Delegation should be able to dictate the tempo in the $200,000 Eclipse Stakes (Can-II) in a short field of five May 12, making the 4-year-old son of Speightstown a dangerous commodity on the Polytrack at Woodbine.
Thursday, May 09, 2013
Absent since a runner-up effort in last spring's Woodbine Oaks Presented by Budweiser, Northern Passion returns in the $150,000 Whimsical Stakes (Can-III) April 28, the first graded stakes of the 2013 season at Woodbine.
Thursday, April 25, 2013
After a year of uncertainty due to the cancellation of the Ontario slots-at-racetracks program, Woodbine is set to begin its 133-day Thoroughbred meet April 20.
Friday, April 19, 2013
Woodbine's 2013 live Thoroughbred racing season begins Saturday, April 20, the first of 133 programs slated for the year.
Thursday, April 18, 2013With an impressive run through the stretch, Sky America ended trainer Wesley Ward's hammerlock on the Keeneland juvenile races this spring.
Thursday, April 11, 2013
It was a crowded scene at the April 10 post-position draw for the $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I), as the connections crossed their fingers and hoped for good post positions.
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) contenders Rydilluc, Uncaptured, Undrafted, and Dewey Square all turned in pre-race works April 5 at Keeneland. Also working were Dynamic Sky at Churchill and Fear the Kitten at Trackside.
Saturday, April 06, 2013
John Oxley's grade I winner Spring in the Air will face a full field of 13 rivals in the $500,000 Central Bank Ashland (gr. I) for 3-year-old fillies going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Keeneland April 6.
Wednesday, April 03, 2013
Hardway Stables' Speak Logistics, third behind subsequent Besilu Stables Florida Derby (gr. I) winner Orb in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II), heads a field of eight for the Calder Derby.
Wednesday, April 03, 2013
John Oxley's Star Contender is highweighted at 123 pounds in a field of 11 for the $100,000 Transylvania Stakes (gr. IIIT), but SamSon Farms' Up With the Birds has beaten him and will likely be favored at Keeneland April 5.
Tuesday, April 02, 2013
A full field of 12 is expected when Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (gr. II) winner Uncaptured makes his 2013 debut March 23 in the $550,000 Horseshoe Cincinnati Casino Stakes (gr. III) at Turfway Park.
Thursday, March 21, 2013Jockey Gary Boulanger, away from the races for nearly nine years, rides John Oxley's Conquestor to victory in the OBS Sprint Stakes during the OBS Day of Champions. Spring Venture returns a winner in the filly division.
Monday, March 11, 2013
Trainer Mark Casse is looking for a big effort against the undefeated Verrazano.
Tuesday, March 05, 2013
Trainer Mark Casse will be busy saddling horses at Ocala Breeders' Sales Company stakes races Monday, March 11 where he has entered six horses, including at least one in each of the day's four stakes races.
Tuesday, March 05, 2013Falling Sky, winner of the Feb. 2 Sam F. Davis Stakes (gr. III) at Tampa Bay Downs, was scratched from the Besilu Stables Fountain of Youth (gr. II) the morning of the race, as was maiden winner Sky Captain.
Saturday, February 23, 2013
The Breeders' Cup Board discussed the scheduled prohibition of race-day furosemide at this year's Breeders' Cup World Championships during a Feb. 22 meeting at Gulfstream Park, but took no action.
Friday, February 22, 2013
Grade I winners, at ages 8 and 9, respectively, face talented field at Gulfstream.
Wednesday, February 06, 2013
The sky was the limit Feb. 2 at Tampa Bay Downs, with Falling Sky and Dynamic Sky finishing 1-2 in the $202,500 Sam F. Davis Stakes (gr. III). Falling Sky, a 7-1 upsetter, survived an objection to get the job done.
Saturday, February 02, 2013
My Name is Michael and Dynamic Sky square off in 1 1/16-mile test at Tampa Bay Downs
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
The inaugural running of the $400,000 Houston Ladies Classic -- -the richest race run at Sam Houston Race Park since it opened in 1994 -- -will feature round three for rivals Joyful Victory and Brushed by a Star.
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Kauai Katie has proven her talent among the best in North America, while Fusaichiswonderful is undefeated with four graded stakes victories earned in Puerto Rico. Pletcher saddles both at Gulfstream Jan. 26.
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Dynamic Sky recovered from a tough trip to win the $100,000 Pasco Stakes over stablemate Sky Commander Jan. 12 at Tampa Bay Downs, giving owner John Oxley and trainer Mark Casse consecutive scores in the race.
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Csaba is the best he's ever been, and if he sails through the Hal's Hope Stakes (gr. III) at Gulfstream Park Jan. 13, he'll punch his ticket to his first grade I stakes attempt in the $500,000 Donn Handicap on Feb. 9.
Friday, January 11, 2013
Kauai Katie is the biggest name of a loaded stakes day at Gulfstream Park Jan. 1. She'll contest the $100,000 Old Hat Stakes (gr. III) while sophomore males duke it out in the Gulfstream Park Derby and Spectacular Bid.
