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The Secret to Tapit's Success

by Anne Peters
During the first weekend in February, he was represented by three graded stakes winners: Flashback, Honorable Dillon, and Tapicat.

Tapit Hits Graded Stakes Trifecta

Gainesway Farm's Tapit has three graded stakes winners in the span of about two hours Feb. 2. His winners, all 3-year-olds, came at Tampa Bay Downs, Santa Anita, and Gulfstream.

Baffert's Flashback Makes Lewis Look Easy

Trainer Bob Baffert viewed the $200,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes (gr. II) as a scrimmage for untested Flashback, and the talented son of Tapit proved he was ready for tougher with an easy tally at Santa Anita Park Feb. 2.

GI Winner Zazu Fetches $2.1M at Keeneland

Dual grade I winner Zazu fetched $2.1 million from Katsumi Yoshida's Japan-based Northern Farm at the Keeneland November breeding stock sale Nov. 6. She was consigned by William S. Farish's Lane's End, agent.

Include Me Out Chasing 4th Straight in Vanity

Grade I winner Include Me Out puts her three-race victory streak on the line in the $250,000 Vanity Handicap (gr. I) Jan. 16 at Betfair Hollywood Park.

Include Me Out Wins 3rd Graded Stakes of Year

Favored Include Me Out nailed down her third consecutive graded victory this year after overcoming pacesetter Ellafitz narrowly in the $150,000 Marjorie L. Everett Handicap (gr. II) at Betfair Hollywood Park May 19.

Zazu, Include Me Out Head Marjorie Everett

Grade I winners Zazu and Include Me Out will battle in the $150,000 Marjorie L. Everett Handicap (gr. II) at Betfair Hollywood Park May 19 in a race that also attracted multiple grade II winner Ellafitz.

Yoshida Acquires Half Sister to Zazu

On behalf of Katsumi Yoshida, Naohiro Hosoda went to $400,000 for Art Princess, a half sister to grade I winner Zazu (by Tapit), during the second session of the Keeneland January horses of all ages sale.

A Lot to Look Forward to in 2012

There is an impressive list of older horses returning next year.

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Hernon and Zazu: Track and Sales Successes

As director of sales at Gainesway Farm near Lexington, Michael Hernon works hard to make sure the nursery and its clients enjoy success with their horses. But this year, he had some notable achievements of his own to savor.

Twirling Candy Retired Because of Injury

Twirling Candy, who was being aimed for the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I) at Churchill Downs Nov. 5, has been retired from racing because of an injury.

Zazu to Miss BC Ladies' Classic

Jerry and Ann Moss' three-time graded stakes winner Zazu will not start in the Nov. 4 Cup Ladies' Classic (gr. I) at Churchill Downs. The filly would have likely been one of the favorites in the $2 million race.

Zazu Peaks in Lady's Secret; Blind Luck Last

Zazu, coming from far out of it, charged down the center of the course to defeat Ultra Blend in the $250,000 Lady's Secret Stakes (gr. I) as 13-10 choice Blind Luck failed to fire at Santa Anita Oct. 1.

Breeders' Cup Chat: Will Youth Be Served?

Several top 3-year-olds face older horses in huge weekend of racing.

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All Eyes On Blind Luck in Lady's Secret

After getting most of the summer off, late-running sensation Blind Luck will return to action in the $250,0000 Lady's Secret Stakes (gr. I) Oct. 1 at Santa Anita.

Ultra Blend Stirs Up Hirsch Stunner

Ultra Blend, an ultra-consistent California-bred 5-year-old mare, became a grade I winner with a hard-fought neck victory over Zazu in the $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar.

Ultra Blend Keeps Climbing in Clement Hirsch

Every time he's asked her, trainer Art Sherman says Ultra Blend has met the challenge. In the $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (gr. I) at Del Mar Aug. 6, the 5-year-old California-bred mare will take her biggest step yet.

Zazu Takes Rail to Brave Hollywood Oaks Win

Zazu won a rematch with Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) winner Plum Pretty when she scraped the rail at the top of the stretch and drew off in the final strides to win the $147,000 Hollywood Oaks (gr. II) June 25

Plum Pretty Lands in Hollywood Oaks

Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) winner Plum Pretty, coming off an illness that knocked her out of consideration for the Mother Goose Stakes (gr. I) in New York June 25, was entered instead in the $150,000 Hollywood Oaks (gr. II).

Oaks Winner 'Super Good' A Day Later

Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) winner Plum Pretty came back "super good" from her impressive score in Friday's $1 million Kentucky Oaks, according to Jim Barnes.

