Rule Profile, News, Entries, Results, Video, and Blogs

California Preparing Riding Crop Rule Change

A rule that would limit use of the riding crop by jockeys during races is expected to be put in place at the upcoming 24-day Santa Anita Park autumn meet set to begin Sept. 26.

Vinery New York Plans Stallion Show

Vinery New York has scheduled its annual stallion show and open house from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 26 at Sugar Maple Farm near Poughquag, N.Y.

Rule Retired, to Stand at Vinery New York

By Blood-Horse Staff
November 28, 2012
Thoroughbred Racing, Thoroughbred Breeding, Northeast Region

Rule, a multiple graded stakes winner, has been retired from racing and will stand stud in 2013 at Vinery New York near Poughquag, N.Y.

Hymn Book Returns to Winning Ways

Donn Handicap (gr. I) winner Hymn Book returned to winning ways Oct. 19, taking the $80,750 Frank "Pancho" Martin Stakes by 5 3/4 lengths in the slop at Belmont Park.

Mucho Macho Man Chases Grade I in Woodward

Suburban Handicap (gr. II) winner Mucho Macho Man seeks the first grade I stakes victory of his career in the Sept. 1 Woodward at Saratoga Race Course; it would also be a first for trainer Kathy Ritvo.

Ron the Greek Should Prove Best in Whitney

By Pete Denk
August 2, 2012

Top class stayer gets plenty of pace to run at. read blog

Ron the Greek Heads 9-Horse Whitney Field

Ron the Greek heads a nine-horse field as the 3-1 favorite for the $750,000 Whitney Invitational (gr. I) Aug. 4 at Saratoga Race Course.

Whitney Contenders Tune Up

By Blood-Horse Staff
July 29, 2012
Thoroughbred Racing, Breeders' Cup, Northeast Region

Several key contenders for the Aug. 4 Whitney Invitational Handicap (gr. I) breezed July 29 on the Oklahoma Training Track at Saratoga Race Course, and trainer Todd Pletcher confirmed Mike Repole's Caixa Eletronica.

Fields Taking Shape for Spa's Aug. 3-5 Stakes

Even though it's more than a week away, the Aug. 3-5 stakes extravaganza at Saratoga Race Course is taking shape, with the release by the New York Racing Association of a list of probables for the four graded stakes.

Rule Launches Season with Monmouth Cup Score

Rule made his 5-year-old debut a winning one July 7 in the $200,000 Monmouth Cup Stakes (gr. II) at Monmouth Park, sitting just off a dawdling early pace before drawing off under jockey Joe Bravo to get the job done.

Flat Out Starts for Mott in Monmouth Cup

Preston Stables' Flat Out will make his first start for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott in the $200,000 Monmouth Cup Stakes (gr. III) July 7, having been transferred from the barn of Scooter Dickey.

Pletcher's Classic Pair Drill at CD

By Evan Hammonds
October 30, 2011
Breeders' Cup, Kentucky

Mike Repole's pair of Uncle Mo and Stay Thirsty get in their final tune-ups at Churchill Downs for the Nov. 5 Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I). Both colts went five furlongs.

BC Mile Hopeful Sidney's Candy Works

Sidney's Candy, a TVG Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) hopeful, covered a half mile on firm turf in :50 at Churchill Downs Oct. 25. He is trained by Todd Pletcher for WinStar Farm and Rubio Stable.

Patient Headache Earns Hawthorne Gold Cup

Third at mid-stretch, former claimer Headache closed steadily to edge Where's Sterling by a half-length in the $500,000 Hawthorne Gold Cup (gr. II) in Illinois Oct. 8.

Giant Oak Tops Tough Hawthorne Gold Cup

Grade I winner Giant Oak faces stiff competition from nine challengers in Hawthorne Racecourse's marquee fall event.

Havre de Grace Makes Her Own Woodward History

By Jack Shinar
September 3, 2011
Thoroughbred Racing, Breeders' Cup, Northeast Region

Standout filly Havre de Grace put herself in the picture for Horse of the Year honors with a gutsy win in the $750,000 Woodward Stakes (gr. I) over males at Saratoga Sept. 3.

2011 Woodward Stakes - Predict the Order

September 3, 2011

Will Havre de Grace beat the boys? If not, then who's the winner? Predict the Order

Havre de Grace to Face Seven in Woodward

By Jason Shandler
August 31, 2011
Thoroughbred Racing, Breeders' Cup, Northeast Region

Havre de Grace will face males for the first time in the $750,000 Woodward (gr.l) Sept. 3 at Saratoga, where she will meet seven rivals.

Saratoga Diary: Place is Jumping

By Vic Zast
August 5, 2011

Extra steeplechase adds lift to three Thursdays. read blog

Kensei Breaks Losing Streak, Wins Salvator

Winless since August, 2009 and dismissed at 15-1 against an accomplished field, Kensei sprung a big upset in the $200,000 Salvator Mile (gr. III) when he came from off the pace under Edgar Prado to win July 2 at Monmouth Park

Morning Line Takes on Six in Salvator Mile

Morning Line, winner of the seven-furlong Carter Handicap (gr. I) at Aqueduct in his last start, heads a field of seven in the Salvator Mile Stakes (gr. III) at Monmouth Park.

Big 'Cap Rematch in Charles Town Classic?

The first two finishers in the controversial March 5 Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I) are ready for a rematch -- in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, proof of what a $1 million purse and graded status can do for a race.

THS: San Felipe Stakes 2011

March 10, 2011
Thoroughbred Racing, Triple Crown

Jason, Tom and Rich handicap the San Felipe (gr. II), Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II) and the Timely Writer S. Watch Video

Tackleberry Back for More in Gulfstream 'Cap

Luis Olivares' Tackleberry will seek his fifth stakes victory in six starts when he returns to face seven foes in the $300,000 Gulfstream Park Handicap (gr. II) at one mile March 12.