Friday, December 28, 2012
There were familiar names on top of the leader board at the end of the 13-race season-ending card at Woodbine Dec. 16, with Mark Casse taking the training title and Luis Contreras on top of the jockey standings.
Sunday, December 16, 2012
The two favorites in Nov. 24 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (gr. II) ran to their odds, engaging in a thrilling stretch duel at Churchill Downs before Uncaptured prevailed by a head over Frac Daddy.
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Hawthorne Gold Cup (gr. II) winner Pool Play was scratched from the Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (gr. I) the morning of the race, but not due to tendon issues similar to those he has battled in the past.
Friday, November 23, 2012
Just under four weeks after rolling to victory in the Iroquois Stakes (gr. III) at Churchill Downs, Uncaptured will target more success at the Louisville track Nov. 24 in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (gr. II).
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Bill Farish Jr.'s Pool Play will be pointed toward the Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (gr. I) Nov. 23 at Churchill Downs, but the 7-year-old might not be the only Clark starter for trainer Mark Casse.
Friday, November 09, 2012
Trainers Todd Pletcher and Mark Casse took issue with the Breeders' Cup decision banning the anti-bleeding medication furosemide in this year's five juvenile races during the World Thoroughbred Championships.
Thursday, November 01, 2012Mark Casse got Dynamic Sky for less than he expected and the colt has accomplished more than the trainer ever thought he would during his 2-year-old racing season.
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Around the Mark Casse barn, Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile Filly (gr. I) candidate Spring in the Air is known as the "Little Zenyatta" for her dressage-like prancing.
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Trainer Mark Casse talks about Classic contender Pool Play and his other Breeders' Cup horses.
Steve looks at Classic horses, and shares some Breeders' Cup photos.
The connections of Pool Play figured last year the horse wouldn't race again because of a tendon injury, but given time and sharp training by Mark Casse, the horse has made it to the Breeders' Cup Classic.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
There is plenty of international flavor in this year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (gr. IT) with Watsdachances, Spring Venture, and Sky Lantern.
Monday, October 29, 2012
Uncaptured overcame some traffic problems to register a convincing 5 1/2-length win in the $114,800 Iroquois Stakes (gr. III) Oct. 28 at Churchill Downs for his fifth win in six tries this year.
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Star Contender, confidently ridden by Patrick Husbands, took command near the top of the lane and cruised home a 3 1/4-length winner in the $250,400 Cup and Saucer Stakes.
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Favorite Delegation ran like a 6-5 choice should, taking the Durham Cup field wire-to-window to win the grade III Polytrack race over nine furlongs by 1 1/4 lengths over defending champ City Wolf.
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Pool Play won for the first time since suffering a tendon tear last year, and picked a good race to do it. The 7-year-old son of Silver Deputy took the $500,000 Hawthorne Gold Cup (gr. II) at Hawthorne Oct. 6.
Saturday, October 06, 2012
Spring Venture, trained by Mark Casse and ridden by Patrick Husbands, stayed unbeaten while prevailing under a hand ride Oct. 6 at Woodbine in the featured $205,361 Mazarine Stakes (Can-III).
Saturday, October 06, 2012
John Oxley's Spring in the Air closed with a huge run from mid-pack to win the $400,000 Darley Alcibiades (gr. I) by a length at Keeneland Oct. 5, punching her ticket to the Breeders' Cup.
Friday, October 05, 2012
Undefeated in four starts at Woodbine this year including three stakes scores, Uncaptured is a clear standout against six juvenile opponents for the $200,000 Grey Stakes (Can-III) at the Toronto track Oct. 7.
Thursday, October 04, 2012
Recent Natalma Stakes (Can-IIT) winner Spring Venture tries Polytrack for the first time in the $200,000 Mazarine Stakes (Can-III) for 2-year-old fillies Oct. 6 at Woodbine.
Wednesday, October 03, 2012
Rebounding from a seventh-place showing in the Travers Stakes (gr. I), favored Stealcase registered his first stakes victory with a late-running effort in the $158,934 Ontario Derby (Can-III) Sept. 16 at Woodbine.
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Trainer Mark Casse won the $250,000 Natalma Stakes (gr. IIT) for the fourth time in the past seven years when his fillies Spring Venture and Spring in the Air ran first and second in the one-mile turf event at Woodbine.
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Trainer Mark Casse entered Prospective and Stealcase in the $150,000 Ontario Derby at Woodbine Sept. 16, but only expects one to run. Casse will also send out Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Gary Barber's Patrioticandproud.
Thursday, September 13, 2012
The starting gate for the $250,000 Natalma Stakes (Can-IIT) on the Woodbine lawn Sept. 15 will be packed with promising 2-year-old fillies, 14 in all, with an automatic Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf berth at stake.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Uncaptured remained unbeaten in four starts as a 2-year-old with a smart 3 1/4-length victory over three opponents in the $172,565 Swynford Stakes Sept. 9 at Woodbine.
Sunday, September 09, 2012Sparked by a bidding war, a chestnut colt by English Channel sold for $275,000 to top the second session of the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (Ontario) selected yearling sale.
Tuesday, September 04, 2012