Trainer Kenneth McPeek saddled the favorite in both of Churchill Downs' stakes races for 2-year-olds Saturday but won only with Repent in the $217,000 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (gr. II) as his Take Charge Lady finished second in the $215,200 Golden Rod Stakes (gr. II) for fillies. In between those two races, Bet On Sunshine stretched out for a rare route race, winning the 1 1/16-mile allowance race by 7 1/4 lengths.
Saturday, November 24, 2001Churchill Downs' closing day $200,000-added stakes races for 2-year-olds -- the Golden Rod (gr. II) for fillies and the Kentucky Jockey Club (gr. II) -- have each attracted fields of six horses, although both races suffered late defections because of illness.
Friday, November 23, 2001While the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships Oct. 27 marked the end of the racing year or was the career finale for many participants, others plan to remain in training and will even race again before the 2001 season ends.
Monday, November 05, 2001Say what's the word? Well at Belmont Park on Saturday, it was Johannesburg, who remained unbeaten when he won the Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I). Down to defeat went the Bob Baffert-trained Officer, who was on the rail in striking position but could not handle the pressure. Later, Baffert said Officer shut down after displacing his palate.
Saturday, October 27, 2001Champagne Stakes (gr. I) winner Officer put in his final workout for Saturday's Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) when he worked Monday at Santa Anita under exercise rider Dana Barnes.
Monday, October 22, 2001A baker's dozen were pre-entered for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I), but it will be an upside-down cake if anyone other than Officer enters the winner's circle following the 8 1/2 furlong match.
Friday, October 19, 2001Morton Fink's Stephen Foster Handicap winner Guided Tour breezed five furlongs in 1:02 4/5 in company over a muddy track at Churchill Downs on Monday.
Monday, October 15, 2001This is the weekend that should clear up a very murky 2-year-old picture three weeks out from the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Hopefully, and we do mean with fingers crossed, as injuries and illnesses continue to take their toll on the juvenile ranks, we will get to see The Thoroughbred Corp.'s Officer prep for racing's biggest day.
Tuesday, October 02, 2001After doing more about-faces than a soldier in boot camp, trainer Bob Baffert has decided that Officer, the leading juvenile in the universe right now, will make his next appearance in the $500,000 Champagne Stakes (gr. I) at Belmont Park Oct. 6 at 8 1/2 furlongs. Officer, by Bertrando, is perfect in four starts, including wins by six, eight, and seven lengths in his first three races. In his most recent effort, the Sept. 5 Del Mar Futurity (gr. II), Officer won, geared down, by 1 1/2 lengths.
Tuesday, September 25, 2001Select Stable's Repent returned from a nose-length maiden win Sept. 7 at Turfway Park to win the track's $100,000 Kentucky Cup Juvenile Stakes (gr. III) Saturday, giving Preakness (gr. I) winner Louis Quatorze his first stakes winner as a sire.
Saturday, September 22, 2001