BloodHorse.com

 Life is Sweet for Shirreffs in Ladies' Classic
Pam and Martin Wygod's LIFE IS SWEET (Storm Cat) has faced a dynamo named Zenyatta (Street Cry [Ire]) in three of her last four starts, with that fourth run coming against the boys. On Friday, the bay lass finally found a race that didn't contain her nemesis, who also happens to be her stablemate, and ran away with the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic (G1) to give trainer John Shirreffs his second straight win in the race. more...

 Midday shines brightly in Filly & Mare Turf
Legendary British horseman Henry Cecil has trained the winners of 35 classics over the course of his illustrious career, but not until Group 1 star MIDDAY (GB) (Oasis Dream [GB]) powered to victory in Friday's $1,818,000 Filly & Mare Turf (G1) did he hoist his first Breeders' Cup trophy. more...

 She Be Wild rides rail for Juvenile Fillies score
Jockey Julien Leparoux kept SHE BE WILD (Offlee Wild) ran along the rail in the lane of Friday's $1,818,000 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), and the move paid off as the dark bay lass scooted through a hole in late stretch to give trainer Wayne Catalano yet another Juvenile Fillies victory. more...

 Decision decisive in Filly & Mare Sprint
Augustin Stable's INFORMED DECISION (Monarchos) proved to be better than Ventura (Chester House) in the Madison S. (G1) at Keeneland in April and demonstrated her superiority over that rival once more Friday with a score in the $909,000 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) at Santa Anita. more...

 Tapitsfly lives up to her name in Juvenile Fillies Turf
Frank L. Jones Jr.'s homebred TAPITSFLY (Tapit) wore down the game pacesetter Rose Catherine (Speightstown) to prevail in Friday's $909,000 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf S. at Santa Anita. more...

 Man of Iron edges Cloudy's Knight in Marathon
The 2009 Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita got off to a thrilling start on Friday as MAN OF IRON (Giant's Causeway) rallied determinedly to catch Cloudy's Knight (Lord Avie) in deep stretch and outfinished his nine-year-old rival by a nose in the $500,000 Marathon. The European horses were expected to dominate the 1 3/4-mile event over the Pro-Ride, but Man of Iron was the most unheralded member of the four-horse contingent. The regally-bred colt garnered his first stakes victory. more...

 Breeders' Cup TSI -- November 6
"This mare's been running hard, and she actually ran against the boys a couple of times. (Trainer) John (Shirreffs) did a tremendous job getting the filly's confidence back up underneath her and having her ready for today. And that's all it was. Really kind of getting her confidence back, and like I said, he did a tremendous job doing that." ?jockey Garrett Gomez on Ladies' Classic (G1) heroine LIFE IS SWEET (Storm Cat) more...

 Track Bandit Previews
Classic (G1)... more...

 Dean's Kitten chosen over Kera's Kitten for Juvenile Turf
After discussing options, owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey and trainer Mike Maker informed the Breeders' Cup racing office Friday morning that they would withdraw KERA'S KITTEN (Kitten's Joy) from Saturday's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, thus allowing their DEAN'S KITTEN (Kitten's Joy) to draw in off the also-eligible list. more...

 Breeders' Cup TSI -- November 5
"He galloped strong. He was very strong. My arms were burning by the time we got through." more...

 Breeders' Cup International Odds
To get a sense of how three top European bookmakers view the Breeders' Cup, here are their prices for the major contenders as of Thursday at 6 p.m. (EST). more...

 Allegre scratched from Turf
Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) prospect ALLEGRE (Orientate) was scratched late Thursday afternoon after developing an abscess in his right front foot. more...

 Rip Van Winkle visits track, satisfies O'Brien
Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) contender RIP VAN WINKLE (Ire) (Galileo [Ire]) has been the subject of rumors surrounding his problematic feet in recent days, but trainer Aidan O?Brien said that some questions he had about the three-year-old's condition vanished after Rip Van Winkle went to the track Wednesday morning. He said the multiple Group 1 winner showed him he is ready for the Classic. more...

 Borel looking forward to Breeders' Cup
Kentucky Derby (G1) MINE THAT BIRD (Birdstone) landed in the No. 1 post position for Saturday's $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Santa Anita when the 14-race Breeders' Cup card was drawn Tuesday. more...

