Fri, 05/01/2009 - 00:00

I Want Revenge's half-brother coming soon

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - I Want Noise, the 2-year-old half-brother to Kentucky Derby morning-line favorite I Want Revenge, is scheduled to arrive at trainer Jeff Mullins's stable at Hollywood Park next month.

Owner-breeder David Lanzman offered I Want Noise at the Barretts March sale of selected 2-year-olds in training earlier this year, but bought the colt back after bidding stopped at $60,000.

Fri, 05/01/2009 - 00:00

Against the Sky wants more

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Trainer Craig MacPherson wasn't surprised heavily favored Against the Sky had her six-race win streak snapped when she finished third in a six-furlong $75,000 optional claiming race on April 19. After all, Against the Sky, who was the champion older female in British Columbia in 2008, had not won a sprint since 2005 when she won her debut in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight race. Since then, she has won 10 races at 1 1/16 miles or longer. In fact, she has never lost a race longer than 6 1/2 furlongs.

Fri, 05/01/2009 - 00:00

Rachel Alexandra in a class by herself

Barbara D. Livingston
Rachel Alexandra and Calvin Borel cruise to a stunning 20 1/4-length victory in Friday's Kentucky Oaks.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Even before she passed under the wire as the easiest of winners in the 135th Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs, Rachel Alexandra already had people wondering: "What would she have done in the Derby?"

Fri, 05/01/2009 - 00:00

Neumeier has apparent seizure

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Bob Neumeier, part of NBC and Bravo's horse racing broadcasting team, suffered an apparent seizure in the paddock at Churchill Downs just prior to the Kentucky Oaks and was removed on a stretcher after being attended to by track medical personnel. His condition was not known.

Fri, 05/01/2009 - 00:00

Orthodox pays $93.20 in American Turf

The husband-wife team of John and Kim Glenney come up with an inordinate number of turf-stakes horses, considering the small scale of their operation. A longshot named Orthodox ($93.20) became the latest, winning the Grade 3, $150,000 American Turf Stakes on Friday by a three-quarters of a length over Battle of Hastings.

Fri, 05/01/2009 - 00:00

Bullsbay reels in Cool Coal Man

Barbara D. Livingston
Bullsbay, with jockey Jeremy Rose up, pulls clear of Cool Coal Man to win the Grade 3 Alysheba at Churchill.

Bullsbay's non-effort in the Grade 1 Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park remains a puzzler to trainer Graham Motion, but as long as the 5-year-old horse can deliver performances like he did Friday at Churchill Downs it will be easier to forget.

Fri, 05/01/2009 - 00:00

Justwhistledixie out of Oaks

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Justwhistledixie, who figured to be the second choice behind the odds-on favorite Rachel Alexandra in the Kentucky Oaks, was scratched shortly after 3 p.m. on Friday due to a bruise in her right front foot.

"It's bad timing but no reason to get upset," said Terry Finley, president of West Point Thoroughbreds, the owners of Justwhistledixie. "The injury was discovered when she got her Lasix shot. They re right on top of it. I m glad it showed through in the barn and was discovered before she ran in the race."

Fri, 05/01/2009 - 00:00

Laragh rebounds in Edgewood

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Making her first start of the year in the Grade 2 Comely Stakes at Aqueduct on April 11, nothing went Laragh's way. Heavy rain resulted in her catching a sloppy track for her main-track debut, and after chasing the speedy Dream Play, she grew discouraged and faded to fifth, beaten 17 lengths.

Fri, 05/01/2009 - 00:00

Miss Isellla upsets One Caroline in Louisville

Barbara D. Livingston
One Caroline (center) leads as Miss Isella (right) and Calvin Borel come up the rail to win Friday's Louisville.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Home-court advantage can be a major factor in any sport - including the Sport of Kings.

Miss Isella took advantage over her home track, parlaying a vintage Calvin Borel ride into a three-quarter-length victory over the previously undefeated One Caroline in Friday's $350,000 Louisville Distaff at Churchill Downs. The Grade 2 race lost some of its luster after reigning divisional champion Zenyatta scratched earlier in the day because the track was wet.

Fri, 05/01/2009 - 00:00

Chamberlain Bridge takes Turf Sprint

It definitely looked like Chamberlain Bridge could win the Aegon Turf Sprint Stakes on Friday at soggy Churchill Downs. The way he won it, that wasn't so easy to see.

Tonged by the gate-crew when he grew fractious in the gate, away slightly slow at the start, Chamberlain Bridge was taken out of his normal pace-pressing game. It looked like all might be lost for Chamberlain Bridge on the far turn, but Chamberlain Bridge rallied through the stretch under Garrett Gomez, beating fellow closer Cannonball by a neck in the Grade 3, $100,000 Turf Sprint.