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Awesome Fire, under a brilliant ride from Chantal Sutherland, unleashed her closing kick rounding the far turn and overcame traffic problems en route to a game half-length victory in the $249,599 Wonder Where Stakes.
Sunday, July 29, 2012Grade II winner Strong Contender came through with his first winner when his daughter Ozzie's Harriet scored July 11 at Arapahoe Park.
Monday, July 12, 2010John Oxley's grade II winner Strong Contender, scratched as the second-choice the morning of the Feb. 3 Donn Handicap (gr. I) at Gulfstream Park, has been retired from racing because of an injury.
Monday, February 05, 2007John Oxley's multiple graded stakes winner Strong Contender, scratched as the second choice the morning of Saturday's Donn Handicap, has possibly suffered a career-ending injury.
Sunday, February 04, 2007Shadwell Stable's 2006 Horse of the Year Invasor shoulders top weight of 123 pounds as the 6-to-5 morning line favorite in his long-awaited return in Saturday's $500,000 Donn Handicap (gr. I) at Gulfstream Park.
Thursday, February 01, 2007Shadwell Stable's 2006 Horse of the Year Invasor tops the imposing roster of nominations released for the $500,000 Donn Handicap (gr. I) at Gulfstream Park Feb. 3. The 5-year-old Argentine-bred is expected to be the marquee name on the most highly anticipated card offered in the nation this year.
Friday, January 26, 2007John Oxley's 4-year-old Strong Contender wasn't seriously injured when clipped from behind in the roughly run Hal's Hope Handicap (gr. III) at Gulfstream Park Jan. 6 and remains on target for the Donn Handicap (gr. I) on Feb. 3.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007Lazy F Ranch's lightly raced Chatain surged past heavily favored Sweetnorthernsaint in deep stretch to grab the lead and hold off an extremely game Sir Greeley to win the $100,000 Hal's Hope Handicap (gr. III) by a nose in track record time at Gulfstream Park Saturday.
Saturday, January 06, 2007Sweetnorthernsaint and Strong Contender meet for the first time as the favorites in Saturday's $100,000 Hal's Hope Handicap (gr. III) on opening weekend at Gulfstream Park.
Thursday, January 04, 2007John Oxley's Strong Contender, winner of the Super Derby (gr. II) in his last start, will skip the Breeders' Cup Classic - Powered by Dodge (gr. II) and will point for the Gulfstream Park meeting, with his main goal being the Donn Handicap (gr. I), trainer John Ward said Thursday.
Thursday, October 19, 2006The wheels have been turning at Ballydoyle. The decision to send group I Irish Derby and Irish Champion winner Dylan Thomas to Belmont for the Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I) is a departure from their normal strategy. But they have done it before, and it is understandable why they would want to try a different approach
Monday, September 25, 2006Lawyer Ron, whose only defeat in his last eight starts came in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), was installed the 8-5 morning line favorite when eight 3-year-olds were entered for Saturday's $500,000 Super Derby (gr. II) at Louisiana Downs.
Thursday, September 21, 2006Before Barbaro and Bernardini began monopolizing the headlines with their heroics on and off the racetrack, Lawyer Ron was one of the dominant forces on the Kentucky Derby trail. On Saturday, he attempts to return to prominence in the 3-year-old division in the $500,000 Super Derby (gr. II).
Tuesday, September 19, 2006Owner John Oxley and trainer John Ward confirmed Monday morning they plan to run both Minister's Bid and Dr. Pleasure in Saturday's $1 million Travers Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga.
Monday, August 21, 2006Despite putting in a strong five-furlong workout over the Belmont Park training track Saturday, John Oxley's Strong Contender is still questionable for the upcoming Travers, according to Donna Ward, the wife and assistant trainer for John Ward.
Sunday, August 20, 2006Trainer Todd Pletcher gave his Travers (gr. I) contenders Bluegrass Cat and High Cotton workouts at Saratoga Saturday.
Saturday, August 19, 2006Darley Stable's Bernardini, runaway winner of the Preakness (gr. I) and Jim Dandy (gr. II), breezed an easy five furlongs in 1:03 2/5 at Saratoga Friday in preparation for the $1-million Travers Stakes (gr. I) Aug. 26.
Friday, August 11, 2006Even-money favorite Bluegrass Cat, winless since taking the Sam F. Davis in February, demolished the field in Sunday's $1,030,000 Haskell Invitational with devastating late burst.
Sunday, August 06, 2006If any 3-year-old is going to head to the Aug. 26 Travers Stakes (gr. I) with a legitimate shot to knock off the Bernardini, he will have to show what he's made of in Sunday's $1-million Haskell Invitational (gr. I) at Monmouth Park.
