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After the Wire - 9/23/2012

Evan recaps the Cotillion, Gallant Bloom, Pennsylvania Derby, and more! Evan also gives you his "e-ticket" for a few Breeders' Cup races.

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Musical Romance Aimed for Gallant Bloom

Emma's Encore and Turbulent Descent are among the others targeting the Sept. 22 race at Belmont Park.

Hangin' With Haskin:The Blooming of Champions

Steve remembers the fillies of '69.

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Indian Blessing Holds On To Win Gallant Bloom

Two-time champion Indian Blessing notched her first victory of the season and earned her way back to the Breeders' Cup World Championships by outdueling Sara Louise in a thrilling finish to win the $150,000 Gallant Bloom Handicap (gr. II) by a head Sept. 26 at Belmont Park. It was the Bob Baffert trainee's second consecutive win in the 6 1/2-furlong contest.

Indian Blessing Tries Older Horses

Hal and Patti Earnhardt's homebred Indian Blessing, who was scratched from the 1 1/16-mile Ruffian Handicap (gr. I) two weeks ago, returns to the racetrack as a sprinter and faces older horses for the first time. Last year's champion juvenile filly will try for her fifth graded stakes victory of the season Sept. 20 when she takes on a short but talented field in the $150,000 Gallant Bloom Handicap (gr. II) at Belmont Park.

Sugar Swirl May Sweeten First Lady

But grade III sprint at Gulfstream Park Jan. 13 has several top contenders.

Win McCool Tries Tougher in Gallant Bloom

After breaking through with a strong victory in the Floral Park Handicap (gr. III), the Robert Barbara-trained Win McCool returns to Belmont Park Sunday in the $150,000 Gallant Bloom Handicap (gr. II) for fillies and mares.

Smokey Glacken Goes For Third Straight

Smokey Glacken, winner of her last two starts, is the filly to beat in the $150,000 Gallant Bloom Handicap (gr. II) at Belmont Park Sunday. The 6 ½-furlong race drew a field of six older fillies and mares.

House Party Hopes to Flower in Gallant Bloom

House Party, winner of the Grade 1 Prioress here at Belmont in July, was one of six fillies and mares entered in the 10th running of the Gallant Bloom.

Distaff Update (10/1): Final Preps on Tap

How the Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) shakes out will largely be determined this week when the country's top fillies and mares enter their final preps for the Oct. 26 championships.

King Cugat Draws Post 5 for Turf Classic

Centennial Farm's King Cugat will go after his first grade I victory Saturday after drawing post 5 for the $750,000 Turf Classic Invitational at Belmont Park. The Turf Classic is part of "Champions on Turf" Day at Belmont that also includes the running of the Flower Bowl Invitational (gr. IT) for fillies and mares at 1 1/4 miles and the 6 1/2-furlong Gallant Bloom Handicap (gr. II), also for fillies and mares.

New Tactics, Same Result for Dream Supreme

Usually a stalker, Dream Supreme went to the early lead and held off the late charge of Finder's Fee to win the $107,300 Gallant Bloom Handicap (gr. III) by two lengths Saturday at Belmont Park. The Bill Mott-trained 3-year-old daughter of Dixieland Band completed the 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:15.86 over a fast track and may make her next start in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I).