Thoroughbred Horse Racing Blog | 407 days ago
Here is the updated list of winners as of April 7th for each of the 2012 Kentucky Derby prep races, so you can keep track of who are the true contenders as we lead up to the 138th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill...
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Horse Racing Bloggers
‘Super Mario’ in Santa Anita Spotlight
Horse Racing Bloggers | Michael Compton | 407 days ago
Twenty-five-year-old jockey Mario Guiterrez, known as ‘Super Mario,’ will start in the biggest race of his life this afternoon when he climbs aboard I’ll Have Another in the Santa Anita Derby (G1). Guiterrez, a native of Mexico, was plyin...
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The Lumber Guy Steps Up in Wood Memorial
Horse Racing Bloggers | Michael Compton | 407 days ago
Undefeated The Lumber Guy will get tested for class today as he makes his initial start in graded company in today’s $1 million Wood Memorial at Aqueduct. Owned by Barry Schwartz, The Lumber Guy parades postward this afternoon perfect in his two prio...
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Mucho Macho Man Impressive in Churchill Breeze
Horse Racing Bloggers | Michael Compton | 407 days ago
Florida-bred Mucho Macho Man breezed Saturday morning at Churchill Downs in preparation for a start in the Alysheba Stakes (G2) there on May 4. According to Kostas Hatzikoutelis, vice president of Dream Team Racing, Mucho Macho Man traveled four furlon...
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Scott Spieth Pilots 4,000th winner
Horse Racing Bloggers | , Michael Compton | 408 days ago
This week has seen its share of milestone victories. Jockey Scott Spieth achieved his own milestone on Friday, winning his 4,000th race at Tampa Bay Downs. Spieth joins jockey Joe Talamo who celebrated his 1,000th victory yesterday at Santa Anita, as w...
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Silver Max Wires Transylvania Foes
Horse Racing Bloggers | Michael Compton | 408 days ago
Mark Bacon and Dana Wells’ Silver Max took the lead out of the gate and cruised to a 5 1/2-length victory in the $100,000 Transylvania Stakes (G3) on Friday, opening day of the Keeneland meet. Trained by Dale Romans and piloted by Robby Albarado, Sil...
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Eddie Plesa Saddles 2,000th Winner
Horse Racing Bloggers | Michael Compton | 408 days ago
Trainer Eddie Plesa Jr. reached a career milestone at Gulfstream Park Friday, making his 2,000th trip to the winner’s circle after saddling Salt Water Cowboy for a victory in the fourth race. Following a winner’s circle celebration, the South Flori...
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Hansen to Work Saturday for Blue Grass Stakes
Horse Racing Bloggers | Michael Compton | 408 days ago
Horses considered as probable starters for the 88th running of the $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass (G1) are scheduled to work Saturday morning. Kendall Hansen and Skychai Racing’s Hansen, champion 2-year-old of 2011, is scheduled to have his final work ...
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Only four 2yo Grade 1 winners have also won Derby since BC
Horse Racing Bloggers | Sid Fernando | 408 days ago
Only four 2-year-old Grade 1 winners have won the Kentucky Derby since 1985, a span of 27 years (15 percent). Before that, from the institution of Graded races in 1973 to the start of the Breeders’ Cup in 1984 , five Grade 1 winners at 2 won 11 ...
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Gemologist Risks Perfect Record in Wood
Horse Racing Bloggers | Michael Compton | 408 days ago
WinStar Farm’s Gemologist has paraded to the post four times in his young career. Four times he has exited the track victorious. On Saturday, the son of Tiznow looks to make it five straight for trainer Todd Pletcher when he will break from post posi...
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Fast Times at Keeneland Preview
Horse Racing Bloggers | Michael Compton | 409 days ago
Seven juveniles posted co-bullet eighths of :9 4/5 on Thursday during Keeneland’s preview show for Monday’s April Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale. The youngsters who drilled the fastest eighths were: hip No. 9, a colt by Lemon Drop Kid consigned b...
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Joe Talamo Boots Home 1,000th Winner
Horse Racing Bloggers | Michael Compton | 409 days ago
Young jockey Joseph Talamo scored his 1,000th win Thursday at Santa Anita Park. The milestone came aboard Arnold Zetcher’s Splendid Fortune trained by Bob Baffert in the day’s fourth race. “That was fun,” Talamo told Santa Ani...
