Hoofbeats

Count Fleet, Sham highlight Saturday action

2012-01-06T17:37:00.000-08:00

The first Saturday of 2012 features a pair of early-season Triple Crown preps on opposite coasts.

The series of New York races leading up to the classics gets underway with the Count Fleet Stakes at a mile and 70 yards at Aqueduct. With the purse rising from $65,000 to $150,000, the event has attracted a solid field, led by Alpha and Stephanoatsee.

Alpha, trained by Kiaran McLaughlin for Goldolphin, was an impressive maiden winner at Saratoga before running second in the Champagne. He left his race in the starting gate when 11th in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. The son of Bernardini is a major player if he arrives in top mental form here.

Stephanoatsee is a half-brother to three graded winners, including Preakness hero Shackleford and Alabama winner Lady Joanne. Trained by Graham Motion, the son of AP Indy, who broke his maiden at Laurel last fall, was seven in the Remsen last November, but was victimized by a slow pace.

New York’s prep series continues with the $200,000 Withers (G3) on Feb. 4, the $400,000 Gotham (G3) on March 3 and the $1 million Wood Memorial (G1) April 7. It will be fascinating to see how the fields shape up with these increased purses.

Meanwhile, Santa Anita cards the Grade 3 Sham Stakes, featuring the 3-year-old debut of Secret Circle. The son of Eddington went 3-for-3 in 2011, capping his season with a victory in the inaugural Breeders' Cup Juvenile Sprint. However, the one-mile Sham marks his first start beyond six furlongs - a clear turning point for the colt, owned by Mike Pegram and trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert.

Hierro, an impressive maiden winner at the Churchill Downs fall meet for Steve Asmussen, makes his stakes debut here. The colt is by Hard Spun, one of the top freshman sires of 2011.

Eclipse finalists announced

2012-01-05T15:14:00.000-08:00

The finalists for the Eclipse Awards, honoring accomplishments during the 2011 racing season, were released on Thursday.

2-year-old male
Creative Cause
Hansen
Union Rags

2-year-old female
Grace Hall
My Miss Aurelia
Stephanie’s Kitten

3-year-old male
Animal Kingdom
Caleb’s Posse
Shackleford

3-year-old female
It’s Tricky
Plum Pretty
Royal Delta

Older male
Acclamation
Game On Dude
Tizway

Older female
Awesome Maria
Blind Luck
Havre de Grace

Male sprinter
Amazombie
Caleb’s Posse
Regally Ready

Female sprinter
Hilda’s Passion
Musical Romance
Sassy Image

Male turf
Acclamation
Cape Blanco
St Nicholas Abbey

Female turf
Dubawi Heights
Perfect Shirl
Stacelita

Steeplechase
Black Jack Blues
Decoy Daddy
Tax Ruling

Owner
Midwest Thoroughbreds
Ken and Sarah Ramsey
Team Valor

Breeders
Adena Springs
Brereton Jones
Ken and Sarah Ramsey

Trainer
Bob Baffert
Bill Mott
Todd Pletcher

Jockey
Javier Castellano
Ramon Dominguez
John Velazquez

Apprentice jockey
Ryan Curatolo
Kyle Frey
Rosario Montanez

The biggest surprise, in my book, is that Animal Kingdom was named a finalist among 3-year-old males, rather than Stay Thirsty. In a season when the division was all over the place, Animal Kingdom’s powerful Kentucky Derby victory and hard-charging Preakness runner-up effort obviously continue to resonate with voters, even though the colt wasn’t able to compete past June. Stay Thirsty, despite faltering in some of the season’s major races, put together a yearlong campaign with a number of notable wins.

Let’s look at the resumes side by side:

Animal Kingdom
Won: Kentucky Derby (G1), Spiral Stakes (G3)
Second: Preakness Stakes (G1), allowance/optional
Season record: 5-2-2-0, $1,904,900

Stay Thirsty
Won: Travers Stakes (G1), Jim Dandy Stakes (G2), Gotham Stakes (G3)
Second: Belmont Stakes (G1)
Third: Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1)
Season record: 8-3-1-1, $1,325,000

Stay Thirsty’s unplaced efforts in the Derby and Classic, and his lack of a win outside New York, likely would cost him the divisional title; Caleb’s Posse and Shackleford are the clear frontrunners for the award. Still, one would think that this colt deserved to be a finalist. He picked up three Grade 1 wins or placings — including one against older horses — compared to two in the division for Animal Kingdom. He also has five total graded wins or placings to his rival’s three.

The Eclipse Awards will be presented Jan. 16 in a ceremony in Beverly Hills, Calif.

One horse who we already know is being honored at the awards dinner is Rapid Redux, the most famous starter allowance runner in America. The gelding, who notched an incredible 22nd consecutive win on Wednesday at Laurel, will be presented with the Special Eclipse Award – an honor that’s bestowed when a horse’s accomplishments fall outside the usual parameters for the divisional awards. Rapid Redux scored 19 consecutive victories in 2011, tying a record for calendar-year wins.

Reveron rings in 2012 with stakes win

2012-01-04T20:23:00.000-08:00

Greetings and a belated Happy New Year from my corner of The Saratogian's newsroom!

One of my New Year's resolutions was to blog more - and fortunately, Gulfstream Park gave me the perfect opportunity to do so by staging the first running of the Gulfstream Park Derby on New Year's Day.

For the uninitiated, all Thoroughbreds officially turn a year older on Jan. 1, regardless of their actual date of foaling. The Gulfstream Park Derby was open to the newly-turned 3-year-olds of 2012 who are taking their first steps on the road to this year's Kentucky Derby.

The mile-and-a-sixteenth event was won by Reveron, who was making his first start around two turns after posting back-to-back wins at Calder. The colt, who hasn't missed the board in five starts, is by the speedy Songandaprayer, a graded winner best known for running the fastest opening half-mile in Kentucky Derby history before backing up to finish unplaced in 2001. However, Reveron does get a dose of stamina from his female family. Presumably, he'll continue down Florida's series of Triple Crown preps, meaning we'll get to see him against tougher competition and at longer distances.

Finishing second in his stakes debut was Casual Trick, who was an impressive maiden winner at Churchill Downs last fall for Hall of Famer Nick Zito.

As we turn our attention to this 3-year-old crop, make sure to go back and read columnist Michael Veitch's first ranking of the Triple Crown contenders, which was published Sunday. My top 10 list will be out in Thursday's edition of The Saratogian.

Rising Stars: Union Rags and My Miss Aurelia

2011-10-12T23:01:00.001-07:00

Belmont Park hosted a pair of Grade 1 events for juveniles on Saturday, and, befitting the stature of the events, both were won by promising runners who are stars on the rise. Union Rags overcame an eventful trip to win by better than five lengths going away in the Champagne, contested for the 141st time Saturday. A little earlier, My Miss Aurelia drew off to a dominant win in the Frizette for fillies.

Both 2-year-olds are now 3-for-3 lifetime, including graded wins this past summer at Saratoga. My Miss Aurelia was victorious in the Grade 2 Adirondack, while Union Rags won the Grade 2 Saratoga Special a day later.

Read more about these two exciting young horses in today's Rising Stars column.

Tizway works at Belmont

2011-10-12T08:41:00.001-07:00

Horse of the Year candidate Tizway, winner of the Whitney Handicap this summer at Saratoga, took a little road trip Wednesday morning, shipping to Belmont to work a mile as he continues to prepare for the Breeders' Cup Classic.

The son of two-time Classic winner Tiznow went the mile in 1:38.47 under exercise rider Andreas Catalan.

Tizway will come into the Classic off nearly a three-month layoff after being forced to miss the Jockey Club Gold Cup with a fever. The horse has been training regularly over Saratoga's Oklahoma Training Track, but trainer Jim Bond wanted a better gauge of where he was at in his preparation. So he took him to Belmont, where Tizway won the Metropolitan Mile in near-record time.

Tizway will return to Saratoga tomorrow and will have his final work here eight or nine days before the Classic.

Live blog for Travers Day

2011-08-27T07:54:00.000-07:00

Welcome to our live blog for Travers Day! For live race results and other breaking information, follow us on Twitter (@thepinksheet) or visit Saratogian.com.

2:55 p.m.: With just under three hours to go til the Travers, it looks like we WILL beat the rain out! Some clouds, and it's muggy out, but still pretty bright outside. Track fast (and perhaps favoring speed), turf firm.

The field for our first stakes, the Ballston Spa, is about to head to the paddock. Will be going down with them. Keep an eye on Twitter for race results and photos, as well as stake recaps on Saratogian.com as soon as they're official.

1:14 p.m.: So strange that we are four races into the card and we'd typically only have one race down by now! Chad Brown just won the fourth race on the card with Good Prospect. Don't forget, Brown starts his first Travers runner today.

12:01 p.m.: Won't be difficult to spot Mike Repole (who starts King's Bishop favorite Uncle Mo and Travers favorite Stay Thirsty) today. Most of the friends and family in his entourage are sporting the blue-and-orange colors of his stable. The interesting accessories spotted so far include fedoras, feathered fascinators, ties, and dress shoes.

11:40 a.m.: Pretty Boy Freud just triggered a $102.50 payoff in the opener. Hello!

10:32 a.m.: The press office just reported that no decision has been made yet on the status of tomorrow's race card. An announcement is expected before the end of today's program. Simulcasting at Belmont and Aqueduct has been cancelled.

10:11 a.m.: Uncle Mo's maiden victory is replaying on the infield toteboard.

7:30 a.m.: Here's the scene as the sun rose over the Spa this morning:

We also witnessed a Travers tradition - the mad dash of patrons through the gates to secure picnic tables. It's horse racing's version of Black Friday. The crowd stretched around the corner when I turned into the Union Avenue gate this morning at 6 a.m. At precisely 7, standing on the roof, a roar became audible from the direction of the gates, followed by the sight of hundreds of fans running through the trees. Said photographer and Saratogian blogger Adam Mooshian: "Now I know how Custer felt."

2:35 a.m.: All horses are on the grounds after Belmont Stakes winner Ruler On Ice arrived after an uneventful van ride from Monmouth Park in New Jersey. Arriving just under the wire for a race is nothing new to this gelding - he shipped to Belmont Park the morning of the race and was on a van back to New Jersey less than two hours after crossing the finish line. Saratoga will be the eighth track he's competed over in nine starts.

Happy Travers Day!

Live blog for Whitney Day (August 6)

2011-08-06T09:54:00.001-07:00

4:05 p.m.: The seventh race is getting set to go off, and then the eighth through 10th races are our stakes for the day. I'll be heading downstairs to the paddock and rail for stakes coverage - and for obvious reasons, will not be taking the laptop down with me! You can follow our live coverage (including photos) on Twitter, and I'll be back as soon as the Whitney is over to provide more analysis.

3:58 p.m.: Uh-oh. A few raindrops starting to fall. And the track has just been sealed, meaning management could expect more weather on the way.

2:40 p.m.: Some fascinating pedigrees coming up in the day's fifth race. Gyre is by Bernardini and out of champion filly Bird Town, a half to Birdstone. Another Bernardini colt, Bayamo, is out of Banshee Winds, making him a half-brother to champion filly Banshee Breeze. The Unbridled's Song gelding Dream Steeler is out of Pilfer, making him a half to multiple graded winner To Honor And Serve.

2:20 p.m.: A good day for the locals so far. Cheyenne Nation, trained by Mechanicville native Chad Brown, won the day's first race. Currency Swap, trained by Terri Pompay of Saratoga, won the third race.

1:30 p.m.: Some good news on Bearpath, who was vanned off after yesterday's John's Call Stakes. The horse has a broken humerus and is currently comfortable on stall rest. It's not a good injury by any means, but his connections are taking it day by day. "I have no doubt he's gonna make it," jockey Freddie Lenclud posted on Facebook.

12:54 p.m.: Hello racing fans, and welcome to Whitney Day at the Spa. A field of 11 runners - 10 of them being graded winners - are set to go postward in today's marquee race later, with the winner likely to assume command of the handicap division. The big question mark is the weather. So far, the rain is holding off, but the sky is gray and the air is damp and muggy. Several of the trainers, including Jim Bond, who handles Met Mile winner Tizway, have expressed concerns about a wet track.

We took a closer look at the Whitney in today's Pink Sheet Insider:

Today's 11-race card also includes the Grade 1 Test for filly sprinters and the De La Rose for females on the turf.

We'll be live all day....as a reminder, you can also follow us on Twitter for live race results.

Live blog for Travers prep weekend (July 29-31)

2011-07-29T08:30:00.000-07:00

Saturday

2:41 p.m.: Giant Surprise was lame in his right front and was vanned back to the barn. Walked onto and off of the van under his own power. Diagnostics are currently being worked on back at the barn. NYRA communications staff says that since Pletcher's private vets are the ones doing the diagnostics, NYRA won't have any further statements; any information will have to come from Pletcher or Repole.

2:11 p.m.: A very, very fit Wine Police made a terrific impression while schooling in the paddock for the second time this week. He goes in Monday's Amsterdam.

1:40 p.m.: Trainer Todd Pletcher and owner Mike Repole just scored in the second race with the regally-bred juvenile Giant Surprise. Start of a good day, perhaps? They'll send out Stay Thirsty in the Jim Dandy later.

Update: Well, maybe not a great day. Giant Surprise pulled up on the clubhouse turn and was vanned off the course without coming back to the winner's circle. He did walk onto the ambulance under his own power. Will provide more as it becomes available.

12:50 p.m.: After yesterday's deluge, the sun is shining and the crowd is growing at Saratoga as we welcome you back for today's marquee card - featuring the Grade 2 Jim Dandy, the local Travers prep, and the Grade 1 Diana. The track is rated fast and the turf is good.
We took an inside look at the Jim Dandy and Mike Veitch broke down the race's history on today's Pink Sheet Insider.
Another reminder that today's two graded stakes will be nationally televised on Versus.

