It took Al Khali five tries, but he finally got his graded stakes score Sept. 6 at Saratoga, running down the two pacesetters in mid-stretch and taking the $107,000 Saranac (gr. IIIT) by 1 1/4 lengths.
Sunday, September 06, 2009
The Christophe Clement trained duo of Sal the Barber and Armstrong Mill lead a field of eight in the $100,000-added Saranac (gr. IIIT) Sept. 6 at Saratoga.
Friday, September 04, 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
Edward P. Evans' Quality Road put in his final breeze before the Aug. 29, grade I, $1-million Shadwell Travers at Saratoga Race Course, covering five furlongs over the muddy main track in :59.68, fourth fastest of 24 at the distance on the morning of Aug. 24.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Tommy Danzigger, ridden by Pedro Alvarado, won the $300,000 Canadian Derby (Can-III) Aug. 22 in an 8-1 surprise at Northlands Park in Edmonton, Alberta.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Trainer Chip Woolley sent Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Mine That Bird back to the main track at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 21 following a clean endoscopic examination performed by Dr. James Hunt.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin confirmed Aug. 20 that Mr. and Mrs. William K. Warren Jr.'s Charitable Man, third in the Jim Dandy (gr. II), would make his next start in the Shadwell Travers (gr. I) on Aug. 29.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Delaware shipper It Happened Again, making his first start for trainer Terry Jordan, is among the favorites for the $300,000 Canadian Derby (Can-III) Aug. 22 at Northlands Park in Edmonton, Alberta.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Martin and Pam Wygod's homebred Courageous Cat took over on the far turn and held off Sal the Barber in the stretch to claim his third consecutive turf victory in the $150,000 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes (gr. IIT) Aug. 14 at Saratoga.
Friday, August 14, 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
Tracy Farmer's Commentator, the expected elder statesmen of the $750,000 Whitney Handicap (gr. I) on Aug. 8 at Saratoga, turned in a bullet work over the Oklahoma track at Saratoga July 23, breezing five furlongs in :59.12.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Trainer Bob Baffert won the first stakes of his career with a horse he bred when Misremembered led all the way to upset 7-10 choice Grazen in the $284,000 Swaps Stakes (gr. II) at Hollywood July 18.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Grazen, who dominated the local 3-year-old crop in the Affirmed Handicap (gr. III) on the front end last month, will face a couple of eastern invaders in Advice and Conservative in the $300,000 Swaps Stakes (gr. II) at Hollywood 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
Coolmore Lexington Stakes (gr. II) winner Advice will be shipped from Kentucky to California for the $300,000 Swaps Stakes (gr. II) at Hollywood Park July 18, according to the Inglewood track's racing office.
Sunday, July 12, 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
Making his graded stakes debut in the $100,000 Affirmed Handicap (gr. III), favored Grazen was never headed while posting a 2 3/4-length win over five 3-year-old rivals at Hollywood Park June 20.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Bob Baffert's lightly-raced homebred Misremembered, two-for-two on Hollywood Park's Cushion Track, presents an intriguing possibility in the $100,000 Affirmed Handicap (gr. III) June 20. The 1 1/16-mile test for 3-year-olds includes no heavyweights.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
ACtn.jpg "Lime Rickey's Turn in Colonial Turf Cup?")
There is no doubt in the mind of Frank Alexander that Lime Rickey is a stakes-caliber type of horse. One of these days, perhaps in the $500,000 Colonial Turf Cup (gr. IIT) on June 13, the son of Lemon Drop Kid will prove it, Alexander said. All he needs is a little bit of racing luck.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Battle of Hastings has been installed as a 2-1 favorite among 10 3-year-olds entered in the fifth running of the $500,000 Colonial Turf Cup (gr. IIT) at Colonial Downs on Saturday, June 20.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Summer Bird, Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Mine That Bird, and Peter Pan winner (gr. II) winner Charitable Man are all targeting the Shadwell Travers (gr. I) later this summer at Saratoga, but will take different paths to the "Mid-Summer Derby."
Friday, June 12, 2009
Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Summer Bird obviously loves New York. He loves it so much that he could return this summer to run at Saratoga Race Course in the Aug. 1 Jim Dandy Stakes (gr. II) and the Aug. 29 Shadwell Travers Stakes (gr. I).
Sunday, June 07, 2009
Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr.I) winner Mine That Bird is the big even-money favorite in early wagering for the Belmont Stakes (gr. I), with Charitable Man and Chocolate Candy both at 5-1.
Saturday, June 06, 2009
Warning: what you are about to read should be taken with extreme skepticism. Not to sound self deprecating, but yours truly is on one nasty losing streak in the Triple Crown, and the selection for the Belmont Stakes will be made as a means of self defense.
Friday, June 05, 2009
Jason, Tom, and the Wizard preview the Belmont Stakes (gr. I).
Thursday, June 04, 2009
When considering company that you'd be honored to be associated with, Penny Chenery would make a fine start. Owner Robert LaPenta has two chances to join Chenery and her Meadow Stable as the most recent back-to-back winners of the Triple Crown's third jewel.
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
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
Insight into the pedigrees of this year's Belmont contenders is only a click away. This easy-to-read report includes pedigree analyses from Alan Porter and Avalyn Hunter. Order your copy today and separate the contenders from the pretenders.
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
The two key figures in the pace scenario for Saturday's Belmont Stakes are Miner's Escape and Charitable Man. The former will be a longshot in the field of 10, while Charitable Man was made the 3-1 second choice behind Mine That Bird. So, let's see how this may play out.
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
Mine That Bird will face nine rivals in the June 6 Belmont Stakes (gr. I). Jockey Calvin Borel will look to become the first jockey to win all three Triple Crown races on two different horses.
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Mine That Bird was among 10 3-year-olds entered for the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) on June 6.
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin and his staff are not strangers to having good horses in the barn. Three years ago, Jazil won the Belmont Stakes (gr. I).
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
"Between :49 and :50." That has become your standard instructions by a trainer to his rider prior to a horse's final work for the Belmont Stakes. Gone are the days when trainers would work their horse at least seven furlongs, more likely a mile or even a mile and an eighth for the grueling "Test of the Champion."
Monday, June 01, 2009
Charitable Man and Dunkirk, who could be the second and third choices behind Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Mine That Bird in the June 6 Belmont Stakes (gr. I), turned in their final works May 31 for the 1 1/2-mile race.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
With the recent spell of wet weather having finally moved on, three contenders for the 141st running of the $1 million Belmont Stakes (gr. I) turned in their final serious moves this morning at Belmont Park in preparation for the June 6 race.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Continued wet weather in the New York metropolitan area has left the final serious works of several contenders for the June 6 Belmont Stakes (gr. I) up in the air.
Friday, May 29, 2009
It was a busy May 23 morning at Belmont Park for contenders of the $1 million Belmont Stakes (gr. I) with Charitable Man, Summer Bird, and Dunkirk all breezing on the main track.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
West Point Thoroughbreds and partners' Mr. Fantasy and Sequoia Racing's Imperial Council will each try to become the first 3-year-old to win the Metropolitan Handicap (gr. I) since Honour and Glory did it back in 1996, but will have to conquer a full field of older horses on May 25 at Belmont Park to make it happen.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Belmont Stakes contenders Summer Bird, sixth in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), and Charitable Man, winner of the Peter Pan Stakes (gr. II) earlier this month, are both scheduled to breeze May 23 on the main track at Belmont Park in preparation for the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) on June 6.
Friday, May 22, 2009