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Holy Candy Not Certain for Santa Anita Derby
Horse Racing Bloggers | Michael Compton | 409 days ago
John Sadler said a decision wouldn’t be made for another 48 hours on whether surprise entrant Holy Candy would run in Saturday’s Santa Anita Derby, according to Santa Anita Publicity. “We won’t decide until Saturday morning,” Sadler said of t...
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Broadway’s Alibi and Millionreasonswhy Top Comely
Horse Racing Bloggers | Michael Compton | 409 days ago
The Comely Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct on Saturday begins together a field of seven promising 3-year-old fillies led by Broadway’s Alibi and Millionreasonswhy. The sophomores enter Saturday’s fray with hopes of being in the starting gate for th...
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Creative Cause Headlines Santa Anita Derby
Thoroughbred Horse Racing Blog | 409 days ago
With the upset of Union Rags last weekend in the Grade 1 Florida Derby, many racing pundits including myself have Creative Cause as the #1 contender heading into the Kentucky Derby next month. There is one more obstacle in the way of the gray Giant’s...
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Shackleford Seeks Carter Glory
Horse Racing Bloggers | Michael Compton | 409 days ago
Shackleford captured the hearts of racing fans last year with his gritty performances through the Triple Crown. The son of Forestry won the Preakness Stakes (G1) in near wire-to-wire fashion last season after finishing a game fourth in the Kentucky Der...
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Gemologist, Alpha Ready for Battle in Wood Memorial at Aqueduct
Thoroughbred Horse Racing Blog | 410 days ago
As of today, Todd Pletcher has one horse heading to the Kentucky Derby next month. El Padrino has $250,000 in graded earnings thanks mostly for his win in the Risen Star Stakes (G2) at Fair Grounds on February 25. His 4th place performance in the...
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Creative Cause Draws Rail in Santa Anita Derby
Horse Racing Bloggers | Michael Compton | 410 days ago
Creative Cause, the West Coast’s leading candidate for the Kentucky Derby (G1), drew the rail for Saturday’s $750,000 Santa Anita Derby (G1). The complete field in post position order is as follows: 1. Creative Cause; 2. Liaison; 3. Holy Ca...
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Field Drawn for Wood Memorial
Horse Racing Bloggers | Michael Compton | 410 days ago
Alpha drew post position No. 1 in a field of eight for Saturday’s $1 million Wood Memorial (G1) at Aqueduct, while undefeated Gemologist will break from post position No. 6. In post position order, the Wood field consists of: 1. Alpha; 2. Casual ...
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Thoroughbred Times TODAY column on 2yos and Derby
Horse Racing Bloggers | Sid Fernando | 410 days ago
Specialist 2-year-olds versus late-developing classic colts: Only five of 27 Kentucky Derby winners since the first Breeders’ Cup races in 1984 have raced in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. And only one BC Juvenile winner has won the Derby. Mor...
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Stevens to Throw Out First Pitch at Dodger Stadium
Horse Racing Bloggers | Michael Compton | 411 days ago
Retired Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens, a winner of a record nine Santa Anita Derbies, will throw out a ceremonial first pitch at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday. Stevens will also be an honored guest at Santa Anita Wednesday morning, as he’ll be among...
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Zito to Start Casual Trick in Wood
Horse Racing Bloggers | Michael Compton | 411 days ago
Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito is hoping to get back to the Kentucky Derby this year to saddle his 26th runner in the prestigious race. Zito has won the Derby twice. First with Strike the Gold in 1991 and again in 1994 with Go For Gin. Zito’s hopes t...
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Spa juvenile races have had little effect on Derby winners
Horse Racing Bloggers | Sid Fernando | 411 days ago
After I tweeted yesterday that the first Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner (Chief’s Crown, 1984) also won the Saratoga Special Stakes but that the last Saratoga Special winner (1983) to win the Derby was Swale in 1984, a self-described “a...
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Hansen Tops Blue Grass Hopefuls
Horse Racing Bloggers | Michael Compton | 412 days ago
Hansen, champion juvenile colt of 2011, heads 11 horses being pointed to the 88th running of the Toyota Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland on April 14. Owned by Kendall Hansen and Skychai Racing, Hansen won the Gotham Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct in his most rece...
