A day after the CHRB announced sanctions against him, trainer A.C. Avila was defiant in victory Feb. 28 at Santa Anita Park, when the horse that has been at the center of the controversy claimed an impressive win.
Less than a week after earning an Eclipse Award as North America's top apprentice jockey, Drayden Van Dyke collected his first win as a journeyman Jan. 23 with Irish-bred Ernest Shackleton at Santa Anita Park.
After flying through a half mile in :44.80, Goldencents dug deep to hold off a determined Tapiture in the stretch to win the $1 million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I), successfully defending his 2013 win in the race.
Multiple graded stakes winner Handsome Mike on Oct. 28 was declared from the upcoming Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I) because of a leg injury.
When speedy Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) hopeful Belle Gallantey arrived at Santa Anita Park Sunday it actually marked a return to California for the veteran of 43 races.
The recent announcement by Breeders' Cup to ban horses from being entered in the World Championships if their trainers are found to be in violation of its convicted trainers rule, effective 2015, could signal change.
As part of the board revision of the convicted trainer rule, Breeders' Cup prohibits the participation by assistant trainers or other employees that affected trainers may transfer horses to following sanctions.
Sanctions against Doug O'Neill for a June 2013 drug positive calling for the highest level of penalty would not be levied until earlier in October when an agreement between the NYSGC and the trainer was reached.
W. C. Racing's 2013 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I) winner Goldencents breezed five furlongs Oct. 17 in preparation for a title defense at Santa Anita Park.
Join Lenny Shulman as he talks with the legendary Nick Zito. Zito talks through Keeneland's new track surface, shares thoughts on his top horses, and gives a tip on one of his top 2-year-olds. watch video
Embattled trainer Doug O'Neill has been handed an additional 45-day suspension in California for violating terms of an earlier agreement with the state's racing board.
If O'Neill's positive holds up, California should make its own statement. read blog
Breeders' Cup said Oct. 3 it will not permit trainer Doug O'Neill to enter horses for this year's Breeders' Cup World Championships "due to recent administrative action" in New York.
The New York State Gaming Commission has levied suspensions and fines for trainers Doug O'Neill and Bruce Levine after horses in their barns tested positive in post-race tests for prohibited substances.
Secret Circle and Goldencents, a pair of indomitable Breeders' Cup winners from last year, clash in the $300,000 Santa Anita Sprint Championship (gr. I) Oct. 4 at Santa Anita Park.
Good Friend Stable's Private Zone, in his second start of the year, ran strongly to just pass Dads Cap at the wire to take the $400,000 Vosburgh Stakes (gr. I) Sept. 27 at Belmont Park.
After working on the grass Sept. 20, Goldencents' trip to Keeneland to face Wise Dan in the Shadwell Turf Mile (gr. IT) Oct. 4 has been canceled, said majority owner Glenn Sorgenstein.
Unbeaten Wake Up Nick rallied to win the $103,900 Barretts Juvenile by 2 3/4 lengths Sept. 14 at Los Alamitos Racecourse, improving to 5-for-5 in his young career.
Dignity will take a back seat to charity at Del Mar Sept. 3, when several trainers are slated to line up for a race on children bouncey balls to benefit retired racehorses.
Goldencents, last year's Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I) winner, is to make his next start Oct. 4 in Keeneland's Shadwell Turf Mile (gr. IT), where he would likely face two-time Horse of the Year Wise Dan.
Goldencents avenged his loss in last year's $250,000 Pat O'Brien Stakes (gr. II) with a dominating wire-to-wire track record performance in this year's edition at Del Mar Aug. 24.
It seems hard to believe that a year has passed since eventual Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I) winner Goldencents was run down by rival Fed Biz in a thrilling edition of the Pat O'Brien, but here we are at Del Mar again.
Dual grade I winner Goldencents returns to Del Mar to face recent Triple Bend (gr. I) winner Declassify in the $300,000 Bing Crosby Stakes (gr. I) July 26, a race the Doug O'Neill trainee was second in last year.
Racing the dates previously held by now-closed Hollywood Park, Santa Anita Park reported average daily all-sources handle of $9.92 million and average daily attendance of 6,970 for the inaugural 38-day spring meet.
