BloodHorse.com | Horse Racing News

Recovering Coa Makes Gulfstream Appearance

Injured jockey Eibar Coa returned to the Gulfstream Park winner's circle on closing day April 24 and presented Paco Lopez with a trophy to commemorate his second straight riding title.

R Heat Lightning, Kathmanblu Drill in Slop

R Heat Lightning, the likely Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) favorite, and Kathmanblu braved a steady rain and sloppy track conditions at Churchill Downs to put in timed workouts just after the track maintenance break April 23.

Cal Nation, Astrology Give Jerome Star Punch

Trainer Todd Pletcher will send out Cal Nation, another top colt from his deep stable of 3-year-olds, to battle Astrology in the $150,000 Jerome Stakes (gr. II) April 23 at Aqueduct.

Uncle Mo, Mucho Macho Man Arrive at Churchill

Uncle Mo and Mucho Macho Man are settling in at Churchill Downs following separate arrivals on the grounds of the track the morning of April 18.

R Heat Lightning Has Bullet Work at Belmont

E. Paul Robsham Stables' R Heat Lightning, the possible favorite for the May 6 Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) at Churchill Downs, turned heads with a bullet half-mile work April 16 at Belmont Park.

Decisive Moment, 'Thirsty Drill at Churchill

Stay Thirsty and Decisive Moment, 3-year-old colts pointed toward the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), turned in strong workouts at Churchill Downs April 17 in their first efforts of the spring over the track.

Stratford Hill Up Late for Shakertown Victory

Making his stakes debut against a stellar field of turf sprinters, Stratford Hill ran down pacesetter Great Attack late to score the $100,000 Shakertown (gr. IIIT) by a half-length April 16 at Keeneland.

Pletcher Team Hoping to Right Ship at Oaklawn

Trainer Todd Pletcher started this year on top of the game. He won a fifth Eclipse Award trophy and entered 2011 with three newly turned 3-year-old Breeders' Cup race winners, including superstar Uncle Mo.

Wise Dan Seeks Second Stakes at Keeneland

A short field of five, three of which are graded stakes winners, will go postward in the April 16 Commonwealth Stakes (gr. II).

Uncle Mo Passes Physical, to Resume Training

Defeated Wood Memorial (gr. I) heavy favorite Uncle Mo passed a thorough physical and will resume training April 13.

Mo's Derby Plans Unchanged by Quarter Grab

Trainer Todd Pletcher said the colt grabbed a quarter in the race, but that it was a minor issue and would most likely not affect his Triple Crown plans.

Life At Ten Second in Return at Gulfstream

Life At Ten, appearing at Gulfstream Park in her first start since a controversial attempt in the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic (gr. I) last fall, ran second in an optional claiming allowance April 10.

Toby's Corner Posts Wood Stunner; 'Mo Third

Less than a month away, the Kentucky Derby was turned upside down when favored Uncle Mo was defeated by Toby's Corner, who passed Arthur's Tale in the final strides to post a shocking upset in the Wood Memorial (gr. I).

Joe Vann Trucks to Easy Illinois Derby Win

Joe Vann, making his stakes debut for Todd Pletcher, turned back the challenge of The Fed Eased in the stretch to register a commanding win in the $300,000 TVG Illinois Derby (gr. III) April 9 at Hawthorne.

Life At Ten to Run At Gulfstream Sunday

Trainer Todd Pletcher has entered Life At Ten in an $80,100 optional/allowance feature Sunday, April 10, at Gulfstream Park.

Morning Line Big Threat in Carter

Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito still hasn't fully gotten over Morning Line's loss in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Churchill Downs.

Getting to the Bottom of Uncle Mo

The main question regarding the Wood Memorial is whether anyone can test Uncle Mo.

Travelin Man Enjoys Smooth Trip in Swale

Travelin Man, in just the third start of his career for trainer Todd Pletcher, easily put away his four rivals to register a convincing two-length win in the $147,000 Swale Stakes (gr. II) at Gulfstream Park April 3.

Winner's Circle - Michelle Nihei

Michelle Nihei brings a combination of intuition and analytical skill to training, the latter a product of her academic background.

Read Blog

NYRA's Uncle Mo Contest Begins March 29

The New York Racing Association has announced that beginning March 29, it will be conducting an online "Get to Know Mo" contest.

Blinkers Likely for Stay Thirsty in FL Derby

After watching Stay Thirsty breeze five furlongs in 1:01 3/5 in company with a stablemate at Palm Meadows the morning of March 27, trainer Todd Pletcher will likely make an equipment change for the April 2 Florida Derby.

R Heat Lightning Drills Bullet at Gulfstream

E. Paul Robsham Stable's 3-year-old filly R Heat Lightning drilled a bullet half-mile in :47 3/4 at Gulfstream Park March 27 for her role as the likely favorite in the April 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks (gr. II).

Doubles Partner Aces Tampa Bay Thriller

Favored Doubles Partner closed with a rush in the final yards to snatch victory by a neck over Rahystrada in the $125,000 Tampa Bay Stakes (gr. IIT) on the turf March 19 at Tampa Bay Downs.

Another Audible for Uncle Mo?

There is a possibility that the Derby favorite may stay in Florida instead of going to the Wood.

Read Blog

Uncle Mo Passes First Test in Timely Writer

Champion Uncle Mo turned away a challenge from Rattlesnake Bridge and pulled away in the stretch to post an easy 3 3/4-length victory in the $100,000 Timely Writer Stakes March 12 at Gulfstream Park in his 3-year-old debut.

