Elate Dominates Alabama Stakes
Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider's Elate ran down pacesetter It Tiz Well and drew off to a dominant victory in the $600,000 Alabama Stakes (G1) Aug. 19 at Saratoga Race Course.
Claire Novak
Editor, BloodHorse Daily
Claire Novak, online features editor for the Blood-Horse, 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 lives near Lexington and, when not writing about racing, can often be found jumping with her Thoroughbred, Bob.
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World Approval Kicks Clear in Fourstardave
Dialing back in distance and skimming easily over good turf after a heavy rainstorm Aug. 12 at Saratoga Race Course, veteran World Approval kicked clear to win the $500,000 Fourstardave Handicap (G1T).
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Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale Day 2 Recap
Claire Novak recaps day 2 of the Fasig-Tipton selected yearling sale including comments from Boyd Browning, Kerri Radcliffe, Davant Latham, and Brian Graves. Sponsored by Taylor Made Sales Agency.
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Mulcaster Picks Up Medaglia d'Oro Colt
A Medaglia d'Oro youngster from a female family that boasts great success in Europe will head to Ireland after selling to Mulcaster Bloodstock Aug. 8 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga selected yearling sale.
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WV Derby Runner-Up Game Over Likely for Travers
Owner Ron Paolucci could take another run at a big event or two at Saratoga Race Course before the meet is out.
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Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale Day 1 Recap
Claire Novak recaps day 1 of the Fasig-Tipton selected yearling sale including comments from Ian Brennan, Craig Bandoroff and Boyd Browning. Sponsored by Taylor Made Sales Agency.
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Classic Empire Targets Pennsylvania Derby
Champion Classic Empire will target the Sept. 23 Pennsylvania Derby (G1) instead of running in the Aug. 26 Travers Stakes (G1), trainer Mark Casse confirmed Aug. 7.
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Gun Runner Cruises in Whitney
Cruising for home on his lonesome under a confident ride from Florent Geroux, the 3-5 Steve Asmussen-trained favorite continued to draw away en route to a 5 1/4-length win over Keen Ice.
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American Gal Perfect in Test
Kaleem Shah's homebred American Gal landed the grade 1 victory she's been chasing Aug. 5 at Saratoga Race Course.
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Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale Preview
Claire Novak previews the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale, including comments from Mark Taylor of Taylor Made Sales and footage of some of the horses to watch at the sale. Sponsored by Taylor Made Sales.
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2017 Hall of Fame Profiles: Garrett Gomez
Garrett Gomez, the troubled jockey whose brilliance on the track led him to wins in 13 Breeders' Cup races, the national earnings title four times and who handed Zenyatta her only loss aboard Blame, will be posthumously be inducted into the Hall.
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Faypien, American Gal Ship East for Test Stakes
Faypien, a Ghostzapper filly, will step to the top level in the Longines Test Stakes (G1) in pursuit of her fourth straight win.
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San Pablo's First Winner Scores at Finger Lakes
Freshman sire San Pablo was represented by his first winner July 25 at Finger Lakes, when Timothy P. Murphy's Tender Boy edged out victory by a neck at first asking.
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Lady Eli Runs 'One of Her Greatest Races to Date'
An incident at the start and a stewards' inquiry into the stretch run did not deter Lady Eli from her fifth grade 1 victory
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Twisted Tom Muscles His Way to New York Derby Score
Despite a body slam from Broken Engagement at the head of the lane, Twisted Tom turned that rival away and dug in to win the $150,000 New York Derby July 22 at Finger Lakes.
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Songbird Holds Fast in Delaware Handicap
The champion daughter of Medaglia d'Oro came and conquered July 15 at Delaware Park, where she claimed the $750,000 Delaware Handicap (G1) for Delaware native Rick Porter of Fox Hill Farms and Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.
