Desert Party and Dunkirk were sale ring superstars and now they've both got a shot May 2 at winning what many consider to be the world's most famous horse race, the Kentucky Derby Presented By Yum! Brands (gr. I).
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Michael Tabor, Susan Magnier, Derrick Smith's $3.7 million sale yearling Dunkirk drilled five furlongs in 1:01 the morning of April 25 at Palm Meadows training center. The son of Unbridled's Song will ship to Louisville, Ky., on April 28 for next Saturday's Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Dunkirk, who made headlines before he ever started as a $3.7 million Keeneland September yearling buy, figures to be making many more on the track following his impressive 4 3/4-length win in an important 3-year-old allowance race at Gulfstream Park Feb. 19.
Thursday, February 19, 2009Dunkirk, a $3.7 million yearling purchase owned by Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith, made that price look like a potential bargain when he overcame traffic problems and blew his opposition away in his career debut.
Saturday, January 24, 2009Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien won the final group I of the European season when Fame and Glory edged stablemate Drumbeat in France's Criterium de Saint-Cloud for 2-year-olds Nov. 12.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Favored Bushranger earned his second group I win for trainer David Wachman when he overtook Sayif approaching the final furlong en route to a 2 1/4-length triumph in the Shadwell Middle Park Stakes for 2-year-olds at Newmarket Oct. 3.
Friday, October 03, 2008Favored Bushranger drove to the lead with 150 yards to go and defeated Gallagher by a cozy half-length in the Prix Morny (Fr-I) for 2-year-olds at Deauville Aug. 24.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith, owners of recently retired 2007 Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Rags to Riches, have agreed to donate their royalties from the sales of the Breyer model horse in the image of their champion filly to the NTRA Charities - Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
It was announced March 24 that 2007 Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner and 2007 champion 3-year-old filly Rags to Riches has been retired from racing and will head to Ashford Stud where she will be bred to leading sire Giant's Causeway.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Odds-on favorite The Leopard got the firm going he wanted, and responded with an overpowering win in the $111,800 Generous Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Hollywood Park Nov. 24. With the victory, winning trainer Todd Pletcher broke the single-season record for purse earnings he set last year.
Friday, November 23, 2007
Dubai International Racing Carnival prospects dominated Tuesday's second session of the Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale in Newmarket.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Kinsman Farm homebred Majestic Warrior will miss the Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) because of a minor left foot injury, trainer Bill Mott said Oct. 21.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Trainer Todd Pletcher announced Sept. 16 that Rags to Riches suffered a hairline fracture to her right front pastern during Saturday's Gazelle Stakes (gr. I), but that the injury is not career ending.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
All eyes in the racing world will be on Rags to Riches when she runs in the $250,000 Gazelle Stakes (gr. I) at Belmont Park Sept. 15.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
A striking son of Unbridled's Song brought a final bid of $3.7 million from Coolmore and associates to establish a high price for the second session and the first two days of the Keeneland September sale.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007Trainer Patrick Biancone has been telling people that his undefeated 3-year-old filly La Traviata is something special. After the way she demolished a field of talented sophomores despite stumbling badly at the start of the $114,700 Victory Ride (gr. III) at steamy Saratoga Aug. 25, many will take notice.
Saturday, August 25, 2007Pacesetting Pavarotti, a $2.5 million yearling purchase, refused to give way under extreme pressure from Time Squared, fighting back in deep stretch for a head victory in the $100,000 Round Table for 3-year-olds at Arlington Park Saturday.
Saturday, July 14, 2007By Ray Paulick - What fans got this year were three incredible horse races that ended with three very accomplished and deserving winners, punctuated by the history-making performance of Rags to Riches, the first filly winner of the Belmont since Tanya in 1905.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007Call it fate. Call it kismet. Whatever title you prefer, Rags to Riches seemed destined to give trainer Todd Pletcher and jockey John Velazquez their first classic winner.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007Rags to Riches becomes the first filly to win the Belmont (gr. I) since 1905, beating Curlin in a thrilling stretch duel.
Saturday, June 09, 2007A late surge by Astronomer Royal topped an Irish sweep of Sunday's Poule d'Essai des Poulins (French Two Thousand Guineas) (Fr-I) at Longchamp.
Sunday, May 13, 2007As the eighth largest crowd in the 133-year history of the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) watched post-time favorite Rags to Riches romp to a 4 1/4-length victory over a full field of 14 fillies, Churchill Downs set new records for on-track, off-track and all-sources wagering on a competitive 11-race Oaks Day card, as well as the Kentucky Oaks race itself.
Friday, May 04, 2007Rags to Riches put on a spectacular performance to win the Kentucky Oaks Friday, her third straight grade I win.
Friday, May 04, 2007Ravel is off the Triple Crown Trail after an injury to his left front cannon bone was detected March 21.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007Sent along by jockey Garrett Gomez near the quarter pole while racing third on the outside, the 2-5 choice Rags to Riches quickly assumed command of Sunday's $300,000 Santa Anita Oaks (gr. I), striding out to an impressive win.
Sunday, March 11, 2007The Thoroughbred industry's buying titans -- Coolmore Stud and Sheikh Mohammed's Darley operation -- didn't clash Tuesday during Fasig-Tipton's select sale of 2-year-olds in training, and the lack of a major bidding war was reflected in the final statistics for the South Florida auction.
