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By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') When Take Charge Brandi heads to post on Saturday for the $350,000 Starlet Stakes (gr. I) at Los Alamitos, she will likely do so as a heavy favorite against six rivals. After all, her last two starts have yielded victories in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) and Delta Downs Princess Stakes (gr. ...

Anne recently stopped by the Charlie and Amy LoPresti barn at Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky, to see Wise Dan. Photo by Anne M. Eberhardt ORDER THIS PHOTO The two-time Horse of the Year was his usual self, full of energy, watching the shedrow activities and looking to nip anyone who got close enough. Wise Dan messing ...

In speaking with stallion managers about the new sires for 2015 (see cover story, page 22), there is a level of enthusiasm not seen in some time. We realize these guys are salespeople and they are making their best pitch to fill the books for their new guns, but, getting past the subject matter of the first-year sires, the consensus is for ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') When the calendar informs you that the month is December, and when a foot of snow on the ground confirms that winter has arrived, and when the lone graded stakes race of the previous weekend was a grade II at Los Alamitos… racing fans across America (especially those in the northern states!) know with ...

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 ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') On the surface, the first Saturday in December looks like a slow day of racing, with only a single graded stakes race—the $200,000 Bayakoa Stakes (gr. II)—on the agenda. But if you dig a little deeper, you discover that Saturday is also opening day of the Gulfstream Park winter meet, which brings with it the ...

Thirty-five years ago the Arabs started coming to America to buy Thoroughbred racehorses, and everyone in the game was in a frenzy to latch on to a ''Mohammed'' or a ''Khalid'' or some son of the desert. Dogwood Farm—then in Georgia—thought we had rung the bell when we were introduced to Prince Faisal bin Salman bin Abudlaziz Al Saud. ...

California Chrome didn’t face the deepest of fields in the Hollywood Derby (gr. IT), but his facile victory should be enough to give him an edge in the voting for 3-year-old male championship honors.What voters will have to weigh, however, is whether head-to-head competition or overall record will be the deciding factor in choosing who is the most ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') On Saturday, the very talented and very popular Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner California Chrome will give turf a try for the first time in the $300,000 Hollywood Derby (gr. I) at Del Mar, a race that could secure him honors as Horse of the Year and Champion 3yo Male if he wins. But while this race promises ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') In recent years, the nine-furlong, $500,000 Clark Handicap (gr. I) has been won by such well-known horses as Blame (2009), Wise Dan (2011), and Will Take Charge (2013.) This year’s field might turn out to lack the star power of years past (only one grade I winner has been entered), but then again—who knows? ...