Tapizar, returning to the scene of his only graded stakes wins for trainer Steve Asmussen, took the lead in upper stretch and drew away for a handy win in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I) at Santa Anita Park Nov. 3.
Saturday, November 03, 2012Breeders Maryann and Kevin Donohue are excited to see their grade I winner Rail Trip battle in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I) Nov. 3 at Santa Anita Park.
Thursday, November 01, 2012
Working handily, Trailblazer completed five furlongs in 1:02 on the Cushion Track in preparation for the Breeders' Cup. Trailblazer has been pointing to the Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT).
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Game On Dude maintained his unbeaten record at Santa Anita Park with a smooth victory in the $250,000 Awesome Again Stakes (gr. I) Sept, 29, a perfect tuneup for his return to the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I).
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Though he came up half a length shy in the Pacific Classic (gr. I) last time out, Game On Dude should be back in his comfort zone as he goes for a repeat in the $250,000 Awesome Again Stakes (gr. I) Sept. 29 at Santa Anita.
Thursday, September 27, 2012
The Aug. 26 edition of the $1 million TVG Pacific Classic (gr. I) at Del Mar is about more than a trophy for trainer Bob Baffert, who last week lost two-time Classic winner Richard's Kid in a swiftly-orchestrated sale.
Thursday, August 23, 2012
The countdown to the Nov. 3 Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita officially hits the second half of the season with the Pacific Classic at Del Mar.
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
The field for Del Mar's $1 million TVG Pacific Classic, the fourth of six "Win and You're In" races for the Breeders' Cup Classic, is beginning to come together.
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Grade I winner Rail Trip posted his first victory in more than two years when he outlasted a determined John Scott by a half-length in the $200,000 San Diego Handicap (gr. II) July 28 at Del Mar.
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Rail Trip will be making his first start at Del Mar in nearly three years when he lines up in the outside gate for the $200,000 San Diego Handicap (gr. II) July 28.
Friday, July 27, 2012
Take Control, the first foal out of 2002 Horse of the Year Azeri, will make his second start after a layoff of 2 1/2 years in the $200,000 San Diego Handicap (gr. II) July 28 at Del Mar.
Wednesday, July 25, 2012Odds-on favorite Roman Threat had too much speed for his seven opponents in the $100,000 Los Angeles Handicap (gr. III) in a dominating win on the Cushion Track at Betfair Hollywood Park May 28.
Monday, May 28, 2012
Rail Trip, back in the Southern California barn of Ron Ellis, gets back into action in the $100,000 Los Angeles Handicap (gr. III) May 28 at Betfair Hollywood Park.
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Tizway picked up his second consecutive grade I victory Aug. 6 at Saratoga when he took over approaching the quarter-pole and breezed to an easy score in the $750,000 Whitney Invitational Handicap (gr. I).
Saturday, August 06, 2011
Jason Shandler takes a look at the Whitney and other weekend stakes.
Will a Rail Trip make a Mission Impazible for Friend Or Foe running Flat Out?
The handicap division has taken its lumps this year for not being especially deep, but its competitive nature has led to one of the more intriguing recent editions of the $750,000 Whitney Handicap (gr. I), which drew 11.
Wednesday, August 03, 2011
Grade I winner Rail Trip made a favorable impression in his first start since the Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I) last fall, returning to Belmont Park June 5 with a strong runner-up finish behind Friend Or Foe in the Easy Goer.
Sunday, June 05, 2011
The recent retirements of many 2010 stars leaves major question marks for next year.
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.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Keep an eye on two juveniles and an older horse heading for the Breeders' Cup.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Trainer Al Stall Jr. said Whitney Handicap (gr. I) winner Blame would arrive at Belmont Park on Sept. 30 in advance of his expected next start in the $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup Invitational (gr. I).
Friday, September 17, 2010
Rail Trip continued his preparations for the Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I) at Belmont Park on Oct. 2 with a brisk six-furlong breeze on the Saratoga main track Sept. 4.
Saturday, September 04, 2010
Rail Trip has a minor issue with his right hind foot and his status is day to day.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. had a quartet of horses on Saratoga Race Course's main track the morning of Aug. 11 for six-furlong works: Trickmeister, D' Funnybone, Boys At Tosconova, and I Want Revenge.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Lenny and Steve discuss the opening of racing at Del Mar and Saratoga, the 3-year-olds, including a preview of the Haskell, the travels of Rail Trip, and more.
