Pioneerof The Nile works at Churchill Downs on May 11
Photo: Reed Palmer
Pioneerof the Nile during his morning gallop at Chrurchill Downs April 29
Photo: Mathea Kelley
Pioneerof the Nile during morning gallop at Chrurchill Downs April 29
Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Pioneerof The Nile works at Churchill Downs on April 27
Photo: Anne Eberhardt
Pioneerof The Nile works at Churchill Downs on April 21
Photo: Anne Eberhardt
Pioneerof the Nile wins the 2009 Santa Anita Derby.
Photo: Benoit
Pioneerof the Nile wins the 2009 Santa Anita Derby.
Photo: Benoit
Pioneerof the Nile wins the 2009 Santa Anita Derby.
Photo: Benoit
Pioneerof the Nile wins the 2009 Santa Anita Derby.
Photo: Benoit
Pioneerof The Nile breezing at Santa Anita March 25.2009
Photo: Benoit
Pioneerof the Nile wins the San Felipe.
Photo: Benoit
Pioneerof the Nile captures the Robert B. Lewis
Photo: Benoit
Pioneerof the Nile captures the Robert B. Lewis
Photo: Benoit
| Trainer | Bob Baffert |
|---|---|
| Jockey | Garrett K. Gomez |
| Owner | Zayat Stables LLC |
| Breeder | Zayat Stables, LLC |
| Pioneerof the Nile View Five-Cross Pedigree | Empire Maker | Unbridled |
| Toussaud | ||
| Star of Goshen | Lord At War (ARG) | |
| Castle Eight |
| Sale / Hip | Type | Buyer | Consignor | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KEESEP2007 Hip 458 |
Yearling | Zayat Stables | Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency, agent | $290,000 |
The morning after Social Inclusion's record-setting allowance victory at Gulfstream Park March 12, owner Ron Sanchez said his unbeaten Pioneerof the Nile colt is on a path for the Kentucky Derby (gr. I).
WinStar Farm and Twin Creeks Racing, owners of Sam F. Davis (gr. III) winner Vinceremos, will donate a portion of the colt's earnings to the Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center.
Darley has purchased a majority interest in current Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) favorite Cairo Prince. The son of Pioneerof the Nile will race in the blue silks of Godolphin Racing.
Ciaran Dunne's Wavertree Stables has led all consignors of 2-year-olds in training in gross sales for consecutive years. The Ocala, Fla.-based operation generates results with quantity and quality.
When it comes to evaluating talent in young racehorses, Becky Thomas of Sequel Bloodstock has repeatedly proven she possesses an eye for equine athletes.
MAHUBAH'S CORNER
Cairo Prince could have just the right balance of stamina and speed to be a successful contender in the Kentucky Derby.
Images taken by equine photographer Joy B. Gilbert presented as a tribute her life and work. View Slideshow
His slate-gray tail streaming behind him, Cairo Prince put on quite a show in the $400,000 Miller Lite Holy Bull Stakes (gr. II) Jan. 25 at Gulfstream Park, winning by 5 3/4 lengths over 10 other 3-year-olds.
Photographer Chad Harmon, who won the WinStar StableMates Saratoga Challenge, shares photos from his visit to WinStar Farm on December 20, 2013. View Slideshow
In his first start against winners, Cairo Prince scored a decisive victory over an 11-horse field after taking over the lead at the top of the stretch of the Nov. 3 Nashua Stakes (gr. II) for 2-year-olds at Aqueduct.
Figures rose across the board for the second straight day at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s August yearling sale Aug. 21 in Ocala, Fla.
by Anne Peters
Female lines that continue to produce top-class runners.
The Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's 2013 August Yearling Sale, with 841 youngsters cataloged, begins its three-day run Tuesday, Aug. 20.
The sale came just four days after Pioneerof the Nile filly Ari the Adventurer drew off to an easy win in her Belmont Park debut for Stonestreet Stables.
Tracker Jacker, who sold for an auction-record $525,000 at the OBS June 2-year-olds in training and horses of racing age sale, is scheduled to arrive from Ocala at trainer Mark Casse's barn at Churchill Downs June 21.
Given the results of its two previous auctions this year and the booming market, it's no surprise that OBS closed out the lucrative juvenile sale season with a June record top-priced horse and across-the-board benchmarks.
Dual grade I winner and first-crop sire Pioneerof the Nile saw his first winner May 12 as juvenile filly Zarnica won her first start in a 1,000-meter race in Russia at the Rostov-On-Don Hippodrome.
Gun Roar (Bernstein) got up late for victory at Churchill Downs. For Saturday, 2 two-year-old races, one at Calder and one at Lone Star Park. Plus, a new worker for Pioneerof the Nile. read blog
A strong middle market helped pace the 2013 Keeneland April 2-year-olds in training sale to solid gains in both average and median April 8 in Lexington.
The average rose 9.2% and the median was up 23.1% during the first session of the OBS March sale of 2-year-olds March 13 in Ocala. David Ingordo went to $480,000 for the day's topper, a son of Flatter for $480,000.
A week after Barretts extended its brand to include racing at Fairplex Park, the auction company will host its March sale of selected 2-year-olds in training in Pomona, Calif. The March 4 sale has cataloged 138 youngsters.
Pioneerof the Nile and Maimonides, two Kentucky-based stallions owned in majority by Zayat Stables, have been moved to Kenny Troutt's WinStar Farm near Versailles, Ky., to stand in 2013.
