Empire Stud announced Aug. 27 that young stallion Sunriver has died from what preliminary results indicate was either a heart attack or aneurysm.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Sunriver, a grade I winner in 2007 and a full brother to champion Ashado, will enter stud at Empire Stud near Hudson, N.Y.
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Sunriver, coaxed along on an easy pace by Garrett Gomez, spurted away from the field rounding the final turn and coasted to his first grade I victory in the $250,000 Hollywood Turf Cup Dec. 8.
Saturday, December 08, 2007
A quintet of newcomers, two of them trained by Bobby Frankel, is among a field of eight contesting the $250,000 Turf Cup (gr. I) on the Hollywood Park grass course Dec. 8.
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Cloudy's Knight won his second consecutive race at Woodbine, a nose victory over Ask in the $2-million Pattison Canadian International (Can-I) Oct. 21.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
As Canada's richest horse race, it is only fitting that the $2 million Pattison Canadian International (Can-I) will include some of the most talented turf routers in the world. The 70th edition of the mile-and-a-half event will take place Oct. 21 on Woodbine's E.P. Taylor Turf Course and will be contested by a field of 12.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Doctor Dino had not won since last October, but reuniting with jockey Olivier Peslier may have been the key to getting him over the top, as the 5-year-old French-bred courageously outfought Sunriver to win by a head in the $500,000 Man o' War Stakes (gr. IT) Sept. 8 at Belmont Park.
Saturday, September 08, 2007
For the connections of the seven horses entered in the $500,000 Man o' War (gr. IT) at Belmont Park Sept. 8, decision time is drawing near for the John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT). With two of the big Eastern turf stars, English Channel and Better Talk Now, not taking part in the 1 3/8-mile event, the opportunity for a top performance could not be better.
Thursday, September 06, 2007
On a day when nothing seemed to go right for American turf horses, it seemed only fitting that one of the nation's best was narrowly defeated in the Arlington Million (gr. IT) Aug. 11.
After leading in deep stretch, last year's Million champion The Tin Man was overtaken in the final few strides by Canadian-bred Jambalaya, who rallied from well off the pace to win by a three-quarters of a length and earn a berth in the Breeders' Cup Turf later this year at Monmouth Park.
Saturday, August 11, 2007
At this point in his career, nothing The Tin Man does would be a surprise. But if the gutsy 9-year-old gelding can pull off another victory in the Arlington Million (gr. IT) Aug. 11, it might be the greatest accomplishment of his championship career.
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Aaron and Marie Jones' Sunriver has found a home on the turf after taking a front-running victory in the $150,000 Bowling Green Handicap (gr. IIT) at 1 3/8 miles on the Belmont Park inner turf course Sunday.
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Following a big effort in the Manhattan Handicap (gr. IT) last month, Shadwell's Shakis returns to the Belmont Park inner lawn as one of the favorites in Sunday's $150,000 Bowling Green Handicap (gr. IIT).
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Sunriver will be stretching out from one turn to two when he makes his second start of 2007 in the William Donald Schaefer Handicap (gr. III) at Pimlico on Saturday. The Schaefer will be the last undercard race before the 132nd running of the Preakness Stakes (gr. I).
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Goulash, the dam of champion Ashado, welcomed a half-brother to that top runner March 21 when she foaled a Storm Cat colt at Taylor Made Farm.
Friday, March 23, 2007
Bluegrass Cat, the runaway winner of yesterday's Haskell Invitational (gr. I) at Monmouth Park, is already back in Saratoga Springs. Although it's hard to envision Bluegrass Cat skipping Saratoga's grade I, $1 million Travers, presented by New York Lottery on Aug. 26, the colt's trainer, Todd Pletcher, was non-committal Monday.
Monday, August 07, 2006
Trainer Todd Pletcher reported that all three of his fillies came out of Sunday's grade I, $250,000 Go for Wand Handicap in good order, including Spun Sugar, who won the race under jockey Mike Luzzi.
Monday, July 31, 2006
The wait is over. Darley Stable's Bernardini, who hasn't run since his brilliant victory in the Preakness Stakes (gr. I), finally gets back to the races in Saturday's Jim Dandy Stakes (gr. II), in which he will face five opponents.
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Bernardini, Bluegrass Cat, and Strong Contender, three of the main headliners for the July 29 Jim Dandy (gr. II) and Aug. 6 Haskell Invitational (gr. I), turned in sharp breezes at Belmont Park Monday.
Monday, July 24, 2006
The second season for 3-year-olds promises to be an exciting one, with a talented group of colts made up of seasoned Triple Crown veterans and budding superstars converging on the $1-million Travers Stakes (gr. I) Aug. 26 at Saratoga.
Monday, June 19, 2006
You'd never know Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winning trainer Kiaran McLaughlin slept a whole four hours Saturday night. McLaughlin was bright-eyed and all smiles Sunday morning as he sat in his office and talked about Jazil's victory.
Sunday, June 11, 2006
Jockey Fernando Jara, an 18-year-old native of Panama, patiently guided Shadwell Stable's Jazil from the rail to the outside and outdueled Bluegrass Cat to win Saturday's 138th running of the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) by 1 1/4 lengths.
Saturday, June 10, 2006
There are nine -- count 'em,
nine -- horses who can win Saturday's Belmont Stakes (gr. I), and it wouldn't come as a major surprise. What that means is that you can safely disregard the experts, speed figures, or any other handicapping tool and just hope the horse or horses you choose are in top shape to go a mile and a half.
Friday, June 09, 2006
The field for the 138th running of the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) has been drawn, and now it is time for the strategies to be finalized and for a new star to emerge on the 3-year-old scene.
