2YO Male Eclipse Award: Midshipman
Like 19 other of his predecessors in the 25-year history of the Breeders' Cup, Midshipman used a Breeders' Cup victory as a springboard to being voted champion 2-year-old male.
Keyword: Baffert
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Century Park Strolls to 'Ysabel Surprise
Century Park, the least regarded of three fillies entered by trainer Bob Baffert in the $100,000 Santa Ysabel Stakes (gr. III) at odds of 24-1, made every pole a winning one thanks to a crafty ride by returning jockey Tyler Baze at Santa Anita Jan 11.
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Pioneerof the Nile Turns in Bullet Move
CashCall Futurity (gr. I) winner Pioneerof the Nile remains on target for his 3-year-old debut on Feb. 7 after turning in a bullet five-furlong drill of :57 3/5 over Santa Anita's Pro-Ride track Jan. 11.
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Baffert Trio Tops Santa Ysabel Lineup
With a talented trio of 3-year-old fillies, trainer Bob Baffert is looking forward to the $100,000 Santa Ysabel Stakes (gr. III) at Santa Anita Jan. 11.
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Indian Blessing Claims Marred La Brea
The champion filly Indian Blessing won her fifth grade I race when she inherited the lead from an injured Indyanne in the homestretch and went on to victory in the $250,000 La Brea Stakes (gr. I) at Santa Anita Dec. 27.
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Indian Blessing Faces Tough La Brea Cast
Champion filly Indian Blessing, whose flashy three-race winning streak was ended by Ventura in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at Santa Anita two months ago, returns to the track for the $250,000 La Brea Stakes (gr. I) Dec. 27.
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Pioneerof the Nile Rolls to Futurity Win
Heavily favored Pioneerof the Nile, who took over the stall of Midshipman when the Breeder's Cup Juvenile (gr. I) winner departed trainer Bob Baffert's barn for Dubai this fall, proved he earned it when he narrowly held off I Want Revenge in an exhilarating renewal of the $750,000 CashCall Futurity (gr. I) at Hollywood Park Dec. 20.
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Baffert Pair Works for CashCall Futurity
Trainer Bob Baffert gave the green light to Pioneerof the Nile and Ventana for the $750,000 CashCall Futurity (gr. I) after the pair worked Dec. 14 at Santa Anita.
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Quick Learner Midshipman Tries Norfolk
Midshipman, unbeaten in two starts for trainer Bob Baffert after his gritty victory in the Del Mar Futurity (gr. I), heads a field of 10 in the $250,000 Norfolk Breeders Cup Stakes (gr. I) at Oak Tree's Santa Anita meet Sept. 28.
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Indian Blessing to Ship to California
Indian Blessing, who romped to a 6 1/4-length win in the Gallant Bloom Handicap (gr. II) at Belmont Park, is scheduled to leave New York for Southern California Sept. 23 to prepare for her next assignment in the Sentient Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint.
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Tough Tiz's Sis Retired Due to Fracture
Ruffian Handicap (gr. I) winner Tough Tiz's Sis was scheduled to undergo surgery Sept. 21 after she suffered a career ending injury during a workout at Belmont Park a morning earlier.
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Gallant Bloom: Indian Blessing Opens Up
For the third consecutive time, heavy favorite Indian Blessing demolished sprint rivals when she coasted to victory by 6 1/4 lengths in the $150,000 Gallant Bloom Handicap (gr. II) at Belmont Park Sept. 20.
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Indian Blessing Scratched From Ruffian
Indian Blessing, the 7-5 morning-line favorite for the $300,000 Ruffian Handicap (gr.I) at Belmont Park Sept. 6, was scratched the morning of the race.
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Baffert Wins Eighth Futurity
Robert and Janice McNair just might change their minds about getting out of racing now that their homebred Midshipman won the Del Mar Futurity (gr. I) Sept. 3 closing day. The photo finish victory at seven furlongs over the synthetic surface came just several days after the McNairs announced they were selling their horses and Central Kentucky farm to Sheikh Mohammed's Darley operation.
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Southern Exchange Tough in Futurity
Canadian invader Southern Exchange might not be favored in the Sept. 3 Del Mar Futurity (gr. I) closing day, but he's the only one of the 11 contestants with as many as three wins.
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Midnight Lute Tops Del Mar Mark in Work
Sprint champion Midnight Lute appears to be ready for his next start after working faster than the track record for seven furlongs on Del Mar's Polytrack racing surface Aug. 7.
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Tough Tiz's Sis Tries Zenyatta in Hirsch
Tough Tiz's Sis, who has given undefeated Zenyatta her two most difficult tests, is back to try once again for trainer Bob Baffert in the $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch Handicap (gr. II) over Del Mar's Polytrack racing surface Aug. 2.
