BloodHorse.com | Horse Racing News

Infrattini Continues Streak in Louisiana 'Cap

Z Thoroughbreds' homebred Infrattini earned his fourth straight victory, accomplished over four different tracks, by outfinishing odds-on choice Mark Valeski in the $100,000 Louisiana Handicap Jan. 19 at Fair Grounds.

Aruna Primed for Juddmonte Spinster Defense

Flaxman Holdings' Aruna seeks back-to-back wins in the $500,000 Juddmonte Spinster (gr. I) at Keeneland Oct. 6, facing 12 rivals as she attempts to become just the fourth horse to accomplish the feat.

Closing Argument Moves to La. for 2012

Closing Argument, a top 10 leading third-crop sire of 2011, has moved to Whispering Oaks Farm near Carnecro, La. for the 2012 breeding season. The son of Successful Appeal will stand for $5,000.

Right Choice Made For Aruna

Flaxman Holdings' homebred Aruna to go in Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT). The 4-year-old has impressed her connections from the start and has strong black-type pedigree to back up the decision.

Mr. Greeley's Grand October

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter
Three big winners the weekend of October 8-9 add to Mr. Greeley's growing legacy. Alan Porter also discusses the late Mr. Greeley's affinity for mares containing Fappiano.

Mr. Greeley Reaches New Heights

Mr. Greeley enjoyed a superlative weekend Oct. 8-9 as three of the deceased stallion's runners proved best at the highest level of racing.

Aruna Has Options After Easy Spinster Triumph

Favored Aruna, racing on Polytrack for the first time, emerged from the pack approaching mid-stretch and quickly took control to win the $500,000 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (gr. I) at Keeneland Oct. 9.

Crusade Charges to Victory in Middle Park

Longshot Crusade benefitted from a strong ride by jockey Seamie Heffernan as he charged between horses to capture the $234,000 Emaar Middle Park Stakes (Eng-I) at Newmarket Oct. 8.

Slideshow: 2010 Farewells

Remembering the people and horses that left us in 2010.

View Slideshow

Mr. Greeley Euthanized

Gainesway Farm stallion Mr. Greeley was euthanized early Nov. 30. The 18-year-old son of Gone West was diagnosed with laminitis several weeks ago. His condition recently deteriorated.

Tapit's Fee Upped to $80,000

Tapit, who stands at the Beck family's Gainesway Farm near Lexington, has enjoyed such a successful season that his fee has been upped to $80,000 from $50,000.

Mr Gruff Double Tough in San Simeon Repeat

Trainer Ron Ellis could have something special in Mr Gruff, who sped away from the field en route to a 2 1/4-length repeat victory in the San Simeon Handicap (gr. IIIT) on Santa Anita's hillside turf course April 17.

Mr. Greeley Colt Brings $260,000 at OBS

Big price comes soon after the start of the March sale.

Miss Catalyst Brings $325,000; to Race Again

Steve Davidson and Randy Gullatt's Twin Creeks Farm went to $325,000 for Miss Catalyst, a stakes-winning daughter of Mr. Greeley, who tops the Jan. 11 session of the Keeneland January horses of all ages sale.

Kentucky Bear Tops CTHS Winter Mixed Sale

The Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society winter mixed sale concluded its one-day session with a dramatic increase in gross receipts from last year's venue. One cause for the big increase was the sale topper, the grade I-placed stallion prospect Kentucky Bear who sold for $100,000.

Birdstone's Fee Upped to $30,000

Birdstone, sire of two of the three United States classic winners this year, will stand in 2010 for $30,000, up from $10,000, at the Beck family's Gainesway Farm near Lexington.

Greeley's Conquest Holds on in Remington Cup

Greeley's Conquest opened a three-length lead in the stretch and held on to win the $200,000 Remington Park Sprint Cup on the night of Aug. 22 at the Oklahoma City track.

Second-Crop Standouts

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter

The weekend brought a couple of new players to the 3-year-old scene and also underlined just how strong the second-crop sires are.

Kensei in Dwyer Upset; Warrior's Reward 3rd

Kensei, ridden by Edgar Prado and trained by Steve Asmussen, made a powerful move on the far turn en route to an impressive 3 1/4-length victory in the 92nd running of the grade II, $200,000 Dwyer at Belmont Park on the July 4 holiday card.

Mr Gruff Gets Smooth Trip in San Simeon

Front-running Mr Gruff won his stakes debut in style, turning back a brief challenge in the lane to win the $100,000 San Simeon Handicap (gr. IIIT) on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita April 18.

Isn't It Obvious

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter

Whywhywhy is now back with a bang, with Nownownow capturing the San Fernando Stakes (gr. II) and another son, Ikigai, capturing the Mr. Prospector Stakes (gr. III).

Mr. Greeley's Fee Lowered to $75,000

Gainesway has lowered the 2009 stud fee for Mr. Greeley from $100,000 to $75,000, payable when a live foal stands and nurses.

Sky Mesa Colt Tops; Day's Market off 36%

A weanling colt by Sky Mesa sold for $77,000 during the Nov. 14 session of Keeneland's November breeding stock sale. The day's gloomy final figures weren't any different from the rest of the sessions, with the gross off 36% from last year's figures.

Tapit's Fee Increased to $35,000

Tapit, whose daughter Stardom Bound won the Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I), will stand in 2009 for a fee of $35,000, up from $12,500 in 2008.

Keeneland Third Session Numbers Solid

No horses inspired buyers to pay dazzling seven-figure amounts during the third day of the Keeeneland September yearling sale in Lexington. But some of the results for the auction's first open session were encouraging after significant downturns during the two select sessions that kicked off the sale.

