HealthWatch: Sand Colic and Plasma
Rarely do we see our horses lapping up sand like it's some rare commodity.
Amanda Duckworth
Parading Leads the Way in the Dixie
Parading made it consecutive graded stakes victories when he held off Just as Well in the $150,000 Dixie Stakes (gr. IIT) at Pimlico May 16.
Figueroa Enjoys His Time with Mine That Bird
As Mine That Bird, winner of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), quietly goes about his business at Pimlico in preparation for the May 16 Preakness Stakes (gr. I), so does the man who has been at his side since the Birdstone gelding's unlikely Triple Crown quest began. Charlie Figueroa is Mine That Bird's excercise rider and groom.
Barbaro's Brother Nicanor Breaks Maiden by 15
Trainer Michael Matz switched Nicanor to the turf for his fourth career start and it clearly suited the colt well, as he demolished a maiden special weight field by 15 1/4 lengths at Delaware Park May 13. He is a full brother to 2006 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Barbaro
HealthWatch: Surface Safety and Medication
3D dynamometric shoe gives insight into the biomechanical effects of diverse surfaces on the entire musculoskeletal system; Nanomedicine is a rapidly expanding field and is anticipated to have a huge impact on equine practice in the not-so-distant future.
Woolley Soaking Up First Derby Experience
As heavy rain fell on Churchill Downs in the days leading up to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), trainer Bennie Woolley Jr. took it with a smile. On Saturday, he sent out Mine That Bird in the Run for the Roses, and posted a 50-1 upset.
Miss Isella Posts Louisville Distaff Upset
Miss Isella defeated race favorite One Caroline in the Louisville Distaff (gr. II) at Churchill Downs May 1.
Ice Keeps Cool During First Derby Experience
After Summer Bird's solid third-place finish in the April 11 Arkansas Derby (gr. II), his connections decided to enter the colt in the Run for the Roses. His trainer, Tim Ice, just opened his stable last year.
Zenyatta May Not Run on Oaks Undercard
Although the Kentucky Oaks undercard May 1 got an added dose of excitement when trainer John Shirreffs announced 2008 champion older female Zenyatta would make her 5-year-old debut in the Louisville Distaff (gr. II), the talented Street Cry mare may be forced to scratch due to weather.
Trainers' Dinner Full of Good Humor
Hall of Fame trainers D. Wayne Lukas and Bob Baffert kicked off the annual Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders' trainers' dinner April 28 with humor and vivacity, and that attitude lasted throughout the evening.
Breen Calmly Approaches First Kentucky Derby
When trainer Kelly Breen saddles West Side Bernie and Atomic Rain in the May 2 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), it will be the first time the 39-year-old conditioner has started a horse in the Run for the Roses. But for now, he is trying to keep calm and keep his mind busy.
Jenny Wiley Features Forever Together
A talented group of eight fillies and mares will line up against last year's female turf champion Forever Together when she makes her 5-year-old debut April 11 in the $200,000 Jenny Wiley Stakes (gr. IIT) at Keeneland.
'Rags' Filly Taking After Her Mother
Although she is little more than a week old, Rags to Riches' first foal is already displaying the same independent streak her mother was known for.
Jockey Eclipse Award: Garrett Gomez
Given that Garrett "Go-Go" Gomez topped the North American leading jockeys' list for the third consecutive year and took four Breeders' Cup World Championship races in 2008, it is not surprising he also earned his second Eclipse Award in as many years.
Female Turf Eclipse: Forever Together
Sometimes a change of scenery and a stiff drink are all a girl needs. That was at least partially the case for Forever Together, who was named 2008 champion turf mare.
Big Brown Settles in at Three Chimneys
On a delightful autumn afternoon, Big Brown contently stood for photos and surveyed his new home while fulfilling the role of guest of honor during Three Chimneys Farm's open house for breeders Nov. 5.
Owner Jackson Discusses Curlin's Future
Though this weekend will feature power-packed racing that should impact the upcoming Breeders' Cup World Championships, all eyes will be on Curlin as he looks to defend his title in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I) and break Cigar's North American earnings record.
Inside Track: Lovin' It
Loving what you do for a living certainly improves your odds at succeeding. At least, that was the case for Tim Kegel, a Louisville-based bloodstock agent, who has certainly had his share of success.
Inside Track: Elite Groom
It is fair to say that when Mike Chapple enrolled in the Groom Elite Certification School at Gulfstream Park this spring, he was not the average pupil.
Dancing Allstar Takes Aim on the Azalea
Dancing Allstar looks to be the belle of the ball entering the $250,000 Azalea Stakes (gr. III) at Calder Race Course July 12. The chestnut Millennium Allstar filly has won her last six races, all of which have come in stakes company, and she leads a field of seven 3-year-old fillies who will contest the six-furlong Azalea.
American Oaks Has International Flavor
Carribean Sunset, a multiple group III winner in Ireland, leads a four-horse European contingent in a field of 12 3-year-old fillies contesting the $750,000 American Oaks Invitational Stakes (gr. IT) at Hollywood Park July 5.
Curlin, Einstein Owners' License Issues
While Einstein, a multiple grade I winner on turf, acquitted himself well on the dirt by running second in the June 14 Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) at Churchill Downs, it was a situation he was never meant to be in.
Belmont Profile: Denis of Cork
Denis of Cork went from last to third in the May 3 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), and it is that bid that has led many to think he will enjoy the extra quarter-mile he will have to run in the 1 1/2-mile Belmont Stakes (gr. I) June 7.
Kasparoff Has an Ace in Bob Black Jack
California trainer James Kasparoff may only have three horses in his barn, but since one of them is May 3 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) starter Bob Black Jack, right now there is not much to complain about.
