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It was 34 degrees in New York Thursday morning. The three New York-based horses for the Breeders' Cup Classic – Powered by Dodge (gr. I) – Funny Cide, Volponi, and Evening Attire -- were a bit warmer as they tried to acclimate to the unusually hot weather in Southern California.
Thursday, October 23, 2003The stage is set for an exciting start to the Breeders' Cup Classic – Powered by Dodge (gr. I), as Medaglia d'Oro and Congaree, drew side by side, in posts eight and nine, respectively.
Wednesday, October 22, 2003Bob Baffert wishes the Breeders' Cup Classic – Powered by Dodge (gr. I) was tomorrow. Make that today. The $4-million dollar race can't come too soon for Baffert, who says Congaree is doing super after suffering a quarter crack last week.
Tuesday, October 21, 2003If the 2003 Horse of the Year is going to come out of the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships, as it has in nine of the last 12 years, he or she will have to go out and earn it.
Thursday, October 16, 2003Congaree went to the track Wednesday morning for some light exercise, equipped with a temporary patch for his quarter crack. Trainer Bob Baffert said tomorrow will be a key day in determining the colt's chances of making the Breeders' Cup Classic – Powered by Dodge (gr. I).
Wednesday, October 15, 2003Owner Dan Borislow said Wednesday that Russell Baze, the perennial leading rider in Northern California, will ride Toccet in the John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT).
Wednesday, October 15, 2003Bobby Frankel said Tuesday that Ruffian Handicap (gr. I) winner Wild Spirit will not run in the Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I), and will be given time off to point for next year's campaign. Frankel worked Peace Rules, Aldebaran, and Midas Eyes at Hollywood Park.
Tuesday, October 14, 2003Volponi, last year's upset winner of the Breeders' Cup Classic – Powered by Dodge (gr. I), worked a half-mile in :47 3/5 over the Belmont training track Tuesday morning, much to the satisfaction of jockey Jose Santos.
Tuesday, October 14, 2003Tests performed Tueday on Azeri revealed a "very high white blood count," said trainer Laura de Seroux, who is still hoping to be able to make the Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I).
Tuesday, September 30, 2003Kentucky Derby (gr. I) and Preakness (gr. I) winner Funny Cide showed he's ready for whatever trainer Barclay Tagg has in store for him, breezing five furlongs in :59 2/5 at Belmont Tuesday.
Tuesday, September 30, 2003Volponi, who used the Meadowlands Cup (gr. III) as a springboard to victory in last year's Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I), breezed a half mile in :49 2/5 at Belmont for Friday night's running of the 1 1/8-mile event.
Tuesday, September 30, 2003With Empire Maker withdrawn from Saturday's Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I), several trainers who had no plans to run are now reconsidering and will see how the field shapes up before deciding whether to enter on Thursday.
Wednesday, September 24, 2003Kentucky Derby (gr. I) and Preakness (gr.I) winner Funny Cide had his first work over the turf Wednesday morning, breezing 5 furlongs in 1:03, and it was not what trainer Barclay Tagg was looking for. Tagg said the gelding's plans still are up in the air.
Wednesday, September 24, 2003Juddmonte Farms' Empire Maker will not run in Saturday's Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I) due to a foot bruise suffered Wednesday morning. Trainer Bobby Frankel said the Belmont (gr. I) winner will be shipped back to California.
Wednesday, September 24, 2003Laura de Seroux, trainer of Azeri, said Tuesday that in the wake of the defections of Candy Ride and Perfect Drift, she will keep her options open regarding the Breeders' Cup Classic – Powered by Dodge (gr. I).
Tuesday, September 23, 2003Although he has a first call to ride Godolphin's Moon Ballad in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I) Sept. 27, Jerry Bailey will be aboard Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Empire Maker if the colt turns in a another good work this weekend.
Wednesday, September 17, 2003Dan Borislow, owner of Toccet, said the son of Awesome Again is scheduled to fly to Santa Anita tomorrow, where he will prep for the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) in the Goodwood Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II) on Oct. 4.
Tuesday, September 16, 2003It's taken more than 10 months, but Hold That Tiger, who finished a fast-closing third in the Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I), finally has returned to the U.S. to run in Saturday's $500,000 Woodward Stakes (gr. I).
Tuesday, September 02, 2003It was a big weekend for the Breeders' Cup Classic-Powered by Dodge, as Ten Most Wanted proved in the Travers that the pre-Kentucky Derby hype was justified. But it's going to be a long time before we see a performance as classy and flawless as the one we saw from Candy Ride in the Pacific Classic.
Tuesday, August 26, 2003It's been "two years in the making," as jockey Richard Migliore said, but "The Iron Deputy Show" finally premiered on June 14, opening to rave reviews. The theater was the $250,000 Brooklyn Handicap (gr. II), and a star-studded cast added to the festivities.
Tuesday, June 17, 2003Blood-Horse staffers Steve Haskin and Skip Dickstein are among the person who will be honored at this year's Alibi Breakfast, The Maryland Jockey Club announced today.
Monday, April 21, 2003With four big Kentucky Derby preps this weekend, as well as the Swale Stakes, one would think that finally some sense of order will be restored to the Derby trail. But maybe, instead of seeing the light, we will plunge deeper into the darkness.
