The Blood-Horse: 07/25/2009 issue

Photo: BLOOD-HORSE

TIS THE SEASON: Horses were led to their barn at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky; the yearling sale season began in earnest with the July 20-21 auction.

Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt

Rachel Alexandra bound for Haskell. The connections of Rachel Alexandra made the announcement on July 14.

Photo: Skip Dickstein

Swift Temper, with jockey Alan Garcia up, pulled away in the stretch to post a surprisingly easy upset in the $1 million Delaware Handicap at Delaware Park.

Photo: HOOFPRINTS/MARY LYONS

Donver Stable’s Careless Jewel opened up an early lead and never looked back, going gate-to-wire for a convincing 7 1/4-length victory in the $250,000 Delaware Oaks (gr. II) July 18 at Delaware Park.

Photo: HOOFPRINTS/MARY LYONS

Battle of Hastings dug in late to head his rival Straight Story and win the $750,000 Virginia Derby (gr. IIT) on the Colonial Downs turf July 18.

Photo: COADY PHOTOGRAPHY

Trainer Bob Baffert won the first stakes of his career with a horse he bred when Misremembered led all the way to upset 7-10 choice Grazen in the $284,000 Swaps Stakes (gr. II) at Hollywood Park July 18.

Photo: BENOIT PHOTOGRAPHY

Evita Argentina charged from last to post a two-length victory in the $150,000 A Gleam Handicap (gr. II) at Hollywood Park July 18 to become the first 3-year-old to win the race since Honeymoon in 1946.

Photo: BENOIT PHOTOGRAPHY

Black Astor, handed a 10-length lead with a mile to run in the closing-day $142,500 Sunset Handicap (gr. IIT) at Hollywood Park, made it stand up over his three rivals July 19.

Photo: BENOIT PHOTOGRAPHY