BloodHorse.com | Horse Racing News

Preakness is Napravnik's Homecoming

Rosie Napravnik remembers galloping horses at Pimlico Race Course before she even earned her jockey's license. On May 18 aboard Mylute, she'll become just the third woman to ever ride in the Preakness Stakes (gr. I).

Mylute's Steady Work No Problem for Amoss

Trainer Tom Amoss said he only wanted a maintanance work from Louisiana Derby (gr. II) runner-up Mylute April 27 at Churchill Downs, and that was exactly what jockey Rosie Napravnik delivered.

Govenor Charlie Charges to Sunland Derby Win

Fast-developing Govenor Charlie became the latest colt to jump into the Triple Crown fray when the Bob Baffert trainee dominated eight 3-year-old opponents in winning the $800,000 Sunland Derby (gr. III) March 24.

Midnight Lucky Looks Mighty in Sunland Oaks

Trainer Bob Baffert grabbed his fifth win in the $200,000 Sunland Park Oaks when short-price favorite Midnight Lucky left the field behind on the far turn en route to an eight-length win March 24 in New Mexico.

Pedigree Analysis: The Upside of Shakin It Up

by Anne Peters
On Feb. 7, Darley announced the retirement of Quiet American, its 27-year-old son of Fappiano. Ten days later Quiet American's great-grandson Shakin It Up put himself on the classic trail.

Barretts March Sale Featuring Strong Sires

A week after Barretts extended its brand to include racing at Fairplex Park, the auction company will host its March sale of selected 2-year-olds in training in Pomona, Calif. The March 4 sale has cataloged 138 youngsters.

San Vicente: Shakin It Up Clears First Hurdle

Given a patient ride by David Flores, Shakin It Up rallied between horses to capture the $150,000 San Vicente Stakes (gr. II) Feb. 17 at Santa Anita Park, giving trainer Bob Baffert his eighth win in the sprint event.

Freshman Sires Score

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter
Nov. 11 saw new stakes winners from a trio of freshman sires, two of whom were represented by their first black-type winners.

Baffert Has 'Em Surrounded in Prevue

Five 2-year-olds passed the entry box for the Nov. 22 Hollywood Prevue Stakes at seven furlongs...and four of them are trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert.

Midnight Lute Gets His First Stakes Winner

Midnight Ballet became the first stakes winner for her sire, freshman sire Midnight Lute, and her dam, Buzz Song, in the $100,000 Sharp Cat Stakes Nov. 11.

Ladies Day at Keeneland; Sale Gains Continue

The first half of Book Four of the Keeneland September yearling sale sees fillies fill the top three price slots.

Prohibiting First Winner by Midnight Lute

Champion Midnight Lute sired his first winner when his son Prohibiting won at Hastings Racecourse June 23.

Flatter, Midnight Lute 2YOs Top OBS Drills

A filly by Flatter and colt by Midnight Lute worked quarter miles in :21 flat, the fastest works at the distance at the third and final session of the Under Tack Show for the OBS sale.

Midnight Lute Colt Among Fastest F-T Workers

A son of Midnight Lute was among the top performers May 17 during the second and final session of the under tack show for the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May sale of 2-year-olds in training.

Seeking the Dia Gets First Winner

The son of Storm Cat gets his first winner at Lone Star Park April 19.

Promising Outlook for Barretts March Sale

The synergy of the Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I) weekend coupled with the kick-off of the national schedule of 2-year-old auctions positions the Barretts March sale well for a good showing.

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.

Midnight Lute Colt Sells for $140,000 at F-T

After a sizzling opening session Oct. 24, it didn't take the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky fall yearling sale long to generate a six-figure price during its second session.

Adena Buys Three Top-Priced Yearlings

Two fillies that each sold for $110,000 highlighted the 11th session of the Keeneland September yearling sale.

Midnight Lute Filly Tops Good OBS Select Sale

A Midnight Lute filly purchased by SGV Thoroughbreds brought the top price of $110,000 Aug. 23 at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. select yearling sale.

Big Brown Tops FTK Freshman Sire List

Big Brown, the 2008 champion 3-year-old male and dual classic winner, took a major step up as a stallion at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July select yearling sale.

Podcast: Talkin' Horses with Eddie Woods

Eddie Woods answers questions about pinhooking, conformation, vet exams, Midnight Lute, and more.

Listen Now!

Stormy Atlantic Fee Dips to $30,000

Stormy Atlantic, who is represented this year by 10 stakes winners and the earners of $5.9 million, will stand in 2011 for $30,000 at John Sikura's Hill 'n' Dale Farms near Lexington.

Champion Midnight Lute Sires First Foal

The first reported foal by Eclipse Award winner Midnight Lute is the initial offspring out of grade I winner Touch Tiz's Sis.

And They're Off: Eclipse Awards Review

Hosted by Lenny Shulman and Steve Haskin, "And They're Off" is a bi-monthly online video series sponsored by Darby Dan Farm. This week, Lenny and Steve review the Eclipse Award winners. Plus, Everybody wants to buy a Derby Winner.

Eclipse Ceremony Meets Expectation

Eclipse Award attendees and the TVG viewers tuned in on the night of Jan. 26 were anticipating, and many were hoping, that Curlin would repeat as Horse of the Year.

Midnight Lute to Hill 'n' Dale

Midnight Lute, the only horse to win the Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) twice, has been retired from racing and will stand at John Sikura's Hill 'n' Dale Farms near Lexington in 2009.

Midnight Lute Makes It a Double

Riding his fourth Breeders' Cup winner of the weekend, Garrett Gomez guided Midnight Lute to his second win in the Sentient Flight Group Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) Oct. 25 at Santa Anita Park. The son of Real Quiet won the Sprint last year. The final time for six furlongs was 1:07.08.

