
Talent Pool Runs Deep in Kentucky Oaks
Miss Sky Warrior's trainer Kelly J. Breen notes the $1 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) has a 'Final Four' feel, but the talent runs much deeper for Churchill Downs' main event May 5.
Miss Sky Warrior's trainer Kelly J. Breen notes the $1 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) has a 'Final Four' feel, but the talent runs much deeper for Churchill Downs' main event May 5.
Ron and Ricki Rashinski ran Bushfire in the 2006 Kentucky Oaks (G1). The Chicago-area couple returns in 2017 as the co-owners of Central Bank Ashland Stakes (G1) winner Sailor's Valentine.
Trainer Eddie Kenneally said morning of April 9 that the Central Bank Ashland Stakes (G1) winner Sailor's Valentine, who won by a half-length at odds of 22-1, will be aimed at the Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs May 5.
Six horses have been added to the list of Triple Crown nominations following the final stage of late nominations that closed March 20.
Sanford Stakes (gr. III) winner Bitumen and New York-bred Runaway Lute appear to be the top colts in Saratoga's Hopeful Stakes (gr. I). The traditional curtain closer on the meet has a field of seven.
Bradester continued his torrid run at his favorite racetrack in the$200,000 Monmouth Cup (gr. II) July 31 at the Jersey Shore.
Joseph Sutton's Bradester fired his best shot June 18 to earn his first grade I victory in the $500,000 Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) at Churchill Downs.
Multiple graded stakes winner Bradester had his first work over the main track at Keeneland the morning of Oct. 17, breezing five-eighths of a mile in company in a quick :58 3/5.
Joseph Sutton's Bradester and Crossed Sabres Farm's Valid will go toe-to-toe once again in the $150,000 Philip H. Iselin Stakes (gr. III) Aug. 30 at Monmouth Park.
Joseph Sutton's Bradester collected his first grade II victory and continued his success at Monmouth Park, coming off a score in the July 5 Salvator Mile Stakes (gr. III) to win the $200,000 Monmouth Cup Stakes (gr. II).
Runner-up in last year's Salvator Mile (gr. III), Joseph Sutton's Bradester would not be denied in this year's edition July 5 at Monmouth Park.
Javier Castellano made his trip to Iowa worth it, scoring aboard Bent On Bourbon to take the $250,000 Iowa Derby (gr. III) June 27 at Prairie Meadows Racetrack & Casino.
Skipalute may still be a maiden, but in her last start she finished second to a champion and could be the one to beat in the $200,000 Forward Gal Stakes (gr. II) Jan. 24 at Gulfstream Park.
New York-bred juveniles took center stage Dec. 14 at Aqueduct Racetrack with a pair of impressive performances by Good Luck Gus in the $100,000 Damon Runyon Stakes and Freudie Anne in the $100,000 East View Stakes.
After playing second fiddle in his prior two starts, favored Bradester finished on top in the $107,300 Ack Ack Stakes (gr. III) Sept. 6 from Churchill Downs, holding off Carve in a front-running effort by 1 3/4 lengths.
Carve, riding a three-race winning streak, is the main danger in the $100,000 Ack Ack Handicap Sept. 6 at Churchill Downs. The one-turn mile race for older horses drew only five runners.
Bradester collared pacesetter Grand Contender mid-stretch and proved best in the drive for the wire to register his first stakes win in the $150,000 Mineshaft Handicap (gr. III) Feb. 22 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.
Mr. Amore Stable's Ribo Bobo continued his winning ways Jan. 18 in the $150,000 Florida Sunshine Millions Sprint, while Ullapool went wire-to-wire against fillies and mares in the counterpart.
Dance to Bristol has her sights set on bigger game in her Saratoga Race Course debut July 29 as the 5-2 morning-line favorite in the $200,000 Honorable Miss Handicap (gr. II).
Majestic Hussar has run well in two allowance starts sprinting at Gulfstream Park this winter and will face his biggest challenge yet when he tries two turns for the first time in the Fountain of Youth Stakes Feb. 23.
Gainesway Farm's Tapit has three graded stakes winners in the span of about two hours Feb. 2. His winners, all 3-year-olds, came at Tampa Bay Downs, Santa Anita, and Gulfstream.
Eddie Kenneally and Joe Rocco Jr. had a plan for Honorable Dillon, and the 3-year-old son of Tapit followed it right into the Gulfstream Park winner's circle Feb. 2 after winning the $150,000 Hutcheson Stakes (gr. II).
The inaugural running of the $400,000 Houston Ladies Classic -- -the richest race run at Sam Houston Race Park since it opened in 1994 -- -will feature round three for rivals Joyful Victory and Brushed by a Star.
Defending winner Heavenly Landing takes on nine older fillies and mares Jan. 5 in the $100,000 Marshua's River Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Gulfstream Park, including Team Block's highly consistent Leading Astray.
