Already the most accomplished horse entered in the May 18 Gallorette Handicap at Pimlico Race Course, Irish classic winner Samitar appears to be entering top form after flashing a strong late kick in previous effort.
6 days ago
The Maryland Horse Industry Board presented Touch of Class awards to trainer H. Graham Motion, jockey Mario Pino, and author Patrick Smithwick Jr. at a May 14 ceremony in Silver Spring.
6 days ago
Graham Motion, trainer of Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) winner Animal Kingdom, has decided that the Royal Ascot meeting's opening race over a mile will be the Kentucky-bred's target in his career finale June 18.
Friday, May 10, 2013
Trainer Graham Motion reported via Twitter that Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) winner Animal Kingdom completed a four-furlong gallop in :52 May 9 at Lambourn.
Thursday, May 09, 2013
John Velazquez will ride his Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Animal Kingdom when the recent Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) hero makes his career finale at the mid-June Royal Ascot meeting in England.
Friday, April 26, 2013
On the day he broke the Keeneland record for most wins in a single spring meet, jockey Joel Rosario guided 18-1 shot Strathnaver to victory in the $150,000 Bewitch Stakes (gr. IIIT) April 25 on the turf.
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Animal Kingdom and Java's War, who is being pointed to this year's Louisville classic, are among the U.S.-trained horses being considered for Royal Ascot.
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
There was a time when "the other Dan" was Wise Dan, who went on to become Horse of the Year. On April 21 fans will witness the return of the original, Successful Dan, in the $150,000 Ben Ali Stakes at Keeneland.
Thursday, April 18, 2013Howe Great, the 2012 Palm Beach Stakes (gr. IIIT) victor whose last win came in the July 21 Jersey Derby at Monmouth, took a strong Keeneland allowance race April 6 in which 2011 Woodbine Mile winner Turallure ran sixth.
Saturday, April 06, 2013
Team Valor International has hired Rick Mettee to train all of its North American-based racehorses, replacing Graham Motion, the partnership group announced April 5.
Friday, April 05, 2013
John Oxley's grade I winner Spring in the Air will face a full field of 13 rivals in the $500,000 Central Bank Ashland (gr. I) for 3-year-old fillies going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Keeneland April 6.
Wednesday, April 03, 2013
Joel Rosario returned to Gulfstream Park to ride the April 3 program, but the 28-year-old jockey hadn't really come back to earth after riding Animal Kingdom to victory in the Dubai World Cup March 30 at Meydan.
Wednesday, April 03, 2013
John Oxley's Star Contender is highweighted at 123 pounds in a field of 11 for the $100,000 Transylvania Stakes (gr. IIIT), but SamSon Farms' Up With the Birds has beaten him and will likely be favored at Keeneland April 5.
Tuesday, April 02, 2013
Comments from the connections of Animal Kingdom, after his victory in the Dubai World Cup.
The drought for America in the Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) came to an end March 30 when champion Animal Kingdom burst clear in the homestretch for a spectacular score at Meydan Racecourse.
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Trainer Graham Motion discusses Animal Kingdom, who runs in the Dubai World Cup on March 30.
Juddmonte Farms' homebred Starformer seeks her second straight stakes score at Gulfstream Park March 30, going up against nine others in the $150,000 Orchid Stakes (gr. IIIT) on the undercard of the Florida Derby (gr. I).
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
If America is going to finally crack the Tapeta blockade that has prevented it from having a single horse finish in the money in the three Dubai World Cups run at Meydan, this will be the year.
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Animal Kingdom, winner of the 2011 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), drew post 12 of 13 when the field was drawn March 27 for the $10 million Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) at Meydan March 30.
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Team Valor International's Crop Report, third in his United States debut in February, found the Polytrack at Turfway Park to his liking with a last-to-first victory in the $75,000 Team Valor Rushaway Stakes March 23.
Saturday, March 23, 2013
Champions Animal Kingdom, Royal Delta, and Trinniberg lead an eight-horse American delegation set to fly to the United Arab Emirates, leaving Florida at approximately 9 p.m. on March 19.
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Team Valor International's Went the Day Well, winner of the 2012 Vinery Racing Spiral Stakes (gr. III) and fourth in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), will undergo a tie-back operation in Versailles, Ky.
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Trainer Graham Motion confirmed March 13 that Joel Rosario will have the return mount aboard Animal Kingdom in the $10 million Dubai World Cup (UAE-I).
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Went the Day Well was a surprise non-factor at 1-2 odds at Aqueduct Racetrack March 3 when he apparently struggled to get his air in his first start since the 2012 Preakness Stakes (gr. I).
Sunday, March 03, 2013
Kitten's Joy daughter and Augustin Stable homebred prevails in rough-run grade III at Gulfstream Park.