Ahmed Zayat has come close repeatedly in racing's 3-year-old classics, including with Bodemeister in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness. He hopes Paynter can put him over the top in the Belmont Stakes.
For Reddam the Derby victory is a splendid mix of good fortune and good chemistry read blog
Ahmed Zayat has been second in the Kentucky Derby twice in the past three years, and his Eskendereya, the would-be favorite in 2010, was scratched the day of the race.
PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter
The style of victory of Empire Maker's son Bodemeister in the Arkansas Derby raised the possibility that his sire is not yet done with North America's premier classic.
More Than Ready, sire of Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (gr. IIT) winner Regally Ready, will stand in 2012 for $60,000, up from $40,000 in 2010.
Ahmed Zayat, who seems on the cusp of winning a classic race any time now, as been in the headlines for all the right and wrong reasons in his six years of Thoroughbred ownership.
More Than Ready, sire of both winners of this year's two Breeders' Cup races for 2-year-olds on the turf, will stand in 2011 for $40,000, up from $30,000 in 2010.
Zayat Stables has agreed to sell all of grade I winner and probable Kentucky Derby favorite Eskendereya this year under a bankruptcy reorganization plan that projects all creditors will be paid in full.
Forefathers, a grade II stakes-placed half-brother to grade I winner Pioneerof the Nile, will stand his first season at Jay Adcock's Red River Farms near Coushatta, La.
We need the help of banks. And we need people like Ahmed Zayat. Read Blog
The Feb. 3 Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing by Zayat Stables shows that Keeneland sales company, a handful of trainers across the country, and breeding farms are among the creditors of Ahmed Zayat's racing operation.
Churchill Downs will offer three Future Wager Pools for the May 1 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) and one Future Wager Pool for the April 30 Kentucky Oaks (gr. I). Each wagering period will be for three days.
Ahmed Zayat, who operates one of North America's leading racing stables and is a major buyer at equine auctions, said he is surprised that a major bank has filed suit seeking repayment of more than $34 million in loans.
Multiple grade I-winning millionaire and Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) second-place finisher Pioneerof the Nile will stand for $20,000 when he enters stud at Dr. Tom Simon's Vinery near Lexington in 2010.
Santa Anita Derby victor Pioneerof the Nile, second to Mine That Bird in this year's Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands, will begin his stallion career at Dr. Tom Simon's Vinery in Kentucky.
Zayat Stables' Pioneerof the Nile, winner of four consecutive graded stakes and second in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), has been retired due to a soft tissue injury to his left front leg.
All the obvious thoughts on this year's bizarre, but memorable Triple Crown have been discussed regarding the major players. But there were unsung heroes as well who did not wind up in the winner's circle, yet contributed to the memories.
How much did the addition of the filly Rachel Alexandra mean to the dynamics of the May 16 Preakness Stakes (gr. I)? According to the patrons at Pimlico Race Course the day before the middle jewel of the Triple Crown, it meant everything.
It has long been the tradition for starters in the Preakness Stakes (gr. I) to saddle on the turf course at Pimlico Race Course, but more than half of this year's field -- including morning-line favorite Rachel Alexandra and Pioneerof the Nile -- will be saddled indoors, Maryland Jockey Club paddock judge Mario Verge said May 15.
There was little new activity Thursday morning, although Pioneerof the Nile did have his first feel of the Pimlico track. Rachel Alexandra went unseen, walking the shed at around 4:30, but did show up for all to see in the afternoon, schooling in the paddock before the fourth race.
A field of 13 is set to line the gates at Pimlico Race Course May 16 for the 1 3/16-mile classic. It is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing Preakness Stakes in recent memory.
The week leading up to the May 2 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), Ahmed Zayat, owner of Pioneerof the Nile, was hit in the head by bird droppings. The owner saw it as a positive and believed his colt had a good chance in the Derby; little did he know what was to come.
Insight into the pedigrees of this year's Preakness contenders is only a click away. This easy-to-read report includes pedigree analyses from Alan Porter, Avalyn Hunter, and Tom Hall. Order your copy today and separate the contenders from the pretenders.
Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) winner Rachel Alexandra drew post 13 and was installed as the solid 8-5 morning-line favorite for the $1-million Preakness Stakes (gr. I) May 16 at Pimlico.
The exodus of Churchill Downs-based contenders for 134th running of the $1-million Preakness (gr. I) was completed May 13 when major contenders Rachel Alexandra and Pioneerof the Nile stepped onto separate vans around 12:30 p.m. EDT for the short trip to Louisville International Airport for their flight to Baltimore.
There is no denying that Ahmed Zayat started a firestorm of controversy when he went on HRTV and TVG to announce and then take back his intentions of trying to keep Rachel Alexandra out of the Preakness Stakes (gr. I). The predicted fallout occurred, but it is now time to cut him some slack.
Zayat Stables' homebred Pioneerof the Nile, second in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), breezed a half-mile in :47 3/5 at Churchill Downs May 11 as the Empire Maker colt prepped for the May 16 Preakness Stakes (gr. I). The time was fourth-fastest of the morning among 48 horses working four furlongs.
After being besieged with unfavorable comments regarding his earlier decision to enter enough horses to prevent Rachel Alexandra from running in the Preakness Stakes (gr. I), Ahmed Zayat, owner of Pioneerof the Nile, said on TVG that he has decided to reconsider and will not enter any other horses.
| Palace Malice |
| Awesome Baby |
| California Chrome |
| Samraat |
| Cairo Prince |
| Wildcat Red |
| Intense Holiday |
| Lea |
| Close Hatches |
| Game On Dude |
