Oct. 22 Insights: Expensive Debuters Assemble at Keeneland Post-Dowager
October 21, 2023
8th-KEE, $100k, Msw, 2yo, 6 1/2f, 4:44p.m. ET After the turf marathon mares dazzle the Kentucky crowd in Keeneland's GIII Dowager S. a race prior, the juveniles will take to the main track to open their dockets in this maiden dash led by Pin Oak Stud's PHANTOM SPEED (Arrogate) from the rail. A $700,000 KEESEP [...]
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Oct. 8 Insights: From New York to California, Big Name Debuts
October 7, 2023
1st-BAQ, $90k, Msw, 2yo, 7f, 12:35p.m. ET Whisper Hill Farm has been enjoying a fruitful year on the track and in the sales ring, and SPEED RUNNER (Gun Runner) looks to add his tally to the operation's banner year. A half-brother to the brilliant GISW Brilliant Speed (Dynaformer); SW & GSP Souper Speedy (Indian Charlie); [...]
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Oct. 7 Insights: Well-Related Juveniles Debut on Both Coasts
October 6, 2023
2nd-KEE, $100k, Msw, 2yo, 6f, 1:32p.m. ET GALLANT MISCHIEF (Into Mischief), a $480,000 KEENOV purchase in 2021, will put his best foot forward in this first juvenile maiden on a packed Keeneland card for conditioner Mark Casse and owner Tracy Farmer. A half-brother to MGISW Beach Patrol (Lemon Drop Kid), he comes into this contest [...]
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Aug. 1 Insights: Pricey Candy Ride Filly Unveiled at Ellis
July 31, 2023
5th-ELP, $70k, Msw, 2, f, 5 1/2fT, 2:45p.m. ET Unveiled on a Tuesday, CANDY LANDY (Candy Ride {Arg}) will go to post for conditioner George Arnold not only carrying Martin Garcia but also the hopes that come with a $500,000 FTSAUG price tag. The bay has been seen religiously on Churchill Downs's work tab and [...]
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Book Review: “Lexington: The Extraordinary Life and Turbulent Times of America's Legendary Racehorse”
June 19, 2023
On the surface, it seems far-fetched to believe that the racing environment of today is in any way similar to that of Lexington's heyday, but after the concluding Lexington: The Extraordinary Life and Turbulent Times of America's Legendary Racehorse (Kim Wickens, Random House, available July 11, 2023), it seems that those by-gone days, in some [...]
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City of Light's Shootoutthelights Dazzles as a New Rising Star
April 2, 2023
Minor ailments held her back from a juvenile campaign, but Shootoutthelights (City of Light) showed she was worth the wait as she lit up the clock with an electrifying cruising speed, and dominated her rivals to become her sire's first 'TDN Rising Star' as a brilliant cap to Gulfstream's Championship meet. The race was almost [...]
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Feb. 26 Insights: Albaugh Family Stables Send Out 'Mischief' Firster
February 25, 2023
Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 6th-GP, $84k, Msw, 3yo, f, 1 1/16m, 2:39p.m. ET Against a field where several have high-profile connections and purple catalog pages, the Albaugh Family Stables look to be counted present with MILAN MISCHIEF (Into Mischief), their $440,000 KEESEP daughter of America's four-time reigning champion general sire. Hailing from the female [...]
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February 5 Insights: Charge It Makes Seasonal Bow in Florida
February 4, 2023
Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 6th-GP, $84k, Msw, 3yo, f, 1mT, 2:37p.m. ET Richard Schermerhorn's $390,000 OBSAPR purchase LADY BETH (Hard Spun) will be unveiled on what looks like a very active Sunday of racing across the country. Drawn toward the middle in this Gulfstream maiden, she is the first registered foal for her dam, [...]
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Jan. 8 Insights: Repole, St Elias Stables Send Out Pricey 'Mo' Filly
January 7, 2023
Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 5th-GP, $84k, Msw, 3yo, f, 7 1/2fT, 2:10p.m. ET The powerhouse partnership of Repole and St Elias Stables will send out $450,000 FTKOCT purchase SASSINESS (Uncle Mo) in this turf maiden. A half to Canadian Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old colt Up With the Birds (Stormy Atlantic) as [...]
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Dec. 18 Insights: Glen Hill Farm Homebred by Curlin Unveiled
December 17, 2022
Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 6th-AQU, $85k, Msw, 2yo, f, 1m, 2:14p.m. ET Manzanita Stables LLC went to $300,000 at KEESEP in 2021 to acquire LUCKY COMBINATION (Ghostzapper), a price tag likely aided by her dam being out of a half-sister to GISW & MGISP Girolamo (A.P. Indy) and his full-siblings MGISP & MGSW Daydreaming [...]
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Twelve Days a Racing: Jared Shoemaker Pipes Up
December 13, 2022
Jared Shoemaker, co-managing partner of Pocket Aces Racing, grew up in Lexington and fondly remembers going to Keeneland with his extended family from the time he could walk. It was one of his favorite things to do as a child. By the time he was in high school, he admits to spending a lot of [...]
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November 27 Insights: Pletcher Unveils Well-Bred Quality Road Colt
November 26, 2022
Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 12th-CD, $120k, Msw, 3yo/up, 7 1/2f, 6:24p.m. ET Repole Stable, St. Elias Stable, and Woodford Racing LLC partner-up on this $500,000 KEESEP procurement in PATOU ROAD (Quality Road), who will be getting a late start to the races for his powerhouse connections. In the barn of Pletcher, who has had [...]
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