Wake Up Nick, a 9 1/4-length debut maiden winner, ran his record to 2-for-2 with a gritty three-quarter-length victory in the $125,000 Santa Anita Juvenile Stakes June 22.
B. Wayne Hughes' Spendthrift Farm has acquired the breeding rights to multiple grade I winner Goldencents, who will retire to the Lexington farm at the end of his 4-year-old campaign and stand the 2015 breeding season.
Trainer Doug O'Neill has a pair of up-and-coming 3-year-olds, Friendswith K Mill and Frensham, preparing for the second half of the 2014 campaign in the $100,000 Affirmed Stakes (gr. III) June 7 at Santa Anita Park.
California Chrome owners Perry Martin and Steve Coburn are no doubt getting to know the surreal conditions of becoming instant celebrities as their horse attempts to win the long-vacated Triple Crown at Belmont Park.
While no horses being pointed to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) worked at Churchill Downs April 25, a pair of fillies being pointed to the Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) breezed.
Reddam Racing's Bond Holder, at one time a contender on the road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), has lost his battle with laminitis, according to an April 19 announcement by trainer Doug O'Neill.
Trainer Doug O'Neill said March 19 that Reddam Racing Stable's Bond Holder is being treated at the Equine Medical Center of Ocala for the effects of laminitis.
Female champions Beholder and She's a Tiger were both out for workouts the morning of March 15 at Santa Anita Park as they draw closer to their undetermined 2014 debuts.
Reddam Racing's FrontRunner Stakes (gr. I) winner Bond Holder has been taken to an Ocala clinic for 24-hour monitoring, trainer Doug O'Neill said March 6.
Although Bond Holder will not make an expected start in the Tampa Bay Derby due to a lingering foot abscess, trainer Doug O'Neill said the colt could still make the starting gate for the Kentucky Derby.
Trainer Doug O'Neill talks with Ron Mitchell about Reddam Racing's Bond Holder.
Bond Holder, a leading early contender for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), will not make an expected start in the March 8 Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II) and his next race is undetermined.
Problems started on a flight from California to New Orleans for the Feb. 22 Risen Star Stakes, when Bond Holder was slightly injured after being severely jarred by turbulence. The incident took a severe mental toll.
Reddam Racing's Bond Holder, winner of the FrontRunner Stakes (gr. I), has been scratched out of the Feb. 22 Risen Star Stakes (gr. II) after suffering an injury en route to Fair Grounds Race Course.
Private Zone, who had been ticketed for the $500,000 Donn Handicap (gr. I) on Feb. 9, has been turned out in Bradbury, Calif. Meanwhile, grade III winner Romansh will open his 2014 campaign in the Gulfstream Park event.
Clenor, who suffered her first loss in the United States in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (gr. IT), will try to rebound in the $100,000 Miesque Stakes Nov. 30 at Betfair Hollywood Park.
Grade II winner Miss Behaviour will try to add to her resume, and her owner's pocketbook, when she starts in the lucrative Delta Downs Princess Stakes (gr. III) Saturday, Nov. 23.
After rolling to victory in the Street Sense Stakes Oct. 27 at Churchill Downs, Coastline will make his graded stakes debut in the $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot Stakes (gr. III) Nov. 23.
Goldencents, winner of the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I), will make his next start in the $500,000 Cigar Mile (gr. I) at Aqueduct Racetrack Nov. 30, according to majority owner Glenn Sorgenstein.
Comments from the connections of Goldencents, winner of the 2013 Dirt Mile. Watch Video
After blazing through a half-mile in :44.75, Goldencents still had plenty in the tank to hold off the closing move of Golden Ticket in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I) Nov. 1 at Santa Anita.
Owner Paul Reddam and trainer Doug O'Neill take their shot with 15-1 hopeful Concave in the Nov. 2 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I).
Some of horse racing's biggest stars are stepping up to the plate to support New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program by pledging a percentage of their purse earnings from the 2013 Breeders' Cup World Championships.
A week or so after the 2005 Breeders' Cup, I returned to my desk at Thoroughbred Times from a break and played back a voicemail from Merv Griffin requesting I call back.
While several top finishers from last year's Xpresset Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) return to this year's edition, a hot Southern California-based blazer not from that group figures in Private Zone.
Frank Angst talks with trainer Doug O'Neil on his Breeders' Cup Sprint contender Private Zone.