Saturday, March 02, 2013
Went the Day Well, winner of the 2012 Spiral Stakes (gr. III) and fourth after traffic trouble in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), returns March 3 at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Undefeated Violence tops a Feb. 23 Fountain of Youth field that includes He's Had Enough, Cerro, Orb, and Falling Sky among 11 starters.
Monday, February 18, 2013
Undefeated Violence breezed five furlongs in 1:00.36 at Palm Meadows Training Center in his final preparation for a scheduled start in the $400,000 Besilu Stables Fountain of Youth (gr. II) Feb. 23 at Gulfstream Park
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Point of Entry took down 2011 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Animal Kingdom with a strong turn of foot Feb. 9 in the $300,000 Kitten's Joy Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap (gr. IT) at Gulfstream Park.
Saturday, February 09, 2013
Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom will take on top turf contender Point of Entry in the $300,000 Kitten's Joy Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap (gr. IT) on Feb. 9.
Wednesday, February 06, 2013
After rewriting the Olympic record books for swimming, Michael Phelps and his longtime coach may have the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) in their sights with a 3-year-old colt named Cerro.
Saturday, January 26, 2013The champion male 3-year-old of 2011 is targeting the Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap (gr. IT) on Feb. 9.
Monday, January 14, 2013
Animal Kingdom, winner of the 2011 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), turned in his final work of 2012 Dec. 28 at Palm Meadows Training Center under the supervision of trainer Graham Motion.
Friday, December 28, 2012
Onepointhreekarats made her stakes debut successfully for trainer Graham Motion when she drew off mid-stretch to win the $104,250 Thirty Eight Go Go Stakes Dec. 22 comfortably at Laurel Park.
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Animal Kingdom, winner of the 2011 Kentucky Derby (gr. I), is on track to make his 2013 debut in the Feb. 9 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap after an easy half-mile breeze at Palm Meadows Dec. 11.
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Toby's Corner, winner of the 2011 Resorts World New York Casino Wood Memorial Stakes (gr.I), will launch his stallion career in Japan at Hidaka Stallion Station.
Sunday, December 02, 2012
Hollinger will find an opportune spot in the $100,000 Tropical Turf Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Calder Race Course & Casino, in spite of hauling high weight on the Florida oval's closing day.
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Animal Kingdom, winner of the 2011 Kentucky Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), will prep for the 2013 Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) with a start in the $300,000 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap (gr. IT) Feb. 9.
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Morton Fink's homebred Wise Dan drew post 2 and was installed as the 9-5 favorite Oct. 29 for the $2 milion Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) at Santa Anita Park Nov. 2, but must run the race of a lifetime to get the job done.
Monday, October 29, 2012
Trainer Graham Motion talks about Breeders' Cup Mile contender Animal Kingdom's final breeze at Keeneland.
On a cool morning Oct. 26 at Keeneland, 2011 Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom turned in a workmanlike breeze preparing for his upcoming start in the Nov. 3 Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) at Santa Anita Park.
Friday, October 26, 2012
Wise Dan and Animal Kingdom will enter the Nov. 3 Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) at Santa Anita Park off vastly different preparation schedules.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Animal Kingdom, winner of the 2011 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), returned to Keeneland Oct. 22 from his home base at Fair Hill, Md., to continue preparations for a Nov. 3 run at the Breeders' Cup Mile.
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
For the second time in eight days, Animal Kingdom breezed six furlongs on the turf in preparation for the Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) Nov. 3 at Santa Anita Park.
Friday, October 19, 2012
An overflow of 24 sophomore fillies passed the entry box for the $125,000 Pin Oak Valley View (gr. IIIT), forcing Keeneland officials to split the Oct. 19 running of the race into divisions for the second time in history.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
A light, steady rain fell as the Cooper Horse Transport van pulled up to the barn at Bruce Jackson's Fair Hill Equine Therapy Center.
Trainer Graham Motion discusses the decision to run Animal Kingdom in Breeders' Cup Mile. Graham also expands on the training plan and recovery of Animal Kingdom.
Flaxman Holdings' Aruna seeks back-to-back wins in the $500,000 Juddmonte Spinster (gr. I) at Keeneland Oct. 6, facing 12 rivals as she attempts to become just the fourth horse to accomplish the feat.
Thursday, October 04, 2012
Animal Kingdom is expected to return in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) at Santa Anita Park Nov. 3, Team Valor International announced Oct. 2.
Tuesday, October 02, 2012
With five of its nine entrants bred outside the United States, including slight favorites Julie's Love and Dealbata, the $150,000 Noble Damsel Stakes (gr. IIIT) Sept. 15 at Belmont Park will have a strong European flavor.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012