Optimizer (right) makes his move to win the 2013 Fair Grounds Handicap.
Photo: Hodges Photography / Alexander Barkoff
Optimizer wins the 2013 Col. E. R. Bradley Handicap.
Photo: Hodges Photography/Lou Hodges, Jr.
Optimizer wins the 2012 Kent Stakes.
Photo: HoofprintsInc.com
First Time by in Kentucky Derby 138.
Photo: Mallory Haigh
Optimizer and D. Wayne Lukas - Churchill Downs 5/2/2012
Photo: Mathea Kelley
Optimizer - Churchill Downs 5/2/2012
Photo: Mathea Kelley
Optimizer - Churchill Downs 5/2/2012
Photo: Mathea Kelley
Optimizer - Churchill Downs 5/2/2012
Photo: Mathea Kelley
Optimizer - Churchill Downs, May 2, 2012
Photo: Mathea Kelley
Optimizer gallops at Churchill Downs 4/22/2012
Photo: Reed Palmer Photography/Churchill Downs
Optimizer - Churchill Downs, April 27, 2012
Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Optimizer - Churchill Downs, April 27, 2012
Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Optimizer - Churchill Downs, April 22, 2012
Photo: Reed Palmer Photography, Churchill Downs
Optimizer at Churchill Downs 4/23/2012
Photo: Reed Palmer/Churchill Downs
Optimizer in the DIxiana Breeders' Futurity.
Photo: Mathea Kelley| Trainer | D. Wayne Lukas |
|---|---|
| Jockey | Junior Alvarado |
| Owner | Calumet Farm |
| Breeder | Bluegrass Hall, LLC |
| Optimizer View Five-Cross Pedigree | English Channel | Smart Strike |
| Belva | ||
| Indy Pick | A.P. Indy | |
| Fantastic Find |
Boisterous may have won the Man o' War Stakes (gr. IT) last time out at Belmont Park, but he isn't scaring away competition from the Aug. 17 Sword Dancer Invitational Handicap (gr. IT) at Saratoga Race Course.
A half sister to multiple graded-stakes winner Optimizer was sold for $1,225,000 to top the opening session of the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga selected yearling sale Aug. 5.
Consignor John Stuart of Bluegrass Thoroughbred Services has 11 yearlings entered in the Aug. 5-6 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling sale, including a half sister to multiple graded stakes winner Optimizer.
Frank Angst and Claire Novak handicap the Man o' War Stakes and Virginia Derby. Both seem to think the Virginia Derby will be a very telling and exciting race to watch. Can the Kittens finish 1-2-3? watch video
Although Point of Entry will not defend his title in the $600,000 Man o' War Handicap at Belmont Park July 13, Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey hopes Boisterous will be a capable pinch-hitter in the grade I turf event.
Phipps Stable's Point of Entry captured his eighth victory in 12 starts on grass with a smooth come-from-behind win in the $500,000 Woodford Reserve Manhattan Handicap (gr. IT) at Belmont Park June 8.
Trainer Shug McGaughey said emphatically that turf star Point of Entry will compete in the $500,000 Woodford Reserve Manhattan Handicap (gr. IT) June 8, despite the forecast for rain over the weekend.
Calumet Farm's Skyring, winless in 11 starts since a victory at Pimlico Race Course last May, found the winner's circle again at the Maryland track in the Longines Dixie Stakes (gr. IIT).
Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas has three starters in the May 18 Preakness Stakes and five in races on the undercard, including Optimizer and Skyring as part of a 13-horse field for the Longines Dixie Stakes (gr. IIT).
Horse of the Year Wise Dan ran his winning streak to six races and surpassed $4 million in career earnings handily in the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (gr. IT) over yielding ground May 4 at Churchill Downs.
Wise Dan and Point of Entry face off May 4 at Churchill Downs in the $500,000 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (gr. IT), the race immediately preceding the Kentucky Derby (gr. I).
An unfortunate stumble at the start of the Gulfstream Park Handicap (gr. II) last month cost Fort Larned his seasonal debut, but the 2012 Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) winner is back in the $500,000 Oaklawn Handicap (gr. II).
Favored Amira's Prince recorded his fourth consecutive win since arriving in the United States, holding off a determined charge from Willcox Inn in the $400,000 Mervin H. Muniz Memorial Handicap (gr. IIT) March 30.
Optimizer has been a different horse since he moved to the grass, and streaks into the March 30 Mervin H. Muniz Jr. Memorial Handicap at Fair Grounds with two graded stakes scores under his girth.
Optimizer hopped at the break of the $150,000 Fair Grounds Handicap (gr. IIIT) but drew clear in the end, earning his second straight victory over the turf at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots Feb. 23.
After dominating in the Colonel E. R. Bradley Handicap (gr. IIIT) Jan. 26 at Fair Grounds, Optimizer will try for a second straight win on the Stall-Wilson Course in the Fair Grounds Handicap (gr. IIIT) Feb. 23.
Optimizer went wire-to-wire in the $125,000 Col. E.R. Bradley Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots Jan. 26 for red-hot Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas, who has won three stakes races in eight days.
Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas looks to continue his hot streak in the $125,000 Col. E.R. Bradley Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, sending out Optimizer in the Jan. 26 turf test for older males.
Favored Grandeur earned his second grade II win from three United States starts when he came from off the pace to capture the $250,000 Hollywood Turf Cup by three-quarters of a length at Betfair Hollywood Park Dec. 15.
Runner-up as the favorite in the Hollywood Derby (gr. IT), Grandeur will try to become the first 3-year-old since Bien Bien in 1992 to win the Hollywood Turf Cup (gr. IIT) Dec. 15 at Betfair Hollywood Park.
Boisterous, winner of the Red Smith Handicap and Knickerbocker in his previous two starts, carries top weight of 124 pounds against 11 rivals in the $100,000 River City Handicap (gr. IIIT) Nov. 25 at Churchill Downs.
Son of grass champion English Channel heads into BC Turf with two straight grass wins.
Pit last year's European-based Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) winner against New York's finest coming off five consecutive victories, and the Turf might look like a two-horse race between St Nicholas Abbey and Point of Entry.
Bluegrass Hall's homebred Optimizer continued his climb through conditions on the turf with a powerful 4 1/4-length win in the $200,625 Kent Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Delaware Park Sept. 22, earning his first graded stakes score.
American Derby winner Cozzetti seeks a return to winning ways in the $200,000 Kent Stakes at Delaware Park Sept. 22, but plenty of new rivals including Lucky Chappy, Miami Cat, and Optimizer are ready to take him on.
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