News

  • Video Road to the Kentucky Derby Risen Star Stakes preview 2.23.2013

  • Video Road to the Kentucky Derby Fountain of Youth preview 2.23.2013

  • Early Nominations to Kentucky Oaks 139, Woodford Reserve Turf Classic Due Saturday

    The early nomination deadline is fast approaching for owners and trainers who are pointing young racing stars in their care to the  139th running of the $1 million-guaranteed Kentucky Oaks (Grade I), America’s premier race for 3-year-old fillies on Friday, May 3 at Churchill Downs.

  • Super Ninety Nine coasts in Southwest

    A drenching rainstorm in the hour before Monday's Grade 3, $300,000 Southwest at Oaklawn Park changed the complexion of the track, but arguably did little to effect the outcome as even-money favorite Super Ninety Nine demolished his nine rivals in the one-mile test.

  • Dreaming of Julia tops short field in Davona Dale

    Only four fillies have signed on to challenge Grade 1 Frizette heroine Dreaming of Julia in Saturday's Grade 2, $250,000 Davona Dale on the Fountain of Youth undercard at Gulfstream Park. As with the Fountain of Youth for the Kentucky Derby hopefuls, the Davona Dale is part of the next stage on the new scoring system for the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks, with the winner now receiving 50 points.

  • Unlimited Budget returns to action in Rachel Alexandra

    Unlimited Budget, who knocked out two wins in the span of 15 days last November, including the Grade 2 Demoiselle, will kick off her sophomore season in the Grade 3, $200,000 Rachel Alexandra on Saturday at Fair Grounds. The 1 1/16-mile test is a stepping stone to the Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks.

  • Normandy Invasion, Oxbow square off in Risen Star

    Oxbow was virtually untouchable in the Grade 3 Lecomte at Fair Grounds on January 19, winning as he pleased by 11 1/2 lengths, but more than likely will have to play second fiddle to Normandy Invasion in the wagering for Saturday's Grade 2, $400,000 Risen Star at the New Orleans track.

    The top local prep for the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby, the 1 1/16-mile Risen Star attracted an overflow field of 15, with a maximum 14 allowed to start.

  • Violence to face 10 challengers in Fountain of Youth

    Violence, a perfect three-for-three so far, looks to enhance his Kentucky Derby credentials in Saturday's Grade 2, $400,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park. The 1 1/16-mile test ushers in the next stage of the new scoring system for the Run for the Roses, the "Kentucky Derby Championship Series," offering a 50-point windfall to the winner.

  • Shakin It Up gives Baffert his eighth San Vicente

    Mike Pegram and Dennis Cardoza's Shakin It Up sliced between foes and drove to a one-length decision in Sunday's Grade 2, $150,250 San Vicente at Santa Anita, handing Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert his eighth victory in the seven-furlong affair for sophomores. At the same time, the Triple Crown nominee became the first graded winner sired by champion sprinter Midnight Lute, himself a former Baffert trainee.

  • Palace Malice fires bullet for Risen Star

    Dogwood Stable's Palace Malice breezed a co-bullet five furlongs in 1:00 1/5 at South Florida's Palm Meadows Training Center Sunday morning in preparation for his upcoming appearance in Saturday's Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds. The Todd Pletcher trainee worked in company with highly-regarded stablemate Violence, who posted the exact same time ahead of Saturday's Grade 2 Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park.

  • Post will determine if Cerro runs in Fountain of Youth

    Team Valor International's Cerro breezed five furlongs in 1:01 2/5 over Palm Meadows's fast dirt on Sunday in preparation for a likely start in the Grade 2, $400,000 Fountain of Youth going 1 1/16 miles on Saturday at Gulfstream Park. With exercise rider David Nava up, Cerro worked in company with Went the Day Well, who clocked the same time.

  • Florida Derby hopeful Itsmyluckyday doing well; Speak Logistics joins FOY lineup

    Trainer Eddie Plesa Jr. reported that all is well with Itsmyluckyday as the Gulfstream Park Derby and Grade 3 Holy Bull winner awaits the Grade 1, $1 million Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park on March 30.

    Campaigned by by Plesa's wife, Laurie, and Trilogy Stables, the Lawyer Ron colt produced a stunning two-length victory over previously undefeated Eclipse champion Shanghai Bobby in the Holy Bull on January 26. Prior to that, Itsmyluckyday won the one-mile Gulfstream Park Derby by 6 3/4 lengths on New Year's Day, earning a stellar 111 BRIS Speed rating for the effort.

  • Pletcher team breeze for next engagements

    Undefeated Violence breezed five furlongs in a co-bullet 1:00 1/5 over Palm Meadows Training Center's fast dirt on Sunday in preparation for a scheduled start in the Grade 2, $400,000 Fountain of Youth on Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

    "Outstanding. I'm very, very pleased with his work. He galloped out strongly, came back well. He's ready to go," trainer Todd Pletcher said.

    Exercise rider Norman Bush was aboard Violence, who worked head and head in company with Palace Malice, who was also timed in 1:00 1/5, the co-fastest clocking of 40 recorded at the distance.

  • Dice Flavor runs away with El Camino Real Derby

    Dice Flavor burst between opponents in midstretch and drew off to a convincing 3 3/4-length victory in Saturday's Grade 3, $200,000 El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields.

  • Orb could join Fountain of Youth fray

    Recent allowance winner Orb will likely run in next Saturday's Grade 2 Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park, providing that he pleases trainer Shug McGaughey in a workout scheduled for Monday.

    "I'm looking towards it. I'm going to work him on Monday and make up my mind," McGaughey said. "I'm leaning that way, because there's nowhere else to run him."

  • Super Ninety Nine, Will Take Charge clash in Southwest

    Bob Baffert has won six of the last nine graded events for three-year-olds at Oaklawn Park, including a sweep of the Grade 3 Southwest, Grade 2 Rebel and Grade 1 Arkansas Derby last year, and the Hall of Famer will be represented in Monday's $300,000 Southwest by Super Ninety Nine, who exits a sharp 3 1/4-length score over allowance/optional claiming rivals at Santa Anita. The colt's main opposition, Smarty Jones winner Will Take Charge, resides in the barn of another Hall of Fame trainer, D. Wayne Lukas.

  • Live Lively, Lady Banks aim for Davona Dale

    Lee Lewis' three-year-old filly Live Lively was very impressive winning a seven-furlong allowance race at Gulfstream Park on New Year's Day by 11 1/4 lengths for trainer Mark Hennig and is on target to make her stakes debut and first start around two turns in the Grade 2 Davona Dale Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on February 23.

    "It's a big test for her with the step up in class and first start going a distance," Hennig said Friday morning from Palm Meadows.

  • Majestic Hussar to stretch out in Fountain of Youth

    Joseph Witek's three-year-old Kentucky homebred colt Majestic Hussar has run well in two allowance starts sprinting at Gulfstream Park this winter for trainer Eddie Kenneally, and is set to face his biggest challenge yet when he tries two turns for the first time in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on February 23.

  • Normandy Invasion on course for Risen Star

    Speaking over the phone from South Florida Thursday morning, trainer Chad Brown confirmed that Normandy Invasion would be coming to New Orleans for the Grade 2 Risen Star at Fair Grounds on February 23.

    "We're planning on it," Brown said of the 1 1/16-mile Risen Star, Fair Grounds' designed prep for the 100th running of the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby on March 30.

  • Video Road to the Kentucky Derby, Southwest Stakes preview 2.18.13