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Kentucky Derby Trail: Derby ProMo

It is now 2011 and that means we have officially embarked on the Kentucky Derby trail.

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Monzon Rallies to Win Count Fleet

Sagamore Farm's homebred Monzon, returning to dirt after making three starts on the grass, commenced his sophomore season with a last-to-first victory in the $65,000 Count Fleet on New Year's Day at Aqueduct.

Haynesfield Scores in Count Fleet

Haynesfield picked up his third consecutive victory Jan. 3, warding off a stiff mid-stretch challenge from Mike From Queens and drawing off to a 3 1/2-length victory in the 34th running of the $69.700 Count Fleet Stakes for 3-year-olds at a mile and 70 yards on Aqueduct's fast inner dirt track.

Undefeated Giant Moon Set for Gotham

Trainer Richard Schosberg, who has been preparing his New York-bred Giant Moon for the March 8 Gotham Stakes (gr. III) at Aqueduct, is anxious to see if the colt will continue to show an affinity for long distances as he looks toward the May 3 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).

Giant Moon Shines in Count Fleet

Giant Moon kept his undefeated record intact by winning the $81,525 Count Fleet Stakes by a neck over Spanky Fischbein at Aqueduct Jan. 5.

Giant Moon Shines Over Count Fleet

The undefeated Giant Moon will try to keep his winning streak alive when he makes his open stakes debut in the $75,000 Count Fleet at Aqueduct Jan. 5.

Pink Viper Strikes in Count Fleet Upset

Paraneck Stable's Pink Viper held off 6-5 favorite Johannesburg Star to win the 32nd running of the $70,865 Count Fleet for 3-year-olds at a mile and 70 yards on the Aqueduct inner dirt track on a record 70-degree day Saturday.

Preakness Often Easiest Stop on Triple Crown Trail

A peek into history reveals some of the strongest Triple Crown contenders have found their easiest jewel in the Preakness Stakes (gr. I).

Scrappy T Holds Off 'New Yorker in Count Fleet

Dismissed at odds of 11-1, Marshall E. Dowell's Scrappy T, shook away from an early pace duel and then held off favored Naughty New Yorker by a length to win Saturday's $83,175 Count Fleet for 3-year-olds at a mile and seventy yards.

Killenaule Tops Rescheduled Count Fleet

The Count Fleet Stakes, originally scheduled to be run last Saturday but postponed when racing was cancelled at Aqueduct, has drawn a field of nine 3-year-olds.

Is There Another Smarty Jones in Count Fleet?

Smarty Jones electrifying run at the 2004 Triple Crown started modestly enough with a victory in the Count Fleet at Aqueduct. Some horsemen took note. The $75,000 race for 3-year-olds at a mile and 70 yards Saturday attracted an overflow field of 13.

On This Day...

April 17, 1943
Count Fleet

Frisky Shake You Down Wins Count Fleet

Fast early, Robert L. Cole Jr.'s 7-5 favorite Shake You Down opened up a big lead in the stretch and held off a willing Where's the Ring in the closing yards to win the $150,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (gr. III) by a head at Oaklawn Park Thursday.

Tenacious Beau's Town Wins Count Fleet

Heavy favorite Beau's Town and jockey Jamie Theriot grabbed the lead on the turn and held off Honor Me and Rodney Trader through the stretch for a half-length victory in Thursday's $150,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (gr. III) at Oaklawn Park.

Triple Crown Heroes: Count Fleet

In the sixth of 11 installments on previous Triple Crown winners, here is an excerpt from The Blood-Horse of Issue of June 12, 1943 on Count Fleet winning the Belmont Stakes to complete the Triple Crown.

Great Expectations

By Ray Paulick -- Racing fans from the baby boomer generation were spoiled by the remarkable careers of the three most recent Triple Crown winners, Secretariat (1973), Seattle Slew (1977), and Affirmed (1978). Maybe that's why the knockers are lining up to take their shots at War Emblem as he bids for the Triple Crown.

Bonapaw Digs in to Capture Count Fleet

Bonapaw went to the lead and never looked back Thursday, capturing the grade III Count Fleet Sprint H. in convincing fashion by 4 3/4 lengths at Oaklawn.

Longest Shot on Board Wins Count Fleet

Just Allen, the longest price on the board at 59-1, drew away to a two-length victory in Aqueduct's Saturday feature race, the Count Fleet Stakes. Second wagering choice Personable Pete, a New York-bred half-brother to Gazelle Handicap (gr. I) winner Critical Eye, finished second.