VTA Announces 2010 Year-End Winners

The legacy of the late Edward P. Evans was carried on in a big way when the 2010 Virginia-bred champions were announced by the Virginia Thoroughbred Association.

Pletcher's 11 BC Contenders In Good Order

Todd Pletcher said all 11 of his Breeders' Cup horses were fine the morning of Nov. 7.

Pletcher Works Five BC Hopefuls at Churchill

Todd Pletcher sent out five of his Breeders' Cup hopefuls Oct. 30 at Churchill Downs, including his Ladies' Classic (gr. I) duo of Cynthia DeBartolo's Life At Ten and Edward Evans' Malibu Prayer.

Pletcher Optimistic for a Big Breeders' Cup

Todd Pletcher has pre-entered 11 horses -- more than any other trainer at the two-day Breeders' Cup World Championships to be held Nov. 5-6 at Churchill Downs.

Quality Road, Other Pletcher Horses Work

Led by Quality Road, Breeders' Cup World Championship contenders from the barn of trainer Todd Pletcher were hard at work at Belmont Park over the weekend.

Quality Road Works Four Furlongs

Trainer Todd Pletcher will train the grade I winner up to the Breeders' Cup Classic Nov. 6 at Churchill Downs.

In Final Start, Just Jenda Tops Malibu Prayer

Just Jenda went out a winner when she overtook odds-on favorite Malibu Prayer in upper stretch and rolled to an easy 3 1/2-length victory in the $294,000 Molly Pitcher Stakes (gr. II) Aug. 29.

Molly Pitcher: Malibu Prayer the One to Beat

Grade I winner Malibu Prayer will give six pounds to five fillies and mares when she goes to post as the favorite in the $300,000 Molly Pitcher Stakes (gr. II) Aug. 29 at Monmouth Park.

Breeders' Cup Perfect Trip: Aug 28 Nominees

This week's nominees are: Dakota Phone, Malibu Prayer, Blame, and Wasted Tears.

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Life At Ten Drills for Personal Ensign Clash

Life At Ten, who will take a six-race winning streak into the Personal Ensign Stakes (gr. I) Aug. 29 at Saratoga against Rachel Alexandra, worked five furlongs over the track for trainer Todd Pletcher Aug. 22.

Several Post Works at Saratoga

Breezing in company over the main track at Saratoga early the morning of Aug. 15, Devil May Care had her final serious work for the matchup with West coast-based Blind Luck in the Aug. 21 Betfair TVG Alabama Stakes (gr. I).

Playing on Some Themes with The Minstrel

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter
Alan Porter's focus this week is the interbreeding of close genetic relatives The Minstrel and Nijinsky II, as exemplified by recent stakes winners A Little Warm and Malibu Prayer.

Malibu Prayer Wings Way to Ruffian Victory

Malibu Prayer turned back 3-5 favorite Unrivaled Belle in upper stretch and held on gamely to win the $250,000 Ruffian Handicap (gr. I) Aug. 1 to give owner/breeder Edward P. Evans a second major victory at the Spa.

Ruffian Timing Right for Unrivaled Belle

Timing can mean everything, and in the case of the $250,000 Ruffian Invitational Handicap (gr. I) Aug. 1 at Saratoga, it could result in a long-awaited grade I victory for Unrivaled Belle.

Rachel May Face Up to Seven in Lady's Secret

Rachel Alexandra will have four definite opponents in the $400,000 Lady's Secret Stakes July 24 at Monmouth Park.

Hour Glass Slips Through in Vagrancy 'Cap

Hour Glass, trainer Todd Pletcher's second horse in Belmont Park's Vagrancy Handicap (gr. II), held off Tar Heel Mom by a half-length to win the $150,000 event for fillies and mares May 29.

Tar Heel Mom Enters Vagrancy 'Cap Off Big Win

Alex Rankin's Tar Heel Mom, the Distaff Handicap (gr. II) winner last month at Aqueduct, will tote top weight of 119 pounds as the 5-2 morning-line favorite in the $150,000 Vagrancy Handicap (gr. II) May 29 at Belmont.

Just Jenda Impressive Winner in Monmouth Oaks

Just Jenda served noticed that she is a force to be reckoned with in the 3-year-old filly division, as she followed up last month's dominating stakes win at Monmouth Park with another convincing score, this one in the $200,000 Monmouth Oaks (gr. III) Aug. 15.

Just Jenda Looms Large in Monmouth Oaks

Just Jenda will face nine in the $200,000 Monmouth Breeders' Cup Oaks (gr. III) Aug. 15 in Oceanport, N.J. The chestnut filly looms a tough customer in the 1 1/16-mile main track event.

Careless Jewel Steals Delaware Oaks at 10-1

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.

Solid Field Set For Delaware Oaks

Payton d'Oro and Bon Jovi Girl, who took turns beating each other in their last two starts, will do battle once again in the $250,000 Delaware Oaks (gr. II) July 18 at Delaware Park, where they will meet a solid group of 3-year-old fillies.

'Rachel' Sets Stakes Record in Mother Goose

Rachel Alexandra faced only two opponents in the $300,000 Mother Goose (gr. I) June 27 at Belmont Park but the sensational filly put on a dazzling display anyway, setting a stakes record while romping by nearly 20 lengths under Calvin Borel.

'Rachel' Could Get Stiff Test in Mother Goose

Rachel Alexandra will make her first start since her historic Preakness (gr. I) victory June 27 at Belmont Park, but her presence in the $300,000 Mother Goose (gr. I) isn't scaring everyone away.