BloodHorse.com - News

Summer Bird Breezes at Monmouth for Haskell

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 18:14:44 GMT

Summer Bird, winner of the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) in his last effort, breezed five furlongs in 1:01 4/5 the morning of July 12 at Monmouth Park.

Black Tie Affair Pensioned

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 14:26:15 GMT

Black Tie Affair, 1991 Horse of the Year, has been pensioned at Randy Funkhouser's O'Sullivan Farms near Charles Town, W.Va.

Tuscan Evening Keeps Winning in Royal Heroine

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 01:48:40 GMT

Tuscan Evening had the pacesetting Patricia's Gem in her sights all the way, finally edging past her in the final 50 yards and winning a sprint to the wire by a nose in the $250,000 Royal Heroine Mile (gr. IIT) on the Hollywood Park turf July 11.

Arlington 'Cap Ends Great for Just as Well

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 23:36:01 GMT

Just As Well, knocking on the door in his last two starts, broke through with his first graded stakes score in the $200,000 Arlington Handicap (gr. IIIT) on the turf July 12.

No 'Bull' Here; Eaton's Gift Earns Smile

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 22:32:42 GMT

Eaton's Gift seized the lead inside the eighth pole and held off 1-2 favorite Benny the Bull by 1 1/2 lengths in the $350,000 Smile Sprint Handicap (gr. II) on Summit of Speed day at Calder Race Course July 11.

Atomic Rain Wins Long Branch; Papa Clem Third

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 22:26:54 GMT

Atomic Rain waited patiently early before moving wide for the drive and sailing to a 4 3/4-length win in the July 11 Long Branch Stakes, the traditional prep for Monmouth Park's Haskell Invitational (gr. I) Aug. 2.

Points of Grace Wins Dance Smartly at 13-1

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 22:15:05 GMT

Points of Grace became a graded stakes winner when she captured the $300,000 Dance Smartly Stakes (Can-II) at Woodbine July 11.

Game Face Rolls to Princess Rooney Romp

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 21:22:18 GMT

Game Face rebounded from a disappointing effort last out by romping to a 6 3/4-length score in the $350,000 Princess Rooney Handicap (gr. I) July 11 at Calder Race Course. As part of the Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" series, the victory earned the filly an automatic berth in the Sentient Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint Nov. 6 at Santa Anita Park.

Reb Roars From Last to Win American Derby

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 21:09:31 GMT

Last at the sixteenth pole, Reb unleashed a furious drive under jockey Julien Leparoux to nail No Inflation at the wire to win Arlington Park's $300,000 American Derby by a head in his stakes debut July 11.

First Passage Finds Way in Calder's Azalea

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 20:36:47 GMT

Andrew Rosen's First Passage won her third in a row and became a graded stakes winner in the process as she took over from pacesetter Kays and Jays in the stretch and went on to win the $200,000 Azalea (gr. III) by three-quarters of a length July 11 at Calder Race Course.

Gio Ponti Scores Third Straight gr. I

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 20:26:48 GMT

Castleton Lyons' Gio Ponti notched his third consecutive grade I win when he came from off the pace to take the $500,000 Man o' War Stakes at Belmont Park July 11. The 4-year-old son of Tale of the Cat won for the fourth time in five starts on Belmont's turf course.

Pure Clan Shows Class in Modesty Score

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 19:42:57 GMT

Lewis Lakin's homebred Pure Clan, making just her second start of the season, overtook pacesetter Tizaqueena in upper stretch and sailed to the wire for a 2 1/2-length victory in the $200,000 Modesty Handicap (gr. IIIT) July 11 on the Arlington Park turf.

Marina Ballerina Out of Princess Rooney

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 17:22:59 GMT

Trainer Kirk Ziadie scratched Robert Pastor's 5-year-old mare Marina Ballerina from today's $350,000 Princess Rooney Handicap (gr. I) this morning, citing a possible oncoming illness.

Stallion Lawyer Ron Euthanized

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 16:19:37 GMT

Lawyer Ron, the 2007 champion older male, was euthanized July 10 at Stonewall Farm Stallions near Versailles, Ky., due to complications from a recent colic surgery.

New York VLT Process Back on Track

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 15:11:46 GMT

The end of a nasty legislative coup in New York has put the process back on track for selecting a developer for the long-stalled Aqueduct racetrack casino.

Godolphin Gearing Up for Big Second Half

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 01:35:23 GMT

A walk down the Godolphin shedrow at Belmont Park reveals a "Who's Who" of major stakes horses, many of whom are just coming back off layoffs and getting ready for the Saratoga meet.

Douglas Update: Spirits High, Progress Slow

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 23:49:48 GMT

Rene Douglas, who was seriously injured in a May 23 riding mishap at Arlington Park in Illinois, continues to undergo rehabilitation following his injury.

Belmont Jockeys Testing Padded Crops

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 22:43:19 GMT

Jockeys at Belmont Park this week began testing padded crops designed to be gentler on horses, according to a press rlease issued by the New York Racing Association July 10. The goal is to fully implement the new equipment by the start of the six-week Saratoga meeting on July 29.

SITA Will Clarify Policy on Aged Mares

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 22:32:08 GMT

The Society of International Thoroughbred Auctioneers (SITA) will clarify its policy on aged broodmares during its next meeting, according to a press release issued by the organization on July 10. Based on comments by Fasig-Tipton and Keeneland officials, there was confusion about the portion of the policy that addresses broodmares 18 years of age and older and whether the ban recommended by SITA concerns all broodmares of that age or only broodmares of that age that are not in foal.

OH Tracks to Get VLTs, But What About Purses?

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 20:45:43 GMT

Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland said July 10 he will sign an executive order authorizing video lottery terminals at Ohio's seven racetracks, but questions remain as to how much revenue -- if any -- purses and breed development will receive.

Breeders' Cup Changes Hinge on Strategic Plan

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 20:08:44 GMT

The future format of the Breeders' Cup World Championships and Challenge Series hinges on a plan that will be developed in the next six months, officials said July 11.

Fleeting Spirit Soars to Victory in July Cup

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 19:49:16 GMT

Fleeting Spirit had to survive a stewards' inquiry before she was awarded her first group I victory, taking the Darley July Cup (Eng-I) at Newmarket July 10.

Borel, Hayward, Campo to Preview Saratoga

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 19:02:19 GMT

Jockey Calvin Borel, who rode the winners of this year's Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) and the BlackBerry Preakness Stakes (gr. I), will be a member of the Saratoga Preview panel on Monday, July 27 at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.

Enhancements to Cal-Bred Program Unveiled

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 18:42:58 GMT

The California Thoroughbred Breeders Association announced that enhancements to the California-bred incentive and racing program will begin in late September during the Oak Tree Racing Association meet at Santa Anita and the California Authority of Racing Fairs meet at Golden Gate Fields.

Saratoga Open House on July 26

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 18:05:04 GMT

The 29th annual open house at Saratoga, scheduled for Sunday, July 26, will include five races -- four steeplechase races and one turf race -- presented by the National Steeplechase Association.