Rosario Rides General a Rod in Florida Derby
Joel Rosario, who rode General a Rod to a victory in the Gulfstream Park Derby Jan. 1, will be back aboard the Roman Ruler colt in his next start.
Mike Maker
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Ramseys' Major Marvel Takes Barbados Gold Cup
Ken and Sarah Ramsey enjoyed a win in the Caribbean March 8 when veteran Major Marvel cruised to a clear victory in the $214,000 Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup at Savannah Garrison Racecourse.
Harry's Holiday Facing Tough Battaglia Crowd
Harry's Holiday obliterated the field in the 96ROCK Stakes, the first local prep for the Spiral Stakes (gr. III) at Turfway Park, but he faces a tougher crowd March 1 in the John Battaglia Memorial Stakes.
Florida Derby Likely to Rematch Top FOY Foes
Wildcat Red and General a Rod, the one-two finishers in the Besilu Stables Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II) at Gulfstream Park, will likely take their nascent rivalry to the next level in the $1 million Florida Derby.
Vicar's in Trouble in Tough for Risen Star
Vicar's in Trouble, dominant 6 3/4-length hero of the Jan. 18 LeComte Stakes (gr. III) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, drew a tough outside post in an overflow field entered for the $400,000 Risen Star Stakes on Feb. 22.
One for the Roses: General a Rod
General a Rod defeated Hutcheson Stakes (gr. III) winner Wildcat Red by a head in the Gulfstream Park Derby, as they meet again in the Fountain of Youth Stakes.
One for the Roses: Vicar's In Trouble
Steve Haskin continues his new audio series One For the Roses with LeComte Stakes (gr. III) winner Vicar's in Trouble who is preparing for the Risen Star Stakes.
Vicar's in Trouble Breezes for Risen Star
Lecomte Stakes (gr. III) winner Vicar's in Trouble breezed five furlongs in 1:00 3/5 the morning of Feb. 9 at Fair Grounds in preparation for the Risen Star Stakes (gr. II) on Louisiana Derby Preview Day Feb. 22.
Penn Gaming Series Opens at Sam Houston
Julien Leparoux, Mike Maker, and Ken and Sarah Ramsey, who teamed to win the John B. Connally Turf Cup (gr. IIIT) at Sam Houston Jan. 25, top the standings in the jockey, trainer, and owner categories for new series.
Surging Admiral Kitten Wins Connally Turf Cup
Odds-on choice Admiral Kitten surged through the stretch to catch Fredericksburg just in time for a neck victory in the $200,000 John B. Connally Turf Cup (gr. IIIT) on the night of Jan. 25 at Sam Houston Race Park.
Admiral Kitten Tops John B. Connally Turf Cup
The Big Bad Kittens are invading Texas, as grade I winner Admiral Kitten faces seven opponents in the $200,000 John B. Connally Turf Cup (gr. IIIT) at Sam Houston Race Park Jan. 25.
Risen Star Stakes Next for Vicar's in Trouble
Vicar's in Trouble, a romping 6 3/4-length winner of the Lecomte Stakes (gr. III) Jan. 18, is to remain in at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots for his next start.
Lecomte No Problem for Vicar's in Trouble
After demolishing 10 over-matched Louisiana-breds to close out his 2012 season, Vicar's in Trouble gave open company the same treatment Jan. 18 when he rolled to an easy victory in the $200,000 Lecomte Stakes (gr. III).
General a Rod Slugs Out Gulfstream Derby Win
Derby season got off to a promising start Jan. 1 when General a Rod slugged it out to the wire with front-running Wildcat Red to prevail by a head in the $100,000 Gulfstream Park Derby.
Castellano Closing on Season Earnings Record
In a year that he has combined victories at the highest levels with consistent success, jockey Javier Castellano is closing in on the single-season record for North American earnings by a rider.
Ramseys Ready for Claiming Crown
The first major event of the Gulfstream Park Championship Meet will take place Dec. 7 with the Claiming Crown, a collection of eight stakes races worth a total of $1 million.
