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Trainer Wesley Ward expects Pesci to make a full recovery after being hit in her left eye during the Sunshine Millions Distaff at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 24.
Sunday, February 29, 2004Heavy favorite Bear Fan pulled her way to the lead coming out of the far turn and held off the closing Gazillion for a one-length victory in the $200,000 Barbara Fritchie Handicap (gr. II) for fillies and mares at Laurel Park Saturday.
Saturday, February 14, 2004The lightly raced Pesci, whose part owner and namesake Joe Pesci is an Academy Award-winning actor, was hit in the right eye by a rock or a clod of dirt during the Ocala Breeders' Sales Distaff Saturday at Gulfstream Park.
Sunday, January 25, 2004Joe Pesci, the Academy Award-winning actor, plans to be at Gulfstream Park on Saturday to watch his namesake, Pesci, compete in the $500,000, 1 1/16-mile Ocala Breeders' Sales Distaff on the Sunshine Millions program.
Monday, January 19, 2004Pesci, the 3-year-old filly owned by Academy Award-winning actor Joe Pesci, is beginning to attract a following of her own. She won the second race of her short career Sunday at Santa Anita, topping a $60,368 allowance optional claiming field by five lengths.
Sunday, December 28, 2003The Thoroughbred industry will have to face the music and change its tune in the next few years if it is to flourish, trainer John Ward suggested during a lively discussion the evening of Nov. 4 at the monthly Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Managers' Club meeting.
Wednesday, November 05, 2003Whether graded stakes winner Sky Mesa races again is likely to be determined within the next several days, according to trainer John T. Ward Jr. said. The trainer said Sky Mesa's first breeze since before the Travers could come as early as this weekend.
Friday, September 19, 2003Sackatoga Stable's Funny Cide, winner of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes (both gr. I), will carry highweight of 123 pounds in the $1-million Haskell Invitational (gr. I), Monmouth Park's signature event for 3-year-olds, on Aug. 3.
Friday, July 18, 2003Beautiful Pleasure, the champion older mare of 1999, produced her first foal, a colt by Thunder Gulch, March 25 at owner John Oxley's Fawn Leap Farm near Midway, Ky.
Wednesday, March 26, 2003Patrick Biancone and Fabien Ouaki's Whywhywhy turned in his final work in preparation for Saturday's $200,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. I) at Santa Anita Sunday morning. Promising 3-year-olds Atswhatimtalknbout and Omega Code also worked Sunday.
Sunday, February 09, 2003A colt from the first crop of Seattle Slew stallion Doneraile Court brought a final bid of $400,000 from agent John Ferguson to top the early returns at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s selected 2-year-olds in training sale at Calder Race Course on Tuesday.
Tuesday, February 04, 2003Keeneland had a number of Breeders' Cup contenders on the grounds Monday morning making final preparations for Oct. 26.
Wednesday, October 16, 2002With only two horses left to be drawn, including Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner War Emblem, and the first and last choices for post positions remaining, trainer Bob Baffert was poised to be either the straw that stirred the Preakness post position drink or a man without a plan.
Wednesday, May 15, 2002John C. Oxley's Booklet drilled five furlongs in :59 3/5 at Keeneland Sunday morning under Allen Rennie.
Sunday, April 07, 2002Tampa Bay Derby (gr. III) winner Equality and Fountain of Youth (gr. I) winner Booklet put in morning works at Gulfstream Park Saturday.
Saturday, March 30, 2002Trainer John T. Ward Jr. is optimistic about Holy Bull (gr. III) and Fountain of Youth (gr. I) Stakes winner Booklet's chances in the $1 million, 1 1/8-mile Florida Derby following the colt's five-furlong breeze Saturday morning.
Saturday, March 09, 2002The Wards and Oxleys won two graded stakes with daughters of Forest Wildcat when Forest Secrets took the Rampart Handicap and Snow Dance won the Suwanee River Handicap.
