Pedigree Analysis: Appreciation Comes Late

by John P. Sparkman
Despite admirable objective accomplishments, some very good sires like Dixie Union seem fated not to be fully appreciated within their lifetimes.

Salty Strike Goes Wire-to-Wire in Gardenia

Craig B. Singer's homebred Salty Strike jumped out to the early lead and never looked back as the 4-year-old filly posted her third consecutive stakes win in the $100,000 Gardenia Stakes (gr. III) at Ellis Park Aug. 11.

Joyful Victory, Sassy Image Top Gardenia

Joyful Victory and Sassy Image top a strong field of 11 fillies and mares in the $100,000 Gardenia Stakes (gr. III) Aug. 11 at Ellis Park, the first race back in Kentucky for jockey Robby Albarado since his May 4 arrest.

Saratoga Diary: Keeneland on the Hudson

Problems with water, sound, and wi-fi, good racing, and long lines at Hattie's mark opening day at Saratoga.

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So Many Ways Surges in Schuylerville Stakes

One race after Rick Dutrow won the James Marvin Stakes (gr. III) on July 20, his brother Tony Dutrow sent 5-2 favorite So Many Ways to victory in the 94th running of the $150,000 Schuylerville Stakes (gr. II).

Fillies Seek Extra Cash in Schuylerville

Seven 2-year-old fillies line up July 20 for the $150,000 Schuylerville Stakes (gr. III) on opening day at Saratoga Race Course, and five are eligible for a $100,000 bonus.

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.

Musical Romance Hits Highest Note

As bigger names garnered the publicity, Musical Romance completed her rags-to-riches story when she was named champion female sprinter for 2011.

Banke Carries On With 'Aurelia,' Wilburn

Barbara Banke is carrying on the prominent Thoroughbred operation, Stonestreet Stables, which will be represented by My Miss Aurelia and Wilburn in the Breeders' Cup World Championships.

Sassy Image Injured; Out of BC

Multiple grade I winner Sassy Image has been taken out of consideration for the $1 million Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (gr. I) after a chip in a hind ankle was discovered.

Hilda's Passion Shows Her Heels in Ballerina

Front-running Hilda's Passion became a grade I winner with a romping triumph in the $250,000 Ballerina Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga Aug. 27.

Ballerina: Sassy Image Looks for 4th Straight

Already a dual grade I winner this year, Sassy Image can keep it going for brothers Jerry and Dale Romans in the $250,000 Ballerina Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga Aug. 27.

Slideshow: The Week In Photos - July 12, 2011

Weekend racing, Fasig-Tipton July Sale and the JRHA Sale.

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Sassy Image Snags Princess Rooney at Wire

Favored Sassy Image came from out of the clouds to capture the $350,000 Princess Rooney Handicap (gr. I) to highlight the "Summit of Speed" program at Calder Casino & Race Course July 9, her second grade I win in two months.

'Sassy' Seeks Princess Rooney Crown

Grade I winners Sassy Image and Champagne d'Oro will knock heads with local sharpster Musical Romance going six furlongs in the Princess Rooney H. at Calder July 9.

Sassy Image Bags Another Stakes at Churchill

Sassy Image made her win in the grade I Humana Distaff look easy earlier this month at Churchill, but she was pushed to the limit by longshot Beat the Blues May 30 before prevailing by a neck in the Winning Colors (gr. III).

Sassy Image Seeks to Add to Churchill Success

Sassy Image, upset winner of the Humana Distaff (gr. I) for the owner-trainer brother duo of Jerry Romans and Dale Romans, headlines a field of 10 fillies and mares entered in the $100,000 Winning Colors (gr. III).

Life At Ten's Comeback Continues in DuPont

The comeback for millionaire Life At Ten continues May 21 when the daughter of Malibu Moon tops a seven-horse field in the Allaire DuPont Distaff (gr. III) on the Preakness Stakes (gr. I) undercard at Pimlico.

Picture This: Sassy Image Wins Humana Distaff

Jerry Romans' filly, a daughter of Broken Vow, rallies from off the pace to win going away; 4-year-old filly was longest shot on the board at 16-1.

Hilda's Passion Top Choice in Humana Distaff

Hilda's Passion, a two-time graded stakes winner this season at Gulfstream Park, heads a strong field of eight older fillies and mares in the $300,000 Humana Distaff Stakes (gr. I) at Churchill Downs May 7.

Haynesfield Repeats as Top New York-Bred

Turtle Bird Stable's Haynesfield, winner of the Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I) in 2010, has been honored as New York-bred Horse of the Year for the second year in a row.

Hilda's Passion Looks to Stay in Form

Hilda's Passion, who is a neck away from being unbeaten in her last four stakes tries, looms as the one to beat in the $150,000 Inside Information (gr. II) March 19 at Gulfstream Park.

Aegean By a Nose in Filly & Mare Sprint Upset

Steven Michael Bell's Aegean, sent off at 9-1 odds, held off a determined 13-1 shot in Jessica Is Back to post an upset in the $200,000 Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Sprint at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 29

Hilda's Passion Runs Away with Raven Run

Hilda's Passion took over after a quarter-mile and repelled the bid of longshot Decelerator in the stretch to win the $250,000 Lexus Raven Run (gr. II) for 3-year-old fillies Oct. 23 at Keeneland.

Raven Run Ripe For the Taking

Sovereign Stable's Negligee, who scored her biggest career win at Keeneland in the 2009 Darley Alcibiades (gr. I), was one of a full field of 14 drawn for the $250,000 Lexus Raven Run (gr. II) on Oct. 23.