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It's hard to imagine this year's Whitney Handicap (gr. I) could top the 2005 running when the speedy Commentator held off a surging future Horse of the Year in Saint Liam.
Thursday, August 03, 2006A double dose of "Road to the Breeders' Cup World Championships – Powered by Dodge" is on tap this weekend with live racing Saturday and Sunday on ESPN from 5-6 p.m. (EST).
Wednesday, August 02, 2006Melnyk Racing Stables' Flower Alley showed his class in the stretch, powering his way through a cloudburst to a 3 1/4-length victory in Saturday's $150,000 Salvator Mile Stakes (gr. III) at sloppy Monmouth Park.
Saturday, June 24, 2006Flower Alley headlines Saturday's $150,000 Salvator Mile (gr. III), the first graded stakes of Monmouth Park's 2006 season. It is the seasonal debut for the 4-year-old colt who won the 2005 Travers Stakes (gr. I) and finished second to 2005 Horse of the Year Saint Liam in the Breeders' Cup Classic - Powered by Dodge (gr. I).
Thursday, June 22, 2006Eugene Melnyk, whose racing stable is one of three finalists for an Eclipse Award as outstanding owner of 2005, has resigned his position on the New York Racing Association's board of trustees, according to a release from NYRA.
Thursday, January 05, 2006Not to take anything away from the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships, or Saint Liam's grade I victories in the winter, summer, and fall, or Giacomo's stunning upset in the Kentucky Derby (gr. I), or Lost in the Fog's remarkable cross-country odyssey, but 2005 will be remembered for the heroic deeds of Afleet Alex.
Wednesday, November 23, 2005Hurricane Run, winner of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe – Lucien Barriere (Fr-I), continues to head the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) rankings of the top racehorses of 2005 after a very extensive month of International racing that included the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships in America, Melbourne Cup in Australia, and major events in Europe and Canada.
Tuesday, November 15, 2005William K. and Suzanne Warren's Saint Liam, sent off at 2-1 odds, won a stretch duel with Flower Alley to win Saturday's $4,680,000 Breeders' Cup Classic - Powered by Dodge (gr. I).
Sunday, October 30, 2005Keeneland's November breeding stock sale will offer a wide variety of horses related to runners in the 22nd Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships Saturday, including four of the entrants themselves.
Monday, October 24, 2005Keeneland's November breeding stock sale will offer a wide variety of horses related to runners in the 22nd Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships Saturday, including four of the entrants themselves.
Monday, October 24, 2005It was a chaotic Monday morning on the Belmont work tab, with 21 Breeders' Cup horses having their final tune-ups for the World Thoroughbred Championships. And over at Aqueduct, Rick Dutrow worked his two Breeders' Cup horses, Saint Liam and Silver Train.
Monday, October 24, 2005Trainer Todd Pletcher, who broke through with his first two Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships victories last year with Ashado and Speightstown, has eight horses pre-entered this year.
Wednesday, October 19, 2005It is still too early to make final selections for the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships. Most of the important works are finished, and the majority of the mounts have been assigned. So, basically there is nothing much to do but wait for the shippers to arrive and concoct lists that may or not prove helpful.
Wednesday, October 19, 2005Trainer Todd Pletcher worked a bunch of his potential Breeders' Cup starters, including champion Ashado, at Belmont Park Monday.
Monday, October 17, 2005It was a weekend that helped shape the Breeders' Cup Classic – Powered by Dodge (gr. I), Emirates Airline Distaff (gr. I), and John Deere Turf (gr. IT). Of course, no big weekend at Belmont Park this fall would be complete without a controversy surrounding the use of pacesetters.
Wednesday, October 05, 2005West coast invader Borrego roared to the lead leaving the second turn and drew off to an impressive victory in the $1-million Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I) that highlighted Saturday's Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Preview Day at Belmont Park.
Saturday, October 01, 2005With Saint Liam pretty much established as the early favorite for the Breeders' Cup Classic – Powered by Dodge (gr. I), a competitive field of eight will line up for Saturday's $1-million Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I) to determine who will pose the most serious challenge to the Woodward (gr. I) and Stephen Foster (gr. I) winner.
