BloodHorse.com | Horse Racing News

Preakness: Eddie Plesa Jr. on Itsmyluckyday

Trainer Eddie Plesa Jr. says throw out the Kentucky Derby...and asks the Archbishop of Baltimore for a favor.

watch video

Tough Task Awaits Gottcha Gold in Iselin

Beaten at short prices over the track in his last two starts, Gottcha Gold is back to defend his title in the $300,000 Philip H. Iselin Breeders' Cup Stakes (gr. III) at Monmouth Park Aug. 16, and he could well be favored again.

Gottcha Gold Defends Salvator Mile Title

Gottcha Gold, second in the Pimlico Special (gr. I) last time out, defends his Salvator Mile Handicap (gr. III) win of 2007 against five rivals at Monmouth Park July 5.

Derby Hopes Still Alive for Hey Byrn

Bea Oxenberg's Hey Byrn kept his Kentucky Derby hopes alive with a workmanlike 2 1/4-length win in the slowly run $150,000 Holy Bull Stakes (gr. III) at Gulfstream Park April 12.

Hey Byrn Makes Quick Return in Holy Bull

Bea Oxenberg's Hey Byrn returns just two weeks after a well-beaten fourth-place finish in the $1-million Florida Derby (gr. I). He's the choice in the $150,000 Holy Bull Stakes (gr. III) April 12 at Gulfstream Park.

Lezcano Takes Test Spin on Hey Byrn

Jose Lezcano took a test drive on Bea Oxenberg's 3-year-old Hey Byrn, expected to be one of the favorites in the Florida Derby (gr. I), during a five-furlong work at Calder Race Course the morning of March 22.

Gottcha Gold Gets Skip Away

Gottcha Gold often likes to set the pace, but the Centaur Farms Florida homebred stalked his way straight to the winner's circle March 15 in the $150,000 Skip Away Handicap (gr. III) at Gulfstream Park.

Hunting, Gottcha Gold Pursue Skip Away

Stuart Janney's homebred Hunting has not raced since a third-place finish behind Evening Attire in the Dec. 8 Queens County Handicap (gr. III), but the 5-year-old son of Coronado's Quest could return to winning form in the $150,000 Skip Away Handicap (gr. III) at Gulfstream Park. He'll tackle Gottcha Gold, Dr. Pleasure, Better Than Bonds, and others in the March 15 event.

Electrify Plugged In As Likely Spend a Buck Choice

A convincing winner of back-to-back stakes races in Florida, Calder dirt specialist Electrify will be seeking his first graded win Oct. 13 as the 122-pound highweight in the $100,000 Spend a Buck Handicap (gr. III).

Gottcha Gold Gets to Wire Just in Time in Salvator Mile

Centaur Farms' homebred Gottcha Gold took command at the start and never looked back as he gamely hung on for a neck victory over 1-10 favorite Lawyer Ron in the $150,000 Salvator Mile (gr. III) at Monmouth Park on Saturday.

Adhrhythm Overpowers Rivals in Filly FSS Division

Centaur Farms' Adhrhythm took the lead entering the far turn and drew off for a facile 4 3/4-length victory in the $400,000 My Dear Girl Division of the Florida Stallion Stakes Saturday at Calder Race Course.

Adhrhythm Dominates Florida's Susan's Girl

Centaur Farms' homebred filly Adhrhythm dominated the $150,000 Susan's Girl Division of the Florida Stallion Stakes for 2-year-old fillies, taking the seven-furlong event by 8 1/2 lengths.

Gotcha Gold Has Plesa Excited in Long Branch

Centaur Farms' Gotcha Gold, who "freaked" in the Coronado's Quest Stakes June 25, returns to action Saturday in the $150,000 Long Branch Breeders' Cup (gr. III) for 3-year-olds at Monmouth Park.

Go Figure: Magic Mecke Wins Mecke Handicap

What are the odds of a son of Mecke winning the $100,000 Mecke Handicap at Calder Race Course? On Tuesday, July 4, they were about 7-to-2 -- those were the off-time odds on Trilogy Stable's 6-year-old horse Magic Mecke in the holiday feature race at Calder Racecourse.

Homeister, Plesa Among Calder Hall of Fame Inductees

Calder Race Course will induct four individuals into its Hall of Fame this year on Sunday, Sept. 3: Shocker T. (horse), Eddie Plesa, Jr. (trainer), Herb and Ione Elkins (owner/breeder), and Rosemary Homeister, Jr. (jockey).

Mr. Silver, Up an Octave Battle in Palm Beach

Mr. Silver and Up an Octave, after trading decisions in two previous clashes, face off again in Sunday's $100,000 Palm Beach Stakes (gr. III) for 3-year-olds on the Gulfstream Park turf. Eight colts are entered.

Florida Million's Rose Classic An Open Clash

Bea Oxenberg and Laurie Plesa's B.B. Best, who returned to competition with a second-place finish in the Spend a Buck Handicap (gr. III) Oct. 15, is among the favorites for Saturday's $200,000 Carl G. Rose Classic Handicap, part of Calder Race Course's $1.2 million Florida Million.

Grade I Winner Songandaprayer Gets First Winner

Grade I winner Songandaprayer came through with his first winner when his daughter Stolen Prayer won April 26 by 15 lengths at Calder Race Course.

Plesa Aims B.B. Best for Fountain of Youth

B.B. Best, most recently fourth in Gulfstream Park's $250,000 Sunshine Millions Ocala Stud Dash Jan. 29, worked one mile handily in 1:44 4/5 at Calder Race Course Friday and is being pointed for the Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II) at Gulfstream March 5.

B.B. Best Gets Real in Florida Stallion Stakes

B.B. Best won the rubber-match in the $400,000 In Reality Division of the Florida Stallion Stakes for 2-year-olds by 1 3/4 lengths on Saturday at Calder Race Course.

'Juvenile Showcase' on Tap at Calder Monday

The $125,000 Affirmed and $125,000 Susan's Girl divisions of the Florida Stallion Stakes at seven furlongs on Labor Day Monday highlight the second Juvenile Showcase program Saturday at Calder Race Course.

Magic Mecke Rolls to Victory in Axthelm

Magic Mecke won his third consecutive race by taking the$100,000 Pete Axthelm Stakes Saturday at Calder Race Course, breaking the stakes record time in the process.

On-track Attendance Rises Slightly, Handle Down at Tropical Meet

Calder Race Course concluded its 31st Tropical meet on Thursday, Jan. 2. The meet, which traditionally kicks off the winter racing season in south Florida, offered 53 days of Thoroughbred horse racing.