Champion Gulch has been pensioned from stallion duty because of declining fertility at William S. Farish's Lane's End Farm near Versailles, Ky.; A.P. Indy to stand for $150,000 as farm announces 2010 stud fees.
Thursday, November 05, 2009
MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter
A multi-generation affinity of his female family with Mr. Prospector-line sires might have championship repercussions as Lookin At Lucky prepares for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile this fall. Wednesday, October 07, 2009
Undefeated Lookin At Lucky handled his first try at two turns successfully in the $300,000 Norfolk Stakes (gr. I) Oct. 4, allowing Bob Baffert to look forward to the Nov. 7 Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) at Santa Anita Park.
Sunday, October 04, 2009
Even-money choice Lookin at Lucky remained unbeaten in three starts and gave trainer Bob Baffert his ninth win in the Del Mar Futurity (gr. I) in the past 14 years Sept. 7 at the seaside track.
Monday, September 07, 2009
Favored Lookin at Lucky, in the familiar Mike Pegram silks for trainer Bob Baffert, jumped into graded company with a three-quarters of a length win in the $150,000 Best Pal Stakes (gr. II) at Del Mar Aug. 9.
Sunday, August 09, 2009
In a battle of all-star sprinters at showery Saratoga Aug. 9, even-money choice Fabulous Strike edged past stubborn pacesetter Go Go Shoot in deep stretch to win the $250,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (gr. II).
Sunday, August 09, 2009
Arkansas Derby (gr. II) winner Papa Clem, who finished fourth, beaten a head for second, in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands, is scheduled to arrive at Monmouth Park June 30 to prepare for the $1-million Haskell Invitational Handicap (gr. I) Aug. 2.
Monday, June 29, 2009
MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter
Canadian-bred A.P. Indy colt Eye of the Leopard just broke his maiden in mid-May, but his classy pedigree makes him a good bet in upcoming Canadian Classics. Wednesday, June 03, 2009
Smart Surprise rallied from off the pace, took over in mid-stretch and held off a late bid from Proud Heiress to win the $158,600 Hendrie Stakes (Can-III) for older fillies and mares May 10 at Woodbine.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
A full brother to two-time Horse of the Year Curlin was born April 29 at Fares Farm.
Friday, May 08, 2009
Graded stakes winner Twilight Meteor has been retired from racing, it was announced May 5 by John Fort of Peachtree Stable.
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
In an "old school" move, trainer Gary Stute sent out his Papa Clem for a three-furlong blowout at Churchill Downs two days before the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I). Under jockey Rafael Bejarano, the son of Smart Strike threw down a :34 clocking.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
J. Paul Reddam's Square Eddie will not run in Saturday's Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), trainer Doug O'Neill told The Blood-Horse early April 28.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Trainer Gary Stute went "old school" April 25 at Churchill Downs, working his Arkansas Derby (gr. II) winner Papa Clem seven furlongs in 1:29 1/5. The trainer, the son and nephew of the legendary training brothers of Mel and Warren Stute (respectively), may give his colt a quarter-mile blowout a day or two before the May 2 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).
Saturday, April 25, 2009
This final Derby Trail column before departing for Louisville is more of a potpourri of thoughts, scenarios, angles, trivia, and a touch of nonsense.
Monday, April 20, 2009
One of the great uncertainties in evaluating the prospects of this year's Kentucky Derby contenders is weighing all-weather form. And it has been brought into particularly sharp focus by the efforts of two horses that have run behind the West Coast's dominant 3-year-old, Pioneerof the Nile.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Southern California shipper Papa Clem outfought even-money choice Old Fashioned in a thrilling stretch duel at Oaklawn Park to win the $1 million Arkansas Derby (gr. II) by a half-length April 11.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Keeneland's sale of 2-year-olds in training, like just about every other Thoroughbred auction in recent memory, generated results that lagged well behind the previous year's statistics. The gross revenue for the two-day sale, which ended the evening of April 7 in Lexington, dropped 27.6% while the average price declined 15.5%. The median price fell 21.7%.
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
Curlin, the 2007-08 Horse of the Year, made a good showing when he covered the first of the mares booked to him for his first season at stud at William S. Farish's Lane's End Farm near Versailles, Ky.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Curlin, North America's richest horse with earnings of more than $10.5 million, began his new career Feb. 13 when he covered his first mare at Will S. Farish's Lane's End Farm near Versailles, Ky.
Friday, February 13, 2009
The field that has passed the entry box for the Feb. 7 Fair Grounds Handicap (gr. IIIT) makes for an intriguing handicapping puzzle. The cast, which is about evenly split with horses making their first start off a layoff and those with some recent Fair Grounds experience, is long on back class, but a bit light on early pace.
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
High-profile Kentucky Derby (gr. I) hopefuls Old Fashioned, Silver City, and Flat Out are all likely for the Feb. 16 Southwest (gr. III) at Oaklawn, and now it seems there's a new contender coming from Southern California by the name of Square Eddie.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Lane's End Breeders' Futurity (gr. I) winner Square Eddie, prepping for his 3-year-old debut in the San Rafael Stakes (gr. III) at one mile on Jan. 17 at Santa Anita, breezed six furlongs at Hollywood Park Jan. 8.
Thursday, January 08, 2009
Fabulous Strike, the 1-2 favorite among the four remaining starters in Aqueduct's Gravesend Handicap (gr. III) Dec. 27, proved an easy winner of the $103,100 event.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Lane's End Farm has reduced the 2009 fees for a number of its stallions, including major sire A.P. Indy.
