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Verrazano is More Than Ready for the KY Derby

MAHUBAH'S CORNER
Coolmore's latest purchase handled the jump up to stakes company with aplomb in the Tampa Bay Derby.

Plum Pretty Confirmed for La Troienne

Last year's Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) winner Plum Pretty has been confirmed by owner John Fort as a starter in the La Troienne (gr. II) at Churchill Downs May 4, the same day as this year's Run for the Lilies.

Havre de Grace Will Not Defend Apple Blossom

Saying that weight assignments for the Apple Blossom Handicap (gr. I) were "unfair," owner Rick Porter and trainer Larry Jones will bypass the April 13 race at Oaklawn Park with Horse of the Year Havre de Grace.

Sabercat Adds Fangs to Bluegrass Cat 2nd Crop

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter
A mid-November graded stakes win for 2-year-old Sabercat bumps sire Bluegrass Cat into second place among second-crop sires.

Bluegrass Cat Jumps Out Early

Les Brinsfield looks at the early success of freshman sire Bluegrass Cat.

Inside Pedigrees: Drosselmeyer

Drosselmeyer continues the trend of recent classic winners being sired by horses known for speed from mares with a pronounced aptitude for stamina.

La Troienne Linebreeding Still Relevant

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter
Super Saver is one recent example of the conventional wisdom of Thoroughbred breeders that "the more La Troienne, the better."

Inside Pedigrees: Super Breeding

Super Saver replete with seven lines of La Troienne. Maria's Mon, sire of Super Saver has a double of La Troienne including Busanda via faultless Buckpasser. Supercharger, dam of Super Saver, has five lines of La Troienne.

HRTV to Air Two Thousand Guineas

HRTV has announced the addition of the Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-I) from Newmarket to its May 1 coverage of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).

Rachel Works 4F for La Troienne

Rachel Alexandra, last year's Horse of the Year, is slated to contest the April 30 La Troienne Stakes (gr. II) on the Kentucky Oaks undercard.

Inside Pedigrees: Derby by Pedigree

INSIDE PEDIGREES, by Les Brinsfield
Eskendereya is the favorite, and also the pick of a pedigree pundit.

Power of La Troienne

INSIDE PEDIGREES, by Les Brinsfield
La Troienne is the best mare in American pedigrees since going into production.

She Be Wild is A Good Return

INSIDE PEDIGREES, by Les Brinsfield
She Be Wild is evidence of the old formula, 'Return to the sire the best blood of his dam.'

Churchill Downs Unveils 2010 Stakes Schedule

Churchill Downs has unveiled a $9.025 million stakes schedule for its 2010 Spring and Fall racing meets in 2010. The schedule includes six grade I races and the return of the La Troienne Stakes.

Eight Belles Stakes Draws a Field of 10

A field of 10 was drawn for the $100,000 Eight Belles Stakes (gr. III) to be held on May 2 at Churchill Downs, a race for 3-year-old fillies renamed for last year's ill-fated Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) runner-up.

Azul Leon Puts Lion Heart On Top

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter

Lion Heart, currently the freshman sire leader, and Friends Lake, who is ranked eighth, got big boosts from their recent graded stakes winners Azul Leon and Screen Your Friends, respectively. The talent both of these sires showed as juveniles appears to be passing along to their offspring.

Alina, Game Face Top La Troienne Field

Alina, only three-quarters of a length in back of Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) starter Eight Belles in her last start, is the 5-2 favorite in the $150,000 La Troienne Stakes (gr. III) May 2 at Churchill Downs.

Intense Concentration

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter

Monba's success could be tied to an intensifying of the influences of La Troienne. The Derby contender's pedigree is rich in the blood of Raise a Native and Buckpasser.

Inbreeding Propels Spring Waltz

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter

Silver Charm has not been as dazzling a sire as he was a racehorse. Still, the son of Silver Buck is proving he can produce top-notch runners, such as Rampart Handicap (gr. II) winner Spring Waltz. The 4-year-old filly is apparently drawing her racing prowess from the same genetic well as her sire -- inbreeding to the great mare La Troienne.

Second Derby Winner for Street Cry

MAHUBAH'S CORNER By Avalyn Hunter To sire a national Derby winner in the first crop is always a notable feat for a young stallion. Getting a Derby winner in each of the first two crops is still more impressive, but getting that second Derby winner before the second crop has even turned 3? Tomcito, a 3-year-old on Southern Hemisphere time, accomplished this feat for his sire Street Cry by winning the Peruvian Derby (Per-I) on Nov. 17.

Porter on Pedigrees: Criminologist

With the Breeders' Cup only days away, the American racing front has been relatively quiet. Still, this does give us the opportunity to turn the spotlight on a filly that appears to be a rising star, and in doing so, pay tribute to her recently deceased sire, Maria's Mon.

Group III Winner Seeking the Best to Hill 'n' Dale in '08

Seeking the Best, a group III stakes-winning millionaire by Seeking the Gold, will stand at Hill 'n' Dale in 2008, the Kentucky farm announced in a Sept. 28 press release.

Borel Uses the Rail to Win La Troienne

Jockey Calvin Borel gave Silverinyourpocket one of his patented rail-skimming rides to upset the La Troienne (gr. II) on the Kentucky Derby undercard at Churchill Downs Saturday.

Derby Week Nominations Include Wait A While, 'Anna

Eclipse Award champions Wait A While, the nation's top 3-year-old filly of 2006, and Dreaming of Anna, last year's champion 2-year-old filly, are among stars nominated to compete in stakes races scheduled to be run at Churchill Downs during Kentucky Derby Week, April 28-May 5.

Joint Effort Burns Adieu in La Troienne

Joint Effort put in a top effort Saturday, winning the $119,600 La Troienne (gr. III) for 3-year-old fillies going away on the Kentucky Derby day undercard at Churchill Downs.

Seek a Star Turns Corner in La Troienne

John C. Oxley's Seek a Star withstood all challenges in the stretch, pulling away to win the featured $114,200 La Troienne Stakes (gr. III) for 3-year-old fillies Thursday.

La Troienne, Mamzelle Kick Off Churchill Stakes

The Derby/Oaks weekend of stakes competition at Churchill Downs kicks off on Thursday with the $100,000-added La Troienne (gr. III) for 3-year-old fillies and the $100,000-added Mamzelle Stakes on the turf.

Friendly Michelle's Grit Shows in La Troienne

Front-running Friendly Michelle, a Kentucky-bred daughter of Artax owned by television producer Ed Friendly, came on again in the last sixteenth after dropping back to third to win the featured $112,200 La Troienne Stakes (gr. III) for 3-year-old fillies today at Churchill Downs.

Pedigree Profile: Smarty Jones a Smart Choice

Some Kentucky Derby pundits have questioned Smarty Jones' pedigree due to the speed influences of his sire, Elusive Quality, and broodmare sire, Smile. Their problem lies in the fact they haven't scratched much beyond the surface.

Final Round Sweeps to La Troienne Victory

G. Watts Humphrey, Jr.'s favored Final Round came from off the pace with jockey Jerry Bailey to score a one-length victory Thursday in the the La Troienne Stakes (gr. III) at Churchill Downs.

Final Round Heads Open La Troienne

Final Round, runner-up in the Forward Gal (gr. III) at Gulfstream Park March 14, is the likely favorite in a field of six 3-year-old fillies vying in Thursday's $100,000-added La Troienne at seven furlongs at Churchill Downs.