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Competition for MarketWatch Broodmare of the Year is always fierce, and 2012’s contest is no exception. Contenders include the dam of a dual classic winner; the mare that foaled 2012’s Horse of the Year; several producers of last year’s Eclipse champions; the dams of a few multi-millionaires; and even multiple grade I producers. Easter Bunnette ...

[brightcove videoid=''2252522863001''] 1 Itsmyluckyday Eddie Plesa Jr. Lawyer Ron—Viva la Slew, by Doneraile Court This is it. If you’re going to put all your eggs in one basket, you might as well do it on Easter weekend. Had his final Florida Derby tuneup with a half in :49 2/5. It’s simple: first or second and he’s in; third and ...

Photo: Three ChimneysFlower Alley, who is inbred 3x3 to Mr. Prospector, has had success with mares carrying Mr. Prospector or Raise a Native. There are plenty of examples in racehorse breeding when popular opinion turns out to be wrong. I was looking through an old racing book, The Spell of The Turf (1926) by Hildreth and Crowell, and ...

Looking over the past performances of Derby hopefuls, I couldn’t help but make a connection between Louisiana Derby hopeful Ground Transport’s name and the colt’s broodmare sire, Broad Brush. That connection will become apparent as you read on. Just seeing the name Broad Brush brought back a flood of memories, evoking images of one of the ...

(Originally published in the March 16, 2013 issue of The Blood-Horse magazine. Feel free to share your own thoughts and opinions at the bottom of the column.) By Evan Hammonds - @BH_EHammonds on Twitter Certain iconic brands should never be messed with. The formula for Coca-Cola, Kentucky Fried Chicken’s secret recipe of 11 herbs ...

(Originally published in the March 16, 2013 issue, page 34, of The Blood-Horse magazine.)  “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore.” Those were the classic words spewed forth by newscaster Howard Beale in the 1976 movie “Network.” But they could very well have been uttered by international trainers who for years were ...

[brightcove videoid=''2235345507001''] 1 Itsmyluckyday Eddie Plesa Jr. Lawyer Ron—Viva la Slew, by Doneraile Court After his easy mile breeze last week, he came back with a bullet 1:01 drill this week. Love the way he’s training for the Florida Derby. It seems like ages ago that this colt ran in the Holy Bull. Although he must ...

Equine Savings Sponsors 2013 Elloree Trials Elloree, SC March 11 2013 Franklin Goree Smith's Elloree Training Center announced today that Equine Savings is the title sponsor of the 51st running of the Equine Savings Elloree Trials. Several trials will be named for Equine Savings partners: The Toro, The Exmark, The Farm Paint and The ...

We are less than seven weeks from the Kentucky Derby (G1), and only a handful of horses have earned their place in the starting gate under the new points qualifying system that places enormous weight on the final two rounds of Derby preps.My clear #1 rated horse -- Holy Bull Stakes (G3) winner Itsmyluckyday -- has just 10 points, not nearly enough ...

By Fred Pope  Some people spend time thinking about how to win a big race. Some dream bigger. They think about how to deliver a bright future for the Thoroughbred breed. The Breeders' Cup cancelled its ban of race-day drugs and some liked the decision, thinking it might help them win a ...