In the Nov. 8 River City Handicap (gr. IIIT), Gainesway Stable's Villandry finally notched a graded win for trainer Charles LoPresti. Following a move to the barn of David Carroll, he looms Jan. 17 at Fair Grounds.
A WWII veteran and Chicago business tycoon continues to influence Arlington International Racecourse -- despite his advanced age and the political challenges faced by the Illinois racing community. read longform
West Coast Belle kept her record perfect in three career starts for owners Gary and Mary West when coming from off the pace to take the $230,400 Golden Rod Stakes (gr. II) for 2-year-old fillies Nov. 29 at Churchill Downs.
Veteran trainer Wayne Catalano will attempt to build on his 2014 accomplishments when he sends multiple stakes winner I'm Already Sexy and two stablemates into an overflow field Nov. 22 at Churchill Downs.
Churchill Downs concluded its 12-day meeting Sept. 28 with ties for the jockey and trainer titles and Ken and Sarah Ramsey extending their record as leading owners.
Suntracer, beaten by 20 lengths in his last start, was all out to hold off the closing Pyrite Mountain by a nose to win the $347,400 Kentucky Cup Turf (gr. IIIT) over the twisting Kentucky Downs turf course Sept. 13.
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.
After being released from a hospital following treatment of influenza and pneumonia, trainer Wayne Catalano plans to be at his Arlington International Racecourse barn Thursday, Aug. 14.
Eleven-time Arlington International Racecourse training champion Wayne Catalano recorded his 1,000th victory at the Illinois oval July 31 when Royal Alluvial scored a five-length tally in the second race.
While trainer Wayne Catalano remains hospitalized in a suburban Chicago, his daughter Shelbi Hill reports her father is improving.
James Miller's Aurelia's Belle stayed perfect on Polytrack July 19, winning the $150,000 Arlington Oaks (gr. III) in her third different synthetic surface start.
Aurelia's Belle, Interrupted, and She's Offlee Good are among a group of 10 sophomore fillies entered July 19 in the $150,000 Arlington Oaks (gr. III) at Arlington International Racecourse.
Hit The Board Stables' I'm Already Sexy ran her record to 4-for-4 on the Arlington Park turf July 12, a perfectly timed ride by Florent Geroux assuring her victory in the $200,000 Modesty Handicap (gr. IIIT).
Donegal Racing's Irish You Well took the lead at the top of the stretch to capture the $105,000 Long Branch Stakes at Monmouth Park July 5, punching his ticket to the Haskell Invitational (gr. I) in three weeks.
Jim Miller's Aurelia's Belle earned the second graded stakes win of her career when she was placed first after a disqualification in the $111,900 Regret Stakes (gr. IIIT) for 3-year-old fillies at Churchill Downs June 14.
Kentucky shipper Room Service, the only grade I winner in the field, overpowered the leaders in the drive for the wire to tally impressively in the $350,000 American Oaks (gr. IT) May 31 on the Santa Anita turf.
Room Service, a game dead-heat winner of the Central Bank Ashland Stakes (gr. I), squares off with fast-developing Nashoba's Gold in what shapes up as an outstanding renewal of the $350,000 American Oaks (gr. IT) May 31.
Itsmyluckyday, the runner-up in the 2013 Preakness Stakes (gr. I) who was sidelined with a pelvic injury for the later part of that season, has made the move back to Monmouth Park for the May 24 Majestic Light Stakes.
After rallying to an upset victory in a tough allowance race one month ago at Keeneland, Afortable will return to Arlington Park for his stakes debut May 24 in the Arlington Classic Stakes (gr. IIIT).
Gary and Mary West's homebred filly Room Service, who dead-heated for victory with Rosalind in the April 5 Central Bank Ashland Stakes (gr. I), has been withdrawn for consideration in the Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I).
Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I)-bound fillies Unbridled Forever, Sugar Shock, Aurelia's Belle, and Room Service all posted workouts at Churchill Downs the morning of April 24 in preparation for the "Run for the Lilies."
It's a long way from 3 1/2-furlong races for $1,500 claimers at Shenandoah Downs to the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) at Churchill Downs. But Jim Miller is on track to make that journey with his 3-year-old filly Aurelia's Belle.
Given the colt's Chicago connections, it's not surprising Bob Baffert would send Midnight Hawk to the April 19 Illinois Derby at Hawthorne. As for his plans from there on out, you'll have to read between the lines.
In one of the most thrilling editions of the Central Bank Ashland Stakes (gr. I), Rosalind and Room Service hit the wire together for a dead-heat atop the race for 3-year-old fillies April 5 at Keeneland.
