Prayer for Relief - Breeders' Cup 2014
Photo: Chad B. Harmon
Prayer for Relief wins the 2013 Cornhusker.
Photo: Coady Photography
Prayer for Relief wins the 2013 Cornhusker.
Photo: Coady Photography
Prayer for Relief wins the 2011 Super Derby.
Photo: Hodges Photography/Lou Hodges, Jr.
Prayer for Relief wins the 2011 Super Derby.
Photo: Hodges Photography/Kevin Hodges.
Prayer for Relief - Louisiana Downs, 09/09/11
Photo: Hodges Photography/Lou Hodges, Jr.
Prayer for Relief - Louisiana Downs, 09/09/11
Photo: Hodges Photography/Lou Hodges, Jr.
Prayer for Relief - Louisiana Downs, 09/09/11
Photo: Hodges Photography/Lou Hodges, Jr.
Prayer for Relief wins the Iowa Derby.
Photo: Coady Photography
Lea left no doubts he's back, posting an impressive 1/2-length victory over Confrontation to take the $150,000 Hal's Hope Stakes (gr. III) at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 10. It was his second Hal's Hope score.
J. Keeler Johnson handicaps the Clark Handicap (gr. I) at Churchill Downs. read blog
Claire Novak and Tom LaMarra look at the Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs Friday. Watch Video
Many count the two top 3-year-olds in the field of nine among those who could have made some noise before heading to the sidelines earlier this season.
When Easter Gift finished a solid third to eventual 3-year-old champion Will Take Charge and Game On Dude in last year's Clark Handicap (gr. I), trainer Chad Brown was hoping that big things could be on the horizon.
Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) winner Bayern and Besilu Florida Derby (gr. I) victor Constitution headline 20 horses nominated to the $500,000 Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (gr. I) at Churchill Downs.
Relive Bayern's victory in the 2014 Breeders' Cup Classic. See where your favorite horse was at six crucial points of the race with our interactive slideshow. view slideshow
Timeform US Breeders' Cup Preview: Will Shared Belief Remain Undefeated? read blog
Ahmed Zayat still has Mr. Z and Prayer for Relief in the Breeders' Cup World Championships, but the injury that knocked American Pharoah out of the Juvenile was devastating to the owner.
Despite Prayer for Relief having not visited the winner's circle since December, trainer Dale Romans believes the 6-year-horse belongs in the field for the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I).
Trainer Dale Romans talks about Breeders' Cup works by Prayer for Relief and Cristina's Journey on Oct 25. Watch Video
The countdown to the upcoming 31st Breeders' Cup World Championships at Santa Anita Park intensified Oct. 18 with a bevy of workers out at the Southern California track on a pleasant, sun-kissed morning.
Sophomores Wicked Strong, Tonalist, and V.E. Day take on elders such as Whitney (gr. I) winner Moreno in the 1 1/4-mile Jockey Club Gold Cup Sept. 27 on Super Saturday at Belmont Park.
Micromanage is one horse who has the bottom, and plenty of it, and is not going to get tired. read blog
Co-favorites Itsmyluckyday and Moreno battled shoulder to shoulder through the entire length of the Saratoga stretch before Itsmyluckyday prevailed to win the $600,000 Woodward Stakes (gr. I) by half a length Aug. 30.
Southern Equine Stables' Whitney (gr. I) winner Moreno and runner-up Itsmyluckyday will face off again Aug. 30 in the final grade I event for older horses of the Saratoga Race Course season, the $600,000 Woodward Stakes.
Will Take Charge and Palace Malice meet again Aug. 2 in the $1.5 million Whitney Handicap (gr. I), squaring off at Saratoga Race Course as the top two choices in a field of nine drawn for the 1 1/8-mile test.
New York-bred Zivo came with a powerful late run up the rail and snatched away victory from pacesetter Moreno in the $500,000 Suburban Stakes (gr. II) July 5 at Belmont Park.
Multiple graded stakes winner Last Gunfighter is back for revenge July 5 against 10 others in the $500,000 Suburban Handicap (gr. II), one of five graded stakes on Belmont's stars & Stripes Festival card.
Willis Horton's Will Take Charge seeks redemption in the $500,000 Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) June 14 against Revolutionary, Departing, Prayer for Relief, and others.
WinStar Farm's Revolutionary, more than 30 lengths behind early following a heated pace, kicked into gear and circled his eight foes to win the $300,000 Pimlico Special (gr. III) by a neck at Pimlico Race Course May 16.
Will Take Charge won the 3-year-old championship, but speedster Moreno was surprisingly right there with him in the summer months before going to the sidelines after the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I).
Classic winner Palace Malice will try to keep his fast start to the 2014 season going when he faces an accomplished field as the highweight in the New Orleans Handicap (gr. II) March 29 at Fair Grounds.
Zayat Stables has terminated Steve Asmussen and moved all 12 of its horses that were previously in the trainer's care following an internal investigation on the PETA report and video that was published in the New York Times.
Bradester collared pacesetter Grand Contender mid-stretch and proved best in the drive for the wire to register his first stakes win in the $150,000 Mineshaft Handicap (gr. III) Feb. 22 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.
Fordubai, winner of the Louisiana Handicap at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots last month, returns to the same 1 1/16-mile distance at the track but will be facing stiffer company in the Feb. 22 Mineshaft Handicap (gr. III).
