Rachel Alexandra cemented herself as one of the best fillies of all-time in a race for the ages, as she set a suicidal pace and then was all out under Calvin Borel to hold off a bold charge from Macho Again to win the $750,000 Woodward Stakes (gr. I) by a head in electrifying fashion Sept. 5 at Saratoga.
Saturday, September 05, 2009
Please note the following analysis was written by someone with a glass-is-half-empty mentality and is not meant to frighten, upset, or antagonize Rachel Alexandra fans and zealots. So, read at your own risk.
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
On Sept. 5 at Saratoga, Rachel Alexandra will seek history when trying to become the first female to win the Woodward Stakes (gr. I) -- a feat that would almost certainly lock up Horse of the Year honors and stamp the 3-year-old as one of the best fillies of all time.
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
The son of Tiznow will attempt to win for the first time since the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) in the eighth race allowance going seven furlongs at Gulfstream Park Feb. 28.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Einstein stormed past heavy favorite Commentator at the top of the stretch and then held off longshot Delightful Kiss to win the Nov. 28 Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs by 1 1/2 lengths.
Friday, November 28, 2008
Tracy Farmer's two-time Whitney Handicap (gr. I) winner Commentator, Robert LaPenta's 2008 Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Da' Tara and Four Roses Thoroughbreds' 2007 Kentucky Jockey Club (gr. II) winner Anak Nakal, all trained by Nick Zito, headline a list 26 horses nominated to the $400,000-added Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (gr. II) to be run Nov. 28 at Churchill Downs.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Horse of the Year Tiznow, second on the general sire list this year, emerged on top the list of leading sires by average (with three of more sold) for the Sept. 11 fourth day of the Keeneland September yearling sale.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
In one of the most thrilling finishes in the race's 139-year history, WinStar Farm's Colonel John nosed out Mambo in Seattle to win the $1-million Travers Stakes Presented by Shadwell Farm (gr. I) Aug. 23 at Saratoga.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Other than Big Brown, no 3-year-old has separated itself from the rest of the pack in 2008. That could all change Aug. 23 at Saratoga, as a full field of 12 will go to post in the $1 million Travers Stakes Presented by Shadwell Farm (gr. I), each horse seeking its place in history by attempting to win one of the oldest and most prestigious Thoroughbred races in North America.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
A field of 12 was entered Aug. 20 for the $1-million Travers Presented by Shadwell Farm at Saratoga Aug. 23.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Da' Tara, who shocked the nation when he wired the field at odds of 38-1 in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) and denied Big Brown the Triple Crown, returns to the racetrack July 27 in the $500,000 Jim Dandy Stakes (gr. II) at Saratoga.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Fasig-Tipton has cataloged 195 horses for its Saratoga select yearling sale, which will be conducted Aug. 4 and 5 in New York.
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
Tony Micallef, the jockey agent for Alan Garcia, who upset the June 7 Belmont Stakes (gr. I) aboard Da' Tara, has "no racing privileges" in New York, according to Daniel Toomey of the New York State Racing and Wagering Board.
Monday, June 23, 2008
PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter
Okay, so no Triple Crown, again. But the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) still made racing history. Da' Tara became the first male-line descendant of Man o' War to win an American classic since War Admiral took the Triple Crown in 1937. Tiznow, the sire of Da' Tara, is an extension of the Man o' War line through Cee's Tizzy, a son of Relaunch. Thursday, June 12, 2008
Preliminary analysis by the Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bureau suggests nothing appears amiss with wagering on the June 7 Belmont Stakes (gr. I) won by longshot Da' Tara.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Nick Zito, New York's favorite son, shuts the door on another Triple Crown bid, this time beating Big Brown with Da' Tara.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Trainers Bob Baffert, Wayne Lukas, and Nick Zito will be involved in a new buying, racing, and selling venture.
Monday, June 09, 2008
Slightly more than 12 hours after saddling Da' Tara to an upset victory in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I), trainer Nick Zito was back at his barn at Belmont Park the morning of June 8 to oversee his stable.
Sunday, June 08, 2008
The New York Racing Association reported that 94,476 were on hand under sunny skies on a sweltering day at Belmont Park June 7 to witness yet another Triple Crown upset, with longshot Da' Tara going wire to wire in the 140th Belmont Stakes (gr. I). The victory ended heavily favored Big Brown's attempt to become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978.
Saturday, June 07, 2008
For the third time in about a week Casino Drive had one of those non-published works that everyone has come to expect. The first time was by himself, the second with two workmates, and today's with one workmate. But this time it was different, as his jockey Edgar Prado was aboard for the first time.
Thursday, June 05, 2008
The Nick Zito-trained Anak Nakal was a go for the Belmont Stakes (gr.I) shortly after he ran seventh in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr.I) at Churchill Downs on May 3.
Thursday, June 05, 2008
Favored Roman Emperor charged to the lead on the turn, dueled with Da' Tara down the lane, then won the Barbaro Stakes for 3-year-olds May 17 at Pimlico.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
That Roman Emperor likes the 1 1/16-mile distance has already been proven. Whether he'll bounce back from a seventh-place finish in the 1 1/8-mile Wood Memorial (gr. I) remains to be seen. We'll find out when the Steve Klesaris trainee leads a field of seven 3-year-olds in the $100,000 Barbaro Stakes at Pimlico Race Course.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
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