Lael Stables' Lentenor, the full brother to 2006 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Barbaro, finished third in his career debut on closing day at Keeneland Oct. 31, a race won by favored Positive Split.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Princess Haya, making her graded stakes debut, rallied along the hedge to nose Eclipse Award-winning turf female Forever Together in the $283,376 Canadian Stakes (Can-IIT) at Woodbine Sept. 20.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Michael Matz, Keeneland sales inspector Ryan Mahan, Fasig-Tipton sales inspector Bill Graves, and noted bloodstock agent Buzz Chace share their knowledge and guiding principles when it comes to analyzing conformation in Conformation for Performance, a DVD released by Blood-Horse Publications.
Thursday, September 03, 2009
Novice and experienced horsemen alike can now gain invaluable insight into how the experts judge a young horse's athletic potential with the release of Conformation for Performance. The DVD is an hour-long, step-by-step guide for assessing conformation.
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
Nicanor, who broke his maiden by more than 15 lengths last out, followed up by going wire-to-wire for a 1 3/4-length allowance score June 17 on the Delaware Park turf.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Trainer Michael Matz switched Nicanor to the turf for his fourth career start and it clearly suited the colt well, as he demolished a maiden special weight field by 15 1/4 lengths at Delaware Park May 13. He is a full brother to 2006 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Barbaro
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Fans entering Gate 1 at Churchill Downs may have their breath taken away when they arrive for the races Kentucky Derby week following the unveiling of life-sized statue of Barbaro April 26. The event drew a "Friends of Barbaro" crowd of about 500 who cheered with approval when the tarp was pulled off the sculpture.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Grade I winner Visionaire has been retired from racing after being unable to come back following an injury he likely suffered in his victory in the NetJets King's Bishop Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, trainer Michael Matz, and owners Roy and Gretchen Jackson, have invited the public to attend a presentation by Dr. Lawrence R. Soma of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine's New Bolton Center and Dr. Scot Waterman of the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Nicanor had an excuse for his 10th-place finish in his career debut Jan. 31 at Gulfstream Park in Florida. The full brother to 2006 Kentucky Derby Presented By Yum! Brands (gr.I) winner Barbaro injured himself slightly leaving the starting gate.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Nicanor's debut wasn't one to remember. The 3-year-old full brother to 2006 Kentucky Derby Presented By Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Barbaro finished 10th in a one-mile maiden race at Gulfstream Park Jan. 31, hardly an encouraging step toward what his connections hoped would be a journey into this year's Triple Crown races.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Lawrence Goichman was hoping for a storybook ending for his homebred mare J'ray. A win in the $150,000 La Prevoyante Handicap (gr. IIT) would not only give the 5-year-old a victory in her final start, but would push her over $1 million in career earnings. Herboriste had other plans.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Winter Park Partners' Wishful Tomcat, a late-blooming 3-year-old with four wins in his last five starts, tries to notch his first graded stakes score when he takes on seven rivals in the $100,000-added Discovery Handicap (gr. III) Nov. 22 at Aqueduct.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
George Strawbridge Jr.'s Palmilla, the only graded stakes winner in an overflow field of 12 older fillies and mares, tops the wide open $150,000 Rood and Riddle Dowager Stakes at Keeneland Oct. 19.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Visionaire, winner of the Aug. 23 NetJets King's Bishop Stakes (gr. I), won't be pointed for the Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita Park in October because none of the races offers him the opportunity to do "what he does best," according to a recent article on Team Valor International's Web site.
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
Dynaforce, a hard-luck loser in both of her American starts, takes a small step down in class in hopes of securing her first win over here, as she leads a field of seven in the $100,000 Glen Falls Handicap (gr. IIIT) Sept. 1 at Saratoga.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
The connections of Ready Set were rewarded for their patience Aug. 2 when the colt earned his first career stakes victory in a big way -- the $750,000 West Virginia Derby (gr. III) at Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort.
Saturday, August 02, 2008
Michael Matz is expecting a big improvement from Ready Set in his next tilt, the $300,000 Barbaro Stakes (gr. III) July 13 at Delaware Park. Six 3-year-olds have been entered in the 1 1/16-mile event on the main track.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Robert Scarborough's Mauralakana looks to increase her value as a future broodmare even more when she seeks her fourth stakes victory of the season June 21 in the $250,000 New York Handicap (gr. IIT) at Belmont Park.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Chelokee, who dislocated his right front ankle May 2 during the Alysheba Stakes (gr. III) on the Kentucky Oaks day undercard at Churchill Downs, continues to be on the improve at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, according to Dr. Larry Bramlage.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Chelokee, who dislocated his right front ankle May 2 at Churchill Downs, underwent surgery that "went very well" May 5 at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, according to Dr. Larry Bramlage.
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
On the morning of April 30, as the eyes of the nation turned to Churchill Downs for the upcoming running of the 134th Kentucky Derby, a Brook Ledge horse van arrived at Stephens Thoroughbreds in Ocala, Fla.
