Game On Dude may have caused his backers a bit of concern when he trailed the field in the San Antonio Stakes (gr. II)  after a tardy start, but it all worked out for the 3-10 favorite, who romped to victory at Santa Anita Feb. 5.

Joe Torre, the former Major League Baseball manager who is part of the ownership group Diamond Pride, led Game On Dude back to the winner's circle after the big 5-year-old gelding defeated four rivals in the 1 1/8-mile San Antonio on Super Bowl Sunday. Game On Dude was making his first start since he nearly stole the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) last November at Churchill Downs at 14-1 odds before settling for second.

Chantal Sutherland rode Game On Dude to a 5 1/4-length victory over Uh Oh Bango in the San Antonio for trainer Bob Baffert. The final time was a strong 1:46.88 on a fast track.

Last year, Sutherland guided Game On Dude to a pair of grade I victories in the Santa Anita Handicap and the Goodwood Stakes before the dark bay son of Awesome Again was defeated in the Breeders' Cup by Drosselmeyer. Game On Dude completed the year with a 3-3-1 record in eight starts with earnings of more than $1.9 million.

After winning the San Antonio, Baffert was non-committal on whether Game On Dude would next race in the $10 million Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) March 31 at Meydan Race Course. He said he would have to consult with the horse's owners -- Diamond Pride, the Lanni Family Trust, Mercedes Stable, and Bernard Schiappa -- about the next step.

"We'll have to sit down and see how he comes out of it (the race)," Baffert said. "He ran pretty hard today."

Of course, Game On Dude may also stay home and defend his title in the March 3 Santa Anita Handicap, which he won last year.

Game On Dude registered the fourth graded stakes win of his career while running his overall mark to 6-4-1 in 15 starts. He has now banked $2,254,658.

Adena Springs bred Game On Dude, who is out of the Devil His Due mare Worldly Pleasure, in Kentucky.

Mucho Macho Man has grown up.

The youngest horse in actual age on the Triple Crown trail last season, Mucho Macho Man gave every indication he will be a horse to reckon with in the handicap division as a 4-year-old after launching his season with an impressive 1 1/2-length victory over Ron the Greek in Saturday's $400,000 Florida Sunshine Millions Classic.

The Classic highlighted the six-race Florida Sunshine Millions program at Gulfstream Park that also featured an easy victory by Stronach Stable's Eclipse Award winner Awesome Feather in the Distaff.

A son of Macho Uno, Mucho Macho Man tripped out perfectly in the 1 1/8-mile Classic, stalking the pace of Turbo Compressor from the outset under jockey Ramon Dominguez. Mucho Macho Man overtook the leader near the quarter pole, quickly drew well clear, then maintained a safe advantage to the end. Mucho Macho Man completed the distance in 1:47.91 seconds, just .42 of a second off the track ready set by Quality Road two years earlier.

Ron the Greek turned in a strong effort to be second, overcoming a slow start and wide trip to finish a length in front of the tiring Turbo Compressor. They were followed by Duke of Mischief, the 8-5 favorite Adios Charlie, Decaf Again, and Dream Maestro.

Mucho Macho Man, a son of Macho Uno, is trained by Kathy Ritvo for the partnership of Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Dream Team One Racing Stable. He paid $6.20.

"He's really matured and is a lot more serious now than he was last year," said Ritvo, who underwent successful heart transplant surgery just 15 months ago.

"Ramon is a great jockey. He gave him a perfect ride, and he ran a great race. He ran as hard as he could but had a little something left at the end. We've been very blessed with this horse. Very, very blessed."

Ritvo said she has nothing picked out at the moment for Mucho Macho Man's next start.

"We'll see how he comes out of the race and then make another plan," said Ritvo.

-edited from drf.com

Opponents hoping to catch Awesome Feather at the right time because she was coming off a two-month layoff and racing at a track she’d never seen before are heading back to the drawing board after the undefeated filly punished five foes in taking the $300,000 Sunshine Millions Distaff Stakes by 5 3/4 lengths Jan. 28 at Gulfstream Park. She ran the nine furlongs on the main track in 1:49.17, with track announcer Larry Colmus describing her performance as 'perfectly awesome!'

The 4-year-old daughter of Awesome of Course  ran her career mark to a perfect nine-for-nine and increased her earnings to $1,861,746 with the $180,000 winner’s share of the Distaff, which was restricted to Florida-breds. She is owned by Stronach Stables, which purchased her after her score in the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I). She was named champion 2-year-old filly in North America that year.

Under Jeffrey Sanchez, who has ridden her in all her starts, Awesome Feather broke alertly in the Sunshine Millions Distaff and raced on the outside of early pacesetter Tiz the Argument, who went off as the second-choice in the race at 6-5. Tiz the Argument showed the field through the first quarter mile in :23.46 and went a half in :46.69.
Approaching the second turn, Awesome Feather strode to the lead and quickly repelled a bid by Delightful Mary, increasing her advantage to four lengths as the field hit the stretch and drawing off from there under urging.

Bred in the Sunshine State by Jacks or Better Farm out of the Gone West mare Precious Feather, Awesome Feather is now conditioned by Chad Brown, who took over from Stanley Gold when Frank Stronach purchased her. Following her Breeders’ Cup score, Awesome Feather missed 11 months with a tendon injury, and Brown brought her back last October to win a minor stakes at Belmont Park before saddling her to a daylight victory in the Gazelle (gr. I) last November at Aqueduct.

Awesome Feather won her first five races, all at Calder Racecourse, so it was a happy return home to Florida for her. Stronach stands Awesome Again, the sire of Awesome of Course at his Adena Springs in Lexington.

-edited from bloodhorse.com

Horse Racing Radio Network (HRRN), the Eclipse Award-winning broadcast organization based in Lexington, KY, announced Thursday it has partnered with Adena Springs, Gulfstream Park, Santa Anita, and the Stronach Group to provide live coverage of the tenth annual Sunshine Millions, Saturday, January 28, from 2-6 p.m. EST.  
 
HRRN’s coverage will include six Florida Sunshine Millions stakes to be contested at Gulfstream Park, along with four stakes to be run on Santa Anita’s Sunshine Millions day card, and will encompass each stakes races included in the $250,000 guaranteed (HBO) LUCK Pick six.   
 
Saturday’s coverage is the first in HRRN’s series of “Internet Exclusive” broadcasts to be made available exclusively on the HRRN website in 2012.  Fans can listen live with free streaming at www.horseracingradio.net.
 
HRRN President Mike Penna will anchor the coverage along with analyst Jude Feld.
 
 -edited press relesase

Adena Springs has been nominated for another Sovereign Award for Outstanding Breeder and two runners from Stronach Stables are among the equine finalists announced on January 24.

Frank Stronach/Adena Springs has earned the award for Canada's top breeder nine times and a tenth honor would be an all-time record. Already named Outstanding Breeder at the American Eclipse Awards in mid-January, it would also be the fifth Sovereign/Eclipse Award double for Mr. Stronach's expansive operation. No other breeder has accomplished this feat even once.

The Adena Springs-bred, Frank Stronach owned Don Cavallo is one of the nominees for Champion Older Male in Canada. A son of Adena Spring's late great sire El Prado, his signature win came in the Dominion Day H. (G3), which he dominated in wire-to-wire fashion over a field that included a Blue Grass S. (G1) winner.

Smart Sting, another Adena-bred who races in the colors of Frank Stronach, is up for honors as champion 3yo Filly. Out of Perfect Sting, an Eclipse Award winner for Stronach Stables in 2000, Smart Sting won or placed in three stakes in 2011, including a handy win in the Selene S. (G3) over Queen's Plate winner and fellow finalist Inglorious.

The Sovereign Awards ceremony is April 5, 2012 at Woodbine Racecourse.

-Matt O'Neil

Ghostappzer ranked as the top sire in the world in 2011 by 'ABC Runner Index' on Bill Oppenheim's highly-regarded 'APEX Ratings'.

"The ABC Runner Index is a very important measure of consistency because it measures a stallion's proficiency in siring runners that figure among the top 8% of earners," Mr. Oppenheim wrote in the January 18th edition of Thoroughbred Daily News. "Another way we say that is 'sires of money-making horses'".

To put Ghostzapper's ABC Runner Index of 2.66 in perspective, the great A. P. Indy, who stood for as much as $300,000 in his career, ranked second with an ABC Index of 2.62. Ghostzapper ranked well ahead of such current six-figure stallions as Distorted Humor (2.41), Medaglia d'Oro (2.31), Dynaformer (2.07), Tapit (2.04) and Street Cry (1.86). This no doubt lead Mr. Oppenheim to conclude that:

"It's hard not to think (Ghostzapper's) an awful lot of sire for $20,000 right now."

Ghostzapper also ranked #1 worldwide in 2011 with a 'B Runner Index' of 3.54 and #3 with three-year-old 'ABC Index' of 2.85.

Click here to read the full TDN article and view the complete APEX Ratings.

-Matt O'Neil

Frank Stronach’s Adena Springs continues to crank out top-level stakes winners and knocked down its seventh Eclipse Award for breeder in the last eight years. In all, it’s the eighth Eclipse for Stronach as he earned his first statue in 2000 under his name. As an owner, Stronach has earned four Eclipse Awards.

As far as money earned as a breeder, Adena Springs led the North American list for the ninth year in a row in 2011. As an individual concern, Adena Springs bred 493 starters who won 455 races from 3,348 starts with earnings of more than $14.6 million. That total more than doubles the earnings from the second-placed breeder, Ken and Sarah Ramsey, who were also Eclipse Award finalists in the breeder category.

Adena Springs received 151 first-place votes, with the Ramsey getting 62 votes.

The list of Adena Springs stakes winners in 2011 was impressive and included nine graded stakes winners headed by two-time grade I winner Game On Dude. Game On Dude, who also finished a gritty second in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I), won the Santa Anita Handicap and Goodwood Stakes. A top runner on turf on the West Coast in 2011, Bourbon Bay won Santa Anita’s San Marcos Stakes (gr. IIT) and Del Mar’s Cougar II Handicap (gr. IIIT). Adena’s other graded winners were Bay to Bay, Celtic New Year, City Wolf, Don Cavallo, Matthewsburg, Smart Sting, and Stunning Stag.

Stronach, who built Magna International into one of the world’s leading auto parts manufacturers, has been involved in breeding and racing Thoroughbreds for more than 40 years and is perhaps best known in the industry as the owner of a strong portfolio of racetracks including Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park, and both Pimlico and Laurel Park of the Maryland Jockey Club.

As an owner and breeder, Stronach has also won 18 Sovereign Awards, nine each as outstanding breeder and outstanding owner.

The Eclipse Awards ceremony for 2013 will move to Gulfstream Park in Florida under a new sponsorship involving The Stronach Group, which owns the racetrack.

The Stronach Group has joined Daily Racing Form and Breeders' Cup as a presenting sponsor of the Eclipse Awards beginning this year. The 2011 awards will be handed out Jan. 16 in Beverly HIlls, Calif.

“We are delighted to reach this agreement that will take the Eclipse Awards to new and exciting heights,” National Thoroughbred Racing Association president and chief executive officer Alex Waldrop said. “The partnership was structured to be multi-faceted and, while it’s too early to get into specifics, it is expected to have many ancillary benefits for both The Stronach Group and the industry as a whole going forward.”

"Our commitment is to provide a first-class customer experience for racing fans and horsemen year-round at our racing properties," Stronach Entertainment Group CEO Greg Avioli said. "We are excited to sponsor the Eclipse Awards, which has always exemplified the best in the sport of racing. We especially look forward to hosting the 2013 Eclipse Awards at Gulfstream Park, which will be a first for the racing industry."

- from bloodhorse.com

Dr. Zic, a Grade 1 winner by Canadian Champion Sire Milwaukee Brew, commanded a final bid of $375,000 on the second day of the annual Keeneland January sale. She was the second-highest seller among racing/broodmare prospects during Day 2.

Dr. Zic's signature win came in the 2010 Madison S. (G1) at Keeneland when she defeated a pair of Eclipse Champions and Breeders' Cup winners in Dubai Majesty and Informed Decision. She was consigned by Four Star Sales and was purchased by SF Bloodstock, who have one of the elite Kentucky sires in mind for her first mate.

"She was a genuine Grade 1 winner," SF Bloodstock's Tom Ryan told Thoroughbred Daily News after the purchase. "...she's a great mover and is a nice type. She'll be retired, though I don't know who we'll breed her to... possibly Medaglia d'Oro, or someone like that."

