Odds-on choice Coalport, shipping from Florida for Ken and Sarah Ramsey and trainer Mike Maker, dominated the $200,000 John Connally Turf Cup (gr. IIIT) Jan. 24 at Sam Houston Race Park for his first graded stakes victory.
Daddy's Kid could be the class play as he takes on eight opponents in the $200,00 John B. Connally Turf Cup (gr. IIIT) at Sam Houston Race Park the night of Jan. 24. Also on the bill is the $400,000 Houston Ladies Classic.
Aptly named Lawn Ranger raced into Breeders' Cup contention when he surged to the lead at the top of the stretch and drove relentlessly to the wire to win the $250,000 Dixiana Bourbon Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Keeneland Oct. 5.
Looking for a repeat victory, grade I winner Obviously will battle the likes of Winning Prize, Silentio, and Chips All In in the American Stakes, to be contested for the first time on the Santa Anita Park turf May 17.
Skyring snapped a seven-race losing streak dating back to last year's Dixie Stakes (gr. IIT) when he delivered a front-running victory in the Mervin H. Muniz Jr. Handicap (gr. IIT) March 29 at Fair Grounds.
A field of only six was drawn for the Mervin H. Muniz Jr. Handicap (gr. IIT) at Fair Grounds March 29, with one of the notables, Amira's Prince, also entered in the Pan American (gr. IIT) at Gulfstream Park the same day.
William Shively's Dixiana Farm of Lexington has become the signature sponsor of two turf stakes at Keeneland Racecourse -- the Elkhorn (gr. IIT) that will be run April 25 and the Oct. 5 Bourbon (gr. IIIT).
A patient ride from jockey Juan Vargas and a grinding late run brought Potomac River to the winner's circle at the end of the 1 1/8-mile turf event Nov. 23 at Churchill Downs, trainer Sergio Baez's first graded stakes score.
Cathy and Bob Zollars' Daddy Nose Best will attempt to notch his fourth consecutive victory when facing a full field of 13 other rivals in the Nov. 23 River City Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Churchill Downs.
Gary and Mary West's Poker Player has a shot at the big money Nov. 1 at Santa Anita in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (gr. IT).
The Breeders' Cup will reinstate entry fee benefits to the winners of Challenge races that lost their designation when the events came off the turf at Keeneland, but they will not receive an automatic starting position.
A damp first weekend didn't seem to greatly impact the proceedings at Keeneland. watch photo
The American Graded Stakes Committee said it has left intact the original grades of two off-the-turf stakes at Keeneland the weekend of Oct. 5-6.
Gary and Mary West's Poker Player unleashed a huge move in mid-stretch to collar the leaders for an impressive victory in the off-the-turf Bourbon Stakes at a water-sogged Keeneland Race Course Oct. 6.
With Anticipation Stakes (gr. IIT) winner Bashart tops a field of 12 juveniles entered for the $150,000 Bourbon Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Keeneland Oct. 6.
Favored Temeraine, given a rail-skimming trip by Hall of Fame rider Gary Stevens, slipped through for a neck victory in the $399,000 Kentucky Turf Cup (gr. IIIT) on a stakes-filled afternoon at Kentucky Downs Sept. 14.
Donegal Racing's multiple grade I winner Dullahan takes on two-time Arlington Handicap (gr. IIIT) victor Rahystrada in the July 13 renewal of the 1 1/4-mile turf event at Arlington Park.
Grade III winner Rogue Romance, who has not raced since the 2012 Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I), registered his first work in more than a year on July 9 when he went three furlongs at Mercury Equine Center near Lexington.
Slim Shadey returns to his favorite distance of 10 furlongs as the 122-pound highweight in the $200,000 Charles Whittingham Memorial Handicap (gr. IIT) on the turf June 8 at Betfair Hollywood Park.
Thirty-three years after his first victory in the San Juan Capistrano Handicap (gr. IIT), Hall of Fame trainer Ron McAnally did it again April 21 with late-running Interaction on closing day of the Santa Anita Park meet.
Sky Kingdom showed his staying ability with an easy win in the Tokyo City Cup last month, so now's the time to find out if he can transfer that same success to the turf in the $150,000 San Juan Capistrano Handicap April 21.
Newsdad, Ioya Bigtime, and Twilight Eclipse will shake it up Feb. 16 in the $150,000 Mac Diarmida Stakes (gr. II) at Gulfstream Park, while Starformer and Closing Range tangle in the $100,000 Very One (gr. III).
Several 3-year-old colts will try to break through in the $150,000 Sir Beaufort Stakes (gr. IIT) Dec. 26 at Santa Anita Park, opening day at the Arcadia, Calif. track.
Unbridled Command, making his first appearance outside of New York, stepped into grade I company with an impressive victory in the $250,000 Hollywood Derby, the final race of the 2012 Turf Festival Nov. 25.
Fifteen 3-year-olds, including Travers Stakes (gr. I) dead-heat winner Golden Ticket, are entered in the $250,000 Hollywood Derby (gr. IT) Nov. 25 at Betfair Hollywood Park.
| Horse | Trainer | Breeder / Owner |
|---|---|---|
| Animal Spirits | Albert M. Stall, Jr. |
|
| Burn the Mortgage | Michael J. Maker |
|
| Chalybeate Springs | D. Wayne Lukas |
|
| Coalport | Michael J. Maker |
|
| Curfew Tower | Eric R. Reed |
|
| Downtown Driggs | Paul McEntee |
|
| Gold Megillah | Steven M. Asmussen |
|
| Here Comes Frazier | Kenneth G. McPeek |
|
| Lucky Chappy (IRE) | H. Graham Motion |
|
| Monastic | Thomas F. Proctor |
|
| Personal Interest | Juan D. Arias |
|
| Smart Ellis | Richard E. Mandella |
|
| Splendiferous | Victor Arceneaux |
|
| Race | Track | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Azalea S. | DED | |
| Islamorada H. | GP | |
| Downthedustyroad Breeders' S. | OP | |
| Mt. Cristo Rey H. | SUN |
