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During the summer, racing for 2-year-olds starts toheat up. That's exciting for auction participants because everyone gets achance to see if the juvenile stars in the sale ring will be stars on theracetrack. Executiveprivilege, who topped the Ocala Breeders'Sales Co. spring sale of 2-year-olds in training in April, is entered in theeighth race at ...

(Originally published in the June 30, 2012 issue of The Blood-Horse magazine. Feel free to share your own thoughts and opinions at the bottom of the column.)  By Eric Mitchell - @EJMitchellKy on Twitter The sledgehammer-like beating the Thoroughbred racing industry has taken recently in the New York Times over drug use has been ...

(Originally published in the June 30, 2012 issue of The Blood-Horse magazine. Feel free to share your own thoughts and opinions at the bottom of the column.)  There is some kind of solid connection among A. Stevens Miles Jr., his horses, and his hometown of Louisville. The retired CEO of First Kentucky National Bank has served on ...

The Diamond Jubilee Stakes (gr. I) was probably the most eagerly awaited contest of the Royal meet, as it featured Australian wonder-mare Black Caviar, officially rated the world's number one sprinter, trying to extend her undefeated record to 22. Starting for the first time outside her native land, Black Caviar started at 1-6 to defeat her 13 ...

The expression ''pace makes the race'' is a common one in the U.S., but it also sums up the feature race on the fourth day of Royal Ascot, the Coronation Stakes (gr. I), run over a mile for 3-year-old fillies. On soft ground, the 1,000 Guineas (gr. I) winner, Homecoming Queen, made the running from Samitar, who was successful in the Irish version ...

Despite being run over 2 1/2 miles, the Ascot Gold Cup (gr. I) resulted in a three-way photo finish. In a Godolphin one-two, and after surviving a stewards' inquiry, the verdict went to 4-year-old Colour Vision, over Halling's son Opinion Poll, and Saddler's Rock. The defending champion of the race, Fame and Glory, made a smooth move from the rear ...

Each year, I keep thinking there is no cure for Triple Crown trail withdrawal, and each year I am reminded that there is a cure, and it’s called Royal Ascot, which thankfully comes only 10 days after the Belmont Stakes. But, that poses a new problem. What is the cure for Royal Ascot withdrawal? That one we haven’t been able to figure out.The five ...

New Zealand-bred So You Think (NZ) (TrueNicks) came to the yard of Aiden O'Brien with a ranking as the official high-weight on the International Classifications in the long-distance category, as well being highly-rated at shorter distances. However, that long-distance rating, which was earned with a brave third under top weight in the Melbourne ...

There is no doubt that maidens often run big and can win graded stakes races for two -year-olds. But it still feels like a bit of wiseguy play when I land on one. Such is the case in the $100,000 Debutante Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs on Saturday. Slated for 5:25 p.m. ET, the six-furlong dirt race drew a field of 10 two-year-old ...

''He's not a horse, he's a bloomin' steam engine...'' We were reminded of that statement, made by the legendary jockey Fred Archer, after being run off with on the Newmarket heath by the mighty St. Simon. Frankel didn't quite bolt off on Ascot heath yesterday, although it did take Tom Queally about half a mile to pull up after the finish of the ...