- Matt O'Neil

Larry Johnson's Old Bushmill launched a bold bid outside rivals when set down for the drive and was up in the late stages to best Red Oak Stable's front-running Kissimmee Kyle by a half-length at the wire in Saturday's $60,000 Dixie Poker Ace Stakes over Fair Grounds' Stall-Wilson turf course.

Trained by Morris Nicks, who was saddling his second winner of the day, Old Bushmill was patiently ridden by Shaun Bridgmohan, who deferred all the credit to Nicks following the victory.

"All I had to do was keep him out of trouble," said Bridgmohan. "I just wanted to give him a clear path."

Old Bushmill, by the Irish-bred sire North Light out of the Carr de Naskra mare Make Mine a Double, paid $16.80, $6 and $4, toured the about one mile-distance over the firm grass course in 1:37.95, and increased his career earnings to $157,574. The victory was Old Bushmill's second stakes triumph and fourth win in his last five starts.

"He had a clean trip," said Nicks. "That was the whole thing."

-edited from sportsnola.com

Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) winner Wilko finished 2011 as the #4 First Crop sire in Canada by progeny earnings and ranked first is some important categories.

The son of Awesome Again was was the leader of his crop by winners and co-leader by repeat winners and stakes horses.

Wilko will stand for a 2012 stud fee of $5,000.

-Matt O'Neil

Silent Name finished 2011 as the #1 First Crop sire in New York by stakes horses and winners.

The multiple graded stakes-winning son of the immortal Sunday Silence was represented by impressive Maiden Special winners like Silent Saga, Silentio, Silent Sue and Silent Sam. The latter two earned blacktype in 2011 with Silent Sam placing in a pair of stakes races in Canada.

Silent Name name also ranked as the #2 active First Crop stallion in Empire State by progeny earnings. He will stand the 2012 season for a $5,000 service fee.

-Matt O'Neil

Multiple Grade 1 winner Game On Dude is among three finalists for the Eclipse Award for Champion Older Male in North America.

The four-year-old son of Awesome Again is the only Older Male contender to have raced a full season in 2011. He won the historic Santa Anita Handicap (G1) in early March and captured the Goodwood S. (G1) in October before his gutsy runner-up finish in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). He placed in three other stakes over the summer, including the Hollywood Gold Cup (G1), and earned over $1.9 million for the year.

Game On Dude would be Awesome Again's third Eclipse Award winner after Ghostzapper, the 2004 Horse of the Year and Champion Older Male, and Ginger Punch, the Champion Older Filly/Mare of 2007.

-Matt O'Neil

For the ninth consecutive year, Adena Springs was the leading North American breeder in 2011, with $15,519,864 in earnings for horses bred by Frank Stronach’s operation.

According to Equineline, Adena was represented by horses that won 490 races from 3,579 starts. The total earned by Adena-bred horses was more than twice that of Kenneth L. and Sarah K. Ramsey, who ranked second with $7,225,502 earned.

Those impressive statistics earned the admiration of Eclipse Award voters who made Adena Springs one of three finalists for the Outstanding Breeder award. Frank Stronach earned his first Eclipse as Outstanding Breeder in 2000 and his Adena Springs Farm has won the award seven of the past eight years.

-edited from bloodhorse.com

Adena Springs will hold an Open House Stallion show on Sunday, January 8, the day before the annual Keeneland January Horse of All Ages sale.
 
A drawing for a free season to Adena's exciting young five-time Grade 1 winner Einstein (Brz) will be held on the 8th with the value of the stud fee to be donated to The Race for Education's Starting Gate Youth Program at schools in Bourbon County. Frank Stronach's Adena Springs will also donate a portion of proceeds of every Einstein breeding contract signed that day to the same program.

"Mr. Stronach has always generously supported programs within Adena Springs' community, and the Starting Gate Youth program is a deserving beneficiary," said Adena Springs' General Manager Eric Hamelback. "We felt that it was fitting that we associate his generosity with our aptly named stallion, Einstein. This spring, students from Bourbon County's schools will have an opportunity to meet Einstein and tour the farm to learn about future career opportunities."

The Race For Education began the starting gate program in New York in 2009 and it was expanded to include two Central Kentucky locations in the 2011-2012 school year. The program offers at-risk youth tutoring, computer training, prep courses, field trips, career research and counseling, as well as other services.

Also available for inspection at the Stallion Open House are Awesome Again, the co-leading active sire of Breeders' Cup winners with four; his son Horse of the Year Ghostzapper, the #3 Third Crop sire in 2011 with 7 stakes winners and 18 stake horses and Macho Uno, who also had a stellar 2011 season as the sire of Grade 2 winner and Kentucky Derby (G1) third Mucho Macho Man as well as $825,000, $700,000, $350,000, etc. sales progeny.

-edited from Thoroughbred Daily News

The well-traveled Chips All In, a 2yo son of Epsom Derby winner North Light, made Santa Anita the fourth track at which he's posted a victory, coming from just off an easy pace to capture the Eddie Logan S. at Santa Anita. 

A debut winner over the all-weather surface at Golden Gate in June, he added a victory at Del Mar in July ahead of a victory in the Gold Rush Futurity on the dirt at Arapahoe Park Aug. 21. He made his first start for the Jeff Mullins barn in the Nov. 12 Golden Nugget S. at Golden Gate, where he was beaten on the wire, and he was trying turf and two turns for the first time in the Eddie Logan. Settled just off a soft pace, Chips All In came calling for the lead at the eighth pole and edged away late.

Out of a mare by Maria's Mon, Chips All In was bred by Adena Springs in Kentucky and races for the partnership of Jean Everest, John O'Brian, Danny Valdez & Michelle Turpin. He now has a record of four wins and a second from five starts with wins on dirt, all-weather and grass surfaces.

After Lisa T. (a half sister to Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver) won yesterday at Aqueduct, WinStar owner Kenny Troutt had farm president Elliott Walden pass on to Todd Pletcher that the trainer got to deal with the easy Lisa T. That might be the case--Troutt's wife Lisa might lodge an objection--but at very least, Pletcher trains a gutsy namesake. "We're excited about her," Walden said. "She's a filly with a lot of talent, and hopefully, we'll get some black-type with her."

"She's still really green," added Walden. "In her last start, she dropped her rider in the post parade. When she turned for hope with the lead today, she jumped over almost two paths, and Ramon [Dominguez] said when she made the lead, she just put her toes in the ground. So there was a lot left when that other filly came to her, and she got refocused and went about her business."

Walden said Lisa T., who will likely make her next start in a local overnight stakes, boasts the good looks typical of her family. "The whole family is such a well-balanced, athletic family," he said. "They are all very clean in their lines--through their necks and toplines. In that regard, she reminds me more of Super Saver than Brethren. Because he's by Distorted Humor, Brethren's a little blockier through the shoulder and a little more compact. Super Saver is just gorgeous. But the whole family is really pretty. We're hopeful she can do some good things for us this year. She's a filly that was always one of our favorites here last year. She and Gemologist were the two who showed a lot."

- edited from Thoroughbred Daily News

In recent months, visitors have arrived unannounced at Magali Farms on Casey Avenue in Santa Ynez, Calif., with one objective – a chance to meet 2005 Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo.

“It’s amazing the amount of following he has from the general public,” said Magali Farms manager Tom Hudson.

“He’s great with people. We show him in the walking ring and he stands and poses. People get their picture taken with him. Everybody wants to pet a Kentucky Derby winner.”

Having a famous Thoroughbred ambassador is a source of pride for Magali, but it is not the farm’s main objective. Hudson and the rest of the Magali team are hoping that Giacomo is also well-received by California mare owners in the upcoming breeding season.

Giacomo will stand his first season at stud in California in 2012, for a fee of $5,000. He stood at Adena Springs in Kentucky for his first five seasons at stud, and was sent to Magali in the fall. Giacomo, 9, is the only Kentucky Derby winner standing in the state.

California breeders are notorious for arranging matings later in the breeding season than their counterparts in other states, but Hudson says the phones at Magali have been ringing of late.

“We’ve had a lot of calls, which is unusual for this time of year,” he said.

Hudson expects a large group of mares for Giacomo. He said he will be “extremely disappointed” if Giacomo fails to get a book of 70 to 80 mares. Interest in the stallion will be boosted by the familiarity that California owners and breeders have with the horse, who was based in Southern California during his career.

Giacomo won 3 of 16 starts and $2,537,316 in his career. At 2, he was second in the Grade 1 Hollywood Futurity. At 4, he won the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar.

In addition, Giacomo’s current crop of 2-year-olds is promising. Disposable Pleasure overcame trouble to win the Grade 2 Demoiselle Stakes at Aqueduct in late November and is a contender for the Kentucky Oaks (G1) next spring.

Hudson hopes Disposable Pleasure can give Giacomo a further boost before breeding season begins in mid-February.

“I figure she’ll run one more time before breeding and we can get lucky,” he said.

From a technical point of view, Hudson said that Giacomo’s bloodlines – Holy Bull out of Set Them Free, by Stop the Music – should appeal to breeders whose mares have Northern Dancer and Mr. Prospector pedigrees.

“He’s a total outcross,” Hudson said. “He’s a good grade on the nicking pattern.

“He’s unbelievably put together. Out in the pasture, running around on his own, when he’s trotting, he looks like an upper level dressage horse.”

This year, Giacomo has progeny earnings of $1,429,884, which left him ranked 14th among California stallions through Dec. 17. He has 47 winners, four stakes winners and 10 stakes horses this year. Those four stakes winners are most among California-based second crop stallions.

Those statistics mean more to horse racing insiders than the fans who visit Magali. Some have come from as far away as northern San Diego County, Hudson said.

“There was one group of 30 people,” Hudson said. “We tend to have them almost every day. It’s great to have a horse that people remember.”

- edited from Daily Racing Form

Noted bloodstock observer Bill Oppenheim has released his annual 'Value Sires in Kentucky at $50,000 and Under' and a pair of Adena Springs stallions have once again made the grade - Awesome Again and his son Ghostzapper.

Awesome Again has been a fixture on this list the past several seasons and Mr. Oppenheim had this to say about the 1998 Breeders' Cup Classic winner:

"Only three of the 40 sires on this list stand for $50,000, and they're all included for the same reason: given how good they all are, they should be standing for more. This has been the case for a couple of years with Adena Springs' Awesome Again, who--as if we needed reminding again--nearly had his fifth Breeders' Cup winner and second GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner (after Ghostzapper) when two-time 2011 Grade I winner Game On Dude held off all but Drosselmeyer in this year's Classic. Awesome Again himself won one of the best Breeders' Cup Classics ever in 1998."

Mr. Oppenheim also had high praise for Ghostzapper:

"Among those with their first 4-year-olds, there's no doubt Adena Springs' Ghostzapper at $20,000 looks a reasonable buy. He's sired the winners of over $4.9-million this year, including 18 black-type horses (BTH), of which 10 are graded/group stakes horses (GSH). When we did our August 1 APEX run, he had exactly a 2.50 ABC Runner Index, which ranked him third among more than 600 sires with 200+ year-starters 2005-2011, and which means exactly 20% of his runners were at least paying their way. In this world, that's a big number."

Crimson Pride, a 2yo colt by Olmodavor, earned his second consecutive wire-to-wire victory in the Kudzu Juvenile S. at Fair Grounds on December 9th.

Breaking alertly under jockey Miguel Mena, Crimson Pride was on top by 1 1/2 lengths after a quarter mile and widened his advantage from there. He was in command by 7 lengths at the top of the stretch and cruised to the wire of the 5 1/2 furlong event 12 1/4 lengths in front.

The odds-on favorite was bred in Kentucky by Walnut Hill Stable, LLC out of the Smart Strike mare Elle's Reign and races for owner James A. Nunley. Crimson Pride is the latest 2yo stakes winner for Olmodavor. In fact, 80% of his stakes winners have won stakes during their juvenile seasons.

Pacific Ocean's wire-to-wire victory in the six-furlong G3 Vernon O. Underwood stakes on November 26 looked extremely impressive to the eye and it also looked exceptiontal to Andy Beyer's speed figure crew. The 4yo son of Ghostzapper earned a 108 Beyer Figure for the romping win, the highest of the 36 stakes races run in North America over the four-day Thanksgiving Holiday.

The figure is higher than those earned by the winners of the weekends G1 races, including Clark H. (G1) winner Wise Dan, who earned a 105 Beyer for his efforts and To Honor and Serve, who ran a 104 Beyer while winning the Cigar Mile (G1).