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Declaration of War, Justin Phillip Get Stakes Winners
Actress won the Jebel Ali Silver Jubilee Anglesey Stakes at the Curragh to become the first black-type winner for Declaration of War, while What a Catch was Justin Phillip's first black-type winner in the Rockville Centre Stakes at Belmont Park.
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2017 Fasig-Tipton July Sale Recap
Claire Novak recaps the Fasig-Tipton July Sale, including comments from Larry Best, Meg Levy and Boyd Browning.
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Wrote Gains First Winner With High Providence
Wrote, winner of the 2011 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T), is the only son of two-time Eclipse Award winner High Chaparral at stud in North America.
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Fasig-Tipton July Sale Preview
Claire Novak previews the Fasig-Tipton July sale, which kicks off the yearling sales season, including comments from Mark Taylor of Taylor Made Sales Agency.
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Keen Ice Blows By Shaman Ghost in Suburban
Keen Ice, racing for the first time since his seventh-place finish in the March 25 Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1), overpowered 1-2 favorite Shaman Ghost by three lengths.
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Mind Your Biscuits Tends to Business in Belmont Sprint
The New York-bred took jockey Joel Rosario on a spin around Big Sandy and cruised to an easy $350,000 payday in the Belmont Sprint Championship Stakes (G2).
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Supplement Pee Wee Reese Upsets Om in American
With even-money favorite Om close behind all the way in the $100,000 American Stakes (G3T) July 4 at Santa Anita Park, Nick Alexander's Tribal Rule homebred turned back the multiple graded stakes winner and picked up a graded victory of his own.
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Fort Wise Treaty is First Winner for Fort Larned
Mark Breen's Fort Wise Treaty became the first winner for freshman sire Fort Larned July 4 with a neck victory in a mile turf race at Ellis Park.
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Chloe Raven First Winner for Winslow Homer
Fletcher B. Clement and Henry B. Johnson Jr.'s Chloe Raven became the first winner for her freshman sire Winslow Homer with a romp at first asking July 1 at Louisiana Downs.
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Despite Late Night, Polk Enjoys Sunny Skies
The 2-year-old daughter of Animal Kingdom became the first stakes winner for her sire June 30 in the $100,000 Debutante Stakes around 10:30 p.m. EDT, and Normandy Farm owner Polk, also Sunny Skies' breeder, was on hand.
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Bigger Picture Dives to Record United Nations Score
A crafty ride from Joe Bravo set 10-1 shot Bigger Picture up with dead aim on his first grade 1 victory July 1 in the United Nations Stakes, and the 6-year-old Badge of Silver gelding responded with a dazzling win in course-record time.
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Curlin's Approval Makes Princess Rooney Rebound
Curlin's Approval returned to her winning ways in the $250,000 Princess Rooney Stakes Presented by Hardacre Farm (G2) July 1 at Gulfstream Park, when she drew off from 10 rivals to a 4 1/2-length score.
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Forever Unbridled Makes Triumphant Return
Running for the first time since a third behind Beholder and Songbird in the Nov. 4 Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1), the 5-year-old took down her rivals with a strong late rally in the $200,000 Fleur de Lis Handicap (G2).
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Freedom Child Gets First Winner in Limited View
Freshman sire Freedom Child was represented by his first winner June 17, when Maryland-bred Limited View soared clear of her competition in a five-furlong maiden special weight at Laurel Park.
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Undefeated Sircat Sally Tops Honeymoon Field
Joe Turner's homebred Sircat Sally will bring her undefeated record into the $200,000 Honeymoon Stakes (G2T) June 17 at Santa Anita Park, and her Hall of Fame trainer appears to be as confident as her 3-5 morning-line odds.
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Unique Bella Nears Return to Training
Don Alberto Stable's Unique Bella is progressing well in her recovery process from a shin issue. The 3-year-old Tapit filly should start galloping for Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer soon.
