
Hangin' With Haskin: Rachel and the Woodward
Steve looks back at Rachel Alexandra's Woodward triumph, as she leaves Saratoga for a new life.
Steve looks back at Rachel Alexandra's Woodward triumph, as she leaves Saratoga for a new life.
What Yankee Fourtune did in the Hawthorne Derby (gr. IIIT) Oct. 9 is what he does best, and that is to set the pace.
Wyomia made her first stakes appearance a winning one, upsetting odds-on choice Delightful Mary in the $225,470 Mazarine (Can-III) at Woodbine.
Smiling Tiger, reunited with jockey Russell Baze, earned his second grade I win of the season when he put away Cost of Freedom in the stretch and held on for a half-length victory in the $250,000 Ancient Title Stakes (gr. I).
Liberian Freighter outfought Colgan's Chip in deep stretch for a nose victory at 22-1 odds in the $150,000 Oak Tree Mile (gr. IIT) Oct. 9 on the turf at Hollywood Park.
Careless Jewel, arguably the second-best 3-year-old filly of 2009 behind Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra, has been retired from racing and will be offered for sale Nov. 7 at Fasig-Tipton in November.
A determined Etched held off the closing charge of odds-on favorite Musket Man to win the Monmouth Cup Stakes (gr. II) Oct. 9.
Champion Gio Ponti niftily split horses in deep stretch and went on to win the $600,000 Shadwell Turf Mile (gr. IT) Oct. 9 at Keeneland to notch his sixth grade I score.
J. B.'s Thunder earned his way into the Breeders' Cup Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) with a front-running romp in the $400,000 Dixiana Breeders' Futurity (gr. I) at Keeneland Oct. 9.
Highly-touted juvenile Uncle Mo was tested in the early going, but pulled clear in the stretch to win as a heavy favorite in the $300,000 Champagne (gr. I) Oct. 9 at Belmont Park.
The $100,000 Morvich (gr. IIIT), a six-furlong contest on Hollywood Park's turf course Oct. 11, is a designated "Win and You're In" race for the Nov. 6 BC Turf Sprint at Churchill Downs.
Favored Proviso came from well off the pace to win the $400,000 Abu Dhabi First Lady Stakes (gr. IT) for her fourth consecutive grade I victory Oct. 9 at Keeneland.
Dubai Majesty, who narrowly lost to Informed Decision last out, turned the tables on the champion Oct. 9 at Keeneland, notching the biggest win of her career in the $200,000 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes (gr. II).
A Z Warrior pulled away in the stretch to post a decisive victory in the $300,000 Frizette (gr. I) Oct. 9 at Belmont Park.
The California Cup yearling sale will get an added boost this year from a dispersal of California breeding stock owned by Martin and Pam Wygod.
Prince Will I Am closed from last on the turn for home to win the $250,000 Jamaica Handicap (gr. IT) going away over the Belmont Park inner turf course Oct. 9 for his first stakes win.
Silver Timber took a different route than he did last year, but the result was the same in the $100,000 Woodford (gr. IIIT), as he came off the pace to win the turf sprint Oct. 9 at Keeneland.
Four-time grade I winner Quality Road, who will be one of the favorites for next month's Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I), will enter stud in 2011 at Mr. and Mrs. William S. Farish's Lane's End Farm near Versailles, Ky.
Favored Sidney's Candy has been withdrawn from the Oak Tree Mile (gr. IIT) Oct. 9 at Hollywood Park because he is due to be sold.
Biondetti remained undefeated when he held off the late charge of Singapore Lilly to capture the Gran Criterium (It-I) by a half-length at San Siro Oct. 9.
What makes a winner? Just about every breeder and owner has asked and debated this question. Certainly genetics must play a role, or why else breed a winning stallion or mare?