| Horse | Trainer | Breeder / Owner |
|---|---|---|
| Caballo Del Cielo | Steven M. Asmussen |
|
| Capo Bastone | Todd A. Pletcher |
|
| Gabriel Charles | Jeff Mullins |
|
| Heir of Storm | Peter Miller |
|
| Ive Struck a Nerve | J. Keith Desormeaux |
|
| Know More | UNKNOWN |
|
| Pure Loyalty | Mark Glatt |
|
| Rolling Fog | Bob Baffert |
|
| Scherer Magic | H. Ray Ashford, Jr. |
|
| Switch to the Lead | Lester Salzman |
|
| The Whole Deal | Steve Knapp |
|
| Yankee Rebel | Robert B. Hess, Jr. |
|
The $1.5 million Whitney (gr. I) (Aug. 2)--the richest race this summer at Saratoga Race Course--has attracted a robust field of likely starters, topped by last year's Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner, Palace Malice.
In the time that has passed since Palace Malice won the 2013 Belmont Stakes, both Kentucky Derby winner Orb and Preakness Stakes winner Oxbow have retired -- but Palice Malice is still going strong.
Maggi Moss' Delaunay faces a deep and talented field of sprinters going seven furlongs in the Churchill Downs Stakes a year after winning the race by four lengths in the slop.
Aron Wellman and Lee Midkiff have grown a fledgling partnership group into the program producing grade I winners such as In Lingerie, Byrama, Capo Bastone, and now Arkansas Derby (gr. I) victor Danza.
Todd Pletcher's deep bench of top quality runners sometimes make it difficult to gauge his accomplishments when compared to those of other trainers. But in 2013, he was in a league of his own.
A revamped Strub Stakes (gr. II), moved forward on the Santa Anita Park schedule and shortened in distance to 1 1/16 miles, features two strong entrants apiece from Hall of Fame trainers Bob Baffert and Jerry Hollendorfer.
Hollywood Park has sadly faded into the Southern California sunset, but Santa Anita Park opens for a new season Dec. 26 with a couple of extra months tagged on at the end of the meet.
Top female sprinter Groupie Doll nearly won the Cigar Mile (gr. I) a year ago. Now she's back with a new slate of rivals to contend with, including grade I winners Goldencents and Verrazano.
Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I) winner Goldencents has been assigned 120 pounds and is the high weight among the nine expected starters for the Nov. 30 $500,000 Cigar Mile Handicap (gr. I) at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Trainer Todd Pletcher's three contenders for the Cigar Mile Handicap (gr. I)--Forty Tales, Capo Bastone, and Verrazano--took to the Belmont Park training track Nov. 17 to turn in their penultimate breezes prior to the race.
Reigning champion female sprinter Groupie Doll breezed a half mile Nov. 16 on the Belmont Park training track as she prepares for her second career start against males in the Cigar Mile Handicap (gr. I) Nov. 30 at Aqueduct.
On a big day for Frank Stronach, his 3-year-old homebred colt Rookie Sensation made things a little bigger by splitting horses in the stretch to post a victory in the $152,000 Twilight Derby (gr. IIT) Nov. 1 at Santa Anita.
Brisnet.com Ultimate Guide To The Most Important Race on Breeders' Cup Friday read blog
The road to this year's Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita Park has been rewarding for Nick and Jaqui de Meric of de Meric Thoroughbred Sales.
Two of the leading contenders for the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I)--defending champion Fort Larned and Palace Malice--along with champion Wise Dan were among the last horses to arrive for World Championships.
Despite the 2012 winner, Mizdirection, returning to try for a double, a full field of 14 entered the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (gr. IT) Nov. 2. Mizdirection, who won last year from post 11, drew the 12 hole this time around.
Although he enters this year's Breeders' Cup off a victory in one of North America's top dirt sprint races, the connections of Capo Bastone are leaning toward a start in the Geico Turf Sprint (gr. I).
Let's Go Stable and Coolmore partners' Verrazano worked a bullet five furlongs in 1:01.08 Oct. 12 on the dirt training track at Belmont Park, gearing up for the Nov. 1 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I) at Santa Anita Park.
MAHUBAH'S CORNER
Times Two is the 5th dam of both King's Bishop winner Capo Bastone and Travers winner Will Take Charge.
California-bred Tamarando rallied from well off the pace to capture the Del Mar Futurity (gr. I) for 2-year-olds on the Polytrack at Del Mar Sept. 4.
Labor Day weekend was overflowing with great races, see images here! view slideshow
Gabriel Charles and Ethnic Dance used different tactics to get there, but both were winners in separate divisions of the $250,000 Del Mar Derby (gr. IIT) Sept. 1.
Best Pal Stakes (gr. II) winner Alberts Hope heads a field of 11 juveniles in the $300,000 Del Mar Futurity (gr. I) on Sept. 4, closing day of the 2013 summer stand at the Southern California track.
Named for Racing Hall of Fame trainer H. Allen Jerkens, the Saratoga championship will be the fourth in a row and ninth in 12 years for Pletcher, who first won in 1998.
With two dozen 3-year-olds overflowing the entry box, the $250,000 Del Mar Derby (gr. IIT) was split into two divisions to be contested on the turf Sept. 1.
| Race | Date |
|---|---|
| Bing Crosby S. (gr. I) | |
| California Dreamin' H. | |
| Race 4 (AOC) at DMR on 7/27/14 | |
| Race 9 (AOC) at DMR on 7/27/14 | |
| Race 7 (MSW) at DMR on 7/27/14 |
| Race | Track |
|---|---|
| Del Mar Futurity (gr. I) | DMR |
| Oak Tree Juvenile Turf S. | DMR |
| Jameela S. | LRL |
| Pirate's Bounty S. | DMR |
| C.E.R.F. S. | DMR |
| Race | Track | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation S. | DMR | 7/30 |
| Real Good Deal S. | DMR | 8/1 |