Thursday, September 29, 2005With Saint Liam established as the early favorite for the Breeders' Cup Classic - Powered by Dodge (gr. I), a competitive field of eight will line up for Saturday's $1-million Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I) to determine who will pose the most serious challenge to the Woodward (gr. I) and Stephen Foster (gr. I) winner.
Thursday, September 29, 2005Close inbreeding is a tricky proposition, able to concentrate bad traits of the inbred ancestor as well as good ones. For this reason, it is often avoided by breeders.
Wednesday, September 28, 2005Attendance dipped slightly and overall handle was also off for the 36-day season at Saratoga Race Course that ended Sept. 5.
Monday, September 05, 2005Sure, you can look at the 136th running of the Travers Stakes (gr. I) as just another day at the office for the high-powered firm of Pletcher and Velazquez, Inc. But to many of the people close to the victorious Flower Alley, this one was personal.
Wednesday, August 31, 2005With the majority of the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships races beginning to sort themselves out, it looks as if this year's events for the most part are going to be wide-open races, with no standout. And that means Horse of the Year also is still very much up for grabs.
Tuesday, August 30, 2005Still enjoying the thrill of his Travers (gr. I) victory with Flower Alley, trainer Todd Pletcher has mapped out the colt's next two starts: The $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I) on Oct. 1 and the $4 million Breeders' Cup Classic, Powered by Dodge (gr. I) Oct. 29, both at Belmont Park.
Sunday, August 28, 2005Flower Alley overtook a sharp Bellamy Road approaching the eighth pole and edged away to win Saturday's $1 million Travers (gr. I) and give the dominating duo of trainer Todd Pletcher and jockey John Velazquez a first victory in the Midsummer Derby.
Saturday, August 27, 2005Despite the absence of this year's two classic winners, Giacomo and Afleet Alex, Saturday's $1-million Travers Stakes (gr. I) drew a talented and competitive field of seven today, headed by Haskell Invitational (gr. I) winner Roman Ruler and Jim Dandy (gr. II) winner Flower Alley.
Wednesday, August 24, 2005Flower Alley and Reverberate, the respective first- and second-place finishers in the Jim Dandy Stakes (gr. II), worked at Saratoga Monday in preparation for Saturday's Travers Stakes (gr. I).
Monday, August 22, 2005Bob Baffert switched signals again Monday morning, working probable Travers Stakes (gr. I) favorite Roman Ruler under sunny skies at Saratoga.
Monday, August 22, 2005Despite overnight rains that left Saratoga's main track muddy for the second consecutive morning, some key workouts were recorded Sunday for two grade I stakes for 3-year-olds contested at the spa next Saturday, the 1 1/4-mile Travers and the seven-furlong King's Bishop.
Sunday, August 21, 2005Haskell Invitational (gr. I) winner Roman Ruler and Flower Alley, winner of the Jim Dandy (gr. II) at Saratoga earlier this meet, head a list of 16 nominations for the $1 million Travers (gr. I) Aug. 27.
Wednesday, August 17, 2005Fog City Stable's Roman Ruler, winner of the Haskell Invitational Handicap (gr. I), breezed a half-mile in a bullet :45 4/5 at Saratoga Tuesday in preparation for the $1-million Travers Stakes (gr. I) Aug. 27.
Tuesday, August 16, 2005Starlight Stable's Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) champion Ashado and Melnyk Racing Stables' Flower Alley worked together Sunday morning for trainer Todd Pletcher. The duo breezed five furlongs in 1:02 1/5 over the Saratoga main track.
Sunday, August 14, 2005B. Wayne Hughes' Don't Get Mad, winner of the Derby Trial and Northern Dancer Breeders' Cup Stakes (gr. III), tuned up for the $1-million Travers Stakes (gr. I) with a mile work Friday in 1:41 at Santa Anita.
Friday, August 12, 2005The top three finishers in Saturday's Jim Dandy (gr. II) at Saratoga are all expected to return in a month's time for the track's signature race, the $1 million Travers (gr. I).