Favored Disposablepleasure overcame a bad stumble at the start and a claim of foul to nose out Wildcat's Smile at the wire in the $200,000 Demoiselle Stakes (gr. II) at Aqueduct on Nov. 26.

Making her stakes debut for owner Glencrest Farm and trained by Todd Pletcher, Disposablepleasure was driven to victory by Ramon Dominguez in the Demoiselle, the first of four graded events on the Aqueduct card.

Referring to Disposablepleasure's stumble, Pletcher commented, “The only thing I thought is maybe it’s Rags to Riches again. That was bad to start with, but she really started her run on the turn, picked up some momentum, and had to stop again. It was a very courageous effort for any horse, but especially a 2-year-old filly.

"She’s got a lot of natural ability, but she showed she’s got some heart and desire to go along with it. For any horse to win and overcome all that first time going 1 1/8 miles was impressive, but you don’t see too many 2-year-old fillies do that.”

Disposablepleasure, a gray/roan daughter of 2005 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner Giacomo out of the With Approval mare My Canada, was bred in Kentucky by Doug Branham.

An 11-length winner over maidens at Belmont Park in her last start Oct. 6, Disposablepleasure was sent off as the 6-5 favorite in a field of 10.

Disposablepleasure came out of the gate on her nose but Dominguez was able to stay aboard and quickly guided the filly to the rail, where she trailed the field.

Wildcat's Smile swept to the lead in the lane for jockey Junior Alvarado. Disposablepleasure, waiting for room behind the leaders, came through between horses for Dominguez and challenged Wildcat's Smile on her inside. Those two fought it out over the final furlong with Disposablepleasure getting the benefit of the nod.

Dominguez said he was concerned about Disposablepleasure's chances after the bad start.

"She was taking me nicely and they were backing up in front of me, and both Cohen (aboard Bourbonstreetgirl) and I went out to avoiding colliding with the fillies in front. Then I had to take a hold, go back inside, and regroup.”

Her Demoiselle victory, worth $120,000, boosted her Disposablepleasure's career earnings to $161,600.

-edited from bloodhorse.com

Pacific Ocean, bursting to the lead from his rail post, overpowered his rivals for the first graded stakes tally of his career in the Vernon O. Underwood (gr. III) at Hollywood Park Nov. 26.

The robust 4-year-old by Ghostzapper was making his first start for trainer Mike Mitchell and his victory follows on the heels of Ghostzapper's 4-year-old daughter Arena Elvira, winner of the Falls City H. (gr. II) on Thanksgiving Day.

JMJ Racing Stable's Pacific Ocean, who previously raced for trainer Wayne Catalano, stepped the six-furlong Underwood in a lively 1:08.48 over the Cushion Track to defeat the closing Irrefutable by 2 1/4 lengths.

Swordlestown Stud bred Pacific Ocean in Kentucky. The chestnut sold for $300,000 as a Keeneland September yearling in 2008. Previously owned by Gary and Mary West, bloodstock agent Rudy Delguidice organized the private purchase of Pacific Ocean for Dennis Narlinger and his son, Mike, who run as JMJ.

The lightly-race Pacific Ocean won for the fourth time in six starts, all on synthetic tracks. In his only prior graded stakes appearance, Pacific Ocean ran second behind Workin for Hops in the one-mile Hanshin Cup Handicap (gr. III) at Arlington Park May 21. He began his career with three consecutive wins at Arlington and Keeneland.

Riding him for the first time, Joel Rosario gunned Pacific Ocean to the front at the outset of the Underwood and they sped the opening quarter-mile in :21.52, the half in :43.78. Quiet Invader, about a length away, prompted the pace with Comma to the Top, in his first start since the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), stalking those two. Euroears failed to break with the leaders from the outside and raced mid-pack while well off the rail.

Pacific Ocean kicked away from Quiet Invader in the lane and was in command by 2 1/2 lengths as he reached the eighth pole in :55.66. He finished well under left-handed urging from Rosario.

Pacific Ocean, who is out of the Unbridled mare Miss Salsa, has earned $153,199.

-edited from bloodhorse.com

Even-money choice Arena Elvira passed Afleeting Lady in deep stretch to give trainer Bill Mott his fourth win in the $193,725 Fally City Handicap (gr. II) on Thanksgiving at Churchill Downs.

-edited from bloodhorse.com

Champion Awesome Feather remained perfect in eight starts when she rolled past pacesetter Love and Pride at the head of the stretch and romped to victory in the $250,000 Gazelle Stakes (gr. I) at Aqueduct Nov. 26.

Awesome Feather, sent off favored at 3-2 odds, was making her first appearance in a grade I race since she dominated the Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) more than a year ago to garner an Eclipse Award.

Jeffrey Sanchez rode the Florida-bred bay daughter of Awesome Of Course to the easy victory. Sanchez has been aboard Awesome Feather in all of her races. Awesome Feather was making her second start of the year for trainer Chad Brown and owner Stronach Stables. Consigned to the 2010 Fasig-Tipton November sale by Hidden Brook on behalf of Jacks Or Better Farm owners Fred and Jane Brei, Awesome Feather was purchased by Frank Stronach for $2.3 million.

“I was a little nervous there, but she’s a pro," Brown said. "She’s got the heart of a champion. We just try to stay out of her way in the morning training her and just try to take care of her, day-to-day. She does the rest every day. It was a pretty special win.”

Winning by 5 1/4 lengths, Awesome Feather completed the 1 1/8-mile event for 3-year-old fillies in 1:50.01 Draw It, ridden by Rajiv Maragh, ran on for second, nosing out Love and Pride, who was piloted by Cornelio Velasquez.

Eight contested the Gazelle. Savvy Supreme broke in stride to get the early lead before settling in behind Love and Pride, who clicked off fractions of :24.93, :48.97, and 1:12.41 while leading Awesome Feather and Savvy Supreme. Awesome Feather appeared to resist early restraint from Sanchez on the clubhouse turn and early on the backstretch before settling down. She tracked the leader to the final turn when she cruised up easily on the outside.

Awesome Feather took a narrow advantage in upper stretch and gradually got command at the furlong pole. She finished up strongly to draw away while kept to her task by Sanchez.

"She is little, but she is unbelievable," Sanchez said. "I didn’t go to the lead, I sat there, took back. At the half-mile pole, I knew I was going to win the race. I had a lot of confidence in her.”

“She trained so well in the morning, I’m not surprised (by the ease of her win)," Brown said. "She’s so sharp and strong in the morning; she’s a super talented horse.

"As long as she’s 100% healthy, we’ll probably see her in the Sunshine Millions at Gulfstream (Jan. 28). That’d be the plan, but we’re going to see how she is first; but if she’s OK, that’s where I’d go.”

Sanchez and Brown were recording their first wins in the Gazelle. Stronach Stables won the race in 1998 with Tap to Music.

The winning purse of $150,000 for the Gazelle extended Awesome Feather's career bankroll to $1,681,746.

- edited from bloodhorse.com

Adena Springs has announced the 2012 stud fees for all 22 stallions standing in Kentucky, Ontario, Canada, New York (McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds) and California (Magali Farms).

Even though many of the Adena stallions have had excellent seasons in 2011, nearly all of the stud fees remain unchanged for 2012. For example, Awesome Again, a top-15 sire in 2011 and the sire of 2011 Eclipse Award contender Game On Dude, will again stand for $50,000. His son, Horse of the Year Ghostzapper, ranks as the #3 Third Crop sire in 2011 yet will stand for the same $20,000 in 2012.

Noble Court is the latest stallion to stand under the Adena Springs banner. The multiple graded stakes winner (who's bred on the same Seattle Slew/Fappiano cross as Bernardini and Tapit) will begin his second career at Magali Farms in California for a $2,500 fee.

Adena Springs 2012 Stud Fees:

Kentucky
Awesome Again - $50,000
Einstein - $7,500
Ghostzapper - $20,000
Macho Uno - $15,000

Canada
Giant Gizmo - $4,000
Mast Track - $2,500
Milwaukee Brew - $12,500
North Light - $10,000
Plan - $4,000
Showing Up - $5,000
Singing Saint - $2,500
Sligo Bay - $6,000
Wilko - $5,000

New York (McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds)
Alphabet Soup - $6,000
Harlem Rocker - $3,500
Silent Name - $5,000
Tiago - $5,000
Touch Gold - $10,000

California (Magali Farms)
Olmodavor - $5,000
Giacomo - $5,000
Noble Court - $2,500

Ponche de Leona (Hip #790), a 12-year-old mare in-foal to Macho Uno, commanded a final bid of $300,000 at the Keeneland November sale. She was purchased by Sallusto and Albina, agents for Blackrock Stable.

The gray mare is carrying a full sibling to one of Macho Uno's best runners to date, the Grade 2 winner Mucho Macho Man. The colt won the Risen Star S. (G2) earlier this season before his third-place run in the Kentucky Derby (G1). After a post-Triple Crown freshening he returned with a smart Allowance score and is a candidate for the major Thanksgiving weekend stakes like the Clark H. (G1) at Churchill Downs or the Cigar Mile (G1) at Aqueduct, where he placed in a pair of graded races as a juvenile last fall.

Ponche de Leona is the eighth mare in-foal to Macho Uno to bring in excess of $150,000 during the past two years.

Sinister Brew put in a strong late rally under Elvis Trujillo to win the $100,000 John Franks Juvenile Fillies Turf S. (8.5F, Turf) at Calder Racecourse on Saturday, November 12.

The 2yo daughter of Milwaukee Brew had previously placed in a pair of blacktype events in South Florida, the Linday Frolic S. (2nd) and the Brave Raj S. (3rd). Her first stakes victory pushed her career earnings over the $100,000 mark.

Sinister Brew races for her breeder Tracy Pinchin and is trained by Jose Pinchin. The Florida-bred filly is out of a mare by the Forty Niner son Gold Case.

Game on Dude culminated his stellar 2011 season with a gutsy runner-up finish in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) on November 5. The courageous son of 1998 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner Awesome Again went to the lead under Chantal Sutherland and was under pressure throughout. Like in his wins in the Santa Anita H. (G1) and Goodwood S. (G1), Game on Dude just kept running and looked the winner until Belmont Stakes (G1) victor Drosselmeyer stormed by on the far outside, leaving Game On Dude no chance to respond.

"He reminded me of Silver Charm the way he kept on fighting them off," said trainer Bob Baffert. "Chantal [Sutherland] rode a beautiful race. And the horse was so game. It was exciting to see him do it. We were disappointed we didn't win it all, but the way he ran, we were all so proud."

Game on Dude's $900,000 second place check increased his earnings to $2,134,658 and made him the fifth multi-millionaire sired by Awesome Again. Among active North American stallions, only Dynaformer (with 6) has sired more earners of $2 million or more. Awesome Again has sired more multi-millionaires than such standout sires as Street Cry (4), Smart Strike (4) and Elusive Quality (4) and More Than Ready (3).

Adena Springs is offering 89 mares from it's record-setting breeding program at the 2011 Keeneland November Breeding Stock sale.

The offering includes mares in foal to many of Adena Spring's successful stallions - Awesome Again, Ghostzapper Macho Uno and Milwaukee Brew - as well as mares in foal to some of Adena's exciting young prospects - Einstein, Plan and Mast Track.

Among the offerings in foal to Awesome Again are Hip #620, a Coronado's Quest half-sister to Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner Raven's Pass and Hip #1588 a stakes- winning mare by the Relaunch stallion Honour and Glory. Both Coronado's Quest and Honour and Glory are emerging as important broodmare sires. The former is already the damsire of 11 stakes winners showing a very high degree of quality. Eight of those stakes winners are graded winners, including the Grade 1 winners Mani Bhavan, Boys at Toscanova and Eclipse Champion Kodiak Kowboy. Honour and Glory is the damsire of 19 stakes winners and seven of those are 2011 stakes winners, including Mother Goose S. (G1) winner Buster's Ready. Hip #1588's foal is bred on the same Awesome Again/Relaunch cross that's produced Horse of the Year Ghosztapper and the 2011 stakes winner Awesome Patriot.

Adena Springs is also offering Hip #1299, one of only two mares in the sale by the top European stallion Montjeu (Ire). The Sadler's Wells son is already the damsire of four 2yo stakes winners in 2011, including Dewhurst S. (G1) winner Parish Hall. She is being sold in foal to Macho Uno.

