BloodHorse.com | Horse Racing News

Ato Wins KrisFlyer Sprint; Krypton No Factor

Local sprinter Ato, dismissed by the bettors at 20-1, came charging down the center of the course to win the $800,100 KrisFlyer International Sprint (Sin-I) by 1 1/2 lengths at Kranji Racecourse May 20.

Top International Sire Royal Academy Dies

Coolmore Stud's world-class stallion Royal Academy, who has been represented by more than 160 stakes winners, died Feb. 22 at Coolmore Australia due to the infirmities of old age. He was 25.

Duke of Marmalade Colt Sets Pace at MM Sale

A colt by Duke of Marmalade topped the third session of the Magic Millions national weanling sale, bringing Aust$75,000 ($79,394 in U.S. funds) May 27.

Gotta Have Her Wins Duel for Palomar Repeat

Even-money choice Gotta Have Her survived a stretch-long duel with the outsider Go Forth North to score a repeat victory by a neck in the Palomar Handicap (gr. IIT) on the Del Mar turf Sept. 6.

Gotta Have Her Grabs Royal Heroine Mile

Heavily Favored Gotta Have Her angled to the outside for jockey Tyler Baze and outfought Burg Berg in deep stretch to win the $150,000 Royal Heroine Mile Stakes (gr. IIT) by a half-length on the Hollywood Park turf July 3.

Inglis Broodmare Sale Opens With Increases

Gross revenue and median price rise 3.2% and 4.8%, respectively, from a year ago. Buy-back rate falls to 14.4% from 21.1% in 2009.

Gotta Have Her Best Again On 'Anita Hillside

Favored Gotta Have Her proved her superiority over Santa Anita's hillside turf course once again Saturday when the versatile mare slipped through an opening at the rail approaching mid-stretch and drew off to win Oak Tree's $100,000 Sen. Ken Maddy Handicap (gr. IIIT).

Gotta Have Her Saves Best for Last in Palomar

She finished second in last year's Palomar Handicap (gr. IIT), but Gotta Have Her would not be denied this time around, rallying in the stretch to edge pacesetter Lethal Heat by a neck in the $200,000 feature on closing day of Del Mar's 2009 meet Sept. 9.

Palomar 'Cap Brings Down Curtain at Del Mar

The 4-year-old fillies Allicansayis Wow and Lethal Heat, second and third respectively against males in the Del Mar Mile Handicap (gr. IIT) late last month, are back with their own sex in a contentious renewal of the Palomar Handicap (gr. IIT) on closing day at Del Mar Sept. 9.

OBS: Royal Academy Filly Gets Fastest Quarter

Hip No. 310, Vienna Calling, a Royal Academy filly consigned by Potrero Stables, agent, zipped an eighth in :10-flat to post the sale's fastest time at the distance at the second and final session of the Under Tack Show for the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's 2009 June Sale of 2-year-olds in training and horses of racing age.

Gotta Have Her Wins in Final Hop

Course specialist Gotta Have Her got up in the final stride by a nose over Reba Is Tops to win the $100,000 Las Cienegas Handicap (gr. IIIT), the Easter Day feature on the Santa Anita hillside April 12.

Crowded House a Euro Classic Hopeful

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter

Crowded House raised his profile as a contender in next year's European classics when he won the Racing Post Trophy (Eng-I) on Oct. 25. The question is whether his sire Rainbow Quest can add distance to the colt's speed-oriented female side.

Deauville Gross Nearly 40 Million Euros

The Arqana yearling sale at Deauville, France, ended up in all areas after the fourth and final day Aug. 18, with the aggregate nearly reaching 40 million euros.

Oprah Winney Seeks Fritchie Repeat

The top three finishers from Aqueduct's Jan. 1 Interborough Handicap, led by Oprah Winney, will meet again in the Barbara Fritchie Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II) at Laurel Park Feb. 16.

Royal Academy Staying in Australia

Royal Academy, who distinguished himself at various locales around the world, will not stand in 2008 at Ashford Stud near Versailles, Ky., as planned, but will remain at Coolmore Australia,

'Quiet' May Steal Stage Door Betty

Making her first attempt over dirt after 19 career starts on the turf, the Todd Pletcher-trained Quiet Royal gets a light impost and looks to steal the Dec. 29 Stage Door Betty Handicap (gr. III) at Calder Race Course.

Oprah Winney Wants Garland of Roses

Oprah Winney exits an effort that disappointed her connections in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, but the competition will be softer for their filly in the $75,000 Garland of Roses Handicap at Aqueduct on Dec. 1.

