Jockey Lane Luzzi Follows in Father's Footsteps
Lane Luzzi always wanted to be beside his father, Mike, a well-respected jockey on the ultra-competitive New York circuit.
Tom Pedulla
-
-
Stronach Still Seeking New Heights for Racing
Anyone who doubts Frank Stronach's ability to think big needs only to gaze at the 473-ton steel and bronze statue of Pegasus, the winged stallion of Greek mythology, that captivates visitors as they enter Gulfstream Park.
-
Prepping Effinex, Jerkens Recalls The Chief
Jerkens cannot help but recall his father's Hall of Fame career throughout the prestigious summer meet.
-
-
Unified's Connections Eye King's Bishop
Trainer Jimmy Jerkens has seen enough in the morning and in the afternoon to feel sure that Unified is a 3-year-old with considerable ability. He is less certain about how best to tap into that talent.
-
Legends: Lady's Secret, the Iron Lady
Lady's Secret, an eventual Horse of the Year and Hall of Fame inductee, strung together multiple stakes wins at the highest level. Trainer D. Wayne Lukas described her as an overachiever that "you never got to the bottom of."
-
Lady Eli Set for Return to Work Tab
Undefeated Lady Eli is set to take yet another significant step in her recovery from laminitis with a workout scheduled for July 3 at Belmont Park.
-
Legends: Joe Hirsch, Racing Ambassador
He received numerous awards and accolades, and was dedicated to the future of the sport and mentoring upcoming journalists in the racing industry.
-
Recovering Romans to Belmont With New Outlook
Trainer Dale Romans is enjoying a new perspective after what he describes as a "life-changing" experience.
-
O'Neill: Nyquist Will 'Run Big' Saturday
He says all indications are Nyquist is "sitting on go" and he expects a big effort Saturday, as befitting his morning line odds.
-
Legends: Affirmed - Rare Talent
Tom Pedulla writes of Affirmed's rare talent and equally rare competition, Alydar.
-
-
O'Neill: Strategy So Far Has Been Successful
Trainer Doug O'Neill, in his first of two diaries as told to Tom Pedulla for America's Best Racing, said the plan for Nyquist has succeeded so far, and now it comes down to the post-position draw for the Preakness Stakes.
-
Repole Returns With Outwork for Uncle Mo
Mike Repole, the former owner of Uncle Mo, believes the horse's eye-opening success with his first crop as a sire offers insight into what might have been.
-
Rachel's Valentina: Born to Win Oaks?
Todd Pletcher doesn't hesitate to put Rachel's Valentina in the company of his trio of previous Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) winners as she's set to contend Friday's race. A full field of 14 will go postward after champion Songbird's defection due to fever.
-
Adversaries Unite at Trainers' Dinner
An evening of laughter and warmth began with the presentation of a trophy to Bob Baffert as the winning trainer of last year's Derby.
-
Espinoza Back for More in Kentucky Derby
"It's going to be hard," Espinoza said of tackling the Run for the Roses on Whitmore. "But you never know. As long as I have a horse in the race, I always think I can win the Kentucky Derby."
-
Outwork Outlasts Longshot in Wood Memorial
Repole Stable's Outwork needed every ounce of energy he had left April 9 to win the $1 million Wood Memorial (gr. I) at Aqueduct Racetrack over longshot Trojan Nation.
-
Shadwell's Shagaf Gets Chance at Spotlight
A week after Mohaymen finished fourth in his final Kentucky Derby prep, Sheikh Hamdan's Shadwell Stable will have another potential star 3-year-old race when Shagaf tries the Wood Memorial April 9.
-
-
Shagaf Takes on Wood Memorial Litmus Test
Shadwell Stable's homebred Bernardini colt could step up in a big way in the April 9 Wood Memorial (gr. I), New York's final stepping-stone to the May 7 Kentucky Derby (gr. I).
-
Nyquist Trounces Mohaymen in Florida Derby
Nyquist pushed his perfect record to seven-for-seven with a clear victory in the $1 million Florida Derby (gr. I) April 2 at Gulfstream Park, while his previously undefeated rival Mohaymen finished fourth.
-
Reddam Lives in the Moment With Nyquist
Owner Reddam is more than willing to play catch-us-if-you-can with Mohaymen now and leave the future to the future. "...There is no guarantee we're going to make the Kentucky Derby," he said.
-
Top Horsemen Question Florida Derby Faceoff
"If they peak that race before, it will be hard for them, even with five weeks, to come back and give their best effort," trainer John Servis said of Nyquist and Mohaymen.
-
Post Positions Set for Florida Derby Showdown
Five weeks before they chase the penultimate prize in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), the stakes are huge for both star 3-year-olds as they tower over the rest of their Florida Derby competition.
-
Shadwell's Shagaf Prevails in Gotham Stakes
Sheikh Hamdan's Shadwell Stable has more than one undefeated 3-year-old securely on the Triple Crown trail.
-
Gotham No Sure Derby Path for Sunny Ridge
The Triple Crown grind goes against Jason Servis' preference for giving his horses ample recovery time, and even though he's running the Withers (gr. III) winner in the Gotham, a Kentucky Derby (gr. I) run is no sure thing.
-
-
Mohaymen Dominates Fountain of Youth
Shadwell Stable's Mohaymen dominated the $400,000 Xpressbet.com Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II) at Gulfstream Park Feb. 27, his fifth straight victory for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin.
-
Cherry Wine to Miss Fountain of Youth
The promising 3-year-old colt Cherry Wine will miss the Feb. 27 Xpressbet Fountain of Youth Stakes because of a fever that spiked Feb.23, trainer Dale Romans said.
-
Legends: Rachel Alexandra, Filly for the Ages
Jockey Calvin Borel said the key to their success together was to allow Rachel Alexandra to be the boss. She knew she could handle fractions that often seemed impossibly fast. His biggest job was to stay out of the way.
-
Sunny Ridge Prevails in Withers Stakes
Sunny Ridge would not be denied his first graded stakes win Saturday, Jan. 30 as he outlasted Vorticity to win the $250,000 Withers Stakes (gr. III) at Aqueduct Racetrack.
-
Baffert 'Hungrier' After Triple Crown Success
Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert often describes American Pharoah, the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years, as the "horse of a lifetime." But that doesn't mean he's not looking for the next one.
-
Jockey Desormeaux Still Hungry for More
A career launched with modest expectations led to almost surreal accomplishments for Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux.
