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Mettee Replaces Motion as Team Valor Trainer

Team Valor International has hired Rick Mettee to train all of its North American-based racehorses, replacing Graham Motion, the partnership group announced April 5.

Sangaree Scratched; Kelso Down to Four

The $200,000 Kelso Handicap (gr. II) field was reduced to only four with the scratch of Sangaree Sept. 30.

Sara Louise Looks for Repeat in Top Flight

The third start of 2010 could be the charm for Godolphin's Sara Louise, who will attempt to win Aqueduct's $150,000 Top Flight Handicap (gr. II) Nov. 26 for the second straight year.

Dirt Mile Favorite? Morning Line, Who Else

Pennsylvania Derby (gr. II) winner Morning Line is made the 7-2 morning line favorite for the Nov. 6 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I).

Godolphin Horses Work for BC at Belmont

Godolphin Racing will have a strong hand in the Breeders' Cup Nov. 5-6 as the operation's Girolamo, Sara Louise, Gayego, and Vineyard Haven are bound for Louisville after breezing at Belmont Park this weekend.

Sara Louise Makes 2010 Debut in Gallant Bloom

Sara Louise will try to avenge a narrow defeat in last year's Gallant Bloom Handicap (gr. II) but will have to do it in her season debut after being on the sidelines for more than nine months.

Regal Ransom Wins, Timber Reserve Euthanized

Godolphin Stable's Regal Ransom will likely return to graded stakes competition after winning a nine-furlong optional claimer by 3 1/4 lengths in gate-to-wire fashion Sept. 1 at Saratoga.

Vineyard Haven Should Finally Get His BC Shot

Vineyard Haven is one of the most talented horses in training that has never raced in a classic or a Breeders' Cup.

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Le Mi Geaux Takes Sloppy Schuylerville

Le Mi Geaux came from off the pace under Freddie Lenclud to pull a 9-1 upset in the $100,000 Schuylerville (gr. III), the first graded stakes of the Saratoga meet. She is the first stakes winner for her sire First Samurai.

Godolphin Runners Preparing For Big Summer

Godolphin is gearing up for another busy summer with multiple grade I winner Vineyard Haven, Top Flight (gr. I) winner Sara Louise, and Louisiana Super Derby (gr. II) winner Regal Ransom, among others.

Flashing Shows Her Heels in Sharp Gazelle Win

Flashing, thought to be making the final start of her career, popped the gate in front and never looked back, drawing away from Unrivaled Belle through the stretch drive to easily win the $300,000 Gazelle Stakes (gr. I) by 4 1/4 lengths at Aqueduct Nov. 28.

Sara Louise Back to One Mile in Top Flight

Godolphin Stable's 3-year-old Sara Louise, making her first start since a fourth-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (gr. I) Nov. 6 at Santa Anita, headlines a field of nine for the $150,000 Top Flight Handicap (gr. II) for fillies and mares going one mile Nov. 27 at Aqueduct.

Gayego Will Be in His Niche in the BC Sprint

Gayego competed in two legs of the 2008 Triple Crown and captured the Arkansas Derby (gr. II) at 1 1/8 miles, but "we think we've found a niche for him in sprint races being a closing sprinter," said Rick Mettee, a key assistant to Godolphin Racing trainer Saeed bin Suroor.

Cocoa Beach, Music Note are 'Dangerous Duo'

Cocoa Beach and Music Note have been here before. In 2008, at the end of long campaigns, they were still able to finish second and third, respectively, to Zenyatta in the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic (gr. I) at Santa Anita.

Godolphin Contenders Highlight Nov. 1 Tab

The sun was barely visible over the mountains shortly after 5 a.m. (Pacific Time) Nov. 1 when Regal Ransom went to the track at Santa Anita for final preparations for the Breeders' Cup World Championships.

Vineyard Haven Favored in De Francis Dash

Three-year-old Vineyard Haven, winner of Saratoga's King's Bishop Stakes (gr. I) before being disqualified in his only start in the past eight months, faces older horses for the first time in the $300,000 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash (gr. I) at Laurel Park Oct. 24.