Friday

6:08 p.m.: Turbo Compressor led wire-to-wire to post the win in the Curlin - giving trainer Todd Pletcher two starters for the Travers, assuming Stay Thirsty emerges from tomorrow's Travers in good order.

They got the feature off before the worst of the rain came down. Pouring so hard now and so dark that, sitting in the press box, we can hardly see across the track to the backstretch.

4:59 p.m: Getting darker at Saratoga, prompting accelerated post times in hopes of beating the worst of the weather. Next race now set to go off at 5:09, as opposed to 5:15.

3:45 p.m.: Convocation, trained by Jimmy Jerkens, dueled early with Ice Box (!!!) before pulling away late to score an easy win in the third race, an allowance featuring several stakes-seasoned competitors. The Woodward could be next.

Ice Box, the 2010 Derby runner-up, was returning from a layoff of over nine months and looking for his first win since last year's Florida Derby. The colt, who was on the muscle in the paddock, showed uncharacteristic speed early, prompting loud exclamations from several onlookers at the rail. Even track announcer Tom Durkin noted that the colt has probably never seen the lead in his life, as the late closer "usually runs the first quarter in about :27." The colt faded late to finish third. Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito was pleased the colt showed some speed; the effort seems to set Ice Box up for success later this year.

3:30 p.m.: Bill Mott indeed made it a happy birthday, sending out Reach A Decision to win the second race at a big price.

2:41 p.m.: Another note on the second race. Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott turns 58 today. He's won a race on his birthday at the Spa 12 times in the last 19 years. Twice, the day day fell on this birthday. The first of Mott's three starters, Reach A Decision, goes out in the second.

2:35 p.m.: Some very interesting pedigrees to be found today, beginning in today's second race.

Imaging is out of the Danzig mare Gaze, making him a half brother to graded winner Air Support. Out of the Damascus mare Laughing Look, Gaze is a half sister to Travers winner Coronado's Quest and stakes winners Warning Glance and Military Look. The next dam, Laughter, produced Grade 1 winner and top sire Private Terms, along with a few other stakes winners. Laughter's dam, the Native Dancer mare Shenanigans, is best known for producing the great Ruffian, considered by many to be the best filly of all time. Shenanigans also produced Icecapade, sire of inaugural Breeders' Cup Classic winner Wild Again.

2:08 p.m.: Up here getting set for our first race of the day, and we're expecting rain to begin falling in earnest around 3 p.m. Some sprinkles currently.

A little bit of news on the breeding end of the game. Word is circulating that WinStar Farm has bought an interest in Pauls Mill Farm stallions Summer Bird, Bellamy Road, Artie Schiller and US Ranger and will be relocating them to WinStar. Not much of a stretch to imagine this deal - Pauls Mill operator Ben Walden is the brother of WinStar president and racing manager Elliott Walden. Summer Bird, of course, won the Belmont, Travers and Gold Cup to lock up an Eclipse in 2009. Bellamy Road is the sire of two Saratoga graded winners - Position Limit (2010 Adirondack) and Georgie's Angel (2011 Schuylerville). Really a boost for WinStar to lock up these nice young sires.

11:30 a.m.: Welcome to a super-sized edition of the Hoofbeats live blog, bringing you all the updates from July 29-31: the big weekend of Travers preps.
This evening, Saratoga cards the Curlin Stakes, a nine-furlong affair that features some interesting 3-year-olds who haven't quite cracked the big time yet. Tomorrow afternoon is the local prep, the Grade 2 Jim Dandy, featuring the Belmont second and third-place finishers, Stay Thirsty and Brilliant Speed. And Sunday, we'll update you on the Grade 1 Haskell down at Monmouth, where Preakness winner Shackleford clashes with Belmont winner Ruler on Ice.
With the race for the 3-year-old championship still wide open, this weekend will go a long way toward sorting out the Travers picture, as well as helping to determine the front-runners for the title.
In between, we've got some other great racing happening at Saratoga, with three other graded stakes from the Spa on tap: The Grade 1 Diana, Grade 1 Ruffian and Grade 2 Fourstardave.
Today, Friday, is the first of Saratoga's two twilight racing cards. First post is 2:30 p.m., and the weather has turned threatening. The forecast calls for thunderstorms this afternoon and into tomorrow, turning a wide-open weekend of racing even more in flux.
Check in in a few hours from the press box! In the meantime, don't forget to check out today's Pink Sheet Insider for more on the Curlin.

Live blog for CCA Oaks Day (Saturday, July 23)

2011-07-23T10:00:00.000-07:00

5:14 p.m.: Versus has started their broadcast, and we are about half an hour from an outstanding edition of the CCA Oaks! I am heading down to the paddock for the race. I will be unable to update this blog during that time - but check out our Twitter feed (@thepinksheet), as I'll be posting live photos there.

4:31 p.m.: Here's NBC gearing up for their broadcast (on Versus) of the CCA Oaks:

4:20 p.m.: So much for pedigree handicapping! In the fifth race, Dynafortwo won. Gold Trader was fifth. Unbridled Ocean dropped his rider during the warmup, jumped the rail on the backstretch and ran off into the stabling area. He was safely apprehended and returned to his barn. In the sixth, Tahoe Lake made a dazzling late move up the rail, just missing pacesetter Capital Market by a whisker - about as close as you can get to a dead heat. Liston was sixth, Quiet Account ninth and Arnell 10th. In the seventh race, R King of the Road set a wicked early pace but still opened up down the lane to win easily. Birdway was third, with Fact and Next Page both unplaced.

Pardon the fact that some of the photos are facing in an incorrect direction - Blogger is acting up on me. If anyone has any tech tips, leave a comment!

(Gold Trader, whose dam, Educated Risk, is a half sibling to Hall of Famer Inside Information)

(Arnell, a half sibling to Eclipse champion Stevie Wonderboy)

(Fact, by AP Indy out of Grade 1 winner Sharp Cat)

(R King of the Road wins the seventh)

3:39 p.m.: Corey Nakatani is off his mounts for the rest of the day citing dizziness; possibly due to the heat.

2:24 p.m.: Some very interesting pedigrees coming up in the next few races...

Fifth race: The Phipps Stables' Gold Trader is out of multiple Grade 1 winner and stakes producer Educated Risk. That mare is a half-sister to Hall of Famer and Eclipse champion Inside Information, as well as stakes-placed stakes-producer Hidden Reserve. Unbridled Ocean is out of the multiple stakes winner Ocean Drive, a half-sister to the classy and consistent Sun King.

Sixth race: Liston, by Storm Cat, is out of Rings a Chime, a Grade 1 winner who produced Grade 1 winner Country Star. Arnell, out of Heat Lightning, is a half sibling to Eclipse champion Stevie Wonderboy. Clear Attempt, by AP Indy, is out of Grade 1 winner Silent Sighs.

Seventh race: Darley Stables' Fact is by AP Indy, out of multiple Grade 1 winner Sharp Cat. Entrymate Next Page is out of Jinni, a stakes-placed daughter of Breeders' Cup Distaff winner Ajina. Birdway, who goes out for Marylou Whitney and Nick Zito, is out of Bird Harbor, a granddaughter of Dear Birdie; that mare produced Belmont and Travers winner Birdstone and Kentucky Oaks and Alabama winner Bird Town.

2:19 p.m.: Bob Baffert and Martin Garcia, hoping to win the CCA Oaks with Plum Pretty later on, got their day off to a good start, winning the third race with Saddleranch.

1:49 p.m.: Sad news. Was just announced in the press box that Rockettes Escapade suffered a condylar fracture of her right hind ankle and was euthanized. Thoughts go out to her connections....

1:41 p.m.: Laurie's Rocket wore down Whinston - who set a blistering early pace - to win the day's second race, a classy maiden special weight event.

Also, a belated note: Mechanicville native Chad Brown, who struggled yesterday, sent out his first winner of the meet, Deanaallen'skitten, in the day's first race.

(Laurie's Rocket coasts by for the win)

1:05 p.m.: Welcome to the first Saturday of the 2011 Saratoga meet! Of course, that means the meet's first Grade 1, the Coaching Club American Oaks. A small but incredibly strong field has lined up for the historic event: Kentucky Oaks winner Plum Pretty; Grade 1 winners It's Tricky and Buster's Ready; and graded winners Joyful Victory and Royal Delta. We previewed the Coaching Club on today's Pink Sheet Insider, and Mike Veitch takes a closer look at It's Tricky in the Pink Sheet today. You can also "fan" us on Facebook to weigh in on our poll with your pick.

NBC Sports is on hand to broadcast on Versus; the banners are hanging near the finish line and their set is stationed on the clubhouse turn. Will be great to see the Spa back in the spotlight. Beautiful sunny day; some rain fell overnight, so cooler than yesterday; and definitely not as much humidity.

Unfortunately, we started the day on a sour note. In the first race, Rockettes Escapade, trained by Bill Mott, went wide on both turns, and appeared to take a funny step on the second turn. Have not seen a clear reply myself yet, so can't speculate any more than that. She was stopped nearly immediately by Johnny Velazquez and walked onto the ambulance under her own power. Will keep you updated as I hear more. Thinking of Rockettes Escapade, and here's hoping everyone else has a safe trip today.

Live blog for Opening Day (Friday, July 22)

2011-07-22T09:26:00.000-07:00

7:04 p.m.: Sitting in the press box as the sun starts to go down, wrapping up a great first day at the Spa. A few quick notes:

--The heat was not as bad as some were anticipating. There were a few horses who clearly weren't happy; we had a few instances of runners wanting no part of exerting themselves and being outdistanced by the field. But plenty of cooling stations (hoses, ice, etc) were set up; vets were on hand monitoring the activity; most trainers chose to saddle in the paddock stalls in the shade rather than under the trees; and post parades were shortened. Happily, there were no catastrophic incidents involving the weather.

--It was fun to watch the NBC crews setting up their equipment and shooting b-roll. Tomorrow's Coaching Club American Oaks broadcast on Versus marks the first time since the 2009 Travers that a Saratoga race will be televised nationally; the network is producing eight (!!) shows from the track this year. Spotted: commentator Tom Hammond and Hall of Fame rider Gary Stevens doing a set/sound check on the clubhouse turn.

--Julien Leparoux pulled off a double on Opening Day.

--Mechanicville native Chad Brown's day was a comedy of errors. Not only was he shut out with several live horses, he also had two runners claimed from him.

Stakes recap: New York Yankee fans rejoice! Georgie's Angel - named for the late team owner - gave last year's leaders, Todd Pletcher and Johnny Velazquez, their first winner of the year in the Grade 3 Schuylerville.

(Georgie's Angel prior to her win)

In the listed James Marvin - which drew a graded-quality field - the gritty Jackson Bend scored his first win in nearly two years.

(Jackson Bend wins the James Marvin)

2:43 p.m.: And it's a good-looking return for Valiant Passion - in her first start for trainer Graham Motion - drawing away late for the score under a hand ride.

2:37 p.m.: Some familiar faces from Saratoga running here today. Stand Proud was the horse Javier Castellano rode to notch his fifth consecutive winner on the July 25, 2010 card. They teamed up again but finished off the board in the third race. Valiant Passion, who broke her maiden here in impressive fashion a year ago, is making her first start of the year in the fourth race - with one minute to post.

2:16 p.m.: We are three races in and so far, knock on wood, no real problems for the horses or riders in the heat.

A quick note - some new stuff has been done to the toteboards in the infield. Larger numbers, brighter colors, no missing bulbs. Much easier to read.

12:27 p.m.: Welcome to the 2011 season at Saratoga Race Course!! We are about a half an hour away from the first race of the season, and it's great to be back here. Not a huge crowd yet, but a lively one. Music in the backyard, sunshine and some great racing on tap - what more could you as for?

The big story in the last 48 hours leading up to Opening Day has, of course, been the weather - and NYRA's decision not to cancel despite the heat. Weather.com currently has Saratoga listed as 96 degrees. Not as humid as yesterday, and there is a nice breeze. From my spot in the press box, I can see where some extra buckets of ice and hoses have been set up near the unsaddling area on the track. We'll be talking to the jockeys and trainers as the day goes on to get reactions on how they're coping.

The features took a hit with scratches. The Grade 3 Schuylerville lost three and is down to six horses, while the James Marvin lost three runners, including Grade 1 winner Jersey Town. So the $75,000 overnight stake has only two Grade 1 winners instead of three. How special is racing at Saratoga?

Stay tuned for updates....and, as Tom Durkin says, enjoy your afternoon at the Spaaaa.

Uncle Mo returns

2011-07-12T11:32:00.000-07:00

Uncle Mo, last year's Eclipse champion 2-year-old colt, arrived back at Saratoga today and is bedded down in his old stall from last summer, right next to trainer Todd Pletcher's office.

Uncle Mo hasn't raced since finishing third in the Wood Memorial on April 9; he was subsequently forced to miss the Kentucky Derby due to a liver disorder. He recently resumed training at WinStar Farm in Kentucky, and is now back at Saratoga - where he dazzled the Travers day crowd while breaking his maiden last summer - to work toward a comeback, possibly in the King's Bishop Aug. 27.

Arriving along with Uncle Mo were two seasoned stakes competitors. R Heat Lightning, winner of the Spinaway last summer at Saratoga, was forced to miss this spring's Kentucky Oaks with a knee chip; she recuperated at WinStar and is now ready to begin training for her comeback. Mission Impazible won the Louisiana Derby last year and the New Orleans Handicap this year for Pletcher.

A number of WinStar's 2-year-old prospects were on the same plane, including a colt sure to be popular with local fans: Jimmer. The son of Elusive Quality is named for the Glens Falls native and top-10 NBA draft pick.

Daily Derby Dose (April 29)

2011-04-29T22:17:00.000-07:00

Check this blog daily for all the latest updates on Kentucky Derby contenders and other news as the Run for the Roses is now just eight days away.

