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Southwest Regional: Trophy Presentation

Sometimes it's nice to be a big fish in a small pond a couple of turns off the beaten path.

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Birth Announcement: Filly for Pure Clan

Two-time grade I winner Pure Clan delivered a healthy filly by Bernardini Jan. 10 at Robert N. Clay's Three Chimneys Farm near Midway, Ky., and is scheduled to be bred to Tapit this year.

Keeneland's 'True Market' Comes to a Close

The demand for quality bloodstock was in full force at the Keeneland November breeding stock sale, but the middle and lower markets were soft.

Three Chimneys, Torrealbas Become Partners

The Borges Torrealba family, among the leading buyers at the current Keeneland November breeding stock sale, has entered into a partnership with Three Chimneys Farm of Midway, Ky.

Keeneland November Sale Day 2 Wrap

Esther Marr recaps Day 2 of the Keeneland November breeding stock sale, including the sales of Pure Clan and Changing Skies, who both brought more than $4 million. Sponsored by Taylor Made Sales Agency.

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Young, Beautiful Shine on Keeneland Day 2

Wealthy buyers' enthusiasm for the young and the beautiful fueled the market again during the second session of the Keeneland November breeding stock sale.

Pure Clan Sells for $4.5 Million at Keeneland

Goncalo Torrealba, who operates TNT Stud in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, went to $4.5 million to purchase the millionaire Pure Clan during the second session of the Keeneland November breeding stock sale in Lexington Nov. 7.

Keeneland Nov - John Sikura (Pure Clan)

Owner of Hill 'n' Dale Sales comments on sale of Pure Clan, a $4.5 million dollar mare.

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Midwest Trainer Bob Holthus Dies

Bob Holthus, a veteran Midwest trainer, died the morning of Nov. 22 at his Louisville home.

Grade I Winner Pure Clan Retired, Sold

Pure Clan, a multiple grade I winner and millionaire for breeder/owner Lewis Lakin, has been retired from racing and sold.

Holthus Hoping Pure Clan Can Return in July

Diagnosed with a bruised left front foot, stable star Pure Clan could return to training in early July, a relieved Bob Holthus said May 22.

Pure Clan Sent to Rood & Riddle for Exam

Turf star Pure Clan was sent to Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington on the morning of May 6 with a possible foot injury while preparing for her seasonal debut at Churchill Downs, trainer Bob Holthus said.

Champion Jockey: Julien Leparoux

Young rider finished second in earnings with $18.5 million, won three Breeders' Cup events and seven other grade I races

Midday Gives Cecil First Breeders' Cup Win

Midday, who was bred in England, gave the Europeans their second win of the 26th Breeders' Cup World Championships. The 3-year-old daughter of Oasis Dream was making her first start in the United States. She is trained by Henry Cecil, a renowned English trainer who earned his first Breeders' Cup victory after many years.

Seeking More of the Same from Magical Fantasy

It would be an understatement to say that Magical Fantasy heads the California contingent for the $2 million Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (gr. IT) at Santa Anita Nov. 6. After four consecutive major stakes wins locally, three in grade I company, she's nearly all that's left.

Forever Together Chasing Repeat in F&M Turf

Looking to join Ouija Board as the only two-time winner of the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (gr. IT), Forever Together is the likely pick in the $2 million event sponsored by Emirates Airline.

Gio Ponti Likely For BC Classic

Several trainers from the Oct. 3 races at Belmont indicated which way they were leaning for next month's Breeders' Cup.

Pure Clan Overcomes Criticism in Flower Bowl

Pure Clan overtook Criticism in the final furlong to register a convincing win in the $600,000 Flower Bowl Invitational (gr. IT) at foggy, soggy Belmont Park Oct. 3.

Dynaforce, Pure Clan Vie Again in Flower Bowl

Dynaforce wouldn't mind a little cut in the ground when she defends her crown in the $600,000 Flower Bowl Invitational (gr. IT) over Belmont Park's inner turf course Oct. 3.

Desormeaux Powers Dynaforce to Beverly D. Win

Jockey Kent Desormeaux made it back-to-back grade I wins on a soggy Arlington Park turf course when he guided Dynaforce to victory in the $750,000 Beverly D. Aug. 8.

