BloodHorse.com | Horse Racing News

Ciao Bella Takes Rampart with Authority

Michael B. Tabor's Ciao Bella ran like a favorite should at Gulfstream Park March 30, holding the advantage from gate to wire and drawing off to a 4 1/2-length victory in the $150,000 Rampart Stakes (gr. III).

War Academy Ready for Big Test, Baffert Says

With his dominating 3 1/2-length allowance score going 1 1/16 miles March 15, War Academy is ready to join the Derby party, according to both Bob Baffert and Mike Smith.

Coolmore Buys Interest in Unbeaten Verrazano

The Coolmore team of Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, and Susan Magnier has purchased an interest in unbeaten 3-year-old Verrazano and will race the son of More Than Ready in partnership with Let's Go Stable.

Shanghai Bobby Named Champion 2-Year-Old Male

Anyone who remembers the "old" days no doubt took great joy in seeing Shanghai Bobby win the Hopeful and Champagne stakes, arguably the two most prestigious 2-year-old stakes prior to the advent of the Breeders' Cup.

College Student Wins Eclipse Awards Contest

Megean O'Dell, a student in the Race Track Industry Program at the University of Arizona, has won the Eclipse Awards Sweepstakes sponsored by Starlight Racing, Michael Tabor, Susan Magnier, and Derrick Smith.

Shanghai Bobby Breezes 5F at Palm Meadows

Unbeaten Shanghai Bobby, an Eclipse Award finalist for 2-year-old male of 2012, breezed five furlongs in 1:01.42 over a fast track Jan. 13 at Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida.

Qaraaba Captures Robert J. Frankel

English-bred Qaraaba displayed a powerful turn of foot when closing from last to capture the Dec. 30 Robert J. Frankel Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Santa Anita Park.

An Investor's Perspective on Shanghai Bobby

Michael Tabor talked about what it is like to be an investor in Shanghai Bobby.

read blog

Trainer O'Brien Ready with Two 'Turf' Stars

With co-owner Derrick Smith looking on, Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien sent out Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) hopefuls St Nicholas Abbey and Treasure Beach for a gallop at Santa Anita Nov. 1.

Kingsbarns Storms to Racing Post Trophy Win

Kingsbarns went from debut maiden winner to early favorite for next year's Epsom Derby (Eng-I) with a victory over Van Der Neer in the Racing Post Trophy (Eng-I), Great Britain's final group of the year at Doncaster.

Excelebration to Run in Breeders' Cup Mile

Excelebration, who has been a runner-up to Frankel four times and third behind him once, will likely come to the Nov. 3 Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) at Santa Anita Park, trainer Aidan O'Brien said.

Magical Camelot Impressive in Investec Derby

Camelot kept his perfect record intact with a superb five-length victory in the $2,054,000 Investec Derby (Eng-I) at Epsom June 2.

Belle Royale Wins Gamely With Closing Rush

Belle Royale used a remarkable late kick to score her first graded or group win in the $250,000 Gamely Stakes (gr. IT) on the turf at Betfair Hollywood Park May 28.

So You Think Repeats in Tattersalls Gold Cup

So You Think regained his winning form with a decisive victory over Famous Name in the Tattersalls Gold Cup (Ire-I) at the Curragh May 27.

Power Surges to Victory in Irish Guineas

Power surged to the lead in deep stretch to capture the Abu Dhabi Irish Two Thousand Guineas (Ire-I) over Foxtrot Romeo at the Curragh May 26.

Homecoming Queen Wires One Thousand Guineas

A day after winning the Qipco Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-I), Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien returned to Newmarket to capture the filly equivalent with Homecoming Queen, a nine-length surprise winner May 6.

Brilliant Camelot Takes Two Thousand Guineas

Aidan O'Brien-trained Camelot took the lead in the final furlong and then held off the late challenge of French Fifteen to win the QIPCO Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-I) by a neck at Newmarket May 5.

Woodford Is Rooting for Its Derby 'Daddy'

Daddy Long Legs was foaled and raised at John and Susan Sykes' Woodford Thoroughbreds.

Daddy Long Legs in Final Drill; Ships Tuesday

Daddy Long Legs, winner of the UAE Derby (UAE-II) in his only start this year, had his final piece of work at Ballydoyle, Sunday, April 29, and will be flown to Kentucky on May 1.

Daddy Long Legs Confirmed for Derby

UAE Derby winner Daddy Long Legs, a son of Scat Daddy, will ship from Ireland to Churchill Downs for the May 5 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).

Daddy Long Legs Storms Home in UAE Derby

Daddy Long Legs held off the late challenges of Yang Tse Kiang and Wrote to win the $2 million UAE Derby Sponsored by the Saeed and Mohammed Al Naboodah Group (UAE-II) at Meydan Racecourse March 31.

Castaway Got Better and Better As a Yearling

Castaway, who won a division of the Feb. 20 Southwest Stakes (gr. III), kept getting better and better as a yearling, according to Mark Taylor of Kentucky-based Taylor Made Sales Agency.

Maiden Battle Hardened Gets Up in Sam Davis

Battle Hardened, given a patient ride by Julien Leparoux, earned the first win of his career when he defeated a big field in the $200,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes (gr. III) at Tampa Bay Downs.

Turf Title Goes to Jetsetter Cape Blanco

Cape Blanco won the champion male turf title by making three transatlantic trips to America and winning not only three grade I stakes, but three of the most prestigious turf stakes in America.

Castleton Lyons Stallion Bernstein Dies

Bernstein, the sire of 70 stakes winners, was euthanized Oct. 23 because of complications from colic. The 14-year-old stallion by Storm Cat out of the Affirmed mare La Affirmed stood at Castleton Lyons near Lexington.

