BloodHorse.com | Horse Racing News

Right Choice Made For Aruna

Flaxman Holdings' homebred Aruna to go in Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT). The 4-year-old has impressed her connections from the start and has strong black-type pedigree to back up the decision.

Owner, Racing Manager Bentley Smith Dies

Bentley Smith, manager of Frances A. Genter Stable for some 30 years, died Saturday, Oct. 22, at age 88 in Palm Beach, Fla.

Royal Delta is Evidence of a Powerful Cross

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter
The feeling that Empire Maker's move to Japan was a significant loss for U.S. breeders, especially as an excellent cross for A.P. Indy, was reinforced when Royal Delta won the Alabama.

First Foal for Student Council

Grade I winner Student Council, who stands at Ro Parra's Millennium Farms near Lexington, had his first foal hit the ground when a colt was foaled at Millennium Jan. 4.

War Cry to Stand at Hunter View Farm

War Cry, a $2.7-million yearling and a half-brother to grade II winner and prominent sire E Dubai (by Mr. Prospector) and grade I winner and European champion producer No Matter What (by Nureyev), will stand the 2009 season for $2,500 at Richard Moylen's Hunter View Farm near Caledon, Ontario, Canada.

Lukas, VanMeter Looking 'Smart'

There's a certain feeling of deja vu around Barn 38 on the backstretch of Santa Anita Park. If Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas and owner Tom VanMeter II have the funny feeling they've been here before, they're right.

Improving Family Produces Sky Diva

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter

Sky Diva is at the crossroads of an improving sire and an improving family. Sky Mesa started slowly but now runners from his first crop have become graded stakes winners and his second crop of juveniles running this year already includes five stakes winners. At the top is grade I winner Sky Diva. The filly's family has also been improving over the past four years.

First Defence Honing His Natural Speed

MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter

First Defence is one of those horses whose pedigrees scream speed. The son of Unbridled's Song began displaying that potential with a 6 3/4-length romp in the Forego Stakes (gr. I) Aug. 30. After surviving an early speed duel with opening fractions of :22.53 and :44.61, he pulled away in the stretch to win in a final time of 1:21.55.

Spanish Steps Sires First Winner

Spanish Steps sired his first winner July 24, when his daughter Spanish Ice won the fifth race at Del Mar by 1 3/4 lengths.

Nafzger Ready for Hall of Fame Induction

Trainer calls his latest honor "a hell of a lot of responsibility."

Falco Soars to Victory in French Guineas

A last minute change of plans paid off in a big way for the connections of Falco, as the 20-1 outsider captured the Poule d'Essai des Poulains (Fr-I) by an impressive three lengths at Longchamp May 11.

New Races Added to LA Downs Schedule

New races, including a prep for the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, have been added to the stakes schedule at Louisiana Downs for the 2008 meet, which begins May 17.

Blogging with Nafzger

One year ago, Carl Nafzger was the hottest name in horse racing, as Street Sense, starting with his Tampa Bay Derby victory, was just beginning his run towards the Kentucky Derby. In this exclusive Q & A, see what Nafzger remembers most about Street Sense's Derby win, and who the veteran trainer likes in this year's Classic.

'Green Monkey' Sister Seeks First Win

Jeff Singer's Coat the Cubes is looking to accomplish something her now-famous half-brother never did: win a race.

Nafzger Honored, Credits His Horses

Carl Nafzger and his wife, Wanda, have been a lot of places, the trainer said Saturday night during his address at the Texas Thoroughbred Association's annual awards banquet. But they have been all those places because of one thing -- the horse.

Country Star Delivers on a Promise

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter

If Empire Maker's career as a runner left his connections to speculate on what might have been trainer Bobby Frankel described him as the best he had trained, many lengths better than he was able to show his career as a stallion is rapidly beginning to shape as if to fulfill that unrealized potential through his offspring. One of his standouts is Country Star, who broker her maiden in the Darley Alcibiades Stakes (gr. I) on Oct. 5. Three weeks later, Country Star staked a claim to the juvenile filly championship with a track record-breaking win in the Hollywood Starlet Stakes (gr. I).

Juddmonte Farm Announces 2008 Stud Fees

Khalid Abdullah's Juddmonte Farm near Lexington announced its 2008 stud fees Nov. 1,with two remaining the same and one seeing an increase.

