Mistical Plan

Dan Shapiro
East Coast

Friday, May 04, 2007

Equine Therapy

As a horseplayer, I rarely think about the daily routine of elite Thoroughbreds and the care and conditioning they receive so they peak on big race days.

Posted by Dan Shapiro | Dan's Blog | Read more

Mac McBride
West Coast

Tuesday, May 01, 2007

Take 12 -- A Swing in the Oaks

So we’ve got a baker’s dozen plus one in the 133rd Oaks, a most interesting race and the key, natch, to the Oaks – Derby double.

Posted by Mac McBride | Mac's Blog | Read more

Tuesday, May 01, 2007

Full Field For Kentucky Oaks 133

Led by 5-2 morning line favorite Rags to Riches, who drew post 11, Friday’s 133rd Kentucky Oaks drew a full field of 14 when entries were taken at the Churchill Downs’ Racing Office Tuesday morning.

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Zayat Stables' High Again worked five furlongs in 1:01.40 under jockey Larry Melancon after the renovation break Tuesday morning at Churchill Downs. The move was the 12th-fastest of 36 at the distance over a track labeled as "fast."

Monday, April 23, 2007

Sealy Hill Gets Feel For Churchill Downs Track; Autobahn Girl Works

Melnyk Racing Stables’ Sealy Hill made her first venture over the main track at Churchill Downs Monday morning, galloping a mile and a half under Julia Brimo. The Point Given filly had vanned over from Keeneland Sunday morning.

Mac McBride
West Coast

Monday, April 23, 2007

Take 10 -- Pre-Oak(s) Chestnuts

Some little chestnuts (sounds better than acorns) en route to that big Oak(s):

Posted by Mac McBride | Mac's Blog | 7 comments | Read more

Sunday, April 22, 2007

Rags to Riches Works in Company with Circular Quay

AUTOBAHN GIRL/SILVER KNOCKERS - The Live Oak Plantation's Autobahn Girl and Elk Manor Farms and James Moran's Silver Knockers each gallo

Saturday, April 21, 2007

Fantasy Winner High Heels Sharp In Work at Churchill Downs

Anita Ebert's High Heels, the runaway winner of the Fantasy (GII) in her most recent start, tuned up for her Oaks engagement by working five furlongs over a "fast" track in 1:00 under jockey Joe Johnson before the renovation break Saturday morning at Churchill Downs.

Mac McBride
West Coast

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Take 7 -- Could "Tough" Have the Oaks Stuff?

So Rags to Riches you know about.

Posted by Mac McBride | Mac's Blog | Read more

Saturday, April 07, 2007

Christmas Kid Turns Back Rivals at Keeneland in the Ashland

Christmas Kid hugged the rail and shot to the front entering the stretch under jockey Rene Douglas before holding off a hard charging Octave by a head to win the $500,000 Ashland (Grade 1) at Keeneland.

Thursday, April 05, 2007

Ashland Showdown!

The $500,000 Ashland (Grade 1) at Keeneland has assembled the year's most talented group of sophomore fillies to date. Nine fillies from across the country are set to do battle, each seeking a berth in the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on May 4.

Mac McBride
West Coast

Thursday, March 29, 2007

Take 6 -- Some will and some won't

So for better or worse --- and obviously her people will take the better on that one – Rags to Riches will not be seen in her racing armor between now and May 4, when she will come out of the big paddock at Churchill Downs the likely favorite in the 133rd Kentucky Oaks.

Posted by Mac McBride | Mac's Blog | Read more

Sunday, March 11, 2007

Mistical Plan Goes Wire to Wire in Fair Grounds Oaks

NEW ORLEANS, La. – J. Paul Reddam’s California-bred filly Mistical Plan led every step of the way under jockey Corey Nakatani to win the $400,000 Grade II Fair Grounds Oaks Saturday at Fair Grounds Race Course.

Justin Dew
South

Sunday, March 11, 2007

Answered Questions

Saturday's Fair Grounds Oaks did quite a bit towards clearing up the Kentucky Oaks picture.

Posted by Justin Dew | Justin's Blog | Read more

Justin Dew
South

Wednesday, March 07, 2007

Did They Learn Their Lesson?

Listen, I have no idea who is going to win the Fair Grounds Oaks on Saturday. But I can tell you this: Any jockey who lets Appealing Zophie get away with slow fractions again deserves to lose.

Posted by Justin Dew | Justin's Blog | Read more

Saturday, January 06, 2007

Baroness Thatcher Reigns Supreme in Santa Ysabel

Gomez, who won a pair of stakes on New Year's Day, extended his 2007 streak at the track to three early in the afternoon when he rode 3-1 second choice Baroness Thatcher to victory in the Grade III, $100,000 Santa Ysabel Stakes for 3-year-old fillies.