Saratoga Diary: Men will be Boys

Travers is the time for guys to go wild.

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McLaughlin Juggling Top Contenders This Year

It's a good time to be Kiaran McLaughlin, but don't confuse that with an easy time. The trainer has his hands full conditioning and placing top runners for Godolphin Racing with year-end goals in mind.

Royal Delta Makes It 'Personal'

Besilu Stable's Royal Delta, the reigning 3-year-old filly champion and 2011 Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic winner looms an imposing favorite in the Personal Ensign for trainer Bill Mott.

Turbulent Descent Heads Ballerina Field

Turbulent Descent returns to the scene of one of her most impressive victories when she makes her second start of the year Aug. 24 in the $500,000 Ballerina Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga Race Course.

Hansen Works for Travers Stakes

Hansen, the juvenile champion of 2011, worked five furlongs in 1:02 4/5 the morning of Aug. 18 in preparation for a start in the Travers Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga, where Turbulent Descent and It's Tricky also worked.

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.

Musical Romance Gets Her Princess Rooney

Last year, Musical Romance missed victory by a neck in the Princess Rooney Handicap (gr. I). This season, the 2011 Eclipse Award-winning female sprinter would not be denied.

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.

Racing Fans Vote Havre de Grace HOY

In the Horse of the Year category, fans made the multiple grade I winner Havre de Grace their top pick with 4,249 votes.

Englehart Makes BC Debut With Tamarind Hall

Trainer Jeremiah Englehart, based at Finger Lakes Casino & Racetrack in upstate New York, will have his first Breeders' Cup starter in Tamarind Hall in the Nov. 4 Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint.

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.

Shotgun Gulch, Switch Meet in TCA

Shotgun Gulch, winner of the Vinery Madison Stakes (gr, I) at the Keeneland spring meeting, will be gunning for her second stakes win at the Lexington track as she contests the Thoroughbred Club of America (gr. II).

Orchid's Silver Charges to Ballerina Upset

Orchid's Silver, sent off at 26-1 odds, came from off the pace to nip favored Class Included in the $100,000 Ballerina Stakes (Can-III) on the closing day of the Hastings Racecourse season Oct. 2 in Vancouver, B.C.

Big Fields Set for Closing Stakes at Hastings

The final day of the 2011 Hastings Racecourse season Oct. 2 features full fields for two of the biggest events of the meet: the $100,000 Ballerina Stakes (Can-III) and the $100,000 British Columbia Premiers Handicap.

Pomeroys Pistol Wins Gallant Bloom With Ease

Pomeroys Pistol is likely headed to the Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (gr. I) after an emphatic four-length win in the $150,000 Foxwoods Gallant Bloom Handicap (gr. II) at Belmont Park Sept. 24.

Gallant Bloom Attracts Tar Heel Mom, 'Pistol

Tar Heel Mom and Pomeroys Pistol, both second in grade I events at Saratoga in their most recent starts, return to action in the $150,000 Foxwoods Gallant Bloom Handicap (gr. II) at Belmont Park Sept. 24.

Rekindling the Passion - by Esther Marr

Long-time breeder Ted Kuster found himself in a slump a few years back. Then Hilda's Passion came along.

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Hilda's Passion Headed to F-T November Sale

Hilda's Passion, winner of the Aug. 27 Ballerina Stakes (gr. I), will be offered as a racing or broodmare prospect during the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky November select mixed sale even though she has suffered an injury

The Perfect Trip - Week Five Nominees

This week's nominees: Cape Blanco, Stacelita, Hilda's Passion, Celtic New Year, Acclamation.

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Stay Thirsty, Uncle Mo OK; Coil 'Discouraged'

Todd Pletcher said Stay Thirsty and Uncle Mo were doing fine the day after their strong runs in the Travers Stakes and King's Bishop Stakes, respectively, but that Ballerina winner Hilda's Passion sustained a minor injury.

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.

Tar Heel Mom Slam Dunks Honorable Miss Foes

Front-running Tar Heel Mom overpowered her four rivals in the $150,000 Honorable Miss Handicap (gr. II), drawing off in the stretch for a 5 3/4-length romp at Saratoga Aug. 7.