 Breeders' Cup TSI -- November 4
Breeders' Cup They Said It more...

 On the Breeders' Cup Worktab
European champion and Group 1 heroine RAINBOW VIEW (Dynaformer), runner-up in the E.P. Taylor S. (Can-G1) last out in her North American bow, posted three panels in :36 4/5 over Santa Anita's Pro-Ride on Wednesday in advance of Friday's Ladies' Classic (G1). more...

 Breeders' Cup Entries 2009
Breeders' Cup Entries 2009 more...

 Breeders' Cup TSI -- November 3
Breeders' Cup Post Position Draw Quotes more...

 Internationals in the Breeders' Cup
Since it's become customary for me to post a special Breeders' Cup feature outlining my thoughts on the international brigade, I feel obliged to do so once again this year. My colleague, Tim Holland, has already posted very helpful descriptions of each international contender in his Breeders' Cup Preview, so I'll just chime in with complementary information that won't duplicate his efforts. Be sure to read us both to get the widest range of information! more...

 Handicapping Insights
The Breeders' Cup will be run for the 25th time this weekend at Santa Anita and it will be great to have the attention back on handicapping the horses and not on the host site. more...

 Holland's Breeders' Cup Spot Plays
While it may be argued that this year's edition is tougher than the 2009 running that VENTURA (Chester House) won by an easy four lengths, it could also be said that the Bobby Frankel-trained filly is even better 12 months later. more...

 Thoroughbred Beat
Here are six longshots in the Breeders' Cup that I will be looking to incorporate into my betting action this weekend: more...

 Classic Diary
In this final diary, I'll give my analysis and selections for the Classic (G1) and Dirt Mile (G1) on Saturday, and the Marathon on Friday. more...

 Turf Diary
For only the third time in Breeders' Cup history, the reigning champions in both the Turf (G1) and Mile (G1) are back to defend their crowns in the same year. more...

 Ladies' Classic Diary
With Zenyatta's (Street Cry [Ire]) connections opting to send their champion for the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), the Ladies' Classic one day prior could prove to be a contentious affair. more...

 Sprint Diary
To regular readers of this column hoping to meet or exceed last year's Return on Investment (ROI) by backing my top selections in the three Breeders' Cup sprint races: it isn't going to happen. more...

 Filly & Mare Turf Diary
As noted in the companion Turf Diary, it's no mean feat to defend a Breeders' Cup title. So far, in the brief 10-year history of the Filly & Mare Turf (G1), only one distaffer has managed to win it twice -- the exceptional Ouija Board (GB) (2004, 2006) -- and even she couldn't prevail in successive years. more...

 Juvenile Diary
I'm not straying too far off the reservation in either Breeders' Cup race for juvenile colts and geldings. more...

 Juvenile Fillies Diary
The Juvenile Fillies (G1) is the only Breeders' Cup race without any European-based contenders, and the 12-horse field looks extremely contentious. more...

 Mine That Bird works 'super'
Over Santa Anita's Pro-Ride on Monday, Kentucky Derby (G1) hero MINE THAT BIRD (Birdstone) drilled five-eighths in 1:01 2/5 in advance of Saturday's Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). Joe Talamo was aboard for the move, and trainer Chip Woolley was delighted with the result. more...

 On the Breeders' Cup worktab
At Santa Anita on Monday, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert sent out three Breeders' Cup contenders for half-mile works on the Pro-Ride. more...

 Europeans settle in at Santa Anita
Defending Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) champion CONDUIT (Ire) (Dalakhani), along with several of Juddmonte Farms' Breeders' Cup hopes, cleared the 42-hour quarantine at Santa Anita Monday morning and went to the track.   more...

 Breeders' Cup telecast schedule announced
The 2009 Breeders' Cup World Championships on Friday and Saturday from Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California, will receive nine hours of live coverage, including 2.5 hours on ABC. The 26th running of the Breeders' Cup will feature 14 races over two days on ABC, ESPN and ESPN2. more...

 Breeders' Cup partners with USO to host troops
In recognition and unqualified support of U.S. service members, the Breeders' Cup, in partnership with the USO, will host more than 350 American troops and their families for a day of championship Thoroughbred racing on Saturday at Santa Anita, as part of the 2009 Breeders' Cup World Championships. more...