Admiral Kitten Invades for Hollywood Derby
Graded stakes winners Admiral Kitten and Jack Milton ship in for the $250,000 Hollywood Derby (gr. IT) Dec. 1, where they will face a solid group of local 3-year-olds on the Betfair Hollywood Park turf.
Keeneland Sets Records in Attendance, Handle
Keeneland concluded its 2013 fall race meeting Oct. 26 with record attendance and all-sources wagering for its 17-day season.
Kitten's Dumplings Quirky Winner of QEII
Ken and Sarah Ramsey's Kitten's Dumplings proved a quirky winner of the $400,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup over 8-5 favorite Alterite at Keeneland Oct. 12 to pick up her first grade I victory.
Admiral Kitten Faces Familiar Foes in Jamaica
Admiral Kitten will take on familiar foes Stormy Len, Jack Milton, and War Dancer when he aims for his second grade I win in the $500,000 Jamaica Handicap Oct. 5 at Belmont Park.
Landeros Gets 1,000th Win in Unbridled Stakes
Jockey Chris Landeros won his 1,000th race Sept. 7 when he guided Major Marvel to victory in the $100,000 Unbridled Stakes at Louisiana Downs.
Saratoga Diary: Cut from the Same Cloth
- By Vic Zast
Fashion comes in every form at the racecourse. read blog
Secretariat is Admiral Kitten's First Grade I
Ken and Sarah Ramsey's homebred Admiral Kitten closed with a strong late run in the Aug. 17 Secretariat Stakes (gr. IT) at Arlington Park, then opened to a 1 1/4-length victory to win his first grade I.
Dark Cove Scratched from St. Leger
Trainer Mike Maker discovered some filling in the tendon of multiple graded stakes winner Dark Cove, and the morning line second-choice will scratch from the $400,000 American St. Leger Aug. 17 at Arlington Park.
Boisterous Tops Full Field in Sword Dancer
Boisterous may have won the Man o' War Stakes (gr. IT) last time out at Belmont Park, but he isn't scaring away competition from the Aug. 17 Sword Dancer Invitational Handicap (gr. IT) at Saratoga Race Course.
Rydilluc, Charming Kitten Rematch at Saratoga
Since March, 3-year-old turf standouts Rydilluc and Charming Kitten have been on parallel schedules, clashing four times. On Aug. 9 they will meet again in the Hall of Fame Stakes (gr. IIT) at Saratoga.
Lake George: Kitten's Dumplings Wins Again
Favored Kitten's Dumplings, rallying from well off the pace, registered a narrow victory in the $200,000 Lake George Stakes July 24 at Saratoga Race Course for her third consecutive stakes win.
Dark Cove Lowers Course Record at Arlington
Ken and Sarah Ramsey's favored Dark Cove rated behind stalking pacesetter Ioya Bigtime and unleashed a late burst of speed in the stretch to capture the July 13 Stars and Stripes Stakes (gr. IIIT) by 1 3/4 lengths.
Another Distance Turf Test for Dark Cove
After winning a pair of graded stakes in 1 1/2-mile turf races in Kentucky, Dark Cove will try to make it three straight at the distance when he starts in the Stars and Stripes Stakes (gr. IIIT) July 13.
Ramseys' Churchill Record Stands at 32 Wins
Ken and Sarah Ramsey concluded their fabulous spring meet at Churchill Downs with a single-season record 32 wins June 30, collecting their record-extending 19th leading owners' title.
Ramseys Waste No Time Setting Churchill Mark
Ken and Sarah Ramsey, Churchill Downs' all-time leading owners in races won with 360, scored a single-season spring meet record 28th win in the fifth race June 27.
Kitten's Dumplings Set for Churchill's Regret
Kitten's Dumplings, eye-catching winner of the Edgewood Stakes in her first start over the Churchill Downs turf, returns to the Louisville track as the likely favorite in the $100,000 Regret Stakes (gr. IIIT) June 15.
Dark Cove Strong Louisville Handicap Winner
Elkhorn Stakes (gr. IIT) winner Dark Cove collected another victory May 25 at Churchill Downs, proving the best over Atigun and Najjaar in the $100,000 Louisville Handicap (gr. IIIT).