Mr. Greeley Colt Sells for $875,000

A chestnut son of Mr. Greeley went to Ahmed Zayat's Zayat Stables for $875,000 midway through the third session of the 2008 Keeneland September yearling sale Sept. 10 at the Central Kentucky auction house.

Average Up and Median Steady at Saratoga

Boosted by an impressive-looking son of Storm Cat, which fetched a final bid of $2 million, the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga select yearling sale ended its two-night run in New York Aug. 5 with an increase in average price. The median price held steady whle the gross revenue dipped slightly compared to last year's figures.

Ghostzappers Standing Out at Saratoga

Horse of the Year has offspring from his first crop in the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga select yearling sale.

F-T July Day 2: Mr. Greeleys Stand Out

Mr. Greeley offspring are among yearlings that buyers and consignors believe could sell well.

Mr. Greeley's Reputation Growing

Mr. Greeley is enjoying racetrack and commercial success overseas.

Records Fall at Tattersalls

A Mr. Greeley filly sells for 540,000 guineas at the Craven breeze-up auction.

Business Booms at Craven Sale

With several of the world's biggest owners present -- including Sheikh Mohammed, Sheikh Hamdan, and Michael Tabor -- Tattersalls' Craven breeze-up sale began Wednesday night in England with its most successful ever session.

OBS March Sale Surges at the Start

With four horses bringing more than $500,000 apiece, the Ocala Breeders Sales Co. (OBS) March select sale of 2-year-olds in training blasted out of the starting gate Tuesday in Central Florida.

Sir Greeley Skims Rail To Take Toboggan

Betting favorite Sir Greeley saved ground in the early going, moved along that same path in the upper stretch to take the lead, and held on gamely under Eibar Coa for a 3/4-length victory in the $100,000 Toboggan Handicap (gr. II) March 8 in the slop at Aqueduct.

Sir Greeley Ready for Toboggan Ride

In his last start, Denise Walsh's Sir Greeley finished well back in the Nov. 24 Hill 'n' Dale Cigar Mile (gr. I). Now trainer Jimmy Jerkens is dropping the son of Mr. Greeley down in class and shooting for a third stakes win in the $100,000-added Toboggan Handicap (gr. III) at Aqueduct March 8.

Tough Game to Stand in California

Tough Game, an earner of $300,330, has been retired from racing for stallion duty at West 12 Ranch near Lodi, Calif. The 8-year old son of Mr. Greeley will stand for a fee of $1,500.

Foxy Danseur Wires Sharp Cat

Odds-on favorite Foxy Danseur shook loose of pace rival Champagne Eyes mid-stretch and drew off to a 2 3/4-length win in the $107,100 Sharp Cat for 2-year-old fillies at Hollywood Park Nov. 17.

Mr. Greeley's Fee Upped to $125,000

Gainesway Farm has announced the 2008 stud fee for prominent sire Mr. Greeley will be $125,000, up from $75,000 in 2007.

Juvenile Turf Outcome Major Victory for Gainesway Farm

Victory by Nownownow in the inaugural Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf represents a major victory for stallions standing at the Beck family's Gainesway Farm near Lexington.

Commentary: Culture Change

By Bobby Trussell - Fifty years ago, the average number of lifetime starts per runner was more than 40. Now, shockingly, it is less than 14. Why? What has changed so much?

'Steady Progress' Marks Day 10 of Keeneland Sale

A filly from the family of Mr. Greeley and Street Sense topped day 10 of the Keeneland September yearling sale. Tom Gentry, agent, bought the Hold That Tiger filly for $182,000 from Four Star Sales, agent.

Day Eight Continues Strong at Keeneland

The market showed no sign of slowing as Keeneland concluded its eighth day of the September yearling sale.

Son of El Prado Highlights Keeneland Day Four

A striking son of El Prado sold for $750,000 to keep the train moving on the fourth day and the close of second catalog of the massive 15-day Keeneland September yearling sale. For the day, the sale company realized increases in gross, average, and median despite a drop in the number of horses sold.

Two Jockeys Hurt, Horses Euthanized in Belmont Spill

Two horses were euthanized and two riders were transported to the hospital after a spill in the fifth race at Belmont Park Sept. 13. They were Unrestricted, ridden by Javier Castellano, and Gruffles, under John Velazquez.

El Prado Son Goes for $750,000

A son of El Prado sold for $750,000 to keep the train moving on the fourth day of the 2007 Keeneland September yearling sale.

Distorted Humor Colt and Filly In Spotlight on Keeneland's Third Day

Offspring of Distorted Humor led the third session of the Keeneland September yearling sale Sept. 12 at the Central Kentucky auction house on a day that saw the number of horses sold decrease, while the gross, average, and median for the session increased.

Saoirse Abu: A Message in the Wind

Saoirse Abu has become a legitimate contender for a Cartier Award as European champion juvenile filly with victories in the Independent Waterford Wedgwood Phoenix Stakes (Ire-I) and the Moyglare Stud Stakes (Ire-I).

Shadwell Goes to $800,000 for Son of Mr. Greeley

An impressive-looking chestnut son of Mr. Greeley was purchased for $800,000 by Shadwell Farm's Rick Nichols to lead the afternoon session of the Keeneland September yearling sale.

Son of Smart Strike Sells for $700,000; Mr. Greeley Colt Brings $600,000 at Keeneland Day Three

A striking chestnut son of Smart Strike sold for $700,000 to top the early portion of the Keeneland September yearling sale. That was quickly followed by a $600,000 son of Mr. Greeley.

Pair of $425,000 Purchases Start Third Day of Sale

A daughter of Unbridled's Song and a son of Cherokee Run led the morning portion of the third day of the Keeneland September yearling sale, with each selling for $425,000.