Monday, November 24, 2008
J. Paul Reddam's Square Eddie has returned to trainer Doug O'Neill's Hollywood Park barn following a couple weeks' rest at Magali Farms near Santa Ynez, Calif.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Smart Surprise made her stakes debut a winning one, outfighting Saskawea in the final furlong to win the $132,327 Bessarabian Stakes by a half-length Nov. 23 at Woodbine.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Sam-Son Farm-bred Danceinthesunlight, the first horse through the sales ring, got the fourth session of the 2008 Keeneland November breeding stock sale off to a strong start Nov. 6 when she was purchased by Southern Equine for $675,000.
Thursday, November 06, 2008
A.P. Indy, who shared top billing with Storm Cat and Distorted Humor with a $300,000 stud fee in 2008, now has the top all to himself in 2009 at that price.
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Representing Sheikh Mohammed, John Ferguson went to $2.3 million to acquire grade I winner Shadow Cast during the afternoon portion of the 2008 Keeneland November breeding stock sale Nov. 3 at the Central Kentucky auction house.
Monday, November 03, 2008
Representing Sheikh Mohammed, John Ferguson went to $2.3 million to acquire grade I winner Shadow Cast during the afternoon portion of the 2008 Keeneland November breeding stock sale Nov. 3 at the Central Kentucky auction house.
Monday, November 03, 2008
Todd Beattie is happy to be in California with Fabulous Strike for the Sentient Flight Group Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I). He had hoped to be at last year's Sprint, but instead had to battle a lung infection that could have ended the gelding's racing career.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Communique will not run in the $2-million Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (gr. IT) at Santa Anita Oct. 24 due to a foot abscess in her right front leg.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Though this weekend will feature power-packed racing that should impact the upcoming Breeders' Cup World Championships, all eyes will be on Curlin as he looks to defend his title in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I) and break Cigar's North American earnings record.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Defending Horse of the Year Curlin made his return to dirt racing in the $500,000 Woodward Stakes (gr. I) a successful one at Saratoga Aug. 30, but he had to work to get the job done.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Robert Tiller, Louis Cauz, Wilderness Road, and Smart Strike are inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame Aug. 28.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Curlin will make his next start in the $500,000 Woodward (gr. I) Aug. 30 at Saratoga, Stonestreet Stables' Jess Jackson told media members Aug. 5, but the majority owner would not commit to sending the reigning Horse of the Year anywhere after that, including the Breeders' Cup later this year at Santa Anita. Jackson also left the possibility open that Curlin could race next year, saying the chances were "pretty slim, but not foreclosed."
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
Fabulous Strike, an early favorite for last year's TVG Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) before a serious lung infection ended his season, returned in the Vincent A. Moscarelli Memorial Stakes at Delaware Park June 21, easily defeating two rivals in the six-furlong event.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Following Curlin's dominant win in the Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) June 14, trainer Steve Asmussen says he's planning to work the reigning Horse of the Year over the Churchill Downs grass course while considering a bid in France's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-I).
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Reigning Horse of the Year Curlin took the lead entering the stretch and rolled to an impressive 4 1/4-length victory in the $1-million Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) at Churchill Downs.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Curlin, the 2007 Horse of the Year and 3-5 morning line favorite for the June 14 Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I), schooled in the paddock at Churchill Downs following the fifth race June 12. He was accompanied by trainer Steve Asmussen and assistant trainer Scott Blasi.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Stonestreet Stable and Midnight Cry Stable's Curlin dazzled onlookers with a strong work at Churchill Downs June 2 as the reigning Horse of the Year tuned up for planned run in the $750,000-added Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) June 14.
Monday, June 02, 2008
Curlin, 2007 Horse of the Year and winner of the March 29 Dubai World Cup (UAE-I), continued to train toward his return to competition May 26 with a strong six-furlong work at Churchill Downs.
Monday, May 26, 2008
The Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame announced its 2008 inductees May 20. Four horses and four people will be honored at a Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Mississauga Convention Centre Aug. 28.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
There will be racing at other locations besides Pimlico on May 17, although most of the nation will be prone to forget it. At Belmont Park in the $150,000 Shuvee Handicap (gr. II), older fillies and mares head out a mile on the New York dirt just one hour before the Preakness Stakes (gr. I) goes off in Maryland.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
A total of 22 nominees have been put forward by the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame's Thoroughbred and Standardbred Nominating Committees. The nominees consist of six Thoroughbred horses, four Standardbreds and 12 people.
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
G. Watts Humphrey Jr.'s homebred Communique worked rail-skimming magic in deep stretch of the $150,000 Grey Goose Bewitch Stakes (gr. IIIT) and swung out just in time to keep Helen Groves' Tejida from a wire-to-wire win in the April 24 event at Keeneland Race Course.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Fresh off his impressive victory in the March 29 Dubai World Cup (UAE-I), 2007 Horse of the Year Curlin shipped into Belmont Park April 2 to begin his quarantine period after spending the past several weeks in Dubai.
Thursday, April 03, 2008
As 12 horses headed to the post in the $6 million Dubai World Cup (UAE-I), trainer Steve Asmussen stood in the paddock at Nad Al Sheba racecourse. "I'm just wanting the real Curlin to show up," he said. Moments later, the Smart Strike colt more than obliged, rolling to a 7 3/4-length win and convincing viewers of one sure thing - right now "the real Curlin" is the best horse in the world.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
No horse has ever won the $6-million Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) from post position number 12, but Curlin could change that fact when he tackles 13 runners in the March 29 event.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
