Let's hope that's enough racing for 10-year-old Green Gratto, who returned from an 843-day layoff as a new gelding and just finished a well-beaten last in a $20,000 claimer at Monmouth. Millionaire won the Grade 1 Carter in 2017 and deserves a forever home.
One of the most beloved horses ever due to her unique personality, exciting off-the-pace running style and phenomenal race record. The only female horse to win the Breeders' Cup Classic and a scant head away from perfection.
Harvey Pack was my idol, my mentor and my friend. I'm heartbroken by his passing. Incomparable in terms of on-air charisma, Harvey was generous, kind, and always accommodating. I was awestruck by him.
In 1968, Dr. Fager was named Horse of the Year, champion sprinter, champion turf male and champion older horse.
He broke the world record for one mile while lugging 134 lbs. and concluded his career with a facile jaunt in the Vosburgh carrying 139.
This legend's record speaks for itself. Compared to Man o' War by some turf writers during his racing career, his influence on the breed as a stallion is simply amazing:
Three-time Grade 1 winner at two.
Dual classic winner at three.
One of the great 4-year-old campaigns of all time culminating with a WALKOVER in the Woodward.
Five-time Horse of the Year (1960-1964).
Five consecutive wins in the Jockey Club Gold Cup.
Three-time winner of the Whitney and Woodward.
Won 13 races carrying 130 lbs. or greater.
In honor of Saturday's Holy Bull Stakes
@GulfstreamPark
, here are the big bull's lifetime past performances
Undefeated Grade 1 winner at two.
Horse of the Year at three
Sire of Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo
Perfection personified.
Eight-time Grade 1 winner including one of the most thrilling
@BreedersCup
races of all time.
Dam of Grade 1 winners Traditionally, My Flag, Miner's Mark.
Covfefe received a 107 Beyer Speed Figure for her victory in today's Dogwood Stakes at Churchill Downs. She won the seven-furlong race by eighth lengths for
@bradcoxracing
and
@BridgmohanShaun
.
Foaled on this date in 2005, Big Brown overcame the far outside post in both the Florida Derby and Kentucky Derby. He picked the worst possible time to stub his toe, but was otherwise flawless.
Although it only happened once to the original "Big Red," I guess there's always a chance for an Upset in Saturday's Man o' War Stakes at Belmont.
Here are the lifetime past performances for the big hoss.
The legendary Forego was one of the most popular, durable and talented thoroughbreds of all time. A three-time Horse of the Year (1974-1976), he took four consecutive editions of the Woodward and three Brooklyns in a row en route to being inducted into the
@nmrhof
in 1979.
Buckpasser was off the board only once in his career (his debut).
He had an eight-race win streak at two and a 15-start win streak between February 23, 1966 and May 30, 1967.
Fifteen of his victories came by less than a length.
Foaled on this date in 1997, Fusaichi Pegasus sold for $4,000,000 as a yearling and was the sole Kentucky Derby winner sired by the legendary Mr. Prospector.
Although Unique Bella, Paradise Woods and Vale Dori are extremely talented and should put on a good show on Saturday, they have a long way to go before they match the exploits of this mare.
Beholder lifetime past performances.
Forty Niner passed away in Japan at the age of 35.
The champion 2-year-old of 1987, he finished second in the Kentucky Derby and swept through the Travers and Haskell at three.
He sired Belmont Stakes winner Editor's Note and leading stallion Distorted Humor.
One of the greatest fillies of all time will be honored today at Belmont Park with the running of the Ruffian Stakes. Here are Ruffian's lifetime past performances:
Been thinking about some great horses of the past.
This guy did it all:
$2,900,000 yearling
Half-brother to classic winner Summer Squall
Belmont Stakes winner
Breeders' Cup Classic winner
Leading sire
Silverbulletday won 14 of her first 16 starts including the
@BreedersCup
Juvenile Fillies and Kentucky Oaks.
She banked over $3M and was elected to the
@nmrhof
in 2009.
Foaled on April 30, 2013, the great Songbird won her first 11 starts and came within a neck and a nose from retiring unbeaten from 15 lifetime outings. She grabbed nine Grade 1 races and scored at distances ranging from 6 Furlongs to 1 1/4 Miles.