 Denman expresses confidence in Zenyatta
Trevor Denman has called six of ZENYATTA's (Street Cry [Ire]) victories, and the sharp-eyed Oak Tree race caller sees no reason why the brilliant mare can't defeat males should she run in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) on Saturday. more...

 Pure Clan, Capt. Candyman Can post final works
Lewis Lakin's multiple Grade 1 winner PURE CLAN (Pure Prize) put in her final major move for her start in Friday's $2 million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) at Santa Anita by working three furlongs in :37 3/5 over the fast dirt at Churchill Downs early Sunday morning. more...

 Breeders' Cup releases race schedule, wagering for Championships
Gates at Santa Anita open to the public at 9 a.m. (PST) on Friday and 8 a.m. on Saturday for the 26th Breeders' Cup World Championships. more...

 On the Breeders' Cup worktab
Godolphin had its Blue Crew out early as usual on Sunday as the first morning of Pacific Standard Time dawned at Santa Anita. more...

 Zenyatta's date with destiny draws closer
Undefeated champion ZENYATTA (Street Cry [Ire]) took a step closer to a much-anticipated date with the boys in the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Oak Tree on November 7 when she breezed six furlongs in 1:12 2/5 over Hollywood Park's Cushion Track on Saturday. Regular rider Mike Smith was aboard for the move. more...

 On the Breeders' Cup worktab
Grade 1 queen COCOA BEACH (Chi) (Doneraile Court) covered five furlongs in :59 2/5 for trainer Saeed bin Suroor in advance of Friday's Ladies' Classic (G1). The dark bay five-year-old, who was last seen running third to champion Zenyatta (Street Cry [Ire]) in the Lady's Secret S. (G1), was clocked in splits of :12 2/5; :25, :37 1/5 and :48 2/5 before galloping out six furlongs in 1:13. more...

 Breeders' Cup runners begin trip west
When trainer Chad Brown sent out MARAM (Sahm) in last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, he was saddling his first starter on racing's biggest day. more...

 Breeders' Cup connections pledge funds to New Vocations
The connections of seven Breeders Cup starters have pledged a percentage or portion of their earnings to support New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program. more...

 Player honored with inaugural Racing Excellence Award
The Breeders' Cup announced Friday that Gary Player, a nine-time PGA champion and leading South African Thoroughbred breeder, has been named the first recipient of the Breeders' Cup Sports and Racing Excellence Award. more...

 On the Breeders' Cup worktab
2008 Filly & Mare Sprint heroine VENTURA (Chester House) posted her final serious work in advance of her title defense when breezing five furlongs in :59 4/5 over Hollywood Park's Cushion Track on Friday. Trained by Bobby Frankel, the five-year-old mare exits a tremendous one-length score in the Woodbine Mile (Can-G1), and she'll enter the Breeders' Cup fresh with only four starts this season. The likely Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) favorite posted the third-fastest of 26 works at the distance. more...

 Zenyatta will be morning-line favorite for Classic
The drama and anticipation surrounding ZENYATTA's (Street Cry [Ire]) possible first-ever challenge of males in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Santa Anita on November 7 will be finalized Tuesday morning. T more...

 Breeders' Cup, Churchill unveil 2010 logo
The Breeders' Cup and Churchill Downs on Thursday unveiled the official event logo for the 27th running of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, which will take place at Churchill in Louisville, Kentucky, November 5-6, 2010. more...

 On the Breeders' Cup worktab
Over Churchill Downs' turf on Thursday, Sword Dancer Invitational S. (G1) hero TELLING (A.P. Indy) traveled five furlongs in 1:08 1/5 around the "dogs" in advance of the November 7 Breeders' Cup Turf (G1). Jesus Castanon was aboard for trainer Steve Hobby. more...

 Baffert brigade works; Careless Jewel drills bullet
Trainer Bob Baffert worked his quartet of Breeders' Cup hopefuls over the Pro-Ride at Santa Anita on Tuesday. more...

 Mastercraftsman expresses first preference for Dirt Mile
Trainer Aidan O'Brien revealed on Monday that MASTERCRAFTSMAN (Danehill Dancer) has the November 7 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) as his first preference, possibly leaving his stablemate RIP VAN WINKLE (Galileo [Ire]) to shoulder the yard's hopes alone in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). more...