Mace Siegel announced that millionaire Rail Trip will be changing barns, going from Ron Ellis in California to Rick Dutrow in New York.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Veteran gelding Awesome Gem reached the pinnacle of his career when he rallied along the inside to upset odds-on favorite Rail Trip by a half-length in the $500,000 Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I) July 10.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Jason, Tom, and Les Instone of twinspires.com preview the Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I) at Hollywood Park on July 10. Plus, picks for the Princess Rooney (gr. I).
Defending Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I) winner Rail Trip will carry top weight of 123 pounds when he attempts to become just the third multiple winner of the prestigious race in its 71-year history July 10 at Hollywood Park.
Wednesday, July 07, 2010
The race will be run at Hollywood Park in California July 10.
Sunday, July 04, 2010
The gelding will try to win the race for the second year in a row after capturing the 2009 edition by three lengths.
Thursday, July 01, 2010
Compari, victorious in six of eight races, will take on defending champion Rail Trip in the $500,000 Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I) July 10, trainer Marty Jones confirmed.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Odds-on choice Rail Trip reinforced his position atop of California's handicap division with a facile victory in the $150,000 Californian (gr. II) at Hollywood Park June 12.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Unless something completely unexpected occurs, Rail Trip has seven opponents in Hollywood Park's $150,000 Californian (gr. II) June 12 at his mercy.
Wednesday, June 09, 2010
Lenny and Steve look back on the Kentucky Derby and look forward to the Preakness. Plus, thoughts on Quality Road and Rail Trip, the retirement of Greg Gilchrist, and Stable Boy's Preakness Pick.
Heavy favorite Rail Trip returned from a long layoff in the Mervyn Leroy Handicap (gr. II) May 8 looking strong as ever while posting a decisive 3 1/4-length victory at Hollywood Park.
Saturday, May 08, 2010
Rail Trip returns to the scene of the biggest win of his career when he kicks off his 2010 campaign at Hollywood Park in the $150,000 Mervyn Leroy Handicap (gr. II) May 8.
Wednesday, May 05, 2010
Rafael Bejarano is to ride Rail Trip in the $150,000 Mervyn LeRoy Handicap (gr. II) at Hollywood Park May 8, trainer Ron Ellis said.
Sunday, May 02, 2010
Grade I winner Rail Trip, last seen finishing third in the Pacific Classic (gr. I) at Del Mar in September, is back in training at Hollywood Park, trainer Ron Ellis said Dec. 30.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
As we all know there is always an angle or two we can latch on to in the Breeders' Cup. The trick is finding them among the morass of stakes horses that line up for the 14 races. There probably are more chances of landing a longshot on a synthetic surface, because, in all honesty, does anyone really know how to handicap these races?
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Richard's Kid, sent off at odds of 24-1, charged from far back with jockey Mike Smith aboard to win the $1 million Pacific Classic (gr. I) at Del Mar Sept. 6, nipping Einstein in an exhilarating finish.
Sunday, September 06, 2009
Colonel John and Einstein, who were expected to clash in the Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I) this past spring, should finally have their first meeting as the favorites in the $1 million Pacific Classic (gr. I) at Del Mar on Sept. 6.
Thursday, September 03, 2009
Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I) winner Rail Trip, San Diego Handicap (gr. II) victor Informed, and Eddie Read (gr. IT) winner Global Hunter wrapped up their serious work for the $1-million Pacific Classic with drills on the morning of Aug. 30.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
This year's Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) is such an odd concoction of grass and synthetic horses and undistinguished older dirt horses it's difficult to make a worthwhile list of potential starters.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
After coming up short in two previous prep races for the $700,000 TVG/Betfair Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I), Rail Trip put it all together when he rolled to victory July 11 at the Inglewood track.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Trainer Doug O'Neill, perfect in four previous tries in the TVG/Betfair Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I), shoots for his fifth win since 2002 when he saddles Informed for the $700,000 Cushion Track event July 11.
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
Lightly-regarded Informed, ridden vigorously by Tyler Baze from before the quarter pole, gradually wore down favored Rail Trip in deep stretch to win the $250,000 Californian (gr. II) at odds of 14-1 at Hollywood Park June 13.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Ball Four, who proved too tough for the previously undefeated Rail Trip on the front end in the Mervyn LeRoy Handicap (gr. II) one month ago, is back as the 120-pound co-high weight for the $250,000 Californian (gr. II) at Hollywood Park June 13.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Crafty 8-year-old Ball Four, reunited with trainer Patrick Biancone for his first start in four months, dealt heavily-favored Rail Trip his first career defeat by going gate to wire to win the $150,000 Mervyn LeRoy Handicap (gr. II) at Hollywood Park May 9.
Saturday, May 09, 2009