Reaching for it: Arkansas Derby winner Archarcharch turned in a sold work Friday morning, going five furlongs in :59.26 in the mud. With regular rider Jon Court aboard, the colt broke off a length behind a workmate, going through early splits of :11.41, :23.06 and :34.88. He was on even terms coming into the stretch and drew well clear down the line finishing in the world. He got his final quarter in :24.38 and galloped out in 1:12.80. The colt has improved as the week progressed, quickly adjusting to the Churchill Downs strip after appearing uncomfortable there earlier in the week.

Final work: Fountain of Youth winner Soldat, coming off a poor effort in the Florida Derby, went a half in :49 today at Palm Meadows in his final work for the Derby. There was no official clocker on hand at the nearly-deserted winter training center, but trainer Kiaran McLaughlin reported the colt went in his first quarter in :25, the second in :24, and galloped out in 1:01.40, pulling up in 1:15.80. Soldat will fly to Louisville tomorrow, on the same flight as Florida Derby winner and likely Derby favorite Dialed In.

Taking it easy: Spiral runner-up Decisive Moment went an easy five furlongs in 1:01.46, changing leads several times down the stretch.

Dynamic duo: Mike Repole and Todd Pletcher's two Derby prospects, Uncle Mo and Stay Thirsty, will work in company Sunday morning in their final serious breezes for the Run for the Roses. Stay Thirsty had originally been scheduled alone in the Sunday slot, but Pletcher chose to move Uncle Mo's work up a day after examining the weather forecast. The two colts both galloped Friday morning, with Uncle Mo continuing to visually impress as he drags his rider around the oval.

Busy day: With more rain forecast for Sunday, several Derby workers are likely to get their final works in on Saturday morning. Sunland Park Derby winner Twice The Appeal will have Derby rider Calvin Borel aboard for the first time in a serious work. Spiral winner Animal Kingdom's work will be especially telling, as the Derby would be his first start over a dirt track. Also expected to breeze are Pants On Fire, Mucho Macho Man, Shackleford and Watch Me Go.

Musical riders: Multiple Eclipse Award winner and Hall of Fame finalist Garrett Gomez has picked up the choicest remaining mount, as he'll pilot European hopeful Master of Hounds in the Derby. The colt is scheduled to leave his Irish base on Monday, arriving in Louisville on Tuesday. Surprisingly, three-time Derby winner and Hall of Famer Kent Desormeaux is still without a mount.

Bubble watch: Trainer Eoin Harty will work Santa Anita Derby fourth-place finisher Anthony's Cross on Sunday morning at Hollywood as if the colt were running in the Derby. He's 21st on the graded earnings list, the first to get in if there's a defection. ... Santa Anita Derby third-place finisher Mr. Commons worked seven furlongs at Hollywood in 1:25.20, "just in case," said trainer John Shirreffs.

Oaks watch: The connections of Arienza and Delightful Mary have said they will skip the Oaks to seek other targets; both were unlikely to get in based on graded earnings anyway. Arienza, a daughter of Horse of the Year Azeri, is nominated to the Eight Belles Stakes on Derby Day. ... Bouquet Booth went an easy five furlongs in 1:02.20. ... Kathmanblu and Daisy Devine galloped.

Daily Derby Dose (April 28)

2011-04-29T15:33:00.000-07:00

Check this blog daily for all the latest updates on Kentucky Derby contenders and other news as the Run for the Roses is now just nine days away.

Favorite works: Likely Kentucky Derby favorite Dialed In, winner of the Florida Derby, turned in his final work at nearly-deserted Palm Meadows on Thursday morning. With regular rider Maxine Correa aboard, the son of Mineshaft went out with stakes winning stablemate Miner’s Escape, breaking off about a half length behind to start the work. The pair went through early splits of :12.09, :24.47 and :36.91. Dialed In motored down the stretch, opening up three on his workmate through a final furlong of :11.62 to finish in :48.53. He galloped out in 1:01.46 and pulled up six furlongs in 1:18.04. Dialed In is expected to ship to Churchill Downs on Saturday. Also on his flight will be Fountain of Youth winner Soldat, scheduled to work tomorrow.

Daily Derby Dose (April 27)

2011-04-29T15:01:00.000-07:00

Check this blog daily for all the latest updates on Kentucky Derby contenders and other news as the Run for the Roses is now just 10 days away.

Musical riders: Calvin Borel, winner of three of the last four Derbies, has finally secured a mount, booking the spot aboard Sunland Park Derby winner Twice The Appeal. Ironically, Borel's second Derby winner, Mine That Bird, also came into Kentucky off the Sunland route. Borel's agent, Jerry Hissam, said that they turned down the chance to ride Tampa Bay Derby winner Watch Me Go earlier this week. With just 10 days remaining to the Derby, and few mounts still open, a number of leading riders could be left out. Hall of Famers Edgar Prado and Kent Desormeaux, both previous Derby winners, are without confirmed mounts, as are top riders Garret Gomez, Javier Castellano and Rafael Bejarano. The choicest mount still available would be European hopeful Master of Hounds.

Bubble watch: El Camino Real Derby Silver Medallion has been taken out of Derby consideration even if he gets in, says trainer Steve Asmussen, who wants to freshen the colt after two races in 14 days. Silver Medallion had been sitting 21st on the graded stakes earnings list. His defection moves Anthony's Cross, fourth in the Santa Anita Derby, into the bubble spot. The colt will work in California on Sunday.

Weather watch: A record amount of rain has fallen in Louisville in April, more than 11 inches. The area is expected to get a break tomorrow, with sunny skies Friday and into Saturday evening, when Churchill will hold its opening card. The early forecast calls for occasional rain during Derby week; the Kentucky Oaks, on Friday, could potentially be run in the slop, but hopefully, following two years of mud, the track will be fast come Derby time.

New voice: Monmouth Park announcer Larry Collmus will take over as the voice of the Triple Crown for NBC Sports.

Notes: Louisiana Derby winner Pants On Fire and third-place finisher Mucho Macho Man both went out for spirited gallops over the sloppy Churchill Downs track. ... Eclipse champion Uncle Mo ate up and was in good order following yesterday's work. ... Spiral runner-up Decisive Moment and Twice The Appeal are both expected to breeze Friday. … Entries for the Derby will close at 10 a.m. on May 4, a week from today, with the draw taking place at 5 p.m. that night.

Daily Derby Dose (April 26)

2011-04-28T13:08:00.001-07:00

Check this blog daily for all the latest updates on Kentucky Derby contenders and other news as the Run for the Roses is now just 11 days away.

Audible: Eclipse champion Uncle Mo had been scheduled to turn in his first work since finishing third in the Wood Memorial during the Derby/Oaks reserved training period, at 8:30 a.m. However, after watching another storm bearing down on the Louisville area on the radar, trainer Todd Pletcher called an audible, sending the colt out as soon as the track opened at 5:45 a.m. Jockey Johnny Velazquez, who got into town after midnight thanks to a delayed flight, was informed of the change in plans at 4 a.m. Uncle Mo went out with graded winning stablemate Calibrachoa, breaking off slightly behind through early splits of :25.41 and :37.21. Into a moderate headwind in the stretch, he edged slightly ahead of Calibrachoa, with that one coming under some urging, finishing in 1:01.69. He quickly separated himself from Calibrachoa in the gallop out, clocking six furlongs in 1:15.56 with good energy. All in all, a solid return to the worktab.

Dark horse: Santa Anita Derby winner Midnight Interlude, who fired a bullet at his home track last week, turned in his first work at Churchill Tuesday morning, going six furlongs in 1:13.51. The colt was on even terms with graded winning stablemate Mythical Power cornering into the stretch but couldn't keep up, finishing well behind while getting his final quarter in :25.32 in a headwind.

Shaking off the blues: Beaten Blue Grass favorite Santiva went out for an easy maintenance work on Tuesday, ticking off splits of :12.76, :24.50 and :36.29 en route to a four furlong clocking of :49.22. The colt, winner of the Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill last fall, galloped out in 1:03.22.

Bubble watch: The other big news on Tuesday were the defections, as The Factor and JP's Gusto were both declared out of the Derby. The Factor, who won the Rebel, finished poorly in the Arkansas Derby and later underwent minor throat surgery, prompting trainer bob Baffert to skip the Derby rather than push the speedy colt. He could well return in the Preakness, or sprint races in New York this spring. JP's Gusto, a multiple graded winner at 2, will point for a summer campaign in New York. Their defections allow Florida Derby runner-up Shackleford and Blue Grass runner-up Twinspired into the field. Next on the list to get in, in order, are Silver Medallion and Anthony's Cross.

Musical riders: Twinspired, the newest addition to the field, will have Hall of Famer Mike Smith aboard for the Derby. Gotham winner Stay Thirsty will be reunited with NYRA leading rider Ramon Dominguez for the Run for the Roses. Calvin Borel, winner of three of the last four Derbies, worked the colt over the weekend, but is apparently still without a confirmed Derby mount.

Oaks watch: The bullet of the day belonged to Daisy Devine, who sizzled five furlongs in the slop in :59.59 in company, galloping out in 1:13.76. ... Sunland Oaks winner Plum Pretty went seven furlongs in 1:28.86, completing the breeze after tragedy struck. The filly's workmate, graded winner Gilded Gem, suffered a fatal breakdown in deep stretch.

Durkin steps down: Tom Durkin the voice of NYRA racing, has chosen not to renew his contract to call the three Triple Crown races for NBC Sports. Durkin, who cited stress as his reason, has called the races for NBC since 2001. Under contract with NYRA through 2015, he'll continue to call the Belmont for on-track patrons. NBC now has a week and a half to name Durkin's replacement, with obvious candidates being Trevor Denman, who calls the Breeders' Cup for national television, and popular Monmouth announcer Larry Collmus.

Daily Derby Dose (April 25)

2011-04-28T13:06:00.000-07:00

Check this blog daily for all the latest updates on Kentucky Derby contenders and other news as the Run for the Roses is now just 12 days away.

Wiseguy horse works: Louisiana and Arkansas Derby runner-up Nehro, who is likely to draw plenty of support at the windows, had a maintenance work Monday morning, going a relaxed five furlongs in 1:02.81 over a sloppy Churchill strip. With rider Carlos Roses - who has galloped the likes of Curlin - aboard, the colt looked into the infield down the stretch but finished willingly, getting his final quarter in :24.87 and galloping out in 1:17.02.

California work: Santa Anita Derby runner-up Comma To The Top worked five furlongs at Hollywood in 1:02.40 with Derby jockey Pat Valenzuela aboard. He'll work again Sunday before flying to Kentucky next Tuesday.

Factoring it in: Trainer Bob Baffert was on hand as The Factor galloped for the first time since arriving at Churchill Downs. The colt, who was among the Derby favorites until a poor effort in the Arkansas Derby, flipped his palate in that race; Baffert said afterward the colt underwent a myectomy, a common and relatively minor throat surgery to correct the problem. A decision is expected to be forthcoming on the colt's Derby status.

Mo on the move: Eclipse champion Uncle Mo was a handful as he galloped a mile and a half a day in advance of his first serious work since losing the Wood Memorial.

Weather watch: Louisville has been soaked by nearly four inches of rain in the past four days, causing flooding along the banks of the Ohio River. A break isn't expected until Thursday, with some sun possible for Churchill's opening weekend.

Daily Derby Dose (April 24)

2011-04-24T19:07:00.000-07:00

Check this blog daily for all the latest updates on Kentucky Derby contenders and other news as the Run for the Roses is now just 13 days away.

Bowing out: San Felipe runner-up Jaycito will miss the Kentucky Derby, trainer Bob Baffert confirmed after much speculation of the sort. The colt, a Grade 1 winner as a juvenile, has been battling a foot bruise; he hasn't worked in three weeks and missed planned preps in the Santa Anita Derby and Lexington. The colt will now point for the Belmont, a race his wire, Victory Gallop, won in 1998. Jaycito's defection will allow Tampa Bay Derby winner Watch Me Go into the field; next on the list to get in is Florida Derby runner-up Shackleford.

Macho move: Working over a muddy track immediately after the break, Risen Star winner Mucho Macho Man went a relaxed seven furlongs in 1:29.40. The move came under Rajiv Maragh, who has the mount in the Derby. He'll work five furlongs on Sunday in his final move before the Derby.

Cheers: Gotham winner Stay Thirsty, in company with older stakes winning stablemate Bridgetown, went five furlongs in :59.92 at Churchill Sunday morning. The Bernardini colt went in splits of :11.56, :23.22 and :35.06. After finishing about a neck in front of Bridgetown with some urging, he galloped out in 1:15.06. Three-time Derby winner Calvin Borel, who doesn't yet have a Derby mount, was aboard for the work; trainer Todd Pletcher, who partnered with Borel to win the Derby last year with Super Saver, says he hasn't officially selected a rider yet. Also available is Ramon Dominguez, who rode Stay Thirsty to the Gotham win.

Notes: Eclipse champion Uncle Mo galloped a mile and a half over the muddy track as he continues to prepare for Tuesday morning's breeze. ... Also galloping Sunday were juvenile graded winner Santiva, Spiral runner-up Decisive Moment and Santa Anita Derby winner Midnight Interlude.

Daily Derby Dose (April 23)

2011-04-24T19:04:00.000-07:00

Check this blog daily for all the latest updates on Kentucky Derby contenders and other news as the Run for the Roses is now just 14 days away.

You're out: The aptly-named Derby Kitten scored an upset victory in the Lexington Stakes on a rainy Saturday at Keeneland, effectively ending the Kentucky Derby hopes of favored Silver Medallion. It was the first graded stakes win for Derby Kitten, a Mike Maker trainee, whose only previous victory in eight starts came in a maiden claimer at Gulfstream in January. Silver Medallion, winner of the El Camino Real Derby earlier this year, entered the Lexington in hopes of earning his way into the Derby. But the colt finished fourth, picking up only $10,000 for his effort; his $194,334 graded bankroll leaves him 24th on the list.

Braving the rain: Despite heavy rain that pelted Louisville overnight and into the morning, Florida Derby runner-up Shackleford turned in his first local work, going handily in 1:00.20. With Saratoga native Tammy Fox up, the big colt went in splits of :12, :23.80, :35.60 and :47.80, galloping out in 1:14.