Friday, June 09, 2006
Under the watchful eye of trainer Bob Baffert, Belmont Stakes (gr. I) contender Bob and John and Woody Stephens Breeders' Cup (gr. II) favorite Too Much Bling both galloped easily over the muddy Belmont Park track Thursday morning.
Thursday, June 08, 2006
While some trainers altered their plans Monday after unexpected overnight rainfall in New York, two Todd Pletcher-trained 3-year-olds completed their final preparations for Saturday's Belmont Stakes (gr. I).
Monday, June 05, 2006
Jazil, who dead-heated for fourth in the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), is scheduled to breeze a half-mile Monday morning in preparation for the June 10 Belmont Stakes (gr. I). He was one of several probable starters that are expected to work Monday.
Sunday, June 04, 2006
Bluegrass Cat, the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) runner up to Barbaro, breezed five furlongs over Belmont's main track Sunday morning in 1:00.30.
Sunday, May 28, 2006
Bluegrass Cat, the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) runner up to Barbaro, breezed five furlongs over Belmont's main track Sunday morning in 1:00.30.
Sunday, May 28, 2006
Steppenwolfer and Jazil, the third and fourth-place finishers in the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum Brands (gr. I), both worked over a fast main track at Belmont Park Saturday morning in preparation for the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) on June 10.
Saturday, May 27, 2006
Yes, there still is another leg of the Triple Crown to be run. Although the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) on June 10 has lost its star appeal with the absence of Barbaro and Bernardini, it is still a classic, and a grueling one at that, and should at least be a competitive race, offering interesting possibilities for bettors.
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Favored Master Command gave trainer Todd Pletcher and jockey Garrett Gomez their third stakes win at Pimlico Race Course Saturday with a 2 3/4-length score in the $100,000 William Donald Schaefer Handicap (gr. III).
Saturday, May 20, 2006
Favored 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, 2006
The field for the grade II Peter Pan isn't too bad, but we view Sunriver as a standout in this race.
Friday, May 19, 2006
While 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, 2006
Even with two definite contenders going into the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), trainer Todd Pletcher remained calm and collected May 3, giving out instructions to exercise riders from his pony in the final countdown to the big day.
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
When 12 Derby horses work there is not going to be much going on the next day, and as a result this is going to be more of a short update. Brother Derek, Private Vow, and Storm Treasure are scheduled to work on Monday, and that pretty much will be it as far as workouts.
Sunday, April 30, 2006
It took a week, but we finally have works...and works...and works. In what has to be a one-day record, a dozen Derby horses were on the work tab on a mild, drizzly Saturday morning, and we had a little bit of everything, from Lawyer Ron's sizzling five-furlong drill to a mixed bag of six-furlong works.
Saturday, April 29, 2006
Despite suffering from a spring-time cold, trainer Todd Pletcher was active Saturday morning when he sent Bluegrass Cat, Keyed Entry, and Sunriver to the racetrack for their final Kentucky Derby works.
Saturday, April 29, 2006
With one week to go before the 132nd running of the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), 13 candidates for the 1 1/4-mile classic were on the track at Churchill Downs Saturday morning, going through their final workouts before the rain that was forecast for later in the day in Louisville, Ky.
Saturday, April 29, 2006
Friday was another relatively quiet day on the backside at Churchill Downs, as none of the 22 horses being pointed toward the May 6 Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) worked on a dry sunny morning.
Friday, April 28, 2006
The Kentucky Derby favorite has arrived in all his glory. At around 11:30 Thursday morning, Brother Derek stepped off the Tex Sutton chartered plane and onto a one-horse van, which delivered him safe and sound to his new home at Churchill Downs.
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Sinister Minister or no Sinister Minister, Sharp Humor is the one they'll have to catch on May 6, says the colt's trainer Dale Romans. And any horse who dares look Romans' gladiator in the eye early in the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) will pay the price.
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
For the connections of Flashy Bull and Sunriver, there are three things on their mind this week - Showing Up's puncture wound, Seaside Retreat's workout on Thursday, and Mister Triester's performance in Saturday's Derby Trial Stakes. Only after that will they know whether they've made it into the Derby field.
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Lael Stables' unbeaten Barbaro, winner of the Florida Derby (Grade I), worked five furlongs in 1:01.40 at Keeneland racecourse Sunday morning in his final preparation for the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).
Monday, April 24, 2006
Patrick Valenzuela, who won the 1989 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) aboard Sunday Silence, has been named to ride Hutcheson (gr. II) winner Keyed Entry in the 2006 Run for the Roses, Todd Pletcher said Saturday in an interview with TVG.
Saturday, April 22, 2006
Trainer Todd Pletcher has decided take a chance with Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) contender Sunriver, so the colt will not run in Saturday's $325,000-added Coolmore Lexington (gr. II) at Keeneland.
Thursday, April 20, 2006
Fresh is best. Those are the words Barbaro's trainer Michael Matz is living by. Whether he's right or wrong, you have to admire him for going against history and public opinion and sticking to his guns, much like another former equestrian rider, Tim Ritchey, did last with his unorthodox training of Afleet Alex.
Monday, April 03, 2006
Victory by Barbaro in the Florida Derby (gr. I) moved the colt into second on the list of leading contenders for the May 6 Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) on the basis of money earned in graded stakes.
Monday, April 03, 2006
A SUNRIVER, that is. The reasons for this top selection in the grade I Florida Derby are simple and to the point.
Friday, March 31, 2006
With many of the leading 3-year-olds in Florida skipping town because of what most horsemen feel is the unfavorable scheduling of the Florida Derby (gr. I), Gulfstream's premiere event drew a wide variety of horses, most of them non-stakes winners. The headliner will be the undefeated Barbaro, winner of all four of his starts.
Friday, March 31, 2006
