His excitement as a result of Forever Together's stirring win in last year's Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (gr. IT) gave trainer Jonathan Sheppard fits of insomnia. But by all indications, the Hall of Fame trainer is taking things in better stride as his fierce gray mare defends her title as the morning line choice in the $2 million event at Santa Anita Nov. 6.
2 days ago
Cloudy's Knight, moving in tandem with favorite Winchester during a big stretch move, caught Yate's Black Cat just before the wire to win the $125,000 Sycamore (gr. IIIT) by a head Oct. 22 at Keeneland.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Augustin Stable's Informed Decision remained perfect in four starts on the Keeneland Polytrack, as she ran down Carlsbad in the final strides to win the $250,000 Thoroughbred Club of America (gr. II) Oct. 10, in the process earning a berth into next month's Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (gr. IT).
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Just as Well was awarded victory in the Northern Dancer Turf (Can-IT) at Woodbine Sept. 20 when the winner, Marsh Side, was disqualified for interference in the stretch.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Last year's champion grass mare Forever Together will attempt to add some more black-type to her already stellar resume when facing six other fillies and mares, including the highly regarded Points of Grace, in the $300,000 Canadian Stakes (Can-IIT) Sept. 20 at Woodbine.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Odds-on choice Informed Decision improved to five-for-five on synthetic tracks and cemented her position as a leading candidate for the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint when she sailed to a 2 1/2-length victory in the $398,000 Presque Isle Downs Masters (gr. III) in Erie, Pa., on the evening of Sept. 12.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
This time last year, Indian Blessing was the front-runner in the female sprint division and on her way to a year-end Eclipse Award. Now, the Indian Charlie filly will have to take the division's leadership role from Informed Decision, who has won five straight stakes and enters the $300,000 Ballerina (gr. I) as the one to beat.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Janet Elliot's horses have led the National Steeplechase Association's annual earnings list six times. Through 2008 Elliot ranked third on the all-time earnings list, with $7,580,234. Her lifetime total of 355 NSA wins through April 17 this year ranks among the best.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Stonestreet Stables and Gulf Coast Farms' Kensei, who powered home to a 2 1/4-length victory over Warrior's Reward in the Aug. 1 Jim Dandy (gr. II) came out of the race in good shape, according to trainer Steven Asmussen's assistant Larry Ulrich.
Sunday, August 02, 2009
On Aug. 1, Forever Together seeks to become only the fifth horse to put together back-to-back victories in the $500,000 Diana Stakes (gr. IT), a feat that only Glowing Honor (1988-89), Shuvee (1970-71), Tempted (1959-60) and Miss Grillo (1946-47) have been able to accomplish in the 71 previous editions of the 1 1/8- mile turf race.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
The cutback in distance didn't seem to bother George Strawbridge Jr.'s homebred Winter View, as the daughter of Thunder Gulch came from last at the top of the stretch to run them all down in the $150,000 All Along Stakes (gr. IIIT) June 20 on the Colonial Downs turf.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Augustin Stable's homebred Winter View went from last to first in her graded stakes debut, charging through the lane under Julien Leparoux to score the Grey Goose Bewitch Stakes (gr. IIIT) by two lengths April 23 on the Keeneland turf.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
George Strawbridge Jr.'s Informed Decision split horses in deep stretch and ran down 2-5 favorite Ventura to win the $300,000 Vinery Madison (gr. I) by a head in thrilling fashion April 9 at Keeneland.
Thursday, April 09, 2009
Considering she won the event last year and is coming off a nose defeat against the boys five weeks ago, Ventura would seem to be a cinch for the $300,000 Vinery Madison (gr. I) April 9 at Keeneland. But that is not the case, as the Chester House filly will face six capable fillies on the Polytrack, including multiple stakes winners Informed Decision and Bsharpsonata.
