Summer Applause Returns to Form in Top Flight

The daughter of Harlan's Holiday got her second career graded stakes win in her second start of the year.

Sunny Desert Aims to Make Grade in Top Flight

New York-bred Sunny Desert will put her six-race win streak on the line when she tries to grab the first graded stakes victory of her career March 2 in the $200,000 Top Flight Handicap (gr. II) at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Mott: Royal Delta's Cut Superficial

Trainer Bill Mott said Oct. 30 that a cut sustained by Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic (gr. I) favorite Royal Delta on her right hip was superficial and should not pose any problems for the daughter of Empire Maker.

3-Time Grade I Winner It's Tricky Retired

Godolphin Racing's multiple grade I winner It's Tricky has been retired with an injury to her right hind ankle.

Pletcher's Crew Solid in Santa Anita BC Works

Breeders' Cup candidates were out in full force at Santa Anita Park Oct. 20, going through the late stages of their major drills for the World Championships events.

Game On Dude Leads Cup Workers at Santa Anita

Game On Dude headed a parade of heavyweight hopefuls prepping for the Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita Park Oct. 14 as the countdown began in earnest for the 28th World Championship events Nov. 2-3.

Royal Delta Struts Her Stuff in Beldame

Royal Delta blew It's Tricky away in the $400,000 Beldame Invitational (gr. I) at Belmont Park Sept. 29, drawing off to a 9 1/2-length victory under wraps.

Love and Pride Won't Be Denied in Zenyatta

Love and Pride, good enough to beat champion Royal Delta in her previous start, had little trouble dispatching her rivals in the $250,000 Zenyatta Stakes (gr. I), going gate to wire at Santa Anita Park Sept. 29.

Include Me Out Has Competition in Zenyatta

An interesting mix of talented fillies and mares, headlined by 2012 grade I winners Include Me Out, Love Theway Youare, and Love and Pride, and will go postward in the Sept. 29 Zenyatta Stakes (gr. I) at Santa Anita Park.

Royal Delta, It's Tricky Are Beldame Stars

Royal Delta and It's Tricky look to recover from an Aug. 26 Personal Ensign (gr. I) upset and eye year-end honors when they meet for a fifth time Sept. 29 in the $400,000 Beldame Invitational (gr. I) at Belmont Park.

Gold Cup Probables, Others Announced

The top three finishers from the Aug. 4 Whitney Invitational are expected to headline "Super Saturday" Sept. 29 at Belmont, along with Point of Entry, Shackleford, Royal Delta, and others.

McLaughlin Makes Plans for Godolphin Runners

Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, following Godolphin's fourth grade I win of the Saratoga meet with Emcee in the Forego Stakes (gr. I) Sept. 1, talked about the upcoming plans for each of those horses.

Top Three in 'Ensign' Exit Race in Good Order

The top three finishers in the Aug. 26 Personal Ensign Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga Race Course came out of the race in good order, their trainers said Aug. 27.

Love and Pride Stuns Royal Delta in 'Ensign

Love and Pride, staked to a daylight lead in the stretch by John Velazquez, denied the late bid of 3-5 pick Royal Delta to earn her first grade I victory in the $600,000 Personal Ensign Stakes Aug. 26 at Saratoga Race Course.

Royal Delta Returns to Spa in Personal Ensign

Royal Delta will make her first start at Saratoga since winning the 2011 Alabama (gr. I) as the 124-pound highweight in the Personal Ensign Invitational (gr. I) Aug. 26.

McLaughlin Juggling Top Contenders This Year

It's a good time to be Kiaran McLaughlin, but don't confuse that with an easy time. The trainer has his hands full conditioning and placing top runners for Godolphin Racing with year-end goals in mind.

Royal Delta Makes It 'Personal'

Besilu Stable's Royal Delta, the reigning 3-year-old filly champion and 2011 Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic winner looms an imposing favorite in the Personal Ensign for trainer Bill Mott.

Turbulent Descent Heads Ballerina Field

Turbulent Descent returns to the scene of one of her most impressive victories when she makes her second start of the year Aug. 24 in the $500,000 Ballerina Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga Race Course.

Royal Delta Sharp in Personal Ensign Work

Besilu Stables' Royal Delta put in her final serious work for the Aug. 26 Personal Ensign Invitational (gr. I), breezing four furlongs in a bullet :48.95 under exercise rider Rodolphe Brisset Aug. 20 at Saratoga Race Course.

Hansen Works for Travers Stakes

Hansen, the juvenile champion of 2011, worked five furlongs in 1:02 4/5 the morning of Aug. 18 in preparation for a start in the Travers Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga, where Turbulent Descent and It's Tricky also worked.

C C's Pal Tops 7-Horse Bed O' Roses Field

Eric Fein's C C's Pal searches for her second straight graded stakes victory July 1 at Belmont Park, facing seasoned sprinters in the $150,000 Bed O' Roses Handicap (gr. II).

Love and Pride Wires Slender Obeah Field

Trainer Todd Pletcher sent the 4-year-old filly off a runner-up effort to grade III success at Delaware Park June 16.

Pachattack the One to Beat in Obeah

Pachattack, a 6-year-old mare conditioned by Graham Motion, has been entered in the local prep for the July 21 Delaware Handicap (gr. II), but her connections are keeping their options open for this weekend and beyond.

Plans Undetermined for Memorial Day Winners

The connections of three fillies who won graded stakes on the May 28 Memorial Day card at Belmont Park said they emerged from their respective victories in good order, with future plans undetermined.

After the Wire - 5/28/2012

Evan Hammonds recaps the Met Mile, Acorn Stakes, and Ogden Phipps Handicap.

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