 O'Brien, Crisford discuss Breeders' Cup hopefuls
On Wednesday, trainer Aidan O'Brien and Simon Crisford, Racing Manager for the Maktoum family's Godolphin operation, revealed their plans for the Breeders' Cup at a press event held at Epsom Downs racecourse in England. more...

 Mine That Bird rips bullet five-eighths
Kentucky Derby (G1) winner MINE THAT BIRD (Birdstone) blitzed five furlongs in a bullet :58 1/5 at Santa Anita on Monday as he continues his preparations for the November 7 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). The Chip Woolley trainee tied for the fastest of 32 works at the distance on the Pro-Ride. more...

 Indian Blessing to bypass Breeders' Cup
Dual champion INDIAN BLESSING (Indian Charlie) will sidestep the November 6 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) after a series of unsatisfactory works over the Santa Anita Pro-Ride, trainer Bob Baffert told Daily Racing Form. more...

 Summer Bird drills five furlongs between races at Oak Tree
Belmont S. (G1), Travers S. (G1) and Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) hero SUMMER BIRD (Birdstone) took to the track between Sunday's 2ND and 3RD races at Oak Tree and worked five Pro-Ride furlongs in 1:00.45. more...

 Einstein preps for Classic over Churchill dirt
EINSTEIN (Brz) (Spend a Buck), one of the top American hopes for the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) on November 7, zipped five furlongs at Churchill Downs on Sunday in the veteran's final pre-race training move over his home track. more...

 Summer Bird to work between races
Belmont S. (G1), Travers S. (G1) and Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) winner SUMMER BIRD (Birdstone), the leading candidate for an Eclipse Award as champion three-year-old male, will reunite with regular rider Kent Desormeaux Sunday for a workout between Oak Tree's third and fourth races in preparation for the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) on November 7. more...

 Macho Again out of Classic
Stephen Foster H. (G1) hero MACHO AGAIN (Macho Uno) has been ruled out of the November 7 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) because of a cough, West Point Thoroughbreds announced. more...

 Breeders' Cup announces licensing agreement with Betfair
Breeders' Cup Limited announced Thursday simulcasting and licensing agreements with Betfair Group Limited permitting common-pool wagering on the 2009 Breeders' Cup, which will be held at Santa Anita on November 6-7. more...

 Baffert workers fire bullets for Breeders' Cup
Four of Bob Baffert's prime Breeders' Cup contenders moved a step closer to their engagements at Oak Tree on November 6 and 7 with sharp workouts over Santa Anita's Pro-Ride surface Wednesday morning. more...

 Sweet Hearth headed for Filly & Mare Sprint
Having saddled Lashkari (GB) to a 53-1 upset in the inaugural Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) at Hollywood Park 25 years ago, French champion trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre is hopeful that SWEET HEARTH (Touch Gold) can give him a second victory at the Breeders' Cup. more...

 Rail Trip, Gitano Hernando out of BC Classic
Grade 1 winners RAIL TRIP (Jump Start) and GITANO HERNANDO (GB) (Hernando [Fr]) will both miss the November 7 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Santa Anita, their connections have reported. more...

 Shocked takes down Melbourne Cup
Trainer Mark Kavanagh did not have his best horse entered in Tuesday's A$5,650,000 Melbourne Cup (Aus-G1), but he had the right one. Resigned to not having either his 2008 Cox Plate (Aus-G1) winner Maldivian nor his multiple Group 1-winning pupil Whobegotyou (Street Cry [Ire]) in Australia's famous two-mile handicap at Flemington, the 54-year-old Adelaide, Australia, native ultimately found luck in the form of SHOCKED (Street Cry [Ire]), who gutted out the victory by three parts of a length after a three-wide journey throughout. more...

 Sassy Image, Thiskyhasnolimit will try and sweep Churchill stakes
SASSY IMAGE (Broken Vow) and Cathy and THISKYHASNOLIMIT (Sky Mesa), winners of the Pocahontas S. (G3) and Iroquois S. (G3), respectively, at Churchill Downs, figure to make return trips in stakes company on the Louisville, Kentucky, track's closing-day Stars of Tomorrow II card on November 28. more...