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Maiden Brother Francis in Santa Anita Derby
Horse Racing Bloggers | Michael Compton | 412 days ago
Brother Francis is winless in his career, but veteran trainer Jim Cassidy feels his charge deserves a shot against California’s top 3-year-olds in Saturday’s Santa Anita Derby (G1). The nine-furlong event is the West Coast’s major steppingstone t...
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Analysis: Last 10 Kentucky Derby winners and their form at 2
Horse Racing Bloggers | Sid Fernando | 412 days ago
When he won the Grade 1 Florida Derby Saturday, Take Charge Indy became the eighth individual Graded stakes winner of 2012 to exit the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile of last year. Plus several others, including the highly regarded Dullahan, have placed
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Indy Upsets Union Rags, Hero is Made in Louisiana
Thoroughbred Horse Racing Blog | 413 days ago
It had been just over a week since all the sports talk was surrounding the Indianapolis Colts, Peyton Manning and potential first round pick Andrew Luck. Another Indy decided to get the city name back in the spotlight and make headlines of his own. The...
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Hero of Order Pulls Louisiana Derby Shocker
Horse Racing Bloggers | Michael Compton | 413 days ago
Hero of Order surprised a full field of 3-year-olds in Saturday’s 99th running of the $1 million Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds. The son of Sharp Humor, ridden by Eddie Martin Jr., forged to the front around the far turn just in front of fa...
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Gemologist, Street Life Work Toward Wood
Horse Racing Bloggers | Michael Compton | 413 days ago
Undefeated Gemologist and Street Life, both targeting Saturday’s Wood Memorial (G1), worked on Sunday. Gemologist tuned up for the $1 million race at Palm Meadows Training Center, breezing five furlongs in 1:00.44 for trainer Todd Pletcher. “I was ...
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Gulfstream Sets Records on Florida Derby Day
Horse Racing Bloggers | Michael Compton | 413 days ago
Gulfstream Park set attendance and handle marks on Florida Derby day Saturday in Hallandale Beach, Fl. Total handle on Gulfstream’s program, which included seven stakes races worth $1.9 million, including the 61st running of the Florida Derby (G1), w...
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Willa B Awesome Runs to Name in Santa Anita Oaks
Horse Racing Bloggers | Michael Compton | 413 days ago
Willa B Awesome turned the tables on Reneesgotzip and Eden’s Moon in Saturday’s $300,000 Santa Anita Oaks (G1), winning the prestigious race with a well-timed ride from Martin Pedroza. With Pedroza perfectly timing his chestnut filly’s closing bi...
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Grace Hall Rebounds in Gulfstream Oaks
Horse Racing Bloggers | Michael Compton | 413 days ago
Grace Hall rebounded from an upset loss last time out to win the $300,000 Gulfstream Oaks (G2) by a commanding margin at Gulfstream Park on Saturday. Michael Dubb and partners’ 3-year-old daughter of Empire Maker more than atoned for finishing second...
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Take Charge Indy Takes Charge
Horse Racing Bloggers | Michael Compton | 414 days ago
Under a smart ride from Calvin Borel, Take Charge Indy wired Saturday’s Florida Derby (G1) field at Gulfstream Park, upsetting odds-on favorite Union Rags. Borel immediately put Take Charge Indy on the lead at the break. The son of A.P. Indy appeared...
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Monterosso Wins Dubai World Cup for Home Team
Horse Racing Bloggers | Michael Compton | 414 days ago
Monterosso cruised home on Saturday to win the $10 million Dubai World Cup at Meydan for the Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed. Excitable French-based jockey Mickael Barzalona piloted the winner. He stood high in the saddle before even crossing the finish...
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Eden’s Moon Tops Santa Anita Oaks
Horse Racing Bloggers | Michael Compton | 414 days ago
Kaleem Shah’s Eden’s Moon, wire-to-wire winner of the Las Virgenes Stakes (G1) last time out, is the odds-on favorite in today’s 73rd running of the Santa Anita Oaks (G1). The daughter of Malibu Moon has won her last two starts in authoritative f...
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Grace Hall Seeks Redemption
Horse Racing Bloggers | Michael Compton | 414 days ago
Grace Hall lost a narrow decision to Yara last time out in the Davona Dale Stakes (G2), but has been installed as the 4-5 favorite in today’s Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) rematch. Owned by Michael Dubb and partners, the 3-year-old daughter of Empire Mak...