Adena Springs has earned an unprecedented seven Eclipse Awards for Outstanding Breeder. The Keeneland November Sale runs from November 7 - 11, 2011 in Lexington Kentucky.

Smart Sting became the first stakes winner produced by Frank Stronach's champion turf mare Perfect Sting when she pulled away from the field to win the $248,448 Selene Stakes (Can-III) by 3 1/2 lengths in an upset at Woodbine Sept. 25.

There was no speed in the compact group of five 3-year-old fillies on Woodbine's Polytrack, and jockey Eurico Da Silva took full advantage aboard the Stronach Stables' homebred. Smart Sting set a reserved pace while under pressure from Anne's Beauty and had plenty left for the stretch drive as Anne's Beauty and Queen's Plate winner Inglorious jostled for position behind her. She drew clear by 2 1/2 lengths at the furlong marker and came home under steady handling to complete the 1 1/16-mile test in a solid 1:43.73. 

The Selene was the first start on Polytrack for Smart Sting, whose previous six races had been on turf.

"She's been working great on the Polytrack and she's very well right now so why not (take a shot)," said elated winning trainer Roger Attfield, who won three races on the afternoon. "I said to Eurico in the paddock before the race to just let her run  her race. Whatever happens, just let her run, and he gave her a great ride. The filly has a big future."

Smart Sting is a daughter of Smart Strike and the most recent of four starters in the broodmare career of Perfect Sting. The dam captured the 2000 Eclipse Award for owner Frank Stronach and was a multiple grade I winner of more than $2.2 million while victorious in 14 of 21 starts. The 11-time stakes winner's grade I victories included the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf in 2000 and the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup and Garden City Handicap in 1999.

As a broodmare, Perfect Sting has had three winners and two grades stakes placers.

-edited from bloodhorse.com

The Goodwood Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita did not unfold the way trainer Bob Baffert drew it up on paper, but the result was still what he desired. The Awesome Again gelding Game On Dude, returning to the scene of his greatest win, bravely held off Awesome Gem (an 8yo gelding by Awesome Again) to win the Grade 1, $250,000 race despite an unexpected, torrid early pace.

The scratch of Acclamation from the Goodwood seemingly left Game On Dude as the lone pace in the race, and Baffert said he was intent on going to the lead. So, too, though, was Tres Borrachos, who came flying out of the gate under jockey Joel Rosario and in fact led Game On Dude through rapid fractions of 22.30 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 45.28 seconds for a half-mile of the 1 1/8-mile race.

Game On Dude, under Chantal Sutherland, disposed of Tres Borrachos at the top of the stretch, repelled a bid from stablemate Coil a furlong out, then was able to stave off Awesome Gem, who closed from last in the eight-horse field.

As part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge series, the Goodwood is a Win and You're In race, giving Game On Dude an automatic berth in the Breeders' Cup Classic on Nov. 5 at Churchill Downs.

Game On Dude completed 1 1/8 miles on the fast main track in 1:47.36 following a six-furlong split of 1:09.03 and a mile split of 1:34.30.

“I told Chantal to have the lead at all costs, and I thought down the backside I shouldn’t have said ‘all costs,’ ” Baffert said. “She rides the horse with a lot of confidence. You just have to let him run like that because that’s the way he wants to run.”

Game On Dude won the Santa Anita Handicap here earlier in the year, surviving a rough stretch run and a lengthy stewards inquiry before being declared the winner. That was the first time Sutherland rode him.

“I have to leave her on or I can’t go home,” Baffert said, referring to Sutherland’s friendship with Baffert’s wife, Jill.

Game On Dude has now won all three of his starts on the main track at Santa Anita. Overall, he has won five times in 13 starts. Game On Dude, 4, a gelding by Awesome Again, is owned by a partnership that includes Bernie Schiappa, Ernie Moody, the estate of Terry Lanni, and former major league baseball manager Joe Torre.

“It was sort of an emotional win too because we just lost Terry Lanni, so the family was here and that had a lot to do with it,” Baffert said.

Baffert said Game On Dude would make his next start in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Runner-up Awesome Gem also will go to the Breeders’ Cup, though he could run in the Dirt Mile. Regardless, if Awesome Gem does run, it will be his fifth straight appearance in the Breeders’ Cup, tying a record.

-edited from drf.com

Fugitive Angel, a 4-year-old graded stakes winner by Alphabet Soup, won the fifth stakes race of her career and her third at Presque Island Downs by capturing the $100,000 H.B.P.A. Stakes on October 1.

A Pennsylvania-bred racing in the colors of her breeder Augustin Stables, Fugitive Angel, with Mario Pino aboard, went to the outside and beat Grecian Maiden (by Ghostzapper) by a length in the mile H.B.P.A. Stakes. The 4-year-old filly won the Ambassador of Luck Stakes in May, and also won the Malvern Rose Stakes in 2010.

"She's a real nice filly, and I was just a passenger,'' said Pino, who is 14th in career victories with 6,382 and is three short of 13th place on the all-time list.

Out of a mare by Unbridled, Fugitive Angel has now earned $350,642. She is trained by Jonathan Sheppard.

-edited from GoErie.com

Trainer Mike Maker and jockey Victor Lebron visited the winner's circle for a fourth time on Saturday's Kentucky Cup card at Turfway Park after F. Thomas Conway and Matt Conway's Matthewsburg (by Ghostzapper) proved a decisive winner of the $100,000 Kentucky Cup Sprint (G3) for three-year-olds going six furlongs on the Polytrack. The race has been won by the likes of Reraise and Cajun Beat, who both went on to capture the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1).

Racing very wide down the backside from an outside draw, the colt made significant advance around the far turn to get within a length of the lead. Continuing his wide rally, Matthewsburg struck the front in upper stretch and rolled to a 2 1/4-length victory in a time of 1:10 1/5.

At the top of the stretch, the race boiled down to Phillippe and Matthewsburg, but the latter proved too tough to fend off. Phillippe had a fight to hold off a determined Will's Wildcat along the inside to land second money. Ultimately he did so, by a head, with Song of Humor 4 1/2 lengths behind in fourth.

Matthewsburg was a 6 1/4-length maiden special weight victor at Turfway on March 26. Unplaced three times again in first-level allowance company following that score, he finally pulled out a win at that level in a 5 1/2-furlong dash on dirt at Indiana Downs. He preceded this victory with a distant second to Poseidon's Warrior (Speightstown) in the East Hanover S. at Penn National on July 30. His record now stands at 10-3-1-0, $123,609.

"I'm glad to see him duplicate a performance," Maker said. "I thought his race at Penn National was sneaky good. He got beat a ways, but that horse that beat him (Poseidon's Warrior) is a very good horse. I don't know what's next for him. I wasn't looking past today."

A $95,000 two-year-old in training purchase at the 2010 Adena Springs sale, Matthewsburg was bred by that entity in Kentucky. His dam, the stakes-placed Romantic Comedy (A.P. Indy), is a full sister to the multiple stakes winner Indy Wind and has also foaled the unraced juvenile filly Zerbinetta (Awesome Again).

Awesome Again emerged as the #1 sire by average through the first two books of the 2011 Keeneland September Sale. His seven yearlings sold for an average price of $452,143 and included a $1.35 million colt, the second highest priced yearling of the season's most important auction. Awesome Again yearlings also sold for $510,000, $350,000 and a pair brought a quarter of a million dollars.

"Awesome Again has been on the underrated list for some time now, but his name was back in lights Thursday night as the leading sire by average in Keeneland Books 1-2", said commentator Bill Oppenheim in the Thoroughbred Daily News. "It's good to see Awesome Again back on the leader board where he belongs."

Frank Stronach’s Adena Springs went to $1.35 million Sept. 15 to buy an Awesome Again-Legs Lawlor colt (Hip No. 957) from Bill and Carole McAlpin's Greenwood Lodge Farm as the second seven-figure offering at the Keeneland September yearling sale’s fifth session.

The colt is out of the winning Unbridled mare Legs Lawlor, a daughter of stakes winner Evil Elaine and a half sister to Horse of the Year Favorite Trick.

“I thought he was probably the nicest horse I have seen at this sale,” said Mark Roberts, Adena Springs South manager who signed the sales receipt. “I thought he was beautiful. For the sire, I thought he was very elegant. A very nice horse. The mare was very nice. But we just liked him as an individual. He had a lot of scope to him. We just liked everything about him.

Roberts said the colt will sent to Adena South in Willison, Fla., to be prepared for a racing career.

The Awesome Again mare Golden Mystery, making her debut for trainer Juan Carlos Guerrero, won an early speed duel and held off a late run from D’cats Meow to win the $61,200 Mongo Queen Stakes for filly and mare sprinters Saturday at Monmouth Park.

The last time Brian Hernandez Jr. rode Ready Set, the gelding set a track record at Delaware Park. He didn't travel quite as fast on Monday afternoon, but he was quick enough to win Ellis Park's season-ending stakes race, the Cliff Guilliams Handicap.

Ready Set, a 6-year-old with nearly three quarters-of-a-million dollars in earnings, added $30,000 to that total by scoring a 1 -length victory over Moonport in the $50,000 race.

"It was a perfect trip, couldn't have set up any better," said Hernandez, who scored his sixth win in the last two weekends (and added another in the final race) after coming back from a broken collarbone early in the 31-day meet. "Having been on him before and knowing the job Ronny Werner does (as a trainer), I knew I'd have a chance. It worked out great."

On a cool, windy afternoon that drew a second consecutive crowd approaching 6,000, Ellis passed out its awards for leading apprentice jockey (Roberto Morales), leading jockey (Calvin Borel) and leading trainer (Buff Bradley).

But the highlight on the nine-race card was the Guilliams Handicap, a 1 1/16th-mile race on the grass course that drew entries from the barns of trainers Thomas Drury Jr., Michael Maker, Ian Wilkes, Carl Nafzger and Bob Holthus, among others.

The pace fell just as Hernandez had figured. Plutonium, ridden by Greta Kuntzweiler, went to the front early, followed by Timeless Fashion and James Lopez. Formulaforsuccess, with Mark Guidry, was third, while Ready Set settled into fourth and 2-to-1 favorite Sporty dropped back to last in the nine-horse field.

Ready Set hustled up to second on the final turn and took the lead at the top of stretch, easily holding off the fast-closing Moonport and John McKee. Formulaforsuccess was third, while the top three picks finished fifth (4-to-1 William's Kitten), sixth (Sporty) and eighth (9-to-2 Timeless Fashion).

"He was sitting in a good spot all the way around, and on the turn I got between horses and to the lead and he just took it from there," said Hernandez, who is rebuilding a career that started off with a 2004 Eclipse Award as the nation's top apprentice. "I really think he was as good as he was the last time I rode him."

That was in August of 2010, when Ready Set ran the same stalking race to win the Eight Thirty Stakes at Delaware Park in a track-record time of 1:38.93 for a mile and 70 yards. The gelding also won the West Virginia Derby (G3) on the dirt.

"I thought he'd have a big race in him, and obviously he did," said Hernandez. "These are the types you love to ride, because you know they're going to be ready to run for you."

-edited from courierpress.com

The North Light gelding Celtic New Year, coming from off the pace, got through an opening in the stretch and held off heavy favorite Bourbon Bay (by Sligo Bay) in a tight finish in the $200,000 Del Mar Handicap (gr. IIT) (11F, Turf) on Aug. 28.

Registering his first graded stakes win for trainer John Sadler, Celtic New Year secured a starting berth in the Emirates Airline Breeders Cup Turf (gr. IT) at Churchill Downs in November as part of the "Win and You're In" Challenge series.

Michael Jawl owns the 4-year-old gelded son of North Light--Reggae Queen, by Dynaformer. Adena Springs bred the winner in Kentucky. He is North Light's third stakes winner in the past eight days following the 3yo Old Bushmill, who defeated older runner in the Louisiana Cup Turf Classic on August 20, and the 2yo Chips All In, winner of the $100,000 Gold Rush Futurity the following day.

Sadler said he and Jawl intend to take advantage of the Breeders' Cup Challenge series invitation. “The ‘Win and You’re In’ makes a difference because it’s $90,000 (in entry fees)," he said. "We’ll go on to (Santa Anita Park) and then the Breeders’ Cup.”

Celtic New Year, carrying 114 pounds with Victor Espinoza aboard, covered the 1 3/8-mile distance in 2:14.92 on firm going, nipping Bourbon Bay by a head.