 Betfair to offer NYRA pools to its customers worldwide
The New York Racing Association has reached an agreement with Betfair Games Ltd. to permit common-pool pari-mutuel wagering on its races to Betfair's global customers. more...

 Fair Grounds kicks off 138th season
The historic New Orleans Fair Grounds will open the gates for its 138th season of live racing on Friday, its earliest start date ever. Opening day falls one week earlier than last year and well ahead of the old Thanksgiving Day opener of years past. The 85-day meet runs through March 28. more...

 Denis of Cork returns to Carroll's barn
Grade 3 winner DENIS OF CORK (Harlan's Holiday), who ran third in the 2008 Kentucky Derby (G1) and second in the Belmont S. (G1), has returned to the barn of trainer David Carroll. more...

 Wagering up at Keeneland fall meet
Keeneland closed its 2009 fall season on Saturday with increases in total wagering for the 17-day race meeting, which began October 9. more...

 Apprentice Casey hospitalized with bruised liver
Apprentice jockey Amanda Casey will remain at North Shore University Hospital for a week to recover from a bruised liver suffered when she was kicked by her horse in the paddock at Aqueduct on Friday. more...

 Jockey Brimo in critical condition
Jockey Julia Brimo, who suffered injuries when her mount, Golden Stride (Smart Strike), clipped heels and fell during Friday's 1ST race at Keeneland, has been listed in "critical" condition by the University of Kentucky Medical Center. more...

 NYRA hands Mullins six-month penalty
The New York Racing Association (NYRA) announced Friday that it imposed a six month penalty on trainer Jeffrey Mullins for violating NYRA's monitoring barn rules and regulations. more...

 Rachel Alexandra meeting up for auction
A personal visit with RACHEL ALEXANDRA (Medaglia d'Oro) goes on the auction block Thursday -- the grand final item in Kendall-Jackson's "Rachel Alexandra Running Auction," benefiting The V Foundation for Cancer Research. The auction will end after seven days at noon on November 4. more...

 Sea the Stars to stand at Aga Khan's Gilltown Stud
The Tsui family ended weeks of speculation Tuesday when they announced that they are going to stand European superstar SEA THE STARS (Cape Cross [Ire]), at His Highness The Aga Khan's Gilltown Stud in Co. Kildare, Ireland. more...

 Breeders' Cup or Bust to begin at Keeneland
On Wednesday, Keeneland will be the kick off venue for Breeders' Cup or Bust, a fundraising project created by Ray Paulick and Brad Cummings of The Paulick Report in which the two will travel to and wager at racetracks across the country in an effort to raise money and awareness for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund and the V Foundation for Cancer Research. Breeders' Cup is a partner, as is TVG. more...

 Fair Grounds to offer HD simulcast signal
Fair Grounds Race Course will offer high definition (HD) simulcasts of all of its races when the historic New Orleans track opens its 2009-2010 Thoroughbred meet on November 6. more...

 Black Mamba goes out in style in the Dowager
In what might turn out to be her final racetrack appearance, Double Down Stables' BLACK MAMBA (NZ) (Black Minnaloushe) exited the stage the right way with a victory in Sunday's $125,000 Dowager S. at Keeneland. more...

 Banrock gets his Mohawk in Belmont meet finale
Nyala Farm's homebred BANROCK (Go for Gin) finally filled in the one gap on his impressive New York-bred resume in Sunday's $150,000 Mohawk S., the last race of Belmont's Fall Championship Meet. The Tom Bush veteran found his third try in the Mohawk to be the proverbial charm, driving to a one-length decision in a final time of 1:52 3/5 for 1 1/8 miles on the soft inner turf. more...

 Dominguez, Pletcher take home Belmont titles
Jockey Ramon Dominguez continued to dominate the competition in New York with his fifth straight riding title, and trainer Todd Pletcher won his 20th individual training title as Belmont Park's 33-day Fall Championship Meet concluded Sunday. more...

 Pair of Kittens punch Breeders' Cup tickets
Ken and Sarah Ramsey's homebred juveniles KERA'S KITTEN (Kitten's Joy) and LISA'S KITTEN (Kitten's Joy) shipped in from Kentucky and captured the two turf stakes at Retama Park Saturday night, booking their passage to the November 6-7 Breeders' Cup at Oak Tree. Jockey Julien Leparoux made the trek to San Antonio to guide both Mike Maker trainees, who were each sent off as the 6-5 favorite in their respective events. more...