Cicada ran 16 times as a 2-year-old, was beaten a nose in the Florida Derby, then clicked off wins in the Kentucky Oaks, Acorn and Mother Goose during a 29-day span. A winner on dirt and turf at distances ranging from 3 to 9 furlongs, her namesake race is at Aqueduct on Sunday.
Despite seeming a bit immature at times last year, this Blue Grass and Tampa Bay Derby winner had the talent to hit the board in the Travers and Belmont. Good to see him back on the tab as he prepares for his 4-year-old campaign.
A true cultural icon, the original "Big Red" and some baseball player, Babe Ruth, were named the two leading sports figures of 1920 by The New York Times.
In that order.
Wesley Ward worked his Royal Ascot-bound horses
@keenelandracing
this morning. On Golden Pal's five-eighths turf breeze, "I didn't go to Pimlico today because Golden Pal worked. That was the greatest work I've ever had a horse work today. It was unbelievable."
The last horse that won the Belmont Stakes at nine furlongs turned out okay.
Henry of Navarre went on to win ten in a row in that 1894 season including the Travers as well as a remarkable dead-heat in a match race with fellow Hall of Famer Domino.
Some notable Beyers from Saturday's racing at Belmont:
Firenze Fire (Runhappy) - 106 (Met Mile next)
Channel Maker (Man o' War) - 106
Global Campaign (Peter Pan) - 101 (Belmont, perhaps?)
Homerique (Beaugay) - 96
Heavenhasmynikki - (Vagrancy) - 95
Foaled on this date in 1949, Tom Fool won his last 11 races (10 for 10 at four) including the Handicap Triple (Met Mile, Suburban, Brooklyn). After lugging 136 lbs. in the 1 1/4-mile Brooklyn, conceding 26 lbs. to the runner-up, few were eager to face him.
Ack Ack won seven straight races en route to Horse of the Year honors in 1971.
During that streak, he won on turf and dirt at distances ranging from 5 1/2 furlongs to 1 1/4 miles. Ack Ack prevailed on fast and sloppy going, and lugged 134 lbs. to grab the Hollywood Gold Cup
95 Beyer Speed Figure for Baffert-trained 3-year-old debut winner Uncle Chuck yesterday
@santaanitapark
. By
@coolmoreamerica
's Uncle Mo, he's a half-brother to graded winners Kentuckian and Electric Forest. Dam a Grade 2 sprint winner.
Inducted into the
@nmrhof
in 1966, Swaps once reeled off nine consecutive victories including the 1955 Kentucky Derby. At four, the California flash won eight of nine dirt starts (and probably should have won all nine).
Check out the horses that Criminal Type beat during that four-race streak in 1990.
Fun Fact: 1991
@BreedersCup
Classic winner Black Tie Affair was 132 to 1 in the 1990 Met Mile.
MUCHO impressive maiden win yesterday for Bill Mott-trained 2-year-old. Received 90 Beyer Speed Figure winning off by 9 3/4 lengths. Boasts classic Claiborne pedigree.
Parx Saturday stakes Beyers:
King Jack - 111 (Gallant Bob)
Coal Front - 99 (Parx Dirt Mile)
Street Band - 99 (Cotillion)
Math Wizard - 99 (Pennsylvania Derby)
Trainer Terri Pompay reports that her hotwalker, Dawn Serey, has been transported to a local medical facility after Unikee "bowled her over" in the paddock before the Sir Barton. The horse didn't flip over. Pompay reports that Serey "had the wind really knocked out of her."
Foaled on this date in 2013, Arrogate roared through the Travers,
@BreedersCup
Classic, Pegasus World Cup and Dubai World Cup with some gaudy Beyer Speed Figures.
Lemon Drop Kid was pensioned early this week. A Grade 1 winner at two, he denied Charismatic the Triple Crown the following spring and went on a tear with the addition of blinkers at four.
99 Beyer Speed Figure for Mr. Money's Indiana Derby victory. An intriguing new face for the 3-year-old male division as we continue into the second half of the season. Street Band received an 87 for her Indiana Oaks score.
Foaled on April 6, 2006, Sea the Stars won at distances ranging from 7 furlongs to 1 1/2 miles. He was three-quarters of a length away from being undefeated, won the Epsom Derby and Arc, and grabbed six Grade 1's in a five-month span at three.
Golden Award, half-sister to Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner I'll Have Another by top stallion Medaglia d'Oro, becomes even more valuable as she notches her first graded victory in the Shuvee at Saratoga.