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Derby, Dubai, Zen
Horse Racing Bloggers | Michael Compton | 414 days ago
Spending a spring week in Florida is not a novel idea. A plethora of recreational opportunities, spring training baseball games, and cool beaches on warm days are just a few of the reasons that thousands flock to the area at this time of year. Of cours...
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“Play One for Tim” on Saturday
Horse Racing Bloggers | Michael Compton | 415 days ago
Tim “Tiznow” Reynolds was an avid racing fan who passed away prematurely last year leaving behind a wife and 8-year-old daughter Lauren. ThoroFan set up a Memorial Fund to benefit his daughter Lauren. On Saturday, Heather Sedien will be at Gulfstre...
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News Pending Hoping for Headlines
Horse Racing Bloggers | Michael Compton | 415 days ago
The hopes of Seth Klarman of Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence will be riding on News Pending in today’s $1 million Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park. The dark bay or brown colt will carry the same colors as 2004 Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2...
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History Awaits in Dubai World Cup
Horse Racing Bloggers | Michael Compton | 415 days ago
Game on Dude and Royal Delta carry the U.S. hopes in Saturday’s $10 million Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) at Meydan. Trainer Bill Mott, who will saddle Royal Delta, won the inaugural Dubai World Cup with Cigar in 1996. He can make history once more as Roy...
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Reveron Aims for Second Derby Win
Horse Racing Bloggers | Michael Compton | 415 days ago
Reveron hasn’t received much media attention heading into Saturday’s Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park. But the son of Songandaprayer proved game in winning the Gulfstream Park Derby earlier in the meeting for owner Walter Stipa and trainer Aug...
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Union Rags Fuels Owner’s Dreams
Horse Racing Bloggers | Michael Compton | 416 days ago
Horse racing is about big dreams. Phyllis Wyeth, breeder and owner of Florida Derby (G1) favorite Union Rags, knows all about them. Wyeth shared with Gulfstream Publicity this week a story about a filly she had high hopes for years ago and how that fil...
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2012 Florida Derby Preview – Union Rags and ??
Thoroughbred Horse Racing Blog | 416 days ago
For good reason, the overwhelming favorite in the 2012 Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park this Saturday is Union Rags. He has raced 5 times, with 4 wins and a 2nd place effort which came in the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (Hansen). His one...
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Times expose notwithstanding, troubling figures at NYRA
Horse Racing Bloggers | Sid Fernando | 416 days ago
These are troubling days for the racing industry. After an unusually high number of equine deaths at the Aqueduct winter inner-dirt meet versus the last three seasons, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office got involved and asked the New York Racing...
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Lucky Chappy set for UAE Derby
Horse Racing Bloggers | Michael Compton | 416 days ago
The connections of Lucky Chappy had a welcome uneventful trip to the track at Meydan on Thursday. Preparing for a start in Saturday’s UAE Derby at Meydan, Lucky Chappy galloped without incident on Thursday. The previous day, Lucky Chappy dumped assis...
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Awesome Maria to Defend Rampart Title
Horse Racing Bloggers | , Michael Compton | 416 days ago
Awesome Maria will be seeking her sixth consecutive stakes score on Saturday when she starts as the likely odds-on favorite in the Rampart Stakes (G3) on the Florida Derby card. Owned by Mrs. E. Paul Robsham, Awesome Maria got the best of Eclips...
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Florida Derby Posts Announced
Horse Racing Bloggers | , Michael Compton | 417 days ago
Union Rags drew post position No.6 for Saturday’s $1 million Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park during a draw breakfast at Ten Palms restaurant on the grounds of the racetrack. Winner of the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) in his last start, Uni...
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Dicing and slicing the Times data reveals East Coast is safer
Horse Racing Bloggers | Sid Fernando | 417 days ago
The lengthy New York Times article from March 25 about breakdowns/injuries and the state of the racing industry contained some valuable and interesting data from its analysis of more than 150,000 races from 2009 to 2011. Most revealing was its publicat...
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Dubai World Cup Posts Drawn on Wednesday
Horse Racing Bloggers | Michael Compton | 417 days ago
Post positions were drawn on Wednesday for the $10 million Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) at Meydan in the United Arab Emirates. Likely race favorite So You Think drew post No. 4, while U.S. invaders Royal Delta and Game on Dude, drew posts No. 7 and No. 14,...
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