BloodHorse.com | Horse Racing News

Awesome Act Lame Following Derby Run

Son of Awesome Again is getting a break from training and competition and will undergo a nuclear scintigraphy scan.

Jackson: 'Rachel' 90% Fit; 'Should Win'

But the co-owner isn't afraid to lose and calls the La Troienne "just one step toward the ultimate goal, an appearance in the Breeders' Cup World Championships later this year at Churchill Downs.

Streaking Hot Dixie Chick Heads Eight Belles

The daughter of Dixie Union is coming into the race off of four consecutive wins.

Awesome Act Works in :48 1/5 in the Slop

Awesome Act worked in :48 1/5 and galloped out in 1:00 2/5 on April 27. Jockey Julien Leparoux was in the irons.

Silver Timber Looks to Axe Turf Sprint

The April 30 Churchill Downs Turf Sprint Stakes (gr. IIIT) has drawn a competitive field of 11 older turf sprinters, headlined by three-time grade III winner Silver Timber.

Rachel Returns To Churchill For La Troienne

Starting for the first time in Louisville since her record-setting Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) a year ago, Rachel Alexandra headlines a field of six in the $400,000 La Troienne Stakes (gr. III).

Rachel Works 4F for La Troienne

Rachel Alexandra, last year's Horse of the Year, is slated to contest the April 30 La Troienne Stakes (gr. II) on the Kentucky Oaks undercard.

Gryder to Ride at Lone Star for Spring Meet

Jockey Aaron Gryder will be moving his tack to Lone Star Park for the remainder of the 2010 spring Thoroughbred meet starting on the night of April 22.

Rachel Alexandra Fires Bullet at Churchill

Rachel Alexandra's attitude following a bullet six furlong work in 1:12 April 12 will play a key role in determining the 2009 Horse of the Year's next race, according to trainer Steve Asmussen.

No Rachel, But Zenyatta's Show Goes On

After throwing $5 million at racing's two female superstars to run in the Apple Blossom Invitational (gr. I), Oaklawn Park's president got half of what he and the horse racing world wanted to see.

Lone Star Meet to Open With Premiere Stakes

Lone Star's 2010 spring meet will run April 8 to July 18, Thursdays through Sundays. Opening night will feature the Premiere Stakes for 3-year-olds and upward.

Hangin' With Haskin: Rachel and Jess

The truth of the matter is that the Apple Blossom showdown turned into one big mess.

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Haskin's Analysis: Rachel Not the Same

It was obvious watching Rachel on Saturday that this was not the same filly we saw last year, at least not right now.

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Rachel Alexandra Out of Apple Blossom

Jess Jackson, principal owner of 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra, announced March 14 that the 4-year-old filly will not face Zenyatta in the Apple Blossom Handicap (gr. I) at Oaklawn Park April 9.

Zardana Stuns Rachel in Her Season Debut

Rachel Alexandra was stunned by Zardana, who tackled the reigning Horse of the Year at the top of the stretch and outdueled the heavy favorite to win by three parts of a length in the $200,000 New Orleans Ladies Stakes.

HRTV to Cover Rachel, Zenyatta Prep Races

HRTV will present a special one-hour live show March 13 featuring the seasonal debuts of 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra and unbeaten Breeders' Cup Classic winner Zenyatta.

Rachel Drills Six Furlongs in Company

Horse of the Year recorded her first in-company work of 2010, and her second to last scheduled move before an expected start in the March 13 New Orleans Ladies Handicap.

Rachel, Zenyatta Work Toward 2010 Debuts

Reigning Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra posted her fourth workout of 2010 when she covered five furlongs in 1:00 1/5 at Fair Grounds while Zenyatta drilled six furlongs in 1:14 over the Cushion Track at Hollywood Park.

Friesan Fire Favored in Mineshaft

The first three finishers in the Jan. 23 Louisiana Handicap at Fair Grounds are set to battle again in the Feb. 20 Mineshaft Handicap (gr. III) at the same 1 1/16-mile distance over the New Orleans oval.

Bridgmohan Gets 2,000th Career Win

Jockey guides Outfitter to victory in first race Feb. 13 at the Fair Grounds.

Rachel Alexandra in 4F Move at Fair Grounds

In her second work of the week, reigning Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra breezes four furlongs in :50 3/5 Feb. 6 in New Orleans.

No Catching Friesan Fire in Louisiana 'Cap

Favored Friesan Fire scored his first victory since romping in last spring's Louisiana Derby (gr. II) when he led all the way to take the $72,750 Louisiana Handicap at Fair Grounds by 1 3/4 lengths Jan. 23.

Eclipse Awards: Event Full of Grace, History

Rachel Alexandra gets the main prize, but partisan crowd shows admiration for both at the 2009 Eclipse Awards.

Rachel Alexandra Named Horse of the Year

Super filly Rachel Alexandra tops Zenyatta in Horse of the Year balloting.

Champion Trainer: Steve Asmussen

Back-to-back Eclipse Awards for trainer of Rachel Alexandra and grade I winner Kodiak Kowboy, Hot Dixie Chick; led nation with $21.8 million in earnings

Champion 3YO Female: Rachel Alexandra

After trouncing her own division, filly stepped out to beat the boys in the grade I BlackBerry Preakness, Haskell, and Woodward Stakes.

Champion Male Sprinter: Kodiak Kowboy

Son of Posse won the Carter, Vosburgh, and Hill 'n' Dale Cigar Mile (all gr. I) for Vinery Stables and Fox Hill Farm

Rachel Wins NYRA 'Story of the Year'

Rachel Alexandra's extraordinary victory in the Woodward Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga has been voted by fans as NYRA's 2009 "Story of the Year."