ESPN Airs 'Million' and Beverly D. Aug. 8

Two of the most prestigious turf races on the North American racing calendar, the Arlington Million and Beverly D., will be aired live Sat., Aug. 8, on ESPN from 4:30-6:00 p.m. ET.

Euro Invaders to Test Pure Clan in Beverly D.

European group winners Alnadana and Mad About You challenge top American-based runners Pure Clan, Black Mamba and others in the $750,000 Beverly D. Stakes (gr. IT).

Gio Ponti Top Choice in Arlington Million

Einstein, who stumbled at the start and finished fifth in last year's Arlington Million (gr. IT), drew the inside post for this season's prestigious turf race at Arlington Park, which will be held Aug. 8.

Pure Clan Shows Class in Modesty Score

Lewis Lakin's homebred Pure Clan, making just her second start of the season, overtook pacesetter Tizaqueena in upper stretch and sailed to the wire for a 2 1/2-length victory in the $200,000 Modesty Handicap (gr. IIIT) July 11 on the Arlington Park turf.

Modesty 'Cap: Pure Clan Primed For Big Effort

Lewis Lakin's Pure Clan, fully recovered from a minor injury suffered earlier this season, seems primed to begin her run towards the top of the older female turf division and the climb will start July 11 in the $200,000 Modesty Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Arlington Park, where she will carry top weight of 122 pounds.

Acoma Holds Off Pure Clan in Mint Julep

Helen Groves and Helen Alexander's Acoma repelled a late bid from Pure Clan and held on for a neck victory in the $109,000 Early Times Mint Julep Handicap (gr. IIIT) June 6 at Churchill Downs.

Pure Clan Faces Tall Task in Season Debut

Multiple graded stakes-winning filly Pure Clan makes her much-anticipated 2009 debut June 6 in the $100,000 Early Times Mint Julep Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Churchill Downs, but will have to face accomplished rivals Acoma and Tizaqueena, both of whom have shown good form this year.

Wait a While Faces Tough FM Turf Field

Tepid 3-1 favorite Wait a While faces a tough field in the Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Oct. 24. The 10-horse field includes seven other grade or group I winners.

F&M Turf: Girl Power

A sparkling group of female turf runners, representing both sides of the Atlantic, were pre-entered in the $2-million Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT).

Improving Family Produces Sky Diva

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter

Sky Diva is at the crossroads of an improving sire and an improving family. Sky Mesa started slowly but now runners from his first crop have become graded stakes winners and his second crop of juveniles running this year already includes five stakes winners. At the top is grade I winner Sky Diva. The filly's family has also been improving over the past four years.

IEAH Pledges BC Earnings to Charities

International Equine Acquisitions Holdings, (IEAH Stables), owners of 2008 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) and Preakness Stakes (gr. I) winner Big Brown, will donate a percentage of winnings of all IEAH starters in next month's Breeders' Cup World Championships to Breeders' Cup Charities.

Backseat Rhythm Takes Garden City

Paul Pompa Jr.'s Backseat Rhythm came with a five-wide move and rallied from fifth at the top of the stretch, eventually getting up in the final strides under Javier Castellano to win the $250,000 Garden City Stakes (gr. IT) by a half-length on Belmont's yielding turf course Sept. 6.

Garden City Draws Talented Group

IEAH Stables' grade I winners Ariege and Pure Clan are the headliners in a contentious field of eight 3-year-old fillies vying for the $250,000 Garden City Stakes (gr. IT) Sept. 6 on the Belmont turf, but there is plenty of tough competition in the nine-furlong test.

Holthus: Pure Clan Skipping Del Mar Oaks

Trainer Bob Holthus said American Oaks (gr. IT) winner Pure Clan is "knocked out" and won't be competing in the $350,000 Del Mar Oaks (gr. IT) Aug. 16.

Pure Clan Comes Through in American Oaks

Trapped on the inside coming down the lane, a patient Julien Leparoux guided favored Pure Clan through a narrow opening between horses and outfought French raider Satan's Circus in the final furlong to win the $750,000 American Oaks Invitational (gr. IT) at Hollywood Park July 5.

