(Edited Aqueduct report)

When a 2-year-old bay son of A.P. Indy stepped off the van on arriving at Larry Jones’ barn this summer, he brought with him a reputation for talent and the unusual name of Friesan Fire.

“I don’t know what it means,” said Jones. “Fast horse, maybe.”

(Edited Oak Tree at Santa Anita report)

ARCADIA, Calif., – Undefeated Zenyatta, racing’s newest superstar who stamped herself as a leading contender for Horse of the Year with her ninth consecutive win in capturing the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic, was unanimously named Horse of the Meet in Oak Tree’s annual Media Poll.

Bob Hill
Staff writer

European Domination

As we drove from the hotel to Santa Anita on Friday morning, I commented that I hoped the European horses would fare well in the heat of California and on the switch from turf to the Pro-Ride surface.  I think we can conclude that both were accomplished, as horses that have been racing in Europe won five of nine races on Saturday.

Ron Correll
Senior columnist
Tracksideview.com

ARCADIA, Calif., — Everyone was saying before Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Classic that a horse would have to step up and run the race of his lifetime to beat reigning Horse of the Year Curlin. Raven’s Pass did just that and set a track record in the process.

Tracksideview.com staff report

ARCADIA, Calif., — Red Rock Canyon did his job in Breeders’ Cup Turf, but his stablemate Soldier of Fortune only was able to round out the superfecta in the $3 million race run on Saturday at Santa Anita Park.

Red Rock Canyon went out and set fractions of :24.28, :47.06 and 1:11.08 for six furlongs, which were supposed to set up closer Soldier of Fortune. It worked but the closer who came the best was Conduit from…

Ron Correll
Senior columnist
Tracksideview.com

ARCADIA, Calif., — Midnight Lute became the first back-to-back Breeders’ Cup Sprint champion went he repeated in the six-furlong race on Saturday at Santa Anita Park. Midnight Lute came from last to first around the turn to run down Fatal Bullet to win by one-and-three-quarter lengths in 1:07.08. Street Boss was third and In Summation was fourth.

Tracksideview.com staff report

ARCADIA, Calif., — It came down to the England and Ireland when Donativum outgamed Westphalia (IRE) by a half length to win the Juvenile Turf on Saturday at Santa Anita Park.

Coronet of a Baron was third and City Style was fourth. The winning time for the one-mile race was 1:34.68.

Ron Correll
Senior columnist
Tracksideview.com

ARCADIA, Calif., — It’s time to get ready for the Bob Baffert Kentucky Derby Express after his trainee, Midshipman, won the Breeder’s Cup Juvenile on Saturday at Santa Anita Park.

Midshipman mostly likely will be named the 2-year-old champion and will be the winter book favorite for the 2009 Derby. The Unbridled’s Song colt is owned by Darley Stable and was ridden to victory by Garrett Gomez.

Ron Correll
Senior columnist
Tracksideview.com

ARCADIA, Calif., — The boys tried to put Goldikova in a box, and the filly showed them that it’s not nice to treat a lady that way when she stormed through a small opening at the eighth pole to win the Mile over the turf course on Saturday at Santa Anita.

Ron Correll
Senior columnist
Tracksideview.com

ARCADIA, Calif., — Albertus Maximus and jockey Garrett Gomez were content to let Two Step Salsa and Lewis Michael wing it on the front end, and then come storming down the stretch to win the Dirt Mile on Saturday at Santa Anita Park.