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Jackson Bend Returns to Training

A familiar name appeared on the worktab at Calder Casino & Race Course on May 5: dual grade I-winning millionaire Jackson Bend is back in training.

Starformer Tops Orchid Line-Up

Juddmonte Farms' homebred Starformer seeks her second straight stakes score at Gulfstream Park March 30, going up against nine others in the $150,000 Orchid Stakes (gr. IIIT) on the undercard of the Florida Derby (gr. I).

Fasig-Tipton Sale Average, Median Up

Fasig-Tipton's Florida Sale at Palm Meadows Training Center in Boynton Beach, Fla., featured plenty of highlights throughout the one-day auction including double-digit gains in average and median.

Bernardini Colt Tops F-T Sale at $1.6 Million

A bay colt by Bernardini became the new sale topper at the Fasig-Tipton Florida select sale of 2-year-olds in training when he was bought for $1.6 million by prominent New York owner Robert LaPenta.

Jackson Bend Won't Stand in 2013

Jackson Bend, a multiple grade I winner who was retired from racing in October, will not stand his first season at stud in 2013 after it was determined that he would require more time to recover from a training accident.

LaPenta Buys Significant Stake in Jeranimo

Prominent New York horse owner Robert LaPenta has purchased a significant interest in grade I winner Jeranimo from owner B.J. Wright.

Florida Derby Winner Dialed In to Darby Dan

Dialed In, last year's Florida Derby (gr. I) winner and Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) favorite, has been retired from racing and will stand at Darby Dan.

Jackson Bend Retired, to Stand at Journeyman

Multiple grade I winner Jackson Bend, who raced for Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito and owners Robert LaPenta and Fred Brei of Jacks or Better Farm, has been retired to stand for $5,000 at Journeyman Stud in 2013.

Easter Gift Wraps Up Victory in Smarty Jones

Robert LaPenta's 3-year-old colt Easter Gift proved best in the Sept. 3 Smarty Jones Stakes (gr. III) at Parx Racing when he drew off in the final furlong to win the mile-and-70 yard contest in the slop.

Jackson Bend Feeling Fine After Collision

Multiple grade I winner Jackson Bend appeared to be feeling fine Aug. 19 following an eventful morning on the Oklahoma training track at Saratoga Race Course in New York the day before.

Jackson Bend Seems OK After Training Incident

Multiple grade I winner Jackson Bend was involved in a mishap the morning of Aug. 18 on the Oklahoma training track at Saratoga Race Course, but appears to have sustained no serious injuries.

Jackson Bend 'Set Up' for Forego at Saratoga

Dual grade 1 winner Jackson Bend breezed a half-mile over the Oklahoma training track on the morning of Aug. 16, covering the distance in :49.33 as he preps for the $500,000 Forego (gr. I) Sept. 1.

The Little Horse That Could

'The little horse that could,' as Jackson Bend has affectionately come to be known, will start July 20 in the $100,000 James Marvin Stakes (gr. III) at Saratoga Race Course

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Jackson Bend Seeks James Marvin Repeat

Defending winner Jackson Bend looks for a repeat July 20 in the $100,000 James Marvin Stakes (gr. III) at Saratoga Race Course. As usual, he'll have to tangle with a giant to get the job done.

Jackson Bend Carves Out Carter Upset

Jackson Bend, the longest shot in the field, held off a flying even-money choice Caleb's Posse in the final strides to prevail in the $400,000 Carter Handicap (gr. I) at Aqueduct April 7.

Motor City Moves 5 Furlongs at Palm Meadows

Motor City, a 3-year-old son of Street Sense and winner of last fall's Iroquois Stakes (gr. II), worked five furlongs in 1:01.88 at Palm Meadows Training Center Feb. 23. The bullet at the trip was recorded by Dialed In.

Cool Coal Man's First Foal is a Colt

The first reported foal by Robert LaPenta's grade II winner Cool Coal Man is a colt born Jan. 20 in Ocala, Fla.

Jackson Bend Wins Hal's Hope With Late Burst

With a patient John Velazquez guiding him, Jackson Bend opened up his 2012 campaign in style with a sharp victory in the $100,000 Hal's Hope (gr. III) at Gulfstream Park.

Gulfstream Park Derby Likely for Casual Trick

Trainer Nick Zito said the inaugural Gulfstream Park Derby Jan. 1 is under consideration for Casual Trick, a son of Bernardini who broke his maiden impressively in his second career start.

Jackson Bend Cruises in Forego

Robert LaPenta and Fred Brei's Jackson Bend comes from off the pace to win the seven-furlong Forego Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga in 1:22.08.

Jackson Bend Snaps Skid, Wins James Marvin

Jackson Bend slipped through an opening along the rail at the top of the stretch en route to his first win since October 2009 in the $78,000 James Marvin Stakes on opening day at Saratoga July 22.

Dialed In to Have Knee Surgery

Robert LaPenta's Dialed In, winner of this year's Florida Derby (gr. I), will have surgery next week on a chip in his right knee and will be taken out of training for a undetermined period of time.

Dialed In Preakness Win Would Help Others

If Dialed In captures the May 21 Preakness Stakes (gr. I) at Pimlico, his connections will receive the largest payout in Thoroughbred racing history of $6.1 million.

Full Gate of 14 Expected for Preakness

Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom will likely face 13 3-year-old rivals at Pimlico May 21 in the Preakness Stakes, the second leg of the Triple Crown.