Kensei Faces Girolamo in Jerome Handicap

Kensei, who won the Dwyer Stakes (gr. II) at Belmont Park earlier this season, returns to the New York oval Oct. 11 to lead a field of five in the $150,000 Jerome Handicap (gr. II) for 3-year-olds going one mile on the main track.

No Catching Regal Ransom in Super Derby

Concerns about Regal Ransom's readiness coming into the $750,000 Super Derby (gr. II) proved inconsequential when the well-bred Godolphin colt rolled to a front-running victory at Louisiana Downs Sept. 19.

Midshipman Impressive in Return

Godolphin's Midshipman, last year's champion 2-year-old colt who hasn't run since his victory in the Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I), returned in top form Sept. 18, winning a competitive allowance/optional claimer at Belmont Park by 3 1/2 lengths.

Midshipman Working, Nears Comeback Race

Godolphin Stables' Midshipman, unraced since taking the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) last fall en route to the Eclipse Award as champion 2-year-old male, is close to making a return to the races, said assistant trainer Rick Mettee.

Grade I-Winning Quartet Heads Masters' Field

Four grade I winners -- Diamondrella, Flashing, Game Face, and Informed Decision -- are part of an overflow field entered for the $400,000 Presque Isle Downs Masters (gr. III) on tap Sept. 12 in Erie, Pa.

Sara Louise Returns to Action in Victory Ride

Sara Louise will race for the first time since November in the $100,000 Victory Ride (gr. III) Aug. 29 at Saratoga. She is the last horse to defeat Rachel Alexandra.

Cocoa Beach Remains On Turf for Ballston Spa

Originally pointed to a fall campaign at Belmont Park, Godolphin's Cocoa Beach came out of a stakes win at Saratoga earlier this month so well her connections have opted to run her Aug. 29 in the $200,000 Ballston Spa Handicap (gr. IIT).

Summer Bird Posts Travers Work

Kent Desormeaux climbed aboard Summer Bird Aug. 15 as the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner put in his first serious work for the $1 million Shadwell Travers (gr. I) over the main track at Saratoga.

Seventh Street Tops Go For Wand Field

When jockey Rajiv Maragh eased Godolphin Racing's Seventh Street back into an ideal stalking position in the Ogden Phipps Handicap (gr. I) on June 13 at Belmont Park, he didn't expect two other horses owned by the ruling Maktoum family of Dubai, Godolphin Racing's Music Note and Darley Stable's Sea Chanter, to charge up and force a furious pace.

Godolphin Gearing Up for Big Second Half

A walk down the Godolphin shedrow at Belmont Park reveals a "Who's Who" of major stakes horses, many of whom are just coming back off layoffs and getting ready for the Saratoga meet.

Godolphin 2-Year-Olds Heading for Dubai

Following their final breeze at Keeneland on Saturday, Godolphin's precious cargo of 2-year-olds will depart for Dubai on Monday, Dec. 15, assistant trainer Rick Mettee said.

Tam Lin Notches Kelso Victory

Already a graded stakes winner overseas, Godolphin Stable's Tam Lin became a grade II winner on American soil when he wore down Forefathers in upper stretch and sped away to a convincing 4 1/4-length victory Sept. 28 in the $250,000 Kelso Handicap on the Belmont turf.

Gazelle 'Very Important' for Music Note

Godolphin Stable's Music Note, making her case for the 3-year-old filly championship in 2008, can add to her argument when she takes on a small field of four rivals in the $250,000 Gazelle Stakes (gr. I) at Belmont Park Sept. 13.

Music Note Adds to Alabama Intrigue

Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) winner Proud Spell takes on at least one-half of a powerful Godolphin Stable entry in a small but entertaining line-up for the $600,000 Alabama Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga Aug. 16.

