Unlimited Budget - Belmont Park, June 6, 2013.
Photo: Rick Samuels
Unlimited Budget - Belmont Park, June 1, 2013.
Photo: Rick Samuels
Unlimited Budget - Churchill Downs, May 2, 2013.
Photo: Mathea Kelley
Unlimited Budget - Churchill Downs, May 2, 2013.
Photo: Chad Harmon
Unlimited Budget - Churchill Downs, May 2, 2013.
Photo: Chad Harmon
Unlimited Budget - Churchill Downs, May 2, 2013.
Photo: Rick Samuels
Unlimited Budget works with Silsita at Churchill Downs
Photo: Churchill Downs/Reed Palmer
Unlimited Budget - Churchill Downs, April 26, 2013.
Photo: Anne M. EberhardtSilsitaCD04202013RP298.jpg)
Unlimited Budget (inside) and Silsita, Churchill Downs, April 20, 2013.
Photo: Reed Palmer Photography, Churchill Downs
Unlimited Budget Arrives at Churchill Downs on April 8, 2013.
Photo: Reed Palmer Photography, Churchill Downs
Unlimited Budget wins the 2013 Fair Grounds Oaks.
Photo: Hodges Photography/Adam Mooshian
Unlimited Budget wins the 2013 Fair Grounds Oaks.
Photo: Hodges Photography/Jamie Hernandez
Unlimited Budget wins the 2013 Rachel Alexandra.
Photo: Hodges Photography/Lynn Roberts
Unlimited Budget wins the 2012 Demoiselle.
Photo: Coglianese Photos
Unlimited Budget wins the 2012 Demoiselle.
Photo: Coglianese Photos
Unlimited Budget wins the 2012 Demoiselle.
Photo: Coglianese Photos/Adam Mooshian
Unlimited Budget wins the 2012 Demoiselle.
Photo: Coglianese Photos/Jessica Hansen
Unlimited Budget wins the 2012 Demoiselle.
Photo: Coglianese Photos
Unlimited Budget wins the 2012 Demoiselle.
Photo: Coglianese Photos
Unlimited Budget wins the 2012 Demoiselle.
Photo: Coglianese Photos
Unlimited Budget wins the 2012 Demoiselle.
Photo: Coglianese Photos/Jessica Hansen
Flashy American will take another run at the $200,000 Shuvee Handicap (gr. III) at Saratoga Race Course July 27, wheeling back after a third-place finish in the Delaware Handicap (gr. I) two weeks earlier.
Patricia Generazio's homebred Discreet Marq is the 5-2 morning line favorite in a contentious running of the Longines Just a Game Stakes (gr. IT) June 7 at Belmont Park.
Trainer Todd Pletcher sent two 3-year-olds he is pointing toward the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) to the Belmont Park training track along with stablemates Palace Malice and Princess of Sylmar.
Showing her affinity for the Churchill Downs' main track, Anita Cauley's homebred On Fire Baby took the lead coming out of the second turn and wore down pacesetter Devil's Cave to win the La Troienne Stakes (gr. I) May 2.
Devil's Cave did all her running from the start as the 1-2 favorite in the $150,000 Rampart Stakes (gr. III) at Gulfstream March 29, so stablemate Gamay Noir picked up the pieces in deep stretch to win at odds of 49-1.
Devil's Cave, winner of the Feb. 16 Sabin Stakes (gr. II), heads a field of eight including multiple graded stakes winner Unlimited Budget in the $150,000 Rampart Stakes (gr. III) March 29 at Gulfstream Park.
Princess of Sylmar was much the best in the $294,000 Coaching Club American Oaks (gr. I), adding the July 20 Saratoga fixture to her earlier win in the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) this spring for King of Prussia Stable.
Tom LaMarra and Claire Novak handicap the Delaware Handicap and CCA Oaks. Do you think the races will be exciting with such small fields but big talent? watch video
Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) victress Princess of Sylmar and Unlimited Budget, who recently ran sixth in the June 8 Belmont Stakes (gr. I), top a quality field of five for the $300,000 TVG Coaching Club American Oaks (gr. I).
Palace Malice is likely headed for a summer campaign at Saratoga Race Course, although trainer Todd Pletcher thinks that may be too far off for the winner of the 145th Belmont Stakes (gr. I) June 8.
Here's a rundown of the field for the June 8 Belmont Stakes (gr. I), with reasons each contender could get the money... and why they might not.
Todd Pletcher will set a record if all five 3-year-olds he entered start in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I), but the multiple Eclipse Award-winning trainer is most concerned about the race result.
It's time to try to analyze this year's Belmont Stakes. read blog
Trainer Todd Pletcher talks about his five Belmont starters on the day before the race. Watch Video
The transcript for the Live Blog is now available. Read Transcript
When glory has worn off the winner of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) after a different horse comes along to claim the Preakness Stakes (gr. I), the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) becomes anybody's race to win.
Lenny, Steve, and special guest Steve Byk discuss filly Unlimited Budget, Orb, the post position draw, and make their picks. Plus, comments from Dallas Stewart, trainer of Golden Soul. Sponsored by Darby Dan Farm. Watch Video
Giant Finish, who finished 10th in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), turned in his final serious work for the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) June 4, breezing a half-mile on the main track.
Filly Unlimited Budget will take on the boys in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) when she is saddled by Todd Pletcher, the only living trainer to win the 1 1/2-mile race with a filly. Pletcher saddled 2007 winner Rags to Riches.
Trainer Ken McPeek confirmed Monday June 3 that Magic City Thoroughbred Partners' Frac Daddy will run Saturday in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) at Belmont Park in field that could include 15 starters.
