Each week BloodHorse.com looks forward to the weekend's biggest races. Consider this your weekly guide to the best stakes races in North America. This week we have a trio of big races at Oaklawn Park, a grade 1 at Santa Anita Park, and more.
Shadwell Stable's homebred Mamdooha shrugged off a nearly year-long layoff to win her fifth straight race and fourth straight stakes in the $100,000 Correction Stakes March 14 at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Shadwell Stable's Mamdooha will return from a year-long layoff and attempt to extend her win streak to five straight races when she starts in the Correction Stakes at six furlongs March 14 at Aqueduct.
Claire Novak and Tom LaMarra handicap the Bed o' Roses Handicap at Belmont Park this weekend. watch video
Cluster of Stars, an undefeated multiple grade II winner for Harvey Weinstein's Turtle Bird Stable, was voted the 2013 New York-bred horse of the year.
Devious Intent, who defeated multiple champion Groupie Doll last summer, brought a price of $350,000 from Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings to top the Feb. 9 opening session of the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky winter mixed sale.
Undefeated Cluster of Stars rolled to her seventh consecutive win when she outclassed five New York-bred opponents in frontrunning style by 3 1/4 lengths in the $150,000 Iroquois Stakes Oct. 19 at Belmont Park.
Undefeated Cluster of Stars puts her six-race win streak on the line as a formidable 2-5 favorite in the $150,000 Iroquois Stakes for New York-bred fillies and mares Oct. 19 at Belmont Park.
Turtle Bird Stable's Cluster of Stars improved her undefeated record to six wins at the cost of Dance to Bristol in the $300,000 Gallant Bloom Handicap (gr. III) Sept. 21 at Belmont Park.
Dance to Bristol returns to Belmont Park for the $300,000 Gallant Bloom Handicap (gr. II) on Sept. 21 to prep for the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (gr. I), and a salty field of eight other 4-year-old fillies awaits her.
Grade I winner and classic-placed Bodemeister was crowned Virginia-bred Horse of the Year and 2012 champion Virginia-bred 3-year-old colt when annual awards were presented July 6 at Colonial Downs.
Turtle Bird Stable's undefeated Cluster of Stars repelled the challenge of Los Ojitos and preserved her perfect record April 13 at Aqueduct Racetrack, winning the $200,000 Distaff Handicap (gr. II).
Turtle Bird Stable's Cluster of Stars, unbeaten in four starts, tries graded company for first time in six-furlong Distaff Handicap (gr. II) at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Nicole H will try to secure her fourth straight stakes victory in five starts and ninth of her career when she returns to Laurel Park for the $250,000 Barbara Fritchie Handicap (gr. II) Feb. 16.
Nicole H pulled clear through the stretch to become the first mare to win three consecutive editions of the $75,000 Interborough at Aqueduct Jan. 1. On the undercard, Arena Elvira won the $75,000 Ladies' Handicap.
At age 6, Nicole H will try to become the first mare to post three consecutive victories in the $75,000 Interborough Handicap. She faces seven others in the six-furlong event at Aqueduct Racetrack on New Year's Day.
Singlet showed her heels to Kid Kate in the $75,000 Garland of Roses Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack Dec. 1, posting her third win in four starts at the New York oval.
Turbulent Descent returns to the scene of one of her most impressive victories when she makes her second start of the year Aug. 24 in the $500,000 Ballerina Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga Race Course.
Anthony Dutrow will send out three of the seven runners in the July 14 Delaware Oaks (gr. II), including likely favorite Grace Hall, who has already banked $900,000 in her young career.
Last year, Musical Romance missed victory by a neck in the Princess Rooney Handicap (gr. I). This season, the 2011 Eclipse Award-winning female sprinter would not be denied.
In step with the trend from recent years, the July 7 Princess Rooney Handicap (gr. I) at Calder Race Course has attracted mostly local horses, highlighted by reigning champion female sprinter Musical Romance.
C C's Pal defeated Nicole H by a neck to win the Vagrancy Handicap (gr. II) at Belmont Park June 2.
Fourth as the favorite in the My Juliet Stakes, Nicole H makes a one-week turnaround for trainer Michael Hushion in the $200,000 Vagrancy Handicap (gr. II) June 2 at Belmont Park.
Five female sprinters with a combined 34 victories were entered in the $150,000 My Juliet Stakes, the May 26 feature that begins the 2012 stakes schedule in earnest at Parx Racing in Pennsylvania.
Dual grade I winner It's Tricky will cut back to seven furlongs as she heads a field of seven fillies and mares entered in the $200,000 Distaff Handicap (gr. II) April 14 at Aqueduct Racetrack.
| Horse | Trainer | Breeder / Owner |
|---|---|---|
| Cluster of Stars | Steven M. Asmussen |
|
| Crespano | Enrique Arroyo |
|
| Nicole H | Michael E. Hushion |
|
| North Freeway | Rudy R. Rodriguez |
|
| Ode to Sami | Gary C. Contessa |
|
| Singlet | Anthony W. Dutrow |
|
| Race | Track | Date |
|---|---|---|
| TaWee S. | IND | |
| Osunitas S. | DMR | |
| Schuylerville S. (G3) | SAR | |
| Lake George S. (G3T) | SAR | |
| Albuquerque Distaff H. | ALB |
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