Godolphin's Music Note Works for Alabama

Godolphin's Music Note is likely headed for the $600,000 Alabama Stakes (gr. I) along with stablemate Little Belle Aug. 16 at Saratoga, although the Travers (gr. I) remains a possibility for the two-time grade I winner in New York this season.

Barcola Heads Stuyvesant 'Cap

Trainer Mark Hennig knows Barcola is a superior horse over the Delaware Park surface. Now he wants to know if the colt can be as effective at Aqueduct, and he'll find out Nov. 17 in the New York track's $100,000 Stuyvesant Handicap (gr.III).

Returning Anew, Songster Vie in Bold Ruler

The two best sprinters in Saturday's $100,000 Bold Ruler Handicap (gr. III) have at least one thing in common: they both have not raced since August. Despite their vacations, Anew and Songster's 2006 campaigns make them the horses to beat in six-furlong heat.

Utopia Wins Rough Westchester in U.S. Debut

Godolphin Stable's Utopia, a 7-year-old Japanese-bred who had not started since winning the 2006 Godolphin Mile (UAE-II) more than a year ago, stayed strong on the rail, overcoming a rough stretch run for a one-length victory in Wednesday's $107,700 Westchester Handicap (gr. III), the opening day feature of Belmont Park's 60-day spring/summer meet.

Migliore Guides Afrashad to Fall Highweight Win

Jockey Richard Migliore, who recently moved to California, returned to Aqueduct Thursday to take Godolphin Racing's favored Afrashad gate to wire in winning the $108,300 Fall Highweight Handicap under 132 pounds on a sloppy sealed track.

Discreet Cat Razor Sharp in Cigar Mile Breeze

Unbeaten Discreet Cat, headed to Saturday's Hill 'N' Dale Cigar Mile (gr. I) at Aqueduct, breezed a bullet five furlongs over Belmont Park's fast main track Sunday morning in :59 -- the fastest of 34 workouts at the distance.

Discreet Cat Breezes 6 Panels for Cigar Mile

Godolphin Racing's Discreet Cat, expected to run in the $300,000 Hill `n' Dale Cigar Mile (gr. I) on Nov. 25 at Aqueduct, breezed six furlongs in a bullet 1:13 2/5 on Belmont Park's fast main track this morning.

Discreet Cat Ready to Pounce in Jerome 'Cap

The untested, unbeaten and so far brilliant Discreet Cat puts his unblemished record on the line in Sunday's $150,000 Jerome Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II) for 3-year-olds at one mile.

Discreet Cat Returns to Action Friday at Spa

Godolphin's Discreet Cat, off since a dominating win in the UAE Derby (UAE-II) on March 26, was a somewhat surprising entrant in Friday's third race at Saratoga, a "non-winners of three other than" allowance that also carries an optional $75,000 claiming tag.

Stellar Jayne Taking Final Lap in Top Flight

Godolphin Racing's Stellar Jayne is scheduled to make her last start in Friday's $150,000 Top Flight Handicap (gr. II) at one mile before being retired. The three-time grade I winner has banked more than $1.4 million and will be the filly to beat in the Top Flight.

Wildcat Heir's Breeze Tops Tuesday Workout Tab

Training activity among Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships contenders at Belmont Park was not nearly as hectic Tuesday as it was Monday, with only four main track works and one grass work. One of the most impressive works of the day was a five-furlong breeze by TVG Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) contender Wildcat Heir, whose clocking of :59 2/5 was the best among 21 horses working that distance.

Stellar Jayne Shows Up in Ruffian

Stellar Jayne, aimed by her new owners toward the 2005 Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I), makes her first start in more than two months in the Ruffian Handicap (gr. I) at Belmont Park Sunday.

Stellar Jayne Out of Sunday's Go for Wand

Godolphin's Stellar Jayne will not participate in Sunday's $250,000 Go for Wand (gr. I) after coming out of her last work with some stiffness.

Saratoga's Opening Day Stable Notes

There was plenty of news Wednesday as Saratoga Race Course opened for the 2005 season, both in the racing secretary's office and on the backstretch.