Trainer Shug McGaughey said June 2 that Orb definitely will be pointed toward the June 8 Belmont Stakes (gr. I) following the colt's half-mile work in :48 and gallop-out of five furlongs in a sharp 1:00 2/5.
Trainer Todd Pletcher said in a national teleconference May 30 that jockey Rosie Napravnik was "very likely" to ride Unlimited Budget in the June 8 Belmont Stakes (gr. I) if the filly competes.
Trainer Dallas Stewart said May 28 Golden Soul, runner-up in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), is doing "awesome" after taking a while to recover from his effort in the Derby.
Palace Malice led a sizable contingent of trainer Todd Pletcher's Belmont Stakes (gr. I) contenders working at Belmont Park May 27 with an eye-catching five-furlong breeze on the main track.
After bypassing the Preakness, trainer Todd Pletcher has a deep group of possible contenders for the Belmont Stakes, including Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) third-place finisher Unlimited Budget.
Trainer Todd Pletcher, who saddled filly Rags to Riches to victory in the 2007 Belmont Stakes (gr. I), is considering a pair of fillies he trains for this year's 1 1/2-mile classic at Belmont Park.
Trainer Todd Pletcher said May 4 the four Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) participants from his barn, including winner Princess of Sylmar, "came out of the race well."
Dreaming of Julia is the freshest on the minds of most leading up to the Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) due to her extraordinary 21 3/4-length victory in the March 30 Gulfstream Park Oaks (gr. I).
Dreaming of Julia, the remarkable 21 3/4-length winner of the March 30 Gulfstream Oaks (gr. II), drew post 8 of 11 sophomore fillies and was installed the 3-1 favorite for the $1 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I).
A few days out from the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I), it's interesting to ponder what might have been if the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) field was still based on earnings rather than points.
Juddmonte Farms' Close Hatches drills a half-mile in :47 2/5 in advance of the May 3 Kentucky Oaks (gr. I). The daughter of First Defence is unbeaten in three starts, all this year.
Faced with a scheduling dilemma of wanting to work most of his classic horses in one day, trainer Todd Pletcher sent his contenders for the Kentucky Oaks to the Churchill Downs track shortly after it opened for training.
Here are some of the explanations I received on this year's stellar field of contenders. Which one is your favorite? read blog
Trainer Todd Pletcher's quartet of Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) contenders, Dreaming of Julia, Princess of Sylmar, Silsita, and Unlimited Budget, galloped at Churchill Downs the morning of April 24.
Several contenders for the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I), including four trained by Todd Pletcher, went to the track at Churchill Downs the morning of April 20 as they continued to work toward the May 3 filly classic.
The fields for the May 3 Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) and Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) the following day continue to take shape, with eligibility in each race to be determined by the new points system.
Dreaming of Julia, 21 3/4-length winner of the Gulfstream Park Oaks (gr. II), led a trio of Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) contenders worked by trainer Todd Pletcher at Churchill Downs the morning of April 14.
Gulfstream Oaks (gr. II)winner Dreaming of Julia and undefeated Unlimited Budget arrived April 8 at 6:50 p.m. EDT at Churchill Downs, where they will continue their preparations for the May 3 Kentucky Oaks (gr. I).
Ocala Stud may no longer own undefeated Fair Grounds Oaks (gr. II) winner Unlimited Budget, but the farm's association with the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I)-bound filly's family goes back nearly 60 years.
Unlimited Budget continues to show limitless potential as the undefeated Street Sense filly appears poised for the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) after a clear victory in the $500,000 Fair Grounds Oaks (gr. II).
Undefeated Unlimited Budget and Honeybee Stakes runner-up Flashy Gray head a quality field that includes grade I winner So Many Ways in the $500,000 Fair Grounds Oaks (gr. II) March 30 at Fair Grounds Race Course.
A total of 134 fillies, led by champion Beholder, have been nominated to Keeneland's $500,000 Central Bank Ashland Stakes (gr. I), scheduled for Saturday, April 6.
A total of 120 fillies have been entered for the 139th running of Kentucky Oaks (gr. I), an increase of 27.7% compared with 2012 following the early nomination phase.
The only Kentucky Oaks Future Wager of 2013 closed the evening of March 3 with Flashy Gray the 6-1 betting choice.
Repole Stables' favored Unlimited Budget kept her record perfect when she easily captured the Rachel Alexandra Stakes (gr. III) by 3 3/4 lengths over 20-1 shot Promise Me More at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.
Demoiselle Stakes (gr. II) victress Unlimited Budget has been pegged the 5-2 morning line favorite for the $200,000 Rachel Alexandra Stakes (gr. III) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots Feb. 23, in her season debut.
Unlimited Budget went straight to the lead and stayed there in the $237,500 Demoiselle Stakes (gr. II) Nov. 24 at Aqueduct Racetrack, remaining unbeaten with her first stakes score.
All seven juveniles in the field are chasing their first black-type victory.
| Trainer | Todd A. Pletcher |
|---|---|
| Jockey | Javier Castellano |
| Owner | Repole Stable |
| Breeder | Ocala Stud |
| Unlimited Budget View Five-Cross Pedigree | Street Sense | Street Cry (IRE) |
| Bedazzle | ||
| Unlimited Pleasure | Valid Appeal | |
| Cricket Box |
| Sale / Hip | Type | Buyer | Consignor | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OBSMAR2012 Hip 188 |
Two-year-old | Todd A. Pletcher, agent for Repole Stables | Ocala Stud, agent | $475,000 |
| FTKNOV2014 Hip 157 |
Racing or broodmare prospect | Shadai Farm | Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent | $1,300,000 |
| California Chrome |
| Rachel Alexandra |
| Upstart |
| Bodemeister |
| International Star |
| Calculator |
| Far Right |
| Buddy's Saint |
| Main Sequence |
| Texas Red |
