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Animal Kingdom, Toby's Corner Work Half-Mile

Graham Motion trainees Animal Kingdom and Toby's Corner worked in company Jan. 8 at Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland.

Animal Kingdom Has First Work at Fair Hill

Animal Kingdom, winner of the 2011 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), had his first workout Dec. 24 since being sidelined in late spring.

Motion Accepts Award from Turf Publicists

Trainer Graham Motion and others were recognized Dec. 6 during a luncheon at the University of Arizona Symposium on Racing & Gaming.

Eagle Poise Wins Marathon Valedictory At Wire

The 1 3/4-mile Valedictory Stakes (Can-III) came down to just a head when distance-loving Eagle Poise outfought Harrods Creek in deep stretch to capture the $150,388 event on Woodbine's closing day Dec. 4.

Remsen: Strong Pedigrees, Light Experience

Several for the Nov. 26 Remsen Stakes (gr. II) at nine furlongs have strong black-type pedigrees. The 2-year-olds may need it--most are pretty light on experience.

Motion Trio Duels Never Retreat in Matriarch

Trainer Graham Motion, fresh off a grade I win in the Hollywood Turf Cup, guns for another at Hollywood Park when he sends out three entrants in the $250,000 Matriarch Stakes on the turf Nov. 25.

Sanagas Crushes Hollywood Turf Cup

Favored Sanagas joined the ranks of grade I winners with a dominating triumph for trainer Graham Motion in the $250,000 Hollywood Turf Cup at Hollywood Park Nov. 19.

Turf Publicists to Honor Trainer Motion

Graham Motion, who saddled Animal Kingdom to win the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), will be honored with the Big Sport of Turfdom Award from the Turf Publicists of America.

Juvenile Turf Entries Must Tune Up on Dirt

Though several Juvenile Turf horses lost a chance to gallop on the grass due to rain Nov. 3, the connections say they all remain on track for Saturday's race.

Right Choice Made For Aruna

Flaxman Holdings' homebred Aruna to go in Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT). The 4-year-old has impressed her connections from the start and has strong black-type pedigree to back up the decision.

World Traveler Hoofit Tries BC Turf Sprint

Hoofit, a New Zealand-bred world traveler, enters the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (gr. IIT) off a victory in the Oct. 7 Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes (gr. III).

Post 2 for F&M Turf Favorite Stacelita

Martin Schwartz' Stacelita, a two-time grade I winner this year, was made the 2-1 favorite for the Nov. 4 Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT). The 1 3/8-mile race is worth $2 million.

Pluck Facing Challenge in Commonwealth Turf

Pluck will make his first appearance at Churchill Downs since winning last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (gr. IIT) when he faces a full field of 3-year-olds in the $100,000 Commonwealth Turf Stakes (gr. IIIT) Nov. 3.

Caracortado Posts Bullet Work at Santa Anita

Several horses posted their final workouts the weekend of Oct. 28-30 in preparation for the Nov. 5 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (gr. II).

Motion Leaning Toward Turf Race for Aruna

After watching Flaxman Holdings' homebred Aruna work at Churchill Downs Oct. 29, trainer Graham Motion said he was leaning toward running the 4-year-old filly in the Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT).

Solid Six-Furlong Work for State of Play

State of Play is one of two Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (gr. IIT) entries owned by Team Valor International, which won this race last year with Pluck.

Pluck Back in Action at Churchill Nov. 3

Pluck will resume his racing career Nov. 3 in the Commonwealth Stakes (gr. III) at Churchill Downs, the site of his victory in the 2010 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (gr. IIT).

State of Play Works at Keeneland

Team Valor International's State of Play worked five furlongs in 1:01 3/5 on Oct. 21 at Keeneland in preparation for a start in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (gr. IT).

Sanagas Takes Off-the-Turf Sycamore

Andreas Jacobs' German-bred Sanagas took over at the top of the lane and held off Tahoe Lake to win the $100,000 Sycamore Stakes Oct. 20 at rainy Keeneland.

Team Valor Seeks Another BC Juvenile Turf Win

Team Valor International will fire two shots in a bid to win the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (gr. IT) for the second straight year. State of Play and Lucky Chappy will represent the stable.

BC Still a Possibility for Winter Memories

Jimmy Toner left the door open for a possible Breeders' Cup appearance by Winter Memories, if she runs well in Saturday's Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (gr. IT) and comes out of it in good order.

QE II Challenge Cup: Catch Me If You Can

It will be speed vs. closing power as Summer Soiree and Winter Memories clash.

Aruna Has Options After Easy Spinster Triumph

Favored Aruna, racing on Polytrack for the first time, emerged from the pack approaching mid-stretch and quickly took control to win the $500,000 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (gr. I) at Keeneland Oct. 9.

NZ-Bred Hoofit Edges Aikenite to Win Phoenix

New Zealand-bred Hoofit held off Aikenite by a desperate nose to score an 11-1 upset in the $175,000 Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix (gr. III) Oct. 7 on opening day at Keeneland.

Better Talk Now in Critical Condition

Five-time grade I winner Better Talk Now is in critical condition after developing a gastrointestinal problem.

Unbridled Humor Wins Noble Damsel Laugher

Odds-on choice Unbridled Humor opened up a big lead in the stretch of the $100,000 Noble Damsel Stakes (gr. IIIT) and held on comfortably to register her fifth win in six lifetime starts Sept. 18 on the Belmont Park turf.

