Ben's Cat produced one of the best efforts of his 45-race career to capture the Fabulous Strike Stakes for the third time in its three editions at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course Nov. 29.
Named after Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews, Captain Serious looks to stuff his competition in the $300,000 Fall Highweight Handicap (gr. III) Nov. 27 at Aqueduct Racetrack.
If the amazing Ben's Cat is going to make it back-to-back victories in the $200,000 Fabulous Strike Handicap on Thanksgiving Eve at Penn National, he'll will have to defeat one of the toughest fields he has faced recently.
Grade II-placed stakes winner Souper Speedy has been retired to stand the 2015 breeding season at Mapleville Farms near Caledon, Ontario, Canada.
The $200,000 Bold Ruler Handicap (gr. III) at Belmont Park Oct. 25 drew a classy, competitive field of seven, headed by proven graded stakes horses Romansh, River Rocks, and Salutos Amigos.
Laurie's Rocket has been retired and will stand the 2015 season at Bill and Mary McDowell's McDowell Farm near Sparkman, Ark., owner Willis Horton announced Oct. 22.
J. Keeler Johnson handicaps the Iroquois Stakes (gr. III) and Ack Ack Handicap (gr. III). read blog
Carve, riding a three-race winning streak, is the main danger in the $100,000 Ack Ack Handicap Sept. 6 at Churchill Downs. The one-turn mile race for older horses drew only five runners.
Code West, responding to strong handling from jockey Cliff Berry in the stretch, got up in time to win the $176,050 Governor's Cup Stakes the night of Aug. 16 at Remington Park for his first victory since June 2013.
Michael Langford's Carve, third in the grade II Oaklawn Handicap in April, worked out a nice trip to win the $300,000 Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap (gr. II) at Prairie Meadows Racetrack & Casino the evening of June 28.
Golden Ticket, who dead-heated for the victory in the 2012 Travers Stakes at Saratoga and who won last year at Prairie Meadows, returns to Iowa and is the 3-1 morning-line choice in the nine-furlong Cornhusker Handicap.
Will Take Charge won the 3-year-old championship, but speedster Moreno was surprisingly right there with him in the summer months before going to the sidelines after the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I).
Runner-up in the 2013 Carter Handicap (gr. I) and lightly raced since then, California-based Sahara Sky will get another crack at the seven-furlong sprint April 5 at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Multiple stakes winner Taptowne, preparing for a likely start in the Oaklawn Handicap (gr. II) in a month's time, was assigned top weight of 117 pounds for the $200,000 Razorback Handicap (gr. III) March 15 at Oaklawn Park.
Strapping Groom rallied in deep stretch to claim the $200,000 Tom Fool Handicap (gr. III) at Aqueduct Racetrack, his first graded stakes score since a 15-1 upset in the Forego Stakes (gr. I) last summer.
TimeformUS Saturday Plays from Aqueduct, Gulfstream and Santa Anita read blog
Veteran campaigner Strapping Groom, winner of the Forego Stakes (gr. I) over a muddy track last year, has been installed the 7-5 morning line choice in the field of seven drawn for the March 1 Tom Fool Handicap (gr. III).
Strapping Groom makes his return to the graded ranks Feb. 1 at Aqueduct Racetrack in the $150,000 Toboggan Stakes (gr. III), a six-furlong sprint on the Withers (gr. III) undercard.
Strapping Groom made short work of a short field, drawing away to win by daylight in the $100,000 Gravesend Handicap at Aqueduct Racetrack on Dec. 21.
Palace, who became a graded stakes winner in his most recent start, heads a field of six sprinters entered in the $100,000 Gravesend Handicap, which will be contested at six furlongs Dec. 21 at Aqueduct Racetrack.
New York-bred Palace, claimed by his connections for $20,000 a little more than a year ago, rallied to win his first open stakes, the $300,000 Fall Highweight Handicap (gr. III), at Aqueduct Nov. 28.
Repole Stable's hard-knocking Caixa Eletronica lines up with seven others at Aqueduct Racetrack for a title defense in the $300,000 Fall Highweight Handicap (gr. III) on Nov. 28, Thanksgiving Day.
Uphill Stable's Clearly Now returned to his winning ways when he skillfully stalked the pace to score a 1 1/2-length triumph in the Oct. 26 Bold Ruler Handicap (gr. III) at Belmont Park.
TimeformUS looks at The Bold Ruler at Belmont Park. read blog
Todd Pletcher closer will have to catch the swift Strapping Groom in seven-panel test Oct. 26 at Belmont Park.
| Horse | Trainer | Breeder / Owner |
|---|---|---|
| Hello Lover | Robert E. Reid, Jr. |
|
| Jaguar Paw | Stephen S. Lyster |
|
| Laurie's Rocket | D. Wayne Lukas |
|
| Politicallycorrect | Wesley A. Ward |
|
| Right to Vote | Ron Moquett |
|
| Sage Valley | Rudy R. Rodriguez |
|
| Souper Speedy | Thomas Albertrani |
|
| Strapping Groom | David Jacobson |
|
| Willyconker (IRE) | Eric J. Guillot |
|
| Race | Track | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Franklin Square S. | AQU | |
| San Vicente S. (gr. II) | SA | |
| Ladies H. | AQU | |
| El Diario H. | SUN |
