Private Zone

Podcast: Haskin & Thanksgiving Weekend Racing

• By Ron Mitchell
• December 3, 2014
• Racing

Steve Haskin and Ron Mitchell discuss the races held over the holiday weekend, and how they impact the year-end honors. Listen Now

The Week in Photos for 12/2/2014

• December 2, 2014
• Racing

Photos from Churchill Downs, Del Mar, Japan, Golden Gate Fields, Aqueduct, Turf Paradise and more! view slideshow

Private Zone Goes Wire to Wire in Cigar Mile

• By Claire Novak
• November 29, 2014
• Racing, Northeast Region

Private Zone, runner-up to Flat Out in the 2013 edition of the Cigar Mile Handicap (gr. I), returned Nov. 29 to claim victory going wire to wire in the $753,750 event at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The Turf Debut of California Chrome

• November 28, 2014
• Handicapping

J. Keeler Johnson handicaps the Hollywood Derby and Cigar Mile. read blog

Secret Circle, Itsmyluckyday in Cigar Mile

• By Claire Novak
• November 26, 2014
• Racing, Northeast Region

A solid field will line up Nov. 29 for the $500,000 Cigar Mile (gr. I) at Aqueduct Racetrack, as grade I winners Secret Circle and Itsmyluckyday face off amongst a cast that includes Private Zone, Vyjack, and Bourbon Courage.

Cigar Mile Stakes Card Fields Taking Shape

• By Blood-Horse Staff
• November 21, 2014
• Racing, Northeast Region

Fields are taking shape for the Nov. 29 Cigar Mile (gr. I) stakes program at Aqueduct Racetrack, featuring four graded events worth a combined $1.7 million.

Monday Cup Report: Busy Work Day, Posts Await

• By Ron Mitchell
• October 27, 2014
• Racing, Breeders' Cup, West Region

Monday, Oct. 27, was another busy work day at Santa Anita Park for horses pointing toward the Breeders' Cup World Championships. Meanwhile, the connections of horses entered were awaiting the post position draw later Monday.

International Flavor in Sprint Pre-Entries

• By Tracy Gantz
• October 22, 2014
• Racing, Breeders' Cup, West Region

With 21 pre-entries, the Xpressbet Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) is oversubscribed and has attracted an international field. Hong Kong has its first-ever Breeders' Cup entry in Rich Tapestry.

Bevy of Breeders' Cup Workers Hit Santa Anita

• October 18, 2014
• Racing, Breeders' Cup, West Region

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.

O'Neill Slapped With 45-Day Ban in California

• By Jack Shinar
• October 9, 2014
• Racing, Breeders' Cup, Northeast Region, West Region

Embattled trainer Doug O'Neill has been handed an additional 45-day suspension in California for violating terms of an earlier agreement with the state's racing board.

BC Bans O'Neill From Entering Horses

• By Blood-Horse Staff
• October 3, 2014
• Racing, Breeders' Cup, West Region

Breeders' Cup said Oct. 3 it will not permit trainer Doug O'Neill to enter horses for this year's Breeders' Cup World Championships "due to recent administrative action" in New York.

Private Zone Back in the Zone, Takes Vosburgh

• By Tom LaMarra
• September 27, 2014
• Racing, Breeders' Cup, Northeast Region, Mid-Atlantic

Good Friend Stable's Private Zone, in his second start of the year, ran strongly to just pass Dads Cap at the wire to take the $400,000 Vosburgh Stakes (gr. I) Sept. 27 at Belmont Park.

Palace, Private Zone Meet in Vosburgh

• September 24, 2014
• Racing, Breeders' Cup, Northeast Region

Having already won the Forego (gr. I) and the Alfred G. Vanderbilt (gr. I) this year, Palace could cement his status as the favorite for the Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) with a victory in the Sept. 27 Vosburgh (gr. I).

Private Zone to Skip Donn, Romansh on Target

• By Blood-Horse Staff
• February 1, 2014
• Racing, Southeast Region

Private Zone, who had been ticketed for the $500,000 Donn Handicap (gr. I) on Feb. 9, has been turned out in Bradbury, Calif. Meanwhile, grade III winner Romansh will open his 2014 campaign in the Gulfstream Park event.

Old Pro Flat Out Powers Home in Cigar Mile

• By Claire Novak
• November 30, 2013
• Racing, Northeast Region

Preston Stables' hard-knocking Flat Out took the overland route to victory Nov. 30 in the Cigar Mile (gr. I), a race worth $753,000 due to the winner's previous grade I-winning status.

Groupie Doll at Peak Level for Cigar Mile

• By Claire Novak
• November 28, 2013
• Racing, Northeast Region

Top female sprinter Groupie Doll nearly won the Cigar Mile (gr. I) a year ago. Now she's back with a new slate of rivals to contend with, including grade I winners Goldencents and Verrazano.

Nine Expected in Cigar Mile

• By Blood-Horse Staff
• November 24, 2013
• Racing, Northeast Region

Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I) winner Goldencents has been assigned 120 pounds and is the high weight among the nine expected starters for the Nov. 30 $500,000 Cigar Mile Handicap (gr. I) at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Justin Phillip Brings Experience to Sprint

• By Frank Angst
• October 30, 2013
• Racing, Breeders' Cup, West Region

In the often wild Xpressbet Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I), trainer Steve Asmussen believes experience could prove a valuable commodity for his talented starter Justin Phillip Nov. 2 at Santa Anita Park.

Private Zone Targets Breeders' Cup Sprint

• By Frank Angst
• October 28, 2013
• Racing, Breeders' Cup, West Region

While several top finishers from last year's Xpresset Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) return to this year's edition, a hot Southern California-based blazer not from that group figures in Private Zone.