On fire: Louisiana Derby winner Pants On Fire went a relaxed five furlongs in 1:00.92 at his Palm Meadows training base, just over a week after zipping the same distance in :58 and change. The colt got his final quarter in :24.87. He was set to leave Palm Meadows on Saturday night bound for Louisville, and will have his final breeze next weekend at Churchill.

Wild time: Spiral Stakes winner Animal Kingdom has run into a bit of misfortune this week. The colt has never run on dirt, and trainer Graham Motion wanted to ship him from Keeneland to Churchill Downs earlier this week in order to fit in a pair of works over the strip. But the rainy weather caused him to keep the colt in Lexington on the all-weather track, rather than braving the mud and perhaps having his schedule disrupted. But Saturday's five furlong work at Keeneland didn't go as planned for the colt. Animal Kingdom broke off with a workmate and the pair went the first quarter in a ridiculously slow :30. Animal Kingdom left his struggling workmate to complete the final half mile in :50.40 for a clocking of 1:02.80. The colt will ship next Wednesday or Thursday to get his final work over the dirt on Saturday. Meanwhile, Motion's other hopeful, Wood winner Toby's Corner, will work at his Fair Hill training base on May 1 and ship the following day.

Musical jockeys: Patrick Valenzuela, winner of the 1989 Derby aboard Sunday Silence, will have his first mount in the race since 2006 when he pilots Santa Anita Derby runner-up Comma To The Top for trainer Peter Miller. Comma To The Top was left without a rider when regular jockey Corey Nakatani chose to pilot Nehro.

Oaks watch: Likely favorite R Heat Lightning breezed Saturday at Churchill, going :49.80 in the mud. She turned in splits of :12.40, :24.80 and :37.20 before galloping out in 1:03.40. The filly won the Davona Dale and Gulfstream Park Oaks this spring. ... Multiple stakes winner Kathmanblu, likely to be among the favorites, went five furlongs in 1:02.80 in company with older Grade 1 winning stablemate Noble's Promise. The filly went in :13.20, :25.40, :37.40 and :49.80, galloping out in 1:17.40. ... Motion's Summer Soiree went six furlongs in 1:10.80 at Keeneland and will ship to Churchill on Wednesday or Thursday.

Notes: Tampa Bay Derby winner Watch Me Go will arrive in Louisville Tuesday.

Daily Derby Dose (April 22)

2011-04-22T18:21:00.000-07:00

Check this blog daily for all the latest updates on Kentucky Derby contenders and other news as the Run for the Roses is now just 15 days away.

Watch Mo go: Eclipse champion Uncle Mo galloped a mile and a quarter at Churchill Downs on Friday and will have his first work since finishing third in the Wood next Tuesday. The colt’s schedule was knocked off a few days because of treatment for a gastrointestinal tract infection detected following the Wood, but he’s still on course for two more works before the Derby. The colt won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile last fall at Churchill Downs and is now bedded down in the same stall he used that week.

Last chance: Multiple stakes winner Silver Medallion is the favorite in a field of six for the Grade 2 Lexington Stakes at Keeneland today, one of the final graded stakes races remaining before the Derby. With the graded earnings cutoff this year hovering well over $200,000, the $120,000 winner’s purse won’t realistically be enough to push anyone but Silver Medallion into the field. The son of Badge of Silver is currently 24th on the list with $184,334. A victory would secure him a spot in the starting gate, placing him 15th on the list; a runner-up effort would move him to 22nd, meaning he would need help from others to make the field. Silver Medallion won the El Camino Real Derby over a synthetic track at Golden Gate in February, defeating, among others, Grade 1 winner Comma To The Top. But the colt was a lackluster fourth after tracking the pace in the Santa Anita Derby last time out. Silver Medallion is the only horse in the field to run with distinction in a graded stakes event. Taptowne raced with some success through Turfway Park’s prep series, finishing third in the WBEN Stakes and second in the Battaglia Memorial; however, he finished fifth when bumped up to graded company in the Spiral Stakes. The last horse to come out of the Lexington and win the Derby was Charismatic, who pulled off the double in 1999. Interestingly, Silver Medallion’s prep schedule nearly mirrors that of Charismatic; the eventual Horse of the Year was beaten just a head in the El Camino Real, finished fourth in the Santa Anita Derby, then won the Lexington, Kentucky Derby and Preakness.

Musical jockeys: Three-time Derby winner Calvin Borel is scheduled to work Gotham winner Stay Thirsty for trainer Todd Pletcher on Sunday morning. Borel and Pletcher won the Derby together with Super Saver last year – however, the rider hasn’t committed to Stay Thirsty, and Ramon Dominguez, who rode the colt in the Gotham, is still available. Borel’s longtime agent, Jerry Hissam, said he will approach the connections of European hopeful Master of Hounds as well; no rider has been named on the colt, scheduled to ship in Derby week. Meanwhile, Shaun Bridgmohan will ride beaten Blue Grass favorite Santiva in the Derby. The colt is scheduled to have the first of two works on Tuesday.

Worktab watch: Spiral winner Animal Kingdom had been scheduled to work at Churchill Downs on Saturday, a move intended to shed some light on his status for the Derby, as the colt has never run on a dirt track before. However, thunderstorms expected in the Louisville area tomorrow have caused trainer Graham Motion to keep the colt at Keeneland to work on the synthetic surface there. Risen Star winner Mucho Macho Man and Florida Derby runner-up Shackleford will both work Saturday at Churchill, while Louisiana Derby winner Pants On Fire will breeze at Palm Meadows.

Oaks watch: Fantasy runner-up Arienza, daughter of Horse of the Year Azeri, turned in her first work at Churchill Downs on Friday morning, going an easy half in :49 2/5. ... Likely favorite R Heat Lightning is scheduled to work on Saturday at Churchill Downs. Also likely appearing on the worktab will be multiple graded winner Kathmanblu.

Notes: Santa Anita Derby winner Midnight Interlude and Oaks contender Plum Pretty arrived together on a flight from California Friday afternoon. ... No decision has yet been made on whether multiple graded winner JP’s Gusto will start in the Derby. ... Sunland Derby winner Twice The Appeal breezed six furlongs in 1:17.20 Friday in his first move at Churchill Downs. ... The special Derby and Oaks training hours begin tomorrow morning from 8:30-8:45 a.m.

Daily Derby Dose (April 21)

2011-04-22T15:49:00.000-07:00

Check this blog daily for all the latest updates on Kentucky Derby contenders and other news as the Run for the Roses is now just 16 days away.

Soldat sizzles: Fountain of Youth winner Soldat zipped five furlongs in :59.07 Thursday morning at Palm Meadows in his penultimate work before the Kentucky Derby, galloping out six furlongs in 1:12.76. The colt, looking to rebound from a fifth-place finish in the Florida Derby, will work again April 29 before shipping to Churchill Downs. Alan Garcia is booked to ride in the Derby.

Factoring it in...or out: Rebel winner The Factor could skip the Kentucky Derby off his seventh-place finish in the Arkansas Derby. Owner George Bolton said Thursday that trainer Bob Baffert will have the final say and he “doubts Bob runs him.”

Musical riders: Corey Nakatani has chosen to pilot Louisiana and Arkansas Derby runner-up Nehro in the Kentucky Derby, picking the colt as his best prospect over Santa Anita Derby runner-up Comma To The Top.

Daily Derby Dose (April 20)

2011-04-22T15:48:00.000-07:00

Check this blog daily for all the latest updates on Kentucky Derby contenders and other news as the Run for the Roses is now just 17 days away.

In and out: El Camino Real Derby Silver Medallion was among the six 3-year-olds entered to run in Saturday’s Lexington Stakes at Keeneland, as he’ll take one last crack at picking up the graded earnings needed to get into the Kentucky Derby. However, one of his rivals won’t be Grade 1 winner Jaycito. The son of Victory Gallop is still struggling with the bruised foot that forced him to scratch from the Santa Anita Derby two weeks ago and won’t be ready to compete this weekend. Trainer Bob Baffert says he would still consider the Kentucky Derby if the foot heals in time – but Jaycito would be attempting the Herculean task of winning off just one prep this year, that being a runner-up effort behind Premier Pegasus in the San Felipe last month.

Happier news: Baffert’s other Derby contender, Santa Anita Derby winner Midnight Interlude, turned in his first work since scoring that win Wednesday morning at Santa Anita. The son of War Chant zipped a bullet five furlongs in :59.20.

There he goes: Tampa Bay Derby winner Watch Me Go breezed five furlongs in 1:02.60 at Tampa Bay Downs.

Oaks watch: Multiple stakes winner Kathmanblu vanned to Churchill Downs from Keeneland on Wednesday. The filly, coming off a runner-up effort in the Ashland, won the Golden Rod last fall at Churchill. … Fantasy runner-up Arienza, daughter of Horse of the Year Azeri, arrived from Oaklawn on Wednesday morning.

Daily Derby Dose (April 19)

2011-04-22T15:46:00.000-07:00

Check this blog daily for all the latest updates on Kentucky Derby contenders and other news as the Run for the Roses is now just 18 days away.

Trouble afoot: San Felipe runner-up Jaycito is listed as doubtful for Saturday’s Lexington Stakes at Keeneland. The colt has been battling a bruised foot that already forced him to miss the Santa Anita Derby two weeks ago. His only start this year came on March 12 — meaning if he misses his final prep, he would head to the Derby off an eight-week layoff — and he hasn’t worked since April 2. A final decision is expected tomorrow from trainer Bob Baffert. Jaycito had been scheduled to fly to Kentucky on Tuesday, but his travel plans have been delayed until at least Tuesday.

In he goes: Tampa Bay Derby winner Watch Me Go, who had been on the fence, will indeed run in the Kentucky Derby, says trainer Kathleen O’Connell. The homebred son of West Acre finished sixth last out in the Illinois Derby, causing his connections to have doubts about sending him to Kentucky, but he’s bounced back well in his training. The colt will work at Tampa either tomorrow or Thursday before vanning to Kentucky for one last work.

Florida trio: Kentucky Derby prospects Dialed In, Soldat and Pants On Fire all appeared on the track galloping Tuesday morning at Palm Meadows. Soldat, winner of the Fountain of Youth, is set to breeze Thursday and Louisiana Derby winner Pants On Fire will work Saturday. The two will share a flight to Louisville together on April 30. Florida Derby winner dialed In will breeze late next week.

Oaks watch: Fantasy winner Joyful Victory vanned from Oaklawn Park with trainer Larry Jones and arrived at Churchill in the late afternoon. Jones trained 2008 Oaks winner Proud Spell and Derby runner-ups Hard Spun and Eight Belles.

Notes: Trainer Peter Miller plans to put Santa Anita Derby runner-up Comma To The Top on a Tuesday flight to Kentucky. … Another horse who appears to be on the fence is multiple stakes winner JP’s Gusto; the colt is convalescing on a farm in Kentucky, but his connections will make a final decision later this week on if they’ll van him back to Churchill Downs to run after all. … Thanks to the uncertainty surrounding Jaycito, Santa Anita Derby also-ran Anthony’s Cross is back in consideration for the race if he can get in; he’ll likely fall short of the earnings cutoff.

Daily Derby Dose (April 18)

2011-04-18T19:13:00.001-07:00

Check this blog daily for all the latest updates on Kentucky Derby contenders and other news as the Run for the Roses is now just 19 days away.

Mo in town: Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Uncle Mo arrived back at the scene of his greatest triumph in one piece - but not without some drama. The colt left New York on a Tex Sutton charter flight that was scheduled to land in Louisville at about 9 a.m. However, a warning light came on on the plane shortly into the trip. The pilot made an unscheduled stop at Dulles Airport near Washington, D.C., where the aircraft was examined and the light was found to be a false alarm. The plane departed from Dulles and landed in Louisville at 11:10 a.m.; Uncle Mo was at Churchill Downs by noon. Also on the flight was Todd Pletcher's Gulfstream Oaks winner R Heat Lightning, the likely favorite for the Kentucky Oaks.

Macho too: Risen Star winner Mucho Macho Man's van trip from Florida went so smoothly that the colt was in Louisville several hours before schedule. His van pulled into the stable area at Churchill Downs at 2:30 a.m.

More arrivals: Sunland Park Derby winner Twice The Appeal will board a plane in California tomorrow morning bound for Kentucky. The plane will stop in Arkansas to pick up Louisiana and Arkansas Derby runner-up Nehro and Arkansas Derby also-rans Sway Away and Brethren - the latter two unlikely to make the Derby field. Also boarding the plane will be Southwest runner-up JP's Gusto, although it appears that colt will pass on the Derby. After the plane lands in Louisville, he'll continue on to Lexington to catch a van for New York.

Last attempt: El Camino Real Derby winner Silver Medallion worked a half in :51.40 at Churchill Downs on Monday morning. Trainer Steve Asmussen said he'll run the colt, currently 24th on the graded earnings list, in the Lexington on Saturday at Keeneland in a last attempt to earn his way into the Derby field. With the graded earnings cutoff hovering around $240,000 this year, the winner's purse of the Lexington wouldn't bump anyone but Silver Medallion or Jaycito into the Derby field.

Not in the stars: Asmussen also said Monday that Iroquois winner Astrology, runner-up in the Sunland Park Derby, will pass on the Kentucky Derby off just one start this year. The colt will run in the Jerome at Aqueduct on Saturday.

From across the pond: UAE Derby runner-up Master of Hounds will make the trip from Ballydole in Ireland to start in the Kentucky Derby. According to Churchill Downs officials, the colt is scheduled to arrive May 3. This will be the second trip across the pond for the son of Kingmambo, who ran unplaced in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. Aidan O'Brien trains the colt for Coolmore; a rider hasn't yet been named.

Animal house: Spiral winner Animal Kingdom will breeze under Robby Albarado at Churchill Downs on Saturday morning. Trainer Graham Motion says the drill over dirt will determine if the colt starts in the Kentucky Derby.

