Blue Prize Punches Breeders' Cup Ticket in Fleur de Lis
An affinity for Churchill Downs should serve Blue Prize well come November, and it came in handy June 16 as well.
Claire Crosby
Editor, BloodHorse Daily
Claire Crosby, editor of BloodHorse Daily, has melded her love for human-interest journalism and the equine breed into a successful turf writing career. Since her first freelance article on racing was published at BloodHorse.com in 2005, her byline has appeared in the New York Times, ESPN The Magazine, and on ESPN.com, among others. She is the winner of the 2011 Eclipse Award for Feature/Commentary, the 2013 Joe Hirsch Memorial Award (feature/advance division), and the 2008 Louisville Metro Journalism Award for Sports Writing. She is an avid equestrian and therapeutic riding instructor.
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Ruby Does Sparkle First Winner for Moro Tap
The Tapit stallion Moro Tap was represented by his first winner June 15 when Stephen Baker's homebred Ruby Does Sparkle got up by a head in a five-furlong maiden special weight at Lone Star Park.
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Belmont Stakes Wrap
Claire Crosby recaps Justify's exhilarating victory in the Belmont Stakes to become the 13th Triple Crown winner.
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A Raving Beauty Conquers Just a Game Rivals
In the moments before the $700,000 Longines Just a Game Stakes (G1T) at Belmont Park, A Raving Beauty showed the attitude that would soon help her turn back her top-level foes.
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Monomoy Girl Powers to Acorn Victory
Monomoy Girl continued her dominant season June 9, with an easy victory in the $700,000 Acorn Stakes Presented by Nassau County Industrial Development Association (G1) at Belmont Park.
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Belmont Stakes Scene-Setter
Claire Crosby sets the scene for the Belmont Stakes from Belmont Park where it's warm and sunny and all systems are go for Kentucky Derby and Preakness Winner Justify.
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Ogden Phipps the 'Real Test' for Abel Tasman
Four-time grade 1 winner Abel Tasman was supposed to win her season debut, but her connections have turned the page and are looking forward to the $750,000 Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1) on the loaded June 9 card at Belmont Park.
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Fourstar Crook Edges Sistercharlie in New York Stakes
Fourstar Crook turned the tables on stablemate Sistercharlie (IRE) June 8 and held on by a head to win the $600,000 New York Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G2T) at Belmont Park.
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Belmont Stakes News Update for June 8
Claire Crosby reports on Justify's final preparations for the Belmont Stakes. Also appearances from Free Drop Billy, Gronkowski, Blended Citizen, and Hofburg.
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Belmont Stakes News Update for June 7
Justify's first trip over the Belmont surface, including comments from Bob Baffert. Also, Bravazo, Vino Rosso, Noble Indy, Hofburg, Tenfold, Restoring Hope, Blended Citizen, Free Drop Billy, and Gronkowski.
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Hoppertunity 'in His Own Little Groove' for Brooklyn
"If he's good enough, he's good enough, and if he's not, he goes out and does it again the next time," Bill Betz said of Hoppertunity, who will run in the June 9 Brooklyn Stakes (G2).
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Belmont Stakes News Update for June 6
Claire Crosby provides updates on Belmont Stakes (G1) contenders Bravazo, Vino Rosso, Noble Indy, Blended Citizen, Gronkowski, and Tenfold who made morning appearances to the track in preparation for the final leg of the Triple Crown.
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Chief Cicatriz Much the Best in Aristides
The 5-year-old Munnings gelding proved himself a serious contender with his sizzling score, which he earned after pressing a hot pace in the six-furlong sprint.
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Hawkish Soars to Victory in Penn Mile
A choice to keep two runners apart paid dividends June 2 for the connections of Hawkish.
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Subsidiary Notches First Win for Central Banker
Ontario-bred Subsidiary became the first winner for New York-based sire Central Banker on June 2, when the 2-year-old filly set the pace and held sway in a 4 1/2-furlong maiden special weight at Woodbine.
