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When Upstart drifted out in the stretch of the Besilu Stables Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II) Saturday, Feb. 21 at Gulfstream Park, he held off Itsaknockout but would be placed second by the stewards for interference in the stretch.While that stewards' decision will continue to be debated, I think it's also worth noting that Upstart was carrying ...

 Metaboss wins the El Camino Real Derby.Photo: Shane Micheli/Vassar Photography The victory by Metaboss in the $200,000 El Camino Real Derby (gr. III) Feb. 14 on the Tapeta Footings surface at Golden Gate Fields marked the second of just three Road to the Kentucky Derby races that will be contested on synthetic surfaces this year. The ...

Considering it's only February, Kaleem Shah's Dortmund has displayed about as many qualities as one could hope to see in a potential Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) horse. Talent? Dortmund won his Nov. 2 debut by 4 3/4 lengths. And when stretched out to a mile for his second start, he drew off to a 7 3/4-length ...

Lord Nelson after winning the San Vicente Stakes.Photo: Benoit Photography While Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (gr. I) winner Texas Red ran second in his 3-year-old debut, finishing a neck behind Peachtree Stable’s Lord Nelson in the $200,250 San Vicente Stakes Feb. 1 at Santa Anita Park, I suppose the connections of the top two ...

Going into the Lambholm South Holy Bull Stakes (gr. III) Jan. 24 at Gulfstream Park, I thought favorite Upstart might need a race before delivering his best.Then Upstart delivered a 5 ½-length victory in the 1 1/16-mile race. At this point, I have to figure that my initial presumption was incorrect or, and this could be very encouraging for fans ...

California Chrome winning the Kentucky Derby (gr. I). Order This PhotoPhoto by Anne M. Eberhardt Assuming I have a vote, I will select California Chrome as Horse of the Year on my Eclipse Award ballot. I believe I have a vote this year as I returned to the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters Association in the days before the Breeders’ Cup ...

This year's Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) had it all: a close finish, a thrilling run through the stretch, and a lingering controversy. Having all of those elements, along with the usual ramifications on championships carried by North America's richest race, made Bayern's victory in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita Park my top choice for ...

In watching replays of this year's Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) at Santa Anita Park, it occurred to me that jockey Victor Espinoza had some tough choices aboard California Chrome. California Chrome finished third in the Classic, just a neck behind winner Bayern. At about the three-sixteenths pole, I thought he looked like the winner but he ...

While it went down to the wire this year, the Breeders’ Cup wagering angle of looking for value in European starters again finished in the black, well in the black as it turns out. In a blog post before this year’s Breeders’ Cup World Championships, I encouraged readers to look for value among horses who had made their previous starts in ...

In an era that many racing states have correctly moved to the standard of determining if a foul affected the outcome of a race before moving forward with a disqualification, the start of too many races has become a free-for-all. The Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) served as the latest example of the problem. Bayern should have come down for ...