Bubble watch: The defections of Astrology and JP's Gusto move Santiva, the beaten favorite in the Blue Grass, and Tampa Bay Derby winner Watch Me Go back into the main body of the field. However, Watch Me Go is on the fence pending his upcoming works. Should Animal Kingdom, Watch Me Go, or any others come out of the field, the next horses to get in, in order, would be Shackleford, Twinspired, Silver Medallion, Blue Laser, Flashpoint, Mr. Commons and Sway Away.

Daily Derby Dose (April 17)

2011-04-17T18:28:00.000-07:00

Check this blog daily for all the latest updates on Kentucky Derby contenders and other news as the Run for the Roses is now just 20 days away.

Moving on: Arkansas Derby winner Archarcharch emerged from his victory in good shape. Tentative plans released by trainer Jinks Fires call for the colt to ship out of Oaklawn on Monday evening, meaning he would arrive at Churchill Downs on Tuesday morning. Trainer Steve Asmussen reported that runner-up Nehro also appeared in good order Sunday; the colt will fly to Kentucky Tuesday morning.

Speed staying put: Trainer Tom Albertrani says Blue Grass winner Brilliant Speed emerged from his effort sound. The colt will remain at Keeneland until about a week before the Derby, shipping to Louisville in time for one work at Churchill. Brilliant Speed is attempting to win his first race on dirt in the Derby.

Here comes Mo: Wood Memorial third-place finisher Uncle Mo is due to return to Churchill Downs - site of his victory in last fall's Breeder's Cup Juvenile - tomorrow morning. The colt is due in at 9:30 a.m. on a charter flight from New York; stablemate R Heat Lightning, likely to be favored in the Kentucky Oaks, will accompany him.

More arrivals: Risen Star winner Mucho Macho Man safely boarded his van at Gulfstream Park on Sunday and was en route to Kentucky. He's expected to arrive at Churchill at 6 a.m. Tuesday.

The works: Gotham winner Stay Thirsty, looking to rebound from a poor effort in the Florida Derby, worked four furlongs in company in :48 flat at Churchill Downs Sunday morning, second best of 30 at the distance. The bullet of the day belonged to Spiral runner-up Decisive Moment, who went in :47.40. Meanwhile, up the road at Keeneland, Spiral winner Animal Kingdom blitzed five furlongs in :59.20.

Daily Derby Dose (April 16)

2011-04-17T18:26:00.000-07:00

Check this blog daily for all the latest updates on Kentucky Derby contenders and other news as the Run for the Roses is now just 21 days away.

Chaos continues: Longshots won the final two Grade 1 Kentucky Derby prep races on Saturday, keeping the Run for the Roses wide open. In the Arkansas Derby, it was Archarcharch who scored the victory, making a strong move in midstretch and holding off the hard-charging Nehro. The son of Arch was sent off as a 25-1 shot despite his solid record at Oaklawn this winter; he won the Sugar Bowl and Southwest, then finished third in the Rebel. The latter race was won by The Factor, who was sent off as a heavy favorite in the Arkansas Derby, with a chance to cement his credentials moving on to Kentucky. But the colt appeared rank early when he didn't make the lead and faded badly down the lane to finish seventh. The Factor's loss, coupled with Uncle Mo's loss in the Wood Memorial last week, means that Florida Derby winner Dialed In will likely be a lukewarm Derby favorite - although Nehro, who was also a closing second in the Louisiana Derby, is likely to take some wide-guy action. Meanwhile in Kentucky, Brilliant Speed closed furiously from last to first to nail Twinspired on the wire in the Blue Grass Stakes. The son of Dynaformer, trained by Tom Albertrani, will be looking for his first victory on dirt in the Kentucky Derby. Favored Santiva was never in the mix and finished ninth, putting his Derby status in doubt, as he failed to move up the graded earnings list.

Feeling good: Risen Star winner Mucho Macho Man zipped seven furlongs in 1:23.66 at Gulfstream Park on Saturday morning. Going in a light rain, the colt ticked off fractions of :11.98, :34.98, :46.33, :58 and 1:10.66 despite going wide into the stretch. He galloped out in 1:38.70. The colt is scheduled to leave his Florida training base for Kentucky tomorrow.

Making plans: Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin detailed the schedule for Fountain of Youth winner Soldat on Saturday. The colt, who is based at Palm Meadows, will breeze on April 21 and April 29. He will ship to Churchill Downs on April 30 and gallop into the race. The colt is attempting to rebound from a fifth-place finish in the Florida Derby.

Daily Derby Dose (April 15)

2011-04-15T22:06:00.000-07:00

Check this blog daily for all the latest updates on Kentucky Derby contenders and other news as the Run for the Roses is now just 22 days away.

Fire alarm: Louisiana Derby winner Pants On Fire sizzled five furlongs in :58.60 at Palm Meadows on Saturday morning, his first work since his big upset victory. With exercise rider Juan Pizarro aboard, the colt went his final quarter in :24 flat before galloping out six furlongs in 1:13.80 in a move completed shortly after a renovation break. Pants On Fire will works again on Saturday, April 23 before shipping to Kentucky the following day, Easter Sunday.

New arrivals: With the Derby drawing closer, more contenders are making their travel plans. Risen Star winner Mucho Macho Man, most recently third in the Louisiana Derby, is scheduled to breeze Saturday morning at Gulfstream. The colt will board his van to Kentucky the following day and is set to arrive at Churchill on Monday morning. Meanwhile Jaycito, forced out of last week's Santa Anita Derby with a hoof abscess, will also arrive at Churchill on Monday. But he'll be making a side trip, vanning the 75 miles to run in the Lexington at Keeneland on April 23. He could face Silver Medallion, still on the Derby bubble after finishing fourth in the Santa Anita Derby.

Decision time: Trainer Kathleen O'Connell says she's on the fence about whether to run Tampa Bay Derby winner Watch Me Go in the Kentucky Derby. The colt was sixth in last Saturday's Illinois Derby. A final decision will likely be made after the results of this weekend's prep races.

Oaks watch: Trainer Larry Jones, who won the 2008 Oaks with Proud Spell, will ship Fantasy winner Joyful Victory to Churchill Downs on Tuesday. The gray filly is set to arrive around noon.

Notes: Eclipse champion Uncle Mo galloped at Belmont ... Santa Anita third-place finisher Mr. Commons, who likely won't have the graded earnings to make the Derby, could be headed to the Preakness. ... Spiral Stakes runner-up Decisive Moment will have his first breeze over the Churchill track on Sunday morning. ... Special Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks training hours will begin on Saturday, April 23 at Churchill. From 8:30 to 8:45 a.m., only Derby and Oaks contenders and their workmates will be allowed on the track; horses must wear a special saddle towel to be admitted onto the track. Derby and Oaks horses are not required to train at that time.

Daily Derby Dose (April 14)

2011-04-15T22:04:00.000-07:00

Check this blog daily for all the latest updates on Kentucky Derby contenders and other news as the Run for the Roses is now just 23 days away.

Mo's reason: Eclipse Award winner Uncle Mo was suffering from a gastrointestinal tract infection when he suffered his first defeat in last Saturday's Wood Memorial. Following his perplexing third-place finish, the colt underwent a battery of tests, which trainer Todd Pletcher said are routine for horses in his barn who don't perform up to expectations. The results, released Thursday morning, revealed the infection. The colt is able to continue training while the infection is being treated and jogged a lap around Belmont's track on Thursday morning. Pletcher says the colt is still scheduled to ship to Churchill Downs on Monday morning and will have two works there before the May 7 Derby. Owner Mike Repole says if the colt isn't 100 percent, they'll skip the Derby and head straight to the Preakness.

Notes: San Felipe winner Premier Pegasus, who was favored for the Santa Anita Derby but forced to scratch because of a hairline fracture, will remain at trainer Myung Kwon Cho's barn at Santa Anita for two months before having his injured foreleg reevaluated. After that, he could go to a local farm to continue rehabilitation before resuming serious training in September.

Daily Derby Dose (April 13)

2011-04-14T18:02:00.000-07:00

Check this blog daily for all the latest updates on Kentucky Derby contenders and other news as the Run for the Roses is now just 24 days away.

Back on track: Champion Uncle Mo returned to the racetrack on Wednesday, jogging once around a wet Belmont training track. Trainer Todd Pletcher said it was routine for the colt, who suffered his first career defeat in Saturday’s Wood Memorial. Results of a physical exam to see if there was an internal reason for the loss are expected back tomorrow.

Blue Grass draw: Kentucky Jockey Club winner Santiva drew post 3 in a field of 12 and was installed as the 3-1 morning line favorite for Saturday’s Blue Grass at Keeneland. Santiva finished second over this track in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity last fall before moving on to win the Jockey Club at Churchill Downs. The colt worked Saturday in Florida before arriving in Kentucky Sunday. Julien Leparoux has the mount. The second choice for the Blue Grass is King Congie, followed by Brilliant Speed and Wilkinson. Willcox Inn finished third in the Breeders’ Futurity last fall. Pletcher entered three horses: Sensational Slam, Praetereo, and Queen’splatekitten. Joes Blazing Aaron and Twinspired are both trained by Mike Maker, who won this race last year. One notable absentee is Swift Warrior, winner of the Rushaway Stakes at Turfway last out. The First Samurai colt suffered a condylar fracture of the right foreleg following a Wednesday workout at Keeneland.

Arkansas draw: Oaklawn drew a bulky field of 13 for Saturday’s Arkansas Derby, headed by The Factor, who could become the Kentucky Derby favorite with a victory. The runaway winner of the Rebel was installed as the 7-5 morning line favorite at Oaklawn and will break from post 3 under Martin Garcia. The field also includes Louisiana Derby runner-up Nehro, Southwest winner Archarcharch, Sam F. Davis winner and Tampa Bay Derby third-place finisher Brethren, Southwest runner-up JP’s Gusto, Southwest third-place finisher Elite Alex, Smarty Jones winner and Rebel runner-up Caleb’s Posse and San Vicinte runner-up Sway Away. Five in the field are adding blinkers: Brethren, Elite Alex, J P’s Gusto, J W Blue, and Sway Away.

Not in the stars: Sunland Park Derby runner-up Astrology was not among the entries for the Arkansas Derby or the Northern Spur on the undercard. The son of AP Indy will either attempt to make the leap into the Kentucky Derby off just one prep – or will bypass the race for the Preakness, by way of the Derby Trial. His connections will wait until he works at Churchill Downs to decide.

Notes: Santa Anita Derby 1-2 finishers Midnight Interlude and Comma to the Top have both resumed training. … Wood Memorial runner-up Arthur’s Tale, who was unlikely to get in anyway based on graded earnings, will be forced to miss the Derby with a popped splint. Trainer Tom Albertrani hopes to have the colt ready for the Belmont on June 11.

Daily Derby Dose (April 12)

2011-04-14T15:12:00.002-07:00

Check this blog daily for all the latest updates on Kentucky Derby contenders and other news as the Run for the Roses is now just 25 days away.

Testing 1-2-3: In the wake of his stunning defeat as the 1-9 favorite in the Wood Memorial, champion Uncle Mo underwent a battery of tests at Belmont on Tuesday. The results of the tests – which trainer Todd Pletcher said are completely routine for a horse in his barn that suffers a puzzling defeat – will be available Thursday. A press release from his connections said Uncle Mo was “completely sound.” The tests includes blood work, ultrasound of the internal organs, and stomach scoping.” The colt is expected back on the track tomorrow morning and will ship to Churchill Downs on Monday.

Dial tones: Florida Derby winner Dialed In breezed an easy half in :49.90 at Palm Meadows with regular exercise rider Maxine Correa up. Trainer Nick Zito says the son of Mineshaft will have one more five furlong work before the Kentucky Derby – a similar pattern to how he trained the colt up to the Florida Derby. Dialed In will remain at Palm Meadows until early May.

Factor in: Arkansas Derby favorite The Factor arrived at Oaklawn Tuesday morning after taking a Tex Sutton charter flight out of Southern California. The colt is returning to Oaklawn after winning last month’s Rebel by more than six lengths. Martin Garcia has the mount.

Challenger: Southwest winner Archarcharch breezed a half in :50.80 after the renovation break at Oaklawn, going in hand under regular rider Jon Court. The Oaklawn clocker timed the colt galloping out five furlongs in 1:03.80. Archarcharch was third to The Factor in the Rebel, and will try him again in the Arkansas Derby.

Daily Derby Dose (April 11)

2011-04-14T15:12:00.001-07:00

Check this blog daily for all the latest updates on Kentucky Derby contenders and other news as the Run for the Roses is now just 26 days away.

Back on track: Norfolk winner Jaycito, who was forced to scratch from Saturday’s Santa Anita Derby because of a hoof abscess, resumed training on Monday morning and is on course to start in the Lexington Stakes at Keeneland on April 23. Jaycito finished a closing second in the San Felipe last month, his only start of the year and his first for trainer Bob Baffert.

Daily Derby dose (April 10)

2011-04-14T15:10:00.000-07:00

Check this blog daily for all the latest updates on Kentucky Derby contenders and other news as the Run for the Roses is now just 27 days away.

The aftermath: Beaten Wood favorite Uncle Mo appeared sound and physically healthy on Sunday, a day after suffering his first career defeat. The quarter he grabbed at the start of the race doesn’t appear to be a serious problem. Trainer Todd Pletcher said the colt will have blood work done on Tuesday to determine if any internal problems contributed to Saturday’s result; Pletcher said the tests are routine for any horse in his barn that doesn’t perform up to expectations.

Toby tuckered out: Trainer Graham Motion said that Wood winner Toby’s Corner was sound but tiring following his hard-charging win on Saturday. "He’s been laying down all morning," Motion said. Toby’s Corner, a son of 2005 Wood winner Bellamy Road, will return to Motion’s training base at Fair Hill in Maryland. The colt will work once between now and the Derby, with that work coming on Fair Hill’s Tapeta training track a week out from the big race.

