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Stall: Departing on Track for Preakness

Although several other horses that prepped at Fair Grounds Racing & Slots ran well in the Kentucky Derby, trainer Al Stall, Jr., has no regrets about having Departing skip the race in favor of the Preakness Stakes.

Lines of Battle Lands from Ireland for Derby

Lines of Battle, who earned his ticket to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) via a win in the $2 million UAE Derby (UAE-II), arrived at Churchill Downs at 2:25 a.m. May 1 after a trip from Ireland.

Pedigree: Bringing the Battle to Kentucky

Aidan O'Brien noted that Lines of Battle was sent to Dubai with the specific purpose of picking up Kentucky Derby-qualifying points offered in the race, and he earned 100 points, assuring him a spot in the starting gate.

Departing Dusts Rivals in Illinois Derby

Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider's Departing rolled to a strong 3 1/4-length victory in the $750,000 Illinois Derby at Hawthorne April 20, proving his class after a third-place finish in the March 30 Louisiana Derby.

Lines of Battle Advancing to Louisville

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter
Lines of Battle is likely to be the only starter in the Kentucky Derby to have won at in excess of nine furlongs.

Jack Milton Wins First Stakes in Transylvania

Gary Barber's Jack Milton came up from Florida to earn his first stakes score, holding off the late charge of Up With the Birds to win the $100,000 Transylvania Stakes (gr. IIIT) on opening day at Keeneland.

Lines of Battle Earns Ticket to KY Derby

Lines of Battle held off a tenacious Elleval to win the UAE Derby (UAE-II) at Meydan Racecourse March 30, earning 100 points toward a probable start in the May 4 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).

Record Smart Strike Colt Brings $1.8M at OBS

A hush fell over the jam-packed pavilion at Ocala Breeders' Sales Company March 13 when Hip No. 333 entered the auction ring late in the OBS March select 2-year-old sale.

Business Booms at Barretts 2YO Sale

Business boomed at the March 4 Barretts March selected 2-year-olds in training sale where the average price jumped 31.1%, the median rose 17.6%, and the gross was up nearly 4% despite fewer horses being sold than in 2012.

Biancone Signs for $570,000 War Front Colt

Trainer Patrick Biancone signed the ticket on a $570,000 War Front colt March 4 at the Barretts Select 2-year-olds in training sale.

Data Link Doesn't Disappoint in Canadian Turf

Data Link notched his second straight graded stakes victory in his 2013 debut when he got up late and prevailed by a length over Joes Blazing Aaron in the Feb. 23 Canadian Turf Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Gulfstream Park.

Orb to Fountain of Youth Pending Monday Work

Recent allowance winner Orb will likely run Feb. 23 in the $400,000 Besilu Stables Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II) at Gulfstream Park, providing that he pleases trainer Shug McGaughey in a workout scheduled for Feb. 18.

McGaughey Turf Stars Primed for Gulfstream

Shug McGaughey's Hall of Fame training career was built on good old American dirt, but he's rounding out his resume with several accomplished turf runners targeting starts at the Gulfstream Park meet in 2013.

Data Link Connects in Citation Handicap

Data Link shipped in from New York for trainer Shug McGaughey and carted off the $250,000 Citation Handicap (gr. IIT) at Betfair Hollywood Park with an impressive late turn of foot Nov. 23.

Keeneland's 'True Market' Comes to a Close

The demand for quality bloodstock was in full force at the Keeneland November breeding stock sale, but the middle and lower markets were soft.

War Front's Fee Upped to $80,000

War Front, who ranks fifth on this year's third-crop sires' list by progeny earnings, will stand in 2013 for $80,000, a jump of $20,000 from his $60,000 fee in 2012.

The Factor Retired, to Stand at Lane's End

The Factor, a multiple grade I-winning son of War Front, has been retired from racing and will stand the 2013 breeding season at Lane's End Farm near Versailles, Ky. His fee will be $15,000.

War Front Colt Sells for $1,050,000

A half brother to multiple grade I winner Contested was sold for $1,050,000 during the Sept. 10 Keeneland September yearling sale. He is the third horse to bring a bid of seven figures during the opening session.

Data Link is Class of Bernard Baruch Field

Of nine graded stakes trainer Shug McGaughey has won in 2012, eight have been on turf. On Sept. 1 at Saratoga Race Course, the Hall of Famer looks to add to that total when sending Data Link postward in the Bernard Baruch.

WV-Bred Colt Now Holds Two Auction Records

A War Front colt that last year set the record of $190,000 for a West Virginia-bred weanling purchased at auction set another standard when he was sold again for $675,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga selected yearling sale.

Summer Front Explodes Late, Wins Hill Prince

Waterford Stable's Summer Front found room late and exploded in the final yards to defeat Howe Great in the $150,000 Hill Prince Stakes (gr. IIIT) for 3-year-olds at Belmont Park June 16.

Data Link Connects in Time in Monmouth Stakes

A day after winning the Belmont Stakes (gr. I), jockey John Velazquez teamed with odds-on Data Link to produce a victory in the $200,000 Monmouth Stakes (gr. IIT) on the turf at the New Jersey track June 10.

Data Link Edges Turallure in Maker's 46 Mile

Stuart Janney III's homebred Data Link came from off the pace to run down favored Turallure in the final jumps, capturing the $300,000 Maker's 46 Mile (gr. IT) at odds of 12-1 April 13 at Keeneland.

Impressive Soldat Wins Comeback Race on Turf

It's easy to see why his connections want to keep Soldat on turf after last year's Triple Crown contender scored an impressive comeback victory at Gulfstream Park March 4.

