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Barry Irwin's Team Valor went agonzingly close to winning the GI Kentucky Derby with Captain Bodgit back in 1997, and in Crimson China, he might be armed to take another serious crack at the Run for the Roses. Previously trained by Brian Meehan, the striking bay colt debuted auspiciously with a nose defeat at odds...

Cal Nation, a half-brother to the successful young sire Bluegrass Cat (Storm Cat), GISW, $1,761,280, was offered as a yearling at Keeneland September in 2009, but headed back to WinStar after RNA'ing for $335,000. The bay colt joined trainer Todd Pletcher's string at Palm Meadows in December, recorded several eye-catching drills, and went postward as...

Machen, who caused a stir with his 5 1/2-length debut victory going six furlongs at Fair Grounds Jan. 2, proved that win was no fluke with a dominant win Sunday in New Orleans. The chestnut colt, sent off at 1-9, broke tardily but rushed into contention and was rank in behind foes on the first...

Runflatout was picked up for $22,000 as a yearling at FTKOCT, but blossomed over the winter. Catalogued at Barretts March, the dark bay worked in an eighth in :10 at Fairplex and wound up going for $165,000. He was sent to trainer Carla Gaines and, though he was entered at Del Mar, didn't see afternoon...

Hout Bay trained like a horse on a mission in the weeks leading up to this career debut, breezing six furlongs in a race-like 1:11 2/5 Jan. 10 followed by a bullet half-mile in :46 4/5 Jan. 17. She was made a 6-1 chance on Jon White's morning line, but took significant support at the...

Rumor, a $440,000 KEESEP yearling purchase, was 5-2 for her unveiling, and ran like she should have been 2-5. The half-sister to Dixie Chatter (Dixie Union), GISW, $464,606, contested the pace two wide through hot splits of :21.50 and :44.19. With Rafael Bejarano aboard, Rumor shook clear as they turned for home and exploded in...

<a href="https://lanesend.com/thefactor " class="horse-link" target="_blank">The Factor</a> was much-hyped going into his Nov. 28 debut at Hollywood Park, but disappointed when only fourth as the 3-5 favorite. Since that opener, the gray colt had turned in two bullet works, going five furlongs in :58 2/5 at Hollywood Dec. 12 and three furlongs at Santa Anita in :36 1/5 Dec. 23....

Alcindor came home a nose winner in his career debut at the Oak Tree meeting Oct. 23 and was installed the 6-5 choice to make it two in a row here. Close behind early splits of :22.22 and :44.15, the dark bay drew clear turning for home and was 7 1/2-lengths clear of Nextdoorneighbor (Lido...

Hailey d'Oro hails from the same connections that campaigned last year's Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra–Jess Jackson's Stonestreet Stables and trainer Steve Asmussen. The even-money choice broke alertly and prompted Miss Fifty (Johannesburg) through a crisp opening quarter of :22.12. Driving past that rival soon after, the bay cut out a half mile in...

Royal Delta had put together a solid series of morning drills, but, hailing from the patient Bill Mott barn, went postward at 7-1. Unhurried in the early stages, the dark bay made her way forward heading into the turn, only to find herself stuck behind a wall of horses. Jockey Jose Lezcano took a big...

Palooza took plenty of action at the windows in her Sept. 3 debut at Saratoga, and proved her backers correct. Sort of. The chestnut dueled heads apart early on and crossed the line 1 1/4 lengths best, only to have her number taken down on a controversial decision by the stewards. She was pounded into...

Unbridled Humor was available at 8-1 when unveiled on the Saratoga sod Sept. 5, but was forwardly placed throughout and proved a 2 1/2-length winner (video). Bet down to 8-5 this time, the grey filly raced handily in second as Elle Special (Giant's Causeway) showed the way. The Live Oak homebred inhaled the pacesetter at...