Lea left no doubts he's back, posting an impressive 1/2-length victory over Confrontation to take the $150,000 Hal's Hope Stakes (gr. III) at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 10. It was his second Hal's Hope score.
J. Keeler Johnson handicaps the Clark Handicap (gr. I) at Churchill Downs. read blog
Bouncing back from a ninth-place finish in last month's Raven Run Stakes (gr. II), eastern invader Cassatt led at every call while drawing off in the final furlong for an emphatic win in the $309,000 Zia Park Oaks Nov. 26.
Claire Novak and Tom LaMarra look at the Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs Friday. Watch Video
Many count the two top 3-year-olds in the field of nine among those who could have made some noise before heading to the sidelines earlier this season.
When Easter Gift finished a solid third to eventual 3-year-old champion Will Take Charge and Game On Dude in last year's Clark Handicap (gr. I), trainer Chad Brown was hoping that big things could be on the horizon.
Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) winner Bayern and Besilu Florida Derby (gr. I) victor Constitution headline 20 horses nominated to the $500,000 Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (gr. I) at Churchill Downs.
Relive Bayern's victory in the 2014 Breeders' Cup Classic. See where your favorite horse was at six crucial points of the race with our interactive slideshow. view slideshow
Timeform US Breeders' Cup Preview: Will Shared Belief Remain Undefeated? read blog
Ahmed Zayat still has Mr. Z and Prayer for Relief in the Breeders' Cup World Championships, but the injury that knocked American Pharoah out of the Juvenile was devastating to the owner.
Despite Prayer for Relief having not visited the winner's circle since December, trainer Dale Romans believes the 6-year-horse belongs in the field for the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I).
Trainer Dale Romans talks about Breeders' Cup works by Prayer for Relief and Cristina's Journey on Oct 25. Watch Video
The countdown to the upcoming 31st Breeders' Cup World Championships at Santa Anita Park intensified Oct. 18 with a bevy of workers out at the Southern California track on a pleasant, sun-kissed morning.
Sophomores Wicked Strong, Tonalist, and V.E. Day take on elders such as Whitney (gr. I) winner Moreno in the 1 1/4-mile Jockey Club Gold Cup Sept. 27 on Super Saturday at Belmont Park.
Micromanage is one horse who has the bottom, and plenty of it, and is not going to get tired. read blog
Co-favorites Itsmyluckyday and Moreno battled shoulder to shoulder through the entire length of the Saratoga stretch before Itsmyluckyday prevailed to win the $600,000 Woodward Stakes (gr. I) by half a length Aug. 30.
Southern Equine Stables' Whitney (gr. I) winner Moreno and runner-up Itsmyluckyday will face off again Aug. 30 in the final grade I event for older horses of the Saratoga Race Course season, the $600,000 Woodward Stakes.
Will Take Charge and Palace Malice meet again Aug. 2 in the $1.5 million Whitney Handicap (gr. I), squaring off at Saratoga Race Course as the top two choices in a field of nine drawn for the 1 1/8-mile test.
New York-bred Zivo came with a powerful late run up the rail and snatched away victory from pacesetter Moreno in the $500,000 Suburban Stakes (gr. II) July 5 at Belmont Park.
Multiple graded stakes winner Last Gunfighter is back for revenge July 5 against 10 others in the $500,000 Suburban Handicap (gr. II), one of five graded stakes on Belmont's stars & Stripes Festival card.
Willis Horton's Will Take Charge seeks redemption in the $500,000 Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) June 14 against Revolutionary, Departing, Prayer for Relief, and others.
Grand Contender notched a third consecutive victory in fine style May 26, leading all the way to win the Lone Star Park Handicap (gr. III) at Lone Star Park.
Maggi Moss' Grand Contender will try to nail down a third straight stakes victory when he faces an expected five rivals in the $200,000 Lone Star Park Handicap (gr. III) May 26.
WinStar Farm's Revolutionary, more than 30 lengths behind early following a heated pace, kicked into gear and circled his eight foes to win the $300,000 Pimlico Special (gr. III) by a neck at Pimlico Race Course May 16.
Will Take Charge won the 3-year-old championship, but speedster Moreno was surprisingly right there with him in the summer months before going to the sidelines after the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I).
| Horse | Trainer | Breeder / Owner |
|---|---|---|
| Battle Hardened | Michael J. Maker |
|
| Formaggio | Danny Pish |
|
| Isn't He Clever | Johnnie L. Nall |
|
| Master Rick | Steven M. Asmussen |
|
| Prayer for Relief | Dale L. Romans |
|
| Race | Track |
|---|---|
| Metropolitan H. (gr. I) | BEL |
| Ogden Phipps H. (gr. I) | BEL |
| Acorn S. (gr. I) | BEL |
| Lone Star Park H. (gr. III) | LS |
| Gamely S. (gr. I) | BHP |
| Race | Track | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Franklin Square S. | AQU | |
| San Vicente S. (gr. II) | SA | |
| Ladies H. | AQU | |
| El Diario H. | SUN |
