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Plain-talking Eddie Plesa Jr. may be having his lucky day.
Hero of Order, the 109-1 winner of the Louisiana Derby (gr. II) April 1 at Fair Grounds, has joined the probable cast for Saturday's 88th running of the $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. II) at Keeneland.
Monday, April 09, 2012
A full field is possible for the $500,000 Vinery Racing Spiral Stakes (gr. III) March 24, Turfway Park officials said. The race highlights a four-stakes program at the Kentucky racetrack.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Steve Haskin recalls Smarty's Derby victory in Part 5.
Champion and dual classic winner Smarty Jones will shuttle to Uruguay for the 2011 Southern Hemisphere season.
Thursday, February 17, 2011Joe Servis was honored recently with induction into the Charles Town Hall of Fame.
Friday, November 19, 2010Grade II winner Rockport Harbor came through with his initial winner when his daughter Parvenu scored at Philadelphia Park Aug. 1 in her debut.
Monday, August 02, 2010
Jockey Stewart Elliott reached the milestone of 4,000 North American wins Jan. 18 when he guided Jake's Bandaid to a victory in the seventh race at Philadelphia Park Casino & Racetrack.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
John Servis has not been on the Triple Crown trail since Smarty Jones captivated the Thoroughbred racing world in 2004. The veteran trainer will try to change that this year, as he sends out Indian Jump in the $150,000 Federico Tesio Stakes April 19 at Pimlico Race Course, a 1 1/8-mile dirt event that serves as the local prep for the May 17 Preakness Stakes (gr. I).
Thursday, April 17, 2008A fire started by a faulty motor in a fan broke out in the barn of trainer John Servis at Philadelphia Park Casino & Racetrack the afternoon of June 20, causing minor injuries to his stable pony, Jinks.
Thursday, June 21, 2007Nearly three years to the day from Smarty Jones' victory in the Kentucky Derby (gr. I), trainer John Servis celebrated another career milestone when he won his 1,000th race on Tuesday, May 1, sending Love for Pleasure to victory in the 10th race at Philadelphia Park.
Thursday, May 03, 2007Trainer John Servis, best known for taking Smarty Jones to victories in the 2004 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) and Preakness (gr. I), won his 1,000th race May 1 with Love for Pleasure, who won the 10th race at Philadelphia Park by three lengths.
Wednesday, May 02, 2007Trainer John Servis and owner Rick Porter, who have been together for more than 15 years, have gone their separate ways, Porter said Wednesday.
Wednesday, May 24, 2006Trainer John Servis and owner Rick Porter, who have been together for more than 15 years, have gone their separate ways, Porter said Wednesday.
Wednesday, May 24, 2006The roller coaster career of Rockport Harbor finally came to an end Monday when owner Rick Porter officially announced the colt has been retired following his latest injury suffered in the Razorback Handicap (gr. III).
Monday, March 20, 2006Rockport Harbor, who re-injured his right, hind foot in the March 12 Razorback Handicap (gr. III), will remain in training after an encouraging report from blacksmith Sonny Broadus, owner Rick Porter said Thursday night.
Friday, March 17, 2006Fox Hill Farms' Rockport Harbor, who has had more than his share of bad luck during his racing career, came out of his fifth-place finish in the March 12 Razorback Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. III) with a foot injury that may force his retirement.
Monday, March 13, 2006Round Pond and Happy Ticket staged a brilliant duel in the $173,500 Azeri Breeders' Cup (gr. III) for fillies and mares Saturday at Oaklawn Park before the favored Round Pond prevailed by a determined neck.
Saturday, March 11, 2006Fox Hill Farm's Rockport Harbor, making his second start of the year, is the horse to beat in Sunday's field of eight for the $150,000 Razorback Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. III) featuring older horses going 1 1/16 miles at Oaklawn Park.
Friday, March 10, 2006Round Pond should be the favorite in Saturday's $175,000 Azeri Breeders' Cup Stakes (gr. III) on her home track at Oaklawn Park, but Louisiana trainer Andrew Leggio Jr., who saddles Happy Ticket, isn't ready to concede a thing.
