| Horse | Trainer | Breeder / Owner |
|---|---|---|
| Better Lucky | Thomas Albertrani |
|
| Centre Court | George R. Arnold, II |
|
| Dancing Solo | Todd A. Pletcher |
|
| Elusive Rumour | Todd A. Pletcher |
|
| Harbor Mist | Bruce N. Levine |
|
| Medolina | Todd A. Pletcher |
|
| Samitar (GB) | Chad C. Brown |
|
| Somali Lemonade | Michael R. Matz |
|
| Stephanie's Kitten | Wayne M. Catalano |
|
Showing her affinity for the Gulfstream Park turf, Naples Bay boldly charged between horses in the stretch and pulled clear to win Marshua's River Stakes (gr. IIIT) Jan. 4 in her career finale.
Viva Rafaela, a group I winner in her native Brazil, will try stakes company for the first time on United States soil while facing a full field in the Jan. 4 Marshua's River Stakes (gr. IIIT).
Kitten's Joy, the Ken and Sarah Ramsey-raced stallion who stands at their Ramsey Farm in Nicholasville, Ky., overcame the odds to emerge on top as North America's leading sire for 2013.
Angelica Zapata will try to register fourth straight stakes victory and first career graded stakes win when she faces a full field of fillies and mares in the $100,000 My Charmer Handicap Dec. 7 at Calder Casino & Race Course
Pacesetting Egg Drop battled back after giving away the lead in the stretch to score a nose victory over Discreet Marq in the final Matriarch Stakes (gr. IT) at Betfair Hollywood Park Dec. 1.
Better Lucky, who paid a record $72.20 when capturing the $250,000 Matriarch (gr. IT) a year ago, will try to become only the second repeat winner in race history Dec. 1 at Betfair Hollywood Park.
Early Times Mint Julep Handicap (gr. IIIT) winner Miz Ida returns to the site of her latest victory in the $100,000 Cardinal Handicap (gr. IIIT) Nov. 9 at Churchill Downs.
Pianist put away pacesetter Assateague in upper stretch and scurried home two lengths in front for her second graded win of the year in the $200,000 Athenia Stakes (gr. IIIT) oct. 12 at Belmont Park.
Trainer Chad Brown, enjoying remarkable success with his grass runners in recent months, sends out a strong pair in Samitar and Pianist for the $200,000 Athenia Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Belmont Park Oct. 12.
Godolphin Racing homebred Better Lucky showed resiliency in the stretch to edge Dayatthespa by a head in the First Lady Stakes (gr. IT) on turf Oct. 5 in a driving rainstorm at Keeneland.
Richard Santulli's Laughing has emerged as a middle-distance grass star this year, and hopes to add the Flower Bowl Sept. 28 at Belmont Park to victories in the Diana, Ballston Spa, and Eatontown.
Grade I winner Better Lucky heads a six-horse field in the $200,000 Noble Damsel Stakes (gr. IIIT) Sept. 14 at Belmont Park, looking to get back on track after a brief respite.
Grade I winner Centre Court will face Laughing, Miz Ida, Somali Lemonade, and Hungry Island trying to make it back to the winner's circle in the $250,000 Ketel One Ballston Spa Stakes (gr. IIT) Aug. 24 at Saratoga.
Following a troubled third in the Diana Stakes (gr. IT) at Saratoga Race Course, two-time grade I winner Stephanie's Kitten is under consideration for the $750,000 Beverly D. Stakes (gr. IT) on Aug. 17 at Arlington.
A determined Laughing (IRE) refused to relinquish the lead in the $588,000 Diana Stakes July 27 over the inner turf course at Saratoga Race Course, leading the all the way for her first grade I victory in a terrific finish.
Favored Kitten's Dumplings, rallying from well off the pace, registered a narrow victory in the $200,000 Lake George Stakes July 24 at Saratoga Race Course for her third consecutive stakes win.
Chad Brown trio to tackle Stephanie's Kitten, Centre Court in 1 1/8-mile turf event.
by Anne Peters
One could attribute the success of Kitten's Joy as a sire to the many savvy breeders who stepped out of their comfort zone to use a turf stayer, but that would be wrong.
A strong field of 3-year-old turf fillies will line up for the $200,000 Lake George July 24 at Saratoga, with Watsdachances, Tapicat, and Kitten's Dumplings among those entered to run.
Caroline Forgason's homebred Somali Lemonade took a little time to get the 2013 season underway but found success in her second start off the layup, winning the $250,000 Dr. James Penny Memorial Handicap (gr. IIIT) July 2.
One year after finishing a close second to fellow New York-bred Gitchee Goomie in the Dr. James Penny Memorial Handicap (gr. III), Hessonite is back at Parx for this year's edition of the 1 1/16-mile turf race.
All the action leading up to the big race on Belmont Stakes day. View Slideshow
Stephanie's Kitten took the rail trip to victory in the $500,000 Longines Just a Game Stakes (gr. IT) at Belmont Park June 8, digging in determinedly to best Better Lucky by half a length after a dogfight down the lane.
Trainer Mike Puype has no doubt 2012 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint victress Mizdirection is best of seven entered in the June 8 Just a Game Stakes at Belmont. But the new surface could be her undoing, especially if it rains.
Benefiting from a quick start, Pianist set a fast pace en route to a gate-to-wire victory in the Gallorette Handicap on the May 18 Preakness Stakes (gr. I) undercard at Pimlico Race Course.
| Race | Track |
|---|---|
| Lake George S. (gr. II) | SAR |
| Deputy Minister S. | WO |
| Race 8 (AOC) at SAR on 7/25/12 | SAR |
| Wickerr S. | DMR |
| Race 5 (MSW) at SAR on 7/25/12 | SAR |
| Race | Track | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Any Limit S. | GP | |
| Las Flores S. (gr. III) | SA | |
| Gold Coast S. | DED | |
| Borgata S. | DED |
