Steve Haskin adds I'll Have Another to his Derby Dozen. Alpha moves up as Steve notes Mr. Prankster and Battle Hardened. Steve also recaps the Robert B. Lewis Stakes and Withers from the weekend. watch video
Champagne winner has solid tune-up for 3-year-old debut in Fountain of Youth
Withers Stakes (gr. III) winner Alpha is likely to stay in New York for his next start, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said the morning after the Godolphin colt defeated an overmatched field Feb. 4 at Aqueduct.
Headed by 2-year-old champion male Hansen, 397 horses were nominated to the Triple Crown series before the Jan. 21 early nomination deadline, representing a 9.1% increase over the 364 during the 2011 early nominating period.
Mr. Prankster emphatically answered the two-turn question Feb. 4, closing strongly and drawing off to win the one-mile WEBN Stakes at Turfway Park by 7 1/2 lengths.
Off for five months and making his first start around two turns, I'll Have Another produced an easy upset victory at odds of 43-1 in the $200,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes (gr. II) at Santa Anita Feb. 4.
Just as he did when winning the Count Fleet Stakes a month earlier, Alpha easily defeated an overmatched field to take the $200,000 Withers (gr. III) by 3 1/4 lengths Feb. 4 at Aqueduct.
Battle Hardened, given a patient ride by Julien Leparoux, earned the first win of his career when he defeated a big field in the $200,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes (gr. III) at Tampa Bay Downs.
Norfolk Stakes (gr. I) winner Creative Cause, prepping for his expected 3-year-old debut in the upcoming San Vicente Stakes (gr. II), worked six furlongs handily on the Hollywood Park Cushion Track Feb. 4 in 1:13 4/5.
The Maryland Jockey Club announced 2012 Preakness InfieldFest will include performances by Grammy Award nominees Maroon 5 and Wiz Khalifa.
The grade III Sam F. Davis looks like a wide-open affair going in, so let's see if we can winnow out some angles.
PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter
Sons of Gone West had a strong strike rate Jan. 21, including Istan, whose son Mr. Bowling won the Lecomte.
Already with a slew of top 3-year-olds taking aim at the Triple Crown, Todd Pletcher will send out yet another prospect in the $250,000 Sam F. Davis (gr. III), a race he has won four of the last six years.
Trainer Doug O'Neill has picked a tough spot for his promising colt I'll Have Another, who returns from a five-month absence in the $200,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes (gr. II) Feb. 4 at Santa Anita.
Grade III winner Exfactor, a son of Exchange Rate, records his first workout at Fair Grounds Race Course and Slots since a disappointing 11th-place finish in the Jan. 21 Lecomte Stakes.
The grade III Withers Stakes adds spice to the dead-of-winter Triple Crown Trail in New York. In the spirit of things, Dick Downey looks for a horse to upset Alpha.
Letting Algorithms get his way hurt his yearling price, but he's rewarded his breeder and the farm that raised him with his racing success.
Liaison, at this early juncture trainer Bob Baffert's most accomplished contender for the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) and beyond, faces seven opponents in the $200,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes (gr. II) Feb. 4.
Alpha is the heavy favorite for the $200,000 Withers (gr. III), which replaces the Whirlaway Stakes as the first of three New York preps leading up to the Triple Crown. The Feb. 4 race is now at two turns on the inner track.
Evan Hammonds recaps the Holy Bull Stakes and Sunshine Millions Day from Gulfstream Park watch video
California-bred Rousing Sermon, beaten only a neck by Liaison in the CashCall Futurity (gr. I) at Hollywood Park last month, worked four furlongs Jan. 29 in :47 2/5 for his 3-year-old bow in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes Feb. 4.
Algorithms overtook juvenile champion Hansen approaching mid-stretch en route to an easy victory in the $400,000 Holy Bull Stakes (gr. III) at Gulfstream Park, handing the odds-on favorite the first defeat of his career.
Repole Stable's 3-year-old How Do I Win, pointing to the $200,000 Withers Stakes (gr. III) at Aqueduct Feb. 4, breezed a half-mile in :49 flat over Belmont Park's training track.
Will this year's compact field yield an established favorite or an improving horse in the winner's circle when the Holy Bull Stakes is run Jan. 29 at Gulfstream Park?
All eyes will be on juvenile champion Hansen Jan. 29 as he begins his much-anticipated Triple Crown quest in the $400,000 Holy Bull Stakes (gr. III) at Gulfstream Park.
