000 La Brea Stakes (gr. I) at Santa Anita Dec. 27.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Champion filly Indian Blessing, whose flashy three-race winning streak was ended by Ventura in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at Santa Anita two months ago, returns to the track for the $250,000 La Brea Stakes (gr. I) Dec. 27.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Heavily favored Pioneerof the Nile, who took over the stall of Midshipman when the Breeder's Cup Juvenile (gr. I) winner departed trainer Bob Baffert's barn for Dubai this fall, proved he earned it when he narrowly held off I Want Revenge in an exhilarating renewal of the $750,000 CashCall Futurity (gr. I) at Hollywood Park Dec. 20.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Trainer Bob Baffert gave the green light to Pioneerof the Nile and Ventana for the $750,000 CashCall Futurity (gr. I) after the pair worked Dec. 14 at Santa Anita.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Midshipman, unbeaten in two starts for trainer Bob Baffert after his gritty victory in the Del Mar Futurity (gr. I), heads a field of 10 in the $250,000 Norfolk Breeders Cup Stakes (gr. I) at Oak Tree's Santa Anita meet Sept. 28.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Indian Blessing, who romped to a 6 1/4-length win in the Gallant Bloom Handicap (gr. II) at Belmont Park, is scheduled to leave New York for Southern California Sept. 23 to prepare for her next assignment in the Sentient Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Ruffian Handicap (gr. I) winner Tough Tiz's Sis was scheduled to undergo surgery Sept. 21 after she suffered a career ending injury during a workout at Belmont Park a morning earlier.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
For the third consecutive time, heavy favorite Indian Blessing demolished sprint rivals when she coasted to victory by 6 1/4 lengths in the $150,000 Gallant Bloom Handicap (gr. II) at Belmont Park Sept. 20.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Indian Blessing, the 7-5 morning-line favorite for the $300,000 Ruffian Handicap (gr.I) at Belmont Park Sept. 6, was scratched the morning of the race.
Saturday, September 06, 2008
Robert and Janice McNair just might change their minds about getting out of racing now that their homebred Midshipman won the Del Mar Futurity (gr. I) Sept. 3 closing day. The photo finish victory at seven furlongs over the synthetic surface came just several days after the McNairs announced they were selling their horses and Central Kentucky farm to Sheikh Mohammed's Darley operation.
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
Canadian invader Southern Exchange might not be favored in the Sept. 3 Del Mar Futurity (gr. I) closing day, but he's the only one of the 11 contestants with as many as three wins.
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
Sprint champion Midnight Lute appears to be ready for his next start after working faster than the track record for seven furlongs on Del Mar's Polytrack racing surface Aug. 7.
Thursday, August 07, 2008
Tough Tiz's Sis, who has given undefeated Zenyatta her two most difficult tests, is back to try once again for trainer Bob Baffert in the $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch Handicap (gr. II) over Del Mar's Polytrack racing surface Aug. 2.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
