Pedigree: Bringing the Battle to Kentucky

Aidan O'Brien noted that Lines of Battle was sent to Dubai with the specific purpose of picking up Kentucky Derby-qualifying points offered in the race, and he earned 100 points, assuring him a spot in the starting gate.

Favorite Disposablepleasure Takes Sixty Sails

Disposablepleasure scored her second 2013 straight victory when she kicked clear in upper-stretch and prevailed by an easy 1 1/2 lengths over Brushed by a Star in the April 20 Sixty Sails Handicap (gr. III) at Hawthorne.

Doubledogdare: No Catching Ice Cream Silence

A resolute Ice Cream Silence withstood pace pressure throughout to prevail by a neck over Sisterhood for jockey Rosie Napravnik in the Hilliard Lyons Doubledogdare Stakes (gr. III) at Keeneland April 19.

Brushed By a Star is Class of Sixty Sails

Out from the shadow of rival Joyful Victory, Brushed by a Star has a chance to shine in the $200,000 Sixty Sails Handicap (gr. III) at Hawthorne Race Course April 20.

Inglorious Heads Doubledogdare at Keeneland

Donver Stable's Inglorious, winner of the 2011 Queen's Plate against males, heads a field of eight entered for the $100,000 Hilliard Lyons Doubledogdare Stakes (gr. III) April 19 at Keeneland.

On Fire Baby Scorches Apple Blossom Foes

Anita Cauley's On Fire Baby hadn't raced since May 28 of last year. She came back with a vengeance April 12, holding off Tiz Miz Sue to win the $500,000 Apple Blossom Handicap (gr. I) at Oaklawn by half a length.

Grace Hall Demands Attention in Apple Blossom

Grade I winner Grace Hall, seeking her first win of the 2013 campaign, will face six opponents in the $500,000 Apple Blossom Handicap (gr. I) April 12 at Oaklawn Park as the 118-pound top weight.

Mettee Replaces Motion as Team Valor Trainer

Team Valor International has hired Rick Mettee to train all of its North American-based racehorses, replacing Graham Motion, the partnership group announced April 5.

Starformer Tops Orchid Line-Up

Juddmonte Farms' homebred Starformer seeks her second straight stakes score at Gulfstream Park March 30, going up against nine others in the $150,000 Orchid Stakes (gr. IIIT) on the undercard of the Florida Derby (gr. I).

After the Wire - 3/17/2013

Evan Hammonds examines the Rebel Stakes and Azeri Stakes.

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Tiz Miz Sue Upsets Azeri Again

Tiz Miz Sue upset the Azeri Stakes (gr. III) at Oaklawn Park last year at odds of 8-1, and this season she did it again. The Cresran homebred ran down top contenders My Miss Aurelia and Don't Tell Sophia to get the job done.

Maker Represented by 1,000th Winner

Trainer Mike Maker was represented by his 1,000th career winner March 16 when Magical Season won the third race at Fair Grounds.

My Miss Aurelia Opens 2013 Season in Azeri

Champion juvenile filly of 2011 My Miss Aurelia is scheduled to begin her 4-year-old season in the $150,000 Azeri Stakes (gr. III) March 16 at Oaklawn Park.

Play It Again: Old Tune Wins Hillsborough

Stud TNT's Old Tune, winner of Tampa Bay Downs' Feb. 2 Endeavour Stakes (gr. IIIT), returns to win the March 9 Hillsborough Stakes (gr. IIIT) at nine furlongs. Her score is trainer Todd Pletcher's fourth Hillsborough victory.

Old Tune, Mystical Star Head Hillsborough

A strong group of 12 older fillies will contest the $150,000 Hillsborough Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Tampa Bay Downs March 9, including Endeavour Stakes (gr. IIIT) victress Old Tune and grade II winner Mystical Star.

Hobby Collects Milestone Victory at Oaklawn

Trainer Steve Hobby earned the 1,000th win of his career March 1 when Ruthless Empire easily won seventh race at Oaklawn Park, a maiden claiming event, as the 4-5 favorite under jockey Rosemary Homeister Jr.

Don't Tell Sophia Draws Off in Bayakoa

Don't Tell Sophia was a $1,000 yearling purchase in 2009. On Feb. 16 she ran them off their feet at Oaklawn Park, easily putting 6 1/2 lengths over her nearest competitor in the $98,000 Bayakoa Stakes.

Starformer Continues to Shine in The Very One

Juddmonte Farms' homebred Starformer continued to shine in the $100,000 The Very One Stakes (gr. IIIT) Feb. 16, cruising to 3 1/4-length victory as much the best over seven other older fillies and mares at Gulfstream Park.

Tiz Miz Sue Makes Season Debut in Bayakoa

One day before champion Royal Delta makes her 2013 debut in the Sabin Stakes (gr. III), a rival who gave her a run for her money returns to the races in the $100,000 Bayakoa Stakes at Oaklawn Park.

Mott Holds Hot Hand for GP Turf Stakes

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).

Texas Bling, Brown Almighty Work at Oaklawn

Southwest Stakes contenders Texas Bling and Brown Almighty were on the worktab at Oaklawn Park Feb. 9, along with Bayakoa Stakes hopefuls Tiz Miz Sue, Don't Tell Sophia, and She's All In.

In Lingerie Retired, Booked to Frankel

Juddmonte Spinster (gr. I) winner In Lingerie has been retired from racing and will be bred to two-time Cartier Horse of the Year Frankel.

Grade I Winner Summer Soiree Retired

Grade I winner Summer Soiree wrapped up her racing career by passing the $500,000 earnings plateau and adding to her grade I credentials with a third-place finish in the Matriarch Stakes (gr. IT) Nov. 25.

35-1 Better Lucky All Good in Wild Matriarch

Better Lucky gave Godolphin Racing another grade I victory when she registered a 35-1 shocker in an adventurous renewal of the $250,000 Matriarch Stakes (gr. IT) on the turf Nov. 25 at Betfair Hollywood Park.

Nefertini Too Tough for Willet in Go for Wand

Nefertini disposed of heavily favored Fantasy of Flight on the turn for home and outfought a game Willet in the final furlong to register her first graded stakes victory in the Go for Wand Handicap (gr. II) Nov. 23.