After the Wire: Santa Anita Handicap
Evan Hammonds recaps the historical Santa Anita Handicap, San Felipe Stakes, Gulfstream Park Handicap, and the Tampa Bay Derby. watch video
News
Headlines and features from the Thoroughbred industry
Darley Sire Lonhro Enters Australian Hall
Darley's Central Kentucky shuttler Lonhro was recognized as one of Australia's greatest racehorses with his induction into the nation's Racing Hall of Fame during ceremonies March 9 in Canberra.
Golden Gate Fields Adds Alcatraz Stakes
The $75,000 Alcatraz Stakes has been added to the winter-spring meeting stakes schedule at Golden Gate Fields and the $100,000 Campanile Stakes has been moved from May 31 to June 8, it was announced March 9.
Expectations High for OBS 2-Year-Old Sale
Expectations are understandably high heading into Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s selected sale of 2-year-olds in training March 11 in Ocala, Fla.
Judy the Beauty Splendid in Las Flores Score
Judy the Beauty, game runner-up in last fall's Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (gr. I), began what Wesley Ward hopes is a championship campaign with a sharp win in Santa Anita's $100,000 Las Flores Stakes (gr. III) March 9.
Pressure Off Sherman After 'Chrome's Dazzler
Following a dazzling win from California Chrome in the San Felipe Stakes (gr. II) March 8 at Santa Anita Park, trainer Art Sherman says he can concentrate on the best way to get to this year's Kentucky Derby (gr. I).
Santa Anita Handicap Handle Increases 23%
The Santa Anita Handicap program March 8 produced a robust 23% increase in total handle over last year, the track reported.
Ramseys' Major Marvel Takes Barbados Gold Cup
Ken and Sarah Ramsey enjoyed a win in the Caribbean March 8 when veteran Major Marvel cruised to a clear victory in the $214,000 Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup at Savannah Garrison Racecourse.
Hernandez Reaches 1,000th Victory Milestone
Jockey Colby Hernandez reached his 1,000th career victory March 8 when guiding Stephanies Wildcat to a narrow triumph in the fifth race at Delta Downs Racetrack and Casino.
Florida Derby Card to Receive Purse Incentive
Gulfstream Park announces it will add bonus money for March 29 program based on the number of starters during each of the day's races.
Honor Code Gets Tightener for Seasonal Debut
Coming up to his 2014 seasonal debut at Gulfstream Park, top 3-year-old prospect Honor Code breezed four furlongs March 9 in :47.97 over the main track.
Featured Horse Profile: Palace Malice
2013 Belmont Stakes winner Palace Malice started 2014 with a win at Gulfstream. More
Game On Dude Captures Record Third Big 'Cap
Experts thought Game On Dude had lost a step, but the gallant old gelding proved them wrong with a history-making third victory in the $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I) March 8 at Santa Anita Park.
Sahara Sky Storms to Second San Carlos Win
In an impressive display of gameness and power, Sahara Sky drove between horses in the stretch and struck for a repeat win in the $250,000 San Carlos Stakes (gr. II) March 8 at Santa Anita Park.
Indian Charlie Son Drills Fast Furlong at OBS
Promising prospects stretched their legs for prospective buyers March 9 at the second of two under-tack shows for Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s selected 2-year-olds in training sale.
Palace Malice Returns a Winner in GP Handicap
Dogwood Stable's Palace Malice, on the shelf since an even sixth-place finish in the 2013 Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I), showed no signs of rust with a gritty victory in the $250,000 Gulfstream Park Handicap (gr. II) March 8.
Winning Prize Streaks Home in Kilroe Mile
Argentinian import Winning Prize streaked gate-to-wire in the $350,000 Frank E. Kilroe Mile (gr. IT) at Santa Anita Park March 8, securing his first grade I score in the U.S.
Euphrosyne Elevated to Honeybee Victory
Euphrosyne was awarded the win in the $150,000 Honeybee Stakes (gr. III) March 8 after first-place finisher Sugar Shock was disqualified for interference in the Oaklawn Park stretch.