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Pickett Impresses as First Winner for Goldencents
Louisiana-bred Pickett was an impressive first winner May 30 for freshman sire Goldencents at Evangeline Downs.
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Hunt Edges Heart to Heart in Shoemaker Mile
Michael House's Hunt (IRE) came flying to nail favored Heart to Heart in the shadow of the wire May 28 in the $400,000 Shoemaker Mile (G1T) at Santa Anita Park.
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Heart to Heart Heads Back to CA for Shoemaker Mile
Terry Hamilton and Brian Lynch are nothing if not persistent, especially where 7-year-old Heart to Heart is concerned.
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Are You Kidding Me Finer With Age in Third Eclipse
Are You Kidding Me split horses with a commanding move May 26 in the $175,000 Eclipse Stakes (G2) at Woodbine, then held off a late run from Melmich to secure his third victory in the 1 1/16-mile Tapeta race.
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Page McKenney Lands Determined Salvator Mile Score
In his seventh season of racing, Adam Staple and Jalin Stable's hard-hitting Page McKenney showed the same determination that has brought him back year after year.
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Post-Preakness News Update
Claire Crosby shares updates on how undefeated Justify emerged after the Preakness Stakes (G1) and Bob Baffert's upcoming training plans for the chestnut colt in pursuit of the third jewel of the Triple Crown.
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Preakness Stakes Wrap
Claire Crosby recaps the foggy Preakness Stakes, which saw Justify fight for the victory in the middle jewel of the Triple Crown.
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Fire Away Takes Rail to Victory in Off-Turf Dixie
The connections of Fire Away were looking forward to running in the $250,000 Dixie Stakes (G3T) May 19 at Pimlico Race Course even before champion male turf horse World Approval scratched in rainy Baltimore.
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Preakness Scene Setter with Claire Crosby
Preakness day video update with Claire Crosby on May 19, 2018.
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Irish War Cry Rewards Patience With Pimlico Special Win
On a rainy day at Pimlico Race Course, a year removed from the Triple Crown campaign that resulted in a runner-up finish in the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1), Irish War Cry came through in the $300,000 Pimlico Special Stakes (G3).
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Preakness News Update for May 18
Reporting from Pimlico Race Course, Claire Crosby shares updates on morning track appearances from Justify, Quip, Sporting Chance, Bravazo, and Good Magic.
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World Approval Chases Return to Form in Dixie Stakes
Trainer Mark Casse said Live Oak Plantation's 6-year-old Northern Afleet gelding, who won the 1 1/16-mile Dixie on good going last year, isn't bothered by a rain-softened course.
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Preakness News Update for May 17
Reporting from Pimlico Race Course on a rainy morning, Claire Crosby shares updates on morning track appearances from Justify, Good Magic, Bravazo, Quip, Diamond King, and Lone Sailor.
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A Raving Beauty Aces U.S. Debut in Beaugay
A Raving Beauty (GER) found herself right at home May 12 on the Belmont Park lawn and aced her United States debut in the $200,000 Beaugay Stakes (G3T).
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Hi Happy Breaks Through in Man o' War Stakes
La Providencia's homebred Hi Happy continued his steady improvement for trainer Todd Pletcher with his first top-level win in the U.S. May 12, when he edged past pacesetter One Go All Go to win the $700,000 Man o' War Stakes (G1T) at Belmont Park.
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Post Kentucky Derby News Update
Following Justify's victory in the May 5 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), Claire Crosby updates us on future plans for the Scat Daddy colt as well as possible Preakness Stakes (G1) plans for Good Magic, Audible, and Bravazo.
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Kentucky Derby Wrap
Claire Crosby recaps the 144th Kentucky Derby, which saw Justify capture the roses despite the sloppy conditions and the curse of Apollo.
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Proctor's Ledge Rewards Walsh's Gamble
Patricia Moseley's homebred rewarded trainer Brendan Walsh Saturday with a half-length victory over On Leave in the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (G2T), a rebound from her eighth in the April 14 Coolmore Jenny Wiley Stakes (G1T) at Keeneland.
