Palace Malice Posts First Workout of 2015

2013 Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Palace Malice, a two-time finalist in the Eclipse awards, posted his first workout of the year on the morning of January 21st, breezing three furlongs in :36 4/5 at Aiken in South Carolina.

On This Day in Racing History: One Count Wins his 3yo Debut

It was on this day in 1952 that One Count -- who would be voted the champion three-year-old colt of that year -- began made his three-year-old debut in a seven-furlong allowance race at Hialeah Park. The son of Count Fleet had run three times as a juvenile, finishing unplaced in a pair of six-furlong maiden races over the Widener course at Belmont before breaking his maiden going a mile and seventy yards at Garden State Park.

On the Work Tab: 1-21-15

It was a busy day for morning workouts, particularly in California, where Shared Belief breezed six furlongs as he continues his preparations for the San Antonio Stakes (gr. II) on February 7th. Here's a quick rundown of the most notable workouts!

Jan. 24th a Busy Day for 3yo Stakes Races

There are going to be plenty of interesting stakes races for three-year-olds this Saturday! Here's a list of all the races on schedule, along with a few notes on the expected starters:

Far Right Rallies for Smarty Jones Victory

Far Right saved ground throughout and finished with an impressive rally to win the $100,000 Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn Park, a race in which favored Mr. Z dived outward in the homestretch while holding a clear lead and wound up finishing third.

Instant Replay Wins Oaklawn Allowance Race

In today's seventh race at Oaklawn Park, an 8.5-furlong allowance optional claiming race for three-year-olds, Instant Replay rallied to score a 12-1 upset under jockey Shaun Bridgmohan. Trained by Wayne Catalano for Gary and Mary West, the son of Lemon Drop Kid settled well behind early fractions of :23.30, :47.65, and 1:13.43, then rallied on the extreme outside to win by a length in the time of 1:46.43. Phenomenal Phoenix, coming off of a fourth-place finish in the Remington Springboard Mile, raced wide throughout and made a sweeping move to take command at the top of the stretch before tiring to finish second.

Cinco Charlie Entered in Riley Allison Futurity

Four-time stakes winner Cinco Charlie, who most recently won the Sugar Bowl Stakes at Fair Grounds, will attempt to stretch his speed beyond 6 1/2 furlongs for the first time when he starts in the one-mile Riley Allison Futurity on January 24th at Sunland Park. Here are the entries:

Fantastic Style Breaks Maiden Impressively at Santa Anita

Bob Baffert's talented three-year-old filly Fantastic Style looked very good winning a six-furlong maiden special weight at Santa Anita Park this afternoon! With Martin Garcia aboard, the daughter of Harlan's Holiday set fractions of :22.02 and :45.05 before drawing off with ease in the homestretch to win by about three lengths in the time of 1:09.10. Never Ends, a first-time starter from the barn of Jerry Hollendorfer, rallied well to finish second in a promising debut.

Fantastic Style, who is out of the mare Ruby Summer, is owned by Kaleem Shah.

2015 Hutcheson Stakes Entries

Spectacular Bid Stakes winner Barbados and Mucho Macho Man Stakes winner Bluegrass Singer are among eight three-year-olds that have been entered in the seven-furlong Hutcheson Stakes (gr. III) on January 24th at Gulfstream Park. Here are the entries:

Blame Game, Overcontrol Entered in Gulfstream Allowance Race

Blame Game and Overcontrol, a pair of promising maiden winners trained by Todd Pletcher, are among nine three-year-old colts and gelding entered to race in Saturday's fourth race at Gulfstream Park, a one-mile allowance optional claiming race. Here are the entries:

2015 Holy Bull Stakes (gr. III) Entries

Remsen Stakes (gr. II) runner-up Frosted and Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) third-place finisher Upstart are among ten three-year-olds that have been entered in the $400,000 Holy Bull Stakes (gr. III) at Gulfstream Park. Here are the entries:

On the Work Tab: 1-19-15

Newly-crowned 2014 Horse of the Year California Chrome was one of several big-name horses that posted workouts at racetracks across the country this morning. Here's a quick look at some of the highlights!

On the Work Tab: 1-18-15

It was a busy day for morning workouts at racetrack across the country, particularly at Palm Beach Downs, where trainer Todd Pletcher sent out grade I winners Angela Renee, Competitive Edge, and Constitution to post solid workouts. Here's a quick rundown of the morning action:

International Star Rallies for LeComte Triumph

9-1 shot International Star gave owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey and trainer Mike Maker their second consecutive victory in the $200,000 LeComte Stakes (gr. III) at Fair Grounds, rallying on the outside to win the one-mile and seventy-yard race by 2 1/2 lengths.

Ridden to victory by Miguel Mena, the New York-bred son of Fusaichi Pegasus got off to an excellent start and soon settled along the rail in sixth place, about five lengths off the early pace set by Runhappy, Hero of Humor, and Tiznow R J. The first-mentioned colt, making only his second start, was bumped and squeezed at the start, then was bumped several more times in traffic before rushing up to take the lead after a half-mile in a quick :47.07.

Moving around the final turn, Runhappy began to tire after his early exertions, and Tiznow R J moved up to take command after three-quarters of a mile in 1:13.35. He was then challenged on the outside by War Story, who made a four-wide bid around the final turn, and also Another Lemon Drop, who moved up along the rail to challenge under jockey Calvin Borel.

Entering the final furlong, War Story led by a head over Tiznow R J, but International Star had shifted to the outside after racing in behind horses and was rallying strongly. Coming down to the finish, International Star unleashed a strong finish, leaving his rivals behind to score in decisive fashion while stopping the clock in 1:43.62.

War Story narrowly edged Tiznow R J for second, while Another Lemon Drop completed the superfecta. Savoy Stomp and Hero of Humor were the next two finishers, while favored Eagle failed to fire after rallying into contention at the top of the stretch and faded to seventh. Dekabrist, Runhappy, Killingit, and Four Leaf Chief completed the order of finish.

For his victory, International Star earned 10 Kentucky Derby qualification points, bring his total to 21.

Remembering Flying Ebony

As we await this weekend's major stakes races, I thought I would take a moment to mention that 2015 marks the ninetieth anniversary of the year Flying Ebony won the 1925 Kentucky Derby. One of two Derby winners sired by the very talented runner The Finn (the other being the remarkable Zev), Flying Ebony was not the most notable of runners -- he won just two stakes races during a thirteen-race career -- but permanently etched his name in history with his victory in the Derby. Facing nineteen rivals over a sloppy track at Churchill Downs, Flying Ebony was quick into stride grabbed the early lead through an opening quarter in :23 2/5, but then relinquished the advantage to Captain Hal through a half-mile in :47 3/5, six furlongs in 1:12 3/5, and a mile in 1:39 3/5. However, entering the homestretch, Flying Ebony advanced again to reclaim the lead and drew clear under jockey Earl Sande to defeat Captain Hal by 1 1/2 lengths in the time of 2:07 3/5.

Bred by the famed John E. Madden, Flying Ebony would prove to be a successful stallion, with one of his best foals being Dark Secret, who heroically won the 1934 Jockey Club Gold Cup despite fracturing his leg in deep stretch. The name Flying Ebony may not receive many mentions today, but on May 16th, 1925, he enjoyed a moment of glory as the best three-year-old in the country!