Saving ground while stalking pacesetter Make Music for Me and Bourbon Bay, Celtic New Year angled off the rail for the stretch charge and slipped between horses to get the lead. He inched away to lead by one length at mid-stretch, then dug in as Bourbon Bay, ridden by Joe Talamo, charged hard on the outside.

Bourbon Bay, off at odds of 7-10, looked to be sweeping past at the sixteenth-pole. But Celtic New Year fought back from between horses as Imponente Purse bid along the inside for Chantal Sutherland in deep stretch. Celtic New Year prevailed gamely under strong urging from Espinoza.

“I was down there inside and I thought I was going to get through. I always think I’m going to get through," Espinoza said. "I did and this horse fired. He has just been getting better.”

The bay has been knocking on the door for a graded stakes win in his previous three starts. Most recently third in the Sunset, he ran second prior to that in the Charles Whittingham Handicap (gr. IT) at 10 furlongs June 11 and third in the about 1 3/4-mile San Juan Capistrano Handicap (gr. IIT) at Santa Anita in April.

Sadler said Jawl decided to transfer Celtic New Year to California from Kentucky late last year.

“We got him here in California and he just started to come around and got better as the year went on," Sadler said." We thought he was a good third in the San Juan Capistrano and we thought he was a very good third (actually second) in the Whittingham.

“We were favored in the Sunset and he ran third, but he has proven himself to be a very good horse in these distance races. We just saved him for this race late in the meet and it worked out.”

-edited from bloodhorse.com

Chips All In remained undefeated in three starts on Sunday, when he won his first race on dirt in the $100,000 Gold Rush Futurity (6F, Dirt) at Arapahoe Park. He shipped in from Southern California for the six-furlong feature that closed out the meet. Chips All In won by 1 1/2 lengths over Rio Cuchara. It was another head back in third to King of Swat.

Chips All In was content to sit in third in the early stages of the Gold Rush, as Tulsa Te darted through an opening quarter in 21.53 seconds. The pacesetter was later joined by King of Swat and the pair continued through a half-mile in 44.33. Chips All In then overtook the leaders and went on to cover the distance on a track rated fast in 1:10.84.

Aaron Gryder rode Chips All In for Danny Valdez and trainer Adam Kitchingman. He was bred in Kentucky by Adena Springs out of the Maria's Mon mare Maria's Image.

Chips All In came into the Gold Rush Futurity off a pair of synthetic track wins in California, at Golden Gate and Del Mar. He is a son of Epsom Derby winner North Light who, a day earlier, was represented by the first-time stakes winner Old Bushmill, a 3yo colt who defeated older runners in the rich Louisiana Cup Turf Classic.

The Gold Rush was the meet’s richest race for Thoroughbreds.

-edited from drf.com

Old Bushmill is emerging as a colt with a bright future. His coming out party was Saturday at Louisiana Downs, where he rallied for a determined, half-length win over a tough group of older horses in the $100,000 Louisiana Cup Turf Classic (8.5F, Turf).

Old Bushmill defeated a field that included his half-brother, seven-time stakes winner Ide Like a Double, who finished fifth. Old Bushmill, a 3-year-old by North Light who was making his third start at the meet, had previously won his maiden and a first-level allowance over the local turf course.

Saturday, he settled off the pace set by Tensas Cat, who jumped out to the lead soon after the start and led the field through fractions of 22.92 seconds for the opening quarter, 47 for the half-mile, and 1:11.65 for six furlongs. Old Bushmill advanced four-wide into the stretch and was diligent to the wire, getting past Heavenville to complete the 1 1/16 miles  on firm ground in 1:42.69. It was another 1 3/4 lengths back in third to Wildrally.

Richard Eramia rode Old Bushmill for Larry Johnson and trainer Morris Nicks. The horse has now won 3 of 8 starts and $118,574.

-edited from drf.com

Awesome Gem, the richest horse to ever race in Washington, was too much for local star Noosa Beach in the $200,000 Longacres Mile Handicap (gr. III) at Emerald Downs Aug. 21.

Sent off as the slight 8-5 favorite over Noosa Beach in the field of 11 for Washington's signature race, Awesome Gem launched his bid from the outside rounding the far turn and overtook the pacesetting Noosa Beach in the stretch. Under steady handling from David Flores, the 8-year-old son of Awesome Again opened up a clear advantage at the furlong pole and won comfortably by 1 1/2 lengths.

Noosa Beach, who captured the Longacres Mile last year, settled for second this time.

Awesome Gem, winner of the 2010 Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I), came into the race with earnings of more than $2.5 million.

Racing in the black and gold silks of West Point Thoroughbreds, Awesome Gem had to overcome the far outside post and a quick run to the first turn. But in spite of being wide on both turns, he handled all the obstacles in fine style, completing the trip in a solid 1:34.80 on a fast track. He became the second horse to win the Longacres Mile from post 11 in 42 tries.

Noosa Beach, one slot to his inside, was also compromised by the post, and jockey Gallyn Mitchell had to use a bit of his speedy 5-year-old Harbour the Gold gelding to clear the field into the clubhouse turn. In addition, Noosa Beach shouldered top weight of 125 pounds, three more than Awesome Gem.

With Awesome Gem rating well off the early leaders in mid-pack while carried wide into the first turn, Noosa Beach led Slew the Man and Posse Power through pressing fractions of :23.95, :46.62, and 1:10.37. Mitchell knew he was in trouble, going to his whip early as Awesome Gem swung into gear and emerged as a major challenger on the outside.

Noosa Beach fought back but could not keep up as Awesome Gem took the lead and proved best all the way to the wire.

"I just followed Noosa Beach to the rail and settled behind the leaders," Flores said of his tactics aboard the winner. "He's such an easy horse to relax that if I let him relax too much, he'll fall asleep. I wanted to keep my horse within range, with my eyes targeted on the leader.

"When I asked him to go, he started cruising," added Flores who also won the Longacres Mile aboard Isitingood in 1996. "My horse was making such a big run that when we went by, I saw (Noosa Beach) fight back, but by that time it was too late. I never gave them a chance. I give all the credit to the horse. He shows up every time."

Trained in Southern California by Craig Dollase, Awesome Gem ran second to Assessment in the 2009 Longacres Mile, the last time the imposing chestnut raced at one mile on dirt. Bred in Kentucky by Runnymeade Farm, Catesby Clay, and Peter Callahan, the gelding is out of the Pentelicus mare Piano.

Awesome Gem has now raced 46 times in his career, amassing a record of nine wins, 14 seconds, and five thirds. He extended his lifetime earnings to $2,688,270 with the winner's share of $110,000. He has now finished in the top three in 18 graded events during his lucrative career and has five wins and six placings in 15 starts on natural dirt.

"David Flores rode a great race; he helped overcome the outside post and gave the horse a chance to win," said Dollase, who watched the race from a Del Mar suite with Terry Finley of West Point and a group of friends. "And then Awesome Gem showed his true heart down the lane. You don't see horses like him too often.'

-edited from bloodhorse.com

Silent Saga, a 2yo daughter by Silent Name, opened her account with a third-place finish at Del Mar July 30, but was overlooked at 11-1 in her second attempt. Rated in fifth through the opening half, she angled outside for the stretch drive, powered past the leaders and drew clear under a vigorous hand ride to graduate by 3 1/4 lengths. Special Charm (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) was second best.

Silent Saga becomes the third winner for her freshman sire (by Sunday Silence), who is already the sire of two stakes-placed runners. She races for breeder, owner and trainer, Myun Kwon Cho, who has developed several outstanding runners in California in recent years.

-edited from Thoroughbred Daily News.

Macho Uno is the sire of two of the top four 2yo colts sold in 2011 and his commercial star continues to shine bright in the summer yearling sky.

Hip #122, a yearling filly by the Eclipse Champion, was bought by Cheyenne Stables for $350,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select sale on August 9.

Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, the gray filly is a full sister to graded stakes winner and promising young stallion Harlem Rocker. She is a member of Macho Uno's second Kentucky-sired crop and was bred on a $25,000 stud fee.

A yearling colt by Touch Gold commanded a price tag of $400,000 at the opening session of the Fasig-Tipton sale on August 8. The attractive yearling was purchased by perennial leading owner Robert LaPenta out of the Dromoland Farm consignment. Dromoland principal Gerry Dilger paid $80,000 for the colt at the 2010 Keeneland November sale, making him one of the most successful pinhooks of the summer yearling season.

The colt is a out of the Alleged mare Party Cited, making him a full brother to two of Touch Gold's more accomplished runners: multiple Grade 1 winner Composure and West Virginia Derby (G3) winner Ready Set, an earner of nearly $750,000.

Carolyn Wilson's Arena Elvira, (by Ghostzapper), tracked the leaders in the $77,000 Madame Jumel S. (9F, Dirt), angled out three wide on the turn and ran down her rivals in the lane to record a 1 1/4-length victory under jockey Jose Lezcano. The Bill Mott-trained four-year-old completed 1 1/8 miles on the fast main track in 1:51 2/5.

Arena Elvira was making her stakes debut in this spot and now boasts a career mark of 9-4-3-2 to go along with $169,930 in lifetime earnings. The dark bay lass broke her maiden in December over Aqueduct's inner dirt before shipping to Gulfstream Park to add an allowance score to her resume in her seasonal bow.

The Kentucky-bred was given a few months off before returning in March to be third at the Hallandale, Florida, venue, then headed back north to take a second-level optional claimer by 5 1/4 lengths at Belmont Park on May 5. She entered the Madame Jumel off a third in a third-level optional claimer at Belmont; the runner-up that day, Ask the Moon (Malibu Moon), just romped in last Sunday's Ruffian Invitational H. (G1).

Arena Elvira was bred by Northwest Farms, LLC and is a daughter of multiple Grade 2-winning millionaire Two Item Limit (by Twining). She is Ghostzapper's 4th stakes winner and 12th stakes horse of 2011, putting him in the upper echelon of third crop sires.

-edited from brisnet.com

Bourbon Bay, the king of the 2010 distance turf series at Santa Anita, returned to his winning ways on the Del Mar Polytrack in the July 29 $125,000 Cougar II Handicap (gr. III) in the seaside oval’s Friday night feature.

The Cougar II is a Breeders’ Cup "Win & You’re In" race, giving Bourbon Bay a slot in the Breeders’ Cup Marathon (gr. II).

The 5-year-old gelded son of Sligo Bay set a track record in the process, covering the 12 furlongs in 2:29.39 under Joe Talamo while winning by 2 3/4 lengths. Bourbon Bay was winning his seventh race from 20 starts and has banked nearly $700,000 for owners Jill and David Heerensperger of Washington State. Neil Drysdale is the winning conditioner. Bourbon Bay was bred in Kentucky by Frank Stronach’s Adena Springs and is out of the Conquistador Cielo mare Coral Necklace.

Bourbon Bay took the San Luis Obispo (gr. IIT), the San Luis Rey (gr. IIT), and the San Juan Capistrano (gr. IIT) in the spring of 2010 at Santa Anita. He opened this year with a victory in the San Marcos Stakes (gr. II).

With a half mile to run in the Cougar II, Bourbon Bay began moving on the outside of 3-2 favorite Setsuko. Turning off the final bend Talamo took Bourbon Bay to the outside, and he cruised past Dahoud to a facile victory. Dahoud held second, Setsuko finished third, and Times Gone By was fourth. The winner carried top weight of 121 pounds and paid $6.60, $4.60, and $2.80 as the second choice in the field of seven. Dahoud was worth $4.60 and $3.20, while Setsuko returned $2.40.

"It all set up good," Talamo said. "I was in the right spot and hitting my spots all along the way. That’s easy to do when you ride a good horse like this. They put you in the right spot. All you’ve got to do is point them in the right direction.”
 
“My horse ran good, but the winner was very impressive today," said Joel Rosario, who was aboard Dahoud. "He was best.”

Drysdale said the victory will help Bourbon Bay restore some lost confidence.

“He’d had some difficult trips the last few times," Drysdale said. "So we just wanted to get his confidence back and felt that this would be a really nice race to get his confidence back up."

Drysdale said Bourbon Bay would likely make his next start in the Del Mar Handicap (gr. IIT) or if the field looks weak, the Pacific Classic (gr. I), both on Aug. 28.

-edited from bloodhorse.com

The favored Judy the Beauty, a globe-trotting daughter of Ghostzapper, and second choice Dene Court battled through the entire stretch in Sunday’s $151,200 Shady Well Stakes and Judy the Beauty came out on top in the 5 1/2-furlong sprint  for 2-year-old fillies at Woodbine.

