The sun was barely visible over the mountains shortly after 5 a.m. (Pacific Time) Nov. 1 when Regal Ransom went to the track at Santa Anita for final preparations for the Breeders' Cup World Championships.
Sunday, November 01, 2009
A hodgepodge of horses from all walks of life will converge on the Santa Anita Pro-Ride Nov. 7, most of whom would not be a surprise should they win.
Friday, October 30, 2009
The presence of classy Europeans Mastercraftsman and Sweet Hearth to the pre-entry field for the $1-million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I) on Nov. 7 gives the runners from the powerful Godolphin stable the prospect of some tough competition.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Last weekendfs racing helped to clarify the Breedersf Cup picture for runners from Godolphin Racing, including Gayago, Girolamo, and Cocoa Beach.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Godolphin Racing's highly-touted 3-year-old Girolamo overwhelmed Kensei after a brief stretch duel and scored the $150,000 Jerome Handicap (gr. II) by 1 1/4 lengths Oct. 11 at Belmont Park in his first stakes appearance of the season.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Kensei, who won the Dwyer Stakes (gr. II) at Belmont Park earlier this season, returns to the New York oval Oct. 11 to lead a field of five in the $150,000 Jerome Handicap (gr. II) for 3-year-olds going one mile on the main track.
Friday, October 09, 2009
Rachel Alexandra is enjoying her well-deserved vacation at Saratoga following an arduous and ambitious campaign that culminated with a memorable victory over older males in the Woodward Stakes (gr. I). The daughter of Medaglia d'Oro will ship back to Churchill Downs on Tuesday, Oct. 6.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Thirty-two nominations are pretty good for a race that, up until six weeks ago, wasn't even on the schedule. Thistledown officials Sept. 23 said that's the number of nominees for the grade II Ohio Derby Oct. 3. The purse is $150,000, down from $300,000 last year.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Circle the date Oct. 4 on your calendar. Your assignment is to pray for rain in France - enough to turn the Longchamp turf course soft. The softer the better.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Summer Bird continued his meteoric rise to the top of the nation's 3-year-old ranks, as he rolled through the slop for an easy 3 1/2-length score in the $1-million Shadwell Travers (gr. I) Aug. 29 at Saratoga.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
With more than an inch of rain in the forecast overnight and into tomorrow, an off-track appears likely for the $1-million Shadwell Travers (gr. I) Aug. 29 at Saratoga.
Friday, August 28, 2009
A pair of quarter cracks may have kept Quality Road out of the Kentucky Derby (gr. I), but nearly four months later the record-setting 3-year-old will get his shot at the next best thing -- the Mid-Summer Derby.
Wednesday, August 26, 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
Quality Road, expected to be among the favorites for the $1 million Shadwell Travers (gr. I), turned in his first work since his record-setting victory in the Amsterdam (gr. II) Aug. 16 at Saratoga, covering six furlongs in 1:13.19.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Mine That Bird had his first serious move for the grade 1, $1 million Shadwell Travers at Saratoga Race Course when he zipped a half-mile over the main track in :48.22 on Monday, Aug. 10.
Monday, August 10, 2009
PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter
The weekend brought a couple of new players to the 3-year-old scene and also underlined just how strong the second-crop sires are. Thursday, August 06, 2009
Stonestreet Stables and Gulf Coast Farms' Kensei, who powered home to a 2 1/4-length victory over Warrior's Reward in the Aug. 1 Jim Dandy (gr. II) came out of the race in good shape, according to trainer Steven Asmussen's assistant Larry Ulrich.
Sunday, August 02, 2009
Kensei notched his second straight grade II score Aug. 1 in the $500,000 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga, as he pulled away from Warrior's Reward in the stretch for a convincing victory under Edgar Prado.
Saturday, August 01, 2009
Horse racing's second season hits a high point Aug. 29 with the running of the $1-million Shadwell Travers Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga, and this Saturday at Saratoga seven 3-year-olds will assemble for the 46th running of the $500,000 Jim Dandy Stakes (gr. II).
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Organized horse racing in West Virginia dates back at least 223 years, but no horse who has won the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) has ever competed in the Mountaineer State before. That status is going to change on Aug. 1, when Mine That Bird goes to the post in the $750,000 West Virginia Derby (gr. II) at Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Our Edge, a fast-developing 3-year-old colt trained by Nick Zito for Robert LaPenta, made easy work of 10 rivals in the $152,100 Barbaro Stakes (gr. III) at Delaware Park July 19.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
It Happened Again and Doc's Friend, a pair of colts from the barn of Larry Jones who defeated older horses last time out, lead a full field of a dozen 3-year-olds in the $150,000 Barbaro Stakes (gr. III) July 19 at Delaware Park.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
A walk down the Godolphin shedrow at Belmont Park reveals a "Who's Who" of major stakes horses, many of whom are just coming back off layoffs and getting ready for the Saratoga meet.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Kensei, ridden by Edgar Prado and trained by Steve Asmussen, made a powerful move on the far turn en route to an impressive 3 1/4-length victory in the 92nd running of the grade II, $200,000 Dwyer at Belmont Park on the July 4 holiday card.
Saturday, July 04, 2009
A. Stevens Miles Jr.'s Warrior's Reward, who lost a tough duel with Successful Dan three weeks ago in the Northern Dancer (gr. III), will look to break through for his first graded stakes score in the $200,000 Dwyer (gr. III) July 4 at Belmont Park.
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
The undefeated Hull, and Regal Ransom, who turned in a surprising victory over stablemate Desert Party in the UAE Derby (gr.II), are among nine 3-year-olds entered in the $250,000 Woody Stephens (gr.II) at Belmont Park June 6.
Thursday, June 04, 2009
The undefeated Hull, and Regal Ransom, who turned in a surprising victory over stablemate Desert Party in the UAE Derby (gr.II), are among nine 3-year-olds entered in the $250,000 Woody Stephens (gr.II) at Belmont Park June 6.
Thursday, June 04, 2009
