Smarty Jones Stakes winner Far Right is expected to resume his Triple Crown preparations at Oaklawn Park, but the son of Notional may skip next month's Southwest Stakes (gr. III) in favor of the Rebel (gr. II) March 14.
Zayat Stables' five-time stakes-placed Mr. Z will bid to add an elusive stakes win to his record Jan. 19 in the $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes, Oaklawn Park's first major local prep for the $1 million Arkansas Derby (gr. I).
J. Keeler Johnson handicaps the Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn Park. read blog
The road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) at Oaklawn Park will begin Jan. 19 with the $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes, a one-mile test for 3-year-olds which drew a group of nine.
J. Keeler Johnson handicaps the Lecomte Stakes (gr. III) at Fair Grounds. read blog
Laurie's Rocket has been retired and will stand the 2015 season at Bill and Mary McDowell's McDowell Farm near Sparkman, Ark., owner Willis Horton announced Oct. 22.
TimeformUS Weekend Stakes Plays for the G1 Shadwell Tuf Mile, featuring lifetime PPs from Wise Dan. read blog
Tom LaMarra and Claire Novak at Keeneland to preview the Shadwell Turf Mile featuring Wise Dan, Optimizer, Silver Max, Kaigun, and Seek Again. Watch Video
Two-time Horse of the Year Wise Dan faces the stiffest challenge of his remarkable return from colic surgery when he takes on Seek Again and Silver Max among seven rivals in the $1 million Shadwell Turf Mile (gr. IT) Oct. 4.
Relive moments from the racing career of Will Take Charge. view slideshow
Trainer Phil Simms and Jerry Namy's Don't Tell Sophia, who hadn't raced since a third-place finish in the grade II Azeri Stakes at Oaklawn Park in March, circled the field to win the $108,200 Locust Grove at Churchill.
Grade III-placed Take Charge Brandi will aim for her breakthrough stakes win Saturday, Sept. 6, when she faces an expected nine other 2-year-old fillies in the $200,000 Pocahontas Stakes (gr. III) at Churchill Downs.
Todd Pletcher recorded his 1,000th career stakes winner when Protonico surged late under Joe Bravo to take the $300,000 Smarty Jones Stakes (gr. III) at Parx Racing on the Labor Day Pennsylvania card Sept. 1.
Though he has been with Wise Dan throughout a 30-race campaign that began in the winter of 2010, trainer Charlie LoPresti continues to be awed by his two-time Horse of the Year.
Two-time Horse of the Year Wise Dan, making his first start since returning after May 16 colic surgery, held off 29-1 shot Optimizer to win the $250,000 Bernard Baruch Handicap (gr. IIT) at Saratoga.
Ten 3-year-olds, some of which may have their sights on the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby (gr. II) in three weeks, will battle in the $300,000 Smarty Jones Stakes (gr. III) Sept. 1 at Parx Racing.
On Aug. 30, Wise Dan will face a solid field in the $250,000 Bernard Baruch Handicap (gr. IIT) as the 127-pound highweight while making his long-awaited return after May 16 colic surgery.
Watch footage of English Channel as Calumet Farm stallion director Ken Wilkins talks about V. E. Day, Optimizer, horses in training and future plans for racing. watch video
Anita Cauley's homebred On Fire Baby, winner of the May 2 La Troienne Stakes (gr. I) at Churchill Downs, heads a field of six for the $200,000 Fleur de Lis Presented by Etihad Airways (gr. II) in Louisville June 14.
Jockey Joe Johnson secured the 1,000th victory of his career June 5 when he guided Silver Antelope to victory in the final race on the Churchill Downs card.
The 8 3/4-length winner of the Oak Hall at Evangeline Downs in his last start headlines a field of nine including last year's 1-2 finishers, Scatman and Jasizzle, and eight-time stakes winner Delaunay.
Anita Cauley is living the dream, riding high with her homebred On Fire Baby. The gray mare is a red-hot standout in the older filly and mare division.
Showing her affinity for the Churchill Downs' main track, Anita Cauley's homebred On Fire Baby took the lead coming out of the second turn and wore down pacesetter Devil's Cave to win the La Troienne Stakes (gr. I) May 2.
One year after coming up just short, Anita Cauley homebred On Fire Baby will give the $300,000 La Troienne Stakes (gr. I) another try Friday, May 2 at Churchill Downs.
Stella Perdomo's 7-year-old gelding Forte Dei Marmi has the distinction of being the only grade I winner in the full 14-horse field set for the April 26 Dixiana Elkhorn Stakes (gr. II) at Keeneland.
| Horse | Trainer | Breeder / Owner |
|---|---|---|
| Copus | James P. DiVito |
|
| Fastestwhogetspaid | Brian Williamson |
|
| Hard Nosed | Ron Moquett |
|
| Jake Mo | W. Bret Calhoun |
|
| Junebugred | Steve Hobby |
|
| King Coral | Dallas J. Barton |
|
| Laurie's Rocket | D. Wayne Lukas |
|
| No Spin | Allen Milligan |
|
| On Fire Baby | Gary G. Hartlage |
|
| Optimizer | Jose Fernandez |
|
| Prince Cheval | Rey Aguirre |
|
| Reckless Jerry | Kenny P. Smith |
|
| Race | Track | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Martha Washington S. | OP | 1/31 |
