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Awesome Maria Preparing for 2012 Campaign

Awesome Maria, who hasn't competed since winning the Ogden Phipps Handicap (gr. I) last June, breezed five furlongs in 1:01 4/5 Jan. 16 at Palm Meadows in Florida.

WinStar and Airdrie Partner to Buy Mons Venus

A day after Caracortado captured the Daytona Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Santa Anita Park against some of the best sprinters in the country, his dam, Mons Venus, commanded $250,000 from Kenny Troutt's WinStar Farm and Airdrie Stud.

Bank Heist to Stand at Kaz Hill in New York

Bank Heist, a winning half-brother to champion sprinter and two-time Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) winner Midnight Lute, has been retired and will stand the 2012 breeding season at Kaz Hill Farm near Middletown, N.Y.

Patience a Virtue for Emerald Beech

MAHUBAH'S CORNER
Hitting her stride at 5, Maria's Mon's Saratoga graded stakes winner Emerald Beech is a throwback to the stamina-oriented, late-developing runners of America's turf history.

Glens Falls: Emerald Beech Wins 4th Straight

Emerald Beech overhauled pacesetter Dynaslew past mid-stretch to register her fourth consecutive victory by 1 1/2 lengths in the $102,000 Glens Falls (gr. IIIT), the final stakes event of the 2011 Saratoga season Sept. 5.

Good Golly, Little Miss Holly Rocks Iowa Oaks

Fast-improving Little Miss Holly swept past Find the Humor in the stretch and held sway for a two-length victory in the $200,000 Iowa Oaks (gr. III) on the night of June 25 at Prairie Meadows.

Awesome Maria Much the Best in Ogden Phipps

Awesome Maria remained perfect in four starts in 2011 and notched her first grade I win when she kicked away in the stretch to post an easy victory in the $250,000 Ogden Phipps Handicap June 18 at Belmont Park.

Awesome Maria Nips 'Absinthe' in Shuvee

Heavily favored Awesome Maria battled Absinthe Minded down the long Belmont Park homestretch to prevail by a head in a thrilling finish to the $150,000 Shuvee Handicap (gr. II) May 21.

Super Saver to Shuttle to Eliza Park

Super Saver, last year's Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner, will shuttle to Eliza Park Stud near Kerrie, Victoria, Australia, this year.

Awesome Maria Romps in Rampart; 'Belle Third

Odds-on choice Awesome Maria scored her second straight dominating win at Gulfstream Park this season in the $150,000 Rampart Stakes (gr. III) April 2, spoiling the 2011 debut for Unrivaled Belle.

Fair Grounds 'Cap: Expansion Finds Right Spot

Expansion closed with determination between horses to score a 32-1 surprise by a head in the $125,000 Fair Grounds Handicap (gr. IIIT)Feb. 19 at the New Orleans track.

Upperline Hooks a Win in Arlington Oaks

Freshened since a fifth-place finish in the Ashland Stakes (gr. I) at Keeneland three months ago, Upperline drew away to a 4 3/4-length victory in the $100,000 Arlington Oaks (gr. III) July 3.

Exhi Runs Streak to Four in Victoria Park

Exhi, winner of the Lexington Stakes (gr. II) in April, thoroughly dominated his three rivals in the $144,795 Victoria Park Stakes June 27 at Woodbine, extending his victory streak to four races.

Exhi Rolls in Woodbine's Marine Stakes

Favored Exhi, making his first start at Woodbine, drew off from his four 3-year-old rivals in the $151,447 Marine Stakes to record his third consecutive win by 4 1/2 lengths May 29.

Super Saver: The Connections

Reprinted from the pages of The Blood-Horse magazine, the free report Super Saver: The Connections offers an in-depth look at the people who helped Super Saver capture the the roses.

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Maria's Mon's Derby Legacy: Sad and Joyous

Sudden illness halted the career of the stallion, who has sired Run for the Roses winners Super Saver and Monarchos.

Super Saver Wins the Derby!