Moving on: A few days ago, Midnight Interlude and Comma To The Top weren’t under Derby consideration. But now, the 1-2 finishers in the Santa Anita Derby are moving on to Kentucky. Midnight Interlude, in just his fourth career start, gave trainer Bob Baffert a nice consolation win after he was forced to scratch favored Jaycito. The colt, who broke his maiden in his previous start, will have to overcome the hurdle of running in the Kentucky Derby without having started as a 2-year-old. Comma To The Top wasn’t under Derby consideration because trainer Peter Miller was concerned about his distance limitations; but after a game second on Saturday, Miller says the connections will reconsider, with a final decision coming early Derby week.

All systems go: Rebel winner The Factor, who could inherit Derby favoritism with a victory in Saturday’s Arkansas Derby, completed his preparations for that race by easily going six furlongs in 1:12.20 at Santa Anita on Sunday. Under jockey Martin Garcia, he galloped out a mile in 1:38.20.

Oaks watch: Fox Hill Farm’s Joyful Victory stamped her ticket to the Oaks with a runaway score in the Grade 2 Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn. Arienza, a daughter of Horse of the Year Azeri, suffered her first defeat in three starts, checking in second. She likely won’t have the graded earnings to move on to the Oaks. … A full sister to Ashland winner Lilacs and Lace was foaled just fours after her big sister upset the Grade 1 event.

Daily Derby Dose (April 9)

2011-04-14T15:07:00.000-07:00

Check this blog daily for all the latest updates on Kentucky Derby contenders and other news as the Run for the Roses is now just 28 days away.

Mo-mentum stopped: Early Kentucky Derby favorite Uncle Mo suffered his first career defeat, finishing third behind Toby’s Corner and Arthur’s Tale in the Wood Memorial to throw this Derby wide open. Uncle Mo grabbed a quarter at the start but recovered quickly to set the pace; after bouncing through a first quarter in :23.49, he relaxed through the half in :47.98, and to the untrained eye, appeared home free while leading around the far turn. But the colt failed to accelerate away from the pack and had no response when confronted. Toby’s Corner, who ran near the back of the pack early, came home smartly, splitting rivals gamely to best Arthur’s Tale by a neck. The son of 2005 Wood winner Bellamy Road capped a solid winter at Aqueduct; the lanky colt won the Whirlaway in the slop and was third behind Stay Thirsty in the Gotham. His career record is now 6-4-0-2.

Midnight bandit: Although Bob Baffert was forced to scratch favored Jaycito from the Santa Anita Derby, he still came up with a nice consolation prize, as Midnight Interlude edged Grade 1 winner Comma To The Top for the win. Midnight Interlude, a strapping son of War Chat who broke his maiden in his third try last time out, sat fours as Comma To The Top led through brisk early fractions (:22.81, :47.33, 1:11.53). The colt came four wide into the stretch and was up by a head at the wire. Comma To The Top gamely held second, another 2 ¼ lengths clear of Mr. Commons in third.

Go Joe: Despite the disappointing loss with Uncle Mo, Pletcher did take the Illinois Derby with the previously unheralded Joe Vann. The colt, based out of Laurel, was winning his third straight race after taking a maiden and an optional event. However, with the winner’s purse for the Illinois Derby $167,400, and the graded earnings cutoff likely to be well in excess of $200,000 this year, it’s unlikely Joe Vann earned his way into the Kentucky Derby with this win. Tampa Bay Derby winner Watch Me Go finished sixth as the favorite.

Oaks watch: Longshot Lilacs and Lace said catch me if you can in Saturday’s Grade 1 Ashland at Keeneland, leading wire to wire to post the $99.40 upset. The daughter of Flower Alley won the California Oaks earlier this year. Wyomia was second, favored Kathmanblu was third in her first try on a synthetic track, and second choice Dancinginherdreams was rank and faded to last.

Daily Derby Dose (April 8)

2011-04-08T19:08:00.000-07:00

Check this blog daily for all the latest updates on Kentucky Derby contenders and other news as the Run for the Roses is now just 29 days away.

Watch Mo go: Juvenile champion and Kentucky Derby favorite Uncle Mo will start as the red-hot favorite against nine rivals in Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Wood Memorial at Aqueduct. The colt has been pointing for this final prep race in owner Mike Repole’s hometown since winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile last November. Uncle Mo is no stranger to New York racing fans. He broke his maiden by 14¼ lengths on the Travers undercard at Saratoga last August, then scored a handy victory in the Champagne. He parlayed his success in New York into success in Kentucky, as he dominated the Juvenile at Churchill Downs - the track the Derby will be run over four weeks from today. In his first start of the year, Uncle Mo coasted to a victory in the Timely Writer Stakes at Gulfstream, a race that was created specifically to lure him. The son of Indian Charlie - who has won his four starts by a combined 27 lengths - isn’t likely to find much competition today, either. Of his nine rivals, only two are previous stakes winners - neither in a graded event. Three horses in the field have only a maiden victory to their credit. The combined earnings of the other nine runners are $589,248. Uncle Mo has earned $1,336,000. Toby’s Corner, a son of 2005 Wood winner Bellamy Road, won three straight races this winter, culminating with a victory in the slop in the Whirlaway at Aqueduct on Feb. 5. But he was a well-beaten third in the Grade 3 Gotham on March 5 behind Uncle Mo’s stablemate Stay Thirsty. With the potential for rain in the New York area today, Toby’s Corner could get his wet track again. Also returning in the Wood is Gotham runner-up Norman Asbjornson.

Favorite out, again: The Santa Anita Derby, which took a hit on Thursday with the scratch of morning-line favorite Premier Pegasus, lost another top contender in Jaycito on Friday. Trainer Bob Baffert scratched the colt, who had inherited favoritism, on Friday afternoon because of an abscessed hoof. The San Felipe runner-up is now likely to make his final prep in the Grade 3 Lexington Stakes at Keeneland, just two weeks before the Kentucky Derby. With Jaycito now out, the favorite’s role will fall to Silver Medallion, winner of the El Camino Real Derby last time out. But the colt, to be ridden by Garrett Gomez for trainer Steve Asmussen, is making his first start on dirt.

Another on the sidelines: Nashua and Remsen winner To Honor And Serve, most recently third in the Florida Derby, will miss the Triple Crown series with a strained suspensory ligament. It's undetermined if the injury occured in the Florida Derby, but trainer Bill Mott says he wasn't happy with how the colt was moving shortly after arriving back at his Payson Park training base. An ultrasound revealed the damage. The injury is not career-threatening; To Honor And Serve will be hand-walked for several weeks before being re-evaluated.

Two in a row?: Former claimer Watch Me Go, upset winner of the Tampa Bay Derby last month, will get a chance to prove it wasn’t a fluke when he starts as the morning line favorite against 11 rivals in the Grade 3 Illinois Derby at Hawthorne. This year's field is wide open; there are several maidens who will contest the event.

In the OR: San Felipe winner Premier Pegasus was scheduled to undergo surgery on a hairline fracture to his left from cannon bone Friday at Santa Anita’s backstretch hospital. The colt suffered the injury during a routine gallop Thursday morning.

Daily Derby Dose (April 7)

2011-04-08T19:01:00.000-07:00

With just one month left to go until the Kentucky Derby, it's as good a time as any to launch the Daily Derby Dose. Check this blog daily for all the latest updates on Kentucky Derby contenders and other news as the Run for the Roses approaches.

Favorite out: Morning line favorite Premier Pegasus was scratched from Saturday’s Santa Anita Derby after suffering a hairline fracture to his left foreleg. The San Felipe winner stumbled slightly during a routine gallop over Santa Anita’s training track Thursday morning. He returned to the barn under his own power and, although he initially appeared fine, the trouble surfaced as he was cooling out from the work. X-rays taken at the barn revealed the fracture to the left foreleg. This type of injury is generally not considered to be career-threatening, but the colt is expected to miss several months of training. It’s a blow for owner-trainer Myong Kwon Cho, who has only six horses in his barn. The scratch of the favorite still leaves a field of 10 for the Santa Anita Derby. Favoritism is expected to fall to Jaycito, who was the second choice on the morning line. Winner of the Norfolk last fall, the colt was second behind Premier Pegasus in the San Felipe in his first start for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert. Silver Medallion, winner of the El Camino Real Derby, will look to punch his ticket to Kentucky in his first start on dirt.

Three for the show: Gotham winner Stay Thirsty, a maiden winner at Saratoga last summer, is among the first Kentucky Derby hopefuls to arrive at Churchill Downs. The 3-year-old son of Bernardini, who will press on to the Derby despite a disappointing seventh-place finish in last Sunday’s Florida Derby while wearing blinkers, arrived in Kentucky on a flight from Florida Thursday morning. He was the third Derby hopeful to arrive at Churchill Downs, joining Spiral Stakes runner-up Decisive Moment, who arrived last week, and Florida Derby runner-up Shackleford, who flew in Wednesday night.

Oaks watch: Gulfstream Park Oaks winner R Heat Lightning has settled in at Belmont for trainer Todd Pletcher. She’s expected to remain in New York until shortly before the Oaks, which she’ll likely be among the favorites for.

Disaster affects Japan's racing industry

2011-03-11T15:46:00.000-08:00

The 8.9-magnitude earthquake and resulting tsunami that devastated Japan on Friday have wreaked havoc on Japan’s racing industry — but according to early reports, most of the nation’s prized equines, including several American champions, appear to be safe.

The nation’s largest-ever earthquake, with an epicenter off the eastern coast of the country, appears to have spared the northern island of Hokkaido, where most of Japan’s prominent breeding farms are located.

The Shadai Stallion Station reported only light damage and said its horses were uninjured. The stallion complex is home to 2002 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner War Emblem; Japanese Triple Crown winner Deep Impact; Japan Cup winner Falbrav; leading sire Zenno Rob Roy; and international standouts Harbinger and Heart’s Cry. The farm’s broodmare band is loaded with American Grade 1 winners and producers, including Lucky One, dam of Kentucky Oaks and Alabama winner Blind Luck.

International breeding and racing power Darley also reported that the horses at its Japanese stallion station were unharmed. Darley stands Forego winner Pyro, Japan Cup winner and Horse of the Year Admire Moon and Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Fantastic Light in Japan.

Although no official statements have been issued, reports through social media sites indicate that other major farms on Hokkaido, including Northern Farm, the Iburai Stallion Station and the Shizunai Stallion Station, escaped serious damage or injury to horses. Northern Farm, owned by leading breeder Katsumi Yoshida, is home to a number of American Grade 1 winners in its broodmare band, among them 2002 Horse of the Year Azeri and 2007 Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner and Eclipse champion Ginger Punch. Iburai houses dual classic winners Charismatic and Silver Charm, Dubai World Cup winner Captain Steve and Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Squirtle Squirt. Shizunai is home to Eclipse champion Boston Harbor, Santa Anita Derby and Pacific Classic winner Came Home, Belmont winner Empire Maker, French standout Bago, multiple Group 1 winner David Junior, and Breeders’ Cup Turf winner and Canadian champion Chief Bearhart.

Unsurprisingly, the earthquake has scrapped Japan’s racing schedule for the weekend, and the cancellations could stretch into the next week and beyond. Four graded stakes races scheduled for the weekend — including the Grade 2 Hochi Hai Fillies Revue, a key prep for the Japanese 1000 Guineas — are in flux, with no reschedule dates announced yet.

The quake struck toward the end of the card at Japan’s National Association of Racing track in Ohi, east of Tokyo — causing those in the stands to stampede to safety. The final three races on the 12-race card were lost.

The Japan Racing Association canceled racing at Fukushima Racecourse in Fukushima City, which incurred severe damage, with part of the roof of the structure collapsing. More frighteningly, the track is located in the same region as a Fukushima nuclear power plant that suffered a breakdown in its cooling system as a result of the damage. With pressure rising, the area around the plant has been evacuated.

Part of the roof collapsed at the National Association of Racing track in Mizusawa and minor damage was also reported at Tokyo Racecourse.

In Sendai, which was hard-hit by the devastation, a number of training centers were severely damaged. There have been no reports yet as to if any horses were lost, and if so, who they are.

Rachel, Zenyatta on the way to motherhood

2011-03-11T15:31:00.000-08:00

History-making racemares Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta, both of whom were named Horse of the Year during their careers, were both confirmed to be carrying their first foals this week.

2009 Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old filly Rachel Alexandra was bred to Curlin the morning of Feb. 21. She was confirmed to be in foal on Monday morning and her due date is Feb. 1, 2010. The gestation period for a horse is 11 months, but first-time mothers tend to foal late father than early.

Curlin, who, like Rachel Alexandra, is owned by Jess Jackson, was Horse of the Year in 2007-08. Racing’s all-time leading moneywinner counts the Breeders’ Cup Classic and Dubai World Cup among his victories. The son of Smart Strike’s first foals are yearlings this year, meaning they’ll hit the track in 2012.

2010 Horse of the Year Zenyatta, who was also named Eclipse champion older female from 2008-10, was bred to Bernardini the morning of Feb. 23. She was confirmed to be in foal on Thursday morning and is also due the first week of February 2012.

Bernardini was the champion 3-year-old of 2006, when he won the Withers, Preakness, Jim Dandy, Travers and Jockey Club Gold Cup. He enjoyed great success as a freshman sire in 2010, producing Grade 1 winner AZ Warrior and Group 1 winner Biondetti; two of his other graded winners Stay Thirsty and To Honor And Serve, are on the Kentucky Derby trail.

What’s next? Both Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta were scanned and confirmed in foal 14-15 days after breeding, which is the earliest a pregnancy can be confirmed. The mares will be scanned again at the 26-28 day mark, and again at the 46-50 day mark. If there are no problems present with the embryo — which officially becomes a fetus at 50 days — at that point, then the mare is well on her way into pregnancy and the chances are good for a normal gestation and delivery.

Saturday's stakes timeline

2011-03-05T05:44:00.000-08:00

It's a busy Saturday, with action happening in a number of divisions coast-to-coast. Here's a quick guide to what to look for and when. All times are Eastern.