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Derby Day Scene Setter
Kentucky Derby day scene setter with Claire Novak on May 5, 2018.
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Kentucky Oaks Wrap
Claire Crosby recaps Monomoy Girl's dramatic victory in the 2018 Kentucky Oaks.
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Salty Surges Past Competition in La Troienne
Gary Barber, Baccari Racing Stable, and Chester Prince's Salty made a final surge to the front along the inside rail to win the La Troienne Stakes presented by Twinspires.com (G1) in a final time of 1:43.78.
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Kentucky Oaks Scene Setter
Claire Crosby updates audience with latest news on Kentucky Oaks day, May 4, 2018
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Kentucky Derby News Update for May 3
Reporting from Churchill Downs, Claire Crosby provides updates on Mendelssohn's morning track appearance, including comments from Pat Keating and Fred Mitchell of Clarkland Farm.
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Baffert Reminisces in Churchill Return With Abel Tasman
A year to the day after she took the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) with a last-to-first finish, China Horse Club and Clearsky Farms' Quality Road filly is back at Churchill Downs to launch her 4-year-old campaign.
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Kentucky Derby News Update for May 2
Reporting from Churchill Downs, Claire Crosby provides updates on Justify, Bolt d'Oro, Enticed, Solomini, Midnight Bisou, and more, including some foot work for Audible.
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Kentucky Derby News Update for May 1
Reporting from Churchill Downs, Claire Crosby provides updates on Justify, Solomini, Bolt d'Oro, Firenze Fire, Instilled Regard, Enticed, and the arrival of Mendelssohn, as well as information about the draw.
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Kentucky Derby News Update for April 30
Reporting from Churchill Downs, Claire Crosby provides updates on Combatant’s final pre-race breeze as well as track appearances from Magnum Moon, Vino Rosso, Audible, and Noble Indy.
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'Tough' Bravazo Out Early for Lukas in Final Derby Spin
Some of us get up and get at it in the morning, and others sleep in, as "Coach" is wont to say, with the implication being that Derby winners and other success stories are best launched before dawn.
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Monomoy Girl Sitting on Go After Final KY Oaks Drill
The best-case-scenario campaign Monomoy Girl has obligingly followed since November came one step closer to fruition April 28, when the Tapizar filly put in her final work for the May 4 Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs.
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Something Awesome Stretches to Charles Town Classic Win
Stronach Stables' homebred Something Awesome came to Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races on a roll, Hall of Fame jockey Edgar Prado arrived on a mission, and the two brought home the money April 21 in the $1.2 million Charles Town Classic (G2).
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Sistercharlie Fresh Off Bench in Jenny Wiley
Her last start was a runner-up finish in the July 8 Belmont Oaks Invitational (G1T) at Belmont Park, but Peter Brant's Sistercharlie was primed for a big effort April 14 in the $350,000 Coolmore Jenny Wiley Stakes (G1T) at Keeneland.
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Triple Chelsea Upsets Lady Aurelia in Giant's Causeway
The 5-year-old daughter of Hat Trick dug deep to run down European champion Lady Aurelia in the final sixteenth of the $100,000 Giant's Causeway Stakes at Keeneland.
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Engelhard Award to Eberhardt Keogh, Mastrippolito
BloodHorse Visuals Director Anne Eberhardt Keogh and longtime freelance photographer Enzina Mastrippolito were honored April 11 with the Charles W. Engelhard Award at the Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders' Kentucky-bred champions awards.
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Bolt d'Oro Strong in Final Drill for Santa Anita Derby
Ruis Racing's Medaglia d'Oro colt drew on even terms with a workmate in mid-stretch after he tracked about two lengths behind early, hit the wire in 1:01 1/5 in front by a neck, and surged into his gallop out with powerful strides.
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Chocolate Martini Determined in Fair Grounds Oaks Upset
After winning a Feb. 18 allowance/optional claimer by a neck going a mile and 70 yards at the New Orleans track, the former claimer thrust herself into contention for the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) with a qualifying score.
