Lukas Contenders Turn in Final Preparations

Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas sent Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) contenders Oxbow and Will Take Charge through their final pre-race moves April 29.

Believe You Can In Top Form for NOLA Ladies

Believe You Can looks to parlay a Feb. 2 tally at Fair Grounds into victory in the New Orleans Ladies Stakes March 9; Louisiana Derby winner Hero of Order will wheel back in the Duncan F. Kenner on the same day.

Ive Struck a Nerve, 135-1, Shocks Risen Star

A 135-1 shot took the Risen Star Stakes (gr. II) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots Feb. 23, Matthew W. Bryan's Ive Struck a Nerve closing late in the furlong grounds and catapulting himself onto the Derby trail.

Mark Valeski Ready for Mineshaft Rematch

After a hard-fought finish in the Louisiana Handicap, Mark Valeski and Infrattini will face off once again in the $150,000 Mineshaft Handicap (gr. III) Feb. 23 at Fair Grounds.

Believe You Can Targets New Orleans Ladies

Believe You Can is likely to make her next appearance in the March 9 New Orleans Ladies Stakes while stablemate Mark Valeski will aim for the Mineshaft Handicap, and other Larry Jones contenders are on the move.

Lukas Weighs Options for Weekend Stakes Stars

Trainer D. Wayne Lukas had an anxious moment when victorious Will Take Charge stumbled while pulling up after winning the Smarty Jones Stakes Jan. 21 at Oaklawn Park, but the Hall of Fame trainer said the colt is doing well.

After the Wire - 1/20/2013

Evan Hammonds recaps the Sunshine Millions Classic, Lecomte Stakes, and Silverbulletday Stakes.

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Oxbow in Lecomte, Silverbulletday is 'Magic'

Bluegrass Hall's Oxbow went wire-to-wire to win the $200,000 Lecomte Stakes by 11 1/2 lengths for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots Jan. 19. Earlier, Touch Magic took the Silverbulletday.

THS: LeComte Stakes

Tom LaMarra and Pete Denk handicap the Lecomte Stakes and Sunshine Millions Classic this weekend.

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Circle Unbroken Starts Season in Lecomte

Grade III winner Circle Unbroken makes his 2013 debut Jan. 19 in the $200,000 Lecomte Stakes at Fair Grounds, stretching out in distance and taking on eight other 3-year-olds including Canadian stakes winner Avie's Quality.

Claiming Crown Gets Big Gulfstream Welcome

The Claiming Crown comes to Gulfstream Park for the south Florida oval's season opener Dec. 1, and local horsemen have responded enthusiastically with 97 entrants in the seven-race series worth a total of $850,000 in purses.

Fair Grounds Meet to Open Thanksgiving Day

Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots will continue a 114-year tradition with live racing Thanksgiving Day as the 84-day 2012-13 meet will open with a 10-race holiday card Nov. 22.

Nearctic Draws Euro Fillies, Big Band Sound

Eleven runners from around the globe line up for the $500,000 Nearctic Stakes (Can-IT) at Woodbine Oct. 14. Local hero Big Band Sound is the 3-1 favorite, but 7-2 second choice Fire Lily could roll.

Shippers Invade Remington Park for OK Derby

Recent grade I winner Willy Beamin is part of a 10-horse field that includes fellow shippers Prospective and and Daddy Nose Best on the biggest day of the season at Remington Park Sept. 30.

Blueskiesnrainbows Ready for Super Derby

California-based Blueskiesnrainbows, who won the grade II Swaps Stakes in the Golden State last time out, will take on eight rivals in the Super Derby at Louisiana Downs.

Hansen Faces Nine in West Virginia Derby

The brilliant, nearly white frontrunner will find the eyes of the nation upon him Aug. 4 when he heads postward as the 3-5 morning line favorite in the $750,000 West Virginia Derby (gr. II)

Hammers Terror Nails First Mystic Lake Derby

Hammers Terror won the inaugural running of the $161,250 Mystic Lake Derby at Canterbury Park July 28 in front-running fashion, surviving a lengthy inquiry into the final stages of the one-mile turf event.

Eight Set for Canterbury's Mystic Lake Derby

Ken and Sarah Ramsey's homebred Gung Ho is the 5-2 morning line favorite for the inaugural running of the $150,000 Mystic Lake Derby July 28 at Canterbury Park.

Patrioticandproud Pours it On in Toronto Cup

Late-running Patrioticandproud took the overland route to his first stakes victory in the $148,833 Toronto Cup at Woodbine July 14.

Hansen Romps in Iowa Derby Return

Dr. Kendall Hansen and Skychai Racing's Hansen returned from a layoff in a big way with a dominant victory in the $245,000 Iowa Derby (gr. III) June 30 at Prairie Meadows.

Fair Grounds Boosts 2012-13 Stakes Purses

Fair Grounds Race Course has boosted the purses of eight open-company races on its 2012-2013 stakes schedule released June 28, marking the third straight year the average stakes purse has increased at the New Orleans oval.

Hansen Returns in Iowa Derby

Hansen, last year's champion 2-year-old male, makes his first start since a mid-pack finish in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) June 30 in Prairie Meadows' Iowa Derby (gr. III).

Speedy Silver Max Tops Arlington Classic

Two-time graded stakes winner Silver Max appears the one to collar in the $125,000 Arlington Classic, which kicks off the "Mid-America Triple" on turf for 3-year-olds at Arlington Park May 26.

Dozen 3-Year-Olds Possible for Lexington

The $200,000 Coolmore Lexington Stakes (gr. III) at Keeneland April 21 could have implications on starting berths in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) at Churchill Downs May 5.

An Unpredictable Hero of Order

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter
Louisiana Derby winner Hero of Order, a $3,000 Keeneland September yearling who has made three starts in claiming company, is by a stallion that was banished to Korea.