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The Filching of The Ferns

An excellent card takes the meet into waning days.

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Paddy O'Prado Gets Grade I in Secretariat

Donegal Racing's Paddy O'Prado earned his first grade I win in the $400,000 Secretariat Stakes, taking over in upper stretch and bounding home to victory as the 1-2 favorite Aug. 21 at Arlington Park.

Dr. Zic Upsets Informed Decision in Madison

Dr. Zic pulled a 15-1 shocker in the $300,000 Vinery Madison (gr. I) April 8 at Keeneland, going wire-to-wire while upsetting defending champion Informed Decision, who finished third at odds of 1-2.

Summer Bird to run in the Japan Cup Dirt

Summer Bird, the leading contender for champion 3-year-old male, will run in the 1 1/8-mile Japan Cup Dirt (Jpn-I) at Hanshin.

Pimlico Jockey Challenge Set for Friday

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.

Ruling Favors Jockeys Over Derby Logos

A circuit court judge in Kentucky has ruled in favor of three jockeys who were fined and suspended after wearing ads during the 2005 Kentucky Derby.

Mauralakana Looking for Flower Bowl Win

Mauralakana, the leading filly and mare turf runner in the country, looks to add to her already dazzling resume in the $600,000 Flower Bowl Invitational (gr. IT) at Belmont Park Sept. 27.

Dutrow Pleased with Big Brown's Work

A fast time wasn't what trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. was looking for with Big Brown when the colt breezed on the grass at Aqueduct Sept. 9.

Silver Tree Wins Thrilling Oceanport

Peter Vegso's 8-year-old homebred Silver Tree added another chapter to his remarkable career Aug. 3 at Monmouth Park when he split horses in deep stretch and prevailed by a neck over Giant Wrecker in the $150,000 Oceanport Stakes (gr. IIIT).

Dutrow, Desormeaux Meet, Mend Fences

Trainer Rick Dutrow's initial displeasure over Kent Desormeaux's ride aboard Triple Crown hopeful Big Brown in the June 7 Belmont Stakes (gr.I) had abated quite a bit the morning of June 11, after he met with the Hall of Fame jockey. Dutrow said Desormeaux, who eased Big Brown at the top of the stretch in the Belmont, would have the mount when the colt races again.

Da' Tara Springs Upset; Big Brown Eased

The world awaited a delivery from Big Brown, but in a shocker it was 38-1 longshot Da' Tara who won the Belmont Stakes (gr. I), taking the "Test of the Champion" in wire-to-wire fashion June 7 as the horse seeking to win the Triple Crown was eased past the wire.

NYRA Nixes Hooters Deal

Kent Desormeaux will not wear the Hooters patch on his pants when he rides Big Brown postward in the June 7 Belmont Stakes (gr. I). The New York Racing Association refused to approve the endorsement deal June 6, citing a "conflict of interest" between Belmont Park sponsors, which include UPS and NetJets.

Fans Await Triple Crown Possibility

History making performance. Defining moment. Greatness personified in the Thoroughbred. Will it happen today?

Vacare Makes Season Debut in Just a Game

Jon and Sarah Kelly's Vacare has aced nearly every test thrown at her thus far, from her most recent win in the First Lady Stakes (gr. IIT) last October to a score in the 2006 Queen Elizabeth Challenge Cup (gr. IT). But trainer Christophe Clement is asking for a career-best effort from the 5-year-old daughter of Lear Fan when he brings her back for her first start of the season in the $400,000 Just a Game Stakes (gr. IT) at Belmont Park June 7.

Desormeaux Picks Up Hooters Sponsorship

When Kent Desormeaux heads to the starting gate aboard Big Brown in the June 7 Belmont Stakes (gr. I), viewers won't see the lone UPS logo that was prominently placed on the jockey's pants in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) and Preakness Stakes (gr. I). Instead, Desormeaux will bear not only the UPS symbol, but also Hooters' orange logo, as the popular restaurant chain represtented by an owl peering through the "OO" in its name becomes his second official sponsor.

Post One the One to Have in Belmont

Big Brown won the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) from the outside post position. If he is to become racing's 12th Triple Crown winner, he will have to win the June 7 Belmont Stakes (gr. I) from the inside post position.