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All Signs Point to Zenyatta in Vanity
The strapping filly Zenyatta, unbeaten and barely challenged in five starts for trainer John Shirreffs, is the clear standout as the 124-pound topweight in the $300,000 Vanity Handicap (gr. I) at Hollywood Park July 5.
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Half Brother to Indian Blessing Debuts
Trainer Bob Baffert sends out Spaniard, a half-brother to 2007 2-year-old filly champion Indian Blessing, for his first start June 19 in the eighth race at Hollywood Park.
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Triple Crown Jockeys Recall Near-Misses
The loss of the 2004 Belmont Stakes (gr. I) by Smarty Jones still plays in Stewart Elliott's mind, especially around this time of year. He thinks of the pressure going into that race, remembering the media frenzy and build-up of public recognition.
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Pussycat Doll Retired
Pussycat Doll, a grade I winner three separate years, has been retired from racing because of a foot abscess. Owned by Roy and Gretchen Jackson, she has been bred to Ghostzapper and pronounced in foal.
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Tough Tiz's Sis Shows Grit in Hawthorne
Tough Tiz's Sis loves Hollywood Park, synthetic tracks and the 1 1/16-mile distance. So Bob Baffert's 4-year-old filly had much in her favor when she won the $108,500 Hawthorne Handicap (gr. III).
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Tough Tiz's Sis Stands Out in Hawthorne
Grade I winner Tough Tiz's Sis faces six older fillies and mares in the $100,000 Hawthorne Handicap (gr. III) on the Hollywood Park Cushion Track May 4.
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Behindatthebar in Front in Lexington
Two weeks ago, Todd Pletcher was sitting on the outside of the Derby picture looking in. But when Padua Stables and partners' Behindatthebar followed the hard-knocking efforts of Monba and Cowboy Cal in the April 12 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) with an impressive performance of his own in the $325,000 Coolmore Lexington Stakes (gr. II) April 19, the venerable trainer could count not one, but three potential contenders for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).
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Danthebluegrassman to Old Friends
Grade III winner Danthebluegrassman, a 9-year-old son of Pioneering who campaigned on the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) trail for trainer Bob Baffert in 2002 before scratching from the race early Derby morning, has been retired and is headed to Old Friends equine retirement center near Georgetown, Ky. He will serve as the official mascot of the Festival of the Bluegrass at the Kentucky Horse Park June 12-15.
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Tough Tiz's Sis Holds On in Harry Henson
Worn down by chasing a fast pace, odds-on choice Tough Tiz's Sis was all out to hold off Nice Inheritance in winning the $112,950 Harry W. Henson Handicap for fillies and mares at New Mexico's Sunland Park March 16.
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Indian Blessing Could Miss Kentucky Oaks
After suffering her first defeat March 8 in the Fair Grounds Oaks (gr. II), Bob Baffert said 2007 2-year-old filly champion Indian Blessing would receive a break and possibly miss the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) on May 4.
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Proud Spell Bewitches Indian Blessing
Three days ago, trainer Larry Jones said he hoped Proud Spell would pressure Indian Blessing through the early lead in the Fair Grounds Oaks (gr. II). Although Brereton Jones' homebred Proud Citizen filly didn't exactly do that, she did manage to wear down the Eclipse Award winner and get her own score in the March 8 event in New Orleans.
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Indian Blessing Heads Fair Grounds Oaks
In a recent Q&A with Blood-Horse staff writer Jason Shandler, trainer Bob Baffert said the Eclipse Award-winning Indian Blessing is "so talented, I think she can handle anything." The 3-year-old daughter of Indian Charlie will only have to handle three other runners in the $400,000 Fair Grounds Oaks (gr. II) March 8.
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12 Finalists Named for Hall of Fame
Trainer Carl Nafzger and jockey Edgar Prado topped the list of 12 finalists for election to the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame in 2008 when the museum announced nominees Feb. 22. Notably missing from the list was California conditioner Bob Baffert, who has been eligible for election for the past two years.
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Santa Anita to Replace Surface
Experts from all avenues of the racing industry presented statistics and opinions on synthetic surfaces and Santa Anita track president Ron Charles said the track will replace its Cushion Track as a six-hour special meeting called by the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) concluded Feb. 20.
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Zayat Moves California Horses
Horses owned by Zayat Stables that were stabled in southern California have been relocated.
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Baffert, Sadler Have 'Canada Option
Trainers Bob Baffert and John Sadler have a fall back plan just in case racing doesn't resume as announced at Santa Anita Feb. 9. They also entered their fillies, Tough Tiz's Sis and Dawn After Dawn, respectively, in the $200,000 La Canada Stakes (gr. II), which is set to run the following day.
