Peter Vegso's homebred Go Between, winner of the 2008 Pacific Classic (gr. I), died Jan. 12 following a workout at the Payson Park Training Center as the result of a heart problem.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Most of the leading contenders for the $1 million Sunshine Millions Classic to be run at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 24 are already stabled in South Florida for the winter season, but a few will be flying in for the 1 1/8 miles test, including West Point Thoroughbreds' 4-year-old Macho Again from Fair Grounds in New Orleans.
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
Although the Breeders' Cup dirt races will have some element of the unknown due to the Pro-Ride surface at Santa Anita, the unchartered waters of the $5-million Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) will be the deepest of all.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
HRTV's weekly series analyzing each division of the Breeders' Cup. This 2008 debut episode includes a discussion of the 2-day format and the Pro-ride surface, an analysis of the Pacific Classic, a look ahead to the Spinaway and the Hopeful and much more.
Friday, August 29, 2008
A day after winning the $1-million Travers Stakes Presented by Shadwell Farm (gr. I) with Colonel John, jockey Garrett Gomez switched coasts to guide favored Go Between to a head victory over Well Armed in the $1-million Pacific Classic (gr. I) at Del Mar.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Go Between, the 3-1 morning line favorite, takes on defending champion Student Council in the $1 million Pacific Classic (gr. I) at Del Mar Aug. 24. The rich 1 1/4-mile Polytrack event attracted a closely matched group of 11 older horses.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
A dozen older horses remain solidly committed to competing in Del Mar's signature race, the $1-million Pacific Classic (gr. I) on Aug. 24.
Friday, August 15, 2008
Tyler Baze was supposed to be aboard three-time Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I) winner Lava Man for this year's 69th running. But when the veteran stakes hero was withdrawn prior to entries being taken, the jockey wound up on lightly regarded Mast Track. The move couldn't have worked out better for Baze when his 10-1 outsider employed front-running tactics to win in a Cushion Track record time June 28.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
While the focus of the 2008 Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I) is rightfully on the powerhouse grade I victors Heatseeker and Tiago, there are seven graded winners in the field of 10 for the 1 1/4-mile classic.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Lava Man, who tied Native Diver's record of three straight Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I) victories last year, won't be going for a fourth one on June 28.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Ignored at the betting windows, Melnyk Racing Stables' homebred Sterwins rallied from last, shot through the stretch, and pulled away for a commanding 3 1/4-length victory in the $150,000 Ben Ali Stakes (gr. III) April 20 on the Keeneland Polytrack.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Seven runners have entered the $150,000 Ben Ali Stakes (gr. III) at Keeneland, but on paper the race comes down to a battle between three starters. Peter Vegso's Go Between, Turtle Bird Stable's Sir Whimsey, and Knob Hill Stable's Leonnatus Anteas head up the 1 1/8-mile event over the main track April 20.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Heatseeker gave Northern California kingpin Jerry Hollendorfer a win with the conditioner's first starter in the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I) in a mild surprise March 1.
Saturday, March 01, 2008
Fourteen horses, potentially matching the largest field in the Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I) in a quarter century, are headed for the $1 million event March 1 in a race that redefines "wide open."
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter
More than 20 years ago in Ken McLean's book "Tesio - Master of Matings" he predicted that the combination of Nijinsky II and the similarly bred Storm Bird would one day be a potent one. At the time, Storm Cat -- Storm Bird's most important stallion son -- had yet to cover a mare. McLean also predicted these sires would be most effective when they had receded to the third and fourth generations of a pedigree. What has come to pass is a cross that has produced 120 stakes winners, of which 60 are graded stakes winners and 20 are grade I winners.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Go Between's late-running victory in the $1 million Sunshine Millions Classic at Santa Anita gave trainer Bill Mott his third victory in the eight-race series for California and Florida breds Jan. 26.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Grade II winner Diamond Stripes is the lukewarm favorite among a dozen entered for the $1 million Sunshine Millions Classic at Santa Anita Jan. 26.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Coming off a fifth-place finish in the NetJets Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) and carrying significantly less weight than his 126-pound load in that race, Eugene Melnyk's Host looks for his first victory since May 26 when he competes in the $100,000 Tropical Turf Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Calder Race Course Dec. 1.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007Peter Vegso homebred Go Between, took the lead at the top of the stretch and then held off betting favorite Stream Cat by a neck to win the $150,000 Fayette Stakes (gr. III) in record time in the final race of the Keeneland Fall Meet Oct. 27.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Brass Hat and Go Between, both coming off of stakes victories, highlight a field of nine in the $150,000 Fayette Stakes (gr. III), the final race of Keenelands fall meet Oct. 27.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Flying Zee Stable's odds-on choice Cosmonaut made it back-to-back victories in the $200,000 Arlington Handicap (gr. IIIT) when once again wiring his rivals on Saturday, reporting home by the same 2 1/4-length margin as a year ago.