Sunday, July 31, 2005The only graded stakes winner in Saturday's $500,000 Jim Dandy (gr. II), budding Flower Alley outclassed his 3-year-old foes at Saratoga Race Course to establish himself as one of the favorites for the upcoming Travers (gr. I).
Saturday, July 30, 2005Trainer Nick Zito will send two of his 2005 Triple Crown contenders into action in Saturday's $500,000 Jim Dandy Stakes (gr. II) at Saratoga Race Course. Belmont Stakes (gr. I) runner-up Andromeda's Hero and barnmate Noble Causeway lead the field of six entered.
Thursday, July 28, 2005Roman Ruler, disappointing at best in his 3-year-old season so far, could be ready to salvage the year. Under slight urging from jockey Jerry Bailey, the talented son of Fusaichi Pegasus won the $150,000 Dwyer Stakes (gr. II) at Belmont Park Monday by a half-length over the hard-trying Flower Alley.
Monday, July 04, 2005Roman Ruler, one of the West Coast's top juveniles last season, is the likely favorite for Monday's $150,000 Dwyer (gr. II) for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles, one of two stakes on Belmont Park's special Independence Day racing program.
Saturday, July 02, 2005Fog City Stable's Roman Ruler, whom trainer Bob Baffert had been pointing for the Jersey Shore Breeders' Cup on July 2, worked six furlongs in a brilliant 1:10 1/5 Monday, and may now switch plans and run in the 1 1/16-mile Dwyer Stakes (gr. II) July 4.
Monday, June 20, 2005Trainer Todd Pletcher reported Wednesday that Bandini, the 19th-place finisher in Saturday's Kentucky Derby (gr. I), sustained an ankle chip and will undergo surgery.
Wednesday, May 11, 2005All horses foaled in the Northern Hemisphere have the universal birth date of Jan. 1 as their official age of racing, but not all of this year's Kentucky Derby (gr. I) contenders are actually 3-year-olds as of yet. Who's the oldest? Who's the youngest? Whose birth date is actually Derby day, May 7?
Tuesday, May 03, 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, 2005With the inclement weather that had set in over Louisville, Ky. finally out of the area, seven contenders for Saturday's Kentucky Derby (gr. I) breezed at Churchill Downs Sunday morning.
Sunday, May 01, 2005Pletcher says Bandini doesn't need a rabbit to do well in Run for the Roses.
Saturday, April 30, 2005When horses from the Todd Pletcher barn go to the track at Churchill Downs for morning workouts, one exercise rider attracts more attention than the others. Observers know his face but often ask themselves, "Is that Angel?" The answer is yes, Hall of Fame jockey Angel Cordero Jr. is exercising horses for Pletcher,
Friday, April 29, 2005Afleet Alex gave Oaklawn Park its second major contender for the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) in as many years with his smashing win Saturday in the Arkansas Derby (gr. II).
Sunday, April 17, 2005Favored Afleet Alex bounced back from the worst race of his career, a last-place finish in the Rebel (gr. III) a month ago, to win the $1 million Arkansas Derby (gr. II) as much the best Saturday before 71,010 at Oaklawn Park.
Saturday, April 16, 2005A field of 10 was entered for Saturday's $1 million Arkansas Derby (gr. II), and although two of the "Big Three" stabled at Oaklawn this winter will run, it is not quite what the Hot Springs track had envisioned.
Wednesday, April 13, 2005Rick Porter, owner of Rockport Harbor, said that although the colt is doing much better after suffering his third setback of the year, he is 50-50 at best to make the April 16 Arkansas Derby (gr. II), and that the April 23 Lexington Stakes (gr. II) at Keeneland appears to be the more likely spot at this time."
Wednesday, April 06, 2005The Twin Spires are out there somewhere. We should see them once the fog lifts. The crystal clear path that once was the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) trail is no more. No matter how we analyze, theorize, or just plain romanticize, we all meet this time every year at the same crossroads, with no idea in which direction we're heading.
Thursday, March 31, 2005One race after watching his Proud Accolade flop as the heavy favorite in the Rushaway, trainer Todd Pletcher's inexperienced Flower Alley surprised his rivals in the $500,000 Lane's End Stakes (gr. II) for 3-year-olds Saturday at muddy Turfway Park.
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