{Friday, July 31, 2009} RACHEL PREPS FOR THE HASKELL
by John Piesen Although most folks are conceding the Haskell to Rachel Alexandra, I wouldn't be so sure. Maybe I'm wrong (surely it wouldn't be the first time),

{Thursday, July 30, 2009} A Star Is Born; NYRA Has Good Day SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY, Opening Day-- 6:08: A star is born and Mrs. Jess Jackson’s got her. Hot Dixie Chick showed she’s going to be a serious force within in the juvenile filly

{Tuesday, July 28, 2009} THEY'RE OFF AT THE SPA
by John Piesen The last day of thoroughbred racing in the New York area was Sunday when the favorites went a combined 15-for-20 at Belmont Park and Monmouth Park (75 per cent). One thing

{Monday, July 27, 2009} Rain at Belmont should bring Spa fruit The Belmont Park spring-summer meeting that ended Sunday featured only a few star turns, and may be best remembered for a historic run of miserable weather that compromised

{Sunday, July 26, 2009} Funny Moon rallies for CCA Oaks win Mrs. C. Wilson McNeely III's FUNNY MOON (Malibu Moon) put in a game late rally down the center of the track to post a neck score in Saturday's $300,000 Coaching Club American

{Saturday, July 25, 2009} BAFFERT DA MAN? The major event on this racing weekend is the $300,000, Grade One Coaching Club American Oaks Saturday afternoon at Belmont Park And wouldn't you know it? Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert is a

{Friday, July 24, 2009} BAFFERT DA MAN? The two major events on this racing weekend are the $300,000, Grade One Coaching Club American Oaks Saturday afternoon at Belmont Park, and the $80,000 Pick Six carryover Friday afternoon at Del

{Thursday, July 23, 2009}   The Vegas race books obviously believe that Jess Jackson, the owner of Rachel Alexander, is a man who can be trusted. After all, how else do you explain why Rachel can be had at 35-1 in the Breeders' Cup Classic Futures,

{Wednesday, July 22, 2009}   The Vegas race books obviously believe that Jess Jackson, the owner of Rachel Alexander, is a man who can be trusted. After all, how else do you explain why Rachel can be had at 35-1 in the Breeders' Cup Classic Futures,

{Tuesday, July 21, 2009} BOREL LOVES BEING AT ELLIS PARK Calvin Borel sat proudly on horseback, waving to fans gathered around the winner's circle and smooching a silent thank you toward the heavens, intended for his late parents. Crossing

{Monday, July 20, 2009} Swift Temper shows the way home in Del 'Cap Mark H. Stanley's SWIFT TEMPER (Giant's Causeway) utilized the same tactics she used to take the Sixty Sails H. (G3) earlier this year in Sunday's $1,000,350 Delaware

{Sunday, July 19, 2009} Silver Timber bests Heros Reward Silver Timber went from the claim box to a graded stakes winner in the short span of only three races. A gray 6-year-old gelding, Silver Timber won the Grade 3, $113,000

{Friday, July 17, 2009} SUMMER TIME The fact that the racing media -- this writer included -- is focusing these days on Rachel Alexandra, Zenyatta and Mine That Bird might be something of a mistake. No knock on those three fabulous

{Thursday, July 16, 2009} Acoma, Unbridled Belle top draws in Del 'Cap ACOMA (Empire Maker) and UNBRIDLED BELLE (Broken Vow) are both exiting graded wins heading into Sunday's rich $1 million Delaware H. (G2), and because of that will have

{Tuesday, July 14, 2009} Big Drama Turns In Bullet Work At Monmouth Big Drama, whose late August goal is the seven-furlong King’s Bishop Stakes (gr. I), breezed five furlongs in a bullet 1:00 4/5 at Monmouth Park July 13 in preparation

{Monday, July 13, 2009} GEARING UP FOR SARATOGA A walk down the Godolphin shedrow at Belmont Park reveals a “Who’s Who” of major stakes horses, many of whom are just coming back off layoffs and getting ready for the Saratoga meet. Vineyard

{Sunday, July 12, 2009} Gio Ponti conquers stellar cast in Man o' War Castleton Lyons Farm's GIO PONTI (Tale of the Cat) strengthened his grip on the turf division with a convincing victory in Saturday's $500,000 Man o' War S. (G1)

{Friday, July 10, 2009} ON THE GREEN Don't be misled by the headline. We're not talking golf here. We're talking green as grass, the surface over which most of Saturday's major races will be run. At Belmont Park, the four races that

{Friday, July 10, 2009} ON THE GREEN Don't be misled by the headline. We're not talking golf here. We're talking green as grass, the surface over which most of Saturday's major races will be run. At Belmont Park, the four races that

{Thursday, July 09, 2009} MINE BOGGLING After hearing nothing from his "dates" all year but "Don't call me, I'll call you," one of racing's most desirable leading men, who keeps getting dumped like yesterday's trash, should have put an ad

{Tuesday, July 07, 2009}  AN ANGRY MAN
by John Piesen It takes a lot to make me angry. But I got angry Sunday afternoon when Fabulous Strike was scratched from the $200,000 Tom Fool Stakes at Belmont Park. No...not due to a physical

{Monday, July 06, 2009} Carlos runs away with Jersey Shore Homewrecker Racing LLC and Avalon Farm's CUSTOM FOR CARLOS (More Than Ready) was making just his second stakes try in Sunday's $194,000 Jersey Shore S. (G3) at Monmouth

{Sunday, July 05, 2009} MONMOUTH PARK REPORT Coal Play leads all the way in Salvator Robert V. LaPenta's COAL PLAY (Mineshaft) earned his first graded stakes win in comfortable fashion Saturday, recording a three-length,

{Friday, July 03, 2009}   BYE BYE BIRDIE The connections of Mine That Bird made headlines this week when they canned Calvin Borel, Derby or no Derby, because Calvin, and agent Jerry Hissam, refused to

{Wednesday, July 01, 2009} MATCH RACE OF THE DECADE
by John Piesen
In the wake of last Saturday's events, the public is clamoring for a showdown between Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta. Unfortunately Jerry Moss and Jess Jackson