Nafzger to be Honored by KTO

Trainer Carl Nafzger will be honored for his overall contributions to Thoroughbred racing when Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners (KTO) presents the two-time winner of the Kentucky Derby with the 2007 "Warner L. Jones Jr. Horseman of the Year Award."

BC Focus: Lady Joanne

Bentley Smith is well-connected when it comes to Breeders' Cup horses. As the son-in-law of the late Frances Genter, he managed Frances Genter Stable for nearly 30 years and sent Smile to a 1986 Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) victory and, of course, watched Unbridled win the Classic (gr. I) in 1990.

Florida Horseman Tony Barnard Dead

Tony Barnard, a former trainer at Tartan Farms, died Oct. 1 in Ocala, Fla., of congestive heart failure.

Keeneland Sale Finishing With a Kick

Led by the $122,000 given for a half-sister to grade II winner Dream Rush, the Sept. 24 session of the 2007 Keeneland September yearling sale again produced lofty percentage increases over the corresponding 2006 session.

La Traviata, Essence of Speed

If speed is the essence of a good racehorse, then there is little question that La Traviata is a good one. Undefeated in her three lifetime starts, the filly has demolished her hapless opponents by a combined 27 1/2 lengths and this after stumbling at the start of her last race, the Victory Ride Stakes (gr. III). One wonders what she might do with a completely clean trip. La Traviata comes by speed honestly with one major source courtesy of her sire, Johannesburg. Both Johannesburg's grandsire Storm Cat and his sire Hennessy have done quite well with mares returning Mr. Prospector.

Martin Nearing Summit of His Personal Mount Everest With Spanish Steps

Eddie Martin's goal is to develop a successful stallion, and he's close to achieving his dream with Spanish Steps, whose first foals race next year.

Tacit Agreement Bought for Melbourne Cup

American distance specialist Tacit Agreement, a winner of three straight stakes races at Calder in his last three starts by more than 31 combined lengths, has been purchased privately and will ship to Australia to prepare for the 2007 US$4.2 million Melbourne Cup (Aus-I) on Nov. 6.

Ocala Stud, O'Farrell Rooting for Street Sense in Preakness

Street Sense, who is going for the second leg of the Triple Crown, was broken and prepared for racing at Ocala Stud in Florida.

O'Neill Basking in First Derby Experience

Although trainer Doug O'Neill has played a significant role in some of racing's biggest days, on May 5 he will experience saddling a Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) contender for the first time. After the defection of his trainee Cobalt Blue, O'Neill will be saddling two horses in the Derby, Great Hunter and Liquidity

Street Sense Completes Derby Preparations

Jim Tafel's Street Sense completed his final preparations for Saturday's Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) when he worked five furlongs in 1:01 at Churchill Downs on Tuesday, May 1.

Trainer Nafzger to Appear on Talkin' Horses Chat

Carl Nafzger, who trains champion and Kentucky Derby contender Street Sense, will be the guest for Thursday's edition of bloodhorse.com's "Talkin' Horses" online chat.

Nerud Wins Eclipse Award of Merit

No award given to John Nerud could be more appropriately named than the Award of Merit.

Symphony Sid Orchestrates Burke Surprise

Symphony Sid turned Saturday's 38th running of Oak Tree's Carleton F. Burke Handicap (gr.IIIT) into a laugher on the Santa Anita Park grass, bringing an eight-race losing streak to an end in stakes-record time.

Taylor Made Increases Unbridled's Song, Forestry

Taylor Made Farm announced Wednesday that the two stallions it stands for six figures will both have stud fee increases for the 2007 season.

Smuggler Retired, to be Bred to Awesome Again

Phipps Stable's Smuggler, the champion 3-year-old filly of 2005, has been retired and will be bred in 2007 to Awesome Again.

Tacit Agreement Wins 'Extreme' Umphrey Marathon

Live Oak Plantation's Tacit Agreement won the $250,000 Bob Umphrey Marathon at two miles Saturday at Calder, the stakes highlight of "Extreme Day." The race was originally carded for turf but rained off to the main track.

