Jerry Moss, owner of champion mare Zenyatta, said he hopes to meet Rachel Alexandra in the Breeders' Cup, but likely wouldn't ship Zenyatta east to tangle with 'Rachel' this summer.
5 days ago
A 129-pound impost wasn't enough to stop the undefeated champion Zenyatta, who earned a repeat win in the Vanity Handicap (gr. I) at Hollywood Park June 27 for her 11th consecutive victory.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Jason, Tom, and the Wizard preview the Vanity Handicap (gr. I) at Hollywood Park on June 27.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Unbeaten champion Zenyatta will break from the far outside in the $300,000 Vanity Handicap (gr. I) at Hollywood Park June 27 as she goes after her 11th consecutive triumph. The strapping 5-year-old mare will carry 129 pounds and will spot her seven rivals from 13 to 18 pounds.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Stonestreet Stables' Jess Jackson, majority owner of Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) and BlackBerry Preakness (gr. I) winner Rachel Alexandra, said in a wide-ranging media teleconference June 24 that the superb filly would not race in this year's Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita but that there is a good possibility that she would return in 2010 for a 4-year-old campaign.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Zenyatta, the undefeated champion older filly or mare of 2008, was assigned high weight of 129 pounds for the June 27 $300,000 Vanity Handicap (gr. I) at Hollywood Park.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Seattle Smooth wore down Seventh Street in the homestretch to win the Ogden Phipps Handicap (gr. I) for her first grade I victory June 13 at Belmont Park.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Miss Isella, upset winner of the Louisville Distaff (gr. II) last out, looks to build upon that score when taking on eight rivals in the $200,000 Fleur de Lis Handicap (gr. II) June 13 at Churchill Downs.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Music Note, one of the top fillies in the nation last year when she was a three-time grade I winner, makes her 4-year-old seasonal debut in the $300,000 Ogden Phipps Handicap (gr. I) at Bemont Park June 13.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
A review of the Preakness and the Triple Crown so far, including the jockey situation, and the return of Zenyatta. Plus, special guest Jack Wolf of Starlight Stable, who has raced many stakes winners including Monba and Take the Points.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Though it was her first start in seven months, undefeated Zenyatta's 10th consecutive win proved to be no more difficult than any of her earlier victories. In disposing of her top-notch stablemate, Life Is Sweet, the 5-year-old daughter of Street Cry rolled to an easy 1 3/4-length win in the $150,000 Milady Handicap (gr. II) at Hollywood Park May 23.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Undefeated Zenyatta, last year's champion older female, gets her 2009 campaign off to a slightly belated start when she carries top weight of 126 pounds in Hollywood Park's $150,000 Milady Handicap (gr. II) May 23.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Last year's champion older female Zenyatta has been scratched from the $350,000 Louisville Distaff (gr. II) May 1, it was confirmed by the Churchill Downs racing office.
Friday, May 01, 2009
Although the Kentucky Oaks undercard May 1 got an added dose of excitement when trainer John Shirreffs announced 2008 champion older female Zenyatta would make her 5-year-old debut in the Louisville Distaff (gr. II), the talented Street Cry mare may be forced to scratch due to weather.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
The Louisville Distaff (gr. II) is a fine race in its own right, but with the surprise addition of undefeated champion Zenyatta, the $350,000 event has now become the main attraction on the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) undercard May 1 at Churchill Downs.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
The undefeated 2008 champion older mare will ship to Kentucky this week and is expected to start in the Louisville Distaff Breeders' Cup Stakes (gr. II) May 1.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Breeders of Kentucky-bred champions were honored during a ceremony April 22 at Keeneland.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Vertigineux, dam of champion Zenyatta, was voted top broodmare by the Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners & Breeders board of directors. Also honored were the breeders of the 2008 Kentucky-bred champions.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Balance, a grade I winner and half-sister to unbeaten champion Zenyatta, foaled her first offspring, an A.P. Indy colt, Jan. 18.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
California invader Santa Teresita has won multiple races on the West Coast, including a triumph in the Santa Maria Handicap (gr. I). But now the daughter of Lemon Drop Kid will have to prove her form on dirt when she takes on five rivals in the $200,000 Sixty Sails Handicap (gr. II) April 18 at Hawthorne Race Course.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
George Strawbridge Jr.'s Informed Decision split horses in deep stretch and ran down 2-5 favorite Ventura to win the $300,000 Vinery Madison (gr. I) by a head in thrilling fashion April 9 at Keeneland.
Thursday, April 09, 2009
Even-money choice Life Is Sweet became a grade I winner when she circled the field leaving the turn for home and mowed down the leaders through the lane to win the $300,000 Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap (gr. I) at Santa Anita March 14.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Santa Teresita, surprise winner of the Santa Maria Handicap (gr. I) at odds of 13-1 one month ago, figures to be a considerably shorter price when she takes on six older fillies and mares in the $300,000 Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap (gr. I) March 14.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Vertigineux, the dam of champion Zenyatta, has been pronounced in foal to Henrythenavigator, a British classic winner who entered stud this year at Ashford Stud near Versailles, Ky.
