Hessonite Tops Sheepshead Bay Stakes Lineup

Four strong turf fillies will tangle May 25 in the $200,000 Sheepshead Bay Stakes (gr. IIT) at Belmont Park. Hessonite, Strathnaver, Starformer, and Mystical Star all share status as 120-pound highweights in a field of eight.

Five Derby Also-Rans Take Aim at Preakness

The connections of five horses who finished behind Orb in Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) hope their starter can become 20th horse since 1973 to win the Preakness Stakes (gr. I) after coming up short in Derby.

Late-Running Hessonite Takes Beaugay Stakes

Finally finding room outside, Hessonite accelerated late to win the Beaugay Stakes (gr. III) by three-quarters of a length May 4 at Belmont Park.

Dream Peace Favored in Beaugay

Last year's Diana Stakes (gr. I) runner-up Dream Peace is the 6-5 morning-line favorite in the Beaugay Stakes (gr. IIIT) May 4 at Belmont Park.

Firm Turf Helps Halo Dolly Find Winning Form

Halo Dolly returned to winning form when teamed with Rafael Bejarano for the first time April 28, scoring a 1 1/2-length victory in the $100,000 Wilshire Handicap (gr. IIIT) on firm turf at Betfair Hollywood Park.

Halo Dolly Returns to Hollywood in Wilshire

Grade II winner Halo Dolly looks for her first victory of the year while carrying top weight of 120 pounds in the $100,000 Wilshire Handicap (gr. IIIT) April 28, the first graded stakes of the Betfair Hollywood Park meet.

Game On Dude, Ron the Greek in CT Classic

Game On Dude and Ron the Greek, two of the top older horses in training, are among the seven horses entered in the $1.5 million Charles Town Classic (gr. II) April 20.

Low-Level Claimer Shows Heels in Golden Poppy

Luscious Lonna, claimed for $6,250 in 2011, posted a gate-to-wire upset victory in the $61,350 Golden Poppy Stakes at Golden Gate Fields April 7.

Starformer Tops Orchid Line-Up

Juddmonte Farms' homebred Starformer seeks her second straight stakes score at Gulfstream Park March 30, going up against nine others in the $150,000 Orchid Stakes (gr. IIIT) on the undercard of the Florida Derby (gr. I).

Little Mike Back to Turf in Dubai Duty Free

Breeders' Cup Turf and Arlington Million winner looks to add another rich purse in the $5 million Dubai Duty Free Sponsored by Duty Free (UAE-I) March 30 at Meydan.

Last Gunfighter Draws Clear in Excelsior

Last Gunfighter overcame a troubled start and came through on the rail to win the $150,000 Excelsior Stakes (gr. III) March 23 at Aqueduct, while 2011 Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Ruler On Ice finished fifth.

Ruler On Ice Among Those to Contest Excelsior

The 3-1 second choice on the morning line for the $150,000 Excelsior Stakes (gr. III) March 23 at Aqueduct Racetrack is 2011 Belmont Stakes winner Ruler On Ice, who won an Aqueduct optional claimer Jan. 30.

Play It Again: Old Tune Wins Hillsborough

Stud TNT's Old Tune, winner of Tampa Bay Downs' Feb. 2 Endeavour Stakes (gr. IIIT), returns to win the March 9 Hillsborough Stakes (gr. IIIT) at nine furlongs. Her score is trainer Todd Pletcher's fourth Hillsborough victory.

Starformer Continues to Shine in The Very One

Juddmonte Farms' homebred Starformer continued to shine in the $100,000 The Very One Stakes (gr. IIIT) Feb. 16, cruising to 3 1/4-length victory as much the best over seven other older fillies and mares at Gulfstream Park.

Mott Holds Hot Hand for GP Turf Stakes

Newsdad, Ioya Bigtime, and Twilight Eclipse will shake it up Feb. 16 in the $150,000 Mac Diarmida Stakes (gr. II) at Gulfstream Park, while Starformer and Closing Range tangle in the $100,000 Very One (gr. III).

Older Horses Seek Graded Win in Toboggan

Six older horses seek their first graded stakes score in the $150,000 Toboggan Stakes (gr. III) at Aqueduct Racetrack Feb. 2, led by 120-pound highweight Mine Over Matter and the recently claimed Johannesburg Smile.

Speightstown Fulfills His Promise

by John P. Sparkman
It took five years for that hope to be fulfilled.

Elnaawi - A New Face for a New Year

MAHUBAH'S CORNER
Pedigrees don't win races, but on paper, none of the new faces to emerge so far in 2013 looks better than Elnaawi.

Eclipse Award Overview; Winners, Votes

A voting overview of the 2012 Eclipse Award winners and other candidates, along with number of first-place votes for each category is listed in this story.

Outstanding Trainer: Dale Romans

There are grade I races and there are grade I races--the races trainers see themselves winning in the most pleasant of dreams. In knocking down several races from the latter category, Dale Romans won his first Eclipse Award.

Zagora Named Champion Female Turf Horse

For the second year in a row, owner Martin Schwartz returned to the Eclipse Awards podium to receive a trophy in the female grass horse category, thanks to Zagora.

Forestry to Shuttle to Peru

Forestry, sire of 2012 Eclipse Award finalist Shackleford, will shuttle to Claudio Pizarro's Haras El Catorce in Peru.

Gainesway Buys Mares for New Stallions

Antony Beck of Gainesway, which stands new stallions To Honor and Serve and Tapizar, has been shopping at both the Keeneland November breeding stock sale and the Keeneland January horses of all ages sale for mares.

Slideshow: Progeny of Speightstown

Trainers comment on the offspring of Speightstown they have raced. Read the full feature in the Jan. 12, 2013, issue of The Blood-Horse.

view slideshow

Shackleford Connections Buying Mares at Sale

Mike Lauffer, who bred and raced Shackleford in partnership with Bill Cubbedge, said the partners are looking for mares at the Keeneland sale to mate to the 2011 Preakness winner.