Adena Springs' Frank Stronach went to $1.25 million to acquire grade I winner Lady Joanne in foal to Mr. Greeley to kick start the second session of the 2008 Keeneland November breeding stock sale Nov. 4 at the Central Kentucky auction house.
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Trainer Carl Nafzger will be honored for his overall contributions to Thoroughbred racing when Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners (KTO) presents the two-time winner of the Kentucky Derby with the 2007 "Warner L. Jones Jr. Horseman of the Year Award."
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
In the most thrilling stretch duel of the day, Ginger Punch took the worst of it on the rail but still won the Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) over Hystericalady.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
By Jason Shandler - The late Saturday Pick 4 looks like an appetizing way to bet the World Championships.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
BloodHorseNOW.com writer Lenny Shulman reports each morning from Monmouth Park with the news from the track.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
BloodHorseNOW.com writer Lenny Shulman reports each morning from Monmouth Park with the news from the track.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
It's not surprising a Todd Pletcher-trained filly was made the favorite for the Oct. 27 Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I), it's just a little surprising which one.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Bentley Smith is well-connected when it comes to Breeders' Cup horses. As the son-in-law of the late Frances Genter, he managed Frances Genter Stable for nearly 30 years and sent Smile to a 1986 Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) victory and, of course, watched Unbridled win the Classic (gr. I) in 1990.
Monday, October 22, 2007
James Tafel's Street Sense, who will be one of the favorites for the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic - Powered by Dodge (gr. I), arrived safely at Monmouth Park at 6:15 a.m. Oct. 19 after a van ride from Churchill Downs.
Saturday, October 20, 2007
In separate interviews, Lenny Shulman speaks with Carl Nafzger about Street Sense and Lady Joanne running in this year's Breeders' Cup.
Saturday, October 20, 2007
In separate interviews, Lenny Shulman speaks with Carl Nafzger about Street Sense and Lady Joanne running in this year's Breeders' Cup.
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Bentley Smith's Alabama Stakes (gr. I) winner Lady Joanne continued her preparations for the $2-million Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) to be run Oct. 27 at Monmouth Park by working a half-mile in :48.60 Oct. 16 at Churchill Downs with regular rider Calvin Borel up.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Glencrest Farm's Panty Raid ran a disappointing fifth the last time she met rival Lady Joanne. But in the $500,000 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (gr. I) Oct. 7 at Keeneland, the 3-year-old daughter of Include exacted her revenge in convincing fashion, launching an impressive four-wide move in the stretch to defeat Lady Joanne by a half-length.
Sunday, October 07, 2007
If Asi Siempre is to defend her $500,000 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (gr. I) title Oct. 7 at Keeneland, the El Prado mare will have to do it against a loaded field of 11, including three rivals with grade I wins this year.
Thursday, October 04, 2007
James Tafel's Street Sense, winner of this year's Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), tuned up for a run in the Sept. 29 Kentucky Cup Classic (gr. II) at Turfway Park with a five furlong work Sept. 25 at Churchill Downs.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
James Tafel's Street Sense, winner of this year's Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) and the Aug. 25 Travers Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga, returned to his home base at Churchill Downs early Sept. 3 to continue training for his fall campaign.
Monday, September 03, 2007
Trying to catch Calvin Borel for an interview during his last day of racing at Saratoga was like attempting to pin down a darting dragonfly, and the Cajun jockey looked the part in Bill Farish's brilliant green and yellow silks as he scurried back to the private courtyard behind the jockeys' room before the fourth race of the day.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Trainer Todd Pletcher reported this morning that Rags to Riches, the first filly to win the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) in 102 years, has had her temperature drop to normal levels and will likely head back to the track Aug. 30.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Orientate offspring Lady Joanne has developed into one of the best fillies of her crop. Successful in the Dogwood Stakes (gr. III) in the spring, she narrowly lost out to Octave in the Mother Goose Stakes (gr. I), and then, after a prep in the restricted Banshee Breeze Stakes, returned to take a game victory over a tough field in the 10-furlong Alabama Stakes (gr. I).
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Watching the Aug. 18 Alabama (gr. I) on the jumbo monitor on the first floor of the clubhouse at Saratoga, Michael Hernon pumped his fist in the air as Bentley L. Smith's homebred Lady Joanne crossed the wire first in the 1 1/4-mile race for 3-year-old fillies.
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Entering the 127th running of the Alabama (gr. I), all the talk was about Octave, who had won consecutive grade I races in New York this summer, one of them over Lady Joanne. This time, Lady Joanne was not to be denied. She held off not only Octave, but a determined Lear's Princess, to win by a neck in a heart-pounding finish on Saratoga's main track.
Saturday, August 18, 2007
For a long time, it looked as though Octave would never break her reputation as a bridesmaid. Five consecutive second-place finishes -- all in graded-stakes competition -- earned her that tag. But two grade I wins later, all that talk is in the past.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
James Tafel's Street Sense, winner of the 2007 Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), continued to train toward his summer and fall campaign with a five furlong workout July 13 at Churchill Downs.
Friday, July 13, 2007
Second in each of her last five starts, odds-on choice Octave defeated three rivals while becoming a grade I winner for the first time in the $237,500 Mother Goose for 3-year-old fillies at Belmont Park Saturday.
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Trainer Todd Pletcher has given the nod for Octave to start in Saturday's $250,000 Mother Goose Stakes (gr. I) at Belmont Park. The nine-furlong race, which is restricted to three-year-old fillies and is the second leg of the Triple Tiara, drew a compact field of four horses.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
James Tafel's homebred Street Sense, winner of the 2007 Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), took a first step toward his summer and fall campaign with a solid four-furlong work on Sunday at Churchill Downs.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Lady Joanne is headed toward the $250,000 Mother Goose (gr. I) at Belmont Park June 30 following her impressive victory on Saturday in the $150,000-added Dogwood Breeders' Cup (gr. III) at Churchill Downs.
Sunday, June 03, 2007
Favored Lady Joanne overcame a sluggish start to collar High Again near the sixteenth pole en route to a one-length victory in the $167,550 Dogwood Breeders' Cup (gr. III) for 3-year-old fillies at Churchill Downs Saturday.
Saturday, June 02, 2007
The Carl Nafzger-trained Lady Joanne heads a field of nine in the $150,000-added Dogwood Breeders' Cup (gr. III) for 3-year-old fillies as Churchill Downs offers a stakes trio on its Saturday racing program.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Lady Joanne, with John McKee in the irons, challenged heavily favored Change Up on the backstretch and dueled with that rival into deep stretch before she pulled away to score a 1 1/4-length victory in the 63rd-running of the $224,600, grade II Golden Rod for 2-year-old fillies at Churchill Downs.
Saturday, November 25, 2006
Saturday's $200,000-added Golden Rod Stakes (gr. II) for 2-year-old fillies at Churchill Downs will pit father against son as veteran trainer Bernie Flint will saddle Mike Rutherford's Cohiba Miss in a bid to upset Richard, Elaine, and Bert Klein's Change Up, trained by his son, Steve.
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Favored Change Up gave jockey Garrett Gomez a sweep of Saturday's opening-day stakes for juveniles when she wore down the stubborn Mistical Plan in the stretch and scored a two-length victory in the $114,300 Pocahontas (gr. III) for fillies at Churchill Downs.
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Richard, Elaine and Bert Klein's Change Up, on the outside looking in at the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I), finds a challenging spot as the probable favorite in Sunday's $100,000-added Pocahontas at Churchill Downs.
Friday, October 27, 2006