The Hall of Fame class of 2013 will be announced Friday, with five jockeys - including three-time Kentucky Derby winner Calvin Borel - one trainer, and four horses vying for the four coveted spots.
In addition to Borel, Derby-winning jockeys Chris Antley and Craig Perret are among the finalists, along with jockeys Garrett Gomez and Alex Solis, retired trainer Gary Jones, and the horses Ashado, Housebuster, Invasor, and Lure.
Game On Dude returned to Southern California Sunday afternoon, less than 24 hours after earning a $1 million payday for his hard-fought, half-length victory over Clubhouse Ride in Saturday night’s $1.5 million Charles Town Classic. Chances are, the 6-year-old gelding will remain home for the remainder of the year with an eye toward the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita in November.
LEXINGTON, Ky. – He doesn’t quite have ‘em totally surrounded, but it would be difficult to envision a more enviable position for the 139th Kentucky Oaks than what Todd Pletcher has.
With as many as four of the projected 14 starters for the May 3 filly classic at Churchill Downs residing in his barn, Pletcher might well have the two post-time favorites in Dreaming of Julia and Unlimited Budget. Both of those standout fillies were out for serious work Saturday at Churchill in Louisville, Ky., along with the other two Pletcher prospects for the Oaks, Silsita and Princess of Sylmar.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Uncaptured, who was 6 for 7 last year including a pair of wins in graded stakes at Churchill Downs, is the first 2-year-old to be voted Canada’s Horse of the Year since the filly Ruling Angel in 1986.
Owned by John Oxley, trained by Mark Casse, and bred by Bill Graham – all of whom were Sovereign Award winners in their respective categories – Uncaptured also was the unanimous choice of 41 voters in the 2-year-old male division.
FAIR HILL, Md. - Mucho Macho Man looked good during a two-mile gallop Friday morning over the dirt surface at the Fair Hill training center, but when and where he returns to the races has not yet been decided.
Mucho Macho Man was pulled up in the Florida Sunshine Millions Classic at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 19 and was later found to have a respiratory issue. He was shipped here in February to train and take advantage of the facilities at Fair Hill, including the hyperbaric chamber.
Grace Hall finished last as the even-money favorite in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom at Oaklawn on April 12, and there now may be a reason for the poor effort.
In a recent trip to the Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Kentucky, Grace Hall was diagnosed with a partial fracture of the lateral wing of the coffin bone on her right front foot, according to Reynolds Bell, an adviser to owner John Clay. Grace Hall also some bruising of her left front foot, Bell said.
FAIR HILL, Md. – While Graham Motion was back at his Fair Hill training center base Friday morning overseeing his large stable, his mind rarely wanders far from England, where his prized pupil Animal Kingdom is preparing for what is expected to be his final race at the Royal Ascot meeting in June.
FAIR HILL, Md. – A visit to the bucolic Fair Hill training center on the Maryland-Delaware border wasn’t originally on the agenda for Vyjack. But if he wins the 139th Kentucky Derby in two weeks, the gelding’s 13-day stay here may prove to be one of the reasons.
Editor’s note: The eighth season of Countdown to the Crown returns as one of the most comprehensive handicapper’s scouting reports of the 3-year-old scene. Posted each Friday at DRF.com from Jan. 4 through the Belmont Stakes, Countdown keeps you apprised of the rising stars of the 3-year-old class from the maiden ranks through the Grade 1 stakes. You can access daily updates, opinions and interactive features at Countdowntothecrown.com as well.
Straight from the gate
