The addition of blinkers and a dawdling pace may have helped, but in any event the consistent 3-year-old Red Giant colt Surgical Strike finally broke through for his first grade stakes victory May 28 at Arlington International Racecourse.
Woodford Reserve, a Kentucky distillery located in horse country, is the long-time sponsor of the Turf Classic (gr. IT) at Churchill Downs and is expanding its marketing footprint to horse racing venues in other countries.
Silver Max, a consistent turf miler who went 12-5-1 in a 27-start career and won the 2013 Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes (gr. I) at Keeneland over Wise Dan, has been retired. He will stand at Adena Springs North for 2016.
Team Valor International and Gary Barber's Triple Threat, an impressive off-the-pace winner of the June 7 Monmouth Stakes (gr. IIT), is being pointed toward the Aug. 15 Arlington Million (gr. IT).
In the Nov. 8 River City Handicap (gr. IIIT), Gainesway Stable's Villandry finally notched a graded win for trainer Charles LoPresti. Following a move to the barn of David Carroll, he looms Jan. 17 at Fair Grounds.
Well positioned just behind the leaders early, Villandry swung out for the drive and drew off to victory in the $114,000 River City Handicap (gr. IIIT) over a very firm Churchill Downs turf course Nov. 8.
Claire Novak and Tom LaMarra handicap the $100,000 River City Handicap, which will be run on Saturday, November 8 at Churchill Downs. watch video
Claire Novak and Tom LaMarra handicap the River City Handicap, which will be run on Saturday, November 8 at Churchill Downs. Download Brisnet Past Performances for the River City Handicap.
Silver Max returns to his favorite track Nov. 8, getting a bit of class relief while looking for a rebound in the $100,000 River City Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Churchill Downs.
TimeformUS Weekend Stakes Plays for the G1 Shadwell Tuf Mile, featuring lifetime PPs from Wise Dan. read blog
Tom LaMarra and Claire Novak at Keeneland to preview the Shadwell Turf Mile featuring Wise Dan, Optimizer, Silver Max, Kaigun, and Seek Again. Watch Video
Two-time Horse of the Year Wise Dan faces the stiffest challenge of his remarkable return from colic surgery when he takes on Seek Again and Silver Max among seven rivals in the $1 million Shadwell Turf Mile (gr. IT) Oct. 4.
Seek Again overcame traffic in the stretch, advancing at the rail with an eye-catching run to win the $500,000 Fourstardave Handicap (gr. II) in course-record time Aug. 9 at Saratoga Race Course.
TimeformUS Weekend Plays for The Fourstardave & the Saratoga Special read blog
Claire Novak and Tom LaMarra give you the strategies to bet this talented field of 6 horses in the Fourstardave Handicap and potentially get a nice payout. Learn who Tom thinks is 'key' to the race. watch video
J. Keeler Johnson handicaps a pair of turf stakes at Saratoga, including the Fourstardave Handicap. read blog
Claire Novak and Tom LaMarra give you the strategies to bet this talented field of 6 horses in the Fourstardave, and potentially get a nice payout. Learn who Tom thinks is 'key' to the race. Download Brisnet Past Performances for the Fourstardave Handicap.
With Wise Dan still progressing in his comeback from May 16 colic surgery, favoritism and a highweight assignment in Saratoga's $500,000 Fourstardave Handicap (gr. IIT) go to Dale Romans trainee Silver Max.
Making his first start since finishing fourth in last year's Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. I), favored Silver Max wired his seven rivals in Churchill Downs' Firecracker Stakes (gr. IIT), covering the mile in 1:34.21.
Dale Romans will play a strong hand on June 28 when he sends out the accomplished duo of millionaire Silver Max and 2010 winner Guys Reward in a bid to win this year's $200,000 Firecracker Stakes (gr. IIT) at Churchill Downs.
Morton Fink's Wise Dan, taken much farther back than usual given a blistering early pace, circled rivals on the far turn and drew away late to win the Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) Nov. 2 at Santa Anita for the second year.
Horse of the Year Wise Dan will launch a title defense in the Nov. 2 Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) from post 8 in a field of 10 off his only loss of 2013. Among his challengers is the horse who beat him, Silver Max.
A good number of the Oct. 26 works at Santa Anita were by Breeders' Cup candidates getting in major licks before the Nov. 1-2 World Championships, including Classic contenders Mucho Macho Man and Moreno.
TimeformUS: Top Last-Out Speed Figures in the Breeders' Cup read blog
After reviewing the Sycamore Stakes contested Oct. 17 at Keeneland, the American Graded Stakes Committee has decided not to reinstate the grade III status of the scheduled turf race that was moved to main track.
| Horse | Trainer | Breeder / Owner |
|---|---|---|
| All Stormy | Greg Geier |
|
| Hero of Order | Gennadi Dorochenko |
|
| Monastic | Thomas F. Proctor |
|
| Najjaar | Daniel C. Peitz |
|
| No Spin | Allen Milligan |
|
| North of Never | Joan Scott |
|
| Sachem Spirit | Eddie Kenneally |
|
| Silver Max | Dale L. Romans |
|
| Slamit | Ike Green |
|
| Street Serenade | Michelle Lovell |
|
| Race | Track | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Chaves County S. | ZIA |
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