Sara Louise, wheeling back in three weeks following a fourth-place showing in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (gr. I), held off Justwhistledixie in the final furlong Nov. 27 to win the $150,000 Top Flight Handicap (gr. II) as the odds-on favorite at Aqueduct.
17 hours ago
Ventura, one of the leading stars for the late trainer Bobby Frankel and Juddmonte Farms during the past two years, goes for her fourth grade I victory against six rivals in the Nov. 28 Matriarch Stakes (gr. IT) at Hollywood Park.
2 days ago
Godolphin Stable's 3-year-old Sara Louise, making her first start since a fourth-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (gr. I) Nov. 6 at Santa Anita, headlines a field of nine for the $150,000 Top Flight Handicap (gr. II) for fillies and mares going one mile Nov. 27 at Aqueduct.
2 days ago
Ventura, a multiple grade I stakes winner who finished second in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (gr. I) at Santa Anita, is expected to return in Hollywood Park's $300,000 Matriarch (gr. IT) on Nov. 28.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Three participants in this year's Breeders' Cup World Championships â€" Diamondrella, Lethal Heat, and Magical Fantasy -- were scheduled to be offered at the Nov. 10 Fasig-Tipton November select mixed sale in Lexington as of Nov. 9. Grade I winner Diamondrella finished 11th in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint; grade II winner Lethal Heat was seventh in the Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic (gr. I); and grade I winner Magical Fantasy finished fifth in the Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT).
Monday, November 09, 2009
Relive the 2009 Breeders' Cup with our collection of photo galleries.
Sunday, November 08, 2009
Informed Decision, Augustin Stable's daughter of Monarchos, rolls in the Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (gr. I). The big gray filly is now seven for seven on synthetic surfaces and improved her record at seven furlongs to 7-6-0-1.
Friday, November 06, 2009
If there is one main aspect of the Breeders' Cup that is most fascinating it is the merging of American and British cultures, whether it be terminology, style of racing, or in the way horsemen deal with the media and vice versa.
Thursday, November 05, 2009
Augustin Stable's Informed Decision faces a much-anticipated rematch with Ventura Nov. 6 in the $1-million Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at Santa Anita Park. When the two tangled back in April on Keeneland's Polytrack, Informed Decision defeated Ventura by a head in the Vinery Madison Stakes (gr. I).
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
Ventura, who will be trying to win the $1 million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint for the second consecutive year Nov. 6, was made the 8-5 morning line favorite in the Nov. 3 post position draw for the World Championships at Santa Anita Park. The Juddmonte Farms homebred, which likes to come from behind, is on the far outside in the field of nine and will be ridden by Garrett Gomez.
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
John Sadler will have five horses entered in World Championship races this year. None of them will be favored, but all of them have credentials to pull an upset.
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
Juddmonte Farms homebred Ventura will be defending her title in the Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint Nov. 6 at Santa Anita, and she's ready to roll, according Garrette O'Rourke, who manages Juddmonte's nursery near Lexington.
Monday, November 02, 2009
Coming off a historic victory against the boys in the Sept. 20 Woodbine Mile (Can-IT), Ventura looks to be a powerful contender in the Nov. 5 Sentient Jet Filly & Mare Sprint (gr. I) as she attempts to defend her title at Santa Anita Park. But the Juddmonte Farms homebred will likely face some tough competition, as five other graded stakes-winning females were also pre-entered.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
A total of 166 horses were pre-entered Oct. 26 for the 2009 Breeders' Cup World Championships to be run Nov. 6 and 7 at Santa Anita.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Last weekendfs racing helped to clarify the Breedersf Cup picture for runners from Godolphin Racing, including Gayago, Girolamo, and Cocoa Beach.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Augustin Stable's Informed Decision remained perfect in four starts on the Keeneland Polytrack, as she ran down Carlsbad in the final strides to win the $250,000 Thoroughbred Club of America (gr. II) Oct. 10, in the process earning a berth into next month's Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (gr. IT).
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Augustin Stable's Informed Decision, who has nine career wins and holds Keeneland's seven-furlong track record, drew the outside post position in Saturday's 29th running of the $250,000 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes (gr. II).
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
Two-time champion Indian Blessing notched her first victory of the season and earned her way back to the Breeders' Cup World Championships by outdueling Sara Louise in a thrilling finish to win the $150,000 Gallant Bloom Handicap (gr. II) by a head Sept. 26 at Belmont Park. It was the Bob Baffert trainee's second consecutive win in the 6 1/2-furlong contest.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
When Indian Blessing romped in the Gallant Bloom Handicap (gr. II) last year she was in the top form of her career and on her way to another Eclipse Award, this one as the nation's top female sprinter.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
With Rachel Alexandra, Zenyatta, and Ventura, familiar standbys like Forever Together and Music Note, and rapidly rising stars Icon Project, Careless Jewel, and Swift Temper, as well as Goldikova in Europe, this is truly a special year for fillies.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Ventura became the first female to win the Woodbine Mile (Can-IT) in 13 years when she swept past the field on the outside to post a one-length victory Sept. 20.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Jason, Evan, and James Scully of twinspires preview the Super Derby (gr. II) at Louisiana Downs. Plus picks for the Woodbine Mile.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Canadian turf champion Rahy's Attorney returns to defend his Woodbine Mile (Can-IT) crown against a strong group of turf specialists in the $1 million event Sept. 20, which includes the sharp mare Ventura and New York invader Bribon.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Juddmonte Farms' stellar 5-year-old mare Ventura will take another crack at the boys on Sept. 20 when she does battle with a probable field of 11 in the $1-million Woodbine Mile (Can-IT).