Shakis Primed to Shake Up Field in Shadwell Turf Mile

In a race like the Oct. 6 Shadwell Turf Mile (gr. IT) at Keeneland, it is only fitting that the likely favorite is bred and owned by Shadwell Stable, trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, and coming off an impressive victory in a major stakes race.

Precious Kitten May Pounce in Keeneland's First Lady

Ken and Sarah Ramsey's Precious Kitten seems poised to extend her winning streak to three races in the $400,000 First Lady Stakes (gr. II) at Keeneland.

Coolmore Sires Return to U.S.

Reeling already from having eight of their best stallions stranded in quarantine at New South Wales' government controlled Eastern Creek facility, Coolmore Australia has decided to send three of its star stallions home to Ashford Stud.

Art Master Aces Poker Handicap

Juddmonte Farm's Art Master, returning to the turf for the first time in 2007, rallied under jockey Garrett Gomez to win the $112,600 Poker Handicap (gr. IIIT) at a mile on the Widener Turf Course at Belmont Park on Saturday afternoon by 1 1/4 lengths.

Quite a Bride Seeks Trip to Altar in Early Times Mint Julep

Graded stakes winner Quite a Bride looks to better a bridesmaid-like performance in the May 5 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile as she stretches out for Saturday's renewal of the Early Times Mint Julep Handicap (gr. IIIT) on Churchill's Stephen Foster Day undercard.

Naughty Rafaela Catches Fire in Santa Barbara

T N T Stud's Brazilian homebred Naughty Rafaela picked up her first graded win in the United States, wearing down the pacesetting Sweet Belle in the final furlong and going on to win the Santa Barbara Handicap (gr. IIT) by one length Saturday on the Santa Anita turf.

Royal Academy Filly Leads Way on Day Two of Adelaide Sale in Australia

A filly by Royal Academy sold for Aust$160,000 (U.S. $127,00) to top the second day of the Magic Millions Adelaide yearling sale.

Oprah Winney Has Last Word in Barbara Fritchie

New York shipper Oprah Winney fought off all comers to record her first graded stakes win, a front-running three-quarters of a length victory over Silmaril in the $285,000 Barbara Fritchie Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II) for fillies and mares at Laurel Park Saturday.

Molengao's Super Footwork Wins San Antonio

TNT Stud's homebred Molengao altered course mid-stretch before getting up in the final couple of strides to capture the $250,000 San Antonio Handicap by a head over the stubborn Ball Four at Santa Anita Sunday.

Baghdaria Surges to Indiana Oaks Triumph

Clinton and Susan Atkins' Baghdaria settled behind a four-horse duel on the front before making her bid for the lead and drawing clear at the wire to win the $402,800 Indiana Breeders Cup Oaks (gr. III) Friday night at Hoosier Park.

Baghdaria Nips Maggie Slew in Iowa Oaks

Baghdaria made up a 2 1/2-length disadvantage in the stretch to collar the co-favorite Maggie Slew in the final stages to win the $200,000 Iowa Oaks (gr. III) at Prairie Meadows Friday night.

Bullish Luck Gets Bonus with Yasuda Kinen Win

Hong Kong-trained Bullish Luck demolished a top field of Asian milers in the 56th running of the Yasuda Kinen at Tokyo Racecourse Sunday, and in the process earn a US$1 million bonus for the first time in the history of the recently established Asian Mile Challenge series.

Bullish Luck Repeats in Champions Mile; Silent Witness Fades

In an effort remarkably similar to last year, Bullish Luck registered a track-equaling record run while defeating stablemate Silent Witness in the US$1 million Champions Mile (HK-I), the third leg of the Asian Mile Challenge, at Sha Tin on Sunday.

Baghdaria Nips French Park in Silverbulletday

Baghdaria kept battling after being passed by the heavily favored French Park and won the $269,200 Silverbulletday (gr. III) for 3-year-old fillies at the Fair Grounds meet at Louisiana Downs by a head Saturday.

Royal Academy Colt Tops Inglis Auction in Australia

Into its second year, the Inglis ready-to-run sale of 2-year-olds proved to be a winner on Monday in Melbourne, Australia.

Redoute's Choice Colt Shines at Australian Easter Sale

Danehill's astonishing son, Redoute's Choice, landed the day's top-priced yearling at Aus$1.8 million (U.S.$1.45 million) when his fantastically put together son from the unraced Marauding mare Saucy Nell stunned everyone.