California Chrome Shines Again in San Felipe
Favored California Chome proved he belongs on the Triple Crown trail with a front-running stampede to victory in the $300,000 San Felipe Stakes (gr. II) March 8 at gleaming Santa Anita Park.
Ring Weekend Springs Tampa Bay Derby Upset
St. Elias Stable and West Point Thoroughbreds' Ring Weekend sprang a 14-1 upset of the $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II) March 8 at Tampa Bay Downs, well clear of Vinceremos in an impressively speedy gate-to-wire score.
Testa Rossi Cruises in Florida Oaks Stretch
In her first start since finishing second in last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (gr. IT), Testa Rossi overpowered 11 other 3-year-old fillies in the stretch to post a 3 1/2-length victory in the Florida Oaks.
Cloud Scapes Carries On to Hillsborough Score
Pin Oak Stud's homebred Cloud Scapes carried on in the $150,000 Hillsborough Stakes (gr. IIIT) March 8 at Tampa Bay Downs, edging Waterway Run to earn her third straight victory at the Florida oval.
Fiorente Proves Best in Australian Cup
Shamus Award tried for the seemingly impossible in the Aus$1million Australian Cup (Aus-I) March 8 at Flemington. He led nearly all the way, but then wilted late as Fiorente proved himself the nation's best horse.
Vercingetorix Co-Stars on Super Saturday
Vercingetorix stayed unbeaten in six career starts after joining pacesetting stablemate Anaerobio at the front in early stretch, then drawing away to capture the $300,000 Jebel Hatta (UAE-I) March 8 at Meydan.
Prince Bishop Makes Strong Meydan Statement
Prince Bishop burst between horses to lead in the stretch and drew clear to win the $400,000 Al Maktoum Challenge-Round 3 (UAE-I) March 8 at Meydan Racecourse.
Silent Achiever, Vespa Win in New Zealand
Former New Zealand champion Silent Achiever overhauled longtime pacesetter Historian and won the Lindauer New Zealand Stakes (NZ-I), one of two group I races on the March 8 card at Ellerslie.
Top Billing Off Derby Trail With Fracture
Top Billing will miss the Florida Derby and is off the Triple Crown trail with a cannon bone injury. Stablemate Honor Code, who makes his season debut March 12 at Gulfstream, could now be a candidate for Florida's big event.
Using Bursography to Diagnose Palmar Foot Pain
By now it's no secret that MRI is the gold standard in diagnosing pain in the rear (palmar) portion of horses' feet. However, many owners still choose to have less-reliable radiography performed on their heel-sore horses due to MRI's high cost and inconvenience.
Judy the Beauty Leads Las Flores Shippers
Florida-based Judy the Beauty heads a field of five for the $100,000 Las Flores Stakes (gr. III) March 9 at Santa Anita Park, her first start since the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (gr. I) last fall.
Riposte Heads Solid Hillsborough Field
Juddmonte Farms' homebred Riposte heads a field of nine in pursuit of her first graded stakes victory stateside in the $150,000 Hillsborough Stakes (gr. IIIT) March 8 at Tampa Bay Downs.
Portion of Vinceremos' Earnings to Charity
WinStar Farm and Twin Creeks Racing, owners of Sam F. Davis (gr. III) winner Vinceremos, will donate a portion of the colt's earnings to the Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center.
Team Equest Designed to Attract New Owners
Longtime horse owners and breeders Lisa and Jerry Campbell have launched Team Equest, a Florida-based syndicate initiative designed to attract new owners to racing.
Sweet Reason Comes Back a Winner
Treadway Racing Stable's Sweet Reason, winner of the Spinaway Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga Race Course last summer, made a successful return to the races March 7 at Aqueduct Racetrack in the featured eighth race.
Midshipman Colt Posts Fastest Ocala Drill
Heavy fog and chilly temperatures greeted prospective buyers attending the first of two under tack previews for the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s selected sale of 2-year-olds in training at Ocala Training Center March 7.
