Ventura, a multiple grade I stakes winner who finished second in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (gr. I) at Santa Anita, is expected to return in Hollywood Park's $300,000 Matriarch (gr. IT) on Nov. 28.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Relive the 2009 Breeders' Cup with our collection of photo galleries.
Sunday, November 08, 2009
Informed Decision, Augustin Stable's daughter of Monarchos, rolls in the Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (gr. I). The big gray filly is now seven for seven on synthetic surfaces and improved her record at seven furlongs to 7-6-0-1.
Friday, November 06, 2009
Augustin Stable's Informed Decision faces a much-anticipated rematch with Ventura Nov. 6 in the $1-million Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at Santa Anita Park. When the two tangled back in April on Keeneland's Polytrack, Informed Decision defeated Ventura by a head in the Vinery Madison Stakes (gr. I).
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
Ventura, who will be trying to win the $1 million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint for the second consecutive year Nov. 6, was made the 8-5 morning line favorite in the Nov. 3 post position draw for the World Championships at Santa Anita Park. The Juddmonte Farms homebred, which likes to come from behind, is on the far outside in the field of nine and will be ridden by Garrett Gomez.
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
Juddmonte Farms homebred Ventura will be defending her title in the Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint Nov. 6 at Santa Anita, and she's ready to roll, according Garrette O'Rourke, who manages Juddmonte's nursery near Lexington.
Monday, November 02, 2009
Coming off a historic victory against the boys in the Sept. 20 Woodbine Mile (Can-IT), Ventura looks to be a powerful contender in the Nov. 5 Sentient Jet Filly & Mare Sprint (gr. I) as she attempts to defend her title at Santa Anita Park. But the Juddmonte Farms homebred will likely face some tough competition, as five other graded stakes-winning females were also pre-entered.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
A total of 166 horses were pre-entered Oct. 26 for the 2009 Breeders' Cup World Championships to be run Nov. 6 and 7 at Santa Anita.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Augustin Stable's Informed Decision remained perfect in four starts on the Keeneland Polytrack, as she ran down Carlsbad in the final strides to win the $250,000 Thoroughbred Club of America (gr. II) Oct. 10, in the process earning a berth into next month's Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (gr. IT).
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Augustin Stable's Informed Decision, who has nine career wins and holds Keeneland's seven-furlong track record, drew the outside post position in Saturday's 29th running of the $250,000 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes (gr. II).
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
Jason, Tom, and Les Instone from twinspires preview the Kentucky Cup Classic (gr. II), September 26 at Turfway Park.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Bear Now goes for back-to-back Kentucky Cup Distaff (gr. III) titles Sept. 26 at Turfway Park when she takes on nine rivals in the $100,000 Polytrack event for fillies and mares.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
With Rachel Alexandra, Zenyatta, and Ventura, familiar standbys like Forever Together and Music Note, and rapidly rising stars Icon Project, Careless Jewel, and Swift Temper, as well as Goldikova in Europe, this is truly a special year for fillies.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Fields are beginning to jell for the three graded stakes races that form the centerpiece of the Sept. 26 Kentucky Cup Day card at Turfway Park.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Ventura became the first female to win the Woodbine Mile (Can-IT) in 13 years when she swept past the field on the outside to post a one-length victory Sept. 20.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Jason, Evan, and James Scully of twinspires preview the Super Derby (gr. II) at Louisiana Downs. Plus picks for the Woodbine Mile.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Canadian turf champion Rahy's Attorney returns to defend his Woodbine Mile (Can-IT) crown against a strong group of turf specialists in the $1 million event Sept. 20, which includes the sharp mare Ventura and New York invader Bribon.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Juddmonte Farms' stellar 5-year-old mare Ventura will take another crack at the boys on Sept. 20 when she does battle with a probable field of 11 in the $1-million Woodbine Mile (Can-IT).
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Odds-on choice Informed Decision improved to five-for-five on synthetic tracks and cemented her position as a leading candidate for the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint when she sailed to a 2 1/2-length victory in the $398,000 Presque Isle Downs Masters (gr. III) in Erie, Pa., on the evening of Sept. 12.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Jason, Tom, and Tim Holland from twinspires preview the Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes (gr. III), which features 4 grade I winners.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Four grade I winners -- Diamondrella, Flashing, Game Face, and Informed Decision -- are part of an overflow field entered for the $400,000 Presque Isle Downs Masters (gr. III) on tap Sept. 12 in Erie, Pa.
Wednesday, September 09, 2009
Front-running Tribal Belle held off the hard-charging favorite Simply Splendid by a diminishing neck to register her first stakes score for sizzling trainer Terry Jordan in the $141,879 Seaway Stakes (Can-III) at Woodbine Sept. 5.
Saturday, September 05, 2009
Tribal Belle goes after her first stakes score in the $150,000 Seaway Stakes (Can-III) Sept. 5 at Woodbine.
Thursday, September 03, 2009
Godolphin's Music Note repelled a bid from Indian Blessing at the top of the stretch and sloshed home for a 5 1/4-length upset victory in the $300,000 Ballerina (gr. I) Aug. 29 at Saratoga.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
This time last year, Indian Blessing was the front-runner in the female sprint division and on her way to a year-end Eclipse Award. Now, the Indian Charlie filly will have to take the division's leadership role from Informed Decision, who has won five straight stakes and enters the $300,000 Ballerina (gr. I) as the one to beat.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Prohibitive choice Informed Decision shook off a pace challenge at the top of the stretch and drew off for her fifth consecutive win in $140,000 Chicago Handicap (gr. III) July 4 at Arlington Park.
Saturday, July 04, 2009
Juddmonte Farms' outstanding mare Ventura, favored against males in the $250,000 Shoemaker Mile (gr. IT) at Hollywood Park May 25, was scratched by trainer Bobby Frankel on the morning of the race due to a "foot problem," according to the track's racing office.
Monday, May 25, 2009