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Normandy Invasion Ready for May 4

MAHUBAH'S CORNER
Normandy Invasion has a running style that suggests the Derby distance will be no problem, but he has a pedigree that is ambiguous when it comes to stretching out to 10 furlongs.

Carolyn T. Groves of North Ridge Farm Dies

Carolyn T. Groves, who with her husband, Franklin N. Groves, helped develop North Ridge Farm near Lexington into a major nursery, died Feb. 11 in Las Vegas.

Top Juvenile Sire Harlan's Holiday Sets Mark

Harlan's Holiday, who stands at WinStar Farm in Versailles, saw his 2-year-olds earn a seasonal record $2,954,556 in 2012, eclipsing the previous record of $2,811,337 set in 2008 by Tapit.

Keeneland Nears End with Statistics Still Up

Local Color, an 8-year-old mare by Capote, out of the Excusive Native mare Setting, brought a final bid of $45,000 to lead the Nov. 15 session of the Keeneland November breeding stock sale.

Leah's Secret Scores Chicago Handicap

Just missing in the Arlington Matron Handicap (gr. III) a month ago, WinStar Farm's Leah's Secret was not to be denied this time around, the 5-year-old mare getting up in the final strides under Rene Douglas to secure the $144,500 Chicago Handicap (gr. III) by three-quarters of a length June 28 at Arlington Park.

Ever a Friend Improving with Age

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter

Only three months ago, 5-year-old Ever a Friend was claimed for $62,500 at Hollywood Park. Now Mike Mitchell's gelding by Crafty Friend looks like a bargain considering Ever a Friend just won the $300,000 Frank E. Kilroe Mile Handicap (gr. I). It was Ever a Friend's second stakes win since Dec. 31.

Giant Moon on the Rise

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter

Giant Moon displayed a lot of heart in winning The Count Fleet Stakes over a stubborn Spanky Fischbein and shows he should be a key contender among the East Coast 3-year-olds this year. One thing that shouldn't be a question regarding Giant Moon is his potential to stay the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) trip.

Dance Away Capote Clinches Noble Damsel

Dance Away Capote left no doubts as to who was best in the $113,500 Noble Damsel Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Belmont Park Sept. 15. The filly came flying through the stretch to win.

Indian Flare Dies After Finishing Race

Indian Flare, a 5-year-old filly trained by Bobby Frankel and owned by Juddmonte Farms, died after apparently fracturing her pelvis in the running of Sunday's Ballerina Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga Race Course, according to track veterinarian Anthony Verderosa.

Champion Capote Dead at 23

Champion Capote, a son of Seattle Slew, was euthanized Aug. 24 at Robert N. Clay's Three Chimneys Farm near Midway, Ky. The 23-year-old pensioned stallion was buried at his home of the past 16 years.

Pleasant Strike Poised to Strike in American Derby

Todd Pletcher trainee Pleasant Strike, coming off consecutive victories in the Arlington Classic and an allowance optional claimer at Arlington Park, looks to extend his winning streak when a field of nine sophomores goes postward in Saturday's reneweal of the $250,000 American Derby (gr. IIT).

Stallion Acceptable Brings $75K at Keeneland

A 12-year-old stallion brought a top price of $75,000 during Saturday's next-to-last session of Keeneland's November Breeding Stock Sale.

Lucky Lionel Colt, Capote Filly Share Honors for Fastest at OBS

A colt by Lucky Lionel and a filly by Capotenamed Ticket to Seattle set the pace Thursday in Central Florida during the second session of the under tack show for the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. spring sale of 2-year-olds in training.

Progeny of Capote, Is It True, Silver Charm Shine in OBS Under Tack Show

The Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. conducted the second and final under tack show Sunday for its February select sale of 2-year-olds in training in weather conditions that were "ideal," according to the auction firm's director of sales and general manager, Tom Ventura.

Touch Gold Colt Tops Day Two at Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Yearling Sale

A son of Touch Gold topped day two of the three-day Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Eastern fall yearling sale at Timonium, Md when Wensleydale Farm purchased the Maryland-bred colt, named Master Stroke, out of the Thornmar consignment.

Washington Yearling Sale Up in Major Categories

The Washington Thoroughbred Breeders' Association's annual yearling sale Sept. 6 showed increases in gross, average, and median.