 Haynesfield and Dominguez star in New York Showcase
Turtle Bird Stable's HAYNESFIELD (Speightstown) returned to the winner's circle with a three part of a length victory in Saturday's $250,000 Empire Classic, utilizing a quick turn of foot off the far turn to open a clear lead in midstretch and holding sway to the wire under Ramon Dominguez. more...

 Icon Project retired
Andrew Rosen's ICON PROJECT (Empire Maker), last seen crushing the August 30 Personal Ensign S. (G1) at Saratoga by 13 1/2 lengths, has been retired after sustaining a tendon injury. more...

 Churchill, Kentucky horsemen agree on three-year contract
Churchill Downs Inc., the Kentucky Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA) and the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association (KTA) have reached agreement on a three-year contract that establishes levels of race purses at the home of the Kentucky Derby (G1). In addition, the Kentucky HBPA and CDI have agreed to dismiss their claims against one another in a lawsuit filed in United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky in 2008. The agreement follows the expiration of the previous contract following the historic track's 2009 Spring Meet. more...

 Black Mamba set for curtain call in Dowager
Grade 1 veteran BLACK MAMBA (NZ) (Black Minnaloushe), third in the October 10 Yellow Ribbon S. (G1) in what was expected to be her final start for Doubledown Stables, will go to bat for her connections one more time in Sunday's $125,000 Dowager S. at Keeneland. Following her swan song as the 125-pound highweight, the six-year-old will be sold at the November 10 Selected Fall Mixed Sale at Fasig-Tipton near Lexington, Kentucky. more...

 Tuscan Evening scores in Las Palmas
William Deburgh's TUSCAN EVENING (Ire) (Oasis Dream [GB]) snapped a two-race losing streak when taking the $200,000 Las Palmas H. (G2), the nightcap on the Breeders' Cup Friday program at Santa Anita. more...

 Demarcation upsets Ack Ack
Longshots dominated Friday's $111,000 Ack Ack H. (G3) at Churchill Downs, with Amerman Racing Stables' DEMARCATION (Gulch) pulling off the 10-1 upset by 1 1/2 lengths with 21-1 and 13-1 chances occupying the next two slots. more...

 Melbourne Cup Blog - Entry 6
I guess the only thing better than going to the Melbourne Cup (G1) is going to the Melbourne Cup and backing the winner. more...

 Melbourne Cup Blog - Entry 5
After reading everything I can get my hands on, watching every show on the Emirates Melbourne Cup (G1) and talking to some of the participants Monday evening at a dinner, it's time to make up my mind and decide who I am going to back in the 149th running of the race that stops a nation. more...

 Melbourne Cup Blog - Entry 4
"Cup Day, and Cup Day only, commands an attention, an interest, and an enthusiasm which are universal -- and spontaneous, not perfunctory. Cup Day is supreme, it has no rival. I can call to mind no specialized annual day, in any country, which can be named by that large name -- Supreme. I can call to mind no specialized annual day, in any country, whose approach fires the whole land with a conflagration of conversation and preparation and anticipation and jubilation. No day save this one; but this one does it." more...

 Melbourne Cup Blog - Entry 3
Stalls were drawn on Saturday night for Tuesday's $5.4 million Melbourne Cup and the field of 24 was rocked by the defection of EFFICIENT because of injury. ZIPPING, who had to be scratched from the Mackinnon S. on Saturday when he was stuck under the starting gate is also out of the Cup, and KIRKLEES (Jade Robbery) was scratched after trainer Saeed bin Suroor watched him after arriving here and did not like what he saw. more...

 Melbourne Cup Blog - Entry 2
t's been an interesting day. Left LAX around 9:30 p.m. (PDT) on Thursday and made it to Sydney on Saturday morning at 6 a.m. local time. From there, made my connecting flight to Melbourne which arrived at 10 a.m.. Don't know what happened to Friday. more...

 Melbourne Cup Blog - Entry 1
It's been an interesting trip so far and we aren't even halfway there. Going to the Melbourne Cup requires a lot of stamina. It basically takes a day and a half to get there but after doing it last year this year should be a piece of cake. more...

 International Diary
Throughout history, the celestial realm has been viewed as the abode of surpassing excellence. more...