Tuesday, March 06, 2007The $1.9 million filly Rags to Riches staged a dramatic come-from-behind rally to win the $250,000 Las Virgenes (gr. I) for 3-year-old fillies at Santa Anita Saturday.
Saturday, February 10, 2007Ravel made an auspicious stakes debut in Saturday's $101,500Sham Stakes (gr. III) for 3-year-olds, rallying on the outside of favored Liquidity to register a one-length victory in the 1 1/8-mile event at Santa Anita.
Saturday, February 03, 2007Demi O'Byrne -- acting for Coolmore partners John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith -- set a record price for the Tattersalls December yearling sale in Newmarket, England Monday when paying 700,000 guineas ($1.39 million) for a Dalakhani -- Solo de Lune filly.
Monday, November 20, 2006Pacesetting Ball Four held off a determined late charge from the veteran Perfect Drift to win the $350,000 Kentucky Cup Classic (gr. II) on the Turfway Park all-weather track Saturday.
Saturday, September 30, 2006The Green Monkey, the Forestry colt who was sold for a record $16 million at a 2-year-old in training sale Feb. 28, arrived at trainer Todd Pletcher's barn from Belmont Park Saturday at about 8:30 a.m.
Saturday, July 29, 2006George Washington won the Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-I) on Saturday by 2 1/2 lengths from Sir Percy and Olympian Odyssey.
Saturday, May 06, 2006The Green Monkey, the most expensive sales purchase in racing history, arrived at trainer Todd Pletcher's Churchill Downs' barn Friday.
Saturday, April 08, 2006Bandini quickly took the lead and never looked back to win the $100,000 Skip Away Handicap (gr. III) comfortably as the 2-5 favorite at Gulfstream Park Saturday.
Saturday, April 01, 2006The $16-million record-priced Forestry colt that was bought by Demi O'Byrne for John Magnier and partners' Coolmore Stud at the Fasig-Tipton Calder 2-year-old sale has been named The Green Monkey.
Sunday, March 12, 2006Sense of Style, a grade I winner as a 2-year-old last year, has been retired from racing following a last-place finish in the Aug. 6 Test Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga.
Monday, August 08, 2005A colt by by one of the world's hottest sires, Giant's Causeway, sold for $650,000 around lunchtime Tuesday at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July select yearling auction.
Tuesday, July 19, 2005Favored Adieu dueled with Folklore from the break and drew away for a 1 ΒΌ-length victory Sunday afternoon in the $109,500 Astoria for 2-year-old fillies at 5 1/2 furlongs at Belmont Park.
Sunday, July 03, 2005George Washington led a one-two finish for trainer Aidan O'Brien in Sunday's Railway Stakes (Ire-II) for 2-year-olds at The Curragh.
Sunday, June 26, 2005Trainer Patrick Biancone confirmed Sunday morning at Churchill Downs that Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor's Spanish Chestnut is bound for the May 7 Kentucky Derby (gr. I). The French-born trainer said jockey Joe Bravo would ride the speedy son of Horse Chestnut.
Sunday, May 01, 2005Trainer Todd Pletcher was all smiles at Churchill Downs Sunday morning after watching two of his three Kentucky Derby (gr. I) contenders record their final works for the May 7 Run for the Roses.
Sunday, May 01, 2005Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith's Bandini, preparing for his engagement in Saturday's $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass (gr. I), worked five furlongs at Keeneland Monday morning, in the company of stablemate Confederate.
Monday, April 11, 2005Kieren Fallon, who cut short his recent riding stint in Florida, could be appearing more in American races following his decision to sign up as retained jockey to owners John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith on Feb. 25.
Saturday, February 26, 2005Undefeated Maddalena disposed of her stablemate Portsea on the turn and romped to victory in her stakes debut for trainer Todd Pletcher in the $100,000 Old Hat (gr. III) for 3-year-old fillies at Gulfstream Park Saturday.
Saturday, February 05, 2005Spanish Chestnut took a big step forward Saturday at Santa Anita Park by winning the $150,000 San Rafael Stakes (gr. II) for 3-year-olds -- his graded stakes debut -- in determined style.
Saturday, January 15, 2005Graded stakes winners Lion Heart and Chapel Royal, both of whom were retired from racing within the past two months, will enter stud at Ashford Stud near Versailles, Ky.
Tuesday, October 19, 2004Chapel Royal, a grade II winner who ran third in last year's Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I), has been retired from racing because of a minor injury, but no decision has been reached as to where he will enter stud.
Tuesday, September 28, 2004Multiple graded stakes winner Chapel Royal, a leading 2-year-old last year, has been retired due to injury to Coolmore's Ashford Stud in Versailles, Ky.
Saturday, September 25, 2004Despite her slow break, odds-on favorite Sense of Style, guided by Edgar Prado, remained unbeaten with a facile one-length victory in the $300,000 Matron (gr. I) for 2-year-old fillies at Belmont Park Sunday.
Sunday, September 19, 2004Sense of Style, a convincing winner of the seven-furlong Spinaway Stakes (gr. II) at Saratoga last month, figures to be a very short price against five rivals in Sunday's Matron Stakes (gr. I) at a mile at Belmont Park.
Friday, September 17, 2004