Truly Quality

The effort that goes into winning one race--at any level--is tremendous. Winning the same graded race four years in a row? That's the stuff of Hollywood. And yet veteran Gold Phoenix (Ire) (g, 8, Belardo {Ire}--Magnifica, by Mizzen Mast) showed once again why he is the GII Del Mar Handicap's leading man Saturday, winning for the fourth consecutive year and earning a 'Win and You're In' berth to the GI Breeders' Cup Turf over this course Nov. 1. GSW Stay Hot (Summer Front) finished second, while MGSW Atitlan (The Factor)...

When Rashmi (Oscar Performance), the latest ingenue to punctuate a dynasty of George Strawbridge-bred starlets, made short thrift of the latest running of the GIII Megahertz Stakes at Santa Anita, her win affirmed the charmed run enjoyed by her trainer, Jonathan Thomas, shows no outward signs of lost momentum. Will Then (War of Will) cruising away with the GIII Jimmy Durante Stakes. Truly Quality (Quality Road) showing rare quality in the GII Hollywood Turf Club Stakes. Mrs. Astor (Lookin At Lucky) doing double Grade III duty in the Red Carpet...

George Strawbridge's Augustin Stables capped a trio of graded wins over the week at Del Mar when Will Then (War of Will) powered to a 2 1/4-length victory in the GIII Jimmy Durante Stakes at the seaside oval Saturday. The filly joined stablemates Mrs. Astor (Lookin at Lucky), who won the Nov. 24 GIII Red Carpet Stakes, and Truly Quality (Quality Road), who won the GII Hollywood Turf Cup Friday. All three homebreds are trained by Jonathan Thomas. "I really have to give kudos to Mr. Strawbridge and his breeding...

If you're feeling a little deja vu about the result of Friday's GII Hollywood Turf Cup Stakes at Del Mar, there's a good reason. Hot on the heels of Mrs. Astor (Lookin At Lucky)'s win Sunday in the GIII Red Carpet Stakes over a route on Del Mar's turf course, trainer Jonathan Thomas gave another leg up to rider Vincent Cheminaud on another homebred for George Strawbridge, Jr.'s Augustin Stables, again over a route of ground on the grass. This time it was Truly Quality (g, 4, Quality Road--Truly Together,...

Trainer Brad Cox sends out the top two chances on the morning line for Friday's GII Clark Stakes at Churchill Downs, and those who support the duo from a pari-mutuel perspective will be looking for some positive cashflow to get a head start on their holiday shopping. Since being acquired privately by Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani's Wathnan Racing earlier this season, Hit Show (Candy Ride {Arg}) has yet to taste defeat in three starts, including the GIII West Virginia Governor's Stakes in August, a neck defeat of Cooke...