Aviate, Unbridled Humor Lead Noble Damsel

Unbridled Humor will attempt to start a new winning streak when she competes in the $100,000 Noble Damsel (gr. IIIT) Sept. 18 at Belmont Park.

Motion Wins First MHIB award

Trainer Graham Motion received the Maryland Horse Industry Board's first "Touch of Class" Award, it was announced Sept. 6.

Animal Kingdom Cleared for Exercise

Team Valor International's winner of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) cleared to resume exercise 60 days after undergoing season-ending surgery on his left leg.

State of Play Stays On in With Anticipation

Handled with confidence by Ramon Dominguez, front-running State of Play repelled the onrushing Optimizer to win the $151,000 With Anticipation Stakes (gr. IIT) on the Saratoga turf Sept. 1.

Daveron Takes Ballston Spa for Third Straight

Under a patient ride form Eddie Castro, Daveron swept past the leaders in the stretch to capture the $200,000 Ballston Spa Stakes (gr. IIT) for her third consecutive victory Aug. 27 on the Saratoga turf.

Summer Soiree Survives Del Mar Oaks Assault

Summer Soiree went west in pursuit of her first grade I victory and the favorite had just enough left in the final jumps to nip fast-closing Star Billing and Nereid in the the $250,000 Del Mar Oaks Aug. 20.

Ten Diana Entrants Seek Grade I Win

Aviate and Aruna, who ran one-two at Churchill Downs earlier this year, will square off again in a competitive edition of the $500,000 Diana (gr. IT) July 30 at Saratoga.

Dynamic Holiday Seeks Dynamic VA Oaks Run

Dynamic Holiday has been on a roll in her last four starts, and she is looking to carry over her win streak into her first start at Colonial Downs in the July 16 Virginia Oaks (gr. IIIT).

Animal Kingdom Has Successful Surgery

Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Animal Kingdom had successful surgery to repair a hairline slab fracture, Team Valor International president Barry Irwin said in a statement July 7.

Animal Kingdom Out for the Year

After examining a second set of X-rays, it was determined that the leg injury suffered by Animal Kingdom was more serious than initially thought and he will not race again this season.

Summer Soiree Steams Home in Boiling Springs

Making her turf debut, Summer Soiree disposed of pacesetter Salary Drive on the turn for home and romped to victory by 8 1/2 lengths in the $155,000 Boiling Springs Stakes (gr. III) at Monmouth Park June 25.

Belmont Winner Back at Monmouth

A morning after his stunning upset in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) June 11, Ruler On Ice was back at his Monmouth Park barn in perfect shape, according to his trainer Kelly John Breen.

Belmont Stakes Interview - Graham Motion

Lenny Shulman talks with Graham Motion, trainer of Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom.

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Aviate Figures to Soar in Just a Game

Juddmonte Farms' homebred filly is 5-2 morning-line choice for June 11 Just a Game Stakes (gr. IT) at Belmont Park. The one-mile race for older fillies and mares is worth $400,000.

Breaking the Animal: Bradshaw's View

When Randy Bradshaw broke and prepared Animal Kingdom for racing, the Team Valor International homebred colt wasn't the most precocious pupil, but his potential to be a talented runner was apparent.

Animal Kingdom Zips Over Belmont Surface

Animal Kingdom zipped a half-mile in :47.76 on the Belmont Park surface June 6 as the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner showed his readiness for the June 11 Belmont Stakes (gr. I).

Animal Kingdom Gallops Again at Fair Hill

Team Valor International's Animal Kingdom galloped 1 1/2 miles on the dirt at Fair Hill Training Center June 3 in continued preparations for the June 11 Belmont Stakes (gr. I).

Derby, Preakness Winners Still Going Strong

Although most Triple Crown trainers admit their concern about having to run three grueling races in five weeks, the trainers of Animal Kingdom and Shackleford actually can't wait for the Belmont Stakes (gr. I).

Animal Kingdom Confirmed for Belmont Stakes

Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner and Preakness (gr. I) runner-up Animal Kingdom will run in the $1 million Belmont Stakes (gr. I) on Saturday, June 11, trainer Graham Motion said May 27.

Shackleford 'Better Than 50-50' for Belmont

Preakness Stakes (gr. I) winner Shackleford returned to Churchill Downs in Kentucky May 22, and trainer Dale Romans said there's a "better than 50-50 chance" the colt will race in the June 11 Belmont Stakes (gr. I).

Motion Confident on Eve of Preakness

With just one day remaining, trainer Graham Motion is confident that Team Valor International's Animal Kingdom is ready for the $1 million Preakness Stakes (gr. I).

Shared Account Makes '11 Debut in Gallorette

Shared Account, winner of last year's Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT), is the 4-5 morning-line favorite for the May 21 Gallorette Handicap (gr. IIIT) on the Preakness undercard.

Preakness Runners Arrive In Baltimore

A slew of participants for the May 21 Preakness Stakes arrived at Pimlico May 18 to contest the second jewel of racing's Triple Crown.

Dance City Skips 5Fs at CD; 'Kingdom Gallops

Preakness Stakes (gr. I) contender Dance City, working in company, turned in a bullet five-furlong workout at Churchill Downs May 15. At Fair Hill in Maryland, Animal Kingdom galloped over the Tapeta surface.