Ken and Sarah Ramsey homebred Talent Search has put together a banner year, placing in seven of eight starts, while winning three times. He has a golden opportunity for his first graded score Nov. 24 when he takes on seven challengers in the $250,000 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash (gr. I) at six furlongs on the Laurel Park main track.
Terry Finley, president of West Point Thoroughbreds, talks about their five Breeders' Cup contenders: Dream Rush, High Finance, Lear's Princess, Irish Smoke and Awesome Gem.
While Terry Finley is flying high with his West Point Thoroughbreds having interests in five horses entered in the Oct. 26-27 Breeders' Cup World Championships, the owner and his partners are lying low with regard to one of their former trainers.
Despite the string of second-place finishes, Awesome Gem, who was bred in Kentucky by Runnymeade Farm Inc., Catesby Clay and Peter Callahan, has shown he can compete with the best. It gives Terry Finley hope he will surprise people in the Classic, even with such a deep field.
Southern California trainer Bob Baffert continues to see dividends from his decision to take a string from his Southern California stable to Saratoga. In the $250,000 Forego Handicap (gr. I), his Midnight Lute made the lead on the turn of the seven-furlong test and rolled to his first grade I win by more than two lengths under substitute rider Shaun Bridgmohan.
New York: Either love it or hate it. There is no doubt what side of the fence High Finance falls on. The 4-year-old colt has started five times in the Empire State, and won four races. In nine other career tries, the Kentucky-bred has won just once. Go figure.
High Finance left the grade I winner Commentator behind in the final furlong to win the $197,500 Tom Fool Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II) at Belmont Park Wednesday and register his first stakes victory for trainer Richard Violette Jr.
Trainer Nick Zito could not think any more highly of Tracy Farmer's Commentator, the standout in Wednesday's competitive $200,000 Tom Fool Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II) at Belmont Park.
Returning from a seven-month layoff, Keyed Entry went gate to wire to defeat four overmatched opponents in Saturday's $100,000 Deputy Minister Handicap (gr. III), the first of six graded stakes on the Gulfstream Park program.
The productive 6-year-old gelding Kelly's Landing got his 2007 season off on the right foot with a sharp win as the favorite in Saturday's $100,000 Mr. Prospector Handicap (gr. III) at Gulfstream Park.
Summerplace Farm's Kelly's Landing gets his 2007 campaign underway as one of the favorites for the $100,000 Mr. Prospector Handicap (gr. III) at Gulfstream Park Saturday.
Midnight Lute, a recent arrival from California trained by Bob Baffert, drew off by 4 3/4 lengths in winning the $200,000 Perryville Stakes (presented by Budweiser Select) (gr. III) for 3-year-olds at Keeneland Friday.
Twelve 3-year-olds will square off Sunday afternoon in what appears to be a wide-open renewal of the $750,000 West Virginia Derby (gr. III) at Mountaineer Race Track & Gaming Resort.
There are nine -- count 'em, nine -- horses who can win Saturday's Belmont Stakes (gr. I), and it wouldn't come as a major surprise. What that means is that you can safely disregard the experts, speed figures, or any other handicapping tool and just hope the horse or horses you choose are in top shape to go a mile and a half.
For the second time in the Triple Crown races this year, the West Point Thoroughbreds syndicate will be sending a runner postward when High Finance competes in Saturday's Belmont Stakes (gr. I).
The field for the 138th running of the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) has been drawn, and now it is time for the strategies to be finalized and for a new star to emerge on the 3-year-old scene.
Under the watchful eye of trainer Bob Baffert, Belmont Stakes (gr. I) contender Bob and John and Woody Stephens Breeders' Cup (gr. II) favorite Too Much Bling both galloped easily over the muddy Belmont Park track Thursday morning.
Three candidates for Saturday's Belmont Stakes (gr. I) had their final workouts Tuesday, with Deputy Glitters and Sacred Light working over the main track at Belmont Park and High Finance in action at Aqueduct.
With each failed Triple Crown attempt comes an outcry from racing fans and horsemen that the structure of the Triple Crown needs changing. If it is the horses' safety and longevity that is the impetus for their comments, then no one can take issue with them. If, however, it is based on the fact that we have gone 28 years without a Triple Crown winner and racing desperately needs a horse to finally win all three races, that's a different matter.
Jazil, who dead-heated for fourth in the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), is scheduled to breeze a half-mile Monday morning in preparation for the June 10 Belmont Stakes (gr. I). He was one of several probable starters that are expected to work Monday.
Joseph Lacombe Stable's Deputy Glitters breezed five furlongs over Belmont's main track Monday morning in 1:01 4/5 in preparation for the June 10 Belmont Stakes. Belmont possible Cause to Believe also worked Monday, at Bay Meadows.
| Trainer | Kiaran P. McLaughlin |
|---|---|
| Jockey | Harry Vega |
| Owner | West Point Thoroughbreds |
| Breeder | Dan Borislow |
| High Finance View Five-Cross Pedigree | Talk Is Money | Deputy Minister |
| Isle Go West | ||
| Margay | Conquistador Cielo | |
| Reggie V |
| Sale / Hip | Type | Buyer | Consignor | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KEENOV2003 Hip 2613 |
Weanling | Silver Oaks | Knockgriffin Farm, agent | $72,000 |
| FTKJUL2004 Hip 199 |
Yearling | Buzz Chace, agent | Bluewater Sales, agent | $120,000 |
| Rachel Alexandra |
| California Chrome |
| Bodemeister |
| Calculator |
| Upstart |
| Far Right |
| Buddy's Saint |
| International Star |
| Main Sequence |
| Dortmund |