 Holland's European Breeders' Cup Preview
Preview of European Breeders' Cup contenders more...

 Juvenile Fillies Diary
With the Breeders' Cup fast approaching, we'll take a look at the final premiere preps for the Juvenile Fillies (G1) and Juvenile Fillies Turf. more...

 Handicapping Insights
The Breeders' Cup saw 166 horses enter its 14 races and there was only one surprise. more...

 Thoroughbred Beat
Some early thoughts on the Breeders' Cup pre-entries: more...

 Juvenile Diary
In this edition, we'll touch on the final preps for the two Breeders' Cup juvenile races for males and our initial observations on the participants exiting those races that are headed to California. more...

 Classic Diary
Call it the heart of a line-up. In baseball, the New York Yankees come at you with Mark Teixeira, Alex Rodriguez and Hideki Matsui in the 3-4-5 spot, and the Philadelphia Phillies can counter with their own "Murderers' Row" of Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Jayson Werth. more...

 Sprint Diary
To paraphrase Samuel Clemens, who knew a little something about horse racing, the reports of ZENSATIONAL's (Unbridled's Song) invincibility have been greatly exaggerated. more...

 Handicapping Feature
For most of my handicapping career I regarded the jockey factor as incidental more...

 Filly & Mare Turf Diary
In this edition, we'll survey five significant preps for the Breeders' Cup. After recapping the three that have taken place recently, we'll cast a glance at the two coming up on Saturday -- the E. P. Taylor S. (Can-G1) at Woodbine and the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) at Keeneland. more...

 Ladies' Classic Diary
This year's Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic (G1) is shaping up to be a repeat of 2008, with most of the same cast and crew re-opposing reigning champion ZENYATTA (Street Cry [Ire]). One really interesting contender has been retired, and another major player is now only 50-50 for the 1 1/8-mile event. more...

 Turf Diary
In this issue, we'll analyze the recent Breeders' Cup preps, first for the Turf (G1) and then for the Mile (G1), and take a look at Saturday's Canadian International (Can-G1). more...

 Commentary
I've never had the privilege of meeting or speaking to legendary Irish horseman John Oxx and I suspect I never will. If given the opportunity, however, I would personally thank him for his role in reassuring me not once but twice over the past decade that an affliction that's lasted with me for nearly a quarter-century is best left uncured. more...

 International Diary
Trainer Aidan O'Brien may be feeling like an Austrian general after the Battle of Austerlitz. No matter the dispositions of his troops, or the intricate designs of his tactics as he envisions them on the map, his forces are still getting smashed to pieces by Napoleon, or in this case, SEA THE STARS (Cape Cross [Ire]). more...

 Commentary
When asked to reel off the top trainer or trainers in the United States, the common answers include the likes of Bob Baffert, Todd Pletcher, John Sadler, Steve Asmussen, Richard Mandella et al, and deservedly so, but one name that tends to get overlooked is the genius known as Jonathan Sheppard. more...

 Pedigree Handicapping
Budding turf sire Eurosilver more...

 Winning and Losing Streaks
In Thoroughbred racing, every level of handicapper has encountered winning and losing streaks from time to time. more...

 Oak Tree Notebook
Breeders' Cup Edition more...

 Churchill Downs Notebook
The 21-day Churchill Downs meet that began immediately after Keeneland's fall stay ended on October 31 promises large and quality fields and a great horseman community. more...

 Keeneland Notebook
The brief Keeneland 2009 Fall meet leading up to Breeders' Cup weekend came to a close on October 31. A total of 162 races through the month, on Polytrack and the turf, presented no great bias on either surface but revealed some terrific trends that deserve attention as Kentucky racing moves to Churchill Downs for a 21-day stand. more...

 Aqueduct Notebook
Aqueduct's meet began just as the fall Belmont session did, with heavy rain, a sloppy, sealed surface and races off the turf. The first grass race didn't take place until Friday's feature, but by the weekend things had cleared up considerably to allow all scheduled turf races to take place. more...

 Belmont Notebook
The Fall Championship meet came to a close with the way it started, with rainy weather affecting the stakes schedule. Both the Athenia (G3) and the Knickerbocker(G3), originally scheduled for the previous weekend, were smartly moved by management to the final week. more...