Monday, May 05, 2008
Things are relatively quiet at the barn of trainer Michael Matz and void of the media buzz that surrounded other such barns as Richard Dutrow and Eoin Harty leading up to Saturday's Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Centennial Farms' Chelokee, on the Triple Crown trail a year ago, makes his return to graded stakes action May 2 when he faces six older horses in the $150,000 Alysheba Stakes (gr. III) on the dirt at Churchill Downs.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Michael Matz didn't expect Visionaire to sizzle in his final work before the Kentucky Derby Presented By Yum! Brands (gr. I), so the trainer was satisfied when the colt breezed a half-mile in :48.40 Monday morning at Churchill Downs.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Documentary filmmakers John and Brad Hennegan announced their film "The First Saturday in May," which made its debut April 18 in approximately 20 cities around the country, has been carried over for at least one more week in six Truly Indie theaters. The film will also make its debut at several other theaters starting April 24.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Trainer Barclay Tagg sent Tale of Ekati out for a five-furlong work Wednesday morning at Keeneland, and was pleased with the colt's performance.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
The Blue Grass Stakes News Minute plus interviews from the Toyota Blue Grass (gr. I) dinner held on April 10, 2008. Includes interviews with Michael Matz, trainer of Visionaire, Edgar Prado, jockey for Monba, Robert LaPenta, owner of Cool Coal Man and Stevil and more.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Todd Pletcher and Michael Matz will each saddle a pair of starters Feb. 3 in what looks to be an intriguing matchup of 12 fillies and mares for the $100,000 Suwannee River Handicap (gr. IIIT) on the Gulfstream Park turf.
Friday, February 01, 2008
"I like the winners circle! I want to put one in my house!" - hotwalker Iain Holmes after visiting the one at Saratoga with a Michael Matz winner.
Friday, August 31, 2007
A collection of noteworthy quotes from last week's backside meanderings...
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Stroll through Michael Matz's shedrow and you'll undoubtedly come across Iain Holmes. He's the only hotwalker who speaks fluent English--which is what you would hope, since he comes from that side of the pond.
Monday, July 30, 2007
First Defence will tackle the field when six horses go postward in Saturday's Long Branch Breeders' Cup Stakes at Monmouth Park.
Friday, July 13, 2007
HBO's "Barbaro," a documentary exploring the triumph and tragedy of the winner of the 2006 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), will premiere June 6.
Friday, June 01, 2007
Centennial Farms' Chelokee will probably not compete in the Preakness (gr. I) May 19 but is headed to another race on the program, trainer Michael Matz said Sunday.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Hidden Creek Farm's Street Sounds left the starting gate as the 1-5 favorite, quickly spurted to the lead from her outside post, and raced on cruise the rest of the way to score an easy victory in the $60,000 Hilltop Stakes for 3-year-old fillies contested over firm turf Saturday at Pimlico.
Saturday, May 12, 2007
The pill pull at the racing office for the Derby is one of the most dramatic moments of the week.
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
The annual Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders' trainers' dinner in Louisville brought out a mixture of memories, tears, and honors. The post-dinner interviews with trainers of Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) hopefuls brought some insights into the running of Derby 133 on Saturday.
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Fans traveled from around the world to pay tribute and honor Barbaro at Delaware Park on Sunday on what would have been the Kentucky Derby winner's fourth birthday.
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Trainer Michael Matz was enthused with a strong gallop by Centennial Farm's Chelokee on Friday at Keeneland, but said a bid for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) had been ruled out for the third-place finisher in the Florida Derby (gr. I).
Friday, April 27, 2007
NBC's one-hour documentary, "Barbaro: A Nation's Horse," will premiere Sunday, April 29, on what would have been the 2006 Kentucky Derby winner's fourth birthday.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Street Sounds, making her first start for trainer Michael Matz since winning the Selima Stakes last November on the turf at Laurel, stayed well off the rail at Keeneland Thursday afternoon, scoring a neck victory over favorite Forever Together in the $250,000 Stonerside Beaumont Stakes (gr. II).
Thursday, April 12, 2007
NBC will recount the heroic story of Barbaro in a one-hour documentary that will air on the network April 29, which would have been the horse's fourth birthday.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
By Sean Clancy - In early January, I found myself at my kitchen table, trying to figure out an end to the book I was writing on Barbaro and Matz. I couldn't shake Matz' voice from my head, "How do you know that's the end? Maybe there's a lot more to the story..."
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
The Special Eclipse Award, which honors outstanding individual achievements or contributions to Thoroughbred racing, isn't given out every year. Not surprisingly, the award for 2006 has been bestowed upon Roy and Gretchen Jackson and the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine's George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals at New Bolton Center.
Monday, January 22, 2007
The Maryland Jockey Club has changed the name of the Sir Barton Stakes to the Barbaro Stakes. The 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds is one of eight added money races on the Preakness (gr. I) undercard.
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Sangrita, running for the Kentucky Derby-winning team of trainer Michael Matz and jockey Edgar Prado, grabbed the lead approaching the top of the stretch and powered to a two-length victory over Joint Effort in the $170,250 Chilukki Stakes (gr. II) at Churchill Downs Thursday.
Thursday, November 02, 2006
The individuals associated with undefeated Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner Barbaro, veterinary surgeon Dr. Dean W. Richardson and the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine's New Bolton Center, and veteran racing journalist Steven Crist will be honored later this year with awards presented by the National Turf Writers Association.
Friday, August 25, 2006
Though the public has commended Dr. Dean Richardson's dedication to Barbaro's recovery from his catastrophic Preakness (gr. I) injuries and recently developed laminitis, the Landenberg, Pa. veterinarian insists he is only one of many to help the Kentucky Derby (gr. I)-winning colt throughout each day.
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Trainer John Servis and owner Rick Porter, who have been together for more than 15 years, have gone their separate ways, Porter said Wednesday.
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