Thursday, March 13, 2003While there were some impressive performances this weekend, it is not likely any of the winners of the major stakes want to go a mile and a quarter. Therefore, we will precede the review of those races with a few comments regarding the overall picture of the 3-year-old crop, as well as Hold That Tiger and the other Ballydoyle horses.
Sunday, March 02, 2003With the decision to possibly pass the Louisiana Derby with Badge of Silver and wait for the Illinois Derby for fear of peaking too soon, this is a good opportunity to demonstrate why the Kentucky Derby trail is such a difficult road to travel.
Saturday, February 22, 2003Padua Stables' Vindication, champion 2-year-old of 2002 and early favorite for the Kentucky Derby, has been taken off the Derby trail due to an injury to his left front suspensory.
Thursday, February 06, 2003Champion Vindication continues at the top of the list of leading Kentucky Derby contenders compiled by Steve Haskin, senior correspondent for The Blood-Horse.
Friday, January 31, 2003In the first weekly installment looking at leading contenders for the Kentucky Derby, Vindication tops the list compiled by Steve Haskin, senior correspondent for The Blood-Horse.
Thursday, January 23, 2003Already? Is it really time to start smelling roses again, even though the scent of pine and eggnog still permeates our living room? Is it premature to start thinking Kentucky Derby while there are Christmas tree needles still embedded in our carpet?
Thursday, January 23, 2003By Steve Haskin
The dark bay colt lay sprawled out in his stall following his brilliant victory in the previous day's Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I). A few minutes later, Vindication was up on his feet, greeting his visitor by sticking out his tongue, hoping the visitor would understand the request.
Four contenders for Saturday's Breeders' Cup Classic completed their final preparations Monday, with another hopeful for the race turning in an unofficial work at Arlington Park.
Monday, October 21, 2002Welcome to the Rubic's Cube of horse races, better known as the 2002 Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I). Go ahead; just try to figure this one out.
Thursday, October 17, 2002With Pool 1 of the Breeders' Cup Future Bet in the books, fans will have some idea what to expect when they wager on Pool 2, which will be conducted from Aug. 9-11. The races in Pool 2 are the John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf, Breeders' Cup Mile, and Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.
Tuesday, August 06, 2002Things were back to normal for the Edward P. "Ned" Evans stable on June 22. After pulling off the rare feat (for him) of winning two consecutive stakes with colts, Evans and trainer Mark Hennig returned to their filly factory and sent out the queen bee, Raging Fever, for another victory in a filly and mare stakes.
Saturday, June 22, 2002According to Victor Espinoza, the Belmont Stakes is going to be just another race, and that he is not going to be doing anything differently.
Friday, June 07, 2002Before a huge crowd of onlookers on a windy, wet Friday morning, War Emblem showed one of the reasons why trainer Bob Baffert is so enamored with the colt.
Friday, June 07, 2002It was no longer about buying the Kentucky Derby (gr. I), or Saudi Arabian politics, or lawsuits and bonuses. The 127th Preakness Stakes (gr. I) was about a white-haired man and his free-spirited black horse, and the history they will be attempting to make in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) on June 8.
Tuesday, May 21, 2002A war zone. That's what posts 8 through 12 are going to be in Saturday's Preakness Stakes, as a five-horse stampede is going to come charging out of the gate and down the Pimlico stretch for the first time. And it's all the result of Bob Baffert and Company choosing post 8, resulting in the connections of the other speed horses to all select outside posts.
Friday, May 17, 2002Steve Haskin, an award-winning turf writer and senior correspondent for The Blood-Horse, participated in an online chat concerning this year's Kentucky Derby.
Thursday, May 02, 2002Pedigree vs. Performance. That is the battle within the battle that may very well decide this year's Kentucky Derby winner. The more we see of Came Home, the more we think that maybe performance can conquer pedigree on Derby Day.
Tuesday, April 23, 2002Editor's Note: Steve Haskin is an award-winning turf writer and senior correspondent for The Blood-Horse. During his 29 years with the Daily Racing Form, Haskin became known for his insightful coverage of the Triple Crown races. Haskin won the Red Smith Award for Kentucky Derby writing in 1997, 1999, and 2000.and received the David Woods Award for best Preakness story in 1997. In 1999, he co-authored "Baffert: Dirt Road to the Derby" with trainer Bob Baffert and wrote the books, "Dr. Fager" and "John Henry" for Eclipse Press'"Thoroughbred Legends" series. In his latest book, "Racing's Holy Grail - The Epic Quest for the Kentucky Derby," Haskin takes readers behind the scenes and into the trenches as he examines what it takes to win the world's most famous horse race. He plumbs the secrets of successful trainers, the common pitfalls that hinder so many others, and the enigmatic nature of the race itself. Below are Haskin's daily reports leading up to this year's Kentucky Derby.
Tuesday, April 23, 2002Chapter 10 -- Etched in Stone?
Monday, April 22, 2002List of leading contenders narrows to 20 following final weekend of prep races leading to May 4 Kentucky Derby.
Wednesday, April 17, 2002As difficult to believe as this may seem, we're actually going to keep it relatively short this week, as everyone saw what transpired on Saturday and has formed their own opinions. We are starting from scratch and tossing the past performances. We've looked at them so many times over the past four months, they no longer register in our brain.
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