Rachel Alexandra provided one of the great moments in the history of Saratoga when she scored a courageous head victory over older male rivals in the $750,000 Woodward Stakes Sept. 5.
Tuesday, September 08, 2009
Jason, Tom, and Rich Nilsen of twinspires.com preview the Woodward Stakes (gr. I). Plus picks for the Forego (gr. I).
Thursday, September 03, 2009
Please note the following analysis was written by someone with a glass-is-half-empty mentality and is not meant to frighten, upset, or antagonize Rachel Alexandra fans and zealots. So, read at your own risk.
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
A percentage of any purse monies earned by West Point Thoroughbreds' Macho Again in the $750,000 Woodward Stakes (gr. I) Sept. 5 at Saratoga; and Awesome Gem in the $1-million Pacific Classic (gr. I) Sept. 6 at Del Mar will be donated to the National Thoroughbred Racing Association Safety and Integrity Alliance.
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
On Sept. 5 at Saratoga, Rachel Alexandra will seek history when trying to become the first female to win the Woodward Stakes (gr. I) -- a feat that would almost certainly lock up Horse of the Year honors and stamp the 3-year-old as one of the best fillies of all time.
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
Majority owner Jess Jackson said on a national teleconference Sept. 1 that plans for Rachel Alexandra following Saturday's $750,000 Woodward Stakes (gr. I) are up in the air, and he did not dismiss the idea of putting her away for the year.
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
With her scheduled start against older males in the Woodward Stakes (gr. I) Saturday, Sept. 5, Rachel Alexandra is taking a path seldom traveled by 3-year-old fillies.
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
The New York Racing Association is making special plans as "The Rachel Alexandra Show" comes to Saratoga Race Course for Saturday's grade I, $750,000 Woodward Stakes.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Rachel Alexandra, whose eight-race win streak includes four grade I stakes, turned in her final preparation for the Sept. 5 Woodward Stakes (gr. I) when she breezed four furlongs at Saratoga on the morning of Aug. 31.
Monday, August 31, 2009
As soon as trainer Kiaran McLaughlin found out Rachel Alexandra would be running in the Woodward Stakes (gr. I) Sept. 5 he quickly contacted the owner of his Woodward hopeful Asiatic Boy, about the possibility of heading to California.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Trainer Steve Asmussen said Aug. 24 that top 3-year-old filly Rachel Alexandra will run in the Sept. 5 Woodward Stakes (gr. I) and that stablemate Kensei would contest the Aug. 29 Shadwell Travers Stakes (gr. I).
Monday, August 24, 2009
It was a mellow Sunday morning at trainer Steve Asmussen's barn at Saratoga Race Course following champion Curlin's 1 1/4-length victory over Past the Point in the Woodward Stakes (gr. I) on Aug. 31.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Defending Horse of the Year Curlin made his return to dirt racing in the $500,000 Woodward Stakes (gr. I) a successful one at Saratoga Aug. 30, but he had to work to get the job done.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Curlin has been installed as the 3-5 favorite for the 2008 Woodward Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga Aug. 30.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Serve Iavarone. Despite the "invitations" by Curlin's majority owner Jess Jackson's to IEAH Stables to run Big Brown in either the Woodward or the Jockey Club Gold Cup, the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) and Preakness (gr. I) winner will remain on schedule for the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I), and that does not include either race.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Lawyer Ron made a successful case for himself as 2007's champion older male. Racing for the estate of his breeder and original owner, the late Ownesboro, Ky., businessman James T. Hines Jr., Lawyer Ron, for the second consecutive season, earned better than $1 million, and won a pair of grade I contests in impressive fashion.
Monday, January 21, 2008
The New York Racing Association, which has said it might have to file for bankruptcy, today announced a reduction in stakes purses for 2006 of about $4 million.
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
Aaron and Marie Jones' Shaniko will be scratched from Saturday's Woodward Stakes (gr. I), racing manager Buzz Chace said Friday after talking to the Joneses and trainer Todd Pletcher. With Shaniko out, trainer Rick Dutrow will run both Crafty Player and Show Boot as pacesetters for Saint Liam.
Friday, September 09, 2005
While he's well known to those who follow speed figures, impressive Ghostzapper takes the national stage for the first time Saturday as the horse to beat in the $500,000 Woodward (gr. I) at Belmont Park.
Thursday, September 09, 2004
Immediately after Mineshaft's incredible victory in Saturday's Woodward Stakes (gr. I), the talk began about the impending showdown with California sensation Candy Ride in the Breeders' Cup Classic - Powered by Dodge (gr. I).
Monday, September 08, 2003
With Saratoga still fresh in everyone's mind, Belmont's first big "Fall Preview" weekend is already here. On paper, Mineshaft looks virtually unbeatable in the $500,000 Woodward Stakes (gr. I), but pay very close attention to Northern Rock, who should be rolling along on an uncontested lead.
Friday, September 05, 2003
It's taken more than 10 months, but Hold That Tiger, who finished a fast-closing third in the Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I), finally has returned to the U.S. to run in Saturday's $500,000 Woodward Stakes (gr. I).
Tuesday, September 02, 2003
Aidan O'Brien will be sending two runners from Ballydoyle to Belmont Park for next weekend's Woodward Stakes and Man o'War Stakes. O'Brien will be represented by Hold That Tiger in the Woodward and the lightly raced Carpanetto in the Man o'War.
Thursday, August 28, 2003
Woodward Stakes (gr. I) winner Lido Palace, whose connections passed on paying a supplementary nomination of fee of $800,000 to compete in the Breeders' Cup Classic, won a classified allowance at Belmont Park Sunday.
Sunday, October 20, 2002
Include will be back at Meadowlands Friday night for another shot at the Meadowlands Cup (gr. II), a race that eluded him last year, when he came up two necks short of the top prize as the odds-on favorite.
Wednesday, October 02, 2002
Lido Palace and With Anticipation win the Woodward and Man o' War, respectively, for the second straight year.
Saturday, September 07, 2002
Amerman Racing Stables' Lido Palace can join Sword Dancer, Kelso, Forego, Slew o' Gold and Cigar as the only horses to win consecutive Woodward Stakes (gr. I).
Friday, September 06, 2002
The Chilean-bred Lido Palace proves his point in winning the grade I Woodward Stakes.
Thursday, September 13, 2001
Five runners will take the post in Saturday's $500,000 Woodward Stakes at Belmont Park. The field might seem small, but the qualifications the five runners bring into the 1 1/8 mile event have championship status written all over them.
Thursday, September 06, 2001
A lot will be on the line when Belmont Park opens its fall season this weekend. The meet offically opens Friday, but things get rolling Saturday when three grade I events will be contested, and all figure to have implications on Belmont's Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships on Oct. 27.
Thursday, September 06, 2001
Trainer Jay Robbins is ecstatic about Tiznows return to the track in the $500,000 Woodward Stakes (gr. I) Sept. 8 at Belmont.
Wednesday, August 22, 2001
Trainer Jay Robbins has indicated that Tiznow will definitely not run in the Aug. 19 Pacific Classic (gr. I) at Del Mar.
Wednesday, August 08, 2001
Belmont Stakes winner Lemon Drop Kid breezed a half-mile in :48 2/5 at Belmont Park on Tuesday as he prepared for Saturday's $500,000 Woodward Stakes (gr. I).
Wednesday, September 13, 2000
