Ain't Easy

Historically, Independence Day racing had served up a smorgasbord of delectable graded action throughout the U.S. Since the advent of the 'Super Saturday' format instituted in many of the nation's biggest racing jurisdictions in more recent times, however, July 4 racing has felt a little more abstemious than gourmand. Underscoring the point, this year's holiday racing schedule features a single graded stakes race, the GII Great Lady M. at Los Alamitos. Formerly the Sequoia H., the Great Lady M. was initially contested over seven furlongs at Hollywood Park in 1941,...

Having her first start for trainer Tim Yakteen, Michael Lund Petersen's Adare Manor (Uncle Mo) tries to remain unbeaten around two turns as the prohibitive favorite in Saturday's GII Santa Anita Oaks at the Great Race Place. Second and fourth, respectively, in sprint maidens at this track on Halloween and at Del Mar the following month, the dark bay ran away from Micro Share (Upstart) by a dozen lengths when making her first start around two turns Jan. 7 and made light work of the GIII Las Virgenes S. last...

Bob Baffert brings a strong hand into Sunday's local prep for the GI Kentucky Oaks in Santa Anita's GIII Santa Ysabel S. Leading the charge is Eda (Munnings), last out winner of the GI Starlet S. Dec.4 where she defeated fellow Santa Ysabel contender Cairo Memories (Cairo Prince) by a gamhalf-length. She'll be looking for her fourth stakes victory in a row after also decisively winning both the Desi Arnaz S. and the Anoakia S. last fall. Not to be outdone by her stablemate, Under the Stars (Pioneerof the Nile) posted...

What to do with the Bob Baffert-trained horses? Up until now, we have been including them in the TDN Kentucky Oaks rankings, believing that they'd find a way into the race. Either their owners would move them to another trainer or Baffert would find a way through the courts that would allow them to enter. But when the story broke last week that Baffert had not nominated a single horse to the GI Kentucky Oaks we decided to drop them from the rankings and won't include them again until there...

'TDN Rising Star' Ain't Easy (f, 2, Into Mischief--Ameristralia {Aus}, by Fastnet Rock {Aus}) put on a show to remain unbeaten while punching her ticket to the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies in Friday's 'Win and You're In' GII Chandelier S. at Santa Anita. Electric Ride (Daredevil), a runaway debut winner at Del Mar Aug. 28, was second; second out Del Mar maiden winner Desert Dawn (Cupid) was third. Heavily favored GI TVG Del Mar Debutante S. heroine Grace Adler (Curlin) never factored while fifth. Ain't Easy, a sharp 5...

Grace Adler (Curlin) looks to take her record to three-for-three and provide Hall of Famer Bob Baffert with his 12th victory in Santa Anita's GII Chandelier S. Friday, a "Win and You're in Event" for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies in November. A debut winner at Del Mar July 31, the $700,000 FTKSEL purchase already secured her spot in the gate for the World Championships with a dominant late-running score in the Sept. 5 GI Del Mar Debutante S., which she won by 11 1/4 lengths over Dance to...

   Ain't Easy (Into Mischief) was given an 8-1 chance in this debut and will certainly be a much lower price next out after a 'TDN Rising Star'-worthy victory. The bay settled on the fence in mid-pack through a :21.98 opening quarter and improved her position turning for home. She overtook favored Keychain Girl (Practical Joke) in early stretch and powered clear with ease to win for fun by 5 1/4 lengths. The winner is the 26th 'TDN Rising Star' for Spendthrift super sire Into Mischief and the second of...