Saturday, July 21, 2007Defending champion Cosmonaut, who races in the colors of Flying Zee Stable, has accepted top impost of 121 pounds and will head to post July 21 as the 8-5 morning-line favorite in the Arlington Handicap (gr. IIIT) for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/4 miles over turf.
Thursday, July 19, 2007Jambalaya angled to the outside in the stretch and then won a mad dash to the wire by a neck over favored Honey Ryder and Einstein, attaining grade I glory for his Canadian connections in the $300,000 Gulfstream Park Breeders' Cup Turf at 1 3/8 miles Saturday in south Florida.
Saturday, February 24, 2007Miesque's Approval and Wait A While, both Eclipse Award winners in 2006, head a strong roster of 110 turf stars nominated to the $500,000-added Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (gr. IT) on Kentucky Derby Day at Churchill Downs.
Friday, February 23, 2007Lava Man, who was on the verge of Horse of the Year honors last year, kicked off his 2007 campaign with a sparkling two-length win in the $500,000 Sunshine Millions San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino Turf Saturday at Santa Anita.
Saturday, January 27, 2007Lava Man, the most prosperous claim in racing history, turns his attention back to grass racing on Saturday when the defending Sunshine Millions Classic champion lends his star power to the $500,000 Sunshine Millions Turf event at Santa Anita.
Sunday, January 21, 2007Mill House's Brilliant has been made the 5-2 favorite in Saturday's $250,000 Hawthorne Derby (gr. IIIT), which drew a field of eight 3-year-old grass runners, including Peter Vegso's Go Between, also a multiple graded stakes winner.
Thursday, October 12, 2006Lael Stables' Showing Up, winner of the $1 million Colonial Turf Cup in his last start on June 24, has been installed as the 7-5 morning line favorite in Saturday's $400,000 Secretariat Stakes (gr. IT) at Arlington Park.
Thursday, August 10, 2006Peter Vegso's homebred Go Between won the 9th running of the $1 million Virginia Derby (gr. IIT) setting a track record of 1:59 3/5 and becoming only the second horse in the history of the 1 1/4-mile turf race to stop the clock in under two minutes.
Saturday, July 15, 2006Barclay Tagg saved Showing Up's first start on the turf for Saturday, and the trainer's patience was well rewarded in the $1 million Colonial Turf Cup for 3-year-olds at Colonial Downs.
Saturday, June 24, 2006Former basketball standout Bobby Hurley hopes his 3-year-old colt Stream Cat can do what many of his Duke squads didn't: win in Virginia.
Wednesday, June 21, 2006A full field of 14 horses is scheduled to start in the $1 million Colonial Turf Cup, the first leg of the $5 million Jacob Investments "Grand Slam of Grass." With a total of 17 entries, three horses are listed as also-eligible for the turf race for 3-year olds, should there be any defections.
Monday, June 19, 2006Colonial Downs' early closing of their twin million dollar 3-year old turf races -- the Colonial Turf Cup and the Virginia Derby (gr. IIT) --have drawn 107 nominations, including Barbaro, Bluegrass Cat and Steppenwolfer, top three finishers in the Kentucky Derby Presneted by Yum! Brands (gr. I).
Thursday, May 18, 2006Peter Vego's Florida homebred Go Between is the slight favorite among nine 3-year-olds entered for Friday's $100,000 Crown Royal American Turf (gr. IIIT) on the Churchill Downs turf.
Thursday, May 04, 2006Million-dollar winner Silver Tree, out of the barn of Bill Mott, will join top Florida-bred runners in Tampa Bay Downs' Florida Cup Day card on Saturday, a series of six $75,000 stakes on turf and dirt.
Friday, April 07, 2006Peter Vegso's homebred Go Between, guided through a hole along the rail by Edgar Prado, outlasted a determined Up an Octave to win a neck decision in the $100,000 Palm Beach Handicap (gr. IIIT) at 1 1/8 miles for 3-year-olds on the Gulfstream Park turf Sunday.
Sunday, March 12, 2006Mr. Silver and Up an Octave, after trading decisions in two previous clashes, face off again in Sunday's $100,000 Palm Beach Stakes (gr. III) for 3-year-olds on the Gulfstream Park turf. Eight colts are entered.
Friday, March 10, 2006