Monday, March 09, 2009
Helen Alexander and Helen Groves' rising star Acoma notched her third consecutive graded stakes victory March 8 at Oaklawn Park, coming from off the pace to score a five-length win in the $144,000 Azeri Stakes (gr. III).
Sunday, March 08, 2009
Acoma, who bagged consecutive graded stakes on the turf to close out her sophomore season, makes her 4-year-old debut against seven rivals in the $150,000 Azeri Stakes (gr. III) March 8 at Oaklawn Park.
Friday, March 06, 2009
Jerry and Ann Moss were named 2008 Owners of the Year and their undefeated filly Zenyatta won Horse of the Year honors from the Thoroughbred Owners of California.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Zenyatta will likely return to the work tab in a couple of weeks, toward late February or early March, said trainer John Shirreffs Feb. 15. He could not speculate on when she would make her 2009 racing debut.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Santa Teresita, with just a minor stakes win previously, pulled a big surprise when she bettered a top-notch field of older fillies and mares in the Valentine's Day $300,000 Santa Maria Handicap (gr. I) at Santa Anita Park Feb. 14.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
A dozen older fillies and mares take a shot at grade I glory in a deeply contentious renewal of the $300,000 Santa Maria Handicap at Santa Anita Feb. 14.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Hosted by Lenny Shulman and Steve Haskin, "And They're Off" is a bi-monthly online video series sponsored by Darby Dan Farm. This week, Lenny and Steve review the Eclipse Award winners. Plus, Everybody wants to buy a Derby Winner.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Eclipse Award attendees and the TVG viewers tuned in on the night of Jan. 26 were anticipating, and many were hoping, that Curlin would repeat as Horse of the Year.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
History repeated itself in a big way for Frank Stronach. For the second time in his career, the Austrian native earned an Eclipse Award as both outstanding breeder and top owner in the same year. In 2008, his Adena Springs was named best breeder, and his Stronach Stables was chosen top owner.
Monday, January 26, 2009
If you enjoy the suspense that can come with the selction of Eclipse Award winners, just skip right past the category of older female, dominated by Zenyatta the same way she has ruled the racetrack, dispatching foes with unfailing consistency.
Monday, January 26, 2009
The anticipation for many owners, breeders, trainers, jockeys and their connections will soon be over as the Eclipse Awards for Thoroughbred racing champions of 2008 will be announced Jan. 26 at a ceremony in Miami, Fla.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Kyniska, victorious in both of her American starts for trainer Bobby Frankel, makes her initial U.S. stakes try in the $100,000 Tuzla Handicap (gr. IIIT) on the Santa Anita turf Jan. 25. She is part of a 14-horse field of older fillies and mares expected to crowd the gate.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter
In the case of Friesan Fire, understanding was a little slow in coming, but Larry Jones' patience seems to be paying off. On pedigree, Jones had every reason to be confident that Friesan Fire would eventually come around. Friday, January 16, 2009
The victory by Zenyatta in the Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic -- a win that culminated a perfect seven-for-seven 2008 campaign -- has been voted the 2008 National Thoroughbred Racing Association Moment of the Year.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Curlin, the all-time earner among North American Thoroughbreds, gained another accolade on Tuesday, Jan. 13 when he was officially named the joint best horse of 2008 in the World Thoroughbred Rankings.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
TVG will again broadcast the Eclipse Awards live, the network announced Jan. 12. The awards ceremony, honoring racing's champions of 2008, will be held Jan. 26 in Miami Beach, Fla.
Monday, January 12, 2009
The finalists for 2008 Eclipse Awards were released Jan. 8, with the winners to be announced Jan. 26 at a ceremony in Miami, Fla. The finalists are not announced for Horse of the Year until the awards ceremony.
Thursday, January 08, 2009
MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter
Daiwa Scarlet (JPN) staked out a place among racing's queens with a victory in the prestigious Arima Kinen (Jpn-I). Just the fourth female to win the race, her victims included just about every top Japanese male still in training, including 2007 Arima Kinen winner Matsurida Gogh (JPN); 2008 Japan Cup (Jpn-I) winner Screen Hero (JPN), and 2006 Japanese champion 3-year-old male Meisho Samson (JPN).
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
Exercise riders have a special trash talk all their own, usually along the lines of how the horse they are aboard can trounce anything on four legs in this century or last. That's why few people paid any attention in 2007 when Steve Willard, riding a huge unraced filly from John Shirreffs' barn, told a Hollywood Park outrider, "This is the second coming of Ruffian."
Monday, January 05, 2009
