Three participants in this year's Breeders' Cup World Championships â€" Diamondrella, Lethal Heat, and Magical Fantasy -- were scheduled to be offered at the Nov. 10 Fasig-Tipton November select mixed sale in Lexington as of Nov. 9. Grade I winner Diamondrella finished 11th in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint; grade II winner Lethal Heat was seventh in the Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic (gr. I); and grade I winner Magical Fantasy finished fifth in the Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT).
Monday, November 09, 2009
California Flag, a Cal-bred son of Avenue of Flags and the local favorite, claimed a decisive victory in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. The final time of 1:11.28 was a Breeders' Cup World Championships record. In second was Gotta Have Her, who also had a win at the race distance of 6 1/2 furlongs on the Santa Anita turf.
Saturday, November 07, 2009
Lethal Heat has attracted attention more for trainer Barry Abrams' assertion that he wanted to run her in two Breeders' Cup races on consecutive days than for her ability. But Madeline Auerbach, who bred and owns the filly in partnership, says that Lethal Heat is fit, happy, and ready to run a big race in the Nov. 6 Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic (gr. I).
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
Godolphin's Music Note was third in the Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic last year. Careless Jewel, second choice at 2-1, is on the rail.
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
The Breeder's Cup World Championships experienced its first defections Nov. 2 with the withdrawal of three horses from consideration. They are Kodiak Kowboy, Allicansayis Wow, and Dave in Dixie.
Monday, November 02, 2009
Rachel Alexandra isn't coming and Zenyatta is leaning to the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I). However, anyone who believes that doesn't leave much for the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic (gr. I) needs to think again.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Favored Gotta Have Her proved her superiority over Santa Anita's hillside turf course once again Saturday when the versatile mare slipped through an opening at the rail approaching mid-stretch and drew off to win Oak Tree's $100,000 Sen. Ken Maddy Handicap (gr. IIIT).
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Gotta Have Her, three-for-three on Santa Anita's hillside turf course and coming off a gritty win in Del Mar's Palomar Handicap (gr. IIT) in her last start, looms as the one to beat in Oak Tree's $100,000 Sen. Ken Maddy Handicap (gr. IIIT) Oct. 17.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Barry Abrams plans an unprecedented first when the Oak Tree Racing Association hosts the Breeders' Cup World Championships at Santa Anita on Nov. 6 and 7.
Monday, October 12, 2009
As professional as ever, undefeated Zenyatta equaled Personal Ensign's 13-race winning streak to begin her career, sweeping past the pacesetters in upper stretch to capture Oak Tree's $300,000 Lady's Secret Stakes (gr. I) at Santa Anita in characteristic fashion Oct. 10.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Undefeated Zenyatta attempts to equal Personal Ensign's streak of 13 consecutive wins when she goes to the post in Oak Tree's $300,000 Lady's Secret Stakes (gr. I) as the heavy favorite Oct. 10 at Santa Anita.
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
Cowboy Cal returns to Santa Anita for trainer Todd Pletcher, looking to get back on the winning track in the $150,000 Oak Tree Mile Stakes (gr. IIT) at Santa Anita Oct. 10.
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
Bold Chieftain became the first two-time winner of the 20-year-old California Cup Classic and went over $1 million in career earnings in a bittersweet victory at Oak Tree's Santa Anita meeting Oct. 3. Grazen, the 4-5 favorite, led the $196,000 race by one length in the final furlong but pulled up in distress and was removed from the course by van.
Saturday, October 03, 2009
Even-money morning-line favorite Grazen drew post position 3 for the $200,000 California Cup Classic presented by City National Bank at the draw breakfast Sept. 30.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
She finished second in last year's Palomar Handicap (gr. IIT), but Gotta Have Her would not be denied this time around, rallying in the stretch to edge pacesetter Lethal Heat by a neck in the $200,000 feature on closing day of Del Mar's 2009 meet Sept. 9.