James Covello, winner of the 2011 Central Bank Ashland Stakes (gr. I) with Lilacs and Lace, has another good shot at victory this year with Testa Rossi.
Aurelia's Belle, returned to Polytrack after three tough graded stakes at Gulfstream Park, overcame favored Sloan Square at mid-stretch to post a 2 1/4-length win in the Pure Romance Bourbonette Oaks March 22 at Turway
Susan Moulton's John Battaglia Memorial winner Solitary Ranger will attempt to become just the second horse to win that prep and the Spiral Stakes when he takes on 3-1 favorite Tamarando March 22 at Turfway Park.
Room Service appreciated some extra ground as she rallied from last to first to deny favored Candy Kitty in the $100,000 Herecomesthebride Stakes (gr. IIIT) March 2 on the Gulfstream Park turf.
Euronfire's story warms up the Keeneland January sale.
Gary and Mary West's Poker Player has a shot at the big money Nov. 1 at Santa Anita in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (gr. IT).
Ciao Bella Luna and Lighthouse Bay head an overflow field for the $250,000 Lexus Raven Run (gr. II) at Keeneland Oct. 19, one of the final graded sprints limited to 3-year-old fillies in 2013.
Trainer Wayne Catalano was doing a little advance planning the morning of Oct. 7, both in the short term for the Keeneland meet and for a few weeks down the road at the Breeders' Cup World Championships at Santa Anita.
Gary and Mary West's Poker Player unleashed a huge move in mid-stretch to collar the leaders for an impressive victory in the off-the-turf Bourbon Stakes at a water-sogged Keeneland Race Course Oct. 6.
Solitary Ranger, who broke his maiden by 5 1/2 lengths when winning the Sept. 7 Arlington-Washington Futurity (gr. III), headlines a field of 14, plus two also-eligibles for the $400,000 Dixiana Breeders' Futurity (gr. I).
Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes (gr. I) contenders Purely Hot and Tanglewood Tale make starts for their young trainers. read blog
Catalano's plan for Solitary Ranger included the Breeders' Cup World Championships long before the talented juvenile runner broke his maiden. read blog
Fueled by large fields attracted to the track's hefty purses, the five-day all-turf meet at Kentucky Downs ended Sept. 25 with record pari-mutuel handle for the day and the meet.
Daughter of Ready's Image owned by the Hit The Board Stables partnership group goes wire-to-wire in the nine-furlong turf test for 3-year-old fillies at Arlington Park.
I'm Already Sexy and I O Ireland, each a winner in a division of the Hatoof Stakes, return in search of an initial graded stakes victory in the $175,000 Pucker Up (gr. IIIT) at Arlington Park on Sept. 14.
Favored Hogy captured the $250,000 Presque Isle Mile Sept. 8 with a late burst, winning for the third time in his past four starts.
Solitary Ranger returned from a layup to take the $150,000 Arlington-Washington Futurity (gr. III) in solid fashion Sept. 7 at Arlington Park, becoming his sire's first stakes winner in the process.
Alpha Bettor and Hogy top an oversubscribed edition of the $250,000 Presque Isle Mile Sept. 8 at Presque Isle Downs, both sharing highweight assignments of 124 pounds.
Following a troubled third in the Diana Stakes (gr. IT) at Saratoga Race Course, two-time grade I winner Stephanie's Kitten is under consideration for the $750,000 Beverly D. Stakes (gr. IT) on Aug. 17 at Arlington.
Title Contender broke through for his first stakes win in the Ohio Derby when he defeated a field of six challengers in the grade III affair at Thistledown July 27.
Seven 3-year-olds, all in search of their first graded stakes victory, are signed on for the $100,000 Ohio Derby (gr. III) July 27, the signature race at Thistledown.
Donegal Racing's multiple grade I winner Dullahan takes on two-time Arlington Handicap (gr. IIIT) victor Rahystrada in the July 13 renewal of the 1 1/4-mile turf event at Arlington Park.
Stephanie's Kitten took the rail trip to victory in the $500,000 Longines Just a Game Stakes (gr. IT) at Belmont Park June 8, digging in determinedly to best Better Lucky by half a length after a dogfight down the lane.
After tracking throughout, Imposing Grace flashed another gear in the stretch to secure the first stakes win of her career May 25 in the $150,000 Arlington Matron Stakes (gr. III).
Stephanie's Kitten came back of the layup and got the job done May 4 in the Distaff Turf Mile (gr. IIT) at Churchill Downs. Hungry Island, winner of the same race in 2012, was second by a neck.
Just one of the fun things about Keeneland spring is welcoming new 2-year-olds and the Lexington track will waste no time this year, offering a 4 1/2-furlong race for juvenile fillies on opening day April 5.
