Contessa on Rydilluc: He's One Bad Hombre

"If horses could talk, what a job this would be," said one Gary Contessa, enjoying a bountiful breakfast at Keeneland. "I'd ask that sunofagun right now, 'Do you like that track as much as you like the grass?"

Mervin Muniz 'Cap is Optimizer's to Lose

Optimizer has been a different horse since he moved to the grass, and streaks into the March 30 Mervin H. Muniz Jr. Memorial Handicap at Fair Grounds with two graded stakes scores under his girth.

Rydilluc Breezes Into Classic Contention

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter
Although he was unplaced in his only dirt start, on the score of pedigree, one wouldn't have many concerns about Rydilluc handling synthetic or dirt surfaces.

Contessa Mulls Options After Rydilluc Cruises

Watching his Rydilluc dominate a group of 3-year-old turf runners in his stakes debut in the $150,000 Palm Beach (gr. IIIT) March 3 at Gulfstream Park, trainer Gary Contessa may have come to a conclusion.

Grassy Palm Beach Could Lead to Derby Trail

Though the race is on the grass, the $150,000 Palm Beach Stakes (gr. IIIT) for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles March 3 at Gulfstream Park has the potential to serve as a springboard to the Triple Crown trail.

Balance the Books Out of Palm Beach Stakes

Promising 3-year-old Balance the Books will not be making his seasonal debut in the $150,000 Palm Beach Stakes (gr. IIIT) March 3 after missing some training time to a recent fever.

Dewey Square, Bambazonki Drill for Palm Beach

Promising 3-year-olds Dewey Square and Bambazonki each worked five furlongs at Gulfstream Park Feb. 24 in preparation for the upcoming Palm Beach Stakes (gr. IIIT) at 1 1/8 miles on turf.

Optimizer Handles Soft Fair Grounds 'Cap Lawn

Optimizer hopped at the break of the $150,000 Fair Grounds Handicap (gr. IIIT) but drew clear in the end, earning his second straight victory over the turf at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots Feb. 23.

Romans Sets Plans for Dewey Square, Others

Eclipse Award-winning trainer Dale Romans said his Siena Farm 3-year-olds will both make their next starts at Gulfstream Park; he has yet to determine an exact target in Dubai for Breeders' Cup Turf winner Little Mike.

Optimizer Wins E.R. Bradley for Red-Hot Lukas

Optimizer went wire-to-wire in the $125,000 Col. E.R. Bradley Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots Jan. 26 for red-hot Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas, who has won three stakes races in eight days.

First Foal by Paddy O'Prado is a Colt

Paddy O'Prado's first reported foal is a chestnut colt born Jan. 13 at B. Wayne Hughes' Spendthrift Farm near Lexington.

Forte Dei Marmi Formidable Foe in McKnight

Coming off a splendid three-race campaign at Woodbine, Forte Dei Marmi looks to wrap up the year on a winning note in the $150,000 W. L. McKnight Handicap (gr. IIT) at Calder Casino & Race Course Nov. 24.

Turbo Compressor Goes Long in Sword Dancer

Turbo Compressor goes after the biggest score of his career Aug. 18 when he heads a field of nine in the 38th running of the $600,000 Sword Dancer Invitational (gr. IT) at Saratoga Race Course.

Point of Entry Gets First GI in Man o' War

Point of Entry built a 3-race win streak in the $600,000 Man o' War Stakes (gr. IT) at Belmont Park July 14, drawing off to a solid 3 1/2-length victory while 4-5 favorite Treasure Beach failed to hit the board.

O'Brien Sends Treasure Beach After Man o' War

f Americans are going to have any chance against the mighty Europeans in this year's Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT), they're going to have to show what they're made of. They can start July 14 in the $600,000 Man o' War Stakes.

Dullahan Looks To Turn Tables On 'Another'

Dullahan, rested after his third-place showing in the Kentucky Derby, will be seeking vindication when he tackles I'll Have Another in the Belmont Stakes for Jerry Crawford's Donegal Racing partnership.

Grade II Winner Dean's Kitten Retired

Dean's Kitten, a grade II winner and a stakes winner all three years he raced, has been retired from racing after suffering a bowed tendon while being prepared for his 5-year-old debut.

Paddy O'Prado Back at Spendthrift

Grade I winner Paddy O'Prado is back at B. Wayne Hughes' Spendthrift Farm near Lexington following colic surgery May 11 at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute near Lexington.

Paddy O'Prado Recovering from Colic Surgery

The son of El Prado is expected to recover fully from a twist in his large colon.

Dullahan in Maintenance Work at Churchill

Donegal Racing's Dullahan turned in what trainer Dale Romans called a maintenance work at Churchill Downs April 28, going five furlongs in 1:01 1/5.

Simmard, Newsdad Meet Again in Pan American

Simmard and Newsdad, separated by only a nose in the recent Mac Diarmida (gr. IIT), will battle it out once again in the $150,000 Pan American (gr. IIT) March 24 at Gulfstream Park.

Howe Great Shows He'll Rate in Palm Beach Win

Howe Great, a turf horse for now, held off Dullahan by one length to win the $150,000 Palm Beach Stakes (gr. IIIT) as the 3-5 favorite on the Gulfstream Park lawn March 11.

Palm Beach: How Great Is Dullahan?

Paddy O'Prado won the grade III Palm Beach Stakes in 2010, but last year Joes Blazing Aaron came away with the win. He went on to finish sixth in the grade I Toyota Blue Grass and has lost seven straight races.

Dullahan Using Palm Beach as First Derby Prep

Like the 2010 Kentucky Derby third-place finisher Paddy O'Prado, Dullahan will begin his Triple Crown quest on the turf March 11 in the $150,000 Palm Beach Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Gulfstream.

Triple Crown Talk: Don't Sleep on Romans

As witnessed time and time again, the trainer pops with 3YOs when least expected

read blog