The way Rachel Alexandra won the Kentucky Oaks -- by a whopping 20 1/4 lengths -- anything that ran behind her had to be given another chance in her next start. Gabby's Golden Gal proved that theory true when she won the Acorn Stakes (gr. I) June 6 at Belmont Park.
Saturday, June 06, 2009
The top four riders in the country based on earnings, two Hall of Fame jockeys with Preakness (gr. I) victories, another who has won the middle jewel of the Triple Crown, Maryland's all-time winningest rider, and Eclipse Award winners Kent Desormeaux and Garrett Gomez will do battle in the first Jockey Challenge at Pimlico.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Some leading current and retired jockeys will test their karaoke skills against each other during an April 17 talent competition at the Keeneland Entertainment Center. The event, titled "Riders Up!," will benefit the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund of the Jockeys' Guild.
Monday, March 09, 2009
Santa Anita Park on Nov. 19 released a list of five finalists for the 60th annual Santa Anita George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award, with the winner to be announced in January.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
In her first start since winning the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I), Proud Spell had a horrible trip that ended with being disqualified from second to third as Music Note won the Mother Goose Stakes (gr. I) at Belmont Park June 28.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Stronach Stables' homebred Sugar Swirl has taken everything trainer Brian Lynch has thrown at her, including four back-to-back stakes races " three of them graded. Now the 5-year-old daughter of Touch Gold seeks her first grade I victory against the likes of Hystericalady, Baroness Thatcher, and Intangaroo in the $300,000 Humana Distaff Stakes (gr. I).
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Trainer Christophe Clement took two of four stakes events on the card during Calder Race Course's inaugural Turf Million day, including the $400,000 Calder Derby (gr. IIIT) with Jon and Sarah Kelly's 3-year-old Sporting Art.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Javier Castellano buys you a drink, then wraps the glass in a napkin so your hands don't get cold. If you're standing and he's sitting, he jumps up to offer his chair. In the paddock, greeting owners, he doffs his helmet with remarkable chivalry. And he loves puppies and kittens, which has nothing to do with racing, but adds to his delightful personality. We've dubbed him the most charming jockey riding in this year's Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).
Friday, April 25, 2008
A small but accomplished group of 4-year-old fillies will clash in the $150,000 Bed o' Roses Handicap (gr. II) April 19 on the dirt at Aqueduct, including three entering off of graded stakes victories. The seven-furlong Bed o' Roses drew a field of six.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Making his second start in the U.S. and stretching out to 1 1/8 miles after missing by a neck in his last outing, Jon and Sarah Kelly's Sporting Art was sitting on a win in the $100,000 Bulleit Bourbon Palm Beach Stakes (gr. IIIT).
Saturday, March 29, 2008
For much of the $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (gr. I), there seemed to be no denying classy champion Dreaming of Anna, who was seeking her fourth consecutive stakes victory. But after a ground-saving trip from Javier Castellano, Bit of Whimsy made a late rally along the rail, angled three wide and caught the 2006 Juvenile Fillies Eclipse Award winner in the final 16th to win on Keeneland's Haggin turf course Oct. 13.
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Trippi's Storm was running in maiden claiming races earlier this year. How his fortunes have changed. On Sept. 29, Trippi's Storm was in the winner's circle following the $250,000 Kelso Handicap (gr. IIT) at Belmont Park.
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Jockeys John Velazquez and Javier Castellano were both relatively uninjured following a Sept. 13 spill at Belmont Park. Castellano will ride the Sept. 14 card, and although Velazquez opted to take off his mounts Sept. 14, he will return to the saddle Sept. 15 to pilot his assigned starters, including Rags to Riches in her greatly anticipated Gazelle Stakes (gr. I) appearance.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
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.
Sunday, August 26, 2007
With eight racing days remaining until the end of the 2007 meet at Saratoga Race Course, the track's jockey colony is tightly bunched as usual, but the shifting fortunes of several riders make for an interesting match-up as we head into closing week. Here's a look at Saratoga's top 10 jockeys and their nearly finished summer seasons heading into Sunday's card.
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Whether you're from Providence, Boston, New York City, or destinations beyond and between, Saratoga is the summer place to be.
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Multiple stakes winner Bwana Bull, who was added to the contenders list for this year's Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) over the weekend, worked six furlongs in 1:14 2/5 at Churchill Downs Monday, April 30.
Monday, April 30, 2007
Jockey Abel Castellano Jr., injured in a racing accident at Aqueduct on Sunday, March 4, will be sidelined indefinitely with a broken collarbone.
Monday, March 05, 2007
Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey doesn't rush his horses into stakes races. So when Pine Island ran in the Mother Goose Stakes (gr. I) after just two starts--granted two wins--is was clear he thought a lot of the daughter of Arch.
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Outperformance came wide with a big rush to win the $115,400 Hill Prince Stakes (gr. IIIT) on a soft turf course at Belmont Park Friday afternoon.
Friday, June 09, 2006
Javier Castellano became the second rider to receive a five-day suspension during Keeneland's 2006 spring meet when the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority ruled on an incident involving the 28-year-old jockey on Friday.
Friday, April 28, 2006
Abel Castellano Jr., a regular in the Maryland jockey colony for three years, will move his tack to South Florida next month in preparation for the Calder Race Course meetings.
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Trainer Nick Zito said Tuesday morning that Kinsman Stable's Bellamy Road will make his long awaited return to the races in the $1-million Travers Stakes (gr. I), instead of the King's Bishop Stakes (gr. I), the race that was originally on his schedule. Both races are Saturday at Saratoga.
