Colts by Claiborne's War Front and Gainesway's leading sire Tapit led the way as Keeneland September's Book 1 posted significant increases in average and median prices. Sellers are hopeful gains carry into week two.
Trainer Phil Simms and Jerry Namy's Don't Tell Sophia, who hadn't raced since a third-place finish in the grade II Azeri Stakes at Oaklawn Park in March, circled the field to win the $108,200 Locust Grove at Churchill.
Grade III-placed Take Charge Brandi will aim for her breakthrough stakes win Saturday, Sept. 6, when she faces an expected nine other 2-year-old fillies in the $200,000 Pocahontas Stakes (gr. III) at Churchill Downs.
Anita Cauley's homebred On Fire Baby, winner of the May 2 La Troienne Stakes (gr. I) at Churchill Downs, heads a field of six for the $200,000 Fleur de Lis Presented by Etihad Airways (gr. II) in Louisville June 14.
Jockey Joe Johnson secured the 1,000th victory of his career June 5 when he guided Silver Antelope to victory in the final race on the Churchill Downs card.
Anita Cauley is living the dream, riding high with her homebred On Fire Baby. The gray mare is a red-hot standout in the older filly and mare division.
Showing her affinity for the Churchill Downs' main track, Anita Cauley's homebred On Fire Baby took the lead coming out of the second turn and wore down pacesetter Devil's Cave to win the La Troienne Stakes (gr. I) May 2.
One year after coming up just short, Anita Cauley homebred On Fire Baby will give the $300,000 La Troienne Stakes (gr. I) another try Friday, May 2 at Churchill Downs.
Defeating four older fillies and mares, Juddmonte Farms' Close Hatches secured her third grade I with a front-running performance in the $588,000 Apple Blossom Handicap (gr. I) April 11 at Oaklawn Park.
Close Hatches will try to add a third top-level victory to her resume in the $600,000 Apple Blossom Handicap (gr. I), in which she meets four opponents, including last year's winner On Fire Baby, April 11 at Oaklawn Park.
Favored at odds of 3-5 and making her first start of the season, Juddmonte's 4-year-old First Defence filly galloped wire to wire in the 1 1/16-mile test, taking rider Joel Rosario straight to the winner's circle March 15.
Don't Tell Sophia has sailed through the early part of 2014, but faces a stout test March 15 in the $200,000 Azeri Stakes (gr. II) against multiple grade I winner Close Hatches, On Fire Baby, and Flashy American.
Emollient will face her elders as one of 11 entered for the $500,000 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (gr. I) Oct. 6 at Keeneland. Others include grade I winners On Fire Baby and Byrama, and grade II winner Summer Applause.
Anita Cauley's homebred colt Wry, a homebred son of Distorted Humor out of a half sister to grade I winner On Fire Baby, cruised to a smart maiden win by three lengths in his second career start Sept. 7 at Churchill Downs.
After standing the 2013 breeding season in Japan, 2007 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Street Sense will return to the United States in 2014, Darley announced Sept. 6.
Champion mare Royal Delta is the class of a small group entered in the $600,000 Personal Ensign Invitational (gr. I) Aug. 25 at Saratoga, but as we saw last year in this event, sometimes even class gets beat.
Aubby K, winner of the Humana Distaff Stakes (gr. I) and the Inside Information Stakes (gr. II), was retired from racing this week with a fractured sesamoid in her foreleg sustained after a workout at Saratoga July 29.
Bret Calhoun-trained filly Cozze Up Lady notched her first stakes victory when coming from off the pace to win the June 29 Chicago Handicap (gr. III) by three-quarters of a length at Arlington Park.
While Aubby K improved to 2-for-2 as a 4-year-old by securing the first grade I win of her career in her previous start, nine other fillies and mares will test her in the Chicago Handicap (gr. III) June 29 at Arlington.
Champion Royal Delta will seek a title defense in the June 15 Fleur de Lis Handicap (gr. II) at Churchill Downs. She is expected to be joined in her trip to the Louisville oval by sales-topping stablemate Mr. Besilu.
James Spence's homebred Aubby K won her second graded contest in a row, splashing to victory in the grade I Humana Distaff on the Kentucky Derby Day undercard at Churchill Downs May 4.
Padua Stables' Authenticity held off On Fire Baby in a fierce stretch battle to win the La Troienne Stakes (gr. II) by a head May 3 at Churchill Downs. The 6-year-old mare sets a stakes record of 1:42.09 for 1 1/16-miles.
Rumor, victorious in the Las Flores Stakes (gr. III) March 10, has been installed the 5-2 favorite in a field of nine fillies and mares entered in the Humana Distaff Stakes (gr. I) at Churchill Downs May 4.
Nearly one year after securing a victory in the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I), Brereton Jones homebred Believe You Can returns to racing at Churchill Downs in the $300,000 La Troienne Stakes (gr. II) May 3.
Oaklawn Park stewards have suspended jockey Joe Johnson three days for his winning ride aboard On Fire Baby in the Apple Blossom Handicap (gr. I). The suspension runs April 17-19.
| Horse | Trainer | Breeder / Owner |
|---|---|---|
| Aubby K | Ralph E. Nicks |
|
| Contested | Bob Baffert |
|
| Hard Mystery | George Weaver |
|
| On Fire Baby | Gary G. Hartlage |
|
| Sacristy | Wayne M. Catalano |
|
| Zo Impressive | Thomas Albertrani |
|
| Race | Track |
|---|---|
| Metropolitan H. (gr. I) | BEL |
| Ogden Phipps H. (gr. I) | BEL |
| TVG Acorn S. (gr. I) | BEL |
| Lone Star Park H. (gr. III) | LS |
| Gamely S. (gr. I) | BHP |
| Race | Track | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Marshua S. | LRL | |
| Frank Whiteley Jr S. | LRL | |
| Rego Park S. | AQU | |
| Tomball S. | HOU | |
| 96Rock S. | TP |