Big Brown Breezes Preakness Morning

Heavy Preakness (gr. I) favorite Big Brown worked two furlongs at Pimlico early this morning as he prepares to meet 11 opponents in the second jewel of racing's Triple Crown.

Anything Can Happen, Desormeaux Says

If you think because of the dominating performance in the May 3 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) that jockey Kent Desormeaux is taking anything for granted, think again.

Big Brown Delivers; Filly Breaks Down

United Parcel Service has never made a delivery like Big Brown delivered May 3 at Churchill Downs, romping home by nearly five lengths to remain unbeaten in four starts with a scintillating win in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).

Adriano Impresses in Lane's End S.

Adriano gave trainer Graham Motion plenty to think about with an impressive win in the $500,000 Lane's End Stakes (gr. II) at Turfway Park March 22.

Hunting, Gottcha Gold Pursue Skip Away

Stuart Janney's homebred Hunting has not raced since a third-place finish behind Evening Attire in the Dec. 8 Queens County Handicap (gr. III), but the 5-year-old son of Coronado's Quest could return to winning form in the $150,000 Skip Away Handicap (gr. III) at Gulfstream Park. He'll tackle Gottcha Gold, Dr. Pleasure, Better Than Bonds, and others in the March 15 event.

Rose Sues KHRA Over Advertising

An attorney for jockey Jeremy Rose is petitioning a judge in Kentucky to strike down an amended regulation, enacted prior to the 2005 Kentucky Derby (gr. I), that control whether riders can wear advertising on their pants. Rose and Kent Desormeaux were both penalized by the state's racing authority for wearing advertising during the 2005 Derby.

New York Jockeys Call for Solutions

A group of New York jockeys is asking all parties in the ongoing negotiations for the New York racing franchise to come up with creative solutions to the problems facing the industry.

Steve's Double Takes Perryville

Oxbow Racing's Steve's Double made a double of his own, a two-race winning streak that also brought his first black-type win when he came from off the pace to win the $200,000 Perryville (gr. III) at Keeneland Oct. 13.

A Day At The Spa: Sept. 3, The Last Race

Ten races remain at Saratoga, and soon it will be time for the final start of the season.

Saratoga Riders Jockey For Position

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.

A Day At The Spa: Aug. 22, Newsday

Wednesday morning, the cameramen are in full swing at Saratoga. In the paddock, they cluster around for the Travers draw, tripods balanced like long-legged storks. In the winners' circle, they form an orderly line for Senator Bruno's conference on the fight against horse slaughter. Down near the rail, they lift cameras to shoulders and zoom in for local track reports.

Sharp Susan Goes Gate-to-Wire in Lake Placid

Bill Mott and Kent Desormeaux have both been red-hot at Saratoga this summer. In the 24th running of the $150,000 Lake Placid (gr. II) Aug. 17, the trainer-jockey tandem teamed up once again to defeat a group of talented 3-year-old fillies on the turf.

Ex-Claimer Jade's Revenge Posts Ben Ali Upset

Jade's Revenge, who could have been claimed for $40,000 six months ago, won Keeneland's $150,000 Ben Ali Stakes (gr. III) Thursday in a four-horse photo finish.

Desormeaux Off Mounts After Car Accident

Jockey Kent Desormeaux took off his Sunday mounts at Saratoga Race Course after he was involved in an automobile accident in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. According to Desormeaux's agent, Mike Sellito, the jockey was the passenger in a vehicle that collided with another car sometime late Saturday evening.

Thursday Morning Line at the Belmont

I've been waiting since the Derby to write "The Morning Line" from the Morning Line, the backstretch kitchen at Belmont Park.

Desormeaux Moving Tack East After All

Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux is planning to move his tack to New York beginning on March 28 and ride on that circuit until late November, his agent, Jim Pegram, said Sunday.

Bailey's Former Agent to Represent Gomez

Agent Ron Anderson, who formerly represented Jerry Bailey, and West Coast jockey Garrett Gomez announced their decision to work together Saturday after Gomez parted ways with Jim Pegram.

Steve Haskin's Preakness Analysis: Galaxy Shot

When the field crossed the finish line in the Kentucky Derby (gr. I), it already was clear who my Preakness (gr. I) selection would be. In fact, it was at the quarter pole, as Greeley's Galaxy closed to within four lengths of the leaders, that I started thinking, 'There's the Preakness winner.'

