After the Wire - 3/3/2013

Evan Hammonds recaps the Gotham Stakes, Santa Anita Handicap, and the Las Virgenes Stakes.

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Champ Beholder Back in Form for 'Virgenes Win

Compromised by a throat ulcer in her first start of the year, the real Beholder showed up in the $250,000 Las Virgenes Stakes (gr. I) March 2 at Santa Anita Park, romping over seven 3-year-old filly opponents.

Pollard's Vision to Waldorf in NY

Pollard's Vision, sire of champion Blind Luck, will stand this year at Dr. Jerry Bilinski's Waldorf Farm near North Chatham, N.Y.

Beholder Tries to Make Amends in Las Virgenes

Champion filly Beholder will try to avenge her odds-on defeat to longshot Renee's Titan when they square off at Santa Anita Park in the $250,000 Las Virgenes Stakes (gr. I)

Beholder Drills Sharply for Las Virgenes

Eclipse Award winner Beholder worked five furlongs on Santa Anita's fast main track Feb. 24 in :59 3/5 under regular rider Garrett Gomez in preparation for the upcoming Las Virgenes Stakes (gr. I) for 3-year-old fillies.

Black Caviar Inducted Into Australian HOF

Undefeated Black Caviar received a rare distinction Feb. 21 when she became only the second active racehorse to be inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame.

Small Ulcer Detected in Beholder's Throat

Beholder, the champion 2-year-old filly of 2012, likely had an excuse when she was second in her sophomore debut Jan. 21 as the 1-5 favorite in the Santa Ynez Stakes (gr. II).

Blind Luck Delivers First Foal by Bernardini

At one minute past the stroke of midnight on Jan. 19, 2010 3-year-old champion filly Blind Luck delivered her first foal, a filly by Bernardini, at Hill 'n' Dale Farm in Lexington, Ky.

Sadler Happy for Switch After Bringing $4.3M

John Sadler, who guided Switch through a career in which she earned more than $1.4 million, was proud as a peacock when the Quiet American mare was sold Nov. 5 at the Fasig-Tipson select mixed sale for $4.3 million.

Fasig-Tipton November Wrap

Esther Marr reviews the Fasig-Tipton November sale and the purchase of Havre de Grace. Also, comments from Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning.

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Amazing Grace at Fasig-Tipton November

The sale of Havre de Grace for the third-highest price ever for a broodmare or broodmare prospect highlights a sale that saw gross receipts nearly double.

Groupie Doll Cruises in Filly & Mare Sprint

Groupie Doll continued her domination of the female sprint division Nov. 3 at Santa Anita Park, inhaling her rivals on the turn to take the $1 million Filly & Mare Sprint (gr. I) under a hand ride from jockey Rajiv Maragh.

Groupie Doll Highlights F&M Sprint Field

While Groupie Doll's stellar 2012 record puts her in a different league than many of her competitors in the Nov. 3 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (gr. I), the favorite will still have to face five other grade I winners.

Game On Dude Leads Cup Workers at Santa Anita

Game On Dude headed a parade of heavyweight hopefuls prepping for the Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita Park Oct. 14 as the countdown began in earnest for the 28th World Championship events Nov. 2-3.

Include Me Out Has Competition in Zenyatta

An interesting mix of talented fillies and mares, headlined by 2012 grade I winners Include Me Out, Love Theway Youare, and Love and Pride, and will go postward in the Sept. 29 Zenyatta Stakes (gr. I) at Santa Anita Park.

Include Me Out All In for Clement Hirsch Win

Favored Include Me Out, benefiting from a rail-skimming ride under Joe Talamo, was all out to deny Star Billing in the $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (gr. I) Aug. 4 at Del Mar for her second grade I win of the season.

Switch Wheels Back for Clement Hirsch Stakes

Fresh off a victory in the A Gleam Handicap (gr. II), dual grade I winner Switch wheels right back for trainer John Sadler while returning to two turns in the $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (gr. II) Aug. 4 at Del Mar.

Switch Puts A Gleam Back in Sadler's Smile

In what was a pivotal race for her, favored Switch rallied in deep stretch on the outside to capture the $200,000 A Gleam Handicap (gr. II) at Betfair Hollywood Park July 14.

Switch Seeks Change of Fortune in A Gleam

Dual grade I winner Switch, seeking her first victory of 2012, carries top weight of 122 pounds in the $200,000 A Gleam Handicap (gr. II) at Betfair Hollywood Park July 14.

Sassy Image Looks for Humana Distaff Repeat

Sassy Image will attempt to become the first repeat winner of the $300,000 Humana Distaff (gr. I) when she faces a strong lineup in the 26th renewal of the seven-furlong test May 5 at Churchill Downs.

Rousing Sermon Works, Hollendorfer Pleased

Cal-bred Rousing Sermon, trained by Hall of Famer Jerry Hollendorfer, was the last and lone Derby worker May 1 at Churchill Downs. Jockey Jose Lezcano aboard the son of Lucky Pulpit for the first time.

Off-the-Turf Las Cienegas Not Upgraded

Moving the April 14 Las Cienegas Handicap at Santa Anita from turf to the main track resulted in the grass race losing its grade III status for this year.

Mizdirection Goes Right Way in Las Cienegas

Odds-on Mizdirection made the best of what was left of the $98,000 Las Cienegas Handicap after the race was moved off the hillside turf course and contested on the main track with three rivals left.

Evening Jewel in Foal to Medaglia d'Oro

The daughter of Northern Afleet is a millionaire and winner of two grade I stakes.

Blind Luck in Foal to Bernardini

Blind Luck, the 2010 champion 3-year-old filly, has been pronounced in foal to major sire Bernardini off a Feb. 10 cover.