QE II Winner Together Headed Back to Ireland

The iron filly Together was scheduled to return to Ireland Oct. 16, a day after her impressive 1 1/4-length victory in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes (gr. IT).

Cape Blanco Retired Due to Injury

Cape Blanco, who withstood a tenacious challenge for a game victory in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational (gr. IT) Oct. 1, has been retired due to an injury sustained in the race over yielding turf at Belmont Park.

Cape Blanco Takes Turf Classic in a Dogfight

Cape Blanco shipped across the pond from Ireland for third time to collect a grade I victory, barely outlasting a determined Dean's Kitten by a nose in the $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational (gr. IT) Oct. 1.

Finale Takes Wide Trip to Summer Stakes Win

This may be just the beginning for Finale, who earned a starting slot in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (gr. IT) with a three-quarters of a length win in the Summer Stakes Presented by TVG (Can-IIIT) on the Woodbine lawn.

Epsom Derby Winner Pour Moi Retired

Pour Moi, winner of this year's Investec Epsom Derby (Eng-I), has been retired from racing after injuring his left front fetlock while training at Chantilly for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-I).

Champion Canford Cliffs Retired to Coolmore

Canford Cliffs, who won five consecutive European group I stakes and defeated the great mare Goldikova in one of them, has been retired from racing for stallion duty at Coolmore Stud.

An Excited Virginia Oaks Victory

Michael Tabor's Excited stalked the pace before taking control nearing the eighth pole and edged away for a half-length victory in the Virginia Oaks (gr. IIIT) at Colonial Downs July 16.

Misty For Me Lands Irish One Thousand Guineas

Misty For Me capped off an incredible weekend for trainer Aidan O'Brien with a three-quarter-length victory over stablemate Together in the $459,921 Etihad Airways Irish One Thousand Guineas (Ire-I) at the Curragh May 22.

Montjeu Sires 100th Stakes Winner

Irish stallion Montjeu became the first son of the great Irish stallion Sadler's Wells to reach the 100 mark by number of stakes winners when his 3-year-old son Pour Moi won the Prix Greffulhe (Fr-II) May 7.

BHA Fines Trainer Aidan O'Brien

The British Horseracing Authority has fined Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien in connection with an incident involving Cape Blanco at York racecourse in May.

Society Selection Sells for $1.85 Million

Broodmare Society Selection was the first horse to crack the seven-figure price barrier at the Keeneland November breeding stock sale, bringing $1.85 million early in the auction's opening session Nov. 8 in Lexington.

Rip Van Winkle Retired

Breeders' Cup hopeful Rip Van Winkle has been retired after suffering slight setback

Canadian International: Joshua Tree Hangs On

Irish-bred Joshua Tree took the lead in mid-stretch and desperately held off the late charges of Mores Wells and favored Redwood to win the $2 million Pattison Canadian International (Can-IT) Oct. 16 at Woodbine.

Sprint Specialist Munnings to Ashford

Munnings, a seven-furlong sprint specialist with three grade II wins to his credit, has been retired and will stand the 2011 breeding season at Ashford Stud near Versailles, Ky.

Misty For Me Clear Winner in Moyglare Stud

Misty For Me took the lead at the start and never looked back, rolling to an easy one-length victory in the Moyglare Stud Stakes (Ire-I) at the Curragh Aug. 29.

Zoffany Paints Winning Portrait in Phoenix

Zoffany came charging with a late run under Johnny Murtagh to capture the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes (Ire-I) by a half-length at the Curragh Aug. 8.

Turning Top Spins Away in Beverly Hills

Turning Top became a graded stakes winner in her first try at 10 furlongs when she ran down longshot pacesetter Princess Taylor in the $100,000 Beverly Hills Handicap (gr. IIIT) on the turf at Hollywood Park June 26.

Florida Stallion Roar of the Tiger Dies

Roar of the Tiger, a full brother to 2009 leading sire Giant's Causeway, died the night of May 24 at Hartley/De Renzo, Walmac South near Ocala, Fla.

Connemara Completes Pletcher's Triple Play

Trainer Todd Pletcher completed a 3-year-old stakes triple Feb. 20 when favored Connemara, ridden by Russell Baze, captured the $150,000 El Camino Real Derby (gr. III) at Golden Gate Fields.

Jan Vermeer Masters Criterium Rivals

Jan Vermeer led from the start to post an upset victory over Emerald Commander in the Criterium International (Fr-I) at Saint-Cloud Nov. 1.

Thewayyouare to Ashford Stud

Thewayyouare, a high-class performer at 2 in France, is being retired from racing to join the stallion team at Ashford Stud near Versailles, Ky. The 4-year-old will become one of the few group I-winning sons of Kingmambo available to Kentucky breeders.

Saratoga Sale Topper Wins in Debut in Ireland

Fighting Brave, who brought the sale-topping price of $2 million at last year's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga select yearling auction, made his career debut a winning one at Dundalk in Ireland Oct. 4.

Munnings Brushes Off His Tom Fool Foes

Everything went Munning's way in the $200,000 Tom Fool Handicap (gr. II) at Belmont Park July 5. First, top sprinter Fabulous Strike, the heavy favorite, was scratched by trainer Todd Beattie. Then came a perfect trip for jockey John Velazquez, who drove the sharp 3-year-old colt through an inside gap at the top of the stretch on their way to a comfortable win.

Surgery on Dunkirk for Condylar Fracture

Dunkirk, the front-running, second-place finisher in the June 6 Belmont Stakes (gr. I), will undergo surgery today for a condylar fracture of the left hind cannon bone.

Sale Superstars Are Kentucky Derby Contenders

Desert Party and Dunkirk were sale ring superstars and now they've both got a shot May 2 at winning what many consider to be the world's most famous horse race, the Kentucky Derby Presented By Yum! Brands (gr. I).