The Breeder's Cup World Championships experienced its first defections Nov. 2 with the withdrawal of three horses from consideration. They are Kodiak Kowboy, Allicansayis Wow, and Dave in Dixie.
Monday, November 02, 2009
Bob Baffert has been quoted as saying Zensational is one of the most talented horses he has ever trained in his Hall of Fame career. The 3-year-old son of Unbridled's Song will get a chance to prove it Nov. 7 in the $2-million Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) at Santa Anita.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Ramon Dominguez rode four stakes winners Oct. 24 at rainy Belmont Park, including a three-quarters of a length victory by Haynesfield in the $250,000 Empire Classic.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Canadian champion and two-time grade I winner Kodiak Kowboy will be entered in the Nov. 7 Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) at Santa Anita Park even though his experience on synthetic tracks is limited and he has enjoyed his greatest success on dirt.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Jason, Tom, and Rich Nilsen of brisnet preview the Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash (gr. I) at Laurel.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Three-year-old Vineyard Haven, winner of Saratoga's King's Bishop Stakes (gr. I) before being disqualified in his only start in the past eight months, faces older horses for the first time in the $300,000 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash (gr. I) at Laurel Park Oct. 24.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Three of the nation's elite sprinters and the top two local speedsters are among the 37 pre-entries for the 19th running of the $300,000 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash (gr. I) at Laurel Park Oct. 24.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Several trainers from the Oct. 3 races at Belmont indicated which way they were leaning for next month's Breeders' Cup.
Sunday, October 04, 2009
Much like he did earlier in the year in the Carter Handicap (gr. I), Kodiak Kowboy ran down odds-on favorite Fabulous Strike in the final yards to claim the $400,000 Vosburgh (gr. I) by a half-length Oct. 3 at Belmont Park. It was the sixth graded stakes victory for the 4-year-old son of Posse.
Saturday, October 03, 2009
The decision as to whether or not Fabulous Strike will be sent to California for the Breeders' Cup has not yet been made. For now, the focus is squarely on the $400,000 Vosburgh, where the 6-year-old son of Smart Strike will have to face a short but stellar field of sprinters Oct. 3 at Belmont Park.
Thursday, October 01, 2009
Multiple grade I winner and millionaire Tale of Ekati will stand the 2010 breeding season at Darby Dan Farm near Lexington for his owner and breeder Charles Fipke, it was announced Sept. 15.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Pyro, one of the favorites in last year's Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), captured his first stakes in more than a year when he came from off the pace and out-finished Kodiak Kowboy in the $300,000 Forego (gr. I) Sept. 5 at Saratoga.
Saturday, September 05, 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
Rachel Alexandra's attempt against older males has given the Woodward (gr. I) all the headlines, but Saratoga's other grade I race on Sept. 5--the $300,000 Forego Stakes--is no slouch. The seven-furlong sprint drew a solid field of a 12, including the morning-line favorite, Kodiak Kowboy.
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
In a battle of all-star sprinters at showery Saratoga Aug. 9, even-money choice Fabulous Strike edged past stubborn pacesetter Go Go Shoot in deep stretch to win the $250,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (gr. II).
Sunday, August 09, 2009
The Eclipse Award voting is still more than five months away, but the star-studded $250,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (gr. II) Aug. 9 at Saratoga may go a long way in deciding the nation's top sprinter.
Thursday, August 06, 2009
The connections of top dirt sprinter Fabulous Strike took a pass on the $200,000 Pennsylvania Governor's Cup, but the handicap lured a full field of turf sprinters that rank among the best at East Coast and Midwest racetracks.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Total purses of almost $1 million will be offered at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course for what the track is calling the "Pennsylvania Governor's Cup Racing Festival" July 31-Aug. 1.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Tea Party Stable's Fabulous Strike, one of the top sprinters in the country, is one of 58 horses nominated for the 37th running of the $200,000 Pennsylvania Governor's Cup on Aug. 1 at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Heroes Reward, a graded stakes winner on turf in each of the last three years, will tote top weight of 124 pounds as the likely favorite for the $150,000 Jaipur Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Belmont Park July 18.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Not to be a killjoy, but the fact is some of the best horses in the country will not be showing up at the Breeders' Cup this year.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Everything went Munning's way in the $200,000 Tom Fool Handicap (gr. II) at Belmont Park July 5. First, top sprinter Fabulous Strike, the heavy favorite, was scratched by trainer Todd Beattie. Then came a perfect trip for jockey John Velazquez, who drove the sharp 3-year-old colt through an inside gap at the top of the stretch on their way to a comfortable win.
Sunday, July 05, 2009
The field for Sunday's 35th running of the grade II, $200,000 Tom Fool at Belmont Park was reduced to four the morning of the race after trainer Todd Beattie scratched morning-line favorite and high weight Fabulous Strike.
Sunday, July 05, 2009
After Fabulous Strike turned in a dazzling performance in the June 6 True North (gr. III), trainer Todd Beattie said he was leaning toward giving the 6-year-old gelding some well-deserved time off. But as they say, the horse will tell you what it wants, and the son of Smart Strike has spoken loud and clear.
Thursday, July 02, 2009
Angled to the middle of the track for the stretch run by jockey Gabriel Saez, heavy choice Kodiak Kowboy overpowered his rivals in the $200,000 Donald LeVine Memorial Handicap to win by four lengths at Philadelphia Park June 27.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Preakness (gr. I) and Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) winner Rachel Alexandra galloped about a mile and a quarter on Belmont's fast main track early June 26, well in advance of a 9:30 a.m. EDT downpour.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Walter Downey's Fabulous Strike survived lightning-fast fractions to take the True North Handicap (gr. II) at Belmont Park Saturday over Benny the Bull.
Saturday, June 06, 2009
He was somewhat shadowed on Belmont Day last year by his stablemate Big Brown. But Benny the Bull may play a starring role this time around for trainer Rick Dutrow and the IEAH Stables, as the 6-year-old makes his long-awaited, somewhat surprising return in the $250,000 True North Stakes (gr. II) on June 6.
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
Marc Keller's 6-year-old gelding Bribon came five-wide into the lane and outran a trio of rivals to take the $600,000 Shadwell Metropolitan Handicap (gr. I) by a half-length over Smooth Air May 25 at Belmont Park.
Monday, May 25, 2009
