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Grade I Winner Pool Play Targets Elkhorn

Pool Play will try to add a graded stakes victory on turf to a career resume that includes graded stakes scores on dirt and synthetic surfaces in the $150,000 Elkhorn Stakes (gr. II) April 25 at Keeneland.

THS: Donn Handicap

Tom LaMarra and Pete Denk handicap the loaded Donn Handicap field.

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Old-Timers Flat Out, Pool Play Clash in Donn

Grade I winners, at ages 8 and 9, respectively, face talented field at Gulfstream.

Csaba Keeps Hot Streak Alive in Hal's Hope

Favored Csaba ran his stakes winning streak to four and likely stamped his ticket to next month's Donn Handicap (gr. I) with his victory in the $100,000 Hal's Hope (gr. III) Jan. 13 at Gulfstream Park.

Hal's Hope Could Springboard Csaba to Donn

Csaba is the best he's ever been, and if he sails through the Hal's Hope Stakes (gr. III) at Gulfstream Park Jan. 13, he'll punch his ticket to his first grade I stakes attempt in the $500,000 Donn Handicap on Feb. 9.

Pool Play Out of Clark

Hawthorne Gold Cup (gr. II) winner Pool Play was scratched from the Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (gr. I) the morning of the race, but not due to tendon issues similar to those he has battled in the past.

THS: The Clark Handicap

Claire and Frank preview the Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs Nov. 23.

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Shackleford Aims to Go Out On Top in Clark

In his final career start, classic winner Shackleford will try to add one more highlight Nov. 23 in a compelling edition of the Clark Handicap presented by Norton Healthcare (gr. I) at Churchill Downs.

Shackleford Works, Still Clark or Cigar Mile

Potential Clark Handicap (gr. I) highweight Shackleford breezed at Churchill Downs Nov. 17; a decision will be made Nov. 19 regarding his final start. Clark contenders Bourbon Courage and Cease were also on the worktab.

Weights Assigned for Clark, Falls City

Game On Dude was named the 125-pound highweight for the $400,000-added Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs Nov. 23, but is not expected to run. The likely highweight could be Shackleford.

Nominees for Clark, Other Stakes Released

Nominations for five graded stakes events to be run closing week at Churchill Downs were released Nov. 10. Headlining 158 runners are Clark contenders Shackleford, Game on Dude, Pool Play, Take Charge Indy, and Coil.

Headed by Pool Play, Casse Trio Targets Clark

Bill Farish Jr.'s Pool Play will be pointed toward the Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (gr. I) Nov. 23 at Churchill Downs, but the 7-year-old might not be the only Clark starter for trainer Mark Casse.

Fort Larned Wins Thrilling BC Classic

Janis R. Whitham's Fort Larned led from gate to wire and held off a sustained stretch bid by Mucho Macho Man to win the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) before a crowd of 55,123 at Santa Anita Park Nov. 3.

Horse of the Year on the Line For 'Dude'

Game On Dude could put himself atop the favorites list for Horse of the Year with a victory in the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I).

BC Interview: Trainer Mark Casse

Trainer Mark Casse talks about Classic contender Pool Play and his other Breeders' Cup horses.

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Haskin's Countdown to the Cup: Mucho Doings

Steve looks at Classic horses, and shares some Breeders' Cup photos.

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Time, Training Give Pool Play Another Chance

The connections of Pool Play figured last year the horse wouldn't race again because of a tendon injury, but given time and sharp training by Mark Casse, the horse has made it to the Breeders' Cup Classic.

Pool Play's Gold Cup Tops Casse's Conquests

Pool Play won for the first time since suffering a tendon tear last year, and picked a good race to do it. The 7-year-old son of Silver Deputy took the $500,000 Hawthorne Gold Cup (gr. II) at Hawthorne Oct. 6.

Alternation Returns in Hawthorne Gold Cup

Pin Oak Stable's homebred Alternation, winner of five of six starts this year, will make his first start in almost two months when he carries top weight in the $500,000 Hawthorne Gold Cup.

Middie Makes His Move in Washington Park

Outsider Middie spurted away from the field in upper stretch to post a 3 3/4-length victory under jockey Francisco Torres in the $150,000 Washington Park Handicap in track-record time over Polytrack at Arlington Park Sept 1.

Mister Marti Gras Back for Washington Park

Mister Marti Gras goes for a repeat victory in the $150,000 Washington Park Handicap (gr. III) as a co-highweight at 119 pounds Sept. 1 on the Arlington Park Polytrack surface.

Alpha Bettor Edges City Wolf in Seagram Cup

Alpha Bettor produced a 23-1 upset in the $152,202 Seagram Cup (Can-III) when he edged City Wolf by a half-length for his first stakes victory Aug. 4 at Woodbine.

James Street to Defend Seagam Cup Title

James Street is back to defend his title in the $150,000 Seagram Cup (Can-III) against six opponents over the Polytrack Aug. 4 at Woodbine.