Thursday, March 09, 2006Roy Chapman, who campaigned dual Classic winner and champion Smarty Jones with his wife, Pat, died Feb. 17 in Pennsylvania.
Friday, February 17, 2006Even-money favorite Rockport Harbor, making his first start in more than nine months, put away the challenge of Cougar Cat in the final eighth of a mile to post his first win since 2004 in the $100,000 Essex Handicap (gr. III) at Oaklawn Park Saturday.
Saturday, February 11, 2006Fox Hill Farm's Round Pond, winner of the Acorn (gr. I) and Fantasy Stakes (gr. II) has been taken out of training after a small chip was discovered in her knee following her second-place finish in the Delaware Oaks (gr. II).
Friday, July 22, 2005Fox Hill Farm's Rick Porter, owner of Rockport Harbor, and trainer John Servis have decided to turn the colt out for two to three months after several tests and X-rays taken at New Bolton Medical Center revealed the abscess that has plagued last year's Remsen (gr. II) winner has not healed sufficiently.
Friday, July 01, 2005Favored Round Pond pounced on the leaders inside the final furlong and pulled away for her fourth straight win in the $250,000 Acorn (gr. I) for 3-year-old fillies at Belmont Park Saturday.
Saturday, June 04, 2005Round Pond, who has been out of action since winning the April 15 Fantasy Stakes (gr. II) at Oaklawn Park, highlights a solid field of six 3-year-old fillies entered in Saturday's $250,000 Acorn (gr. I), going one mile at Belmont Park.
Thursday, June 02, 2005Rockport Harbor, who finished sixth in Saturday's Lexington Stakes (gr. II) as the 3-5 favorite, emerged from the race in "great physical condition" but will no longer be pointed toward the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) or other two legs of the Triple Crown, according to owner Rick Porter.
Monday, April 25, 2005A field of eight 3-year-olds will go to the post Saturday in the Coolmore Lexington Stakes (gr. II), the last chance to pick up significant graded earnings before the May 7 Kentucky Derby (gr. I). The standout in the field, 6-5 morning-line favorite Rockport Harbor, doesn't need the earnings, but definitely needs the race to make it to Churchill Downs for the first Saturday in May.
Thursday, April 21, 2005Fox Hill Farm's Rockport Harbor, trained by John Servis, looms as the likely favorite for Saturday's $325,000 Coolmore Lexington (gr. II) at Keeneland Race Course.
Tuesday, April 19, 2005Fox Hill Farm's Rockport Harbor arrived at Keeneland Sunday night to begin preparations for his next scheduled start in Saturday's $325,000 Coolmore Lexington (gr. II), the final prep for the May 7 Kentucky Derby (gr. I).
Monday, April 18, 2005Rapidly developing Round Pond accelerated away from the leaders in upper stretch to record an impressive victory in Friday's $250,000 Fantasy Stakes (gr. II) at Oaklawn Park for trainer John Servis and jockey Stewart Elliott.
Friday, April 15, 2005Fox Hill Farm's Rockport Harbor, who is still on target for the May 7 Kentucky Derby (gr. I), worked seven furlongs in 1:25 3/5 at Oaklawn Park Sunday, after which, trainer John Servis said the colt would pass the Arkansas Derby (gr. II) and point instead to the Coolmore Lexington Stakes (gr. II) a week later.
Sunday, April 10, 2005Rick Porter, owner of Rockport Harbor, said that although the colt is doing much better after suffering his third setback of the year, he is 50-50 at best to make the April 16 Arkansas Derby (gr. II), and that the April 23 Lexington Stakes (gr. II) at Keeneland appears to be the more likely spot at this time."
Wednesday, April 06, 2005Trainer John Servis made a phone call Monday morning, a phone call he didn't really want to make. Servis called the Keeneland racing office to nominate Rockport Harbor to the $325,000 Coolmore Lexington Stakes (gr. II) scheduled for April 23 at the Lexington, Ky. track.