Dance Away Capote Cruises in Go For Wand

Pandora Farms' prohibitive favorite Dance Away Capote returned to racing with an impressive victory in the $100,300 Go For Wand Stakes at Delaware Park Saturday.

Dance Away Capote Works Toward Kentucky Oaks

Prepping toward a date in the May 6 Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) Mt. Brilliant Farm's Dance Away Capote breezed a half-mile in :49 over the fast main track at Keeneland Friday morning.

Cappuchino to Empire in New York

Graded stakes winner Cappuchino, who topped the half-million mark in earnings, will enter stud for a syndicate for a fee of $3,500 at James LaMonica and Kurt Butenhoff's Empire Stud near Hudson, N.Y.

America's Storm to Stand at Applebite

America's Storm, a stakes-placed son of Storm Cat, will enter stud this year at Joan Rogers' Applebite Farm in French, Camp, Calif. He will stand for $4,000.

Capote Pensioned Over Health Concerns

Three Chimneys stallion Capote has been pensioned because of a combination of fertility and neurological problems, Three Chimneys owner and syndicate manager Robert Clay said Tuesday.

Cappuchino Overpowers Pass Rush in Ack Ack

Cappuchino, with Jon Court in the irons, overtook Pass Rush at the quarter pole and went on to post a two-length triumph in Sunday's $165,450 Ack Ack Handicap (gr. III) over a sloppy track on opening day of the fall meet at Churchill Downs.

Capote Colt Tops at Keeneland; Numbers Continue to Soar

A Capote colt who is a brother to grade II stakes winner and grade I producer She's Tops was purchased by J. L. Gladwell for $700,000 to top Wednesday's session of Keeneland's September Yearling Sale.

Buffythecenterfold Stands Out in Railbird

Buffythecenterfold, a three-time stakes winner, looms as a solid favorite in the $100,000-added Railbird Stakes (gr. III) for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs Sunday at Hollywood Park.

Buffy Gives Mel Stute Win Over Brother Warren

In a battle of longtime training brothers, Mel Stute, 75, defeated Warren Stute, 81, when Buffythecenterfold edged favored Watching You by a nose Sunday in the $79,425 Santa Paula Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Santa Anita Park.

Maddie's Charm Splashes to Golden Gate Win

Maddie's Charm successfully made a huge class jump Saturday at Golden Gate Fields when she splashed to a 1 1/4-length victory in the $60,650 Corte Madera Stakes.

Unbeaten 'Buffy' Faces Stern Test in Debutante

The undefeated two-time stakes-winning Buffythecenterfold will face her sternest test yet Saturday in the 52nd running of the $250,000 Del Mar Debutante (gr. I) for 2-year-old fillies at seven furlongs on the main track.

Buffythecenterfold Still Undefeated With Win in Sorrento

Stronach Stables and Allen Brian's Buffythecenterfold ran her undefeated string to three races with a game win over rival Tricks Her by 3/4-length in the $150,000 Sorrento Stakes (gr. II) for 2-year-old fillies at Del Mar Saturday.

They'll Need to Catch 'Buffy' in the Sorrento

Although trainer Mel Stute believes she is versatile enough not to have to be on the lead, Buffythecenterfold certainly seems to be the one to catch in Saturday's $150,000 Sorrento Stakes (gr. II) for 2-year-old fillies at 6 1/2 furlongs on the main track.

Four Work :10 3/5 For Midlantic Sale

Two colts and two fillies each worked :10 3/5 in the first under tack show Thursday for the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sale of 2-year-olds in training. The auction will be held May 20-21 at the Maryland State Fairgrounds near Timonium, Md.

Capote Filly Works Quarter In :21 1/5 at OBS

A Capote filly named Yester Morn posted the fastest time for a quarter mile, covering that distance in :21 1/5 during the under tack show Saturday for the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's March select juvenile auction.

Capote Filly Has Fastest Time in OBSC Under Tack Show

Yester Morn, a filly by Capote, zipped a quarter-mile in :21 1/5 to post the fastest work at the distance at Saturday's first session of the Under Tack Show for the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's March Sale of selected 2-year-olds in training.

Rahy's Stud Fee Nearly Doubles

The 2001 stud fee for Rahy, this year's fourth-leading North American sire by money earned, will nearly double from his 2000 fee, rising to $75,000. The 15-year-old stallion, who stands at Three Chimney's Farm near Midway, Ky., stood for an advertised fee of $40,000 in 2000.