BC Podcast: Doug O'Neil & Private Zone

• By Frank Angst
• October 27, 2013

Frank Angst talks with trainer Doug O'Neil on his Breeders' Cup Sprint contender Private Zone.

Private Zone Among O'Neill's Cup Workers

• By Blood-Horse Staff
• October 25, 2013
• Racing, Breeders' Cup, West Region

Trainer Doug O'Neill had a big contingent of his Breeders' Cup hopefuls out for works on the morning of Oct. 25 at Santa Anita Park, led by Vosburgh Invitational Stakes (gr. I) winner Private Zone.

O'Neill Enthused with Private Zone's Workout

• October 17, 2013
• Racing, Breeders' Cup, West Region

Grade I winner Private Zone worked four furlongs on the Santa Anita Park main track Oct. 17 in a bullet :45 4/5 with regular rider Martin Pedroza aboard as he prepares for the $1.5 million Xpressbet Breeders' Cup Sprint.

CA Invader Private Zone Lands Vosburgh

• By Jack Shinar
• September 28, 2013
• Racing, Breeders' Cup, Northeast Region

Southern California shipper Private Zone outfought favored Justin Phillip to win the $400,000 Vosburgh Invitational Stakes (gr. I) Sept. 28 by a neck at Belmont Park.

The Lumber Guy Seeks Repeat Win in Vosburgh

• By Steve Haskin
• September 25, 2013
• Racing, Breeders' Cup

Barry Schwartz's New York-bred will try to regain his form of last year in six-furlong dash at Belmont Sept. 28.

Private Zone Gears Up for Cup

• By Claire Novak
• September 11, 2013

The sheer talent of Private Zone inspired former jockey and native Panamanian Rene Douglas to buy him for U.S. competition. read blog

Reynaldothewizard Shines in Golden Shaheen

• By Frank Angst
• March 30, 2013
• Racing, International

Racing wide into the turn, Reynaldothewizard got the jump on his competition heading for home and held on to win the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen sponsored by Gulf News on Saturday, March 30 at Meydan.

Pat Cummings' March 30 Dubai World Cup Picks

• March 28, 2013
• International

Pat Cummings presents an analysis of racing March 30 at the Dubai World Cup Carnival at Meydan in the United Arab Emirates. Presented by AmWest Entertainment.

Dubai World Cup: Rene Douglas - Private Zone

• March 27, 2013
• International

Former jockey Rene Douglas, who owns Private Zone. Private Zone runs in the Dubai Golden Shaheen on March 30. Watch Video

Champion Trinniberg Ready for Golden Shaheen

• By Frank Angst
• March 26, 2013
• Racing, International

Champion Sprinter Trinniberg will try to make history when he faces an expected 12 other starters in the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen presented by Gulf News (UAE-I) Saturday, March 30 at Meydan.

Animal Kingdom, Others Ready for Dubai Flight

• By Michele MacDonald
• March 19, 2013
• Racing, International, Kentucky

Champions Animal Kingdom, Royal Delta, and Trinniberg lead an eight-horse American delegation set to fly to the United Arab Emirates, leaving Florida at approximately 9 p.m. on March 19.

Longshot Sahara Sky Scorches Palos Verdes

• By Jack Shinar
• January 19, 2013
• Racing, West Region

Sahara Sky took advantage of a blistering pace to tally a one-length victory from off the pace for a 21-1 upset in the $150,500 Palos Verdes Stakes (gr. II) Jan. 19 at Santa Anita Park.

Comma to the Top Makes Jump in Palos Verdes

• By Jack Shinar
• January 16, 2013
• Racing, West Region

Versatile Comma to the Top, who has produced wins on dirt, synthetic, and turf, as well as going long and sprinting, brings his best form recently into the $150,000 Palos Verdes Stakes (gr. II) Jan. 19.

Jimmy Creed Gives Mandella 5th Malibu Win

• By Jack Shinar
• December 26, 2012
• Racing, West Region

Jimmy Creed, a disappointment in last month's Xpressbet Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I), rebounded with an emphatic victory in the $301,000 Malibu Stakes (gr. I) on opening day of the winter meet at Santa Anita Park Dec. 26.

Smiling Tiger Roars Back in Underwood

• By Jack Shinar
• December 2, 2012
• Racing, West Region

Favored Smiling Tiger, back on his home track at Betfair Hollywood Park, posted his first win of the year in the $100,000 Vernon O. Underwood Stakes (gr. III) Dec. 2.

Intriguing Underwood Has Trio From BC Sprint

• By Jack Shinar
• November 29, 2012
• Racing, West Region

Grade I winners Comma to the Top and Smiling Tiger tackle four entrants from the barn of Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, making for an intriguing Vernon O. Underwood Stakes (gr. III) Dec. 3 at Betfair Hollywood Park.

Alsvid New Likely Favorite in Zia Park Derby

• By Jack Shinar
• November 28, 2012
• Racing, Southwest Region

With morning line pick Private Zone scratching out of the $150,000 Zia Park Derby Dec. 1 in New Mexico, Alsvid becomes the likely favorite in the field of eight remaining sophomores.

Well Spelled Springs Gallant Bob Ambush

• By Claire Novak
• September 22, 2012
• Racing, Northeast Region

GSP Racing Stable's Well Spelled ambushed Trinniberg in the final strides of the $300,000 Gallant Bob Stakes at Parx Racing Sept. 22, closing from dead last to claim the victory by half a length over the top sprinter.

Currency Swap, Trinniberg Head Gallant Bob

• By Claire Novak
• September 19, 2012
• Racing, Northeast Region

Currency Swap and Trinniberg will go at it again Sept. 22 in the $300,000 Gallant Bob Stakes at Parx Racing, but both seem vulnerable nearing the end of a long 2012 campaign.