Rachel Alexandra, Risen Star, Gulfstream Park Sprint, Fair Grounds Handicap, Mineshaft Handicap, Futurity Handicap, Blue Diamond, Oakleigh Plate, Chipping Norton, Tiznow, Nakayama Kinen, Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup, Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup, and more.
Honorable Duty called up all his improved fortitude in the stretch of the $125,000 Mineshaft Handicap (G3) Feb. 25 when he held strong over International Star and a stubborn Dazzling Gem to take the 1 1/16-mile test by half a length.
Each week BloodHorse.com looks forward to the weekend's biggest races. This week we have a full slate of stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, a Kentucky Oaks (G1) prep at Aqueduct Racetrack, and more.
Fans at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots figure to be plenty familiar with most of the starters in the $125,000 Mineshaft Handicap (G3) Saturday, Feb. 25.
Lothenbach Stable's homebred multiple graded stakes-winning millionaire Mister Marti Gras has been retired from racing and is ready to start his second career, trainer Chris Block said.
Grade I winner Majestic Harbor outdueled Eagle in the long Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots stretch to snap a seven-race losing streak and earn his first stakes win since 2014 Feb. 20 in the Mineshaft Handicap (gr. III).
International Star, who last year swept the 3-year-old prep races on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, will reenter the graded ranks Feb. 20 in the $125,000 Mineshaft Handicap (gr. III) at Fair Grounds.
Multiple graded stakes winner Commissioner headlines a field of eight for the 79th running of the $250,000 Hawthorne Gold Cup (gr. II) Nov. 28 at Hawthorne Racecourse.
Daniel Dougherty's classic-placed Ride On Curlin returns to the races Nov. 26 in search of his first stakes win in the $60,000 Thanksgiving Handicap at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.
Multiple graded stakes winner Pants On Fire will stand his initial season at stud for $5,000 next year at Glenn and Becky Brok's Diamond B Farm near Mohrsville, Pa.
King's Bishop winner Runhappy and Breeders' Cup Sprint victor Work All Week bookend a field of 12 going six furlongs in the Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes Oct. 2 at Keeneland.
Lady Sheila Stables' Hot City Girl sped to the lead in the $350,000 Charles Town Oaks (gr. III) and never relented, securing her first graded score in gate-to-wire fashion.
Already a three-time stakes winner this season, Sarah Sis will try to add the $350,000 Charles Town Oaks (gr. III) Sept. 19.
Multiple graded-stakes winner Protonico leads the cast of older horses going 1 1/16 miles in the $200,000 Monmouth Cup Stakes (gr. II) Aug. 2.
Midnight Cello earned his first graded stakes score and first victory of the season in style July 18, taking the $100,000 Hanshin Cup Stakes (gr. III) at Arlington International Racecourse with a bold early move up the rail.
Nine older horses square off in the one-mile $100,000 Hanshin Cup over Arlington's Polytrack in a wide-open affair
Last-out stakes winners The Pizza Man, Dramedy, and Xtra Luck will seek to continue their successful ways at the marathon distance of 1 1/2 miles at Arlington International Racecourse.
Race Day, winner of the Oaklawn Handicap (gr. II) and Razorback Handicap (gr. III) in consecutive graded scores, is the 123-pound highweight for the $150,000 Salvator Mile (gr. III) July 5 at Monmouth Park.
Honor Code turned on the afterburners and flew home June 6 in the $1.25 million Metropolitan Handicap (gr. I) at Belmont Park, with last year's Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Tonalist getting up for second.
Alsvid carried on with his winning ways May 30 at Churchill Downs, upsetting the season debut of Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) winner Work All Week in the $100,000 Aristides Stakes (gr. I).
Work All Week was the king of midwest sprinters last year. In the Breeders' Cup, he defeated defending Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Secret Circle and two-time Vosburgh Stakes (gr. I) winner Private Zone.
Private Zone won the $500,000 Churchill Downs Stakes (gr. II) Saturday, May 2 at the Louisville oval, holding off a stretch challenge from Nates Mineshaft. Bayern struggled in his 2015 debut.
Kaleem Shah's Bayern, last year's Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) winner, will make his 4-year-old debut in the $500,000 Churchill Downs Stakes (gr. II) on the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) undercard May 2.
Nates Mineshaft did his sire proud when upsetting the 2012 Mineshaft Handicap (gr. III) as the longest shot on the board. On Feb. 21 he'll be a price again in this year's $125,000 renewal at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.
Brereton C. Jones' Albano looks to kick off what could be a breakthrough year when he heads the Louisiana Handicap; grade I winner Kitten's Dumplings returns for her first race since November of 2013 in the Marie G. Krantz.
| Horse | Trainer | Breeder / Owner |
|---|---|---|
| Alma d'Oro | Todd A. Pletcher |
|
| Cool Blue Red Hot | Angel A. Penna, Jr. |
|
| Fast Alex | Greg Geier |
|
| Gladding | Vann Belvoir |
|
| Mister Marti Gras | Chris M. Block |
|
| Nates Mineshaft | Anne P. Smith |
|
| Pants On Fire | Kelly J. Breen |
|
| Thiskyhasnolimit | Steven M. Asmussen |
|
| Tres Borrachos | Martin F. Jones |
|
| Race | Track | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque Distaff H. | ALB | |
| Eddie Read S. (G2T) | DMR | |
| TVG San Diego H. (G2) | DMR | |
| Don Bernhardt S. | ELP | |
| New York Oaks | FL |
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