Uncle Mo Works Half-Mile in :49 3/5

Trainer Todd Pletcher sent 2-year-old champion Uncle Mo through an easy four-furlong breeze at Palm Meadows Sunday, Feb. 6, the colt's second work since winning the Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) at Churchill.

Giant Oak Rallies to Post Donn Upset

Giant Oak, who won the Clark Handicap (gr. I) via disqualification last out, validated that win by posting a rallying victory in the $500,000 Donn Handicap (gr. I) Feb. 5 at Gulfstream Park.

Fly Down, Morning Line Top Loaded Donn 'Cap

Nick Zito trainees Fly Down and Morning Line, both thought to be among the top handicap horses in 2011, could wind up as the top two choices in a star-studded Donn Handicap (gr. I) Feb. 5 at Gulfstream Park.

Donn Handicap Trio Post Workouts in Florida

Three probable starters in the $500,000 Donn Handicap (gr. I) Feb. 5 at Gulfstream Park -- Giant Oak, Eldaafer and Rule -- posted workouts during the morning of Jan. 30.

Dubai World Cup Attracts 312 Nominations

By Blood-Horse Staff
January 27, 2011
Thoroughbred Racing, International, Dubai Carnival

A total of 312 horses from 18 countries, including 49 from the U.S., have been nominated to the $10 million Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) at Meydan Racecourse March 26.

Soaring Empire Grabs Hal's Hope Win

Soaring Empire got his 2011 campaign off to a nice start when he turned back even-money favorite Morning Line and held off multiple graded-stakes winner Rule in the Hal's Hope Stakes (gr. III) Jan. 8 at Gulfstream Park.

Morning Line, Rule Top Hal's Hope Field

Morning Line, who last came into his own during the second half of his 3-year-old campaign and is expected to be one of the top older horses in 2011, makes his season debut in the Hal's Hope Stakes Jan. 8 at Gulfstream.

WinStar Looking Strong for Next Year

After winning a pair of Triple Crown races, besting this year will be quite a challenge for WinStar Farm. But if 2010 was the year of the 3-year-old for WinStar, 2011 may just be the year of the older horse.

Injury KOs Endorsement from Derby

By Blood-Horse Staff
April 28, 2010
Triple Crown

WinStar Farm's colt has a non-displaced right-front condylar fracture and will not be entered later today in the Kentucky Derby (gr. I).

Suddenly, Pletcher's Hand Isn't All Aces

By Jason Shandler
April 27, 2010
Triple Crown, Kentucky

Todd Pletcher still might have as many as five Kentucky Derby (gr. I) starters, but he no longer has the horse to beat now that Eskendereya is out of the May 1 race.

KY Derby News Minute: Monday, 4/26/2010

April 26, 2010
Triple Crown

Ron Mitchell gives updates on Lookin' At Lucky, Rule, and Devil May Care. Presented by Taylor Made Stallions. Watch Video

UPDATE: Graded Stakes Earnings List

By Evan Hammonds
April 26, 2010
Triple Crown

In light of the defections of Rule and Eskendereya from the contenders list and the confirmation Devil May Care will be entered, here is the list of Derby hopefuls based on graded stakes earnings as of mid-morning April 26.

Rule Out of Kentucky Derby Picture

April 26, 2010
Triple Crown, Kentucky

WinStar Farm's Bill Casner confirms he has not been pleased with Rule's progress at Churchill Downs and the colt will not be entered in Saturday's Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).

Haskin's Derby Report: Derby Devil?

By Steve Haskin
April 24, 2010
Triple Crown

Five Todd Pletchers and Sidney's Candy topped Saturday's Kentucky Derby works.

Super Saver Goes a Half in :48 4/5

By Evan Hammonds
April 24, 2010
Triple Crown, Kentucky

Arkansas Derby (gr. I) runner-up works a half-mile under Calvin Borel in the slop at Churchill Downs; one of five workers for trainer Todd Pletcher

Rule Works 5f in 1:00 Under Melancon

By Evan Hammonds
April 24, 2010
Triple Crown, Kentucky

WinStar Farm's homebred Rule drills five furlongs in the slop at Churchill Downs Saturday morning in 1:00.

Despite Rain, Most Derby Works Go As Planned

By Blood-Horse Staff
April 24, 2010
Triple Crown

Steady rainfall in Louisville early Saturday, April 24, did not deter trainers of horses being pointed toward the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) from going through with their scheduled workouts.

American Lion Breezes at Keeneland

By Ron Mitchell
April 20, 2010
Triple Crown, Kentucky

With WinStar Farm's management team on hand, Illinois Derby (gr. II) winner American Lion tuned up for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) with a workout April 20 over the Polytrack at Keeneland.

Eskendereya, Sidney's Candy Drill for Derby

By Steve Haskin
April 17, 2010
Triple Crown

Eskendereya (Palm Meadows), Sidney's Candy (Churchill Downs), and Endorsement, candidates for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), worked five furlongs April 17.

Albarado Will Ride Endorsement in Derby

By Jason Shandler
April 13, 2010
Triple Crown, Kentucky

Robby Albarado, who rode Endorsement to an upset win in the Sunland Derby (gr. III) March 28 and is also the regular jockey for Noble's Promise, has committed to riding Endorsement for the May 1 Kentucky Derby.

Trio of Pletcher's Derby Hopefuls Work in Fla

April 11, 2010
Triple Crown, Southeast Region

Trainer Todd Pletcher had three of his Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands contenders work a half-mile the morning of April 11 at Palm Meadows in Florida: Discreetly Mine, Misson Impazible, and Rule.