Thursday, August 03, 2006Joseph LaCombe's Deputy Glitters is one of eight considered likely for this Sunday's Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park, and trainer Tom Albertrani is ready for Deputy Glitters to take his next step as he returns to grade I competition in the 1 1/8-mile event.
Monday, July 31, 2006John C. Oxley's Strong Contender posted an authoritative 7 3/4-length victory in Tuesday's grade II Dwyer Stakes at Belmont Park as the lightly-raced 3-year-old son of Maria's Mon won his third race in only his fifth career start.
Tuesday, July 04, 2006Favored Sunriver needed the entire length of the Belmont Park homestretch in order to nab the game pacesetter Lewis Michael at the wire in Saturday's $200,000 Peter Pan (gr. II) for 3-year-olds.
Saturday, May 20, 2006While the country's best 3-year-olds battle at Pimlico Saturday for the Preakness (gr. I), a group of talented sophomores will line up in the $200,000 Peter Pan Stakes (gr. II) at Belmont Park.
Thursday, May 18, 2006Sinister Minister stormed out of the starting gate and was never challenged in cruising to 12 3/4 -length victory in Saturday's $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I).
Saturday, April 15, 2006Put up or shut up; now or never; do or die. You get the picture. With the running of Saturday's Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) and Arkansas Derby (gr. II), we finally will have a good idea who will be in the starting lineup for the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).
Thursday, April 13, 2006First Samurai was installed as the 8-5 favorite when he drew post position five in the nine-horse field entered for Saturday's 82nd running of the $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) at Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Ky.
Wednesday, April 12, 2006Thanks to what trainer John Ward terms "unfortunate circumstances," John Oxley's Strong Contender has but one pressure-packed race left for a potential trip to the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), and he'll need a top finish in the $750,000 Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) at Keeneland April 15.
Friday, March 31, 2006Rafael Bejarano, who rides Flashy Bull in Saturday's Florida Derby (gr. I), has been named as the new rider for First Samurai, replacing Edgar Prado. First Samurai is scheduled to make his next start in the April 15 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I).
Wednesday, March 29, 2006Saturday's $500,000 Lane's End Stakes (gr. II), which was being billed as the stakes debut of undefeated Strong Contender, now has turned into a 12-horse free-for-all with no big-name 3-year-olds.
Thursday, March 23, 2006John Oxley's Strong Contender, who would have been the heavy favorite for Saturday's $500,000 Lane's End Stakes (gr. II), did not make the starting field when 12 others with higher earnings were entered.
Thursday, March 23, 2006John Oxley's Strong Contender, one of what is shaping up to be a full field of contenders for the Lane's End Stakes (gr. II) at Turfway Park, has had plenty of experience with Polytrack and trainer John T. Ward Jr. figures that to be a plus for Saturday afternoon's race.
Tuesday, March 21, 2006John Oxley's undefeated 3-year-old Strong Contender worked five furlongs in :59 4/5 at Gulfstream Park on Wednesday morning in his final major tune-up prior to his probable start in the $500,000 Lane's End Stakes (gr. II) March 25 at Turfway Park.
Wednesday, March 15, 2006You know it's a strange day on the Triple Crown trail when you have four stakes and the two most impressive horses seen are in a maiden race and a workout. Although heavy favorites Brother Derek and First Samurai emerged victorious, the latter on a disqualification, it still left most people wanting more.
Tuesday, March 07, 2006The mutuel field remained the favored betting interest at the midway point of Pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, but unbeatens Barbaro and Strong Contender gained solid support as well Friday.
Saturday, March 04, 2006Racing fans made "all others" the favorite on the opening day of the second pool of Churchill Downs' 2006 Kentucky Derby Future Wager, but had trouble deciding on which of the individual horses deserved backing.
Friday, March 03, 2006Lawyer Ron took another step forward with his victory in Saturday's Southwest Stakes, extending his winning streak to four. But he still left a major question unanswered. Despite the lack of stakes action last week, there were several horses around the country who stepped up and made people take notice.
Tuesday, February 28, 2006Though he has had only one previous start, John Oxley's 3-year-old Strong Contender could merit serious consideration on the road to the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) with his 4 3/4-length triumph over a strong field of sophomores in his first start of the year Wednesday at Gulfstream Park.
Wednesday, February 22, 2006High Cotton and Strong Contender, 3-year-olds with Triple Crown potential and high profile connections, make their first start of the year at Gulfstream Park in Wednesday's one-mile allowance feature.
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