El Areeb Sharp in Return to Worktab
M M G Stables' multiple grade 3 winner El Areeb returned to the work tab with a sharp half-mile breeze over Laurel Park's main track Feb. 18.
Triple Crown
News, stories, video, blogs, results, previews for the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, Belmont Stakes
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Weekend Stakes Rundown: Golden Gate's Big Day
Each week BloodHorse.com looks forward to the weekend's biggest races. This week, we have a pair of graded stakes at Laurel Park, a Triple Crown prep at Golden Gate Fields, and more.
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Uncontested Back at Oaklawn for Southwest
Robert LaPenta and Harry Rosenblum's Uncontested will look to score an Oaklawn Park Triple Crown prep double in the $500,000 Southwest Stakes (G3).
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Fair Grounds Upcoming Graded Stakes Draw 38 Entries
With an early draw for the Feb. 25 Louisiana Derby Preview Day card, Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots saw 38 horses entered for four graded stakes, including the $400,000 Risen Star (G2).
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Japanese Runners Vie for Kentucky Derby Spot
Fifteen 3-year-olds, including one owned by Sheikh Mohammed, are set for the Hyacinth Stakes Feb. 19 at Tokyo Racecourse, which carries a qualifying opportunity to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1).
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O'Neill Ships Ann Arbor Eddie for El Camino Real Derby
Trainer Doug O'Neill and Reddam Racing will look to sweep the two winter derbies at Golden Gate Fields and repeat in the $200,000 El Camino Real Derby (G3) Feb. 18.
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Florida Derby in Play for El Areeb
Add the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) April 1 at Gulfstream Park to the list of Triple Crown preps being considered for M M G Stables' impressive 3-year-old El Areeb, a winner of his last four races including back-to-back graded stakes.
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Steve Haskin's Derby Dozen - February 14, 2017
Did McCraken's victory in the Sam F. Davis propel him to the number one spot? Are there any new faces among the dozen?
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McCraken Moves to Top of NTRA 3-Year-Old Poll
This past weekend the "Road to the Kentucky Derby" biggest race ran through Tampa Bay Downs in Florida resulting in some changes in week three of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) Top 3-Year-Old Poll.
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Pair of Arlington Stakes Moved to Churchill Downs
The addition of the two Arlington stakes races lifted total stakes purses to be offered during the upcoming meet to $8.84 million, an increase of $200,000 from the $8.64 million in stakes purses offered in the 2016 spring meet.
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McCraken Could Try Tampa Bay Derby Next
The unbeaten 3-year-old colt raised his connections' optimism several notches Feb. 11 at Tampa Bay Downs, where he won the $250,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) by 1 1/2 lengths.
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Howard, Catalano Nurturing Talented 3-year-olds
Neil Howard and Wayne Catalano both have promising sophomores on the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks trail.
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McCraken Too Good in Sam F. Davis
The built up to McCraken's seasonal bow ended with results to match. Under some left-handed urging from jockey Brian Hernandez Jr., the unbeaten colt unleashed a wicked turn of foot down the middle of the track to win the $250,000 Sam F. Davis (G3).
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Hernandez Has Momentum, Confidence on His Side
As the regular rider for McCraken, the 2-1 morning-line favorite for Saturday's Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3), jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. could find his current groundswell of momentum dwarfed by what could come his way should his mount prevail.
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No Dozing Could Provide Delacour a Derby Path
When trainer Arnaud Delacour saddles No Dozing for the $250,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) Feb. 11 at Tampa Bay Downs, it could mark an early step toward the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1).
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Divisidero Goes for Grade 1 Glory at Gulfstream
The Road to the Kentucky Derby continues Saturday and Sunday with the Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap (G1) and Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3).
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Classic Empire on the Mend After Foot Abscess
Days after John Oxley's champion Classic Empire finished a well-beaten third to Irish War Cry in the Holy Bull Stakes (G2), a foot abscess was discovered in the son of Pioneerof the Nile.