Mr. Nightlinger Wires Aegon Turf Sprint
Race favorite Mr. Nightlinger led from start to finish as he defeated seven rivals in the $100,000 Aegon Turf Sprint (gr. IIIT) at Churchill Downs May 2. Salute the Count checked in second, while Atticus Kristy came running late to grab third.
Ringing in the Derby With Larry Jones
Should Eight Belles run on Saturday, she will provide trainer Larry Jones with his second Kentucky Derby (gr. I) starter. Last year he conditioned Hard Spun, who ran a credible second behind Street Sense and was also owned by Rick Porter's Fox Hill Farms.
Strutting with Stutts
For 70-year-old trainer Bennie Stutts Jr., coming to the May 3 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) with his first starter, Smooth Air, is a bit like getting the chance to play in another major sporting event.
Recapturing Louie Roussel
As trainer Louie Roussel III feeds his 3-year-old bay colt a mint to keep him quiet during a morning bath in the week leading up to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), it isn't so hard to imagine it is Risen Star being rinsed down, not the appropriately named Recapturetheglory.
Paulo Lobo: The Traveling Man
While Arkansas Derby (gr. II) winner Gayego settles into his temporary home at Churchill Downs in advance of the May 3 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), his trainer, Paulo Lobo, is logging some serious frequent flyer miles between Louisville and his base in California.
Round 'Em Up: (with Video)
Posse's first runners came out blazing, leading him to the freshman title.
Immune to Gloom Tops Session
David Wade, agent, purchased the stakes-placed Citidancer mare Immune to Gloom for $40,000 to top the opening session of the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic December mixed sale at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium Dec. 2.
Keeneland Up as Sale Winds Down
Gains were posted across the board during the second-to-last day of the Keeneland November mixed sale Nov. 18.
Holy Bull Mare Tops Adena Auction
The Holy Bull mare Silent Bull brought $130,000 to top the 11th Adena Springs broodmare sale at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky's Newtown Paddocks Nov. 8.
Tessa Blue Demolishes Inside Information Field
Tessa Blue kicked off the Breeders' Cup World Championships stakes undercard when she went wire-to-wire and demolished the field in the $250,000 Inside Information Breeders' Cup Stakes at Monmouth Park Oct. 26.
Connections of Old Man Buck Change Tactics
Though Old Man Buck was pre-entered with first preference in the Oct. 26 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, after considering multiple factors, his connections decided to run the chestnut Hold That Tiger colt the next day in the Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) instead.
Vinery Hopes Juvenile Starter Flatters His Sire
Vinery Stables is looking to score a progeny/sire double in the Oct. 27 Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) with Kodiak Kowboy, a son of freshman sire Posse, who stands at the Lexington farm.
Dixie Chatter Could Help Lightning Strike Twice
If Dixie Chatter wins the Oct. 27 Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I), proverbial lightning will have struck Tony Holmes' Marula Park Stud near Lexington twice in the span of three years.
Nafzger: Kentucky Cup Classic Close, But Not Easy
Carl Nafzger, trainer of Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Street Sense, discussed his reasoning for racing against grade I winner Hard Spun in the Sept. 29 Kentucky Cup Classic (gr. II) at Turfway Park during a National Thoroughbred Racing Association media teleconference Sept. 25.
'Steady Progress' Marks Day 10 of Keeneland Sale
A filly from the family of Mr. Greeley and Street Sense topped day 10 of the Keeneland September yearling sale. Tom Gentry, agent, bought the Hold That Tiger filly for $182,000 from Four Star Sales, agent.
Second 'Welfare and Safety' Summit Planned
Participants from the Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit announced a second summit is scheduled for March 17-18, 2008, at Keeneland. In addition, members on Sept. 20 provided updates on a variety of summit-inspired initiatives.
Day Nine at Keeneland Nets Across-the-Board Gains
A bay daughter of Distorted Humor fetched $475,000 and topped the ninth day of the Keeneland September yearling sale as the middle market continued to show its strength by posting across-the-board gains.
Keeneland September Site of 18 Grade/Group I Winners This Year
No less than 18 individual horses that have won a grade- or group-I race in 2007 went through the Keeneland September sale.
Lewis Michael Dreaming to Reach Anna's Success
Frank Calabrese's Lewis Michael will try to step out of his sister's shadow July 28 when he competes in the $300,000 Washington Park Handicap (gr. II) at Arlington Park.
New Equine Hospital to Hold Open House July 14
Woodford Equine Hospital, a new equine veterinary clinic in Versailles, Ky., will hold its open house Saturday, July 14.
Lane's End Stallions Having Banner Year
Farm has five stud horses ranked among the top 11 leading sires of 2007.
Equine Injury Reporting System Receives More Support
A uniform on-track equine injury reporting system developed by Dr. Mary Scollay will be implemented as a pilot project at more than 30 racetracks beginning June 1.
Illinois Senate Passes Slaughter Bill
The Illinois Senate passed a bill May 16 that would end horse slaughter for human consumption in the state. The bill, which passed by a vote of 39-16, now goes to Gov. Blagojevich for his signature.
Kaplan's Longshots Longing for Roses
In a year where multiple trainers have multiple horses in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), Bill Kaplan will saddle two longshots.
O'Neill Basking in First Derby Experience
Although trainer Doug O'Neill has played a significant role in some of racing's biggest days, on May 5 he will experience saddling a Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) contender for the first time. After the defection of his trainee Cobalt Blue, O'Neill will be saddling two horses in the Derby, Great Hunter and Liquidity
Prepping for the Roses
In a year filled with synthetic surface preps and extended layoffs between races, most of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) contenders are looking to break some kind of trend.
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