Monday, April 04, 2005Murphy's Law continues to plague Fox Hill Farm's Rockport Harbor, who now has come down with an undetermined ailment, forcing trainer John Servis to cancel his scheduled work Saturday and putting his status for the April 16 Arkansas Derby (gr. II) in question.
Saturday, April 02, 2005Ghostzapper, the powerful winner of the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I), led the list of 2004 award winners announced by the New York Turf Writers' Association March 23.
Wednesday, March 23, 2005The picture above the month of November in the 2005 New York Racing Association wall calendar shows the stretch run of last year's Remsen Stakes (gr. II) in which Rockport Harbor held off Galloping Grocer to complete his 2-year old season undefeated. Notable about the photo is the wide smile on the face of Rockport Harbor's jockey, Stewart Elliott.
Friday, March 18, 2005It was an eventful Friday morning for Rebel Stakes (gr. III) contender Rockport Harbor, who managed to dodge a loose horse while out for his morning jog.
Friday, March 18, 2005The March 19 Rebel Stakes (gr. III) at Oaklawn Park promises to deliver some major fireworks when Afleet Alex, Rockport Harbor, and Greater Good lock horns in the 1 1/16-mile race, which drew a field of six.
Thursday, March 17, 2005Saturday's $250,000 Rebel Stakes (gr. III) from Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., will be televised on ESPNEWS at 6:30 p.m. ET.
Thursday, March 17, 2005Fox Hill Farm's Rockport Harbor, who has been battling foot bruises this winter, apparently has recovered from his latest setback, and all systems are go for Saturday's Rebel Stakes (gr. III), where he'll meet Afleet Alex and Greater Good.
Monday, March 14, 2005Just when it looked as if Rockport Harbor's luck had run out and he'd be unable to make the March 19 Rebel Stakes (gr. III), trainer John Servis, while still cautious, said the foot looked much better Sunday.
Sunday, March 13, 2005Rockport Harbor's rocky road to Louisville continued Saturday when trainer John Servis announced that the undefeated colt has re-aggravated the foot bruise he suffered on Feb. 20. Although he still is on schedule for the March 19 Rebel Stakes (gr. III), Servis won't know for sure until Sunday morning.
Saturday, March 12, 2005Fox Hill Farm's undefeated Rockport Harbor, who suffered a foot bruise on Feb. 20, has shown dramatic improvement and is already back jogging, the colt's owner, Rick Porter, said Tuesday.
Tuesday, February 22, 2005Rockport Harbor, unbeaten in four starts and the future book favorite for the Kentucky Derby (gr. I), is being treated for a bruised left front foot, leaving his planned start in the $250,000 Rebel Stakes (gr. III) March 19 on hold.
Sunday, February 20, 2005Hangovers weren't the only thing to come out of the Eclipse Awards dinner in Beverly Hills, Calif., Jan. 24. Various connections gave voice to their private plans as to where they hope to run prominent horses in the coming months
Tuesday, January 25, 2005It took a while for it to sink in, but the magnitude of Smarty Jones' accomplishments in 2004 finally hit trainer John Servis like a ton of bricks. "Gosh, I won the Kentucky Derby!" he said to himself while driving recently with jockey Stewart Elliott.
Tuesday, January 25, 2005Trainer John Servis, who had the ride of a lifetime last spring with Smarty Jones, received the Big Sport of Turfdom award from the Turf Publicists of America Monday afternoon in Beverly Hills, Calif.
Monday, January 24, 2005ESPN has won the Eclipse Award for National Television – Features for its documentary "Smarty Jones: America's Horse," which aired on Oct. 31, 2004, on ESPN and ESPN HD, the National Thoroughbred Racing Association announced Jan. 4.
Tuesday, January 04, 2005John Servis, the Philadelphia Park-based trainer who nearly guided Smarty Jones to the Triple Crown while at the same time accommodating a throng of media following them, has been named the winner of the 2004 Big Sport of Turdom Award presented by the Turf Publicists of America.
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