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Tough Tiz's Sis Tops Santa Maria
Tough Tiz's Sis, a grade I winner for trainer Bob Baffert on Santa Anita Park's Cushion Track during the Oak Tree meet last fall, takes on five rivals in the $250,000 Santa Maria Handicap (gr. I) Feb. 9.
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Indian Blessing In Silverbulletday
Eclipse Award winner Indian Blessing will attempt to maintain a perfect record for Hal and Patti Earnhardt when she leads a field of seven in the $200,000 Silverbulletday Stakes (gr. III) at Fair Grounds Feb. 9.
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'Commander Won't Sneak By in Strub
Chances are Air Commander, who won the San Fernando Stakes (gr. II) by a nose at odds of 52-1 three weeks ago, won't slip under the radar again in the $300,000 Strub Stakes (gr. II) Feb. 2 on the Santa Anita Cushion Track.
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Indian Blessing Makes Perfect Gift
Undefeated Indian Blessing cleared her first hurdle of 2008, but she unexpectedly had to outlast the strongest challenge of her brief career in the $150,000 Santa Ynez Stakes (gr. II) at Santa Anita Jan. 13.
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'Lute to Return in Palos Verdes
Midnight Lute, expected to earn an Eclipse Award as the nation's outstanding sprinter in 2007 after his stirring win in the TVG Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I), is being targeted for the Palos Verdes Handicap (gr. II) to begin his 2008 campaign.
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Air Commander Drops 'Fernando Bomb
Comebacking Air Commander shocked his San Fernando (gr. II) rivals at odds of 52-1 when he nosed Johnny Eves in a terrific stretch duel at Santa Anita Jan. 12.
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Indian Blessing Makes 2008 Debut
Undefeated Indian Blessing, dominant winner of the Grey Goose Vodka Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) in October, kicks off her 3-year-old campaign for trainer Bob Baffert in the Santa Ynez Stakes (gr. II) at Santa Anita Jan. 13.
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Grade I Winners in 'Encino Rematch
Grade I winners Romance Is Diane and Tough Tiz's Sis, the respective first two finishers in last month's Bayakoa Handicap (gr. II), tangle once more in the $150,000 El Encino Stakes (gr. II) at Santa Anita Jan. 13.
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Massive Drama Tops San Rafael Field
Massive Drama, who ran third in the CashCall Futurity (gr. I) at Hollywood Park last month, holds the edge in experience against six up-and-coming rivals entered in the $150,000 San Rafael Stakes (gr. III), which kicks off the 2008 3-year-old season at Santa Anita Jan. 12.
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'Drama' Tops CashCall Futurity
The top three finishers from the Hollywood Prevue Stakes (gr. III), led by the unbeaten Massive Drama, will meet again in the Dec. 22 CashCall Futurity (gr. I) at Hollywood Park.
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Maimonides Trains Toward San Rafael
Zayat Stables' Maimonides will race for the first time since Sept. 3 when he competes in the Jan. 12 San Rafael Stakes (gr. III) at Santa Anita Park, trainer Bob Baffert said Dec. 19.
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Little Drama in Massive Prevue Win
Trainer Bob Baffert appears to have another standout 2-year-old in his barn after Massive Drama drew away from co-favored Into Mischief mid-stretch for a 1 3/4-length win in the Hollywood Prevue Stakes (gr. III) over the Cushion Track on Thanksgiving Day Nov. 22.
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'Lute's Ready to Roll in Cigar Mile
When you have a horse at the top of his game, seize the moment and have some fun, says trainer Bob Baffert. With an Eclipse Award as top sprinter all but a certainty, Midnight Lute looks to add to his laurels in the $300,000 Hill 'n' Dale Cigar Mile (gr.I) at Aqueduct Nov. 24.
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Meal Penalty Goes in Prevue
Meal Penalty, an unbeaten 2-year-old from the barn of the nation's leading trainer, will try to stretch his streak to three when he faces 12 rivals in the $100,000 Hollywood Prevue Stakes (gr. III) on Thanksgiving Day at Hollywood Park.
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Indian Blessing Thoroughly Homebred
Indian Blessing, winner of the Grey Goose Juvenile Fillies (gr. I), is thoroughly a product of the racing and breeding program of Hal and Patti Earnhardt III, who raced not only the filly's sire but also her stakes-winning dam.
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Indian Blessing Clearly Best in Juvenile Fillies
Indian Blessing, the 8-5 favorite, led he 13-horse field on a merry chase in the $2-million Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) at Monmouth Park Oct. 27, cruising to an easy 3 1/2-length gate-to-wire victory.
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Indian Blessing Morning-Line Choice in Juvenile Fillies
Frizette Stakes (gr. I) winner Indian Blessing was installed as the 3-1 morning-line favorite for the $2-million Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) Oct. 27 at Monmouth Park.
