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Smiling Tiger Tops Tough Churchill Downs Cast

Smiling Tiger, making his first appearance under the Twin Spires since finishing third in last fall's Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I), is the mild favorite in the $300,000 Churchill Downs Stakes (gr. II) May 7.

Midnight Interlude Posts Bullet Work

Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) winner Midnight Interlude posted his third consecutive bullet workout when he covered six furlongs in 1:13 3/5 on the Churchill Downs main track the morning of April 26.

Smiling Tiger Roars From Last in San Carlos

There were some relieved smiles in Santa Anita's winner's circle after favored Smiling Tiger overcame a bad stumble at the start to capture the $150,000 San Carlos Handicap (gr. II) by a desperate head in the rain Feb. 19

Smiling Tiger, Rosario Paired for San Carlos

A disappointment in last month's Palos Verdes Stakes (gr. II), two-time grade I winner Smiling Tiger will get a new jockey for the $150,000 San Carlos Handicap (gr. II) at Santa Anita Feb. 19 when Joel Rosario takes over.

Torrid Baffert Wins With Dude, Mythical Power

Game On Dude, idle since finishing fourth to Drosselmeyer in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) last June, returned to action at Santa Anita Jan. 27 with a sparkling victory as trainer Bob Baffert continued on his torrid pace.

Le Grand Cru Tries to Defend Kelso Crown

Regal Ransom is the 2-1 favorite in the $250,000 Kelso Handicap (gr. II), which is scheduled for dirt for the first time. Le Grand Cru won the off-the-turf race in 2009.

Blame Faces Another Test in JCGC

The 4-year-old son of Arch will look to conquer 10 furlongs for the first time when he faces a solid field in the $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I) Oct. 2 at Belmont Park.

Quality Road an Easy Woodward Winner

Quality Road got back on track in the $750,000 Woodward Stakes (gr. I), easily defeating an overmatched field under John Velazquez to earn his fourth grade I win Sept. 4 at Saratoga.

Quality Road Looks to Bounce Back in Woodward

Quality Road will try to rebound from his narrow Whitney Handicap (gr. I) defeat last month when headlining the field in the $750,000 Woodward Stakes (gr. I) Sept. 4 at Saratoga.

Valenzuela to Ride Enriched in San Diego

Ten runners, including a trio from the Bob Baffert barn, help form an intriguing lineup in the $200,000 San Diego Handicap (gr. II) at Del Mar July 31.

Shadowbdancing Makes Right Move in Cornhusker

Second in last year's Cornhusker Handicap (gr. II) at Prairie Meadows, Shadowbdancing was not to be denied in this year's $300,000 renewal, scoring the biggest win of his career by one length June 26.

Brass Hat Back to Dirt in Cornhusker Handicap

After nine consecutive races on turf Fred Bradley's Brass Hat will return to dirt as one of the horses to beat in the $300,000 Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap (gr. II) on June 26.

Redding Colliery Buries Lone Star 'Cap Foes

Redding Colliery disposed of pacesetter Euroears leaving the final turn and left his seven rivals far behind in capturing the $300,000 Lone Star Park Handicap (gr. III) for his first graded stakes victory May 31.

Mythical Power, Wasted Tears Top Texas Card

Seven stakes, including the $300,000 Lone Star Park Handicap and the $200,000 Ouija Board Distaff Handicap (both gr. III), top Lone Star Million Day on May 31 at the Grand Prairie, Texas track.

Baffert's Mythical Power Too Much for Texas

Favored Mythical Power wore down pacesetter Euroears in the final strides to capture the $200,000 Texas Mile Stakes (gr. III) April 24.

Jonesboro Bids for Repeat in Texas Mile

Eight-year-old Jonesboro is back to defend his title in the $200,000 Texas Mile Stakes (gr. III) at Lone Star Park against seven rivals April 24.

Sunland Derby a Success Story

Being graded for the first time in 2010, the Sunland Derby, the second richest Derby prep in North America, takes on added importance.

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Papa Clem Takes Another Shot in San Fernando

Papa Clem's last win came in the Arkansas Derby (gr. II) nine months ago, but the son of Smart Strike could be the horse to beat in a wide-open San Fernando Breeders' Cup Stakes (gr. II) at Santa Anita Jan. 16.

Baffert Duo Headlines Grade I Malibu

Trainer Bob Baffert, who won a pair of grade I stakes on the closing weekend of the Hollywood Park fall meeting, is in a prime position to do it again as the Santa Anita winter meet opens Dec. 26.

Mythical Power on Display

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter

If one was inclined to follow the form book literally, there had to be few better bets in a stakes race May 9 than Mythical Power in the Lone Star Derby (gr. III).

Mythical Power Rules Lone Star Derby

Peachtree Stable's homebred Mythical Power rebounded emphatically from a last-place effort in the Sunland Derby, taking over at the top of the lane under Victor Espinoza and drawing off for a resounding victory in the $400,000 Lone Star Derby (gr. III) May 9.

Asmussen Sends Out Three in Lone Star Derby

A Texas native, Steve Asmussen is the all-time leading trainer at Lone Star Park, but he has never captured the racetrack's signature event for 3-year-olds, the Lone Star Derby (gr. III). On May 9, Asmussen will have his best chance when he sends out three of the seven starters in the $400,000 contest.

Dozen Probable for Lexington Stakes

Keeneland stakes coordinator Tia Borgemenke has 12 horses listed as probable for the April 18 Lexington Stakes (gr. II), headed by 2008 Lane's End Breeders' Futurity (gr. I) winner Square Eddie.

Ky. Derby Trail: Quality Performances

There are three ways of looking at the Florida Derby (gr. I): the best horse won, the best horse finished second, and both horses ran sensational races and established themselves as major Kentucky Derby contenders. The consensus would have to be number three.

Kelly Leak Streaks to Sunland Derby Win

Favored Kelly Leak took the overland route for jockey Mike Smith to register a 1 1/2-length win in the $900,000 Sunland Derby before 16,388 at New Mexico's Sunland Park March 29.

Mayor Marv Favored in Sunland Park Derby

Mayor Marv, one of two colts entered by trainer Bob Baffert, is the morning-line favorite for the $800,000 Sunland Park Derby March 29. It's the New Mexico racetrack's richest race.