Plum Pretty Pulls Out Kentucky Oaks Thriller

Peachtree Stable's Plum Pretty, a daughter of Medaglia d'Oro, holds off the late charge of St. John's River to win the May 6 Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) at Churchill Downs.

Kentucky Derby News Minute - 5/4/2011

Lenny briefs us on Comma to the Top, Jerry Moss & Zazu, Master of Hounds and the weather.

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Joyful Victory Favored in Deep Oaks Field

Fox Hills Farms' Joyful Victory, runaway winner of Oaklawn Park's Honeybee (gr. III) and Fantasy (gr. II) in her past two starts, tops a stellar cast of 13 3-year-old fillies entered in the May 6 Kentucky Oaks (gr. I).

2011 Kentucky Oaks Field

A visual look at the fillies in the 2011 Kentucky Oaks.

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2011 Ky Oaks - Predict the Order of Finish

Who will win this year's Kentucky Oaks? Will it be a Joyful Victory? Is it time for a Summer Soiree? Are you expecting a Street Storm? Or will the results be Plum Pretty?

Predict the Order

R Heat Lightning Leads Kentucky Oaks Work Tab

R Heat Lightning, the likely favorite in the May 6 Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) for trainer Todd Pletcher, put in her final drill prior to the race April 30, working a half-mile in :48 1/5 at Churchill Downs.

Kentucky Oaks Field Could be Full

With the addition of Suave Voir Faire and Royal Delta to the list of prospective starters in the 137 running of the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I), there are 16 fillies listed as "likely" or "possible."

KY Oaks Name Game: Who's Your Pick?

Read about the name meanings of some of this year's Kentucky Oaks-bound fillies.

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Featured Horse Profile: Turbulent Descent

Daughter of Congrats has now won 4 out of 5.

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Santa Anita Oaks Pits Zazu, Turbulent Descent

Just five 3-year-old fillies are entered in the $250,000 Santa Anita Oaks March 5, but three of them are grade I winners: Turbulent Descent, Zazu, and A Z Warrior.

Uncle Mo, Soldat Among Blue Grass Nominees

Many talented 3-year-olds, including champion Uncle Mo, and other graded stakes winners Soldat, The Factor, and Dialed In, are among the 162 nominees to Keeneland's Toyata Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) April 16.

The Week In Photos: February 06, 2011

Giant Oak, Vox Populi Award, Zazu and more from a weekend of racing!

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Chenery Visits Santa Anita On Vox Populi Day

Several hundred fans lined up well into Seabiscuit Court at Santa Anita Feb. 5 for a glimpse of Penny Chenery and Team Zenyatta on a day the 2010 Horse of the Year was to receive the first Secretariat Vox Populi Award.

Mosses Appear to Have a New Star in Zazu

On a day owners Jerry and Ann Moss were presented the first "Vox Populi" Award for their superstar mare Zenyatta, they also gained a new grade I winner in Zazu, who won the $250,000 Las Virgenes Stakes (gr. I) Feb. 5

Turbulent Descent Tries Dirt in Las Virgenes

Undefeated Turbulent Descent, one of the leading 2-year-old fillies in the nation last year, will race on dirt for the first time in the $250,000 Las Virgenes Stakes (gr. I) at Santa Anita Feb. 5.

California Nectar Squeezes Out Santa Ynez Win

California Nectar led every step of the way while holding off heavy favorite Zazu in the final strides to win the $150,000 Santa Ynez Stakes (gr. II) by a neck at Santa Anita Jan. 15.

California Nectar Sweet Choice in Santa Ynez

California Nectar, fresh off a score in the California Breeders' Champion Stakes for state-breds, heads a field of seven fillies racing for the first time as 3-year-olds in the Santa Ynez Stakes (gr. II) at Santa Anita.

May Day Rose Solid Choice in Santa Ysabel

May Day Rose was unable to stay with Turbulent Descent in the Hollywood Starlet (gr. I) in December, but the daughter of Rockport Harbor should bounce back against four rivals in the $100,000 Santa Ysabel Stakes Jan. 9.

Turbulent Descent Takes Big Step in Starlet

Sharp filly Turbulent Descent, unbeaten in two starts, faces a field that includes grade I winner Tell a Kelly in the $300,000 Hollywood Starlet (gr. I) Dec. 11 at Hollywood Park.

Turbulent Descent Dazzles in Moccasin Stakes

A stylish debut winner Oct. 3, Turbulent Descent was even more impressive Nov. 21 at Hollywood Park, toying with her five opponents in the $100,000 Moccasin Stakes.