1:56 p.m.: Broadway Stakes, Aqueduct

This sprint for statebred fillies and mares is headed up by Meese Rocks, winner of the Union Avenue Stakes at Saratoga last summer. But the tough 6-year-old daughter of Rock And Roll has just two seconds from three starts this year.

2:24 p.m.: Fred "Cappy" Capossela Stakes, Aqueduct

Stakes winner Sensational Slam and stakes placed Rift are favored in a short field for this sprint for 3-year-olds.

2:52 p.m.: Grade 2 Tom Fool Stakes, Aqueduct

Todd Pletcher sends out the heavily favored entry here, headed up by Calibrachoa, a two-time stakes winner at the Aqueduct meet this winter. Stablemate Have You Ever is the weaker half of the entry, while stakes competitor Flat Bold could also contend.

3:33 p.m.: Maiden special weight, Santa Anita

The long-awaited debut of Wilburn, a son of Bernardini who sold for a sale-topping $625,000 to Stonestreet Stables as a 2-year-old in training last spring. The strapping bay colt is a half-brother to graded winner Beethoven. Mike Smith has the mount for trainer Steve Asmussen.

4:25 p.m.: Allowance optional claimer, Gulfstream

This sprint for older horses features graded winner Aikenite and Godolphin's well-regarded Tahitian Warrior.

4:40 p.m.: Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks, Santa Anita

One of the season's most interesting young rivalries, as Zazu and Turbulent Descent meet for the third time. The latter filly earned victories in the Moccasin and Hollywood Starlet, before she suffered her first defeat at the hands of Zazu in the Las Virgines last time out. Zazu could be even better going longer for owners Jerry and Ann Moss, who wouldn't mind having another special filly in the barn. Also in the field is Frizette winner AZ Warrior, making her 3-year-old debut.

4:50 p.m.: Challenger Stakes, Tampa Bay

Drosselmeyer makes his first start since winning the Belmont Stakes. The long break was necessitated by an ankle issue; he's looking to regroup and get back on track for this season after having to pass on the Dubai World Cup due to illness. This won't be a walkover by any means for a talented colt who was just starting to show his best stuff when he was sidelines. Also in the field are the talented Schoolyard Dreams, Jardim, Mad Flatter and Colizeo.

4:55 p.m.: Allowance optional claimer, Gulfstream

New York-bred turf star Banrock, now 8, is looking for his first win of the season.

5:12 p.m.: Grade 3 Gotham Stakes, Aqueduct

Toby's Corner has won three of four starts lifetime, including the Whirlaway at Aqueduct last time out. He looks to take another step toward the April 9 Wood Memorial and a showdown with Eclipse champion Uncle Mo. First he's got the champion's stablemate Stay Thirsty to contend with. This is no second-stringer. By Bernardini and from an outstanding female family, Stay Thirsty, who was second in the Hopeful last year, needed a long break after a green performance in the Juvenile. He might need a start to be at his best, but his pedigree suggests that the time off will have done him a world of good mentally.

5:15 p.m.: Clocker's Corner Handicap, Santa Anita

Reba Is Tops and Unzip Me are both coming off strong stakes wins at this meet.

5:25 p.m.: Honey Fox Stakes, Gulfstream

A deep field of fillies and mares takes of the turf.

6:02 p.m.: Mountain Valley Stakes, Oaklawn

Its timing on the calendar now makes it nearly insignificant, but it's worth noting that 2005 Eclipse champion Afleet Alex used this sprint as a springboard to bigger and better things.

7:40 p.m.: Grade 1 Kilroe Mile, Santa Anita

Caracortado has won both of his starts on turf, including the Sunshine Millions Turf - against graded winner and fellow Kilroe entrant Jeranimo - last time out. The 4-year-old is looking for his first Grade 1 score. Fluke was second to Proviso by a nose in this event last year; he comes in this year off a win in the Thunder Road Handicap.

8:10 p.m.: Santa Anita Handicap, Santa Anita

All eyes are on Twirling Candy, who has been the most exciting older horse at this meet. The son of Candy Ride broke Spectacular Bid's track record in winning the Malibu on opening day. He came back to dominate the Strub last month. He's trained strongly for this and appears to still be at the top of his game. Trainer Bob Baffert sends out four runners, including First Dude - making his first start for Baffert, the colt is looking for just his second lifetime win, but is multiple Grade 1 placed. Aggie Engineer has developed into a solid older horse this winter and won the San Pasqual earlier in the meet.

A brief look at the Big Cap

2011-03-04T16:19:00.000-08:00

The Hundred Grander, the Big Cap – whatever else you might call it, the Santa Anita Handicap, to be run at the track of the same name tomorrow afternoon, is one of America’s historically fascinating races.

The race was first held in 1935, just a few months after the track opened in late 1934. As depicted in the Hollywood blockbuster Seabiscuit, the race instantly vaulted into a spot as one of the premier meeting places for top older horses because of the $100,000 purse, then a staggering amount.

Seabiscuit finished second by a nose to Rosemont in the 1937 Santa Anita Handicap, and lost in a photo again the following year while giving 30 pounds to winner Stagehand. In 1939, Seabiscuit suffered what was believed to be a career-ending injury while preparing for the marquee race; it was some small consolation to his connections – owner Charles Howard and trainer Tom Smith - when they won anyway with stablemate Kayak II. But, improbably, Seabiscuit and Red Pollard – his regular rider who had also been badly injured in a workout accident - fought their way back to the sport to finally win the Santa Anita Handicap in 1940, in what would be Seabiscuit’s final start.

The list of the race’s winners through the middle of the century is peppered with the names of prominent handicap horses – Round Table in 1958, Hill Rise in 1965, Ack Ack in 1971, Cougar II in 1973.

Off his Triple Crown sweep and epic battles with Alydar, Affirmed went to post in the Santa Anita Handicap in early 1979 against another future Hall of Famer, Exceller. The 4-year-old ran his older rival off his feet, winning in a stakes-record 1:58.60 that still stands. The following year, another of racing’s greats, Spectacular Bid, dominated the Big Cap. He went on to complete an undefeated season.

The ageless John Henry became one of just three back-to-back winners of the event when he won it in 1981 and ’82. Alysheba claimed the race in 1988 to launch a campaign that would end with the Breeders’ Cup Classic victory and Horse of the Year title that had eluded him the year before.

In recent history, the Santa Anita Handicap has been a showcase for some of California’s favorite runners. The statebred standout Best Pal – who was inducted into the Hall of Fame last year – won the race in 1992. The brilliant gray Free House took the 1999 edition in a blanket finish, in what would be his final showdown with archrival Silver Charm. Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Tiznow won the Big Cap in 2001, but then hit a slump mid-season; he rallied to take a second Classic “for America” in the fall – making him the only two-time winner of America’s richest race.

Lava Man, the “King of California,” won the Santa Anita Handicap in 2006 and ‘07. Although woeful outside of his home state, he is the only horse to win all three of California’s premier events for older horses in one season – the Santa Anita Handicap, Hollywood Gold Cup and Pacific Classic. He’s one of just three horses to win two editions of the Big Cap; the only horse to win two Santa Anita Handicaps and two Hollywood Gold Cups; and one of just two horses to win three editions of the Gold Cup.

Misremembered gave California favorite Bob Baffert, a 2009 Hall of Fame inductee, his first victory in the Santa Anita Handicap last year. Baffert holds a strong hand in this year’s edition of the race, sending out four runners, including the well-regarded First Dude. Still looking for just his second career victory, the 4-year-old son of Stephen Got Even nevertheless has an impressive resume, as he finished second in the Preakness, Haskell and Pennsylvania Derby and third in the Belmont, Travers and Blue Grass last season. The strapping colt, who was previously trained by Dale Romans, will be making his first start for Baffert; he’s reportedly thrived since arriving in California last month. The trainer also sends out Game On Dude, Tweebster and Spurrier.

However, all eyes will be on heavy favorite Twirling Candy, who has just one loss in seven lifetime starts. The colt broke Spectacular Bid’s seven furlong track record in winning the Malibu Stakes in December, then dominated the Strub Stakes last month. Already making history on his own, he’s looking to add to the Big Cap’s rich legend today.

Stakes schedule for Saratoga released

2011-03-04T14:22:00.000-08:00

NYRA has released the stakes schedule for the 2011 meet at Saratoga Race Course.

The 143rd meet at the historic track runs from Friday, July 22 through Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 5, with the dark day on Tuesdays. The 40 days of live racing include 52 total stakes races. At least one stakes race is carded for each day of racing. The schedule includes 17 Grade 1 events, with at least one scheduled for each Saturday of the meet.

The centerpiece of the meet is the Grade 1 Travers Stakes on Saturday, Aug. 27. As always, the Mid-Summer Derby, expected to attract some of the nation’s top 3-year-olds, anchors a strong program. The four other graded events on the day are the Grade 1 Ballerina for female sprinters, the Grade 1 King’s Bishop for sophomore sprinters, the Grade 3 Victory Ride for 3-year-old fillies and the Grade 2 Ballston Spa for turf females.

The 52 stakes carry total purses of just over $10.9 million. The only substantial purse change was an increase from $100,000 to $150,000 to the With Anticipation Stakes, which was upgraded from a Grade 3 to a Grade 2 for this summer.

NYRA also released the stakes schedule for the upcoming Belmont spring/summer meet, which opens on April 29 and runs through July 17. The schedule features the return of four graded events that were on hiatus in 2010 due to NYRA’s financial woes. The Futurity, for 2-year-olds, and the Matron, for 2-year-old fillies, will be renewed on July 3. The two events, both Grade 2s, were previously run during Belmont’s Fall Championship meet.

The Grade 2 Peter Pan, the local prep for the Belmont, was another of the events on hiatus last year; it returns to its spot in the lineup on May 14. The Grade 2 Dwyer, which was moved from July to May last year to fill the gap as a prep race, moves back to its old position on July 2.

The Grade 3 Poker for older turf horses also returns and will be run July 10.

The schedules game

2011-03-03T21:27:00.000-08:00

It's always fun to watch trainers juggle schedules at this time of year, as those with multiple Derby contenders in their barns are working feverishly to keep their top runners apart, thereby maximizing the all-important graded earnings for each. Adding to the chaos are the owners - all have their own agendas, and trainers must manage all of them without slighting anyone.

Todd Pletcher, who saddled last year's Derby winner Super Saver, is in the spotlight this year with a trio of talented colts - Eclipse champion Uncle Mo; Stay Thirsty, who like Uncle Mo, is owned by Mike Repole; and Brethren, a half-brother to Super Saver who is owned by WinStar Farm, which also campaigned the latter colt.

Uncle Mo is expected to make his 3-year-old debut in the Timely Writer Stakes on March 12 at Gulfstream; the track carded the event in hopes of luring the champion away from the Tampa Bay Derby on the same day. The latter race, which Super Saver finished third in last year, now becomes a logical target for little brother Brethren, who is coming off a win in the Sam F. Davis over the same track. However, if the Timely Writer doesn't fill, Uncle Mo will likely be re-routed to Tampa Bay, forcing Pletcher to either run two of his colts against each other or find another race for Brethren. Meanwhile, Stay Thirsty makes his season debut in this Saturday's Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct; the race is the local prep for the Wood Memorial on April 9. But Repole, a New York native, plans to have Uncle Mo make his final Derby prep in front of a hometown crowd in that event, meaning Stay Thirsty will likely leave New York for another prep.

Steve Asmussen, who is based in California for the first time this winter, has a trio of interesting colts on the Derby trail. Albergatti, a recent maiden winner at the Santa Anita meet, is owned by Jess Jackson, who campaigned two Horses of the Year with Asmussen in Curlin and Rachel Alexandra. Stakes winner Astrology is owned by Jackson and George Bolton in partnership - Bolton was also involved with Curlin - while El Camino Real Derby winner Silver Medallion is owned by Michael Ryan.

All winter, it was thought that Astrology would make his 3-year-old debut in the San Felipe on March 12. However, with Albergatti breaking his maiden impressively to join the fray, he'll now contest the San Felipe instead. Astrology will be re-routed to the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn a week later - a race won by Curlin en route to a solid Triple Crown season. If both win or run convincingly, it would make sense to leave Astrology down south to contest the Arkansas Derby while Albergatti remains in California to train for the Santa Anita Derby; but if one of the colts flops, the options suddenly open up for the other. Meanwhile, plans are up in the air for Silver Medallion; he could go in the San Felipe, Rebel, Louisiana Derby or Sunland Park Derby.

Construction gaffe leads to Aqueduct cancellation

2011-03-03T18:46:00.000-08:00

We all know the Aqueduct casino is going to be a good thing – really. But it caused its own little set of problems on Thursday.

A construction crew working on the casino – which is expected to begin operating 4,500 long-awaited VLTs in late summer – accidentally severed a major electronic cable that leads from nearby Rockaway boulevard to Aqueduct this morning. As a result, the track lost all communications with its tote company, rendering it unable to take wagers and broadcast racing. Aqueduct was forced to cancel live racing and simulcasting for the day, and Belmont – where NYRA has operated in off-track betting facility since the shutdown of NYC OTB in December – was also closed for simulcasting.

This was the eighth full-card cancellation for this inner-track meet; a ninth card was cancelled early in the program due to high winds. But this cancellation can’t be blamed on the weather.

NYRA was working overnight to shift some tote operations to Belmont and run new cables to the cameras so that live racing could resume on Friday.

Dialed In to prep on Sunday

2011-03-03T18:28:00.000-08:00

It looks like Kentucky Derby contender Dialed In will get just the Florida Derby prep trainer Nick Zito was hoping for.

The son of Mineshaft, who won the Holy Bull last time out, is entered in Sunday’s fourth race at Gulfstream, an optional claimer for 3-year-olds and up at nine furlongs.