Sunday, March 03, 2002Forest Secrets sat just off Summer Colony's right flank until the pair approached the quarter-mile pole in Saturday's $200,000 Rampart Handicap (gr. II). From there, Forest Secrets moved to the lead in the stretch en route to winning the 1 1/8-mile Gulfstream Park feature by three lengths as the even-money favorite.
Saturday, March 02, 2002Stop us if you've heard this one before. Booklet, a tiny colt trainer John Ward calls "a walk-on, non-scholarship type of player," spurts to an open lead, and when finally collared late by Harlan's Holiday, refuses to yield, holding off that rival by a desperate nose.
Saturday, February 16, 2002Yvonne Azeff, who has been unconscious for six days since suffering a serious head injury after being thrown from her pony at Gulfstream Park Jan. 27, is still listed in serious condition at Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood, Fla.
Friday, February 01, 2002Assistant trainer Yvonne Azeff, who was injured Saturday after being thrown and pinned beneath the stable pony, was still unconscious at Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood, Fla. as of Monday morning, a spokesperson at trainer John Ward's barn said. All tests have proven negative and all her vital signs are good. "She's getting better, but very slowly," the spokesperson said.
Sunday, January 27, 2002Yvonne Azeff, an assistant to trainer John T. Ward Jr., was injured Saturday morning at Gulfstream Park when she was thrown from the horse she was riding after it became agitated by another horse. Azeff was taken to Memorial Regional Hospital and was listed in "serious" condition as of 1:00 p.m.
Saturday, January 26, 2002John Oxley's Snow Dance, the top filly in trainer's John Ward's strong barn, will make her 2002 debut in Friday's $100,000 De La Rose Handicap (gr. IIIT) for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on the turf at Gulfstream Park.
Wednesday, January 23, 2002Trainer John T. Ward Jr. sent Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner Monarchos on a five-furlong work from the starting gate at Gulfstream Park Saturday morning. "We wanted to tweak his interest," said Ward of the drill.
Saturday, January 05, 2002Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner Monarchos continued working toward the Feb. 9 Donn Handicap (gr. I) Sunday, working five furlongs at Gulfstream Park. The John Ward trainee, who won the Florida Derby (gr. I) at the 1 1/8-mile distance of the Donn, will likely have to face 2000 Preakness Stakes (gr. I) winner Red Bullet in the $500,000 Donn.
Sunday, December 30, 2001Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner Monarchos put in a quick four-furlong drill at Gulfstream Park Sunday morning for trainer John Ward Jr.
Sunday, December 09, 2001Apprentice jockey Elvis Trujillo was victorious in his first United States race Wednesday at Hollywood Park, riding 19-10 second-favorite Britetonzmyday to a half-length victory over favorite Icantgoforthat to open the eight-race card.
Wednesday, November 28, 2001Sure, he looked strong, and there seemed to be some promise in his bloodlines. Then again, the chestnut colt had hind ankles questionable enough that most buyers simply turned their backs. For trainer David LaCroix, the $10,500 price tag represented a bargain, a gamble, a chance. There really was no further reason for him to think, or to dream, any bigger. That horse, Fonz's, returned from a nearly six-month layoff to win the $100,000 Hollywood Prevue Stakes (gr. III) Saturday at Hollywood Park.
Saturday, November 17, 2001Despite unseasonably warm temperatures on a resplendent Indian summer afternoon, John Oxley's Snow Dance put her sophomore filly rivals on ice with a cool-hand victory in the $172,500 Mrs. Revere Stakes (gr. IIT) at Churchill Downs.
Saturday, November 17, 2001Snow Dance, the 9-10 favorite in the 12-horse field, beat Kiss the Devil by 1 3/4 lengths Saturday to win the $150,000 Pucker Up Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Arlington Park. Perret earned his third Pucker Up win Saturday and his first since 1969. He also won the 1968 renewal of the race.
Saturday, September 15, 2001Beautiful Pleasure, the nation's top distaff runner two years ago, will try her luck in the grade I $250,000 Go For Wand at Saratoga for the third year in a row. She was beaten in 1999 by Banshee Breeze, and last year was second to Heritage of Gold.