Dialed In Made Derby Favorite; Draws Post 8

Florida Derby winner made 4-1 morning line favorite; Uncle Mo (9-2) draws post 18 for May 7 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).

Triple Crown Insider - 04/08/2011

A review of the Florida Derby, the Dream Big Moment with Robert LaPenta, owner of Dialed In, and a look at the three preps for the weekend: Wood Memorial, Illinois Derby, and Santa Anita Derby.

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Dialed In's Next Call: Kentucky Derby

MAHUBAH'S CORNER
Same connections, same track, same race, same finish -- just a different horse. Can Florida Derby winner Dialed In improve on Ice Box's 2nd-place finish in the Kentucky Derby?

No Place Like Gulfstream Park for S.S. Stone

Robert LaPenta's S.S. Stone again showed his affinity for the main track at Gulfstream Park with an easy victory in the $100,000 Skip Away Stakes (gr. III) April 3.

Dialed In Pushes Button in Florida Derby

Relentless Dialed In came from last on a speed-favoring Gulfstream Park main track to get up in the final couple of strides over 68-1 outsider Shackleford by a head in the $1 million Florida Derby (gr. I) April 3.

LaPenta Dialed In to Derby Again

Robert LaPenta is hoping Dialed In can get him and trainer Nick Zito back to the Kentucky Derby.

Dialed In Gets Wrong Number; Stablemate Wins

Triple Crown contender Dialed In got the two-turn workout he needed in a 1 1/8-mile Gulfstream Park allowance race March 6. What trainer Nick Zito's 1-5 favorite in the five-horse field didn't get was the victory.

LaPenta Gets Allowance Race for Dialed In

Robert LaPenta said March 3 that Dialed in would probably go in the March 12 Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II) if a March 6 Gulfstream allowance race did not fill.

Belmont Winner Da' Tara in Light Training

Da' Tara, who carried Robert LaPenta's colors to victory in the 2008 Belmont Stakes (gr. I), has been reunited with his Hall of Fame trainer, Nick Zito, and is in light training in Florida.

Champion War Pass Dies

Champion and multiple grade I winner War Pass died Dec. 24 at William S. Farish's Lane's End Farm near Versailles, Ky.

Belmont Winner Da' Tara Sells for $180,000

Da' Tara, who captured the 2008 Belmont Stakes (gr. I), brought $180,000 Nov. 16 during the ninth session of the Keeneland November breeding stock sale.

Da' Tara Selling at Keeneland

Da' Tara, the only horse to beat Big Brown, is selling as a racing or stallion prospect at the Keeneland November breeding stock sale.

Miner's Reserve to Miss Several Months

Trainer Nick Zito reported Aug. 30 that Miner's Reserve sustained a hairline fracture in his right knee in the Travers Stakes (gr. I) and the Mineshaft colt will be sidelined for several months.

Gate Training Puts Final Edge on Jackson Bend

A little gate training and an easy gallop was all Jackson Bend required May 14 to be honed for the Preakness Stakes (gr. I).

Ice Box Fires :46 2/5 Half-Mile Bullet

Nick Zito's Florida Derby (gr. I) winner heats things up over a sloppy Churchill Downs surface April 23.

Jackson Bend Sails Through Five Furlongs

Jackson Bend, who is on the outside looking in as far as getting into the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) field of 20, turned in a bullet five-furlong move April 22 at Churchill Downs for trainer Nick Zito.

Derby Trial Has Added Significance This Year

A pair of Derby Trial (gr. III) starters could go on to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) with a win in the April 24 race at Churchill Downs.

Jackson Bend in Fast Workout at Churchill

Jackson Bend, runner-up in both the Fountain of Youth (gr. II) and Wood Memorial (gr. I) stakes, displayed a fondness for Churchill Downs as the Nick Zito trainee worked a fast four furlongs April 15.

Talkin' Horses Podcast with Robert LaPenta

Listen to Robert LaPenta discuss Ice Box, Nick Zito, advice for new owners, and more.

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Ice Box Turns Up Heat on Derby Trail

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter
By one of the hottest sires in American and out of a stamina-oriented mare, Ice Box has bloodlines that indicate he's a smart pedigree pick for the Triple Crown races.

Ice Box Slams Door at 20-1 in Florida Derby

Ice Box, the less fancied of two runners trained by Nick Zito for owner Robert LaPenta, ground out a nose victory over another outsider, Pleasant Prince, in the $750,000 Florida Derby (gr. I) March 20.

Ice Box Posts Swift Half-Mile at Palm Meadows

Ice Box drilled a bullet half-mile in :47 1/5 at Palm Meadows for trainer Nick Zito on the morning of March 13 as he tunes up for the $750,000 Florida Derby (gr. I) at Gulfstream Park.

Jackson Bend Works in :47 at Palm Meadows

The 3-year-old is one of the favorites for the Fountain of Youth (gr. II).

First Foal for Champion War Pass

Champion 2-year-old's first foal is a filly born at Calumet Farm.

Bullet Move For Jackson Bend at Palm Meadows

Robert LaPenta's Jackson Bend worked a bullet five furlongs in :59.30 on Jan. 16 at Palm Meadows for trainer Nick Zito. He is preparing for his highly-anticipated 3-year-old debut in the $150,000 Holy Bull Stakes (gr. III).

Churchill Downs Unveils 2010 Stakes Schedule

Churchill Downs has unveiled a $9.025 million stakes schedule for its 2010 Spring and Fall racing meets in 2010. The schedule includes six grade I races and the return of the La Troienne Stakes.