The victory gave Judy the Beauty her third win in as many starts, in three different countries, all under Jeffrey Sanchez. She captured her debut at Keeneland, before notching an allowance race in France, and the Shady Well was her stakes debut.

“She ran great from behind horses the first time that she started,” said Sanchez. “But in France, I sent her to the lead, and she won close. I think she runs better when she sees other horses. I had a lot of filly. When I hit her [left-handed], she finished strong.” 

Dene Court dueled for the lead with I Am in Front, before Judy the Beauty came to her outside at the head of the stretch. Dene Court stuck her head in front inside the eighth pole, but Judy the Beauty dug in late to prevail by a half-length, in a time of 1:03.95. Rose and Shine nailed first-time starter Quality Lass on the wire for third in the 11-horse field of Ontario-breds.

Judy the Beauty ($5.90) collected $90,000 for owner/trainer Wesley Ward

- edited from drf.com

Jake Mo set a stakes record while winning Saturday's $75,000 Prairie Gold Juvenile at Prairie Meadows.

The race was for 2-year-olds, who are at the start of their careers, and Jake Mo streaked to his second straight victory in three career starts with a 2 3/4-length victory over Let's Get Crackin.

Jake Mo established the 5 1/2 furlong track record of 1:02.88 in his last start, a 9 1/4 length maiden victory. His time of 1:03.75 made him the fastest ever winner of the Prairie Gold Juvenile.

A son of 2005 Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo, Jake Mo will hopefully get better as the distances get longer, said owner Stephen Brown of Midland, Texas.

"We think he has a whole lot of potential," Brown said. "The way he's bred and the way he works, we think the longer that he'll get better."

Unlike Giacomo, who came from far behind, Jake Mo starts fast. Brown bought him for $42,000 at a 2-year-old in training sale on the recommendation of trainer Allen Milligan.

"My brother (Eddie jr.) bought him as a yearling and I got to watch him train a lot," Milligan said. "I told Mr. Brown that there was one horse in the 2-year-old sale that he needed to buy, and he said O.K. He was a true athlete."

Jake Mo will be given a rest, then may target a stakes race at Churchill Downs, such as the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Sprint or one of the track's end of the season stakes races.

"Allen will make all those decisions," Brown said. "I'd love to win the Juvenile Sprint with him, and I believe he's capable of doing it. He does everything you ask him to do."

-edited from desmoinesregister.com

Amiable Grace, a daughter of Alphabet Soup, stalked the pace and rallied strongly in midstretch for a half-length victory in Friday’s $112,400 Sweet Briar Too S. at Woodbine.

The field of seven for the Sweet Briar Too included 2010 Sovereign Award winners Biofuel, who was the Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old filly, and Indian Apple Is, champion female sprinter.

But it was Amiable Grace’s hour to shine as the 4-year-old Ontario-bred, owned by Bill Graham and trained by Michael Doyle, became a stakes winner under Emma-Jayne Wilson.

D'wild Beach finished second with Rashnaa a nose back in third after looming into contention in the final furlong. Biofuel was another nose back in fourth as the 4-5 favorite after rallying from last place on the outside. Indian Apple Is checked in sixth.

Amiable Grace won for the fourth time in 12 lifetime starts. She has now earned $266,618

-edited from drf.com

Breeders’ Cup winner Wilko, whose first 2-year-old winner from his initial crop won in Mexico in March, was represented by his first winner in the United States when his son Singing My Way scored at Calder Race Course June 24. The colt, racing for owner Mel Paikoff, finished second but was moved up to first following a disqualification in the 4 1/2-furlong race. He scored by a length in :54.55.

Pam Allen is the breeder of Florida-bred Singing My Way, who is out of the winning Slew City Slew) mare Gingerbread.

Wilko's Mexican winner, Native Again, has started twice.

Wilko (Awesome Again--Native Roots, by Indian Ridge) won the 2004 Bessemer Trust Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (gr. I) and ran second in the 2006 Emirates Airline Dubai World Cup (UAE-I). He stands at Frank Stronach’s Adena Springs Canada near Aurora, Ontario. His fee is $5,000 (Canadian funds).

-from bloodhorse.com

Royal Currier captured his turf debut with a front-running effort in the $67,750 Anderson Fowler Stakes for 3-year-olds before a Father’s Day crowd of 27,039 at Monmouth Park.

A gelding, Royal Currier ($4.60) has won five times since trainer Patricia Farro and Mat Stable claimed him for $20,000 last September. It was his third stakes win since the barn change.

Joe Bravo, the meet’s leading grass rider, was aboard as Royal Currier ran the 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:02.18 on the firm course as the 6-5 favorite.

Mike Farro, who handles the New Jersey division for his wife, said Royal Currier could switch back to the main track for the Grade 3, $150,000 Jersey Shore Stakes here on July 3.

“We thought he would run a big race over the grass,” Farro said.”We worked him twice over it and he loved it. Wherever we’ve run him, he’s run well.”

-edited from drf.com

Bay to Bay, a 4yo filly by Sligo Bay raced prominently under Luis Contreras en route to a decisive tally over a quality field in Saturday's Grade 2, $301,200 Nassau Stakes at Woodbine.

Woolly Bear set moderate fractions in the one-mile turf event, over a course labeled yielding. Bay to Bay tracked the leader in second before assuming command early in the stretch, and she got home on top by two lengths over favored Never Retreat. The final time was 1:36.48.

Bay to Bay earned $180,000 for owner Robert Smithen and trainer Brian Lynch, increasing her earnings to $536,199. She is now a three-time stakes winner and a dual graded winner.

"I didn't really tell [Contreras] too much," said Lynch. "I just said there's a little speed in there, and I wouldn't imagine that you'd want to be too far away. We kept her a little bit fresh, hoping that she'd put herself into the race a little more. It's great when it goes [according] to plan."

Awesome Gem still has got it at 8. The son of Awesome Again rallied for a one-length win in the Grade 3, $300,000 Lone Star Park Handicap on Monday, then withstood a claim of foul to nail down the fourth graded stakes win of a career that began in 2006.

“What a warrior,” said Craig Dollase, who trains Awesome Gem for West Point Thoroughbreds.

The Lone Star Park Handicap was the richest race of the meet and the anchor of the annual Million Day program of six stakes. The races are worth a cumulative $1 million and make for the richest card of Thoroughbred racing in Texas.

Awesome Gem ($12.40) settled in fourth in the field of five on Monday, as Lydia’s Last Step jumped out to the lead and was pressed by Game On Dude through an opening six furlongs in 1:11.20. Awesome Gem began to advance past the half-mile pole, came three wide into the stretch, and shook Lydia’s Last Step then Game On Dude to win the 1 1/16-mile race on a track rated fast in 1:43.48.

“When I called on him, he came with his run,” said Robby Albarado, who was aboard Awesome Gem.

Flat Out finished second, 1 ¼  lengths in front of Game On Dude, the Santa Anita H. (G1) winner and another son of Awesome Again.

-edited from drf.com

Silent Sue led at every point of call to win the third race on Sunday at Hollywood Park and become the first career winner for New York-based freshman sire Silent Name (Jpn).

The dark bay or brown filly prevailed by a half-length under Garrett Gomez, completing 4 1/2 furlongs in :52.13 on the synthetic Cushion Track surface for trainer Walther Solis, who conditions her for a partnership. Bred in Indiana by Swifty Farms, Silent Sue is out of the stakes-placed Tiffany Ice mare Cold Porridge, the dam of two stakes winners.

A nine-year-old by Sunday Silence out of group stakes winner Danzigaway, by Danehill, Silent Name stands for an advertised fee of $5,000 at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds in Saratoga Springs, New York. He has 62 two-year-olds in his first crop.

A multiple stakes winner in France, Silent Name was transferred to the U.S. for his four-year-old campaign and won a pair of graded stakes—the 2006 Arcadia Handicap (G2) and 2007 Commonwealth Breeders’ Cup Stakes (G2)—and placed in three Grade 1 races. He won six of 23 career starts and earned $663,431 in four seasons.

Fugitive Angel, a three-time stakes winner going two turns, used a ground-saving trip under jockey Mario Pino to take the $74,625 Ambassador of Luck at six furlongs at Presque Isle Downs on Saturday.

Fugitive Angel was last early in the six-furlong event. Pino moved the 4-year-old old filly closer on the turn and they got through along the rail in the stretch to pass the six others in the race. Fugitive Angel drew clear late to win by a length while wrapped up. It was the first sprint win for Fugitive Angel over a synthetic surface. Trained by Jonathan Sheppard, for her breeder Augustin Stables, Fugitive Angel ran the six furlongs in 1:11.13.

The daughter of Alphabet Soup has now won four stakes events and over $268,000. Her biggest win to date came in last fall's G3 Valley View stakes on the Keeneland turf course.

-edited from drf.com

Awesome Patriot ran the best race of his career in Sunday’s $72,960 Alydar Stakes at Hollywood Park, a performance likely to lead to a graded stakes in coming weeks.

Awesome Patriot led throughout the Alydar Stakes over 1 1/8 miles, holding off Uncle Sam to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:50.52, his first stakes win. The first two finishers are trained by Bob Baffert, who was absent from Hollywood Park on Sunday, remaining at Churchill Downs following Saturday’s Kentucky Derby.

Awesome Patriot ($6.20) was sent off favored and was ridden with confidence by jockey Rafael Bejarano. Awesome Patriot was hustled to the lead from the rail, led by 2 1/2 lengths early, by two lengths in the stretch, and held on for the win.

“I was comfortable on the lead,” Bejarano said. “I had to rush a little bit in the first furlong. I had a lot of horse and was waiting for the stretch.

“When that other horse came up alongside, I asked him as soon as he switched leads and he had a big kick.”

Uncle Sam lugged to the inside in the stretch, and was a clear second, finishing 2 1/2 lengths in front of Clarke Lake in the field of five. Burns was fourth, followed by Red Sharp Humor.

Baffert had mentioned Uncle Sam as a possible starter in the Belmont Stakes on June 11 if he had won the Alydar, and the same race could be in the conversation for Awesome Patriot.

Owned by Terry Lanni, Awesome Patriot, a colt by Awesome Again, has won 3 of 6 starts and $112,600. The Alydar Stakes was his fourth start in a stakes. He was third in the Grade 3 Hollywood Prevue Stakes here last November. Earlier this year, Awesome Patriot was sixth in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita.

-edited from drf.com

Stay Red, a 5yo gelding by Preakness S. (G1) winner Red Bullet, wore down favored Beckham Bend to win the Island Whirl Florida Thoroughbred Charities S. (8.5F, Turf) at Gulfstream Park.

Out of a mare by the Nijinsky II son Stack, Stay Red was bred in Florida by his owner Santa Cruz Ranch, Inc. He is among the six stakes horses sired by Red Bullet in 2011.

Overall, Red Bullet is the sire of 10% stakes horses from his six crops to race.

A Macho Uno colt who was a standout in the crowd lived up to expectations when he was sold for $825,000 to top the record-setting Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s 2011 Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training.

Consigned by de Meric Sales on the final day of the four-day sale in Ocala, Fla., the colt was purchased by Hill ‘n’ Dale Bloodstock, agent for Frank Fletcher Racing Operations. The colt was bred in Florida by Haras Santa Maria de Araras S.A. and had been purchased by Tristan de Meric for $22,000 from the Bridlewood consignment to the 2010 OBSC winter sale.

The gray or roan colt, whose quarter in :20 2/5 was co-fastest at the distance at April 15 Under Tack session, is out of La Defense, by Wild Again and is a half brother to stakes winner Quelle Surprise.

“I knew the Macho Uno colt was going to be a lot of money,” said Hill ‘n’ Dale’s Donato Lanni, who signed the ticket. “He performed very well on the track. His work was a pretty unusual work. He just looked really good.”

Bob Baffert will train the colt, the second big-selling juvenile by Macho Uno this spring. Buzz Chace purchased a Macho Uno colt for $700,000 on behalf of West Point Thoroughbreds at the Fasig-Tipton Florida Sale.

Ghost is Clear broke his maiden by a commanding 7 1/4 lengths on January 27 at Fair Grounds, making him one of several exciting maiden winners in recent months for Horse of the Year Ghostzapper. On March 26, the 3yo colt confirmed his high promise with gutsy win in the Hansel Stakes (6F, AW) at Turfway Park.

The Mike Maker trainee, used a five-wide move around the final turn to draw into contention and wore down Phillipe for a neck victory. It was another 4 1/4 lengths back to the third place finisher.