American Oaks Has International Flavor

Carribean Sunset, a multiple group III winner in Ireland, leads a four-horse European contingent in a field of 12 3-year-old fillies contesting the $750,000 American Oaks Invitational Stakes (gr. IT) at Hollywood Park July 5.

Pure Clan Rolls in Regret

Pure Clan, who was last seen finishing third to Proud Spell and Little Belle May 2 in the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I), bounced back with an impressive victory June 14 in the Regret Stakes (gr. IIIT) under the Twin Spires of Churchill Downs.

Pure Clan Returns to Turf for Regret S.

Pure Clan, third in last month's Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) for trainer Bob Holthus, returns to the grass in the $200,000 Regret Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Churchill Downs June 14.

Pure Clan Readies For June 14 Regret

With co-owner Lewis Lakin looking on, Pure Clan put in her final work for the June 14 Regret (Gr. III) by working five furlongs in 1:02.20 over "firm" turf June 5 under Julien Leparoux.

Proud Spell Splashes to Oaks Victory

Trainer Larry Jones scratched the filly Eight Belles from the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I), and then proceeded to win the race with Proud Spell.

Jones Girls Rule Kentucky Oaks Line-Up

Trainer Larry Jones took it as a sign of better things to come when his Eight Belles drew the outside 12 post for the May 2 Kentucky Oaks (gr. I), but all was not lost for the Kentucky-born trainer when his Proud Spell drew post 8 in the 1 1/8-mile race for the lilies on the first Friday in May.

Prado Meets Pure Clan

Pure Clan and jockey Edgar Prado met for the first time, while Awesome Chic went for a trip around the Churchill Downs oval, and trainer Dallas Stewart has yet to decide if he will start Honest Pursuit in the Oaks.

Daily Oaks Notes: April 23

Bsharpsonata, Golden Doc A work together, Highest Class and Honest Pursuit still possible for Oaks, A to the Croft, Awesome Chic, and Pure Clan Gallop.

Daily Oaks Notes: April 22

Bsharpsonata, Golden Doc A to work Wednesday, Awesome Chic, Pure Clan to work Friday, A to the Croft to work Saturday.

Prado Partners With Pure Clan

Jockey Edgar Prado will be in the irons when Pure Clan takes the gate for the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) May 2 at Churchill Downs. The Oaks will make Prado's first mount aboard the daughter of Pure Prize. She was ridden in five of her six previous career starts by Julien Leparoux.

Eight Belles Narrow Oaks Future Favorite

Fox Hill Farms' Eight Belles, who made the $250,000 Fantasy Stakes (gr. II) at Oaklawn Park her fourth consecutive victory, emerged as a narrow favorite as the third and final pool of Churchill Downs' 2008 Kentucky Oaks Future Wager concluded April 6.

Fantasy: Eight Belles Scores Another Win

Eight Belles continued her quest to become the best 3-year-old filly in the nation, as the daughter of Unbridled's Song overcame a poor start to win by three-quarters of a length in the $250,000 Fantasy Stakes (gr. II) April 6 at Oaklawn Park, her third consecutive stakes triumph.

Proud Spell Narrow Choice in Oaks Future

Two fillies headed for a showdown in Keeneland's Ashland Stakes (gr. I) April 5, Brereton Jones' Proud Spell and Stonerside Stable's Country Star, stood as the top two choices in Pool 3 of Churchill Downs' 2008 Kentucky Oaks Future Wager as the four-day betting pool reached its halfway point.

Eight Belles Faces Three in Fantasy

Though Larry Jones was tempted to run his ultra-talented 3-year-old filly Eight Belles against the boys in the $1-million Arkansas Derby (gr. II) April 12, the trainer has decided to take the safer route, and instead will line up the daughter of Unbridled's Song in the $250,000 Fantasy Stakes (gr. II) April 6 at Oaklawn Park.

Proud Spell, Country Star Top 'Futures'

Brereton Jones' Proud Spell, winner of the Fair Grounds Oaks (gr. II), and Stonerside Stable's Country Star, a two-time winner in grade I company, are the top choices for the third pool of Churchill Downs' 2008 Kentucky Oaks Future Wager, which begins four days of betting April 3.