Jennifer Hoyt
Oaklawn Park

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The last time Oaklawn fans saw Alternation he was closing late to get fifth in the 2011 Arkansas Derby, a race that he seemed destined to win early in the season after two impressive allowance race victories. Pin Oak Stud’s regally bred son of Distorted Humor, now four, returns to Oaklawn ready to redeem himself in Saturday’s $100,000 Essex Handicap where he was installed as the 2-1 morning line favorite and…

(Edited Santa Anita Park report)

ARCADIA, Calif. – Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert amps up his assault on the April 7 Santa Anita Derby (Grade I) and Triple Crown events beyond on Saturday when sending out his most accomplished Kentucky Derby prospect, Liaison, in Santa Anita’s Grade II, $200,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles.

The Lewis is one of three Grade II stakes to be contested on Saturday’s Strub Stakes Day, a

(Edited Gulfstream Park report)
  
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Michael Lauffer and W.D. Cubbedge’s Shackleford, winner of the 2011 Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico, and Lori and George Hall’s Ruler On Ice, winner of the 2011 Belmont Stakes (G1), are on target to clash in the $500,000 Donn Handicap (G1) at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, Feb. 11.

The 1 1/8 miles Donn will climax an outstanding program that will include three other graded stakes including the $300,000 Gulfstream Park…

Stonestreet Farm release

Rachel Alexandra and her foal returned to Stonestreet Farm Jan. 30  after being treated at the Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital as a precautionary measure for pain management related to the Jan. 22 birth of a colt by Curlin.

“She is fine,” Caroline Shaw, a spokeswoman for Stonestreet and owner Barbara Banke, said Jan. 30. “They are back at the farm.” Shaw said the 2009 Horse of the Year was monitored during her stay at Rood and…

(Edited Gulfstream Park report)

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Algorithms remained undefeated in Sunday’s $400,000 Holy Bull (G3) at GulfstreamPark while handing 2011 Eclipse Award-winning Hansen the first defeat of his career.

While scoring by five lengths in his stakes debut with his third-straight trip to the winner’s circle, the Todd Pletcher-trained colt became an instant and prominent candidate for this year’s Kentucky Derby. The son of Bernardini also completed a graded-

(Edited Gulfstream Park report)

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Florida Sunshine Millions winners Mucho Macho Man, Awesome Feather and Little Mike all came out of Saturday’s races in good order, according to their trainers Sunday morning.

Mucho Macho Man, impressive winning the $400,000 Classic by 1½ lengths over Ron the Greek, was grazing early Sunday morning outside his barn while a large group of fans,

Laura Villasana
Gulfstream Park

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. –  Priscilla Vaccarezza’s Little Mike captured the $150,000 Sunshine Millions Turf in his typical front-running fashion, earning his fourth-straight victory over Gulfstream Park’s turf course going wire-to-wire.

“He proved to me a long time ago that he won’t let another horse past him without putting up one heck of a fight,” regular rider Joe Bravo said. “He was the best horse in the race and he showed it.”

The 5-year-old gelding quickly…

Ed Gray
Gulfstream Park

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The Florida Sunshine Millions got off to a perfect start at Gulfstream Park Saturday when Awesome Feather extended her unbeaten streak with a dazzling performance in the $300,000 Distaff.

Sent to post in the first of six stakes for Florida-bred thoroughbreds as the 4-5 favorite in a field of six, Awesome Feather scored by 5¾ lengths

Laura Villasana
Gulfstream Park

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. –  E. Paul Robsham Stables LLC’s Soaring Stocks cruised around the final turn and surged down the stretch to pass frontrunner Royal Currier in the final strides of the $150,000 Florida Sunshine Millions Sprint and score his first stakes victory.

In his first stakes attempt, the 4-year-old colt broke last after bumping with Madman Diaries at the start, but jockey John Velazquez quickly moved Soaring Stocks into third, racing off the pace…

(Edited Gulfsteam Park report)

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Lynne Scace knew what she was doing when she shipped in It’s Me Mom for the six furlong Florida Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Sprint.  The Put It Back filly indeed put them back when she wired the field of seven, increasing her six furlong record to six wins from nine starts.

Owned and bred by Jean and Thomas Bosch, It’s Me Mom took command right from the gate with no…