Girl Power: Females Rule 2009 Earnings List

For the first time, female Thoroughbreds occupy the top two spots on the list of leading North American earners in 2009, according to final statistics released today by Equibase Company.

FG Creates Race to Lure Rachel Alexandra

Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots has put together a $200,000 stakes race for older fillies and mares in hopes of luring Horse of the Year candidate Rachel Alexandra for her 2010 debut.

Pyro to Join Darley's Japan Stallion Roster

Godolphin Racing's Pyro, winner of the Forego Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga, has been retired and will enter stud in 2010 at Darley Japan where his fee will be ¥2 million (about US$22,100).

Asmussen Surpasses His Own Season Win Record

Trainer Steve Asmussen eclipsed his own North American record for number of wins in a single season when Poppin won a claiming race at Woodbine Racecourse on Dec. 6.

Friesan Fire Third in Fair Grounds Allowance

Friesan Fire, sent off as the favorite in this year's Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), finished third in a Fair Grounds allowance contest in his first race back since the Preakness (gr. I).

Rachel Alexandra Pointed to Spring Return

Stonestreet Stables and Harold McCormick's Rachel Alexandra arrived in Louisiana Nov. 27 but probably won't race until March or April.

Friesan Fire Returns to Races at Fair Grounds

Vinery Stables and Fox Hill Farm's Friesan Fire, who finished 18th of 19 as the 7-2 favorite for this year's Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), is one of six horses entered in the Dec. 3 feature at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.

Super Win in Kentucky Jockey Club

WinStar Farm's Super Saver romped to a five-length victory over William's Kitten in stakes-record time to win the $191,250 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (gr. II) for 2-year-olds at Churchill Downs Nov. 28.

Kodiak Kowboy KO's Hill 'n' Dale Cigar Mile

Ridden patiently by Shaun Bridgmohan, Kodiak Kowboy swept past Bribon and Vineyard Haven in deep stretch to win the $300,000 Hill 'n' Dale Cigar Mile Handicap (gr. I) at Aqueduct Nov. 28.

Haynesfield Impressive Discovery 'Cap Winner

Racing in graded stakes company for the first time since disappointing in the Gotham (gr. III) this spring, Haynesfield looked like a completely different 3-year-old this time around, as he took over approaching the quarter-pole and easily repelled odds-on favorite Gone Astray to win the $103,500 Discovery Handicap (gr. III) by 4 1/2 lengths Nov. 21 at Aqueduct.

Iroquois Opens Up for Thiskyhasnolimit

Overlooked Thiskyhasnolimit drove four wide through the homestretch under Shaun Bridgmohan to register his first stakes win by one length in the $120,800 Iroquois (gr. III) for 2-year-olds at Churchill Downs Nov. 1.

Dominguez Bags Four Stakes at Belmont

Ramon Dominguez rode four stakes winners Oct. 24 at rainy Belmont Park, including a three-quarters of a length victory by Haynesfield in the $250,000 Empire Classic.

Rachel Alexandra Back at Churchill Downs

Leading Horse of the Year candidate Rachel Alexandra returned to her home base at Churchill Downs Oct. 7 and settled into familiar surroundings in trainer Steve Asmussen's Barn 38 following a long van ride from Saratoga, where she spent much of the summer and the early days of fall.

Soul Warrior, Regal Ransom Duel in Super 'D'

Soul Warrior has been installed as the 2-1 morning line favorite for the 30th running of the $750,000 Super Derby (gr. II) Sept. 19 at Louisiana Downs in Bossier City.

Asmussen Collects 5,000th Win

Trainer Steve Asmussen got his 5,000th training victory when Passion Rules won the 7th race at Woodbine Sept. 11

Countdown to the Cup: Rachel Rocks the Spa

Rachel Alexandra provided one of the great moments in the history of Saratoga when she scored a courageous head victory over older male rivals in the $750,000 Woodward Stakes Sept. 5.

Rachel Doing Well Day After Woodward

Standing outside his barn at Saratoga the morning of Sept. 6, trainer Steve Asmussen was still basking in the glow of Rachel Alexandra's historic victory in the $750,000 Woodward Stakes (gr. I) as he reported the filly came out of the race in good shape.

Hot Dixie Chick Makes Bold Statement

Odds-on favorite Hot Dixie Chick served notice that she is among the elite 2-year-old fillies in the land, as she put away a pair of rivals in upper stretch and glided home for a 1 3/4-length score in the $300,000 Spinaway (gr. I) Sept. 6 at Saratoga.

Rachel Holds Off Macho Again in Woodward

Rachel Alexandra cemented herself as one of the best fillies of all-time in a race for the ages, as she set a suicidal pace and then was all out under Calvin Borel to hold off a bold charge from Macho Again to win the $750,000 Woodward Stakes (gr. I) by a head in electrifying fashion Sept. 5 at Saratoga.

Western Smoke Wins Sapling, Just Like Sire

Western Smoke repeated a feat accomplished by his daddy 13 years ago, winning the $150,000 Sapling (gr. III) at Monmouth Sept. 5 for his third consecutive stakes score. Now, if the 2-year-old colt can go on to do what Smoke Glacken did in his sophomore season, he will really be in business.

Hot Dixie Chick the One to Catch in Spinaway

Rachel Alexandra will steal all the headlines, but she won't be the only heavily-backed filly Steve Asmussen sends out in a grade I race this weekend at Saratoga. The nation's leading trainer also has Grace Stables' Hot Dixie Chick going in the $300,000 Spinaway (gr. I) on Sept. 6, and the daughter of Dixie Union figures to receive much of the attention at the windows.

Luna Vega Runs Away With Molly Pitcher

Luna Vega overcame Spritely in the homestretch to post a mild surprise in the $223,000 Molly Pitcher Breeders' Cup Stakes (gr. II) Aug. 30 for her second win in as many starts on the Monmouth Park main track.