Allen Poindexter's homebred Chanel's Legacy has dominated in Oaklawn's Dixie Belle and Martha Washington stakes. The 3-year-old filly takes the next logical step March 11 in the $200,000 Honeybee Stakes (G3) in Hot Springs, Ark.
Some patient handling by trainer Scooter Dickey and an explosive late kick urged on by jockey Joe Bravo allowed Flatlined to earn the first graded stakes win of his career Jan. 14 in the $200,000 Ft. Lauderdale (G2T) at Gulfstream Park.
Each week BloodHorse.com looks forward to the weekend's biggest races. This week, we have a trio of graded stakes at Gulfstream Park Saturday, Oaklawn Park's first Triple Crown prep, and more.
With his 5-year-old campaign scheduled to get underway in the Jan. 14 Ft. Lauderdale (G2T), Divisidero is positioned to set off a domino effect for Gunpowder Farms, which also has Breaking Lucky slated to start in the Pegasus World Cup (G1) Jan. 18.
As was the case last Saturday, the graded-stakes action is on either side of the Divided States of America, at Gulfstream Park and Santa Anita Park.
Grade 1 winner Divisidero looks to regain his top-class form when he heads a field of 12 entrants for the 1 1/16-mile Ft. Lauderdale (G2T) at Gulfstream Park Jan. 14.
Calumet Farm will introduce four new stallions in 2017, led by 2015 champion turf male Big Blue Kitten.
The homebred son of Kitten's Joy ran first for Ken and Sarah Ramsey, then was acquired by Calumet Farm at the end of his championship year and made three starts for that outfit in 2016. He will stand at Calumet.
Wake Forest, Big Blue Kitten, and The Pizza Man all have to prove they can regain past form when they square off against solid runners Danish Dynaformer and World Approval in 12-furlong turf test at Woodbine
Trainer Chad Brown said 2015 champion turf male Big Blue Kitten has developed a foot abscess and will miss the Aug. 13 Arlington Million (gr. IT), a race in which he ran second last year.
Spendthrift Farm freshman sire Dominus sired his first winner from his first starter when the filly P Boo reported home first by 4 1/4 lengths in a $28,000 maiden special weight race at Evangeline Downs.
After finishing one-two last year, the Chad Brown-trained duo of Slumber and Big Blue Kitten will aim for more success in those familiar conditions June 11 in the $1 million Knob Creek Manhattan Stakes (gr. IT) on the inner turf at Belmont.
Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s management won its race against Mother Nature June 6, completing the second under tack show workout session for the June 2-year-olds in training and horses of racing age sale before heavy rainfall and thunderstorms.
Big Blue Kitten, the champion older turf male of 2015, headlines a field of 13 for the 29th running of the $500,000 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (gr. IT) May 7 at Churchill Downs.
The Mike Venezia Memorial Award is presented each year to a jockey who demonstrates the extraordinary sportsmanship and citizenship that defined its namesake, who won over 2,300 races.
The consistent Big Blue Kitten won three of his six 2015 starts and never finished worse than third while racing almost exclusively in grade I company in earning champion turf male honors.
Terry Hamilton's Heart to Heart began 2016 the way his 2015 season ended -- with a victory in a graded stakes, this time the $200,000 Ft. Lauderdale (gr. IIT) for 4-year-olds and up Jan. 9 at Gulfstream Park.
Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey have won the fifth annual John Deere Award as outstanding breeders of the 2015 Breeders' Cup Challenge Series and the Breeders' Cup World Championships.
After a fourth-place finish in the TwinSpires Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint this year, 2014 winner Bobby's Kitten will be campaigned in Europe in 2016 before returning home for another crack at the Turf Sprint at Santa Anita.
Multiple graded stakes winner Pants On Fire will stand his initial season at stud for $5,000 next year at Glenn and Becky Brok's Diamond B Farm near Mohrsville, Pa.
Leading turf sire Kitten's Joy will stand for a fee of $100,000 for the third straight year in 2016, Ramsey Farm announced Nov. 5.
The 3-year-old filly Found, second to Golden Horn in the Irish Champion Stakes (Ire-I), turned the tables on the 3-year-old colt to take the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) Oct. 31 at Keeneland.
Chad Brown's success has been synonymous with the Breeders' Cup since he handled saddling Ginger Punch to victory in the 2007 Distaff as an assistant trainer. That success has continued unabated.
Rejuvenated from a six-month winter/spring Florida vacation, The Pizza Man has come back remarkably strong this season and is now on-track to face Europe's best runner in the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT).
Ken and Sarah Ramsey's couplet in the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) could determine whether heavily favored Golden Horn runs away the winner's share of $3 million as is expected.
| Horse | Trainer | Breeder / Owner |
|---|---|---|
| Big Blue Kitten | Chad C. Brown |
|
| Dominus | Todd A. Pletcher |
|
| Empire Builder | Jose Garoffalo |
|
| Fifty Proof | Ian Black |
|
| Hollinger | Roger L. Attfield |
|
| Mucho Mas Macho | Niall Saville |
|
| Nikki's Sandcastle | David C. Kassen |
|
| Pants On Fire | Kelly J. Breen |
|
| Quick Wit | Dale L. Romans |
|
| Sky Blazer | Barclay Tagg |
|
| Tiz Sardonic Joe | Marvin A. Johnson |
|
| Vertiformer | Christophe Clement |
|
| Race | Track | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Bashford Manor S. (G3) | CD | |
| Debutante S. | CD | |
| Kelly's Landing Overnight S. | CD | |
| Petticoat S. | ALB | |
| Daniel Stearns Cleveland Gold Cup S. | TDN |
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