Hangin On a Star

She was claimed for $5,000 out of a race in which she bled badly. Yet here we are, 75 years later, celebrating Iltis (War Relic) as founder of a dynasty freshly decorated, coast to coast, on consecutive weekends. The moment of alchemy for Iltis was the transfer early in her breeding career to Ocala Stud, where a remarkable stallion, Rough'n Tumble, and the still more remarkable O'Farrell family were together putting Florida in the Thoroughbred map. A first date between Iltis and Rough'n Tumble produced My Dear Girl, as leading...

After packing in so many rehearsals the previous week, as close to the Breeders' Cup as modern trainers might dare run a horse, the stakes schedule slackened off steeply last weekend. But that didn't mean the stallion of the moment had to do the same. Not This Time duly came up with a 1-2 in the GII Franklin Stakes at Keeneland, maintaining his momentum after five stakes winners the previous weekend were crowned by a 1-2-3 in the GIII Jessamine Stakes. It was not just because of this hot streak,...