A $400,000 graduate of the 2009 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling sale, Ghost is Clear races for Twin Creeks Racing Stables, LLC.

Sweet Gladys could do no better than fifth in the 2010 edition of the Queen Stakes at Turfway Park. It was a much different story in 2011.

Under jockey James Lopez, the 6yo daughter of Awesome Again rolled to a 2 1/2 length score the traditional anchor of Turfway's big Spiral Stakes day card.

Bred by Adena Springs, Sweet Gladys races in the colors of Old Henry Thoroughbreds, LLC and is trained by William Denzik. She is the 43rd stakes winner for Awesome Again who was represented by his 11th Grade 1 winner earlier in March when Game On Dude won the Santa Anita Handicap.

If there is one thing you can always count on each year on the Kentucky Derby trail it is a story to warm the heart. This year, Mucho Macho Man and trainer Kathy Ritvo have taken that to a new level.
 
A towering 17-hands colt with a humongous stride and an unusually late (June 15) birth date, Mucho Macho Man has made Ritvo’s “second” life one to remember.
 
It was only three years ago that Ritvo lay in a hospital bed waiting for a heart transplant that she wasn’t sure would ever come.
 
“I was just surviving every day and trying to make it to the next day,” Ritvo said. “I’m normally optimistic, but it’s hard when you’re that sick.”
 
Ritvo has been unable to make contact with the family who donated the heart that saved her life.
 
“I don’t know if there are any words that I could say except to thank them for their decision to donate their loved one’s organs,” she said. “Because of them, my kids have their mother.
 
“We’re having an organ donation sign-up day at Gulfstream Park, and I will tell people that I’m alive because someone donated their heart, and I’m having a great life. It’s the most amazing, unselfish gift you can give.”
 
Ritvo, who has been training since she was 18, said her job now is to stay healthy and keep taking her medication on time, and as she puts it, “Do what makes me happy.”
 
That’s where Mucho Macho Man comes in.
 
“I appreciate every day and every thing, and having a real nice horse like this is just wonderful,” Ritvo said. “I just try to take in everything in, and each day I spend with him is great.”
 
The son of Macho Uno, who was named after The Village People’s big hit “Macho Man,” was purchased after his first start by Dean and Patti Reeves of Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, with original owner Dream Team Racing Stable retaining minority interest. He was turned over Ritvo’s husband, Tim, to train, but when Tim was named director of racing at Gulfstream Park after saddling the colt to a maiden victory at Monmouth Park, Kathy took over training.
 
In four starts under Kathy’s care, Mucho Macho Man has a victory in the Risen Star Stakes (gr. II) and second-place finishes behind To Honor and Serve in the Remsen (gr. II) and Nashua Stakes (gr. II).
 
Now he’s ready for the biggest race of his life in the March 26 Louisiana Derby (gr. II). If he passes that test it is on to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).

But with a six-week gap to the Derby, Mucho Macho Man will have to attempt something that hasn’t been accomplished since 1956 – win the Derby off a layoff of over five weeks.

“We might have to get creative in his training,” Ritvo said. “But he’s a nice laid-back horse. Taking the blinkers off has made a lot of difference and has helped him to relax; that and going two turns. He was already wearing blinkers when we bought him. When we worked him he was and jumping shadows and looking at the grandstand and the infield. He was just a baby, but he’s matured in leaps and bounds.

“He’s a very strong horse, even when you’re walking him. He’s a real athlete. I don’t mind his late foaling date; I hope it means he still hasn’t reached his peak. He knows what he’s doing now, and every day I look at him it seems like he’s getting taller.”

Mucho Macho Man, who was bred in Florida by John and Carole Rio, will be facing several new faces in the Louisiana Derby.
 
“He’s ready,” Ritvo said. “He likes that long stretch at Fair Grounds. Hopefully he’ll get a good break and Rajiv (Maragh) will be able to find a good spot for him and make one run.”
 
Ritvo is still excited at having won the Risen Star, especially the way the colt bounced back from a fourth-place finish in the Holy Bull Stakes (gr. III) when he got keyed up early and wound up battling head and head, while between horses.
 
“I was really proud of the horse in the Risen Star,” Ritvo said. “He gave us all he’s got.”
 
He obviously takes after his trainer.

-Steve Haskin, Bloodhorse.com

Game On Dude, a 4yo son of Awesome Again, proved toughest in a physical stretch run in the $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap (G1), fighting back on the inside to edge Setsuko by a nose in the closing strides on Saturday at Santa Anita Park.

The outcome hung in the balance for about 15 minutes as stewards reviewed an incident in early stretch in which 1-to-2 favorite Twirling Candy bumped with Setsuko on his outside and Game On Dude, ridden by Chantal Sutherland, on the inside.

"He was straight as an arrow,” Sutherland said. “All I know is that in the race it felt like I got bumped from behind. My horse ran a great race. He was just awesome, a gritty horse who came back when I needed him.”

Game On Dude covered 1 1/4 miles in 1:59.47 on a track rated as fast for his second career stakes win for owners Lanni Family Trust, Mercedes Stable, and Bernie Schiappa. The 2010 Lone Star Derby (G3) winner improved to four wins from eight career starts. He is the latest Grade 1 winner bred by 7-time Eclipse Award-winning breeder Adena Springs and the 11th Grade 1 winner for Awesome Again.

“Twirling Candy, I hope fans understand, he was out of horse; he started all of the ping-ponging,” winning trainer Bob Baffert said as Santa Anita fans booed the decision. “I didn’t like it when I saw it live, but when I saw the replays I felt a lot better about his chances to stay up. “[Game On Dude] is a true mile-and-a-quarter horse. I knew we had the edge on Twirling Candy, who hasn’t proved he can go that far yet.”

- edited from Thoroughbredtimes.com

It is not unusual for Buzz Chace to be listed among the top buyers at the juvenile sales. Flanked by West Point’s Terry Finley yesterday, Chace leveled the lethal $700,000 blow to secure hip 136, a grey colt by Macho Uno from the Crupi’s New Castle Farm consignment.

The Ontario-bred hip 136 impressed spectators by breezing a furlong in :10 flat during Monday’s preview. The price tag was the second-highest among the colts in the sale. “We want to race at the top of the game,” said Finley, when asked about the sizeable price tag. “That work really took us by storm. He is fast and his work was effortless.”

The grey is out of Champagne Cocktail (Red Ransom), who is a granddaughter of multiple Grade I winner Late Bloomer (Stage Door Johnny).

“I think he’s a very nice individual, and he looks like he has a really good chance to be good,” said Chace. “His work was very very nice. It was just so effortless."

Already sold on the Adena resident, the partnership of West Point and Chace previously teamed up to secure another son of Macho Uno for $150,000 from Jimmy Crupi's consignment at the 2007 OBSFEB sale. Named Macho Again, the grey went on to annex three graded stakes, including the GI Stephen Foster H. and GII Jim Dandy S.

Macho Uno is also responsible for current Classic aspirant Mucho Macho Man, winner of the GII Risen Star S. and heading to the Mar. 26 GII Louisiana Derby. According to Chace, an added bonus in securing the colt is that he is an Ontario-bred, which gives connections the options of racing him at the lucrative Woodbine meeting.

- edited from Thoroughbred Daily News

Sometimes fast horses run better in longer races. Mucho Macho Man is a fast horse, no doubt. In his career debut he ran an opening quarter-mile in 21 seconds and change. But the son of Macho Uno, at this point, appears to be no sprinter. Stretched back out to two turns Saturday in the Grade 2, $300,000 Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds, Mucho Macho Man won for the second time in his career, beating Santiva by 1 1/2 lengths.

“He relaxed so well,” said trainer Kathy Ritvo. “He was perfect today.”

Mucho Macho Man won his maiden at Monmouth in his third start, his first try in a two-turn race. He then finished second, four lengths behind To Honor and Serve in the Nashua Stakes, a one-turn mile, but got within two lengths of To Honor and Serve in the 1 1/8-mile Remsen around two turns. In his first start at 3, Mucho Macho Man contested a demanding pace and faded to finish fourth in the Holy Bull Stakes, another one-turn mile. Blinkers were removed for the Risen Star, and, back at the kind of true route in which he excels, Mucho Macho Man stepped up his game.

Away alertly, Mucho Macho Man took up a stalking position behind a surprisingly slow early Risen Star pace. With Pants on Fire nowhere near his customary position on the front end, and Justin Phillip, another potential pace player, never involved, Decisive Moment wound up with a clear lead, setting slow splits of 24.67 seconds, 49.24, and 1:13.65. But Decisive Moment had little left when challenged coming into the stretch, and quickly was swallowed up. Mucho Macho Man was the first to pounce, with Santiva also ganging up farther on the outside. About a neck in front at the quarter pole, Mucho Macho Man switched leads smoothly, leveled off, and inched clear in the final furlong. He was timed in a solid 1:43.98 for 1 1/16 miles, and galloped out with good energy, his ears pricked.

“He gallops two miles and it’s like a jog,” Ritvo said. “He’s a June 15 foal. He’s going to get better the farther we go.”

Santiva turned in a solid performance in his first start since winning the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes on Nov. 27. Unable to match strides with the winner, he finished 1 ¼ lengths in front of third-place Rogue Romance, the third place finisher in last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

The top three finishers all will return to Florida in coming days, but all are possible for the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby here March 26.

Mucho Macho Man, a Florida-bred by Macho Uno and out of Ponche de Leona, by Ponche, is owned in partnership, but primarily by Reeves Thoroughbred Racing. Dan Reeves, that group’s principal, picked out Mucho Macho Man for purchase after his career debut last summer. The previous owners, Dream Team One Racing, still own part of the horse, as do his breeders, John and Carole Rio.

-edited from drf.com

The first foal by grade I winner Einstein is a colt foaled Jan. 13. Bred by Kirby Nelson, the newborn is a half brother to stakes-placed Grey Rapsody and is out Plaza South, whose dam is a half sister to two-time English champion Mrs. Penny.

A grade I winner three separate years, Einstein (Spend a Buck—Gay Charm, by Ghadeer) stands at Frank Stronach’s Adena Springs near Paris, Ky. His 2011 fee is $7,500.

-from bloodhorse.com

On February 4, Tina Lena Too became yet another debut winner for Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Giacomo.

The 3yo filly had previously defeated four other rivals to take a training race at the Evangeline Training Center Jan. 19 and blew out a bullet three furlongs in :36 back there Jan. 29. The 17-10 chalk to get it done at first asking, the homebred was in front within the first 100 yards and showed them a clean pair of heels thereafter, scorng by a dominating 7 1/2 lengths.

Tina Lena Too races for her breeder, Charles Carlton and is trained by Glenn Delahoussaye.

-edited from Thoroughbred Daily News

In 2010, horses bred by Adena Springs Farm earned more than double the earnings of its closest competitor, and as a result, Frank Stronach’s operation was rewarded with its seventh Eclipse Award.

Adena Springs, which last won the breeder Eclipse in 2008 when it also took home a second Eclipse as leading owner, saw 533 horses it bred make 3,661 starts, with 506 wins and earnings of $13,369,852, ranking first in the earnings category for the eighth time.

The partnership of Claiborne Farm and Adele Delschneider, which ranked sixth among breeders by earnings with $4,606,322, finished second in Eclipse balloting, likely due to the success of Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I) winner Blame. Third in the voting was Brereton C. Jones, who bred the earners of $6,545,266.

In 2010, Adena Springs was represented by 15 stakes winners individually and one in partnership. Included among the farm’s stakes winners were grade I winner Stately Victor, multiple grade III winner Bourbon Bay, Canadian grade II winner Stunning Stag, and grade III winners Pleasant Prince and Game On Dude.

Stately Victor emerged as a contender for the 3-year-old classics with a victory in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes and the 3-year-old son of Adena Springs stallion Ghostzapper later added the Ontario Derby at Woodbine.

Bourbon Bay, a son of Adena stallion Sligo Bay, won the San Juan Capistrano Invitational, San Luis Obispo, and San Luis Rey, all grade II turf events, in convincing style during a strong Santa Anita meet. He became the first horse since Kotashaan in 1993 to sweep the track’s three major turf marathon events.

Adena stands stallions at divisions in Paris, Ky., and Aurora, Canada, and at McMahon Farm in New York and Magali Farms in California.

The Adena stallion roster is headed by Awesome Again, the sire of 10 grade I winners and four Breeders’ Cup winners. Also prominent among the farm’s stallions is 2004 Horse of the Year Ghostzapper, a son of Awesome Again who was among the leading second-crop sires of 2010. Another Adena sire, Macho Again, is the sire of a grade I winner from each of his first two crops and among the leading sires of juvenile stakes winners in 2010.