Honor Code to Bypass Rebel, Run at Gulfstream
Remsen Stakes (gr. II) winner Honor Code makes his highly anticipated 3-year-old debut in a 1 1/16-mile allowance event at Gulfstream Park March 12 rather than shipping to Oaklawn for the Rebel (gr. II).
Big 'Cap was 'Holy Grail' for Trainer Jones
From the time he was a youngster, trainer Gary Jones said winning the Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I) was his family's biggest quest.
Curlin, Asmussen Among Hall of Fame Finalists
Two-time Horse of the Year Curlin and trainer Steve Asmussen, who saddled him to nine stakes wins in the years he won those titles, are among 10 finalists on the 2014 Hall of Fame ballot.
Big 'Cap Seems Like Olden Days
The Santa Anita Handicap became the West Coast's most prestigious racing event by consistently bringing out the best people and horses. The race's history has been dotted with gritty campaigners who just don't give up.
Geeky Gorgeous Named New Jersey Horse of Year
Daniel J. Lopez's Geeky Gorgeous, a winner of three stakes races last year, has been named New Jersey-bred Horse of the Year for 2013.
Stakes Winner S. S. Hot Sauce Dead at 33
Alan Kline's S. S. Hot Sauce, a 33-year-old Maryland-bred son of Sauce Boat who ran in the 1984 Preakness Stakes (gr. I), died March 6 at the age of 33.
A Racing Weekend of Stars
If you're the type who thinks that racing needs its stars to keep racing to increase interest, then this is the Saturday for you! read blog
Full OBS March Sale to be Conducted Tuesday
The 2014 Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. March sale of selected 2-year olds in training has been rescheduled. The entire sale will be held in one continuous session Tuesday, March 11 beginning at 10 a.m.
Haskin: 'Horseplayers' and Pioneer Days
- By Steve Haskin
'Horseplayers,' mainly Team Rotondo (Peter Rotondo Sr. and Jr. and Lew Davis), brings me back to a time long ago in my life; a time of smoke-filled busses and a cacophony of thick Brooklyn accents moaning. read blog
CHRB Issues Advisory for Cobalt Monitoring
The California Horse Racing Board has begun monitoring cobalt levels in horses that are competing in the state and in certain necropsy specimens.
Godolphin Pair Face Off in Maktoum Challenge
Seven races, including two group I events, are carded for the Dubai World Cup Carnival's $1.8 million Super Saturday pogram March 8 at Meydan Racecourse.
First Northern Winner for Southwestern Heat
By winning a quarter-mile race at Sunland Park March 1, Zuellas Heat became the first 2-year-old winner of 2014 and first Northern Hemisphere winner for freshman sire Southwestern Heat, a son of 2001 champion filly Xtra Heat.
Tony Ryan Book Award Semi-Finalists Announced
Castleton Lyons has released the names of six semi-finalists titles that will compete for the Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award that will be announced April 9.
Expanded State-Bred Incentives at Arlington
The plan, co-authored by Arlington Park and the Illinois Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Foundation, includes bonus money, expanded state-bred races, and promotional efforts.
Live Chat - Friday, March 7 at NOON EST
The transcript for the Live Chat is now available. Read Transcript
Turfway Adds Starter Handicap Honoring Hansen
With sponsorship from Kendall Hansen and Intervention Pain Specialists of Crestview Hills, Ky., Turfway Park has added the Hansen Starter Handicap to its lineup on Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati Spiral Stakes (gr. III) day.
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Most Popular Stories
- Judy the Beauty Splendid in Las Flores Score
- Pressure Off Sherman After 'Chrome's Dazzler
- After the Wire: Santa Anita Handicap
- Expectations High for OBS 2-Year-Old Sale
- Darley Sire Lonhro Enters Australian Hall
- Golden Gate Fields Adds Alcatraz Stakes
- Ramseys' Major Marvel Takes Barbados Gold Cup
- Honor Code Gets Tightener for Seasonal Debut
- Game On Dude Captures Record Third Big 'Cap
- Santa Anita Handicap Handle Increases 23%
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