Pool Play Injured, Career Likely Over

Bill Farish Jr.'s Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) winner Pool Play has been diagnosed with a season-ending injury that will likely mark the end of his career, trainer Mark Casse confirmed July 21.

Pool Play Makes a Splash in Older Division

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter
Making his dirt debut, and running in a grade I event for only the second time, Pool Play won the Stephen Foster to become a player in the older male division.

Classic at Churchill Main Goal for Pool Play

Proven on dirt after his 36-1 upset in the Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) June 18, synthetic track specialist Pool Play is aiming for similarly lucrative spots on his unaccustomed surface, trainer Mark Casse said.

Slideshow: Stephen Foster Day 2011

Favorites, upsets, Arabians, and more defined Stephen Foster Day 2011.

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Pool Play, 36-1, Upsets Stephen Foster

William S. Farish Jr.'s Pool Play, making his first start on dirt in his 28th career start, pulled a 36-1 shocker in the $561,300 Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) June 18 at Churchill Downs.

2011 Stephen Foster - Predict the Order

Eleven are scheduled to compete in the grade I Stephen Foster. Can you predict the order of finish?

Predict the Order

Stephen Foster Key Race in Handicap Division

Nearly six months into the season, the handicap division is still looking for a clear-cut leader. With a breakout performance in the Stephen Foster Handicap June 18, there is an opportunity for someone to assume that role.

Musketier Repeats in Keeneland's Elkhorn

Nine-year-old Musketier defended his title in the $150,000 Elkhorn, as he rallied from off the pace to score by 1 1/4 lengths in the closing day feature April 29 at Keeneland.

Prince Will I Am Tops Pan American Field

The top four finishers of last month's Mac Diamida (gr. IIT), including the winner, Prince Will I Am, return to face each other in the $150,000 Pan American (gr. IIIT) March 26 at Gulfstream Park.

Pool Play Popular Winner of Valedictory

The 1 3/4-mile distance of the $176,816 Valedictory Stakes proved no problem for odds-on favorite Pool Play, who rallied wide in the stretch en route to a handy victory on closing day of the 167-day Woodbine meet Dec. 5.

Southdale Takes Rail to Durham Cup Triumph

Favored Southdale squeezed through an opening at the top of the stretch and cruised to a 3 1/4-length victory in the $170,065 Durham Cup (Can-III) on Woodbine's Polytrack Oct. 3.

Last Two Durham Cup Winners Return

Pool Play and Palladio, the last two winners of the $150,000 Durham Cup (Can-III), are both back for another try in the 1 1/8-mile Polytrack race Oct. 3 at Woodbine.

Seven Entered in Hard to Figure Sky Classic

Seven evenly-matched starters, including Marsh Side, Spice Route, and Windward Islands are set to contest the $250,000 Sky Classic Stakes (Can-IIT) Aug. 22 at Woodbine.

Sand Cove Wire-to-Wire Winner of Seagram Cup

Sand Cove, the odds-on favorite in a four-horse field, captured his sixth career stakes event in wire-to-wire fashion by winning the Seagram Cup Stakes (Can-III) Aug. 8 at Woodbine.

Sand Cove is Seagram Cup Highweight

Five-time stakes winner Sand Cove is the 121-pound highweight in a field of five older horses entered in the Aug. 8 Seagram Cup Stakes (Can-III) at Woodbine.

Wide Open Big 'Cap Attracts Full Field of 14

Second in his last three starts, Misremembered can make amends for trainer Bob Baffert in the $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I) March 6. The race that drew 14 entrants.

Acting Zippy Has Lots of Pep in Connally Turf

Acting Zippy dictated a slow pace for jockey Robby Albarado and had enough left to hold off Orientate Express for neck victory in the $197,000 John B. Connally Turf Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Sam Houston Race Park Jan. 30.

John Connally Turf 'Cap a 14-Horse Puzzler

The $200,000 John B. Connally Turf Handicap (gr. IIIT) came up as a real hat pin special Jan. 30, attracting a capacity field of 14 entrants with no clear standouts at Sam Houston Race Park.

Cloudy's Knight Has Last Word in Valedictory

The gritty 9-year-old Cloudy's Knight surrendered the lead to Eagle Poise but fought back along the inside to win the 1 3/4-mile Valedictory Stakes by one length on closing day of the 167-day Woodbine meet Dec. 6.

Palladio Pounces to Autumn Stakes Surprise

Overlooked Palladio swept past Awesome Rhythm approaching the eighth pole en route to a two-length victory at odds of 9-1 in the $147,965 Autumn Stakes (Can-II) at Woodbine Nov. 14.

Autumn No Easy Task for Queen's Plate Winner

Making his first stakes appearance against older horses, Queen's Plate victor Eye of the Leopard has no easy task, facing several multiple added-money winners in the $150,000 Autumn (Can-II) at Woodbine Nov. 14.

Durham Cup: Pool Play Prevails in Stakes Bow

Pool Play, making his stakes debut for trainer Mark Casse, charged late to overtake favored Ice Bear, winning the $156,914 Durham Cup (Can-III) over Woodbine's Polytrack by one length Oct. 4.