Adena Springs was started by Stronach in 1989 on property near Versailles, Ky.

First-Place Vote Totals:

Adena Springs, 69; Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider, 55; Brereton C. Jones, 43; WinStar Farm, 26; Edward P. Evans, 12; Maverick Productions, 10; Juddmonte Farms, 7; Gulf Coast Farms, 3; Ocala Stud, 2; Eugene Melnyk, 1; Pamela and Martin Wygod, 1; Voter Abstentions, 9.

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David and Jill Heerensperger’s Bourbon Bay is at it again. After sweeping Santa Anita Park’s series of turf route races a year ago, Bourbon Bay signaled a possible encore with a stylish victory in the Jan. 17, $150,000 San Marcos Stakes (10F, Turf) (gr. II).

Under jockey Rafael Bejarano, Bourbon Bay sat in third position for most of the 10-furlong San Marcos, which went in honest fractions of :23.91, :47.81, 1:11.84, and 1:35.83. Coming out of the final turn Bourbon Bay unleashed the winning move, taking charge and drawing off by 1 ¾ lengths in 2:00.03.

“I was pretty comfortable the whole way, in great position,” said Bejarano. “When I saw the favorite (Champ Pegasus) was let go, I thought I had more horse. As soon as I got the opportunity, I tried to get the first jump and let my horse go.”

Breeders’ Cup Turf (gr. IT) runner-up Champ Pegasus settled for second as the San Marcos favorite, finishing 1 ¼ lengths ahead of Sebastian Flyte, who was third.

Bourbon Bay is a 5 year old gelded son of Sligo Bay-Coral Necklace, by Conquistador Cielo. He was bred in Kentucky by Adena Springs, which on the same day as the San Marcos won the Eclipse Award for breeding excellence in 2010. Neil Drysdale is the winning conditioner.

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Plum Lake Racing LLC’s Mazucambera adjusted her running style in time to get a come-from-behind victory in Saturday’s $50,000 Dixie Belle Stakes (6F, Dirt), the opening day feature at Oaklawn Park.

The 3-year-old filly by Milwaukee Brew had been showing speed in her recent races, but her new team changed the strategy.

“Her last three races have been on the front end, but her connections asked me to try and take her back today,” said winning jockey Alex Birzer. “Speed hasn’t done that well today, so we decided to try this. She relaxed beautifully for me and when I asked her, she gave me all she had. (Trainer) Martin (Rouck) has done a wonderful job with her.”

Breaking from post position three, Mazucambera settled into fifth position as Lady Giacamo (Giacomo), the 3-2 favorite, led the field of seven through opening fractions of :22 and :46 for the first half mile. The winner raced in the three-path through the turn and came between rivals to gain control for a three-quarter length victory over Roma Jean. Put and Take finished third.

"I just had a good feeling with this filly. I think she can go long, too, said Plum Lake Racing pwner Elliot Phillips. "I'd like to think about some of the stakes here and think longer distances aren't out of the picture."

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Adena Springs finished 2010 as the leading individual breeder in North America with earnings of $13,369,852, according to statistics released Jan. 6 by The Jockey Club Information Systems Inc.

In topping the list for the eighth consecutive year, Frank Stronach’s operation was represented by the winners of 506 races from 3,661 starts. Second on the list is Brereton C. Jones, the breeder of the winners of 236 races from 1,565 starts, for earnings of $6,545,265.
 
Adena Springs also finished on top of a second breeder list that includes partnerships. Including partnerships, Adena Springs bred the winners of 519 races from 3,739 starts, for earnings of $13,638,355. The runner-up is Jones, who alone or in partnership was the breeder of the winners of 293 races from 1,858 starts, for earnings of $7,504,518.

With numbers like those it's no surprise that Adena Springs was nominated for an Eclipse Award as North America's top breeder. The farm already has five Eclipse Award trophies on the mantle and farm owner Frank Stronach has earned one under his name as well.

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Hip 4296, a colt from the first crop by GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Wilko (Awesome Again) out of Miss Attractive (Running Stag) brought a final bid of $40,000 to top the penultimate day of trading at the 14-session Keeneland September sale.

The January foal was bred and consigned by Frank Stronach's Adena Springs and purchased by Texas-based Preston Stables LLC. Preston Stables is owned by Arthur and Stephanie Preston, who also race under the stable name Oxbow Racing LLC. The Prestons campaigned GISW Ermine (Exchange Rate), a $45,000 OBSAUG yearling who earned $880,134 and sold, in foal to A.P. Indy, for $1.3 million at FTKNOV 2008.

Miss Attractive, the dam of hip 4296, was bred and raced by Adena. The dark bay showed promise in three starts, breaking her maiden by 11 1/2 lengths in her career opener and adding an allowance score, both at Woodbine, as a juvenile in 2005. She started just once at three, running second in a Monmouth allowance test, before joining the Adena broodmare band.

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Arctic Cosmos made his debut in group I company a winning one as he stormed home under William Buick to capture the Ladbrokes St. Leger Stakes (Eng-I) (14.5F, Turf) by 1 3/4 lengths at Doncaster Sept. 11.

The St. Leger, which was first contested in 1776, is the oldest classic in the world. It is the third leg in the English Triple Crown, and is run at a distance of just over 14 furlongs.

Sporting blinkers for the first time, Arctic Cosmos broke well and was settled just off the pace set by Corsica. Corsica was tracked closely by Ted Spread and Total Command, while the heavy favorite, Rewilding, was held up toward the rear by Frankie Dettori.  

The field remained unchanged throughout the early stages of the race, as Corsica continued to set a decent pace. As the field rounded the turn for home, Corsica continued to lead as both Ted Spread and Total Command faded. Rewilding, who was under a drive by Dettori, threatened briefly with two furlongs to run, but quickly flattened out and could find nothing more.

Buick sat motionless aboard Arctic Cosmos, as the son of North Light   was still full of run. The pair shot to the lead with just over a furlong left, drawing off to win easily. 

A delighted Gosden told reporters after the race, “We’ve always dreamt he was a Leger horse and he’s done it like a proper horse. Our dreams have come true and we’re over the moon.”

Regarding future plans for the colt Gosden said, “He’s in the Breeders’ Cup, the mile and a half Turf, and we may dream about that.”

Arctic Cosmos is out of Fifth Avenue Doll, by Marquetry. He is from the first crop of North Light, a son of Danehill who captured the 2004 Vodafone Epsom Derby (Eng-I). Arctic Cosmos was bred in Kentucky by Sheridan and Iadora Farm, and is owned by Rachel Hood and Robin Geffen.

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Einstein is one of three Eclipse Award finalists for Champion Older Male of 2009. The seven-year-old horse enjoyed yet another fine season in the year just ended with a win in the historic Santa Anita Handicap (G1). He also won the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (G1) for the second consecutive year.

If not for an impossibly troubled trip in the Stephen Foster H. (G1), Einstein may well have become the first horse in history with Grade 1 wins on dirt, turf and synthetics in the same year. He settled for third in the Foster and also placed in the Pacific Classic (G1) and Donn H.  (G1).

Einstein, who is scheduled to run in the Sept. 6 Pacific Classic (gr. I) at Del Mar, has been bought by Frank Stronach’s Stronach Stables for an undisclosed sum from Bill Gallion and Shirley Cunningham’s Midnight Cry Stable. The deal was completed Aug. 31.

Einstein, who was purchased for his ability as a runner and his potential as a stallion, is a grade I winner this year on the main track and the turf. He captured the Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I) (10F, AW) on a synthetic surface and then took the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic Stakes (gr. IT) (9F, Turf) on grass at Churchill Downs for the second consecutive year.

Bred in 2002 and foaled in Brazil, Einstein has made all 27 starts in North America, winning 11 of 27 races. He has won or placed in 13 stakes, all of which are graded, and has earned $2,703,324.

“Mr. Stronach’s breeding program focuses on soundness and on powerful outcrosses,” said Eric J. Hamelback, general manager of Stronach’s Adena Springs farm near Paris, Ky. “Einstein has won seven stakes, five of which are grade I. He’s a strong, solid individual and is still racing.”

Einstein is by 1986 Horse of the Year and Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner Spend a Buck, who achieved plenty of success as a stallion in Brazil. Einstein’s pedigree is free of the pervasive blood of Mr. Prospector and Seattle Slew. Another popular stallion, Northern Dancer, appears once in the fourth generation of Einstein’s pedigree. Einstein was produced from Brazilian group I winner Gay Charm (by Ghadeer).

Einstein also captured the 2006 Gulfstream Park Breeders’ Cup Stakes (gr. IT) (11F, Turf); the 2007 Mervin H. Muniz Jr. Memorial Handicap (gr. IIT) (9F, Turf) at Fair Grounds; and the 2008 Gulfstream Park Turf Stakes (gr. IT) (11F, Turf) and the Clark Handicap (gr. II) (9F, Dirt) at Churchill Downs. Five of his six stakes-placings came in grade I events.

-from bloodhorse.com

Bear Stables’ Fatal Bullet left no questions unanswered Sept. 27 with an authoritative track-record victory in the $100,000 Kentucky Cup Sprint (gr. III) (6F, AW) for 3-year-olds at Turfway Park and appears headed to the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (gr. I) at Santa Anita Park.

Carrying Eurico Rosa Da Silva, who was in from Canada to ride for Woodbine-based trainer Reade Baker, Fatal Bullet broke a step slowly but quickly recovered to grab the lead through an opening quarter-mile in :21.71. The gelding got what his jockey called “a breather” through a half-mile in :44.44, then drew away with ease to win by 7 3/4 lengths in 1:08.03, a Polytrack record for the distance.

“I think he won quite easily,” said Danny Dion of Bear Stables. “He broke a step slow. He’s the best he has ever looked today.”

When asked if Fatal Bullet, who has shown an affinity for synthetic surfaces, is Breeders’ Cup bound, Dion said: “Breeders’ Cup—we’re coming.”

Da Silva, who has ridden Fatal Bullet to victory in his last three races, said: “He was just running easy. When we got the breather on the turn, I knew he’d be very hard to catch.”
Fatal Bullet, a Florida-bred by Red Bullet out of the Regal Classic mare Sararegal, won one race as a 2-year-old. He is now six-for-seven this year.

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Showing Up, a millionaire and multiple grade I winner for Roy and Gretchen Jackson’s Lael Stables, has been retired from racing and will stand in 2009 at Frank Stronach’s Adena Springs Farm in Kentucky. The 5-year-old son of Strategic Mission out of the winning T. V. Commercial mare Miss Alethia will stand for a fee of $7,500 as the property of Adena Springs and Lael.

Trained by Barclay Tagg, Showing Up won seven of 10 races and earned $1,660,500.  At 3, he won his first three starts, all on the dirt, including the Coolmore Lexington Stakes (gr. II) (8.5F, Dirt) at Keeneland and a mile allowance in track-record time at Gulfstream Park. Following a sixth-place effort in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), won by stablemate Barbaro, Showing Up raced exclusively on the grass.

He made his turf debut a winning one in the $1-million Colonial Turf Cup Stakes (9.5F, Turf), setting a course-record while defeating subsequent NetJets Breeders’ Cup Mile (gr, IT) winner Kip Deville. In his next start, he wired the field in the Secretariat Stakes (gr. IT) (10F, Turf) at Arlington under 126 pounds in 2:00.09, which was the second-fastest running of the 10-furlong event. After a third-place effort in the Man o’ War Stakes (gr. IT) (11F, Turf) at Belmont Park, he won the Jamaica Breeders’ Cup Handicap (gr. IIT) (9F, Turf) at Belmont and the Hollywood Derby (gr. IT) (10F, Turf), setting a stakes-record of 1:59.35 for 1 1/4 miles in the latter.

Showing Up raced once last year, finishing a neck behind Kip Deville in a runner-up effort in the Maker’s Mark Mile Stakes (gr. IIT) (8F, Turf) at Keeneland in what was his final start.

“Showing Up is a very appropriately named horse,” said Stronach.  “He campaigned against the best of his generation and showed up each and every time he stepped on the track, regardless of the surface.”

Bred in Kentucky by Nellie M. Cox and Rose Retreat Farm, Showing Up is a half-brother to stakes winner Gimmeawink. Roy Jackson bought Showing Up for $60,000 at the 2005 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sale 2-year-olds in training sale.

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