Super Saver, with Calvin Borel up, wins the 136th running of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I). WinStar Farm's homebred son of Maria's Mon gives trainer Todd Pletcher his first Derby win.

Super Saver Goes a Half in :48 4/5

Arkansas Derby (gr. I) runner-up works a half-mile under Calvin Borel in the slop at Churchill Downs; one of five workers for trainer Todd Pletcher

Exhi Emerges as Sophomore Standout

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter
Descending from one of Canada's leading female families, Exhi hit his stride just a bit too late for likely KY Derby eligibility, but he's a good bet for other big races in 2010.

Mack Buys Majority Interest in Turf Melody

Earle I. Mack has purchased a 90% interest in the stakes-winning colt Turf Melody, who most recently finished fourth in the March 6 Gotham Stakes (gr. III) at Aqueduct. Turf Melody will race in Mack's colors.

Super Win in Kentucky Jockey Club

WinStar Farm's Super Saver romped to a five-length victory over William's Kitten in stakes-record time to win the $191,250 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (gr. II) for 2-year-olds at Churchill Downs Nov. 28.

Awesome Maria an Overpowering Matron Winner

Awesome Maria proved an authoritative winner of Belmont Park's Matron (gr. IIT) in her stakes debut Sept. 19 when odds-on choice Worstcasescenario was eased out of the race.

OBS Sale Sees Declines in Business

The first session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s June auction of juveniles in training June 16 saw signficant declines in business, down nearly 50% in gross.

Maria's Mon Colt Shines at Keeneland

A Maria's Mon colt became the highest-priced yearling sold at the Keeneland January horses of all ages sale so far when he was purchased for $390,000 by Florida pinhooker Jimmy Gladwell in the name of Ferguson Valley Ranch Jan. 14 in Lexington. The immediate underbidder on the handsome chestnut was Brian Graves, who is the director of public sales for the Beck family's Kentucky-based Gainesway Farm.

Domino Stud Streamlining Operations

Domino Stud of Lexington is streamlining its operations. More than 20 horses, including Domino's breeding stock, will be offered at the Keeneland January horses of all ages sale through Meg Levy's Bluewater Sales.

Wait a While Back With Another BC Chance

Wait a While, undefeated in three starts over Santa Anita's turf course, will be among the favorites in the $2-million Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (gr. IT) Oct. 24. It will be the second time the daughter of Maria's Mon out of the A.P. Indy mare Flirtatious has started in the Filly and Mare Turf.

Wait a While Knots Second Yellow Ribbon

Wait a While, undefeated in three starts on the Santa Anita turf course, earned her way back to the Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT) by winning Oak Tree's $400,000 Yellow Ribbon (gr. IT) by one length Sept. 27.

Keeneland Average, Gross, Median Decline

Zayat Stables paid $500,000 for a colt by Medaglia d'Oro to top the Sept. 13 session of Keeneland's September Yearling Sale. Consigned by Eaton Sales, agent, the colt is out of the unraced Clever Trick mare Game Trick, and from the family of champion sprinter and sire Langfuhr.

Wait a While Atones With Ballston Repeat

Odds-on choice Wait a While returned to her winning ways with a repeat victory in the $196,000 Ballston Spa Handicap (gr. II) on the Saratoga lawn Aug. 21.

Sky Mom is More Fight Than Flash

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter

Sky Mom is perpetuating the momentum that's been building steadily for the progeny by the late Maria's Mon. Recently the winner of the grade III Arlington Oaks, Sky Mom is also proving that highly fashionable pedigrees are required to produce top-class runners.

Monzante Catching His Stride

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter

Monzante, who has been showing the promise of taking a major victory for some time, got it done July 20 in the Eddie Read Handicap (gr. I).

Monzante Zooms to Eddie Read Triumph

Monzante took the overland route in coming from last to catch favored Whatsthescript in the final strides, winning the $400,000 Eddie Read Handicap (gr. IT) in eye-catching style by a half-length on the Del Mar turf course July 20.

