Shared Content Archive

A $1-million purse and automatic berth into the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff lured just six older mares to Saturday's GI Ogden Phipps S., but the presence of last year's champion 3-year-old filly Untapable (Tapit) might have something to do with it. The Winchell homebred racked up over $2.8 million last term during a season that included wins in the GI Kentucky Oaks, GI Mother Goose S., GI Cotillion S. and was capped off by a win in the Distaff. Upended when second at 1-9 odds in Oaklawn's GII Azeri S. Mar. 14,...

A well-matched group of 13 turf sprinters square off in Belmont's GIII Jaipur S. Saturday. Adele Dilschneider's Mosler (War Front) gets the 3-1 nod on Eric Donovan's morning line off a two-length romp in the Apr. 29 Elusive Quality S. The $1.05-million KEESEP yearling took a main-track allowance in the slop at Aqueduct in November, but was sixth in Gulfstream's grassy GII Fort Lauderdale S. Jan. 10. He finished ninth two back in the Feb. 7 GIII Fred W. Hooper S. back on the main track while getting first-time Lasix, but looks...

Philip Mitchell has today announced that he will be standing down as General Manager of Juddmonte Farms later this year. During the next six months, he will work with the Juddmonte team to ensure a smooth transition. Mitchell, based primarily at Banstead Manor Stud in Newmarket, has been part of the world class organization for 27 years and has overseen the careers of such luminaries as Frankel (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), Kingman (GB) {Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and Oasis Dream (GB) (Green Desert), among others. "I could not have worked for a...

Legatissimo (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) faces just 10 rivals as she bids to become only the second filly since 1990 to complete the G1 1000 Guineas-Investec Oaks double at Epsom on Friday, but has the potentially tricky stall one to overcome to do so. Ryan Moore faces the age-old dilemma on Michael Tabor's May 3 Newmarket Classic heroine, with the almost-instant swing to the right meaning that a forwardly ridden runner might be trapped wide while traffic issues could dog one settled in behind. Having already won over excess of a...

California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit) pleased connections in his racecourse gallop at Ascot on Thursday but original jockey plans to have Frankie Dettori take the mount at Royal Ascot have been shelved. Although Dettori partnered Art Sherman's star over seven furlongs of the Ascot turf it appears the Italian will be required to partner the John Gosden trained Western Hymn (GB) (High Chaparral {Ire}) in the G1 Prince Of Wales's S. June 17. Art Sherman's son and assistant Alan was at the track to see the gallop and regarding possible jockey plans he...

Sir Michael Stoute last enjoyed success in the G1 Investec Oaks in 1987, but in Crystal Zvezda (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) he has arguably one of his best chances in the interim and hopes are high that Freemason Lodge will be in celebratory mood on Friday evening. Sir Evelyn de Rothschild's homebred is a half-sister to the proven 12-furlong performers Crystal Capella (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) and Hillstar (GB) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) and looked when winning Newbury's Listed Fillies' Trial S. over 10 furlongs May 16 as if this trip would be well...

John Gosden holds a significantly strong hand in Saturday's G1 Investec Derby at Epsom, with Golden Horn (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) and Jack Hobbs (GB) (Halling) currently first and second favorites for the blue riband, but the trainer was keeping an eye on the possibly volatile weather forecast as he pondered the best option for the latter. Godolphin's acquisition was second to his stable companion in the G2 Dante S. at York May 14 and pleased in a spin around the Surrey venue during the "Breakfast with the Stars" morning, but the Clarehaven Stables...

The final day of the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale saw the best kept till last as a fine colt by Foxwedge (Aus) (Fastnet Rock (Aus) stole the show. Offered by Eliza Park International, as agent for the Heinrich Bloodstock Unreserved Dispersal Sale, the colt, lot 2057 was knocked down to the powerful Hawkes Racing operation for a sales topping A$340,000. The well bred colt was one of eight yearlings to fetch a six figure sum throughout the day and John Hawkes commented,"He's a great individual with a nice head and good...

Multiple Group 1 winner Al Kazeem (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) has picked up an injury that will keep him on the sidelines for the time being. The 7-year-old entire recently won a strong renewal of the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at The Curragh and connections were understandably keen to target the G1 Prince Of Wales's S. at Royal Ascot. However trainer Roger Charlton has announced that John Deer's homebred will not make Ascot and said, "Al Kazeem returned from Ireland with an injury to his foreleg, which will rule out the Prince of...

by Barry Weisbord  Last Thursday, world traveler/trainer extrordinaire Mike de Kock got me thinking. While walking his Kentucky Derby-bound Mubtaahij toward his morning gallop at Churchill Downs, he turned to me and said, "I knew this was big, but I really had no idea how big." He was right.  We have become very gun shy, we devotees of Thoroughbred racing in America. Our industry media is constantly finding fault with what we do; some deserved, some not. The non-industry media rarely pays attention to us, and lately, when they do,...

About two-and-a-half hours after American Pharoah won the 2015 Kentucky Derby, a mare we own in partnership lay down and foaled a colt.  Another dream began.  It is a scene repeated every night in foaling barns during breeding season.  On wobbly, spindly legs they stand for the first time.  As they do, breeders dream.  Ahmed Zayat and his family had a big dream, of winning the Kentucky Derby. After three seconds in the country's most storied race, they had to wonder if they would stand in the winners' circle on...

Having surrendered his unbeaten record to Silverwave (Fr) (Silver Frost {Ire}) in the G3 Prix la Force here Apr. 6, Khalid Abdullah's Epicuris (GB) (Rail Link {GB}) bids to restore his air of supremacy in Tuesday's G2 Prix Greffulhe at Saint-Cloud. Taken on for the lead last time and tending to over-race as a result, last year's G3 Prix de Conde and G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud winner has just three rivals to contend with here including a member of the Andre Fabre brigade inUntold Secret (GB) (Shamardal). Successful on a record 11 occasions...