Zito had wanted to get a nine-furlong start into Dialed In, who is 2-for-2 lifetime, prior to the Florida Derby on April 3. But the timing of various traditional preps on the Florida circuit – such as last week’s Fountain of Youth and the upcoming Tampa Bay Derby – didn’t work out. Dialed In was nominated to next weekend’s Timely Writer Stakes at Gulfstream – where Eclipse champion Uncle Mo is expected to make his season debut – but at a mile, the race was too short for Zito’s taste.

This prep is interesting in that Dialed In will compete against some fairly solid older horses. Stakes winner William’s Kitten, who is multiple graded placed, is working his way back from a long layoff. Valerius and Equestrio are lightly-raced 4-year-olds; Valerius is coming off a handy allowance win, while Equestrio took a similar event at Gulfstream two starts back. Fellow 3-year-old Reprized Halo was a stakes winner last year, but is coming off a last-place effort in the Sam F. Davis last time out.

Keep an eye on Rogue Romance

2011-02-18T20:51:00.001-08:00

Today’s Risen Star Stakes at the Fair Grounds features a sneaky-good Triple Crown contender in Rogue Romance.

The son of Smarty Jones, trained by Ken McPeek, is flying somewhat under the radar because his best performances have come on turf. However, he’s displayed the grit and the versatility to make an impact down the lane.

After running fourth in his first start, Rogue Romance broke his maiden in August at Saratoga going two turns on the turf. That day, he stalked the pace in second before pouncing in the lane to win. Next time out, it was a different story. In the Bourbon Stakes at Keeneland, Rogue Romance broke slowly and was pinched back. He didn’t take kindly to kickback in his face and was 12th, over seven lengths behind the leaders, with just over a quarter mile to go. The colt unleashed a dazzling turn of foot down the lane to win by 2 ½ going away. It was encouraging to witness his reaction to adversity; although clearly shaken, the colt was still able to adjust his running style and give his best when it counted.

Rogue Romance turned in a solid performance in his first start on dirt, finishing third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile behind unbeaten champion Uncle Mo and Hopeful winner Boys At Tosconova.

With three solid two-turn performances under his belt, if Rogue Romance can continue his transition to the dirt, he’ll be a major player.

Meet Raven

2011-02-10T14:29:00.000-08:00

In case you missed today's Rising Stars column in The Saratogian - meet this blogger's new best friend. Rachael's Sting (Raven to her friends) is a 3-year-old former racehorse and all-around sweetheart. Here are some shots of her first week home in Greenfield Center.

( Playing in the snow - a favorite hobby)

Eclipse Award predictions

2011-01-16T18:53:00.000-08:00

While camped out on my couch watching the Golden Globes, I'm taking one last chance to review the credentials of the 2010 Eclipse Award finalists. Although I'm quite tickled that Glee has walked off with a handful of Golden Globes thus far - trust me, I'm much more eagerly anticipating the distribution of the Eclipse statuettes tomorrow night. Here's a brief summary of who I believe will win each category - as well as who I think ought to win. Full disclosure - I do not have an Eclipse vote.

Champion 2-year-old male

Will win: Uncle Mo

Should win: Uncle Mo.

This colt's brief but perfect 3-for-3 campaign has left many feeling excited about his chances to move on to the 2011 Triple Crown series. He began his season with a tour de force in a maiden at Saratoga before ending the year with back-to-back Grade I wins, including the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

Champion 2-year-old female

Will win: Awesome Feather

Should win: Awesome Feather

In a division where no filly was able to establish dominance by winning more than one Grade I event, and a few of those dropped out with injuries prior to the Breeders' Cup, whoever defeated a deep Juvenile Fillies field would walk away with the award. Awesome Feather - although she faced softer competition than R Heat Lightning did in the summer and fall - delivered.

Champion 3-year-old male

Will win: Lookin At Lucky

Should win: Lookin At Lucky

Were it not for some horrible racing luck (pardon the pun), he could have won two additional Grade Is this year - as it was, took the Preakness and Haskell with gritty performances. Established himself as best main-track runner of his generation, and likely to become the first since Spectacular Bid to be a champion at both 2 and 3.

Champion 3-year-old female

Will win: Blind Luck

Should win: Blind Luck

Took several trips cross-country to dance every dance, faced the best of her division and every top older female whose name didn't begin with a Z. It says something that she's head and shoulders above a top division - fellow finalists Havre de Grace and Evening Jewel will both be back next year.

Champion older male

Will win: Blame

Should win: Blame

Not much to argue here off his Classic win and his defeat of chief rival Quality Road in the Whitney.

Champion older female

Will win: Zenyatta

Should win: Zenyatta

Life At Ten won all but two starts in 2010 (one being the Ladies Classic debacle), including two Grade Is, and Unrivaled Belle won the Ladies Classic and defeated a reigning Horse of the Year. Bad luck for both to compete in this generation, as Zenyatta will go home with her third straight divisional title.

Champion turf male

Will win: Winchester

Should win: Gio Ponti

Gio Ponti's stablemate Winchester won two Grade Is, defeated Gio Ponti the only time they met, and undertook an ambitious trip to Hong Kong even after the Breeders' Cup. But I give the edge to the defending divisional champion, who began his year with a solid fourth in Dubai, came home to win two Grade Is with a few close beats, and finished up with a runner-up effort behind Goldikova in the Mile.

Champion turf female

Will win: Goldikova

Should win: Proviso

Goldikova is, without a doubt, one of the best turf racemares of all time, and defeated a top-class field that included Proviso in the Mile. But I've never been a fan of giving Eclipse Awards to European imports who make one start in America. Those are the current rules, and under that system, Goldikova will rightly win. But looking strictly at American milers, Proviso won four consecutive Grade Is, and defeated males in the Kilroe Mile.

Champion male sprinter

Will win: Majesticperfection

Should win: Big Drama

Voters seem to be remembering Majesticperfection's string of five straight wins that culminated in his dazzling win in the Vanderbilt in August. But that was his only graded start, and he was retired by Labor Day. Big Drama finished second in a pair of Grade Is at Saratoga in the summer and ended his year with a Breeders' Cup Sprint win. Hope this tough horse isn't underappreciated yet again.

Champion female sprinter

Will win: Dubai Majesty

Should win: Dubai Majesty

Multiple graded winner and Grade I placed runner broke through with a victory in the Filly and Mare Sprint over all of her serious rivals for the award. In a year when no one dominated the division, the race matters.

Champion trainer

Will win: John Shirreffs

Should win: Todd Pletcher

Shirreffs will finally and probably rightfully be recognized for his incredible patience and wonderful job with Zenyatta. But that's a lifetime achievement award. Pletcher enjoyed a sensational year, winning several training titles - including Saratoga - taking his first Kentucky Derby, winning three of four juvenile races at the Breeders' Cup, training a likely champion in Uncle Mo and handling four other Eclipse finalists.

Champion owner

Will win: Jerry and Ann Moss

Should win: Jerry and Ann Moss

Handful of stakes winners highlighted by Zenyatta; more importantly, they showed incredible sportsmanship by bringing their champion back another year, and have proven wonderful stewards of their animals by advocating racehorse retirement. this is the category where those attributes should be rewarded. Close runner-up in this category is WinStar Farm, for campaigning two individual Triple Crown event winners.

Champion breeder

Will win: Adena Springs

Should win: Claiborne Farm and Adele B. Dilschneider

Claiborne celebrated its centennial this year, and campaigned homebred Blame in conjunction with Dilschneider. A nod to history.

Champion jockey

Will win: Garrett Gomez

Should win: Garrett Gomez

Ramon Dominguez dominated the toughest jockey colony in the country yet again, and gets my award for ride of the year aboard Haynesfield in the Gold Cup. But Garrett Gomez riding three Breeders' Cup winners - including Blame - less than 48 hours after a terrible spill that strongly impacted his riding ability has to be one of the greatest athletic feats ever.

Horse of the Year

Will win: Zenyatta

Should win: Blame

Zenyatta, who pushed her record to an amazing 19-0 before falling barely short of Blame in the Classic, will finally be granted horse racing's highest honor for her incredible run. She'll be recognized for the achievement of her incredible career, as well as for all the positive attention she has brought to the sport. And I'm OK with that. But in the strictest sense - Horse of the Year is about accomplishment during the calendar year. Blame put together a cut and dried championship campaign. He won three Grade Is, defeating the best older male in Quality Road, the best older female in Zenyatta and the best 3-year-old in Lookin At Lucky. He ran in some of the most prestigious races in the country, defeating top-class competition each time. Any other year, his campaign would win without question. But this isn't any other year. Whoever's name is in the envelope tomorrow night - I salute them, because they're deserving; and I'll toast the loser, because it's a shame they have to lose. Two incredible candidates.

Awesome Feather sidelined

2011-01-13T19:47:00.000-08:00

The undefeated filly Awesome Feather, who is virtually certain to be named an Eclipse Award champion on Monday, has been sidelined by a tendon issue.

The filly was purchased for $2.3 million by Frank Stronach at Fasig-Tipton two days after her season-ending victory in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. Stronach transferred his new runner to Mechanicville native Chad Brown, who said the filly's tendon trouble began shortly after she arrived at his Palm Meadows barn.

Awesome Feather hasn't returned to the track since her Breeders' Cup win. She's currently walking and undergoing therapy.

Although Brown didn't completely rule it out, it seems unlikely Awesome Feather will run this spring. Her status for the Kentucky Oaks, a race she was the winter-book favorite for, is certainly in jeopardy.

Tapitsfly returns

2011-01-11T22:14:00.001-08:00

Tapitsfly, a Breeders' Cup winner who first emerged on the scene at Saratoga, will make her first start in over 14 months when she goes postward in an allowance/optional event on the Gulfstream turf Wednesday afternoon.

The gray daughter of Tapit, now 4, broke her maiden at fourth asking in August 2009 at the Spa. She followed up with a dominant victory in the P.G. Johnson Stakes here on the turf. After running second in the Miss Grillo Stakes at Belmont, she earned a hard-fought win in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. A series of minor injuries have kept her sidelined for over a year, however.

Julien Leparoux will be aboard Tapitsfly in Wednesday's race for trainer Dale Romance.

The filly's chief competition could be Miss World, winner of the Grade I Garden City in 2009 at Belmont. The 5-year-old is looking for her first win since.

Thoughts on the Eclipse finalists

2011-01-09T13:09:00.000-08:00

The Eclipse Award finalists were released just a few days ago. With the revelation of the winners approaching, here are some quick thoughts on who made the top three as a finalist in each category.

--Who on Earth cast a vote for Goldikova for Horse of the Year? Although France's mighty mite - already the Cartier Horse of the Year in Europe - is doubtlessly one of the best horses in the world, there is no way a horse who made a single start in North America should be seriously considered for our biggest award over candidates like /blame and Zenyatta.

--Although he has no chance of beating Lookin At Lucky out for the title, it was nice to see Paddy O'Prado included in the finalists for champion 3-year-old male. It's refreshing to see some diversity in the vote, since typically that ballot reads like a who's who of Triple Crown contenders. But surely Paddy also deserved to be a finalist for champion turf male? Perhaps his connections spoiled his chances by choosing to run in the Classic over a fairly weak edition of the Turf - but you have to think he deserved a nod ahead of Dangerous Midge, who, again, made one start in this country.

--It's a shame Life At Ten and Unrivaled Belle raced in the same year as Zenyatta. These two finalists would be deserving winners of the older female award any other year. There has been some serious depth in the female divisions in recent history.

--It was nice to see the late Tuscan Evening included in the finalists for champion turf female. Although she hadn't yet faced the best of the division, she went 6-for-6 in 2010 before her untimely death. Have to think she was as good as any.

--It will be interesting to see which way the jockey vote goes - although Johnny Velazquez had his typical solid year, particularly at Saratoga, my money is on Ramon Dominguez or Garrett Gomez. Dominguez dominated the toughest jockey colony in the country, New York, all year, and gets my vote for ride of the year aboard Haynesfield in the Gold Cup. But Gomez returning to ride three Breeders' Cup winners - including Blame - less than 48 hours after a serious accident has to be one of the most memorable athletic feats of the year.

--Another interesting quandary in the trainer category. Todd Pletcher (won first Kentucky Derby, trained Uncle Mo) and Bob Baffert (trained 2000th winner, trained Lookin At Lucky) both reached milestones this year and also trained likely champions. John Shirreffs has less quantity, but you can't argue with quality, as he once again brilliantly managed Zenyatta. It's rare to see a horse still at the top of her game, let alone running up a nearly-unbeaten record, at age 6.

--It's surprising that Frederic Lenclud, one of the most down-to-earth and hard-working young riders in the game, was left out of the apprentice jockey finalists. Lenclud may have ridden fewer winners than his fellow finalists, but he knocked heads with the toughest competition all year, often finishing well in the rider standings against polishes journeymen. Quick - when's the last time an apprentice won a graded stake at Saratoga?

Top 10 of 2010: The Classic

2010-12-31T15:39:00.000-08:00

It's impossible to imagine a more dramatic 25 seconds. The Twin Spires are glowing purple in the darkness at Churchill Downs, with only the racing strip itself brightly illuminated. Blame, seeking to become the first Classic winner for historic Claiborne Farm on its centennial, surging to the lead near the head of the stretch. The indomitable Zenyatta, looking to end her career a perfect 20-0, coming with her trademark late rally after appearing hopelessly beaten. The crowd is willing the big mare on. Standing at the clubhouse turn, with the field coming directly at me and the grandstand rocking in the darkness, was an out-of-body experience. I wished those 25 seconds could have lasted forever. We all know the result. In the end, I could do nothing but applaud both horses. As Zenyatta walked by us on the way back to her barn, I found tears coming to my eyes - not because she had lost, but because I was so grateful for the ride she has taken horse racing on for the past three years. I could do nothing but applaud as I tried to get the words "Thank you" out over and over past the lump in my throat. When Blame walked by several minutes later, a subdued crowd barely took notice. A friend and I waited by the rail and called congratulations to this brave little stallion as well. Whichever one of these two champions is crowned Horse of the Year in a few weeks - it will be a shame the other has to lose.