On Fire Baby Scorches Apple Blossom Foes

Anita Cauley's On Fire Baby hadn't raced since May 28 of last year. She came back with a vengeance April 12, holding off Tiz Miz Sue to win the $500,000 Apple Blossom Handicap (gr. I) at Oaklawn by half a length.

Grace Hall Demands Attention in Apple Blossom

Grade I winner Grace Hall, seeking her first win of the 2013 campaign, will face six opponents in the $500,000 Apple Blossom Handicap (gr. I) April 12 at Oaklawn Park as the 118-pound top weight.

Pedigree: Another Gold Medallion for Whiteley

by John P. Sparkman
Whiteley's arrangement with Richard and Audrey Haisfield's Stonewall Farm to support their young stallion Medaglia d'Oro resulted indirectly in the recent Palm Beach S. (gr. IIIT) winner Rydilluc.

After the Wire - 3/17/2013

Evan Hammonds examines the Rebel Stakes and Azeri Stakes.

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Tiz Miz Sue Upsets Azeri Again

Tiz Miz Sue upset the Azeri Stakes (gr. III) at Oaklawn Park last year at odds of 8-1, and this season she did it again. The Cresran homebred ran down top contenders My Miss Aurelia and Don't Tell Sophia to get the job done.

My Miss Aurelia Opens 2013 Season in Azeri

Champion juvenile filly of 2011 My Miss Aurelia is scheduled to begin her 4-year-old season in the $150,000 Azeri Stakes (gr. III) March 16 at Oaklawn Park.

Hobby Collects Milestone Victory at Oaklawn

Trainer Steve Hobby earned the 1,000th win of his career March 1 when Ruthless Empire easily won seventh race at Oaklawn Park, a maiden claiming event, as the 4-5 favorite under jockey Rosemary Homeister Jr.

Don't Tell Sophia Draws Off in Bayakoa

Don't Tell Sophia was a $1,000 yearling purchase in 2009. On Feb. 16 she ran them off their feet at Oaklawn Park, easily putting 6 1/2 lengths over her nearest competitor in the $98,000 Bayakoa Stakes.

Tiz Miz Sue Makes Season Debut in Bayakoa

One day before champion Royal Delta makes her 2013 debut in the Sabin Stakes (gr. III), a rival who gave her a run for her money returns to the races in the $100,000 Bayakoa Stakes at Oaklawn Park.

Texas Bling, Brown Almighty Work at Oaklawn

Southwest Stakes contenders Texas Bling and Brown Almighty were on the worktab at Oaklawn Park Feb. 9, along with Bayakoa Stakes hopefuls Tiz Miz Sue, Don't Tell Sophia, and She's All In.

Aruna Primed for Juddmonte Spinster Defense

Flaxman Holdings' Aruna seeks back-to-back wins in the $500,000 Juddmonte Spinster (gr. I) at Keeneland Oct. 6, facing 12 rivals as she attempts to become just the fourth horse to accomplish the feat.

Top Three in 'Ensign' Exit Race in Good Order

The top three finishers in the Aug. 26 Personal Ensign Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga Race Course came out of the race in good order, their trainers said Aug. 27.

Love and Pride Stuns Royal Delta in 'Ensign

Love and Pride, staked to a daylight lead in the stretch by John Velazquez, denied the late bid of 3-5 pick Royal Delta to earn her first grade I victory in the $600,000 Personal Ensign Stakes Aug. 26 at Saratoga Race Course.

Royal Delta Returns to Spa in Personal Ensign

Royal Delta will make her first start at Saratoga since winning the 2011 Alabama (gr. I) as the 124-pound highweight in the Personal Ensign Invitational (gr. I) Aug. 26.

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.

Royal Delta, To Honor and Serve Work

Bill Mott pair work for the Personal Ensign Stakes and Woodward Stakes, respectively.

Royal Delta Fully Extended in Del Cap

Besilu Stables' Royal Delta held off a late challenger to win the $750,000 Delaware Handicap (gr. II) by a neck at Delaware Park July 21, but it wasn't the nemesis everyone thought she'd face near the wire.

Royal Delta Primed for Delaware Handicap

Besilu Stables' Royal Delta headlines the $750,000 Delaware Handicap (gr. II) at Delaware Park July 21, but the champion filly will have to fend off an old nemesis in Awesome Maria.

Love and Pride Wires Slender Obeah Field

Trainer Todd Pletcher sent the 4-year-old filly off a runner-up effort to grade III success at Delaware Park June 16.

Pachattack the One to Beat in Obeah

Pachattack, a 6-year-old mare conditioned by Graham Motion, has been entered in the local prep for the July 21 Delaware Handicap (gr. II), but her connections are keeping their options open for this weekend and beyond.

Pachattack May Try Luck On Turf in All Along

Pachattack, winner of the Doubledogdare Stakes (gr. III) in her only start since finishing third in the 2011 Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic (gr. I), heads the field for the Edward P. Evans All Along Stakes (gr. IIIT) June 16.

Pachattack Denies Kathmanblu, Leparoux

On a day that belonged the Julien Leparoux, it was Rajiv Maragh that was able to narrowly outduel his fellow rider in the Keeneland feature, as Pachattack defeated Kathmanblu by a neck in the $100,000 Doubledogdare.

Patient Plum Pretty Strolls in Apple Blossom

Plum Pretty hadn't been out in more than five months but her class showed through as she strolled to a comfortable win in the $500,000 Apple Blossom Handicap (gr. I) April 13 at Oaklawn Park.

Plum Pretty Assumes Apple Blossom Favoritism

Last year's Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) winner, Peachtree Stable's Plum Pretty, will carry top weight of 117 pounds in the 1 1/16-mile event for fillies and mares on the main track.