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McCraken Sitting on Go for Sam F. Davis
One of the more highly regarded classic prospects for 2017, McCraken gets his first chance to make good on his buildup when he makes his seasonal bow against eight others in the 1 1/16-mile Sam F. Davis (G3).
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Third Day Wins Overnight Stakes at Gulfstream Park
Third Day successfully stretched out to one mile and picked up his second win in as many starts Feb. 8 when he rallied from fourth to win a $60,000 overnight stakes at Gulfstream Park.
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What's Going On Here: Something More Than Free
Experimental Free Handicap a great tool, needs a fresh look
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Steve Haskin's Derby Dozen - February 7, 2017
The 3-year-old stakes results caused a shake up in the Derby Dozen. Who is the new number 1?
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Irish War Cry Tops Week's NTRA 3-Year-Old Division Poll
Moving right to the top in first place is the undefeated Irish War Cry (7 first-place votes, 303 points) who posted a mild upset as the 3 3/4-length winner of Saturday's Lambholm South Holy Bull (G2), at Gulfstream Park for trainer Graham Motion.
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Irish War Cry, Classic Empire Fine After Holy Bull
Trainer Graham Motion reported Feb. 5 that the undefeated Irish War Cry, who posted a mild upset as the 3 3/4-length winner of the Lambholm South Holy Bull (G2), will target Gulfstream Park's Triple Crown preps.
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Irish War Cry Scores Upset in Holy Bull
Nearly ten years to the day since his sire signaled his brilliance at Gulfstream Park, Irish War Cry showed he could follow in his father's footsteps as a force on the Triple Crown trail.
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Royal Mo Runs Away in Lewis Victory
It appears Jerry and Ann Moss and trainer John Shirreffs have another speedy colt ready to hit the Triple Crown trail.
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El Areeb Too Good in Withers
M M G Stables' El Areeb toyed with nine rivals in the $250,000 Withers Stakes (G3), summarily dismissed them down the lane, and cleared his fourth straight victory under a hand ride from jockey Trevor McCarthy Feb. 4 at Aqueduct Racetrack.
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Century Downs Adds Thoroughbred Meet for 2017
Century Downs Racetrack and Casino announced Feb. 3 that it reached an agreement with the Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association of Alberta to run Thoroughbreds at the racetrack in the fall of 2017.
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Pletcher Ready to Test Battalion Runner on Derby Trail
Battalion Runner won for the second consecutive time, capturing the featured eighth race at Gulfstream Park Feb. 3. Trainer Todd Pletcher said the colt will start next in a stakes race on the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) trail.
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Classic Empire Silenced His Sire's Doubters
A second juvenile champion proved Pioneerof the Nile's depth as a sire.
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Irish War Cry Offers Longshot Potential in Holy Bull
The Road to the Kentucky Derby will continue Saturday with the Lambholm South Holy Bull Stakes (G3), Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G2) and Kitten's Joy Stakes.
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Classic Empire Tops 2016 Experimental Free Handicap
Classic Empire, winner of the Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1), has been assigned the high weight of 126 pounds to top The Jockey Club Experimental Free Handicap for 2016.
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Look Back: Rags to Riches Arrives in Las Virgenes
When a filly costs $1.9 million as a yearling, expectations run high. Yet Rags to Riches soared beyond those initial hopes by vaulting out of a maiden victory straight into the $250,000 Las Virgenes Stakes (gr. I) Feb. 10 at Santa Anita Park.
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O'Neill Sends Three Out for Robert B. Lewis
Without a clear favorite among the five entered in the $150,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3), trainer Doug O'Neill, who has three of the five, is hopeful any or all of his horses will seize an opportunity to move forward.
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Cuomo Rejects NYRA Restructuring Bill
Gov. Andrew Cuomo quietly squashed a NYRA restructuring bill with a "pocket veto."
