Grade I Winner Macho Again Retired

Grade I winner and millionaire Macho Again has been retired from racing and is in the process of being sold to a Venezuelan farm.

Blame Runs Down Battle Plan in Stephen Foster

The only thing Blame needed to officially become a star was a grade I win. The son of Arch accomplished that June 12, overcoming a wide trip while running down pacesetter Battle Plan to score the Stephen Foster Handicap.

THS: The Stephen Foster

Jason, Evan, and Les Instone of twinspires.com preview the Stephen Foster (gr. I) at Churchill Downs on June 12.

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Blame Seeks Grade I Win in Stephen Foster

Blame will have no easy task against a proven field of 11 in the 1 1/8-mile Foster. His main challengers include last year's winner Macho Again, Arson Squad, General Quarters, as well as another emerging star, Battle Plan.

Eight Probables for Stephen Foster Handicap

With the connections of Rachel Alexandra undecided on which of four stakes in which she will run June 12, eight horses are probable and three are possible for the 29th running of the $600,000 Stephen Foster Handicap.

Arson Squad Defeats Solid Alysheba Field

Jay Em Ess Stable's Arson Squad took over at the top of the lane and bounded home for his second straight graded stakes score in the $169,650 Alysheba Stakes (gr. III) April 30 at Churchill Downs.

Friesan Fire Returns to CD for the Alysheba

The Alysheba Stakes (gr. III) April 30 at Churchill Downs the day before the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) is a homecoming of sorts for some former Kentucky Derby contestants.

Poll: Best North American Older Male of 2009

Who should win the Eclipse Award as North America's top older male of 2009?

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Clark: Showdown For 3 Potential Champions

The Clark Handicap (gr. II) is always a solid race and a good way to put an exclamation point on not only the Churchill Downs fall meet, but the older handicap division.

Late-Season Clark 'Cap Attracts a Full Gate

There was plenty of interest at the entry box when it closed for the $400,000 Clark Handicap (gr. II), the premier post-Breeders' Cup handicap event around two turns on dirt in the United States. In all, 14 horses were entered for the Nov. 27 Clark, which is run at 1 1/8 miles at Churchill Downs.

Stewart: Macho Again 'Ready to Roll' in Clark

Trainer Dallas Stewart says Macho Again is "ready to roll" for the $400,000 Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (gr. II) at Churchill Downs Nov. 27.

Einstein Assigned Top Weight for Clark 'Cap

Stronach Stables' Einstein, unplaced in the Nov. 7 Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I), was assigned top weight of 123 pounds for the Nov. 27 Clark Handicap (gr. II) at Churchill Downs.

Macho Again to Skip Breeders' Cup Classic

West Point Thoroughbreds' Macho Again will skip the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) Nov. 7, due to a cough he developed following his breeze Oct. 17.

Countdown to the Cup: Early Angles

As we all know there is always an angle or two we can latch on to in the Breeders' Cup. The trick is finding them among the morass of stakes horses that line up for the 14 races. There probably are more chances of landing a longshot on a synthetic surface, because, in all honesty, does anyone really know how to handicap these races?

Countdown to the Cup: Beyond the Sea...a Bird

If Sea the Stars does not make the trip to California, which seems more likely than not, and joins Rachel Alexandra on the absentee list, it will create a void never before seen in the Breeders' Cup.

Summer Bird Does it Again, Wins JCGC

Summer Bird continued his meteoric rise to the top of the Thoroughbred ranks, as he turned back fellow 3-year-old Quality Road to win the $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I) by a length Oct. 3 at Belmont Park.

JCGC: Will Summer Bird Soar Again?

Though his racing career began just seven months ago, Summer Bird has accomplished extraordinary things in a short period of time. The Belmont Stakes (gr. I) and Shadwell Travers (gr. I) winner will try to defy the odds once again when he faces older horses for the first time in the $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup Invitational (gr. I) Oct. 3 at Belmont Park.

West Point Pair Aiming For BC Classic

West Point Thoroughbreds will be represented by graded stakes winners Macho Again and Awesome Gem in the $5-million Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I), West Point president Terry Finley confirmed Sept. 16.

Countdown to the Cup: Rachel Rocks the Spa

Rachel Alexandra provided one of the great moments in the history of Saratoga when she scored a courageous head victory over older male rivals in the $750,000 Woodward Stakes Sept. 5.

Rachel Doing Well Day After Woodward

Standing outside his barn at Saratoga the morning of Sept. 6, trainer Steve Asmussen was still basking in the glow of Rachel Alexandra's historic victory in the $750,000 Woodward Stakes (gr. I) as he reported the filly came out of the race in good shape.

Rachel Holds Off Macho Again in Woodward

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.

That Handicapping Show: The Woodward (Video)

Jason, Tom, and Rich Nilsen of twinspires.com preview the Woodward Stakes (gr. I). Plus picks for the Forego (gr. I).

Woodward Analysis: Target Rachel?

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.

West Point Horses Run in Support of Alliance

A percentage of any purse monies earned by West Point Thoroughbreds' Macho Again in the $750,000 Woodward Stakes (gr. I) Sept. 5 at Saratoga; and Awesome Gem in the $1-million Pacific Classic (gr. I) Sept. 6 at Del Mar will be donated to the National Thoroughbred Racing Association Safety and Integrity Alliance.

Rachel to Face 7 Males in Historic Woodward

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.