Distance Key for Dark Cove in Louisville 'Cap
After going the distance for his first career graded stakes win on the Keeneland Race Course turf, Dark Cove will try to do the same on the Churchill Downs green in the Louisville Handicap (gr. IIIT) May 25.
Full Arlington Classic Awaits Admiral Kitten
Admiral Kitten leads 12 sophomore contenders in the $150,000 Arlington Classic (gr. IIIT) at Arlington Park on May 25, Illinois Derby (gr. III) runner-up Fordubai also in the mix.
Kitten's Dumplings Rallies Late in Edgewood
Ken and Sarah Ramsey's 3-year-old homebred filly Kitten's Dumplings overcame a poor effort in her last start and notched the first victory of her sophomore season in grand fashion in the May 3 Edgewood Stakes.
Riding High, Rosario Readies for Derby on Orb
For the 28-year-old native of the Dominican Republic, a mount aboard highly-regarded Florida Derby victor Orb in the May 4 Kentucky Derby is a natural progression after a whirlwind month.
Fear the Kitten Could Land Final Derby Slot
Although he only has six points on the road to the Kentucky Derby (gr. I), the connections of Fear the Kitten said April 29 they're pointing the son of Kitten's Joy to the 1 1/4-mile Classic.
Ramsey Savors Every Winner's Circle Trip
- By Frank Angst
While Ken Ramsey has reached racing's heights, the Thoroughbred owner says he will never abandon claiming races. read blog
Keeneland Sets All-Sources Handle Mark
Keeneland concluded its 2013 spring race meeting April 26 with a number of records, including all-sources handle and most wins by an owner, trainer, and jockey.
Dark Cove Earns Ramseys Keeneland Gold Tray
Dark Cove earned owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey a gold tray when he drew off to an upset victory in the $150,000 Elkhorn Stakes (gr. II) on closing day April 26 at Keeneland.
Maker Triples, Breaks Keeneland Spring Mark
With three wins April 24, trainer Mike Maker broke the record at Keeneland for victories during the spring meet and now has a total of 19.
Blue Grass Contenders Tune Up in Kentucky
Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) contenders Rydilluc, Uncaptured, Undrafted, and Dewey Square all turned in pre-race works April 5 at Keeneland. Also working were Dynamic Sky at Churchill and Fear the Kitten at Trackside.
Rushaway is Crop Report's Last Derby Chance
Team Valor is sponsoring the $75,000 Rushaway Stakes at Turfway March 23, and as fate would have it, it will also use the race as a last-ditch effort to get highly-regarded Crop Report to a Kentucky Derby prep.
Maker Represented by 1,000th Winner
Trainer Mike Maker was represented by his 1,000th career winner March 16 when Magical Season won the third race at Fair Grounds.
Lots of Possibilities in Battaglia Memorial
The $75,000 John Battaglia Memorial Stakes at Turfway Park March 2 attracted a full field of 3-year-olds loaded with possibilities even if there are a few that figure to draw heavy action.
King David Figures to Reign in Connally
Scarlet Stable's King David and jockey Rosie Napravnik figure to be a tough act in the John B. Connally Turf Cup Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Sam Houston Race Park Jan. 26.
Connections Plan to Race Joha this Summer
The connections of Joha are comfortable switching to Plan B with their grade I winner, who was withdrawn from the Keeneland January horses of all ages sale and will be pointed to a summer-fall racing campaign.
Ramsey Runners Dominate Claiming Crown
Parent's Honor capped a big day for Ken and Sarah Ramsey at Gulfstream Park Dec. 1, taking the $200,000 Claiming Crown Jewel at odds of 16-1 to give the owners their fourth winner on the card.
Claiming Crown Gets Big Gulfstream Welcome
The Claiming Crown comes to Gulfstream Park for the south Florida oval's season opener Dec. 1, and local horsemen have responded enthusiastically with 97 entrants in the seven-race series worth a total of $850,000 in purses.
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