Fordubai upset the $100,000 Louisiana Handicap at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots Jan. 18 to earn his second career stakes score by a length.
Zayat Stables' Prayer for Relief, 6 1/4-length winner of the Tenacious Handicap last time out, looms a strong choice despite top impost of 123 pounds in the Louisiana Handicap Jan. 18 at Fair Grounds.
Veteran jockey David Flores, who has been competing at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots for the past month, will be leaving the United States after Christmas to compete in Singapore for six months.
Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) contender Last Gunfighter and grade I winner Alpha head a competitive Nov. 30 edition of the $350,000 Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap Presented by Xpressbet (gr. II).
Eclipse Award hopeful Game On Dude worked a strong four furlongs at Betfair Hollywood Park Nov. 24 and afterward trainer Bob Baffert said he would ship to Churchill Downs Nov. 27 to compete in the Clark Handicap (gr. I).
Game On Dude and Will Take Charge stand out on the nomination list released Nov. 17 for the upcoming $500,000 Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (gr. I) at Churchill Downs.
The inaugural Homecoming Classic on Sept. 28 at Churchill Downs still has reigning Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) and Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) winner Fort Larned at the top, but Successful Dan will bypass the race.
Favored Prayer for Relief turned the tables on his local nemesis Alternation and held off a determined run from Worldly by a head in the $175,000 Governor's Cup Stakes on the night of Aug. 17.
Zayat Stables' Prayer for Relief, second in his only two starts this year, broke through with a victory in the $300,000 Cornhusker Handicap (gr. III) at Prairie Meadows Racetrack & Casino June 29.
Six horses are entered in the grade III, 1 1/8-mile race at Prairie Meadows on the night of June 29.
In a near replay of last month's Texas Mile Stakes (gr. III), Master Rick galloped past stablemate Prayer for Relief in the stretch to win the $300,000 Lone Star Park Handicap (gr. III) by one length May 27.
Richard Davis' Master Rick will try for a third straight win overall and second straight graded stakes score when he faces four other rivals in the $300,000 Lone Star Park Handicap (gr. III) Monday, May 27.
After racing along the rail in the backstretch, jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. angled Master Rick out in the far turn and the Master Command colt rallied from third in the stretch to win the $200,000 Texas Mile Stakes (gr. III).
Outsider Middie spurted away from the field in upper stretch to post a 3 3/4-length victory under jockey Francisco Torres in the $150,000 Washington Park Handicap in track-record time over Polytrack at Arlington Park Sept 1.
Mister Marti Gras goes for a repeat victory in the $150,000 Washington Park Handicap (gr. III) as a co-highweight at 119 pounds Sept. 1 on the Arlington Park Polytrack surface.
Pin Oak Stable's Alternation became a millionaire with a victory in the $200,000 Governor's Cup at Remington Park Aug. 11, but he had to work for it.
Alternation seeks redemption against a short field of four others in the $200,000 Governor's Cup Stakes at Remington Park Aug. 11, but Zayat Stables' speedy Prayer for Relief presents a challenge.
Take Control, the first foal out of 2002 Horse of the Year Azeri, will make his second start after a layoff of 2 1/2 years in the $200,000 San Diego Handicap (gr. II) July 28 at Del Mar.
Showing he's happy to be back in California, Game On Dude romped to victory in the $147,000 Californian Stakes (gr. II) June 2 in his first start since a nearly tragic trip to the Dubai two months ago.
Game On Dude makes his first start since he was unplaced in the Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) when he takes on Mervyn LeRoy Handicap (gr. II) winner Morning Line in the Californian Stakes (gr. II) June 2 at Betfair Hollywood Park.
Morning Line wanted no part of the starting gate at Betfair Hollywood Park, but once he finally acquiesced there was no catching the grade I winner in the $150,000 Mervyn Leroy Handicap (gr. II) May 5.
Grade I winner Morning Line debuts for new trainer John Shirreffs in the $150,000 Mervyn LeRoy Handicap (gr. II) May 5 at Betfair Hollywood Park.
With defending champion Game On Dude skipping the Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I), Ultimate Eagle leads a field of 13 in the $750,000 event March 3.
Game On Dude will not defend his title in the $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I) March 3 and will instead be prepared for the $10 million Dubai World Cup (UAE-I), trainer Bob Baffert said Feb. 29.
| Trainer | Dale L. Romans |
|---|---|
| Jockey | Javier Castellano |
| Owner | Zayat Stables, LLC |
| Breeder | G. R. Aschinger |
| Prayer for Relief View Five-Cross Pedigree | Jump Start | A.P. Indy |
| Steady Cat | ||
| Sparklin Lil | Mr. Sparkles | |
| Icelandic Dancer |
| Sale / Hip | Type | Buyer | Consignor | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KEENOV2008 Hip 3640 |
Weanling | War Horse Place | ($39,000) | |
| KEESEP2009 Hip 1267 |
Yearling | Zayat Stables | Legacy Bloodstock, agent for War Horse Place | $80,000 |
Prices in parentheses indicate a horse did not sell because it did not meet its reserve price.
| Upstart |
| Texas Red |
| California Chrome |
| Rachel Alexandra |
| Bodemeister |
| Far Right |
| International Star |
| Buddy's Saint |
| Dortmund |
| Frosted |
