Unbeaten on dirt since he was transferred to the barn of Eclipse Award winner Chad Brown, Twisted Tom has a chance to become the poster child for outside-the-box thinking in the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1).
Only other year dominated by first-crop 3-year-olds since 1973
A Creative Cause filly was purchased by Kaitar Racing for $850,000 during the April 28 final session of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales spring sale of 2-year-olds in training.
After scoring a big pinhooking profit during the April 28 final session of Ocala Breeders' Sales spring sale of 2-year-olds in training, Billy Koch became emotional when discussing the effort required to get a horse to that point.
Last year, we undertook a review of the prospects of stallions with first 2-year-olds of 2016. The series focused on pedigree and biomechanical values as well as on our impressions of how their offspring performed at the juvenile sales.
Trainer Doug O'Neill used the 2016 San Vicente Stakes (G2) to launch Nyquist's 3-year-old campaign toward the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) and could have another Triple Crown contender after the 2017 edition.
Each week BloodHorse.com looks forward to the weekend's biggest races. Consider this your weekly guide to the best stakes races in North America. This week Tampa Bay Downs gets the spotlight with three graded stakes Saturday.
Five maiden winners will look to break through for their first graded score Feb. 12 in the $200,000 San Vicente Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park.
Leading the roster are Creative Cause, Cairo Prince, and Majesticperfection at $15,000.
Jim Weigel has just three broodmares, but has bred classic-placed Creative Cause and Belmont Stakes (gr. I) contender Destin out of his mare Dream of Summer.
Kaleem Shah successfully bid $290,000 for a son of Candy Ride at the Barretts May sale of 2-year-olds in training and horses of racing age and immediately pointed to his 20-year-old daughter, Sophie.
Millennium Force, a daughter of Hansen, turned in the fastest furlong work of :09 4/5 at the under-tack preview for the Barretts May 2-year-old sale at Del Mar. Among those working a quarter-mile, a son of Speightstown posted :20 3/5.
First-time starter Milton Freewater got up in the final stride in race one at Los Alamitos Race Course April 22 and became the first winner for grade I winner and classic-placed Creative Cause.
This week we take a closer look at Nyquist, the 2015 Sentient Jet Breeders' Juvenile (gr. I) victor and winner of the $200,000 San Vicente Stakes (gr. II) on Feb. 15 at Santa Anita Park.
Juvenile champion Nyquist stars in the San Vicente and more inside the February 20, 2016 Blood-Horse magazine!
Undefeated Nyquist showed no signs of rust in his 2016 debut Feb. 15, when he took the $200,000 San Vicente Stakes (gr. II) at Santa Anita Park.
Nyquist's first step onto the Triple Crown trail comes Feb. 15 at Santa Anita Park, where he'll look to keep his undefeated record intact against five other sophomore males in the $200,000 San Vicente Stakes (gr. II).
Doug O'Neill wanted a swift, short breeze from Reddam Racing's Nyquist eight days ahead of his 3-year-old debut in the San Vicente Stakes (gr. II) and that's what he got Feb. 7 at Santa Anita Park.
Texas Red, winner of the 2014 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I), is back in training at Santa Anita Park and is scheduled to record his first timed workout of 2016 on Feb. 13 at the Southern California racetrack.
With up to two inches of rain expected Jan. 31 in Southern California, trainer Doug O'Neill moved Nyquist's regular Sunday work up a day to Jan. 30, and the champion 2-year-old male of 2015 impressed on the track once again.
Undefeated Nyquist ran a full lap around the Santa Anita Park main track during a workout Jan. 24, but was officially given a time of 1:15 3/5 for six furlongs.
Nyquist, the morning after securing the Eclipse Award as champion 2-year-old male of 2015, worked five furlongs on Santa Anita Park's fast main track Jan. 17 in 1:00 4/5.
Undefeated Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) winner Nyquist worked six furlongs on Santa Anita Park's fast main track Sunday morning in 1:14 flat as he prepares for his 3-year-old debut.
Undefeated Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) winner Nyquist worked four furlongs on Santa Anita Park's fast main track Dec. 27 in preparation for his 3-year-old debut in the $200,000 San Vicente Stakes (gr. II).
With his stud fee doubling from $10,000 this year to $20,000 for 2016, Majesticperfection will carry the top fee for the upcoming season at Brereton Jones' Airdrie Stud.
| Horse | Trainer | Breeder / Owner |
|---|---|---|
| American Act | Jack Carava |
|
| Captain Obvious (IRE) | Ben D. A. Cecil |
|
| Creative Cause | Mike Harrington |
|
| Drill | Bob Baffert |
|
| Let's Get Crackin | Wayne Potts |
|
| Smoking G | Peter Miller |
|
| Race | Track | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Ontario County S. | FL | |
| Bashford Manor S. (G3) | CD | |
| Debutante S. | CD | |
| Kelly's Landing Overnight S. | CD | |
| Petticoat S. | ALB |
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