Saudi Cup post positions:
1. White Abarrio
2. Isolate
3. Lemon Pop
4. Senor Buscador
5. Saudi Crown
6. Crown Pride
7. National Treasure
8. Hoist the Gold
9. Defunded
10. Power in Numbers
11. Ushba Tesoro
12. Meisho Hario
13. Derma Sotogake
14. Carmel Road
Eight for the Black-Eyed Susan
1. Jeanne Marie
2. Ringy Dingy
3. Lemon Muffin
4. Call Another Play
5. Gun Song
6. Whocouldaskformo
7. Corposo
8. Recharge
Getting away from the disqualification talk for a minute, it's been a pretty good couple of years for stallion Lookin At Lucky with Lookin At Lee (2nd Derby), Accelerate (champion older horse, BC Classic) and now Country House.
.
@LaurelPark
will host six stakes races this Saturday including the What a Summer for filly and mare sprinters.
@MarylandTB
What a Summer won back-to-back editions of the Fall Highweight under 134 lbs. and was named champion sprinter in 1977.
Ack Ack's son, Broad Brush, is the broodmare sire of
@BreedersCup
Classic hero Fort Larned (foaled on this date in 2008).
Fort Larned won graded stakes races at Gulfstream, Prairie Meadows, Saratoga, Santa Anita and Churchill Downs.
Not only is American Theorem another winner from the first-crop of American Pharoah, but he is the fifth juvenile winner (third debut winner) out of the broodmare. Rated nicely behind horses before angling out for the drive. There were some trips in this race behind him.
Robert Bruce (Arlington Million) and Sistercharlie (Beverly D.) both received 102 Beyer Speed Figures for their respective
@BreedersCup
Win and You're In Races yesterday.
Princess Rooney won her first 10 starts, including the Kentucky Oaks, by a combined 77 1/4 lengths. She won her last 5 starts, including the Breeders' Cup Distaff, by a combined 20+ lengths. She'll be honored with a
@BreedersCup
Challenge race this Saturday
@GulfstreamPark
.
Pneumatic received a 99 Beyer for his victory in yesterday's Pegasus Stakes
@MonmouthPark
. Trained by Steve Asmussen and ridden by
@bravoace
, Pneumatic is a son of
@coolmoreamerica
's Uncle Mo and had previously finished fourth in the
@BelmontStakes
. Lightly-raced with upside.
In honor of Saturday's Big 'Cap
@santaanitapark
, here are the lifetime past performances of Game On Dude, three-time winner of the "Granddaddy of Them All."
89 Beyer for Dream Maker's 3-year-old debut in 'n1x' at Fair Grounds on Saturday. John Oxley homebred by Tapit scored by 8 1/2 lengths for Mark Casse. Full brother to Del Mar Oaks winner Dream Dancing. Second dam is Breeders' Cup Distaff winner Beautiful Pleasure
Favored Havnameltdown broke down on the turn of today's Chick Lang
@PimlicoRC
. It appears he was euthanized on track. Luis Saez carried into an ambulance on a backboard.
Ryvit ($12.80) wound up winning the race for Tyler Gaffalione and Steve Asmussen.
Colin was never worse than four lengths off the leader at any point of his undefeated 15-race career.
He won at distances ranging from 5 furlongs to 1 3/8 miles on all kinds of going, was named Horse of the Year in 1907 and 1908 and was elected to the
@nmrhof
in 1956.
Very cool to see an American Pharoah baby win at the Spa. Interesting that all 5 of Pharoah's worldwide winners have scored on turf. Sweet Melania's stamina-oriented pedigree and good tactical speed helped her. Watch out for Morning Gold next time for McPeek, perhaps with Lasix.
The talented Whitmore just won Oaklawn's Count Fleet Sprint for the third time.
Count Fleet became America's sixth Triple Crown winner after sweeping through the series by a combined 36 lengths. He sired three classic winners and is the broodmare sire of the great Kelso.
Tremendous analysis and selection of Belmont winner Sir Winston ($22.40) by
@HorseToWatch
on this week's Out of the Gate and Belmont Pick 6 webinar on
@DRFvideo
.
Coal Front popped a 103 Beyer for his win in today's Grade 3 Mr. Prospector Stakes at Gulfstream Park. One race prior, Bricks and Mortar returned from a 441-day layoff to grab a turf race with a 102 speed figure.