Numbers Don't Lie

By Dan Liebman -- Numbers. This business is about numbers. Big numbers... dramatic numbers...incredible numbers. The wildest number of 2004, and in fact perhaps the wildest number ever in the history of this game, is the number of stakes winners sired by Danehill. With only 19 stallions having sired 100 or more stakes winners in their entire careers, Danehill, by Danzig, was represented by 51 in 2004.

Royal Academy Sires 100th Stakes Winner

Coolmore stallion Royal Academy, who attained milestones as both a yearling and as a racehorse, came through with one as a stallion. The 17-year-old stallion has sired his 100th stakes winner.

Zook, Wildwood Royal Add Another Iowa Notch

The list of big-name trainers that Jimmy Zook outruns at Prairie Meadows just keeps growing.

Academic Angel Gets Easy 'A' in Henson 'Cap

Cash Asmussen's Academic Angel, the overwhelming 3-5 favorite, rolled to an easy 2 1/4-length win in the $105,400 Harry Henson Handicap for fillies and mares at Sunland Park.

Bullish Luck Swoops to Hong Kong Gold Cup

Kentucky-bred Bullish Luck stormed through late to snatch the $1,028,925 Hong Kong Gold Cup (HK-I) at 2,000 meters as trainer Tony Cruz and jockey Felix Coetzee continued their strong seasons Sunday at Sha Tin racecourse.

Wildwood Royal Sets Iowa Oaks Stakes Mark

Iowa Oaks winning filly Wildwood Royal set off some fireworks of her own during Friday's July 4th celebration at Prairie Meadows, setting a stakes record in the process.

Baze Guides Quero Quero to Honeymoon Upset

Thanks to a well-timed ride from Tyler Baze, Old Friends Inc.'s Quero Quero hit the front at just the correct moment to upset favored Atlantic Ocean by a neck in Saturday's $215,950 Honeymoon Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. IIT) for 3-year-old fillies on the Hollywood Park turf.

Bel Esprit Breaks Through for Group I Win

As Royal Academy rests up before his eighth year of dual hemisphere work his best southern son, Bel Esprit, broke through for a belated group I at three in the $500,000 (Australian funds) Doomben 10,000 (Aust-I) in Brisbane May 17.

New York Invader Miss Gazon Arrives for Dahlia

Miss Gazon, an impressive winner in her last start on the Aqueduct turf, arrived from New York for the $150,000 Dahlia Handicap (gr. IIT), for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on turf at Hollywood Park Saturday.

Century City Promising in U.S. Debut; Royal Gem Wins

Royal Gem battled 50-1 Aly Bubba and 7-10 favorite Century City to the wire for neck victory in the $100,000 Bay Meadows Derby (gr. IIIT) at 1 1/8-mile on the fall meet's closing day Sunday.

Royal Gem to Tackle Century City at Bay Meadows

The powerful Bobby Frankel barn will send out Royal Gem in Sunday's $100,000 Bay Meadows Derby (gr. IIIT), a 1 1/8-miles turf race for 3-year-olds that will highlight the closing-day program of the 2002 fall meeting.

Krone Fourth in Return at Santa Anita

Hall of Fame jockey Julie Krone finished fourth aboard Justly Royal at Santa Anita in her first race since April 1999.

Macedon Lady Takes Australian 1,000 Guineas

Royal Academy achieved a dubious double when his talented daughter La Belle Dame was narrowly beaten in the Vinery-sponsored 1,000 Guineas (Aust-I) for 3-year-old fillies at Caulfield on Oct. 16.

Rock Opera A Leading Contender for Del Mar Derby

Rock Opera, one of the leading contenders for Saturday's $300,000 Del Mar Derby (gr. IIT), put in his final work for the race, going 5 furlongs on the grass Sunday in 1:03.60 today.

Royal Academy to Shuttle to Coolmore Australia

Prominent international stallion Royal Academy once again will shuttle to Australia for the Southern Hemisphere breeding season.v

Pearls of Dubai Sale-Topper Upset

Next Knight, who topped last year's Pearls of Dubai sale, was upset by a Kentucky-bred son of Mister Baileys in a mile grass race at Nad al Sheba Racecourse Sunday.

A P Valentine's Dam Brings $4-Million

They saved the best for last during Monday's opening session of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, as two of the day's top prices came in the waning moments of the day. In the end, Brushwood Stable's Elizabeth Moran went away with the top prize, purchasing the dam of grade I winner A P Valentine for $4-million.