Mine That Bird worked six furlongs in 1:12.40, handily, over Saratoga's Oklahoma Training Track July 29 with Calvin Borel aboard in preparation for the Whitney Invitational (gr. I) at the Spa on Aug. 7
Thursday, July 29, 2010
With no logical dirt race to choose from, D. Wayne Lukas has decided on the Firecracker Handicap (gr. IIT), a turf contest July 4 at Churchill, as the starting point for Mine That Bird--or at least he is thinking about it.
Friday, July 02, 2010
In all of Karen Murdock's 37 years of experiences she has never encountered a horse quite like Lukas. Starting out as a downtrodden "racetrack reject," Lukas is now known to many as one of the most intelligent animals on the planet because of Murdock's soft-spoken training techniques.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Champion Gulch has been pensioned from stallion duty because of declining fertility at William S. Farish's Lane's End Farm near Versailles, Ky.; A.P. Indy to stand for $150,000 as farm announces 2010 stud fees.
Thursday, November 05, 2009
With both his parents by his side, Bob Baffert, the sixth winningest trainer of all time by money won, will be inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame at Saratoga Aug. 14. A three-time champion trainer, Baffert, who has three Kentucky Derby (gr. I) wins, four Preakness (gr. I) victories, and seven Breeders' Cup titles under his belt, enthusiastically reflected on his experiences in the industry during a National Thoroughbred Racing Association teleconference Aug. 11.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
As of about 6:45 a.m. EDT, every horse was on the grounds at Pimlico Race Course for the May 16 Preakness Stakes (gr. I), the middle jewel of the Triple Crown.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
General Quarters and Flying Private, the respective 10th- and 19th- place finishers in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), worked at Churchill Downs May 11 as they tuned up for the May 16 Preakness Stakes (gr. I).
Monday, May 11, 2009Hall of Fame trainers D. Wayne Lukas and Bob Baffert kicked off the annual Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders' trainers' dinner April 28 with humor and vivacity, and that attitude lasted throughout the evening.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009Great Britain-based trainer Gerard Butler, whose synthetic track specialist Dansant is entered in the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I) March 7, says he didn't fly across the pond just for a Santa Anita reunion.
Thursday, March 05, 2009
A special Monday race card at Oaklawn Jan. 19 features the second running of the Smarty Jones Stakes. The one-mile race will feature a talented field of 3-year olds that could stamp their ticket for a chance at the Arkansas Derby (gr. II), and maybe a shot at the Triple Crown.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Trainer Mike Maker established a Churchill Downs fall meet record for victories Nov. 19 when One Eyed Joker won the eighth race. His victory gave Maker his 21st triumph of the season.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Gainesway Thoroughbreds' Ocean Colors, a 2-year-old Orientate filly out of 1988 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner Winning Colors, made her racing debut one to remember June 13 at Churchill Downs by scoring a front-running 5 1/4-length victory in the fourth race
Friday, June 13, 2008John A. Nerud's grade I winner Clabber Girl was euthanized June 7 due to the infirmities of old age at Sugar Maple Farm near Poughquag, N.Y.
Monday, June 09, 2008
Vinery Stables' Lantana Mob is the most likely choice in the $100,000 Hirsch Jacobs Stakes (gr. III) at Pimlico May 17, which is why he's been assigned the high weight of 122 pounds in a nine-horse field. But several 3-year-olds looking for graded stakes-winning status could step up to provide a challenge in this Preakness undercard event.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Stevil has not won a race since his maiden score at Belmont in October of 2007, but trainer Nick Zito has the grey son of Maria's Mon on track for a start in the May 17 Preakness Stakes (gr. I).
Monday, May 12, 2008
Sharp Cat, one of the top racemares of the 1990s, died after foaling an A.P. Indy colt April 21.
Thursday, May 01, 2008
Terlingua, who made a name for herself as one of the fastest fillies of her generation and as the dam of leading sire Storm Cat, was euthanized April 29 because of complications from the infirmities of old age at the Young family's Overbrook Farm near Lexington.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin will serve as the grand marshal of the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Lexington March 15.