Friday, July 27, 2001In what he hopes is a preview of Saturday's Belmont Stakes (gr. I), trainer John Ward Jr. scored a big triumph in the $200,000 grade I Acorn with 50-1 shot Forest Secrets.
Friday, June 08, 2001Hero's Tribute outlasted E Dubai through a protracted speed duel to earn his first career stakes win in Saturday's $200,000 Peter Pan Stakes (gr. II) at Belmont Park. The 3-year-old son of Sea Hero completed the one-turn, 1 1/8-mile race in 1:47.47 on a sloppy track in earning his first win in a race longer than seven furlongs.
Saturday, May 26, 2001If it isn't broke, why fix it? Trainer John Ward indicated that Monarchos, who won the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) off a light work tab, would likely repeat that winning formula in the week leading up to the second jewel of the Triple Crow, the Preakness Stakes (gr. I).
Friday, May 11, 2001By Ray Paulick -- John and Donna Ward's stable is thriving, in large part because of a team approach to their operation.
Tuesday, May 08, 2001Monarchos exploded to the lead as the field straightened for home and won the 127th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs Saturday. The track had been playing fast all day and it did again in the Derby, Monarchos recording the second fastest winning time in Derby history. He covered the 1 1/4-miles in 1:59.97. Secretariat ran 1:59 2/5 (before timing in hundredths) in 1973.
Saturday, May 05, 2001Go ahead, tell Congaree he doesn't have the experience or seasoning to win the Kentucky Derby (gr. I). He'll laugh in your face, just as he did to those who questioned his ability to defeat the mighty Monarchos in the April 17 Wood Memorial (gr. II) off only three career starts. We're talking about a colt who literally was born a fighter, and who has been defying the odds ever since. When you have to fight to get born, there isn't a challenge life has to offer that you back away from. To Congaree, the $750,000 Wood was just another race at just another track against just another horse. And the result was just another of his resounding victories.
Saturday, April 14, 2001Three of the leading Triple Crown hopefuls –- Monarchos, Dollar Bill, and Hero's Tribute -- worked over a sloppy track at Churchill Downs Sunday, with Hero's Tribute earning a bullet for his five furlong work. Hero's Tribute completed his five furlongs in 1:01 1/5, the co-fastest of nine works at the distance.
Sunday, April 01, 2001It will go down in Florida Derby (gr. I) history as "The Move." As a dozen tightly-bunched 3-year-olds jostled for position nearing the far turn in the golden anniversary edition of the Florida Derby, one horse was running by the rest of the field with electrifying ease. THE horse, making THE move, was Monarchos.
Saturday, March 10, 2001After lengthy discussions between trainers John and Donna Ward and owner John Oxley, it has been decided Beautiful Pleasure will race another year. Oxley said the year's goal is the Oct. 27 Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) at Belmont Park. She has not started since the 2000 edition of the race where she finished sixth.
Monday, March 05, 2001Owner John Oxley and trainer John Ward are still discussing whether to race or retire Beautiful Pleasure. In mid-February, Oxley said March 1 was decision day, but recently he said another discussion is slated for March 8.
Sunday, March 04, 2001Under jockey Jorge Chavez, Hero's Tribute pressed the early pace set by Liberty Township and drew away to a four-length win over Dream Run in a seven-furlong allowance race Saturday at Gulfstream Park. 11-10 favorite A P Valentine finished another 2 1/2 lengths back in third.
Sunday, February 18, 2001On the anniversary of breaking Bill Shoemaker's all time record of 8,833 wins, Laffit Pincay Jr. won on his only mount of the day, a three-length triumph aboard Men's Exclusive in the $100,000 Vernon O. Underwood Stakes (gr. III), Sunday at Hollywood Park.
Sunday, December 10, 2000Darling My Darling tracked dueling favorites Surfside and Roxelana and rallied through the stretch to win the $75,000 Raven Run Stakes Wednesday at Keeneland.
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