Baffert Hopes for Big BC with Trio

Bob Baffert will send out a pair of Breeders' Cup champions this weekend in Midnight Lute and Indian Blessing, hoping to repeat his strong 2007 World Championships.

BC 2008: Year of the Repeat Attempts

Past Breeders' Cup champions Curlin, Kip Deville, Ginger Punch, Indian Blessing, Midnight Lute, Better Talk Now, and Red Rocks are back trying for more glory.

BC Sprint Choices Draw Inside

Cost of Freedom and Street Boss drew posts 1 and 2, respectively, for the Sentient Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I). The pair had finished one-two in the Sept. 27 Ancient Title Stakes (gr. I) over the same Pro-Ride synthetic surface they will be competing on in the Oct. 25 Sprint.

Midnight Lute in 'Beautiful' Sprint Work

Midnight Lute, the defending Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) winner, worked a half-mile at Santa Anita Oct. 20. The official clockers timed him in :46.80 on the Pro-Ride surface, while trainer Bob Baffert clocked him in :47.07.

Sprint: Double Time

Trainer Bob Baffert will be trying to accomplish something in the Sentient Flight Group Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) never done before-win the race twice with the same horse.

Lewis Michael Draws Off in Pat O'Brien

Illinois shipper Lewis Michael got a perfect setup along the inside to post a runaway upset in the $300,000 Pat O'Brien Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II) at Del Mar Aug. 24. Champion sprinter Midnight Lute failed to fire.

Midnight Lute Ready to Roll in O'Brien

Midnight Lute, last year's Eclipse Award champion sprinter, has been tearing up the track in the mornings as he prepares for his 2008 debut in the $300,000 Pat O'Brien Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II) at Del Mar Aug. 24.

Midnight Lute Tops Del Mar Mark in Work

Sprint champion Midnight Lute appears to be ready for his next start after working faster than the track record for seven furlongs on Del Mar's Polytrack racing surface Aug. 7.

Bustin Stones to Run Carter on Lasix

Bustin Stones worked March 22 in preparation for his grade I debut in the Carter Handicap on April 5. Trainer Bruce Levine said the undefeated colt will run on Lasix.

World Cup Card Has Strong Nominees

Curlin, the 2007 Horse of the Year in North America and officially the world's highest-rated horse still in training, heads a list of 169 horses nominated for the $6-million Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) sponsored by Emirates Airline March 29.

Midnight Lute: Sprinter

Nominated as one of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association's moments of the year, Midnight Lute's TVG Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) feat cemented him as the obvious choice for an Eclipse Award as champion of his division.

In Summation Has Big Say in 'Verdes

With TVG Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) winner Midnight Lute skipping the race, synthetic track standout In Summation takes center stage in the $150,000 Palos Verdes Handicap (gr. II) over the Santa Anita Cushion Track Jan. 21.

Commentator Sets Track Record

For trainer Nick Zito, this week has truly been the best of times and the worst of times, at least where older horses are concerned. One day after 5-year-old Hesanoldsalt had to be euthanized following a freak accident at Palm Meadows, 7-year-old Commentator set a track record at Gulfstream Park - and blew away his competition with a 14-length victory Jan. 17.

'Lute Drills for Palos Verdes

Midnight Lute worked six furlongs in a bullet 1:10.60 on Santa Anita's Cushion Track Jan. 14 in preparation for the Jan. 21 Palos Verdes Handicap (gr. II).

'Lute to Return in Palos Verdes

Midnight Lute, expected to earn an Eclipse Award as the nation's outstanding sprinter in 2007 after his stirring win in the TVG Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I), is being targeted for the Palos Verdes Handicap (gr. II) to begin his 2008 campaign.

Daaher Beats 'Lute' in Cigar Mile

Shadwell Stable's Daaher upset Midnight Lute, the TVG Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) winner, by 2 1/2 lengths in the $294,000 Hill 'n' Dale Cigar Mile Handicap (gr. I) at Aqueduct on Nov. 24. Midnight Lute, the 1-2 favorite in the five-horse field, finished second.

'Lute's Ready to Roll in Cigar Mile

When you have a horse at the top of his game, seize the moment and have some fun, says trainer Bob Baffert. With an Eclipse Award as top sprinter all but a certainty, Midnight Lute looks to add to his laurels in the $300,000 Hill 'n' Dale Cigar Mile (gr.I) at Aqueduct Nov. 24.

Tasteyville Will Miss Cigar Mile

Tasteyville, who easily won the Sport Page Handicap (gr. III) Oct. 27, will not run in the Hill 'n' Dale Cigar Mile Handicap (gr. I) at Aqueduct Nov. 24 because of a minor leg injury.

Midnight Lute Among Cigar Mile Noms

Mike Pegram's Midnight Lute, winner of the TVG Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I), is expected for the Nov. 24 Hill 'n' Dale Cigar Mile (gr. I), which highlights Aqueduct's HolidayFest.

Eclipse Awards a No-Brainer This Year

Start engraving the Eclipse Awards. This year's honors are all but a done deal. Despite the horrible conditions at Monmouth Park, the Breeders' Cup World Championships were surprisingly formful, with several favorites and leading contenders turning in dominating performances.

Classic Winner Real Quiet Sires a Top Sprinter

Now as a sire, Classic winner Real Quiet is responsible for one of America's top sprinters, as evidenced by Midnight Lute's scintillating victory in the TVG Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I).

Full Moon Fever: Midnight Lute Last to First in Sprint

With a strong last-to-first move in the slop at Monmouth Park, Midnight Lute stormed to a 4 3/4-length victory over the front-running Idiot Proof in the $2 million TVG Breeders' Cup Sprint.