Pletcher Releases Statement on Life At Ten

Life At Ten's trainer Todd Pletcher has released a statement regarding the 2010 BC Ladies' Classic.

Uncle Mo to Face Five in Timely Writer

Kentucky Derby favorite Uncle Mo will make his season debut against five in the $100,000 Timely Writer Stakes March 12 at Gulfstream Park.

Ky. Derby Trail: Thirst Quencher

Yes, it's easy to knock Stay Thirsty's Gotham Stakes (gr. III) victory. He time was slow, his Beyer figure was low, he wasn't beating a strong field.

Read Blog

Uncle Mo Works Half-Mile at Palm Meadows

Juvenile champion Uncle Mo put in a half-mile move in :48 4/5 at Palm Meadows for trainer Todd Pletcher March 6 in preparation for his fast-approaching 3-year-old debut at Gulfsteam Park.

Stay Thirsty Solid Gotham Choice

Stay Thirsty was installed the 9-5 favorite in the 1 1/16-mile Gotham Stakes, which drew a mostly unheralded field of nine.

F-T Florida Sale: Optimism Is in the Air

Barns are busy at the Palm Meadows Training Center as the start of the world's fanciest juvenile auction approaches.

Uncle Mo, Stay Thirsty Post Bullets in Tandem

Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) favorite Uncle Mo and his Derby-nominated stablemate Stay Thirsty were part of a busy morning for trainer Todd Pletcher Feb. 27 at Palm Meadows Training Center.

R Heat Lightning Torches Davona Dale Rivals

R Heat Lightning returned to the winner's circle for the first time since last summer's Spinaway Stakes (gr. I) with a 7 1/4-length romp in the $250,000 Davona Dale Stakes (gr. II) at Gulfstream Park Feb. 26.

Devil May Care Still Not Fully Recovered

Multiple grade I winner Devil May Care, who finished 10th in the 2010 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), continues to struggle from complications of a non-contagious form of hepatitis.

Several Factors Led to Race Choice for 'Mo'

Todd Pletcher said Feb. 23 there were a combination of factors that led him to choose the Timley Writer Stakes as the season's debut for star 3-year-old Uncle Mo.

Uncle Mo to Make 3YO Debut at Gulfstream

The connections of Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) favorite Uncle Mo announced Feb. 22 his debut will be the $100,000 Timely Writer Stakes March 12 at Gulfstream Park.

Uncle Mo Might Start in New Gulfstream Race

Mike Repole confirmed Feb. 16 that he and trainer Todd Pletcher are considering the newly-written Timely Writer Stakes at Gulfstream Park for champion Uncle Mo when he makes his 3-year-old debut.

Hilda's Passion Never Looks Back in 'Bertie

Favored Hilda's Passion took the race right to her five rivals in winning Gulfstream Park's $150,000 Hurricane Bertie Stakes (gr. III), leading at every call en route to a 2 1/2-length triumph Feb. 13.

Life At Ten Goes Back to Work at Palm Meadows

Multiple grade I winner Life At Ten worked for the first time this year Feb. 13, covering three eighths of a mile in an easy :38.50 at Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida.

Uncle Mo Works a Half Mile in :47.45

Mike Repole's undefeated 2-year-old champion and Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) winner Uncle Mo breezed a half mile Feb. 13 in :47.45 at Palm Meadows in Florida.

Uncle Mo Works Half-Mile in :49 3/5

Trainer Todd Pletcher sent 2-year-old champion Uncle Mo through an easy four-furlong breeze at Palm Meadows Sunday, Feb. 6, the colt's second work since winning the Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) at Churchill.

Pope: Reward Horses Generating Handle

Thoroughbred industry marketer Fred Pope outlines a plan to reward the owners of the most popular horses with bonus purse money.

Read Blog

Uncle Mo Puts in First Work of 2011

Uncle Mo worked three furlongs in :39.95 at Palm Meadows Training Center. Stay Thirsty and J P's Gusto also worked Jan. 30.

R Heat Lightning Faces 'Dreams in Forward Gal

Grade I winner R Heat Lightning, second to champion Awesome Feather in the Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I), makes her 2011 racing debut in the $200,000 Forward Gal Stakes (gr. II) at Gulfstream Park Jan. 30.

Surging Calibrachoa Takes Toboggan

Former claimer Calibrachoa became a graded stakes winner and remained unbeaten in two starts when he held off Independence War by a half-length in the $98,000 Toboggan Stakes (gr. III) Jan. 22 at Aqueduct.

Pletcher vs. Rodriguez in Toboggan

The top three finishers of last month's Gravesend Stakes, including the winner, Calibrachoa, will meet again in the $100,000 Toboggan Stakes (gr. III) Jan. 22 at Aqueduct.

Todd Pletcher Earns Fifth Top Trainer Eclipse

Winning Eclipse Awards is nothing new for Todd Pletcher. The 43-year-old Dallas, Texas, native was honored as the nation's outstanding trainer for four consecutive years, from 2004-2007, and again in 2010.

Uncle Mo Runs Off With 2YO Male Honors

Uncle Mo, smashing winner of the Champagne Stakes and Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I), is named champion 2-year-old male of 2010 during the Jan. 17 Eclipse Awards.

Tampa Bay Derby Likely Start for Uncle Mo

Mike Repole, owner of probable 2-year-old champion and early Kentucky Derby (gr. I) favorite Uncle Mo, confirmed Jan. 13 that they are leaning toward the $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II) for his first start of the year.

KY Transportation Dept. in Life At Ten Probe

The Office of the Inspector General in the Kentucky Transportation Department is assisting the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission in its probe of Life At Ten's participation in the Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic (gr. I).