The Factor Refuses to Fold in San Carlos

The Factor, making his seasonal debut in the $200,000 San Carlos Stakes (gr. II) Feb. 25, started his 2012 campaign the same way he finished up last year, winning at seven furlongs on Santa Anita's main track.

Factum to Stand at Stonehedge Farm South

Factum, a half brother to leading young sire War Front, will enter stud in 2012 at Gilbert and Marilyn Campbell's Stonehedge Farm South near Williston, Fla.

Star Worship Commands $150,000 at F-T Sale

Star Worship and Stephanie Got Even brought $150,000 and $110,000, respectively, during the afternoon of Feb. 6 at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky winter mixed sale in Lexington.

The Factor is Back

PORTER ON PEDIGREES. War Front's blazingly fast son returns to form in the Malibu Stakes and becomes only the second 3-year-old male of 2011 to win two grade I stakes.

Summer Front Storms Home in Dania Beach

With a big late burst, undefeated Summer Front concluded his 2-year-old campaign with an impressive 1 1/2-length victory over favored Finale in the $100,000 Dania Stakes on the Gulfstream Park turf Dec. 18.

Chief Seattle, Son of Seattle Slew, Dies

Chief Seattle, a multiple grade I stakes-placed son of Seattle Slew, was found dead in his paddock at Lake Shore Farm near Scottsburg, Ind.

Sale Record Set for WV-Bred Weanling

Buck Woodson's War Front weanling brought $190,000 at the Keeneland November breeding stock sale Nov. 9, establishing a record auction price for a West Virginia-bred weanling.

Juvenile Turf Entries Must Tune Up on Dirt

Though several Juvenile Turf horses lost a chance to gallop on the grass due to rain Nov. 3, the connections say they all remain on track for Saturday's race.

Solid Six-Furlong Work for State of Play

State of Play is one of two Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (gr. IIT) entries owned by Team Valor International, which won this race last year with Pluck.

War Front's Fee Jumps to $60,000

War Front, second on the second-crop sires' list by progeny earnings, will stand in 2012 for $60,000, a jump of $45,000 from his 2011 fee of $15,000.

Keeneland Sale Still Up--And So Is Morale

A day after the Keeneland September yearling sale topped its 2010 gross with five days to go, the ninth day of selling was up over last year. And the importance of that development goes far beyond the numbers.

Canadian Select Sale Posts Gains

A son of War Front topped the CTHS yearling sale Sept. 6 when he sold for $140,000 Canadian funds to William and Anne Scott.

CTHS Sale Average Jumps 11%

A strong second select session at the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society's yearling sale of Canadian-bred youngsters at Woodbine helped spur an 11% jump in average price from 2010.

State of Play Stays On in With Anticipation

Handled with confidence by Ramon Dominguez, front-running State of Play repelled the onrushing Optimizer to win the $151,000 With Anticipation Stakes (gr. IIT) on the Saratoga turf Sept. 1.

The Factor Makes Huge Impact in Pat O'Brien

The Factor, knocked off the Triple Crown trail by an ankle injury more than four months ago, outfought crack sprinter Smiling Tiger and drew off in the stretch to win the $250,000 Pat O'Brien Stakes (gr. I) at Del Mar.

Summer Soiree Survives Del Mar Oaks Assault

Summer Soiree went west in pursuit of her first grade I victory and the favorite had just enough left in the final jumps to nip fast-closing Star Billing and Nereid in the the $250,000 Del Mar Oaks Aug. 20.

Summer Soiree Steams Home in Boiling Springs

Making her turf debut, Summer Soiree disposed of pacesetter Salary Drive on the turn for home and romped to victory by 8 1/2 lengths in the $155,000 Boiling Springs Stakes (gr. III) at Monmouth Park June 25.

Keeneland Juvenile Sale Off to Strong Start

The Keeneland April sale of 2-year-olds in training got off to a good start when two of the first four horses in the sales ring brought prices of $485,000 and $400,000.

Keeneland Sale: These Juveniles Could Shine

Horses by Street Sense and War Front are among the horses getting a lot of attention prior to the Keeneland April sale of 2-year-olds in training.

War Front a Clear Factor in 2011 Triple Crown

MAHUBAH'S CORNER
Avalyn Hunter delves into the Rebel Stakes winner's pedigree to see if he'll have enough stamina for the upcoming classics.

The Factor Sounds Rebel Yell

Add The Factor to this year's list of serious contenders on the Triple Crown trail. The brilliant colt, trained by Bob Baffert, proved his ability to get a route of ground with a crushing win in the Rebel Stakes March 19.

The Danzig Line Soldiers On Through Soldat

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter
Soldat's bloodlines initially appear to indicate he could have problems with the Kentucky Derby's distance -- but he has close pedigree connections to good classic runners.

The Factor Dazzles Again in San Vicente

Odds-on The Factor showed his speedy reputation is no hype when he turned back a good group of 3-year-olds in winning the $150,000 San Vicente Stakes (gr. II) by three-quarters of a length at Santa Anita Feb. 20

Derby Threat: The Factor

The Factor went postward as one of the most hyped two-year-old maidens of the year. A TrueNicks pedigree profile.

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BC Winner Nownownow Tops Keeneland Session

San Fernando Stakes (gr. II) and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner Nownownow sold for $130,000 to top the Nov. 17 session of the Keeneland breeding stock sale.

Blame's Stud Fee Set at $35,000

Blame's sire Arch, who also stands at Claiborne Farm, has his fee raised to $30,000.