Havelock Gets Up for Hanshin Cup Upset

With a well-timed ride by jockey Florent Geroux, Silverton Hills' Havelock got up in the final strides to overtake favored Lonesome Street to win the $150,000 Hanshin Cup (gr. III) by a neck.

Alternation Edges Nehro in Pimlico Special

Pin Oak Stable's Alternation grabbed the lead inside the eighth pole and held off the late charge of Nehro to win the May 18 Pimlico Special (gr. III) by a nose. The son of Distorted Humor covered 1 3/16 miles in 1:57.60.

Stay Thirsty Second to Trickmeister in Return

Stay Thirsty, last year's Travers Stakes (gr. I) winner, proved no match for Trickmeister in the Vanlandingham Stakes at Belmont Park May 17.

Highweight Taptowne Dances Into Hanshin Cup

An experienced field of older runners face off at Arlington in the grade III Hanshin Cup May 19 with a slew of recent winners set to go in a very competitive heat.

Pimlico Special Draws Solid Field in Return

The Pimlico Special (gr. III), returning to the Pimlico racing calendar after a three-year hiatus, has drawn a sold field of 10 handicap horses, headed by Oaklawn Handicap (gr. II) winner Alternation.

Stay Thirsty Starts Year in Overnight Stakes

Stay Thirsty, the 2011 Travers Stakes (gr. I) winner, will make his 4-year-old bow in the Vanlandingham overnight stakes at Belmont Park May 17.

Stay Thirsty Drills Five Furlongs at Belmont

Stay Thirsty, the 2011 Travers Stakes (gr. I) winner, breezed a quick five furlongs over the Belmont Park training track May 11 as he points to a summer campaign in New York for trainer Todd Pletcher.

Little Mike Takes Turf Classic in Big Effort

Little Mike caught a tough group of competitors by surprise with a wire-to-wire upset victory in the $561,000 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (gr. IT) at Churchill Downs May 5.

Slideshow: Racing Festival of the South

Images from Oaklawn Park's 2012 Racing Festival of the South.

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Pletcher Hoping El Padrino Makes Derby Field

Trainer Todd Pletcher says he's preparing El Padrino as if the Pulpit colt will start in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).

Arkansas Lover Alternation Takes Oaklawn 'Cap

Alternation shocked a strong field in the $400,000 Oaklawn Handicap (gr. II) April 14 at Oaklawn Park, leading all the way for his third consecutive stakes win of the meet.

Grade I Winners Return in Oaklawn Handicap

Recent grade I winners Hymn Book and Ron the Greek head a strong field of eight for the $400,000 Oaklawn Handicap (gr. II) April 14.

Havre de Grace Tops 'Racing Festival' Noms

Reigning Horse of the Year Havre de Grace tops the list of horses nominated to the stakes extravaganza that, along with the Arkansas Derby (gr. I), comprise the "Racing Festival of the South" at Oaklawn Park April 11-14.

Repole Hopes to Bring an 'Entourage' to Derby

Mike Repole is taking the son of Street Cry to the $500,000 Illinois Derby (gr. III), where he will try to gain a berth in the May 5 Kentucky Derby (gr. I).

Appleton: Corporate Jungle Wins Stakes Debut

Favored Corporate Jungle took over in upper stretch and held Trend at bay win in winning the $100,000 Appleton Stakes (gr. IIIT) in his stakes debut March 31 at Gulfstream Park.

Brilliant Speed Heads Appleton Stakes

Brilliant Speed, third in last year's Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) at 1 1/2 miles, cuts back to a mile for the Appleton Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Gulfstream Park March 31 as he takes on seven rivals.

Brilliant Speed Pointed to Appleton Return

Brilliant Speed, winner of last spring's Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I), is expected back in action for the $100,000 Appleton (gr. IIIT) on the Gulfstream Park turf March 31, trainer Tom Albertrani said.

Alternation Steals Razorback With Sharp Ride

Alternation was allowed to take the lead heading into the first turn and never relinquished it, defeating 11-10 favorite Tapizar in the $125,000 Razorback Stakes (gr. III) March 10 at Oaklawn Park.

Animal Kingdom in Easy Turf Workout

Team Valor International's Animal Kingdom worked an easy five-eighths of a mile on turf in 1:04 4/5 at Palm Meadows Training Center March 10 as he preps for the $10 million Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) on March 31.

Oaklawn Star Win Willy Returns for Razorback

Win Willy is set for his first start since winning last year's Oaklawn Handicap (gr. II), returning to the Hot Springs, Ark., track for the $125,000 Razorback Handicap (gr. III) March 10.

Stay Thirsty Focused on Second Half Campaign

Last year's Travers (gr. I) winner Stay Thirsty has begun preparations for his 2012 campaign, having recently entered light training at Palm Meadows.

Alternation Impressive in Essex Handicap

Pin Oak Stable's Alternation earned the Oaklawn stakes victory that eluded him last year when he authoritatively captured the $100,000 Essex Handicap Feb. 4.

Alternation Back at Oaklawn in Essex Handicap

Pin Oak Stud's regally bred son of Distorted Humor, now 4, returns to Oaklawn ready to redeem himself in the $100,000 Essex Handicap where he was installed as the 2-1 morning line favorite and is the 118-pound high weight.

Strong Hope Moves to Indiana

Multiple grade II winner to stand at Midwest Equine & Veterinary Hospital near Trafalgar, Ind. The son of Grand Slam will stand for a 2012 fee of $2,500.

Pedigree Analysis: Again and Again

However tempting it may be to follow the new hot sire, if a breeder believes in a certain mating or it has been proven to work on one occasion, why shouldn't it be tried again?