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Odds-on choice Informed Decision improved to five-for-five on synthetic tracks and cemented her position as a leading candidate for the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint when she sailed to a 2 1/2-length victory in the $398,000 Presque Isle Downs Masters (gr. III) in Erie, Pa., on the evening of Sept. 12.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Mark Stanley's Swift Temper, returning to action off less than two weeks rest, upset odds-on favorite Seventh Street in the $300,000 Ruffian Handicap (gr. I) Sept. 12 in the mud at Belmont Park. The 1 3/4-length victory earned the 5-year-old daughter of Giant's Causeway an automatic berth in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic (gr. I) Nov. 6 at Santa Anita.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Jason, Tom, and Tim Holland from twinspires preview the Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes (gr. III), which features 4 grade I winners.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Godolphin Stable's Seventh Street looks to notch her third grade I win of the season and lock up a spot in the Breeders' Cup later this season when she faces five fillies and mares in the $300,000 Ruffian Handicap (gr. I) Sept. 12 at Belmont Park.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Four grade I winners -- Diamondrella, Flashing, Game Face, and Informed Decision -- are part of an overflow field entered for the $400,000 Presque Isle Downs Masters (gr. III) on tap Sept. 12 in Erie, Pa.
Wednesday, September 09, 2009
Impressive stakes winners Carlsbad and Evita Argentina head a field of nine fillies and mares going 6 1/2 furlongs in the $200,000 Rancho Bernardo Handicap (gr. III) on Sept.4 at Del Mar.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Godolphin's Music Note repelled a bid from Indian Blessing at the top of the stretch and sloshed home for a 5 1/4-length upset victory in the $300,000 Ballerina (gr. I) Aug. 29 at Saratoga.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Sara Louise, the last horse to defeat superstar filly Rachel Alexandra, returned from a nine-month layoff in sparkling fashion, coming from off the pace to score the $110,000 Victory Ride (gr. III) Aug. 29 at Saratoga.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Sara Louise will race for the first time since November in the $100,000 Victory Ride (gr. III) Aug. 29 at Saratoga. She is the last horse to defeat Rachel Alexandra.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
This time last year, Indian Blessing was the front-runner in the female sprint division and on her way to a year-end Eclipse Award. Now, the Indian Charlie filly will have to take the division's leadership role from Informed Decision, who has won five straight stakes and enters the $300,000 Ballerina (gr. I) as the one to beat.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Favored Game Face, ridden by a confident Edgar Prado, drew off from pacesetter Keep the Peace in deep stretch to win the $150,000 Honorable Miss Handicap (gr. II) by 1 1/2 lengths Aug. 9 at showery Saratoga.
Sunday, August 09, 2009
Game Face, a romping winner of the Princess Rooney Handicap (gr. I) last out and five-time graded stakes winner, will carry top weight of 122 pounds as the even-money morning-line favorite in the $150,000 Honorable Miss (gr. II) Aug. 9 at Saratoga.
Thursday, August 06, 2009
Godolphin Stable's Seventh Street continued her dominance over an off track, as she wore down Spritely in mid-stretch and went on to win the $300,000 Go For Wand Handicap (gr. I) Aug. 2 at rainy Saratoga. It was the fifth victory in eight starts for the 4-year-old daughter of Street Cry, who became a multiple graded stakes winner.
Sunday, August 02, 2009
When jockey Rajiv Maragh eased Godolphin Racing's Seventh Street back into an ideal stalking position in the Ogden Phipps Handicap (gr. I) on June 13 at Belmont Park, he didn't expect two other horses owned by the ruling Maktoum family of Dubai, Godolphin Racing's Music Note and Darley Stable's Sea Chanter, to charge up and force a furious pace.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Evita Argentina charged from last to post a two-length victory in the $150,000 A Gleam Handicap (gr. II) at Hollywood Park July 18 to become the first 3-year-old to win the race since Honeymoon in 1946.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
She has already beaten colts this season when she captured the San Vicente Stakes (gr. II) at Santa Anita. Now Evita Argentina will try to become the first 3-year-old since Honeymoon in 1946 to beat older fillies and mares in the A Gleam Handicap (gr. II) on closing weekend at Hollywood Park.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Game Face rebounded from a disappointing effort last out by romping to a 6 3/4-length score in the $350,000 Princess Rooney Handicap (gr. I) July 11 at Calder Race Course. As part of the Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" series, the victory earned the filly an automatic berth in the Sentient Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint Nov. 6 at Santa Anita Park.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
A walk down the Godolphin shedrow at Belmont Park reveals a "Who's Who" of major stakes horses, many of whom are just coming back off layoffs and getting ready for the Saratoga meet.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Jason, Tom, and Tim Holland from Twinspires/Brisnet preview the Princess Rooney (gr. I) at Calder on July 11.
Thursday, July 09, 2009
Hal and Patti Earnhardt's homebred Indian Blessing will try to rebound from the worst start of her career, as she ships to Florida for the first time to take on eight challengers in the $350,000 Princess Rooney Handicap (gr. I) July 11 at Calder Race Course.
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
Prohibitive choice Informed Decision shook off a pace challenge at the top of the stretch and drew off for her fifth consecutive win in $140,000 Chicago Handicap (gr. III) July 4 at Arlington Park.
Saturday, July 04, 2009
Trainer Bob Baffert said he wanted to test his champion Indian Blessing over Hollywood Park's Cushion Track before deciding which way to go with her this summer. After her fourth-place finish in the $72,800 Desert Stormer Stakes June 14, a race won in front-running style by Coco Belle, the Hall of Fame conditioner had his answer.
Sunday, June 14, 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
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
Carlsbad, whose unbeaten string was ended at five races when she ran second to Witty in last month's Railbird (gr. III), faces a strong field in the $150,000 Hollywood Oaks (gr. II) June 7.
Thursday, June 04, 2009
