Unlimited Budget May Take on Boys in Belmont

After bypassing the Preakness, trainer Todd Pletcher has a deep group of possible contenders for the Belmont Stakes, including Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) third-place finisher Unlimited Budget.

Pedigree Analysis: Appreciation Comes Late

by John P. Sparkman
Despite admirable objective accomplishments, some very good sires like Dixie Union seem fated not to be fully appreciated within their lifetimes.

Wise Dan Pours It On in Woodford Reserve Win

Horse of the Year Wise Dan ran his winning streak to six races and surpassed $4 million in career earnings handily in the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (gr. IT) over yielding ground May 4 at Churchill Downs.

Wise Dan Takes on Point of Entry in Woodford

Wise Dan and Point of Entry face off May 4 at Churchill Downs in the $500,000 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (gr. IT), the race immediately preceding the Kentucky Derby (gr. I).

Swagger Jack Wins Vs. Crack Carter Cast

Silverton Hill's Swagger Jack rallies to win the seven-furlong Carter Handicap (gr. I) at Aqueduct. The son of Smart Strike gets the trip in 1:21.44.

Howe Great Wins at Keeneland; Turallure 6th

Howe Great, the 2012 Palm Beach Stakes (gr. IIIT) victor whose last win came in the July 21 Jersey Derby at Monmouth, took a strong Keeneland allowance race April 6 in which 2011 Woodbine Mile winner Turallure ran sixth.

Turallure Enters Salty Keeneland Allowance

Trainer Charlie LoPresti has the somewhat enviable if daunting task of bringing several top-level horses back off the bench this spring at Keeneland, including 2011 Ricoh Woodbine Mile (gr. IT) winner Turallure.

Hollendorfer Spots Sahara Sky in Carter 'Cap

Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer threatens to have grade I winners on both coasts April 6 as he ships Sahara Sky to Aqueduct Racetrack for the $400,000 Carter Handicap (gr. I).

Verrazano, Normandy Invasion Post Sharp Works

Verrazano and Normandy Invasion, leading contenders for the upcoming $1 million Wood Memorial (gr. I), both posted bullet moves March 31 at Palm Meadows Training Center.

Twilight Eclipse Wins Pan Am in World Record

Twilight Eclipse ruined the return of favored Newsdad while establishing a new world record for 1 1/2 miles on turf in the $150,000 Pan American Handicap (gr. IIT) March 23 at Gulfstream Park.

Intriguing Group Lines Up for Pan American

Four runners from the Feb. 16 Mac Diarmida Stakes, headed by Resolute Group Stables' second-place finisher Teaks North, are among 10 entered to contest the $150,000 Pan American Stakes (gr. IIT) March 23 at Gulfstream Park.

Slideshow: Progeny of Arch

View Arch and several of his progeny who have had careers on the race track. View this feature in the March 23, 2013 issue of The Blood-Horse.

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Verrazano Tops NTRA 3YO Poll

Verrazano, impressive winner of the March 9 Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II), leaps from fourth position a week ago to top this week's NTRA's weekly 3-Year-Old poll. Game On Dude is a solid No. 1 in the national poll.

Fort Larned 'Walking Good' After Gate Stumble

Fort Larned came out of his bad stumble at the start of the Gulfstream Park Handicap (gr. II) March 9 with a grabbed quarter, but otherwise escaped further injury, trainer Ian Wilkes reported the following morning.

'Dancer Takes GP Cap as Fort Larned Stumbles

E. Paul Robsham Stables' Discreet Dancer picked up the pieces of an incident-marred running of the Gulfstream Park Handicap (gr. II) March 9, when Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) winner Fort Larned stumbled at the start.

No Major Injuries in Gulfstream Spill

Three jockeys and horses escaped major injury March 9 when they were involved in a spill during the running of the fifth race at Gulfstream Park.

Orb Sets a Course to the Classics

MAHUBAH'S CORNER
Orb is a modern representative of a long and happy association between the Janneys and the Phipps family.

Fort Larned Starts Season in Gulfstream 'Cap

Fort Larned, who has not started since his gutsy victory in the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I), will face five opponents when he makes his 5-year-old debut March 9 in the $300,000 Gulfstream Park Handicap (gr. I).

Simmard to Stand at Mill Creek in NY

Simmard, a grade II winner by Dixieland Band, will stand in 2013 at Anne Morgan and Tim Little's Mill Creek Farm near Stillwater, N.Y.

Pletcher Works Discreet Dancer, 'Bobby

Trainer Todd Pletcher had a busy Sunday morning at Palm Meadows Training Center March 3 with more than a dozen stakes runners from his powerful stable hitting the work tab for upcoming stakes engagements.

Fort Larned Assigned 124 for Gulfstream 'Cap

Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) winner Fort Larned was assigned high weight of 124 pounds for his first of 2013 in the $300,000 Gulfstream Park Handicap (gr. II) March 9 in south Florida.

Mucho Macho Man Out of Gulfstream Handicap

Defending Gulfstream Park Handicap (gr. II) winner Mucho Macho Man will miss the March 9 event because of a mild virus, owner Dean Reeves confirmed Feb. 28.

After the Wire - 2/24/2013

Evan Hammonds recaps the results of the Risen Star Stakes and Fountain of Youth Stakes.

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Violence Fractures Sesamoid, Off Derby Trail

Grade I winner Violence, among the early favorites for this year's Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), sustained a fracture to his right front medial sesamoid and is off the Triple Crown trail.

Orb Overcomes Violence in Fountain of Youth

Fast-improving Orb was golden in his stakes debut for trainer Shug McGaughey in the $400,000 Besilu Stables Fountain of Youth (gr. II), coming from off the pace to run down odds-on choice Violence for a narrow win Feb. 23.