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
George Strawbridge Jr.'s Forever Together came with a furious rally in the center of the course and got up in the final strides to take the $2-million Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT) by three-quarters of a length Oct. 24 at Santa Anita Park.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Trainer Jonathan Sheppard and owner George Strawbridge Jr. have been together, well, forever. Forty-two years strong, they will try to win their first Breeders' Cup race as a team with the aptly named Forever Together in the $2 million Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (gr. IT) at Santa Anita Oct. 24.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
George Strawbridge Jr.'s Informed Decision took advantage of blazing fractions in the $300,000 Lexus Raven Run Stakes (gr. II), as the 3-year-old Monarchos filly came from off the pace, took control in mid-stretch and drew away to win by 4 1/4 lengths under John Velazquez while setting a new course record on the Keeneland Polytrack Oct. 18.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
George Strawbridge Jr.'s Palmilla, the only graded stakes winner in an overflow field of 12 older fillies and mares, tops the wide open $150,000 Rood and Riddle Dowager Stakes at Keeneland Oct. 19.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Hall of Fame trainer Jonathan Sheppard said Augustin Stables' Forever Together came out of the Diana Handicap (gr. IT) in good shape after defeating Dynaforce by three-quarters of a length. It was the first graded-stakes turf win for the 4-year-old roan filly, who has dramatically improved since she switched surfaces.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
George Strawbridge Jr.'s homebred Palmilla pulled off a shocker in the $300,000 Robert G. Dick Memorial Handicap (gr. IIIT) July 12 on the Delaware Park turf, as she soared past 1-5 favorite Rosinka in mid-stretch to win by 3 1/2 lengths under Rosemary Homeister Jr.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Jockey Enrique Jurado suffered shoulder and knee injuries the evening of Sept. 20 when Risk Assessment, a 3-year-old filly he was riding in the fourth race at Presque Isle Downs, broke down after crossing the finish line.
Friday, September 21, 2007
Every Thursday afternoon before the first race, the mood in the press box is decidedly grim. Each card leads off with a steeplechase event, and the handicappers – some of which have not picked a steeplechase winner since before the Kennedy administration - have no idea where to begin.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
The A.P. Smithwick Memorial Steeplechase (NSA-II) Thursday at Saratoga came down to the final 20 yards of the flat run when when a determined Mixed Up outfought the front-running Preemptive Strike to win by a half-length.
Thursday, August 09, 2007
William L. Pape's hurdler Mixed Up caught Paradise's Boss with less than a sixteenth of a mile remaining and then held off fast-closing Good Night Shirt to win the $159,125 Royal Chase for the Sport of Kings (NSA-I) in a three-horse photo finish Friday at Keeneland.
Friday, April 20, 2007
Alumni Hall, a multiple graded stakes winner of more than $740,000 on the flat, will give steeplechasing a try this season for trainer Jonathan Sheppard.
Friday, March 16, 2007
Augustin Stable's Forever Together kept her perfect record intact Saturday at Gulfstream Park, drawing clear to a two-length victory over Elk Manor Farm's favored Silver Knockers in the $150,000 Forward Gal Stakes (gr. II) for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs.
Saturday, March 10, 2007
The venerable 10-year-old gelding Rochester and the 2004 French Oaks (Fr-I) winner Latice, both owned by Augustin Stable, have been retired, according to trainer Jonathan Sheppard.
Saturday, December 09, 2006
Michael Moran's McDynamo clinched his third steeplechase Eclipse Award with a determined victory in the $150,000 Colonial Cup (NSA-I) at Springdale Race Course Sunday.
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Trainer Jonathan Sheppard bagged his record 12th victory in the New York Turf Writers Cup (NSA-I) as William L. Pape's Mixed Up carried jockey Danielle Hodsdon to a one-length victory over Top of the Bill in the steeplechase event at Saratoga Race Course.
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Augustin Stable's Smart Growth rallied from the back of the pack along the inside to edge Cherokee's Boy in the $100,000 Brandywine Stakes at Delaware Park Saturday.
Sunday, June 11, 2006
An impressive field of 12 older males have been entered on Friday's running of the Fifth Third Elkhorn Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Keeneland. Topping the list in the $200,000 race appears to be Pellegrino, a Brazilian-bred gelding who captured the 2004 Hollywood Turf Cup Stakes (gr. IT).
