This Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) may be shaping up as one of the most competitive fields of the Nov. 1-2 World Championships at Santa Anita Park. But Eddie Delahoussaye remembers a few other Distaffs just as memorable.
Trainer D. Wayne Lukas will send out a classic winner in Oxbow against another classic winner in Orb in this year's $1 million Belmont Stakes (gr. I) June 8 at Belmont Park.
25 years ago today, Winning Colors won the Santa Anita Derby, her last start before becoming the 3rd filly to win the Kentucky Derby. View Slideshow
The garland of roses and other items from Winning Colors' 1988 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) victory have been presented to the Kentucky Derby Museum at Churchill Downs.
Dubai Majesty put away favored Hot Dixie Chick at the top of the lane and sprinted home to defend her title in the $100,000 Winning Colors Stakes (gr. III) May 31 at Churchill Downs in stakes record time.
Take a trip to the '80s as I revisit the victories by Ferdinand, Alysheba, Winning Colors, and Sunday Silence. As well as some of the other characters I found along the way. Read Blog
Johnny Greathouse and trainer Todd Pletcher confirm that their star filly, Devil May Care, will be entered only in the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) and not cross-entered in the Oaks (gr. I).
Unbeaten favorite for the 1988 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) and sire of 23 stakes winners was euthanized due to the infirmities of old age at Claiborne Farm.
In the opinion of her breeder and co-owner, Dolphus Morrison, Kentucky Oaks morning-line favorite Rachel Alexandra "could have been competitive" in the Run for the Roses, but he said he "didn't have a fleeting thought" of running her against the boys.
For the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I), Lukas has not one, not two, but three fillies that are looking to take the lilies from overwhelming favorite Rachel Alexandra...or at least get a whiff of them by checking in second, third, or even fourth.
D. Wayne Lukas, the dean of Kentucky Derby trainers with four winners from 42 previous starters, expressed confidence in Flying Private following the colt's four-furlong work in :47 2/5 April 27.
Genuine Risk, one of only three fillies to win the Kentucky Derby (gr. I), died the morning of Aug. 18 in her paddock at Bertram and Diana Firestone's Newstead Farm near Upperville, Va. The 31-year-old daughter of Exclusive Native was the oldest living Kentucky Derby winner.
The $112,900 Schuylerville Stakes (gr. III) was both good and bad for trainer Steve Asmussen, who saddled the overlooked Jardin to victory over the sloppy Saratoga main track even as favored Ocean Colors faded to last in the test of 2-year-old fillies July 23.
Ocean Colors, an impressive winner in her first start, may be the sentimental choice heading in to the $100,000 Schuylerville Stakes (gr. III) on Saratoga's opening day, July 23. Eleven 2-year-old fillies will carry 119 pounds while contesting the six-furlong contest, and all of them are seeking their first stakes victory.
MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter
Ocean Colors has the potential to put some shine on the otherwise lackluster broodmare career of Winning Colors. The daughter of Orientate broke her maiden by 5 1/4 lengths at Churchill Downs on June 13 and seems ready for more.
Gainesway Thoroughbreds' Ocean Colors, a 2-year-old Orientate filly out of 1988 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner Winning Colors, made her racing debut one to remember June 13 at Churchill Downs by scoring a front-running 5 1/4-length victory in the fourth race
Change Up, despite not having started since early April during the Keeneland meeting, looks strong against five rivals in Monday's $100,000 Winning Colors Stakes (gr. III) at Churchill Downs. She'll have to be to top defending winner Miss Macy Sue.
By Terese Karmel - Several years ago, I heard one of the finest speeches at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame inductions when trainer D. Wayne Lukas reminisced about that year's horse nominee, Winning Colors.
Winning Colors, winner of the 1988 Kentucky Derby (gr. I), was euthanized Feb. 17 following complications from colic at Hagyard Davidson McGee vet clinic near Lexington. The 23-year-old Caro mare, who was in foal to Mr. Greeley at the time of her death, was buried at Greentree Farm, a division of Gainesway Farm near Lexington. Bloodhorse.com salutes the champion mare with a special slide show.
Trainer Todd Pletcher will make history when he saddles Rags to Riches June 9 in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I). The grade I winner will become just the 22nd filly-- and the first since Silverbulletday in 1999-- to challenge the boys in the 1 1/2-mile "Test of a Champion."
Miss Macy Sue, ridden by Eusebio Razo Jr., rallied from just off of a rapid pace and drew away late to score a comfortable 2 1/4-length victory in stakes record time in the fourth running of the $110,100 grade III Winning Colors Stakes on the Memorial Day program at Churchill Downs.
Favored Ever Elusive, hard ridden by Rafael Bejarano, angled six-wide at the top of the lane and caught 50-1 shot Malibu Mint in the final yards to notch a neck victory in Saturday's $110,200 Winning Colors for fillies and mares at Churchill Downs.
If Illinois Derby (gr. III) winner Sweetnorthernsaint wins this year's Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), he would join elite company of eight geldings who have previously won the spring classic.
Winning Colors, the 1988 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) heroine and the third and last filly to win the race, delivered a filly by Orientate Feb. 10 at the Beck family's Gainesway Farm. The filly is the first reported foal out of Winning Colors since 1999, when she foaled a Broad Brush colt named Dr. Litin.
Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens announced his retirement from riding Friday, but will not be leaving the sport. In a Churchill Downs press conference, Stevens said he would be joining the Television Games Network (TVG) as a racing analyst.
Feb. 20, 1988
Winning Colors in the Las Virgenes Stakes
Azeri, the 2002 Horse of the Year who suffered a tendon injury one week prior to the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships, will return to training for a 2004 campaign under Hall of Fame conditioner D. Wayne Lukas.
Seventy-eight photographs from across the United States reveal the drama and fun of Thoroughbred racing in "Winning Colors," the National Museum of Racing's 7th annual photography show and contest. Winning Colors is open at the museum in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. through Feb. 22, 2002