Friday, March 14, 2008
He spurns in-depth interviews, seeking the privacy of the jockeys' room with hermit-like tenacity. You'll rarely find him socializing with his fellow riders, and his post-race celebrations are generally undetectable. But Cornelio Velasquez doesn't have to say much. His ability speaks for itself. Trainers call Velasquez "a warrior" and "an agressive rider" who is solid, determined and "consistently gives his all." These qualities are probably the reason he is the nation's fourth-leading rider by purses earned this year. And we're about to let you in on another secret. Velasquez will not volunteer this information, but 2007 has been his best year ever. (Read More)
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Trainer Mark Hennig won his 1,000th race Nov. 11 when Dinner Break captured the sixth race on closing night at Meadowlands Nov. 10.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
First time winners Eric Crawdford of the Louisville Courier-Journal and John Cheinman of the Washington Post joined repeat winners Steve Haskin and William Nack (both writing for The Blood-Horse Magazine) as the winners of Churchill Downs' 2007 Red Smith Kentucky Derby Writing Contest, the Louisville racetrack announced Oct. 18.
Friday, October 19, 2007War, who won the 1987 Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) following the disqualification of Alysheba, was euthanized in August at Dr. Pamela Barlow's Wandering Farm near Bowie, Texas, because of complications from arthritis.
Thursday, October 04, 2007
Life's Magic, one of the greatest fillies in racing history, died at Trackside Farm in Versailles, Kentucky Aug. 21. She was 26 years old.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007Time's Mistress wore down Silver Knockers in the stretch en route to an upset victory in Friday's Miss Preakness Stakes (gr. III) at Pimlico.
Friday, May 18, 2007Flying First Class is to run in the $1 million Preakness Stakes (gr. I) in one week at Pimlico Race Course, trainer D. Wayne Lukas confirmed Saturday morning to Maryland officials.
Saturday, May 12, 2007Ellwood W. Johnston's Old English Rancho homebred Flying First Class kicked clear in the stretch and was hard ridden to a 3 3/4-length victory by Mark Guidry to win the $117,800 Derby Trial for 3-year-olds at Churchill Downs Saturday.
Saturday, April 28, 2007Charles Kidder's Time's Mistress, twice third to Devil House in stakes at the meeting, turned the tables on that rival when she raced to a 4 3/4-length victory in the $100,000 Honeybee Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on Friday afternoon at Oaklawn Park.
Friday, March 16, 2007Bright Candles, dam of successful stallion Grand Slam, was euthanized March 13 because of complications from a ruptured uterine artery.
Thursday, March 15, 2007Is It True, the oldest Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) winner at stud in the U.S., died Feb. 22 at Walmac Farm near Lexington.
Thursday, February 22, 2007Trainer D. Wayne Lukas, off to a good start at the Oaklawn meet, sends Time's Mistress in Saturday's $50,000 Dixie Belle Stakes for 3-year-old fillies going six furlongs.
Thursday, January 25, 2007The key to any Thoroughbred trainer's success is the quality of people around them. Trainer Todd Pletcher learned that from his mentor, Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas. Pletcher, the two-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer, is working with the same model. Holding down the Churchill Downs barn is assistant Mike McCarthy.
Monday, October 30, 2006The hits just keep on coming for trainer Todd Pletcher. First, he tops his own single-season earnings mark; then he enters a record 18 horses for the upcoming Breeders' Cup World Championships; on Wednesday, he ties D. Wayne Lukas' single season mark for graded wins. It's only Oct. 25, folks.
Wednesday, October 25, 2006Robert Baker and William Mack's Pegasus Wind, third in Belmont Park's Champagne (gr. I) in his most recent outing, continued to train strongly toward a scheduled run in the $2 million Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) as he worked a mile on Monday at Churchill Downs.
