Stephanie's Kitten Comes Back a Winner

Stephanie's Kitten came back of the layup and got the job done May 4 in the Distaff Turf Mile (gr. IIT) at Churchill Downs. Hungry Island, winner of the same race in 2012, was second by a neck.

Marketing Mix Returns in Distaff Turf Mile

Marketing Mix was made the 5-2 morning-line favorite for her 2013 debut, the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (presented by Longines) (gr. IIT) on the Derby Day undercard. Hungry Island, last year's winner, returns.

Acting Naughty Prevails in Whimsical Suprise

Acting Naughty had her consistency rewarded with her first stakes victory in the $149,689 Whimsical (Can-III) at Woodbine April 28, coming from off the pace in her seasonal debut.

Northern Passion Starts Season in Whimsical

Absent since a runner-up effort in last spring's Woodbine Oaks Presented by Budweiser, Northern Passion returns in the $150,000 Whimsical Stakes (Can-III) April 28, the first graded stakes of the 2013 season at Woodbine.

On Fire Baby Scorches Apple Blossom Foes

Anita Cauley's On Fire Baby hadn't raced since May 28 of last year. She came back with a vengeance April 12, holding off Tiz Miz Sue to win the $500,000 Apple Blossom Handicap (gr. I) at Oaklawn by half a length.

KY Oaks Contenders Arrive at Churchill

Gulfstream Oaks (gr. II)winner Dreaming of Julia and undefeated Unlimited Budget arrived April 8 at 6:50 p.m. EDT at Churchill Downs, where they will continue their preparations for the May 3 Kentucky Oaks (gr. I).

Grace Hall Demands Attention in Apple Blossom

Grade I winner Grace Hall, seeking her first win of the 2013 campaign, will face six opponents in the $500,000 Apple Blossom Handicap (gr. I) April 12 at Oaklawn Park as the 118-pound top weight.

BC Juvenile Fillies Star Twilight Ridge Dies

Twilight Ridge, winner of the 1985 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I), died April 2 at Mike Rutherford's Manchester Farm. At 30, she was the oldest living Breeders' Cup victress.

After the Wire - 3/17/2013

Evan Hammonds examines the Rebel Stakes and Azeri Stakes.

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Tiz Miz Sue Upsets Azeri Again

Tiz Miz Sue upset the Azeri Stakes (gr. III) at Oaklawn Park last year at odds of 8-1, and this season she did it again. The Cresran homebred ran down top contenders My Miss Aurelia and Don't Tell Sophia to get the job done.

Joyful Victory Chases Grade I in 'Margarita

Joyful Victory, shipping to Southern California from New Orleans, has a golden opportunity to secure her first grade I victory in the $300,000 Santa Margarita Invitational Stakes March 16 at Santa Anita Park.

My Miss Aurelia Opens 2013 Season in Azeri

Champion juvenile filly of 2011 My Miss Aurelia is scheduled to begin her 4-year-old season in the $150,000 Azeri Stakes (gr. III) March 16 at Oaklawn Park.

Champ Royal Delta Cruises in Sabin Comeback

Looking more powerful than ever, two-time champion Royal Delta tuned up for a possible return trip to the Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) with an easy five-length victory in the $98,000 Sabin Stakes (gr. III) Feb. 17 at Gulfstream.

Royal Delta Takes on Four Rivals in Sabin

Few want anything to do with Besilu Stable's 5-year-old champion Royal Delta as she preps for a start in the $10 million Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) Feb. 17 at Gulfstream Park.

Godolphin Racing's Champion Questing Retired

Godolphin Racing's Questing, the champion 3-year-old filly of 2012, has been retired and will be bred this year to Darley stallion Bernardini.

Old Tune Shows Affinity for New Surroundings

Making her first start outside her native Brazil, Stud TNT's Old Tune showed an affinity for her new surroundings when she won the $150,000 Endeavor Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Tampa Bay Downs Feb. 2.

Good, Good Night for Fink

Higher-energy Eclipse Award ceremony Jan. 19 honors longtime owner/breeder Morton Fink with three trophies. Godolphin/Darley also picks up three awards.

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.

Questing Named Champion 3-Year-Old Filly

Questing's amazing brilliance during the summer did not escape the Eclipse voters, despite her seemingly late-season decline and the return to top form by last year's 2-year-old filly champ My Miss Aurelia.

Tight Battle for 3-Year-Old Filly Eclipse

Questing and My Miss Aurelia have both made a good case for championship honors.

Marshua's River: Heavenly Landing on Defense

Defending winner Heavenly Landing takes on nine older fillies and mares Jan. 5 in the $100,000 Marshua's River Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Gulfstream Park, including Team Block's highly consistent Leading Astray.

Book Review Beats Tough La Brea Foes

Gary and Mary West's homebred Book Review found California to her liking Dec. 26, when she got up over tough contender Reneesgotzip and 2011 2-year-old champion My Miss Aurelia in the $300,000 La Brea Stakes.

La Brea: My Miss Aurelia Can Nail Down Title

In spite of her abbreviated campaign, My Miss Aurelia can likely wrap up an Eclipse Award as the nation's leading 3-year-old filly with a win in the $300,000 La Brea Stakes (gr. I) on opening day at Santa Anita Dec. 26.

My Miss Aurelia Works Half-Mile for La Brea

Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic runner-up My Miss Aurelia worked a half mile in :48 3/5 on Santa Anita's fast main track on the morning of Dec. 20 in preparation for next week's La Brea Stakes (gr. I) at seven furlongs.

Stopshoppingmaria Returns With Gulfstream Win

Stopshoppingmaria, making just her third start since finishing second in the 2011 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (gr. IIT), won the allowance feature on the grass at Gulfstream Park Dec. 14.