According to the bettors, Rachel Alexandra was a lock to dust older males in the Grade 1 Woodward. She was anything but and had to survive a pace battle and late run from Macho Again to prevail by a hard fought head.
There is no doubt she is a very talented lady, and kudos to her connections for their sporting nature, but comparing her to great horses (Ruffian, Secretariat, etc) when she has only been seriously tested once and mostly defeated mediocre company is a bit premature. If a quality late runner like Zenyatta ran in the Woodward, she would …read more

Belmont Stakes winner and Haskell runner-up Summer Bird moved to the head of the three-year-old class with a sharp stalk and pounce trip in the Grade 1 Travers on August 29th at Saratoga Race Course.
Under a confident ride by Kent Desormeaux, the Tim Ice runner was eager to run and put himself in the garden spot on the outside over the sloppy footing, and the race was basically over after Our Edge and Kensei wilted.
The good looking son of Summer Bird has a grasp on Champion 3yo honors, and the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) is next …read more

The Grade 1 Travers Stakes will not have filly sensation Rachel Alexandra, but it is looking like a solid field of eight for the $1 million showcase at Saratoga on August 29th.
Rachel Alexandra will wait for the Grade 1 Woodward at the same venue on September 5th, and she will face a new challenge against older males, but that is a story for another day.
Back to the Travers, and Derby and Belmont winners Mine That Bird and Summer Bird will square off against Quality Road, Kensei, Warrior’s Reward, Our Edge, Hold Me Back, and Charitable Man.
Mine That …read more

Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird had a slow five furlong drill at the Spa on August 17th, and a subsequent exam revealed an entrapped epiglottis. Minor surgery on Tuesday corrected the breathing issue, and he remains possible for the Travers (Aug 29th). He will head back to Saratoga later in the day on the 18th, and when he returns to normal training patterns remains to be seen.
It was a setback for the connections of the Derby winner, and his Travers status is day-to-day. The Chip Woolley trainee will not contest the mid-summer Derby unless 100%, and other options include the Pennsylvania …read more

Look out Rachel. Quality Road is heading to the Travers, and the talented early/pressing male is seemingly healthy again following quarter crack problems that forced him to miss the Triple Crown series.
He returned to dust his Amsterdam (G3) foes in track record time earlier this month, and his most recent Travers work was a sharp six furlongs in 1:13 at the Spa on August 16th. He will work again next Sunday, and the ten furlong Travers Stakes will be run at Saratoga on August 29th.
In other Travers news, Rachel Alexandra and stablemate Kensei will work at Saratoga on August 17th, and …read more

The Grade 1 Travers will be run on August 29th, and it should the event of the summer.
Derby winner Mine That Bird, a flat 3rd in the West Virginia Derby last time, worked four furlongs in a solid :48.22 at Saratoga on August 10th. The drill was 7th best of 22, and he is expected to work two more times before the big dance.
Kensei, fresh off back-to-back graded wins in the Dwyer and Jim Dandy, is the now horse with a 2-for-2 record at the Spa. He breezed an easy four panels in :51 and …read more

Rachel Alexandra took down the boys again, and she did it easily in the Haskell (G1) over a sloppy track on August 2nd. Nothing that happened on Sunday was a surprise. Extended sprint specialist Munnings set a pressured pace, and he can run with anyone at shorter distances. I gave him a shot if able to relax on a easy lead, but he never got a breather and ended up a rock solid 3rd. Summer Bird got involved earlier than expected, but that was his only chance to win, and he outfinished Munnings …read more

Derby winner Mine That Bird runs in West Virginia, and Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra takes on Belmont hero Summer Bird in the Haskell.
Mine That Bird makes his first post Triple Crown start at Mountaineer on Saturday, and he’s been training well for his return. A strong effort will propel him to the mid-summer Derby on August 29th.

The West Virginia Derby is not a cakewalk, and Big Drama is a serious prominent throughout threat. Others considered probable are Awesome Rhythm, Miner’s Escape, Monty’s Best, and Soul Warrior.
Also on Saturday, Saratoga plays host to Grade 2 Jim Dandy, the …read more

SoCal three-year-olds take center stage in the Grade 2 Swaps on July 18th, but they will have to go forward without Pioneerof The Nile , who recently retired with a leg injury.
Lexington (G2) winner Advice will ship in for Todd Pletcher, and the late runner figures to attract plenty of support at the windows. Fellow sustained runner and Lexington runner-up Conservative is also expected for Shug McGaughey.
The shippers will have their hands full with good looking Affirmed (G3) wire job winner Grazen . Also expected for the Swaps are Affirmed runner-up Misremembered , Quindici Man, Scorewithcater, Dover Street Art, and Massone.

Rachel …read more

Mine That Bird returned to the worktab with a solid four furlong move in :49 and change at Churchill on July 7th. He galloped out strongly and is on course for the Grade 2 West Virginia Derby on August 1st. He will reunite with Mike Smith for at least his next few outings.

Rachel Alexandra had her first morning activity since her facile Mother Goose tally. Clockers caught the daughter of Medaglia D’Oro in an easy :50 and change over four panels. The work was recorded over the Oklahoma Training track at Saratoga, and her next start is undetermined.
Quality …read more