Less than three weeks after hooking up for a thrilling stretch duel in the Chilukki Stakes (gr. II) at Churchill Downs, Brushed by a Star and Joyful Victory will meet again Nov. 22 in the Falls City Handicap (gr. II).
Zagora, who ran third in last year's Jenny Wiley Stakes (gr. IIT) at Keeneland, is back for this year running, but this time she's coming off two straight graded stakes wins.
Brendan Walsh, a former assistant to Eddie Kenneally, saddled his first winner as a trainer when Sandcastle won the fifth race March 2 at Gulfstream Park, a maiden special weight event.
Sam F. Davis Stakes (gr. III) winner Battle Hardened returned to the worktab Feb. 17 at Palm Meadows Training Center with an easy half-mile breeze in :49 4/5.
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.
Heavenly Landing is a perfect example of the patience of trainer Eddie Kenneally.
Summerplace Farm's Heavenly Landing remained perfect on turf when she rallied late and denied La Reine Lionne at the wire to win the $100,000 Marshua's River (gr. IIIT) at odds of 19-1 Jan. 7 at Gulfstream Park.
Making his second start for trainer Eddie Kenneally, Blues Street poured it on the in the final furlong en route to a decisive 4 1/2-length victory in the $111,000 River City Handicap (gr. IIIT) Nov. 19 at Churchill.
Buckleupbuttercup got up in the final strides to win the $167,400 Chilukki Stakes (gr. II) by a head over May Day Rose to complete the Breeders' Cup World Championships day card Nov. 5 at Churchill Downs.
Tom R. Walters' Santiva breezed five furlongs in 1:01 at Churchill Downs June 4 in his final preparation for the June 11 Belmont Stakes (gr. I).
Tom Walters' probable Belmont Stakes (gr. I) starter Santiva worked five furlongs over a fast Churchill Downs track in 1:00.60 May 28 under assistant trainer Brendan Walsh.
Trainer Eddie Kenneally did not waste any time getting Santiva to the track at Churchill Downs on the morning of Monday, May 2, as the 3-year-old was one of the first horses out when the track opened for training.
Owners of Derby threat have made the most of their weanling buys.
Battling between horses in the long stretch duel, the maiden Santiva inched away in the final strides to edge odds-on favorite Astrology and Major Gain in the $165,000 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (gr. II) Nov. 27.
Daughter of Bernstein won Keeeneland's Buffalo Trace Franklin County Stakes Oct. 15; to be offered during F-T's The November Sale Nov. 7.
Peter Kerwin and trainer Eddie Kenneally's 33-1 longshot Mimi's Bling overhauled pacesetting Canadian Ballet in deep stretch to win the $100,000 Buffalo Trace Franklin County Stakes.
Outsider My Jen was there to pick up the pieces when favored Rapport gave way in the homestretch, edging Moontune Missy by a head at the wire in the $150,000 Gallant Bloom Handicap (gr. II) Sept. 25 at Belmont Park.
Warbling, whose last two starts came in grade I sprints, takes a bit of a breather in the Honorable Miss Handicap (gr. II) at Saratoga Aug. 8 facing four other distaffers.
Custom for Carlos, the 5-2 morning-line favorite in the True North Handicap (gr. II) June 5, was apparently injured in his stall overnight, according to his trainer, and has been scratched.
One year after his back-to-back triumphs in the Westchester Stakes (gr. III) and Metropolitan Handicap (gr. I), Bribon seeks to get back to his winning ways in the $250,000 True North Handicap (gr. II) at Belmont Park.
Buckleupbuttercup, never off the board in six previous starts, earned her first stakes victory in her first attempt when taking the $100,000 Eight Belles Stakes (gr. III) over a sloppy Churchill Downs track May 1.
Lukewarm favorite Warbling scored the first stakes win of her career March 14 when she went gate to wire for jockey Julien Leparoux in the $200,000 Inside Information Stakes (gr. II) at Gulfstream Park.
Even-money favorite Custom for Carlos overcame the sloppy going at Gulfstream Park in the Mr. Prospector Stakes (gr. III) Jan. 9, seizing the lead at the top of the lane en route to a three-quarters length victory.
Runner-up in her previous four starts -- the last three in graded stakes company -- Gary and Mary West's Keep the Peace looks to finally break through when facing seven fillies and mares in the $150,000 Endine Stakes (gr. III) Sept. 12 at Delaware Park. The 4-year-old Touch Gold filly was installed as the 2-1 morning-line favorite.
Kelly's Landing, whose career was highlighted by a victory in the 2007 Gulf News Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-I), ran his last race Jan. 17 and is now enjoying some rest and relaxation.
Ballymore Lady made a late burst in the final yards and got the jump over three rivals at the shadow of the wire to take a thrilling edition of the $125,000 Endeavour Stakes (gr. IIIT) Feb. 14 on the Tampa Bay Downs turf.