(Edited Gulfstream Park report)

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The Todd Pletcher-trained El Padrino stamped himself as a horse to watch on the road to the Kentucky Derby Saturday at Gulfstream Park with an emphatic two-length victory over a field of talented 3-year-olds in the seventh race.

The son of Pulpit ($7.20) settled in fourth under jockey Javier Castellano along the backstretch run of the 1 1/16mile allowance before kicking in through the stretch to win comfortably.

“He’s a nice colt.…

Laurie Ross
Iron Maidens Thoroughbreds

Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes – Jan. 29 – Race 10 – Gulfstream Park – 3-year-old going 1 mile – post time: 4:45 p.m. EST

In Florida, a select group of six colts take their first major step on the Triple Crown Trail in Sunday’s Holy Bull Stakes. The one mile contest is the highly anticipated three year old debut of Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Champ HANSEN.  The speedy colt will try to wire the…

(Edited Gulfstream Park report)

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Peachtree Stable’s 3-year-old filly Sacristy has gone from strength to strength in her four career starts for trainer Wayne Catalano, winning the $100,000 Old Hat Stakes (G3) by 1¾ lengths at Gulfstream Park last out on New Year’s Day, and will likely be favored to take another step up in the $200,000 Forward Gal Stakes (G2) Sunday.

Jockey Kent Desormeaux has ridden Sacristy in her last three starts and will be back…

(Edited Gulfstream Park report)

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Newly crowned Eclipse Award champion Hansen breezed five furlongs Sunday morning at GulfstreamPark, completing his important preparation for a return to action in next Sunday’s $400,000 Holy Bull (G3).

The 2011 juvenile champion was clocked in 59.81 while working in company with stakes-winning stablemate Lou Brissie, who was timed in 1:00 1/5. Hansen’s work was the third fastest of 39 recorded at the distance.

“It was nothing out of character,” trainer Michael Maker…

(Edited Gulfstream Park report)

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Howe Great capped a big week for trainer Graham Motion Saturday while leading the way in a one-two stable finish in the $100,000 Kitten’s Joy Stakes.

Motion,  whose Kentucky Derby-winning Animal Kingdom was named 2011 champion 3-year-old on Monday, was on hand at Gulfstream Park to saddle Howe Great ($11.40) for a front-running 2½ -length triumph over favored stablemate Lucky Chappy in the 1 1/16-mile turf event for 3-year-olds.

Howe Great was…

Graham Ross
Fair Grounds

NEW ORLEANS, La. – A field of 13 sophomores, including a pair of late surprise entrants from multiple Eclipse Award-winning trainers D. Wayne Lukas and Todd Pletcher, has been named to contest Saturday’s 67th renewal of the Grade III Lecomte Stakes for 3-year-olds possible for a Triple Crown campaign later this spring.

As the first local prep for the $1 million Grade II Louisiana Derby April 1, the $175,000 Lecomte at a mile and 70…

Brian Skirka
Gulfstream Park

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Dr. Kendall Hansen has owned horses on and off for 30 years. Over that time, his stable has consisted mostly of what he calls “nice claimers.” 

But years ago, with the hope that one day he would come across a star, Hansen began jotting down potential names and keeping them in a shoe box to be used on that special occasion.  

This past summer, however, Hansen, who operates Intervention Pain Specialists…

Jenny Kellner
and Jon Forbes
NYRA/Aqueduct Racetrack

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin unleashed a pair of eye-catching 3-year-olds Saturday afternoon at Aqueduct Racetrack, with odds-on favorite Alpha taking the $150,000 Count Fleet by 2½ lengths and Captivating Lass coming on late to capture the $100,000 Busanda for fillies in a thrilling finish.

Carrying the colors of Godolphin Stable, Alpha raced in third, well off the rail, as Il Villano barreled into the lead and carried the…

Laurie Ross
Iron Maidens Thoroughbreds

The Count Fleet, Gotham and Wood Memorial are Triple Crown prep races held in New York. Saturday, the Count Fleet Stakes kicks off the beginning of the New York Preps.  Unfortunately, the race rarely produces a Triple Crown contender. Since the inaugural running of the Count Fleet in 1975, only three horses have succeeded in a Triple Crown Race. Summing placed in the 1981 Count Fleet and won the Belmont Stakes. Prairie Bayou the…

Ed Gray
Gulfstream Park

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Agustin Bezara capped off a career afternoon on the New Year’s Day program when he saddled Reveron for a half-length victory in Sunday’s $100,000 Gulfstream Park Derby.

Reveron, the first stakes success and third winner of the day for his trainer, pressed the early pace before taking and desperately holding on to a narrow lead to the finish of the country’s first derby of the New Year.

“We think this…