Uncle Sigh at Belmont June 1.
Photo: Coglianese Photos/Susie Raisher
Uncle Sigh - Churchill Downs, April 30, 2014
Photo: Rick Samuels
Uncle Sigh - Churchill Downs, April 30, 2014
Photo: Rick Samuels
Uncle Sigh - Churchill Downs, April 30, 2014
Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Uncle Sigh - Churchill Downs, April 29, 2014.
Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Uncle Sigh - Churchill Downs, April 29, 2014.
Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Uncle Sigh - Churchill Downs, April 29, 2014.
Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Uncle Sigh preps for the Kentucky Derby April 29.
Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Uncle Sigh in New York April 25.
Photo: Coglianese Photos/Susie Raisher
Uncle Sigh in the Withers Stakes.
Photo: Coglianese Photos
Ring Weekend, coming off a fifth in the Preakness, and Uncle Sigh, 14th in the Kentucky Derby, head a field of seven sophomores slated for the Pegasus Stakes June 15 at Monmouth Park that also marks the return of Albano.
After coming up short in the first jewel of the Triple Crown, Uncle Sigh will try his luck against nine other New York-bred 3-year-olds when he starts in the first leg of the Big Apple Triple Saturday at Belmont Park.
Owner Chip McEwen will have several veterans with him May 3 at the Kentucky Derby, but Churchill Downs didn't help with their tickets or access.
They saw the potential of their futures played out in furious rallies, wire-to-wire rumbles, by the widest of margins and the slimmest of victories. Weeks like this bring back those memories.
Four days before the Saturday race, most of the trainers with horses in the classic shared a stage and a laugh or two at the annual Kentucky Derby Trainers Dinner.
Trainer Gary Contessa, the winner of more than 2,000 races, sends out his first Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) starter May 3 with New York-bred Uncle Sigh.
From Kentucky to New York to California to Maryland, there were Kentucky Derby works galore the past two days. read blog
Three contenders for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I)--Wicked Strong, Samraat, and Uncle Sigh--had their final classic preparations in New York April 25.
Likely Kentucky Derby (gr. I) favorite California Chrome will try to become the first California-bred to win the Louisville classic since Decidedly in 1962, but six other Derby hopefuls were also foaled outside of Kentucky.
The battling New York-breds Samraat and Uncle Sigh both turned in solid works at Belmont Park April 18, and will have one more work there before shipping to Churchill Downs.
In his first work since winning the TwinSpires.com Wood Memorial (gr. I), Wicked Strong breezed a solid half-mile in :49.62 seconds the morning of April 17 over the Belmont Park training track.
Claire Novak and Frank Angst handicap two big Kentucky Derby prep races this weekend in the Wood Memorial and Santa Anita Derby. watch video
Two New York-breds have claimed the prep series in their native state as part of a gutsy rivalry, but here comes this lightly raced Florida shipper with enough hype to overshadow all others in the April 5 Aqueduct test.
"This horse has got the mind for a Derby horse," Gary Contessa remarked. "He'll walk into that stadium and there'll be 150,000 people there...and he'll be like 'Yeah, this is cool...whatever.' "
Is he or isn't he? That is the question everyone is asking on the subject of Social Inclusion being one of those so-called freaks that only come along on rare occasions.
Steve Haskin brings Constitution into his Kentucky Derby Dozen this week, but read to see who falls off the list! read blog
Unbeaten Samraat breezed at Palm Meadows training center March 22 as he continues his preparations for the Wood Memorial (gr. I) at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Several new horses appear on Steve Haskin's Derby Dozen this week, including a new number one. Steve expands on thoughts of California Chrome's start out of the gate in the San Felipe Stakes. read blog
Lenny Shulman and Steve Haskin examine the Santa Anita Handicap field, the history and memorable horses. Steve and Lenny recap the Gotham Stakes, rivalries, Del Mar's dirt and interview trainer Nick Zito about Spot. watch video
Steve Haskin shuffles his Kentucky Derby Dozen on the bottom end this week, but read what he says about those left unmoved. read blog
Listen to Steve Haskin state the case for the rivalry of Samraat and Uncle Sigh.
Evan Hammonds recaps the Swale Stakes, Palm Beach Stakes, and of course the Gotham Stakes. watch video
All but assured of a berth in the Kentucky Derby (gr. I), undefeated Samraat was on his way back to Florida on the afternoon of March 2, a day after his Gotham Stakes (gr. III) victory at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Undefeated Samraat edged Uncle Sigh March 1 at Aqueduct Racetrack to secure a $500,000 Gotham Stakes (gr. II) victory by a neck; pacesetter In Trouble hung tough another neck back for third.
The question today's handicapper must ask is how much weight matters. read blog
TimeformUS Saturday Plays from Aqueduct, Gulfstream and Santa Anita read blog
Samraat, Uncle Sigh, and Havana are among the box-office stars entered to race in this week's Gotham Stakes (gr. III) and Swale Stakes (gr. II). But could they be overshadowed by the supporting cast? read blog
Four weeks after a memorable stretch drive in which Samraat just held off Uncle Sigh in the Withers Stakes (gr. III) at Aqueduct Racetrack, those two rivals will hook up again in the Gotham Stakes (gr. II) March 1.
Consignor Danzel Brendemuehl goes into the juvenile sales season bolstered by successes of recent stakes winners Wildcat Red, Uncle Sigh, and Sushi Empire, among others.
PORTER ON PEDIGREES
Eleven years after Funny Cide became the first New York-bred to win the Kentucky Derby (gr. I), two more horses bred in the Empire State stamped themselves as legitimate classic prospects.
Two New York-breds stood out in a six-horse field heading into the $250,000 Withers Stakes (gr. III) at Aqueduct Racetrack, and those two put on quite a show with undefeated Samraat prevailing in the end.
TimeformUS Saturday Plays from Santa Anita, Tampa Bay and Aqueduct read blog
Two highly regarded New York-breds lead a field of six 3-year-olds entered for the $250,000 Withers Stakes (gr. III) at Aqueduct Racetrack on Feb. 1, both coming off impressive performances to tackle open company.
| Trainer | Gary C. Contessa |
|---|---|
| Jockey | Joe Bravo |
| Owner | Wounded Warrior Stables and Robertson, Anthony C. |
| Breeder | Milfer Farm Inc. |
| Uncle Sigh View Five-Cross Pedigree | Indian Charlie | In Excess (IRE) |
| Soviet Sojourn | ||
| Cradlesong | Pine Bluff | |
| Happy Tune |
| Sale / Hip | Type | Buyer | Consignor | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FTNAUG2012 Hip 440 |
Yearling | IEAH Sales Corp. | Highclere, agent, agent | $270,000 |
| FTFFEB2013 Hip 112 |
Two-year-old | Wavertree Stables, agent | ($330,000) |
Prices in parentheses indicate a horse did not sell because it did not meet its reserve price.
| Dortmund |
| Upstart |
| American Pharoah |
| Texas Red |
| International Star |
| Far Right |
| Rachel Alexandra |
| Far From Over |
| California Chrome |
| Itsaknockout |