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El Areeb Aims to Continue Roll in Withers Stakes
After three straight dominating wins, including an 11 1/4-length score in the Jerome Stakes (G3) Jan. 2 at Aqueduct Racetrack, 3-year-old El Areeb is back at Aqueduct for a crack at the $250,000 Withers Stakes (G3) Feb. 4.
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All Eyes on Champion Classic Empire in Holy Bull
John Oxley's reigning juvenile male champion Classic Empire makes his anticipated seasonal bow in the $350,000 Lambholm South Holy Bull Stakes (G2) against eight rivals at Gulfstream Park.
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Three Rules Returns in Swale
Three Rules, the top Florida-bred juvenile last year and winner of five races at Gulfstream, will make his 2016 debut Feb. 4 in the seven-furlong Swale Stakes (G2).
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Steve Haskin's Derby Dozen - January 31, 2017
Some minor shuffling in the Derby Dozen, and plenty of new names amongst those Knocking On the Door.
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Baffert Workers Turn in Bullets at Santa Anita
Grade 1 winners Hoppertunity, Mor Spirit, and Mastery each recorded bullet works Jan. 30 at Santa Anita Park for trainer Bob Baffert.
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Classic Empire Tops Initial 3-Year-Old Poll
Unbeaten standout in 2016, Classic Empire, ranked number one with 30 points on the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard takes the lead with (288 points and 28 first-place votes).
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Classic Empire Top Single Horse in KDFW Pool 2
John Oxley's champion 2-year-old Classic Empire edged unbeaten rising stars Mastery and McCraken to be the favored individual contender for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1).
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'All Systems Go' for Classic Empire for Seasonal Bow
Trainer Mark Casse declared 'all systems go' for Classic Empire to make his sophomore debut in the $350,000 Holy Bull Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park Feb. 4 after working an easy five furlongs with grade 1 winning-stablemate Pretty City Dancer.
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Bourbon Empire Added to Early TC Nominees
Because of a clerical error, Bourbon Lane Stable's Bourbon Empire was inadvertently omitted from the original list of 3-year-olds made eligible during the early nomination phase to compete in the 2017 Triple Crown.
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Shah Looking Long-Term With Grade 1 Winner Klimt
Owner Kaleem Shah said Jan. 27 that Klimt, the winner of the Del Mar Futurity (G1) and Best Pal Stakes (G2) last year, will be given time off and won't be pointed to the first leg of the Triple Crown.
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Unbeaten McCraken to Make Seasonal Bow in Sam F. Davis
The first sophomore step for McCraken will come when he makes his seasonal bow in the 1 1/16-mile Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs Feb. 11, trainer Ian Wilkes said after the colt worked five furlongs in 1:00.45 Jan. 25.
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Classic Empire Top Individual Choice in KDFW Pool 2
"All Others," is expected to continue its traditional role as the overall betting choice in Pool 2 of Churchill Downs' 2017 Kentucky Derby Future Wager (KDFW), which opens its three-day run Jan. 27.
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Total of 418 3-year-olds Nominated to 2017 Triple Crown
John C. Oxley's Classic Empire, the newly-minted champion 2-year-old of 2016, heads a roster of 418 3-year-olds made eligible during the early nomination phase to compete in the classic races of the 2017 American Triple Crown.
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Steve Haskin's Derby Dozen - January 24, 2017
The first Derby Dozen of 2017 is here! Find out who is number one, and who else made the list
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Guest Suite, Farrell Point Toward Next Sophomore Stakes
Newly turned 3-year-olds Guest Suite and Farrell came out of the Lecomte Stakes (G3) and the Silverbulletday Stakes, respectively, in good order.
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Classic Empire Unanimous Champion 2-Year-Old Male
Classic Empire, a rangy, good-looking son of Pioneerof the Nile, came to hand under the tutelage of Mark and Norm Casse, and then left the rest of the juvenile division in arrears as he claimed the Eclipse Award for 2016’s top 2-year-old male.
