Trainer Pat Byrne had Take Charge Indy sharp for the Alysheba Stakes (gr. III), but even he did not expect the overpowering 6-length performance the 2012 Florida Derby (gr. I) winner turned in May 3 at Churchill Downs.
Friday, May 03, 2013
Cyber Secret has not won on the dirt at Churchill Downs, but fresh off a 5 3/4-length victory in the April 13 Oaklawn Handicap, trainer Lynn Whiting is willing to put his unbeaten season on the line.
Wednesday, May 01, 2013
View Arch and several of his progeny who have had careers on the race track. View this feature in the March 23, 2013 issue of The Blood-Horse.
Off a smashing victory in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, Groupie Doll, from the outside post of 7, challenges a salty cast of older runners in the Nov. 24 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct.
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Donn Handicap (gr. I) winner Hymn Book returned to winning ways Oct. 19, taking the $80,750 Frank "Pancho" Martin Stakes by 5 3/4 lengths in the slop at Belmont Park.
Friday, October 19, 2012
Trainer Shug McGaughey says Point of Entry, his Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational (gr. IT) winner Sept. 29, should be a prime contender for Horse of the Year if he can win the Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT).
Sunday, September 30, 2012
A sloppy track in 1988 saw Alysheba scratch from the Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I), paving the way for Waquoit to splash home by 15 lengths. Who in this year's cast has the best off-track form?
Friday, September 28, 2012
The Bill Mott pair of Ron the Greek and Flat Out are the two morning line favorites.
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey expressed his pleasure with the way his Super Saturday-bound Point of Entry and Hymn Book worked on the morning of Sept. 23 at Belmont Park.
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Fort Larned, impressive winner of the Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap (gr. III) last time out, became a grade I winner in the Whitney Invitational Handicap (gr. I) when he strutted clear Aug. 4 at Saratoga Race Cours
Saturday, August 04, 2012
Tom and Pete handicap the Whitney Invitational Handicap and the West Virginia Derby this week.
Ron the Greek heads a nine-horse field as the 3-1 favorite for the $750,000 Whitney Invitational (gr. I) Aug. 4 at Saratoga Race Course.
Wednesday, August 01, 2012
The path to the Breeders' Cup Classic heads to Upstate New York Saturday when the $750,000 Whitney (GI) is run at Saratoga Race Course, with the winner earning an automatic starting berth into the Classic.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Several key contenders for the Aug. 4 Whitney Invitational Handicap (gr. I) breezed July 29 on the Oklahoma Training Track at Saratoga Race Course, and trainer Todd Pletcher confirmed Mike Repole's Caixa Eletronica.
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Even though it's more than a week away, the Aug. 3-5 stakes extravaganza at Saratoga Race Course is taking shape, with the release by the New York Racing Association of a list of probables for the four graded stakes.
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith flew from California to ride Mucho Macho Man in the $300,000 Suburban Handicap (gr. II) at Belmont Park July 7, and the trip paid off as the big bay colt won the 1 1/8-mile test.
Saturday, July 07, 2012
This Saturday marks a second start in the Suburban Handicap for the now-seasoned 6-year-old runner.
Top older horses face off at Belmont Park July 7 in the 127th renewal of the $350,000 Suburban Handicap (gr. II), one of the nation's oldest and most prestigious races.
Wednesday, July 04, 2012
The Pimlico Special (gr. III), returning to the Pimlico racing calendar after a three-year hiatus, has drawn a sold field of 10 handicap horses, headed by Oaklawn Handicap (gr. II) winner Alternation.
Monday, May 14, 2012
Alternation shocked a strong field in the $400,000 Oaklawn Handicap (gr. II) April 14 at Oaklawn Park, leading all the way for his third consecutive stakes win of the meet.
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Recent grade I winners Hymn Book and Ron the Greek head a strong field of eight for the $400,000 Oaklawn Handicap (gr. II) April 14.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Reigning Horse of the Year Havre de Grace tops the list of horses nominated to the stakes extravaganza that, along with the Arkansas Derby (gr. I), comprise the "Racing Festival of the South" at Oaklawn Park April 11-14.
Wednesday, April 04, 2012
There were some memorable performances on Donn Handicap Day at Gulfstream.
Game On Dude, who captured the Feb. 5 San Antonio Stakes (gr. II) by 5 lengths, is the leader on the first National Thoroughbred Racing Association Top Thoroughbred Poll for 2012.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Evan Hammonds recaps the Donn Handicap, Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap, Fed Biz and Spring Hill Farm.
Emerging national handicap division star Hymn Book will eventually return to New York, trainer Shug McGaughey said Feb. 12, but the Donn Handicap (gr. I) victor could be headed for Arkansas first.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Stuart Janney III's homebred Hymn Book tallied the biggest win of his career Feb. 11 at Gulfstream Park, roaring down the center of the track and outlasting Mission Impazible to take the $500,000 Donn Handicap (gr. I).
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Cutting back in distance in search of his first grade I win, To Honor and Serve put away Calibrachoa in upper stretch and held off Hymn Book late to take the Cigar Mile Handicap Nov. 26 at Aqueduct.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Get Stormy, winner of last year's Bernard Baruch Handicap (gr. IIT) at Saratoga, will attempt to defend his title Aug. 26 when facing 10 in the $200,000 turf race.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
The longest shot on the board in a field of six, Flat Out swept by everyone at the eighth-pole and rolled through the stretch to score the $300,000 Suburban Handicap (gr. II) by 6 1/2 lengths July 2 at Belmont.
Saturday, July 02, 2011
Colizeo looks to be lone speed in the $300,000 Suburban Handicap (gr. I) and the son of Distorted Humor will try to take advantage to pick up his first graded stakes of the season when he meets five others July 2 at Belmont.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011