Frequent Flyer Desormeaux Starts Hot in Japan

Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux will ride occasionally at the current Hollywood Park meet but is doing so well in Japan that he will spend much of the spring and summer there.

Fans Seeing a New Attitude from Desormeaux

Inducted into the Hall of Fame last August at the young age of 34, jockey Kent Desormeaux has a new agent and is displaying a better attitude while regaining his status among Southern California's best riders.

Guild VP Supports Proposal for California Jockeys' Insurance

A vice president for the national Jockeys' Guild said Tuesday that he supports efforts by riders in California to form a separate organization to manage its health insurance coverage.

Amorama Wins Del Mar Oaks at 19-1

Amorama, who had finished behind favorite Ticker Tape in all six of her North American starts and was 19-1, nipped that one on the line to win the Del Mar Oaks (gr. IT) for 3-year-old fillies Saturday afternoon.

Musical Chimes 2-1 Choice for Beverly D.

Gainsborough Farm's Musical Chimes, a resounding winner of the John C. Mabee Handicap (gr. IT) on Del Mar's opening weekend, has been installed the 2-1 morning line choice for Saturday's Beverly D. Stakes (gr. IT) at Arlington Park.

Class of 2004 Inducted into Hall of Fame

One year after her late husband, Hubert "Sonny" Hine, was inducted into racing's Hall of Fame at the National Museum of Racing, Carolyn Hine was again onstage during the annual induction ceremony Aug. 9 at Fasig-Tipton's Humphrey S. Finney pavilion in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Racing Hall of Fame Ceremony Aug. 9

Three humans and three horses will be honored when The National Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame inducts its 2004 class Aug. 9 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Jimmy Winkfield, Bowl of Flowers New Hall of Fame Members

The historic review committee of the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame has selected Jimmy Winkfield and Bowl of Flowers for induction, it was announced today.

McGaughey, Desormeaux, Skip Away, Flawlessly Elected to Hall of Fame

Trainer Claude "Shug" McGaughey and jockey Kent Desormeaux, along with equine stars Skip Away and Flawlessly were announced Tuesday as inductees for the class of 2004 for the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame.

2004 Hall of Fame Inductee: Kent Desormeaux

Jockey Kent Desormeaux was already in elite company among riders prior to his selection for induction into the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame Tuesday.

Desormeaux Gets Derby Mount on Imperialism

Multiple grade II winner Imperialism will get a new jockey for the Kentucky Derby (gr. I), owner Steve Taub said Monday. The gray son of Langfuhr, who had been ridden by Victor Espinoza in all of his three starts since being purchased privately by Taub in early January, will now be ridden by Hall of Fame candidate Kent Desormeaux.

Ticker Tape Dominates in Providencia

British import Ticker Tape dominated a field of 12 fillies in Sunday's $113,700 Providencia Stakes at Santa Anita Park for the richest win and the biggest margin of victory in her 10-race career.

McGaughey, Zito, Skip Away Among Hall of Fame Finalists

Trainers Shug McGaughey and Nick Zito and 1998 Horse of the Year Skip Away are among the candidates for election to the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility, Museum president John T. von Stade announced Monday, April 4. More than 140 members of the racing media will vote on the Hall of Fame, and the one winner in each category will be announced via teleconference on May 25.

Lucky Owners Pulls a Surprise in Hong Kong Mile

Lucky Owners, owned by Mr. And Mrs. Leung Kai Fai, pulled off a mild 5-1 upset in the Sunday afternoon's Hong Kong Mile (HK-I) at Sha Tin Racecourse. Bowman's Crossing was second, a half-length off the winner, and was 1 1/4-lengths ahead of race favorite Lohengrin, who finished third.

Shadwell Turf Mile Has Touch of the Blues

Touch of the Blues, the venerable 6-year-old horse trained by Neil Drysdale, headlines Saturday's Shadwell Turf Mile (gr. IT) at Keeneland. Saturday marks day two of the meets Fallstars Weekend with a host of races with World Thoroughbred Championships implications.

Green Ministers Wild Cat Gets the Win in Golden State Mile

Ministers Wild Cat became the third stakes winner produced by champion Hollywood Wildcat and stamped himself as a possible Kentucky Derby threat with a 1 1/4-length win in Sunday's $66,950 Golden State Mile Stakes at Golden Gate Fields.