Perfect Arc

Angel Penna, Jr., who trained Eclipse Award winners Christmas Past and Laugh and Be Merry and was the son of Hall of Famer Angel Penna, Sr., passed away Tuesday at age 74. Battling dementia, Penna passed away in his sleep in a memory care facility near his home in Boca Raton, Florida. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Penna was an assistant to his father before going out on his own in 1980. His clients at the time included Cynthia Phipps, who raced in the colors of Wheatley Stable, her grandmother's...

In this continuing series, we examine the past winners of significant filly/mare races by the lasting influence they've had on the breed. Up today is Keeneland's GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup S., a race with a short history but a lengthy reach. Much has been written in the past few weeks about the christening of the "QEII" and its beginning to honor the late Queen Elizabeth II's visit to Central Kentucky--and Keeneland--in 1984. As such, there have only been 38 runnings and a good third or so of the...