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
With the big names headed to Keeneland for the Royal Chase later this month, second-level stakes horses tangle in the $75,000 Georgia Cup Hurdle (NSA-II) at the Atlanta Steeplechase at Kingston, Ga. Saturday. The 2-mile open stakes draws a good group that includes Mixed Up, Mauritania, and Niello.
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Betsy Wells, who galloped such stars as Storm Cat, died Feb. 13.
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Marablue Farm's Bon Fleur took the lead with an inside move on the final run down the backstretch and stayed there to win the $100,000 AFLAC U.S. Championship Novice hurdle stakes (NSA-I) at the Callaway Gardens Steeplechase Saturday.
Saturday, November 05, 2005
Augustin Stable's Latice has traveled all over in her 10-race career. The Irish bred's world tour takes a stop at Aqueduct on Saturday for the $150,000 Long Island Handicap (gr. IIT).
Friday, November 04, 2005
Eclipse Award candidates Hirapour, McDynamo and Preemptive
Strike lead a group of eight Thoroughbreds nominated to the Breeders' Cup Steeplechase (NSA-I) Oct. 12.
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
Ageless Rochester won the $161,000 Sycamore Breeders' Cup Stakes (gr. IIIT) for an unprecedented third time, carrying veteran jockey Gary Stevens to a 3 3/4-length victory in the 1 1/2-mile turf race.
Friday, October 07, 2005
Firing the opening stakes salvo of the fall meet, an experienced cast of eight is set to load onto Keeneland's turf course to contest the $150,000 Sycamore Breeders' Cup Stakes (gr. IIIT) over 1 1/2 miles Friday.
Wednesday, October 05, 2005
Two steeplechase races scheduled for Wednesday's card at Saratoga Race Course, including the 64th running of the $150,000-added New York Turf Writers Cup, were scratched as the remnants of Hurricane Katrina unloaded 1.3 inches of rain overnight.
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Friends of New York Racing, the horseracing planning and advocacy group, announced Tuesday additions to its Business Advisory Council.
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
An explosive move from Augustin Stable's Spring Season resulted in a three-length victory in Saturday's $100,000 Dr. James Penny Memorial Handicap on the turf at Philadelphia Park.
Saturday, July 02, 2005
The top three finishers from last year's Elkhorn Stakes (gr. IIIT) are back to renew their rivalry Friday when the $200,000 race is contested at Keeneland on closing day.
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
Headed by defending champ Balto Star, a total of 27 older horses have been nominated to the $750,000 United Nations Handicap (gr. IT) to be run on July 3 at Monmouth Park.
Wednesday, June 23, 2004
The most widely anticipated week of racing this season at Belmont Park begins on Thursday with $100,000-added Meadow Brook Steeplechase (NSA-I) for older horses at 2 1/2 miles over National Fences.
Wednesday, June 02, 2004
With Anticipation, who has started in 17 grade I events in his seven-year career, has been retired.
Tuesday, February 24, 2004
With Anticipation, winner of three consecutive grade I contests in 2002, has re-aggravated a tendon injury and could be retired.
Friday, February 20, 2004
Veterans Pat Day and the 9-year-old gelding With Anticipation were back in tandem for their 2004 debut at Gulfstream Park on Thursday afternoon, and although they didn't reach the winner's circle, it was a successful return.
Thursday, February 05, 2004
Hall of Fame jockey Pat Day, who has not ridden since late November, is scheduled to return to competition at Florida's Gulfstream Park on Thursday . Among the three horses on which Day has been named for Thursday's card is Augustin Stables' With Anticipation, who is also returning from a hiatus.
Monday, February 02, 2004
Jonathan Sheppard has taken over for George Strawbridge as president of the National Steeplechase Association. Sheppard, who lives in Pennsylvania, was elected Jan. 16 to head a 15-member board of directors.
Tuesday, January 27, 2004
Hall of Fame trainer Jonathan Sheppard was elected president of the National Steeplechase Association. He succeeds George Strawbridge, who ends a five-year stint in the unpaid position.
Thursday, January 22, 2004