Favorite Trick, the 1997 Horse of the Year as a 2-year-old, and Saratoga Six, a grade I winner, died last night in a barn fire at Jim and Marilyn Helzer's JEH Stallion Station near Hondo, N.M.
Wednesday, June 07, 2006Folklore, champion juvenile filly of 2005, has been retired because of a stress fracture in her knee, according to trainer D. Wayne Lukas.
Friday, May 05, 2006WinStar Farm homebred Bluegrass Cat, runner-up in the recent Tampa Bay Derby (gr. III), tuned up for Saturday's $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass (gr. I) at Keeneland with a five-furlong work on Sunday at Churchill Downs.
Sunday, April 09, 2006The two geldings, Skeleton Crew and Final Copy, head a small field for the Sunday feature at Keeneland.
Friday, April 07, 2006Saturday's $150,000 Bourbonette Breeders' Cup on the Lane's End undercard at Turfway Park, run this year for the first time as a grade III race, has attracted 10 sophomore fillies, including four who have already won a stakes race and two others who are stakes placed.
Friday, March 24, 2006Champion juvenile filly Folklore tops a list of 80 nominees for the $500,000 Ashland Stakes (gr. I) April 8, at Keeneland.
Thursday, March 09, 2006Family and friends of Robert Lewis filled the Saint James Church to capacity Thursday morning to remember the highly successful Thoroughbred owner-breeder and businessman who died in his Newport Beach, Calif., home last Friday.
Thursday, February 23, 2006Folklore, the Eclipse Award winner as outstanding 2-year-old filly of 2005, will miss the Santa Anita Oaks (gr. I) on March 12, trainer D. Wayne Lukas said Sunday.
Sunday, February 19, 2006Folklore, the presumptive champion 2-year-old filly in 2005, proved vulnerable Monday at Santa Anita in her first start since capturing the Alberto VO5 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) Oct. 29. But owners Robert and Beverly Lewis still had reason to celebrate when entry mate Dance Daily held on to win the $150,000 Santa Ynez (gr. II) for 3-year-old fillies during the Martin Luther King Day program.
Monday, January 16, 2006Folklore, likely to be named last year's champion 2-year-old filly later this month, enjoys a huge class edge over five rivals in her 2006 debut on Monday in Santa Anita's $150,000 Santa Ynez Stakes (gr. II) at seven furlongs.
Friday, January 13, 2006Alberto VO5 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) champion Folklore is ready to make her 3-year-old debut at Santa Anita Park in the Santa Ynez Stakes (gr. II) at seven furlongs on Jan. 16, Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Sunday, January 08, 2006After more than 11,000 racing fans enjoyed "Pat's Day" at Churchill Downs on Saturday afternoon, horsemen gathered to honor the Hall of Fame jockey at a charity roast Saturday evening.
Sunday, November 13, 2005Favored Folklore took the lead, gave it up, and then reclaimed it en route to a win in the $1.06 million Alberto VO5 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) Saturday at Belmont Park.
Saturday, October 29, 2005Mt. Livermore, sire of nine millionaires and six champions, has been pensioned at Gainesway Farm near Lexington because of declining fertility.
Wednesday, October 12, 2005The Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (gr. I) may be lacking a true superstar among the distaff set like last year's runaway winner, Azeri, but it does have plenty of balance. Eleven fillies and mares passed the entry box Friday morning for Sunday's $500,000 grade I contest at Keeneland, the final stakes during the meet's rich Fallstars Allstars weekend.
Friday, October 07, 2005A field of 11 juvenile fillies with no heavy favorite should make for a competitive renewal of the Darley Alcibiades Stakes (gr. II) Friday, Keeneland's opening day of the fall meeting.
Wednesday, October 05, 2005Bob and Beverly Lewis' homebred Folklore became the early favorite for the Alberto VO5 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) when she routed the field by 14 lengths in Saturday's $300,000 Matron (gr. I) at Belmont Park.
Saturday, September 17, 2005
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