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
Favored Rey de Cafe, who always likes to make it interesting, did so again. He was between horses in a tight finish and just got his nose in front to take the $114,700 Hill Prince Stakes (gr. IIIT) Friday at Belmont Park.
Friday, June 10, 2005
In a thrilling three-horse finish, Beacon Shine was all out to win the $105,100 Flash Stakes (gr. III) Friday at Belmont Park.
Friday, June 10, 2005
At odds of 2-5, Madcap Escapade made an easy lead and cut fast fractions, but she had nothing left in the final eighth and was passed by a group of fillies in the $281,750 Humana Distaff Handicap (gr. I) Saturday at Churchill Downs.
Saturday, May 07, 2005
There hadn't been a thrilling stretch duel all day, but the ninth race on the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) undercard featured one. Rush Bay, under Robby Albarado, and Rey de Cafe, with Javier Castellano up, hit the wire together in the $114,700 Crown Royal American Turf (gr. IIIT).
Friday, May 06, 2005
Irish-bred Macaw drew in from the also-eligible list for Keeneland's Fifth Third Elkhorn Stakes (gr. IIIT) with the scratch of morning line favorite Magistretti, then looped the entire field to win Friday's $200,000 closing-day feature by 2 1/2 lengths.
Friday, April 29, 2005
Louisiana's path on the Triple Crown trail officially gets underway Saturday with the running of the one-mile LeComte Stakes (gr. III) at Fair Grounds. Six 3-year-olds have passed the entry box, with Biloxi Palace and Storm Surge figuring to draw the most attention.
Thursday, January 13, 2005
Dixie Talking was unraced at the beginning of December and a stakes winner at year's end when she beat seven other Maryland-bred fillies in Thursday's $100,000 Maryland Juvenile Filly Championship.
Thursday, December 30, 2004
Less than 24 hours after winning the Breeders' Cup Classic - Powered by Dodge (gr. I) with Ghostzapper, trainer Robert Frankel and jockey Javier Castellano teamed to win the 52nd running of the $111,200 Sport Page (gr. III) with Mass Media at Aqueduct Sunday.
Sunday, October 31, 2004
He went by them so fast they might have thought he was a ghost. Ghostzapper sat off the pace and then blew by to win the Iselin Breeders' Cup Handicap at Monmouth Saturday by 10 3/4 lengths.
Saturday, August 21, 2004
Javier Castellano returned to the races and to the winner's circle Thursday, less than 24 hours after narrowly escaping serious injury in a one-horse spill at Aqueduct. Castellano won Thursday's fifth race on favored Message Red, his second mount of the day.
Thursday, February 06, 2003
True Direction and Javier Castellano wore down Crossing Point in the final yard to post the win Thanksgiving Day in the Fall Highweight (gr. III) at Aqueduct.
Thursday, November 28, 2002
Nonsuch Bay raced to her third victory in five starts, edging Wopping by a nose Saturday in the $200,000 Nassau County Breeders' Cup Stakes (gr. II) for 3-year-old fillies at Aqueduct.
Saturday, May 11, 2002
With Ability sets sail, Emeraldforajudge shines while getting rich victories on the front end.
Sunday, April 28, 2002
Stoneway Farm's Proper Gamble closes out Keeneland meeting with nose victory in the Stonerside Beaumont Stakes.
Friday, April 26, 2002
Proper Gamble survived a late challenge by Respectful to take the $250,000 Stonerside Beaumont Stakes (gr. II) by the slimmest of noses.
Friday, April 26, 2002
With Ability led from wire to wire for a 5 1/4-length victory in Friday's 28th running of the $108,600 Next Move Handicap (gr. III) for fillies and mares 3 years and older at Aqueduct.
Friday, March 29, 2002
Proper Gamble rallied to beat Short Note by 2 3/4 lengths in Saturday's 10th running of the $108,600 Cicada Stakes (gr. III) for 3-year-old fillies at Aqueduct. Forest Heiress, the favorite, was a head back in third place in the six-horse field.
Saturday, March 23, 2002
Ground Storm caught pacesetter Duckhorn in the stretch, then pulled away to a two-length victory in Saturday's $109,200 Stymie Handicap (gr. III) on the inner-track at Aqueduct.
Saturday, March 09, 2002
Bema raced on or near the lead to the stretch, then drew away under Javier Castellano for a 3 1/4-length victory Saturday in the $80,875 Busher Stakes at Aqueduct.
Saturday, March 02, 2002
Fashion Stakes winner With Ability led from wire to wire and won by 9 1/2 lengths in Aqueduct's Friday feature, a $48,000 allowance for older fillies and mares.
Friday, February 08, 2002
Trainer Michael Daggett and veterinarian William Isomoto were suspended for by Aqueduct's stewards Sunday.
Sunday, February 03, 2002
After finishing on the board in a graded stakes in each of her last three starts, Exogenous made it to the Belmont Park winner's circle Saturday after upsetting the field of 3-year-old fillies in the $250,000 Gazelle Handicap (gr. I) to earn her first career stakes win.
Saturday, September 08, 2001
Blazing Fury's impressive late run gave him a decisive 4 3/4-length victory over Fast City on Sunday in the $112,500 Saranac Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Saratoga. Earlier on the card, Arkansas Derby (gr. II) and Turfway Spiral Stakes (gr. II) winner Balto Star returned from a three-month layoff to win his turf racing debut.
Sunday, September 02, 2001
Forty One Carats established a Calder Race Course track record of 1:08.95 for six furlongs Saturday in a 1 3/4-length victory in the $300,000 Smile Sprint Stakes.
Saturday, October 07, 2000
