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BloodHorse.com Articles for "Michael Matz"

Somali Lemonade Sweeps to Smart Jessamine Win

Somali Lemonade Sweeps to Smart Jessamine Win

Favored Somali Lemonade is on her way to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (gr. IIT) after sweeping to victory in the $150,000 JPMorgan Chase Jessamine Stakes (gr. IIIT) on a yielding Keeneland grass course Oct. 13.

 Thursday, October 13, 2011
No Way to Bottle Up Union Rags in Champagne

No Way to Bottle Up Union Rags in Champagne

Unbeaten Union Rags, forced to wait for room in traffic, slipped past pacesetter Right to Vote on the outside in mid-stretch and drew off to capture the $300,000 Champagne Stakes in dominating style at Belmont Park Oct. 8.

 Saturday, October 08, 2011
Jacksons, Matz Suddenly Part Ways

Jacksons, Matz Suddenly Part Ways

Five years after winning the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) with the ill-fated Barbaro, owners Roy and Gretchen Jackson and trainer Michael Matz have parted ways.

 Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Union Rags Romps in Sloppy Saratoga Special

Union Rags Romps in Sloppy Saratoga Special

Javier Castellano described Union Rags as "unbelievable" following the Three Chimneys Saratoga Special Stakes (gr. II) Aug. 15 in upstate New York.

 Monday, August 15, 2011
Buyers, Sellers React to Book Two Format

Buyers, Sellers React to Book Two Format

Following the first few days of Book Two horses being offered under a new format at the Keeneland September yearling sale, buyers and consignors had a chance to reflect on the positives and negatives of the change.

 Thursday, September 16, 2010
Super Saver, Barbaro Items in Charity Auction

Super Saver, Barbaro Items in Charity Auction

A halter and an autographed photo of Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands winner Super Saver and a Barbaro print will be auctioned off on eBay to benefit the Halo House Foundation in Houston, Texas.

 Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Nicanor Draws Post 13 in Dixie Stakes

Nicanor Draws Post 13 in Dixie Stakes

Nicanor, full brother to 2006 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner Barbaro, drew the far outside post in a field of 13 for his stakes debut in the $200,000 Dixie (gr. IIT) on the Pimlico turf May 15.

 Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Barbaro's Brother a Step Away from Derby

Barbaro's Brother a Step Away from Derby

Barbaro's full brother could be one strong run away from the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).

 Friday, March 19, 2010
Lentenor Upset by Doubles Partner

Lentenor Upset by Doubles Partner

Lael Stable's Lentenor, the full brother to Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Barbaro, was upset by WinStar Farms' Doubles Partner in a 1 1/8-mile turf allowance at Gulfstream Park Feb. 17.

 Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Lentenor Entered to Run Feb. 17 in Florida

Lentenor Entered to Run Feb. 17 in Florida

The colt will compete in a 1 1/8-mile allowance race at Gulfstream Park.

 Friday, February 12, 2010
Barbaro's Brother, Lentenor, Breaks Maiden

Barbaro's Brother, Lentenor, Breaks Maiden

Lentenor, a full brother to ill-fated 2006 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner Barbaro, broke his maiden impressively on the turf Jan. 20 at Gulfstream Park.

 Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Lentenor Has Jan. 20 Gulfstream Turf Date

Lentenor Has Jan. 20 Gulfstream Turf Date

Lael Stable's Kentucky homebred Lentenor, a full-brother to the ill-fated Barbaro, worked an easy half mile in :49 3/5 at Palm Meadows Jan. 16 in preparation for his next start for trainer Michael Matz.

 Saturday, January 16, 2010
Barbaro Brother Lentenor Second in Turf Debut

Barbaro Brother Lentenor Second in Turf Debut

In his turf debut, Lentenor, the 2-year-old full brother to 2006 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Barbaro, came close but had to settle for second behind upset winner On Vacation in a maiden special weight race at Aqueduct Nov. 28.

 Saturday, November 28, 2009
Lentenor Makes Turf Debut at Aqueduct Nov. 28

Lentenor Makes Turf Debut at Aqueduct Nov. 28

Lentenor, the 2-year-old full brother to 2006 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Barbaro, will make his second career start in third race at Aqueduct Nov. 28.

 Friday, November 27, 2009
Barbaro's Brother Lentenor Third in Debut

Barbaro's Brother Lentenor Third in Debut

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 Tallies Royal Upset in Canadian

Princess Haya Tallies Royal Upset in Canadian

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

Experts Discuss Conformation in New DVD

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

New BH DVD: Conformation for Performance

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 Wins Again on Turf

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
Barbaro's Brother Nicanor Breaks Maiden by 15

Barbaro's Brother Nicanor Breaks Maiden by 15

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
Churchill Downs Unveils Barbaro Statue

Churchill Downs Unveils Barbaro Statue

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
King's Bishop Winner Visionaire Retired

King's Bishop Winner Visionaire Retired

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

Advances in Equine Drug Testing Revealed

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 Injured Slightly in Debut

Nicanor Injured Slightly in Debut

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 Finishes 10th in  Career Debut

Nicanor Finishes 10th in Career Debut

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
Herboriste Spoils Party For J'ray

Herboriste Spoils Party For J'ray

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
Wishful Tomcat Appetizing in Discovery

Wishful Tomcat Appetizing in Discovery

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
Palmilla Leads Diverse Dowager Field

Palmilla Leads Diverse Dowager Field

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 Won't Point for Breeders' Cup

Visionaire Won't Point for Breeders' Cup

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
Glen Falls: Dynaforce Should Be Tough

Glen Falls: Dynaforce Should Be Tough

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
Ready Set Goes in West Virginia Derby

Ready Set Goes in West Virginia Derby

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
Is Ready Set Ready For Barbaro Stakes?

Is Ready Set Ready For Barbaro Stakes?

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
Red-Hot Mauralakana Eyes New York 'Cap

Red-Hot Mauralakana Eyes New York 'Cap

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 On the Improve

Chelokee On the Improve

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's Surgery Goes 'Very Well'

Chelokee's Surgery Goes 'Very Well'

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
Inside Track: Great Expectations

Inside Track: Great Expectations

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
Matz is Quietly Confident in Visionaire

Matz is Quietly Confident in Visionaire

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
Chelokee Continues Comeback in Alysheba

Chelokee Continues Comeback in Alysheba

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
Visionaire Breezes As Expected

Visionaire Breezes As Expected

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
'First Saturday in May' Carried Over

'First Saturday in May' Carried Over

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
Tale of Ekati Breezes in 1:00 1/5

Tale of Ekati Breezes in 1:00 1/5

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
Video: Blue Grass Stakes Preview Dinner

Video: Blue Grass Stakes Preview Dinner

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
Parity Abounds in Suwannee River H.

Parity Abounds in Suwannee River H.

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

A Day At The Spa: Aug. 31, Racetrack Humor Volume II

"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 Day At The Spa: Aug. 19, Racetrack Humor

A collection of noteworthy quotes from last week's backside meanderings...

 Sunday, August 19, 2007

A Day At The Spa: July 30, Morning at Matz's

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 on Offense in Monmouth's Long Branch Stakes

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 Documentary Debuts June 6

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

Matz Says Chelokee Unlikely for Preakness

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

Street Sounds Spurts Clear in Hilltop Stakes

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