BloodHorse.com is launching a new online video program, "After the Wire," on Jan. 30, with the inaugural episode available on the website by 11 a.m. (EST).
Animal Kingdom, the champion 3-year-old male of 2011, continued to progress toward his 2012 debut by breezing five furlongs on turf in a quick :59 4/5 Jan. 25 at Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida.
Newly crowned juvenile champion Hansen breezed five furlongs at Gulfstream Park Jan. 22, completing the main preparation for his 3-year-old seasonal debut in the $400,000 Holy Bull Stakes (gr. III).
Churchill Downs has set the dates for its trio of three-day betting pools for the 2012 Kentucky Derby Future Wager and a single pool for the Kentucky Oaks Future Wager.
The nomination process for the 2012 Triple Crown series has begun, with a deadline of Saturday, Jan. 21 to nominate 3-year-olds at the early nomination fee of $600 per horse.
By a vote of 114 to 111, Animal Kingdom outpolled Caleb's Posse for an Eclipse Award as champion 3-year-old male.
Favored Russian Greek rallied from last on the far turn to register a one-length victory in the $100,520 California Derby at Golden Gate Fields Jan. 14.
MAHUBAH'S CORNER
The newly created Gulfstream Park Derby introduced the first of this year's rising 3-year-old hopefuls on New Year's Day.
Remsen Stakes (gr. II) winner O'Prado Again is off the Triple Crown trail after cracking a shin bone in his right front leg during a routine work at Gulfstream Park Jan. 7.
Russian Greek, who overcame a stumble at the start to win the Gold Rush Stakes last month, is the 122-pound high weight for his return to Golden Gate Fields in the $100,000 California Derby Jan. 14.
Favored Mr. Prankster, making his first start in six weeks, came from off the pace to win the $50,000 Turfway Prevue Stakes at Turfway Park on the night of Jan. 7.
Out of Bounds, a big colt with a big future, swept past odds-on favorite Secret Circle in the final couple of strides to capture the $100,000 Sham Stakes (gr. III) for 3-year-olds by a half-length at Santa Anita Jan. 7.
Discreet Dancer, who set a track record for 5 1/2 furlongs at Gulfstream Park winning his debut by 9 3/4 lengths on Dec. 3, confirmed that promise Jan. 7 as he drew clear to score by 5 1/2 lengths in an allowance test.
Godolphin Racing's highly-regarded Alpha rebounded from a disappointing effort in the Breeders' Cup by comfortably winning the $150,000 Count Fleet Stakes Jan. 7 at Aqueduct in his 3-year-old debut.
Undefeated Secret Circle, winner of the inaugural Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile Sprint two months ago, will make his first attempt around two turns for trainer Bob Baffert in the $100,000 Sham Stakes (gr. III).
Stretched out to two turns for the first time, Reveron responded with a half-length victory in the inaugural $100,000 Gulfstream Park Derby Jan. 1 for his third consecutive win.
Liaison, whose sire Indian Charlie was euthanized two days earlier, outlasted his rivals in a calvary charge to win the $750,000 CashCall Futurity (gr. I) at Hollywood Park Dec. 17.
The logo for the 2012 Preakness Stakes (gr. I) was released by the Maryland Jockey Club Dec. 14. The second leg of the Triple Crown is scheduled for May 19 at Pimlico Race Course.
It's a long ways down the road but Sabercat locked up a spot in next year's Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) with an emphatic win in the $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot Stakes (gr. III) for 2-year-olds Nov. 19.
The Jockey Club, in collaboration with the NBC Sports Group, CNBC, and six racetracks, will provide live coverage of six major preps for the 2012 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).
Triple Crown contender Mucho Macho Man is slated to make his return to action in a $55,000 allowance/optional claiming event at Aqueduct Racetrack Nov. 9.
It will now cost $50 for the privilege of being denied Derby tickets. read blog
Back on turf after trying the Triple Crown trail this spring, Charlotte Weber's Brilliant Speed kicked clear in the final eighth of a mile to win the $103,000 Saranac Stakes (gr. IIIT) by 2 1/2 lengths
Team Valor International's winner of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) cleared to resume exercise 60 days after undergoing season-ending surgery on his left leg.
Churchill Downs has unveiled the logos for the 138th Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) and Kentucky Oaks 138 (gr. I).
