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Jessica Is Back, Brings the Family With Her

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter
Although she descends from an important early American female family, Jessica Is Back is the sole grade I-winning representative of her dam line's branch in a half-century.

Backbackbackgone Plates Golden Bear Win

Odds-on choice Backbackbackgone earned the third stakes win of his five-race career when he held off a willing Free Action for a one-length victory in the $75,000 Golden Bear Stakes for 3-year-olds at Golden Gate Fields on New Year's Day.

In Summation Wraps Up El Conejo Repeat

Favored In Summation regained some of the sparkle he lost last season with a sharp one-length win in the $98,000 El Conejo Handicap (gr. III) at Santa Anita on New Year's Day.

Preakness Profile: Hey Byrn

As recently as May 4, Eddie Plesa Jr. announced that Hey Byrn would be headed to the $300,000 Ohio Derby (gr. II) at Thistledown.

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.

Forest Wildcat Filly Fastest at OBS

Seekingthediamond, a Forest Wildcat filly consigned by Hendry Training Stables, agent, went an eighth of a mile in :09 4/5 March 9 to post the fastest work at the distance at the first session of the under tack preview for the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. March sale of selected two-year-olds in training

Hey Byrn Scores, Headed to Florida Derby

Bea Oxenberg's 3-year-old Hey Byrn reaffirmed his credentials as a potential Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) contender March 2 at Gulfstream Park when he drew off to win a 1 1/8-mile allowance race by six lengths under jockey Edgar Prado.

Put It Back Keeping Sire Line Alive

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter

Were it not for Florida, there would now be no active male line tracing back to that most revered of American racehorses, Man o' War. The line had already begun to fade from prominence when Tartan Farms' colt In Reality came along in the stellar foal crop of 1964. Today, Bridlewood Farm's young stallion Put It Back, a son of Honour and Glory and a great-grandson of In Reality, is the latest young sire with the potential to keep this line alive. One of Put It Back's runners who is helping make this happen is grade I winner In Summation.

Test Lap Goes Well for Smokey Stover in Icecapade

Leading sprinter Smokey Stover took a successful test spin for the upcoming TVG Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) at Monmouth Park, winning the $103,000 Icecapade Stakes over three rivals in a solid time of 1:08 4/5 at the New Jersey track Sept. 1.

In Summation Settles for Draw in Arlington Sprint

Coming off a grade I triumph on Polytrack at Del Mar last month, it was no surprise that In Summation won the $150,000 Arlington Breeders' Cup Sprint Aug. 25 at Arlington Park as the 3-5 favorite. What was unexpected is that he had to share the victory with the pacesetter Piratesonthelake, who earned a dead heat.

OBSC Select Sale Not Kind to Pinhookers

Although there were some home runs among pinhooked horses sold at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Aug. 20 select sale, the one-day event was not particularly kind to pinhookers.

Solid Dual Hemisphere Start for Put It Back

Ever since the days of Intentionally and his son In Reality, Florida has been a haven for the male line of Man o' War. The primary Florida branch since the death of In Reality in 1989 has been that of Valid Appeal (In Reality-Desert Trial), who was a perennial regional leader until he was pensioned in 1997. Valid Appeal was succeeded by two Florida-based U.S. leading freshman sires in Valid Expectations (2001) and Successful Appeal (2004). With the transfers of Valid Expectations to Texas and Successful Appeal to Kentucky, however, only 2000 Spectacular Bid Stakes (gr. III) winner B L's Appeal and a few lesser sons of Valid Appeal remained as representatives of the In Reality male line in Florida. But another branch of In Reality, that of Relaunch, has enjoyed success in Kentucky and California, and it has now found a place in Florida through third-crop sire Put It Back

Came Home Filly Tops Final Ocala Spring 2-Year-Old Drills

Itobe, a filly by Came Home consigned by Sescan, agent for Paul D. King, worked the sale's fastest three eighths in :33 1/5 at the fourth and final session of the Under Tack Show for the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's 2007 Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training.

Smokey Stover Burns Potrero Grande Rivals

Harry J. Aleo's 7-10 choice Smokey Stover steamed to a 4 1/2-length victory over four rivals in the $192,000 Potrero Grande Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II) Saturday at Santa Anita for his fourth consecutive win.

Hot Horses Drawing Attention at Ocala March Sale

Trainers and bloodstock agents from across the country converged on the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's grounds March 25 to inspect the 520 horses catalogued for the annual selected 2-year-olds in training sale March 27-28 in Central Florida. Here's a look at some of the leading prospects.

Vindication Colt, Forest Camp Filly Top Ocala Preview

A colt by Vindication and a filly by Forest Camp worked eighths in :10 flat to post the fastest times at the distance Saturday at the first session of the Under Tack Preview for the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's 2007 March Sale of Selected 2-Year-Olds in Training.

Smokey Stover Stays Hot in Bay Meadows Sprint

Few wanted any part of Smokey Stover, who turned away his three rivals in the $95,625 Bay Meadows Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. III) Sunday with little trouble.

Smokey Stover Lights Up Sunshine Sprint

Owner Harry Aleo and trainer Greg Gilchrist have another top-notch sprinter in their grasp after their untried gelding Smokey Stover spanked two of the best West Coast-based speedsters in Saturday's $300,000 Sunshine Millions Padua Stables Sprint at Santa Anita.

In Summation, Running Lass Win at Calder

In Summation and Running Lass took their respective divisions of the Florida Stallion Stakes at sloppy Calder Race Course Saturday, headlining a full program of races for 2-year-olds.

Grade II Winner Put It Back Sires First Winner

Grade II winner Put It Back came through with his first winner when his son In Summation scored May 20.

Yes It's True Colt Posts Fastest Work At March OBS Under Tack Opener

A colt by Yes It's True posted the fastest work for a quarter-mile under beautiful conditions during the March 19 Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Selected 2-year-olds in training sale under tack show opener.

Put It Back Retired

Hobeau Farm's grade II winner Put It Back, undefeated in five starts at 3 this year, has been retired due to an injury and will enter stud at Arthur I. Appleton's Bridlewood Farm in Ocala, Fla.

Put It Back Takes Riva Ridge, Flame Thrower Injured

In near wire-to-wire fashion,.Put It Back scored his fifth consecutive victory in the Riva Ridge Stakes (gr. II) that was part of the Belmont Stakes undercard. Favored Flame Thrower finished second by a neck, then was taken off the track in a van with a compression bandage on his left front leg.

Voodoo Ready for Gotham with 1:00 Move

Voodoo had his final tune-up for Sunday's $200,000 Gotham Stakes (gr. III) at Aqueduct, breezing five furlongs in 1:00 over Belmont Park's muddy training track Wednesday morning. The son of Petionville owned by John Moore, Voodoo finished second behind Regal Shivers at 1-5 in the Whirlaway Stakes on Feb. 10.

Put It Back Earns Best Turn Win

Put It Back led from the start under jockey Noel Wynter and beat Stake Runner by 5 1/2 lengths Saturday in the $75,000 Best Turn Stakes for 3-year-olds at Aqueduct. The win was the first in a stakes race for both Put It Back and Wynter.