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Post-Belmont Stakes News Update
Claire Novak pays a visit to Belmont Stakes winner Tapwrit and checks in on the status of several other Belmont contenders including Irish War Cry, Patch, Gormley, Senior Investment, and Hollywood Handsome.
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Belmont Stakes Wrap
Claire Novak recaps the Belmont Stakes, where Tapwrit ran down Irish War Cry to become the third Belmont Stakes winner sired by Gainesway's Tapit, and trainer Todd Pletcher's third Belmont Stakes winner as well. Also an update on Hollywood Handsome.
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Antonoe Announces Presence in Just a Game
Juddmonte Farms' Antonoe announced her presence with a tremendous run in the $700,000 Longines Just a Game (G1T) June 10 at Belmont Park.
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West Coast Best in Easy Goer
Hall of Famer Bob Baffert brought West Coast to the East Coast ready to rumble, and the son of Flatter impressed like a 9-5 choice should June 10 in the $150,000 Easy Goer Stakes at Belmont Park.
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Belmont Stakes Day Scene-Setter
Claire Novak with news updates on Belmont Stakes day morning on June 10, 2017, at Belmont Park.
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Epicharis Out of Belmont Stakes
Epicharis, who traveled from Japan to contest the Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets (G1), was a vet scratch the morning of the race June 10, after he failed to train several days in a row at Belmont Park.
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Red Cardinal Invades for Belmont Gold Cup Score
Australian Bloodstock's Red Cardinal (IRE) invaded Belmont Park June 9 and claimed the $400,000 Belmont Gold Cup (G3T) with a strong turn of foot.
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Belmont Stakes News Update for June 9
Claire Novak reports on the status of Belmont Stakes contender Epicharis, who was seen Friday morning by the New York Racing Association's chief examining veterinarian. Also includes footage of Tapwrit, Meantime, Senior Investment, and more!
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Patience Could Pay Off for Team Divisidero in Manhattan
Divisidero has been given significant time off throughout his career, and rewarded his connections for it.
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Belmont Stakes News Update for June 8
Claire Novak shares information on Belmont Stakes contender Epicharis, who did not go to the track to train Thursday morning after being treated for lameness. Plus footage of Irish War Cry and Gormley in their first trips over the track!
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Epicharis Does Not Train After Lameness Treatment
The status of Japanese contender Epicharis is in question for the June 10 Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) after the colt was treated with bute June 7 and did not go out to train June 8 at Belmont Park.
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Belmont Stakes News Update for June 7
Claire Novak interviews trainer Mark Casse about Classic Empire's defection from the Belmont Stakes (G1), and checks in on the juvenile champion on a busy Wednesday morning as the remaining Belmont contenders gear up for the race.
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Comeback King Bal a Bali Takes Shoemaker Mile
Rounding the turn for home in the $400,000 Shoemaker Mile (G1T) June 3 at Santa Anita Park, Bal a Bali again validated owner Calumet Farm's decision to keep the striking bay off their stallion roster for another year.
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Grand Jete Steps Up in Eatontown
Juddmonte Farms' homebred Grand Jete (GB) took the next step in her stateside progression June 3, closing with powerful strides to win the $100,000 Eatontown Stakes (G3T) at Monmouth Park.
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Well-Placed Illuminant Shines in Monrovia
Sharp handling of grade 1 winner Illuminant brought big rewards May 27 at Santa Anita Park for Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Sol Kumin's Head of Plains Partners, and SF Racing.
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Stormy Liberal Ekes Out Daytona Victory
Rockingham Ranch's Stormy Liberal ran to his 1-2 odds and captured the $150,000 Daytona Stakes (G3T) May 27 at Santa Anita Park, but just in the nick of time.
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Post-Preakness Stakes News Update
Claire Novak updates us on Cloud Computing, Classic Empire, Lookin At Lee, and more! Learn who is heading to the Belmont Stakes and when.
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Preakness Stakes Wrap
Claire Novak recaps the Preakness Stakes won by Cloud Computing.