Speedy Mint Lane Spears Dwyer Rivals

Odds-on choice Mint Lane controlled the pace and was never threatened while posting a 2 3/4-length victory in the $198,500 Dwyer Breeders' Cup Stakes (gr. II), tallying his first graded win for trainer James Jerkens July 6 at Belmont Park.

Preakness Profile: Stevil

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).

Monba, Cowboy Cal Work at Keeneland

Before the running of last year's Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), Keeneland Race Course was overrun with trainers whose potential contenders were squeezing in final works prior to shipping up to Churchill Downs. This year, Todd Pletcher cut a lonely figure along the rail at the Lexington oval as he sent Behindatthebar to gallop and then watched Monba and Cowboy Cal complete their final preparations April 26.

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.

Fillies Standing Out at OBS March Sale

Some shoppers at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. March select sale of 2-year-olds in training think the top fillies outnumber the top colts this year.

Sky Mom Soars to WinStar Oaks Triumph

Favored Sky Mom overcame a stewards' inquiry and jockey objection to win the $200,000 WinStar Sunland Park Oaks in come-from-behind fashion by 4 3/4 lengths in New Mexico March 16.

Wait a While Waits, Wins 'Gorgonio'

Arindel Farm's Wait a While didn't get the easiest of trips despite a five-horse field, but she found room when it counted and spurted away to a relatively easy victory in the $150,000 San Gorgonio Handicap (gr. IIT) Jan. 14 at Santa Anita Park.

OBS Winter Sale Starts Wednesday

The 2008 edition of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s winter mixed sale will look to rebound from the across-the-board declines it suffered last year when the three-day auction kicks off Jan. 16. Sessions begin daily at 11 a.m.

Courtney Era Ends at Keeneland

Robert E. Courtney sold his final horse as a consignor at Keeneland Wednesday.

Giant Moon Has His Trainer Hoping

Trainer Richard Schosberg's Derby dreams didn't come to fruition with Maria's Mon, the champion 2-year-old male of 1995, after an injury kept the colt on the sidelines for the Kentucky Derby (gr. I). Thirteen years later, however, Schosberg can start dreaming again with the undefeated Giant Moon.

Criminologist Steals Cardinal Win

Continuing to display her turf dominance, Criminologist came from off the pace to shed seven rivals Nov. 17 at Churchill Downs, scoring by 2 1/2 lengths in the $150,000 Cardinal Handicap (gr. IIIT) to earn her fourth consecutive victory.

Criminologist Seeks Fourth Straight

Stuart Janney III and Phipps Stable homebred Criminologist searches for her sixth victory of the campaign and fourth in a row as she battles seven contenders in the $150,000 Cardinal Handicap (gr. IIIT) on the Churchill Downs turf Nov. 17.

Average Up and the Middle Solid

Keeneland's Director of Sales Geoffrey Russell termed the Nov. 9 session of the Keeneland November breeding stock sale "a very good day at the office" as a slight drop in gross was untainted by a rising average and a strong middle market.

Grade I Winner Latent Heat to Stand at Woods Edge

Latent Heat, a grade I-winning son of Maria's Mon bred and raced by Juddmonte Farm, will stand his first season at stud in 2008 at Woods Edge Farm in Kentucky, it was announced Oct. 18.

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.

Criminologist Stays on Winning Trail in Athenia Frolic

The improving Criminologist got the soft going she relishes and rolled to her third consecutive victory Oct. 13 in the $109,100 Athenia Handicap (gr. IIT) on the Belmont Park Widener Turf Course.

Monarchos Moving to Nuckols Farm

Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner Monarchos will stand the 2008 breeding season at Nuckols Farm near Midway, Ky., it was announced Oct. 12 by owner John Oxley.

Maria's Mon Colt Tops Opener of Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Sale

A son of Maria's Mon topped the opening session of the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Eastern fall yearling sale Oct. 1 at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium, Md.