Harlington's Talent Apparent in Gulfstream 'Cap Win

The first graded stakes win for Melnyk Racing Stable's $2.8 million colt Harlington was a long time in coming, but the 4-year-old got the job done while fully extended for John Velazquez to win the $300,000 Gulfstream Park Handicap (gr. II) over a strong field.

Dams of Unbridled, Honour and Glory Dead

Gana Facil, dam of 1990 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner Unbridled, and Fair to All, dam of grade I winner Honour and Glory, have died.

Harlington Makes Return in Gulf Allowance

Big things have been expected of Melnyk Racing Stable's 4-year-old Harlington, a $2.8 million Keeneland yearling who's likely to be favored in Wednesday's 'three other than' allowance feature at Gulfstream Park.

Spanish Steps' First Foal Arrives

Spanish Steps, a full brother to Unbridled's Song (Unbridled--Trolley Song, by Caro) was represented by his first foal Jan. 2 when Ribot's Flair delivered a bay colt in Florida.

Perfect Gift Arrives On Time in Truly Bound

The combination of trainer Neil Howard and jockey Robby Albarado reunited in the winner's circle with Private Gift in the $75,000 Truly Bound Breeders' Cup Handicap, the Christmas Eve feature of the Fair Grounds meet at Harrah's Louisiana Downs.

Saarland Moving to Darby Dan Farm

A part interest in grade II winner Saarland, a son of Unbridled out of multiple grade I millionaire Versailles Treaty, has been sold to a syndicate and the sophomore sire will relocate to Darby Dan Farm to stand beginning with the 2006 breeding season.

Smuggler Takes Off With Coaching Club Oaks

Phipps Stable's favored Smuggler swept past her rivals Spun Sugar and Summerly to register an impressive victory in the $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks (gr. IT) at Belmont Park Saturday.

Eddington Gets Pace He Needs In Pimlico Special

There was plenty of speed for Eddington to run at this time. The son of Unbridled bided his time behind the pace and blew by down the stretch to win the $500,000 Pimlico Special Handicap (gr. I) Friday by 5 1/4 lengths.

Nafzger Recalls Unbridled: 'It Was As If He Could Talk'

In both the good times and the bad times, 1990 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner Unbridled would let his trainer, Carl Nafzger, know everything was all right.

Hot Combo Wins Pan Am With Navesink River

Trainer Todd Pletcher and jockey John Velazquez teamed for their third straight stakes victory Saturday at Gulfstream Park when Char-Mari Stable's Navesink River prevailed in the $150,000 Pan American Handicap (gr. II) on the grass.

O'Neill's 'Appointment Wins Sensational Star

Santa Anita's leading trainer Doug O'Neill won his seventh stakes of the meeting Sunday when Grand Appointment took the $137,875 Sensational Star Handicap for older horses bred in California.

Eddington Impresses in Gulfstream Return

The twice classic-placed Eddington had an easy time of it Sunday, crushing his field in the $37,000 feature at Gulfstream Park.

Harlington, Son of Serena's Song, Wins Debut

Harlington won his debut at Aqueduct on Sunday, becoming the fifth winner from as many foals out of champion mare Serena's Song to become a winner. Each of Harlington's older siblings won in excess of $100,000 including group I winner Sophisticat.

Well-Bred Fillies in Demand at Keeneland Sale

A 2-year-old daughter of Storm Cat and a 3-year-old Unbridled filly were both bought by Arch Bloodstock to top Tuesday's session of the Keeneland November breeding stock sale. The session average was up 36.7% and the median rose 50% over the comparable day one year ago.

Former Tartan Farm Owner James Binger Dies

James Binger, the former owner of famed Tartan Farms in Florida, died Wednesday in Minnesota. The native of St. Paul was 88.

Eddington Takes Turf Debut in Calder Derby

Making his first start on grass, former Triple Crown contender Eddington squeezed between horses in the stretch to nip the determined pacesetter Bob's Proud Movement by a head for victory in the $200,000 Calder Derby (gr. IIIT) in Florida.

Bailey's Return Part of Busy Belmont Afternoon

A rainy Thursday afternoon at Belmont Park saw the return of Jerry Bailey, the debut of Smuggler, and a wild ninth race that included two late scratches, a spill, and a lengthy stewards' inquiry.