Grade I winner Don't Tell Sophia, the most accomplished older female runner based at Oaklawn Park the past two years, arrived Dec. 21 and is scheduled to work this weekend in preparation for her 2015 debut.
Charles Cella, president of the Oaklawn Jockey Club, announced Dec. 10 that the Arkansas racetrack will waive its $2 general admission fee for the 2015 season that begins in January.
Odds-on Tiz Midnight proved a popular winner of the $200,000 Bayakoa Stakes (gr. II) at Los Alamitos for former Quarter Horse trainer Bob Baffert, when she battled back along the rail by a head over Warren's Veneda Dec. 6.
J. Keeler Johnson handicaps the Bayakoa Stakes (gr. II) at Los Alamitos. read blog
Fresh from a big win in Louisiana, Yahilwa returns to Southern California in search of her third consecutive victory in the $200,000 Bayakoa Stakes (gr. II) Dec. 6 at Los Alamitos.
Los Alamitos Race Course's 12-day winter meet opens Dec. 4 and runs through Dec. 21.
G. Watts Humphrey Jr.'s homebred Frivolous stalked the early pace before taking over in the stretch and held off 9-10 favorite Don't Tell Sophia to win the $222,600 Falls City Handicap (gr. II) at Churchill Downs Nov. 27.
Phil Sims and Jerry Namy's Don't Tell Sophia heads a field of 10 older fillies and mares for the 99th running of the Falls City Handicap (gr. II) Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 27, at Churchill Downs.
Oaklawn Park reported Nov. 7 that it has received a record number of stall applications for the 2015 winter/spring race season.
Untapable put the finishing touches on her 3-year-old filly championship campaign when she won the $2 million Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) in a driving finish Oct. 31 at Santa Anita Park.
TimeformUS Breeders' Cup Preview: Can Close Hatches revert to form in the Distaff? read blog
Joe Rocco Jr. has found that one drawback in being a jockey is that he doesn't spend as much time with the horses as he would like.
Trainer Phil Sims talks about the prospects of his Breeders' Cup Distaff contender Don't Tell Sophia, and also how she got her name. Watch Video
Thirty-two horses in the Breeders' Cup cost $50,000 or less as yearlings. read blog
If Close Hatches can return to her top form, the outcome of the race could end with the familiar sight of trainer Bill Mott entering the winner's circle.
Don't Tell Sophia and Ria Antonia, pre-entered for the $2 million Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) Oct. 31, turned in half-mile breezes Oct. 24 at Keeneland.
Of 201 horses pre-entered to the Oct. 31-Nov. 1 Breeders' Cup World Championships at Santa Anita Park, 38 raced or trained at Keeneland in September or October. read blog
Three horses under consideration for the Breeders' Cup World Championships worked on the fast main track at Keeneland Oct. 18, led by Juddmonte Spinster (gr. I) winner Don't Tell Sophia.
Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (gr. I) winner Don't Tell Sophia will prepare at Keeneland for her planned start in the Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I).
Don't Tell Sophia, last rounding the far turn, roared down the stretch to register her first grade I victory in the Juddmonte Spinster Stakes Oct. 5 on the Keeneland main track as overwhelming favorite Close Hatches fizzled.
Juddmonte Farms' Close Hatches, undefeated in four races in 2014, headlines a compact field of six fillies and mares entered for the $500,000 Juddmonte Spinster (gr. I) Oct. 5 at Keeneland.
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.
Favored at odds of 3-5 and making her first start of the season, Juddmonte's 4-year-old First Defence filly galloped wire to wire in the 1 1/16-mile test, taking rider Joel Rosario straight to the winner's circle March 15.
Don't Tell Sophia has sailed through the early part of 2014, but faces a stout test March 15 in the $200,000 Azeri Stakes (gr. II) against multiple grade I winner Close Hatches, On Fire Baby, and Flashy American.
Don't Tell Sophia wasn't in a hurry leaving the gate, but she quickly got herself into gear and easily drew off to win her second straight $100,000 Bayakoa Stakes Feb. 16 at Oaklawn Park.
| Horse | Trainer | Breeder / Owner |
|---|---|---|
| Bahama Bound | Grant T. Forster |
|
| Don't Tell Sophia | Philip A. Sims |
|
| Itsabeautifulthing | Donnie K. Von Hemel |
|
| Minesave | W. Bret Calhoun |
|
| One Last Dance | Dale L. Romans |
|
| She's All In | Donnie K. Von Hemel |
|
| Tiz Miz Sue | Steve Hobby |
|