Wednesday, September 09, 2009
The 4-year-old fillies Allicansayis Wow and Lethal Heat, second and third respectively against males in the Del Mar Mile Handicap (gr. IIT) late last month, are back with their own sex in a contentious renewal of the Palomar Handicap (gr. IIT) on closing day at Del Mar Sept. 9.
Sunday, September 06, 2009
After a couple of close tries earlier this year, trainer Ben Cecil warned that Ferneley would win a big race before all was said and done. That day came Aug. 29 when the Irish-bred 5-year-old swept past his tiring rivals to score a 1 1/2-length win in the $238,000 Del Mar Mile (gr. IIT).
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Monterey Jazz gets back to his favorite distance and is reunited with former jockey David Flores for the $300,000 Del Mar Mile (gr. IIT) Aug. 29.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Magical Fantasy earned her third consecutive graded stakes score by coming from off the pace to win the $350,000 John C. Mabee (gr. IT) under Alex Solis Aug. 16 at Del Mar.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Tuscan Evening has taken tremendous strides in going from a maiden to a graded stakes winner in just one season, but the 4-year-old filly will now get her stiffest test yet when she faces a solid field of fillies and mares that includes multiple grade I winner Magical Fantasy in the $350,000 John C. Mabee Stakes (gr. IT).
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Unbeaten Zenyatta remained perfect in 12 starts, but she had her closest call yet in Del Mar's Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (gr. I) Aug. 9. Forced to circle the field six wide on the turn behind a slow pace, the giant mare just managed to get up by a head over Anabaa's Creation.
Sunday, August 09, 2009
She's beaten most of them before, but undefeated Zenyatta won't be lonely in the starting gate when she defends her title in the $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (gr. I) at Del Mar on Aug. 9.
Thursday, August 06, 2009
The undefeated champion Zenyatta sent a clear message to any of her prospective foes in the $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (gr. I) on Aug. 9 with a scintillating five-furlong breeze in 1 minute flat on Del Mar's main track Aug 2.
Sunday, August 02, 2009
Well Armed makes his first start since his record 14-length romp in the Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) when he takes on eight rivals in the $250,000 San Diego Handicap (gr. II) at Del Mar Aug. 2.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Dual graded stakes winner Lethal Heat, who set seven-furlong track records in consecutive races at Del Mar last season, continues what her connections hope will end with an appearance in the $1 million Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (gr. I) later this year when she returns in an allowance race July 25 on opening weekend of the Del Mar meeting.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Tuscan Evening had the pacesetting Patricia's Gem in her sights all the way, finally edging past her in the final 50 yards and winning a sprint to the wire by a nose in the $250,000 Royal Heroine Mile (gr. IIT) on the Hollywood Park turf July 11.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Tuscan Evening, winner of four of five starts this year since being transferred to trainer Jerry Hollendorfer from the British Isles by owner William de Burgh, goes for her first graded win in the $250,000 Royal Heroine Mile (gr. IIT) July 11 at Hollywood Park.
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
A 129-pound impost wasn't enough to stop the undefeated champion Zenyatta, who earned a repeat win in the Vanity Handicap (gr. I) at Hollywood Park June 27 for her 11th consecutive victory.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Unbeaten champion Zenyatta will break from the far outside in the $300,000 Vanity Handicap (gr. I) at Hollywood Park June 27 as she goes after her 11th consecutive triumph. The strapping 5-year-old mare will carry 129 pounds and will spot her seven rivals from 13 to 18 pounds.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Magical Fantasy, winner of the Santa Barbara Handicap (gr. IIT) at Santa Anita last month, and Black Mamba, who came up a nose shy in a desperate stretch drive, will battle again in the $250,000 Gamely Stakes (gr. IT) on the Hollywood Park turf May 30.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Though it was her first start in seven months, undefeated Zenyatta's 10th consecutive win proved to be no more difficult than any of her earlier victories. In disposing of her top-notch stablemate, Life Is Sweet, the 5-year-old daughter of Street Cry rolled to an easy 1 3/4-length win in the $150,000 Milady Handicap (gr. II) at Hollywood Park May 23.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
