Wine Princess Matures in Monmouth Oaks

Wine Princess has progressed steadily through her conditions in five starts for trainer Steve Margolis this year, and she took her career to the next level Aug. 11 with a wire-to-wire victory in the Monmouth Oaks (gr. III).

Morrow Cove Chases Monmouth Oaks Breakthrough

Morrow Cove has stamped herself as a talented filly on the improve in her past two starts for trainer Graham Motion. Whether she's good enough to get a graded score will be discovered Aug. 11 at Monmouth Park.

Savvy Supreme Digs In, Scores Monmouth Oaks

WinStar Farm's Savvy Supreme made her two-turn debut a winning one in the $159,000 Monmouth Oaks (gr. III), as she dug in late to hold off favored Miss Valentine Aug. 13 at Monmouth Park.

Strike the Moon Facing 10 in Monmouth Oaks

Strike the Moon, who just missed winning the Delaware Oaks (gr. II) last month, heads a field of 11 sophomore fillies in the $150,000 Monmouth Oaks (gr. I) Aug. 13 at Monmouth Park.

VTA Announces 2010 Year-End Winners

The legacy of the late Edward P. Evans was carried on in a big way when the 2010 Virginia-bred champions were announced by the Virginia Thoroughbred Association.

Pletcher's 11 BC Contenders In Good Order

Todd Pletcher said all 11 of his Breeders' Cup horses were fine the morning of Nov. 7.

Pletcher Works Five BC Hopefuls at Churchill

Todd Pletcher sent out five of his Breeders' Cup hopefuls Oct. 30 at Churchill Downs, including his Ladies' Classic (gr. I) duo of Cynthia DeBartolo's Life At Ten and Edward Evans' Malibu Prayer.

Pletcher Optimistic for a Big Breeders' Cup

Todd Pletcher has pre-entered 11 horses -- more than any other trainer at the two-day Breeders' Cup World Championships to be held Nov. 5-6 at Churchill Downs.

Quality Road, Other Pletcher Horses Work

Led by Quality Road, Breeders' Cup World Championship contenders from the barn of trainer Todd Pletcher were hard at work at Belmont Park over the weekend.

Quality Road Works Four Furlongs

Trainer Todd Pletcher will train the grade I winner up to the Breeders' Cup Classic Nov. 6 at Churchill Downs.

In Final Start, Just Jenda Tops Malibu Prayer

Just Jenda went out a winner when she overtook odds-on favorite Malibu Prayer in upper stretch and rolled to an easy 3 1/2-length victory in the $294,000 Molly Pitcher Stakes (gr. II) Aug. 29.

Molly Pitcher: Malibu Prayer the One to Beat

Grade I winner Malibu Prayer will give six pounds to five fillies and mares when she goes to post as the favorite in the $300,000 Molly Pitcher Stakes (gr. II) Aug. 29 at Monmouth Park.

Breeders' Cup Perfect Trip: Aug 28 Nominees

This week's nominees are: Dakota Phone, Malibu Prayer, Blame, and Wasted Tears.

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Life At Ten Drills for Personal Ensign Clash

Life At Ten, who will take a six-race winning streak into the Personal Ensign Stakes (gr. I) Aug. 29 at Saratoga against Rachel Alexandra, worked five furlongs over the track for trainer Todd Pletcher Aug. 22.

Several Post Works at Saratoga

Breezing in company over the main track at Saratoga early the morning of Aug. 15, Devil May Care had her final serious work for the matchup with West coast-based Blind Luck in the Aug. 21 Betfair TVG Alabama Stakes (gr. I).

No Problem For No Such Word in Monmouth Oaks

Brereton Jones' homebred No Such Word captured her third stakes win this season Aug. 14, drawing away in the stretch to convincingly win the $200,000 Monmouth Oaks (gr. III) under Terry Thompson.

Pair of Graded Winners Clash in Monmouth Oaks

Seeking the Title and No Such Word, both graded winners entering off losses, will look to rebound in the $200,000 Monmouth Oaks (gr. III) Aug. 14 in New Jersey.

Playing on Some Themes with The Minstrel

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter
Alan Porter's focus this week is the interbreeding of close genetic relatives The Minstrel and Nijinsky II, as exemplified by recent stakes winners A Little Warm and Malibu Prayer.

Malibu Prayer Wings Way to Ruffian Victory

Malibu Prayer turned back 3-5 favorite Unrivaled Belle in upper stretch and held on gamely to win the $250,000 Ruffian Handicap (gr. I) Aug. 1 to give owner/breeder Edward P. Evans a second major victory at the Spa.

Ruffian Timing Right for Unrivaled Belle

Timing can mean everything, and in the case of the $250,000 Ruffian Invitational Handicap (gr. I) Aug. 1 at Saratoga, it could result in a long-awaited grade I victory for Unrivaled Belle.

Rachel May Face Up to Seven in Lady's Secret

Rachel Alexandra will have four definite opponents in the $400,000 Lady's Secret Stakes July 24 at Monmouth Park.

Miss Singhsix Rallies for Obeah Victory

Team Valor International's Miss Singhsix closed from last place to post a hard fought victory in the $150,000 Obeah Stakes (gr. III) at Delaware Park June 12.

Hour Glass Slips Through in Vagrancy 'Cap

Hour Glass, trainer Todd Pletcher's second horse in Belmont Park's Vagrancy Handicap (gr. II), held off Tar Heel Mom by a half-length to win the $150,000 event for fillies and mares May 29.

Tar Heel Mom Enters Vagrancy 'Cap Off Big Win

Alex Rankin's Tar Heel Mom, the Distaff Handicap (gr. II) winner last month at Aqueduct, will tote top weight of 119 pounds as the 5-2 morning-line favorite in the $150,000 Vagrancy Handicap (gr. II) May 29 at Belmont.

Zenyatta Makes it 16-for-16 in Apple Blossom

Zenyatta tied Citation and Cigar with her 16th consecutive win April 9 in the $500,000 Apple Blossom Invitational (gr. I), blowing past her four rivals under Mike Smith at Oaklawn Park for another easy victory.