Monthly Archives: November 2016

Trio Of Virginia-Bred 2 Year Olds Collect Big Wins Over Holiday Weekend

Virginia-bred horses fared well on Thanksgiving weekend stakes races, highlighted by Code West’s victory in the $150,000 Zia Park Championship Stakes on Wednesday. Rose Brier actually finished first in the Grade 3 Tropical Turf Handicap Saturday at Gulfstream Park but was disqualified and placed second. And Realm finished a respectable third in the Grade I Cigar Mile Saturday at Aqueduct — his first stakes action ever. In non-stakes action, Made Bail lost by just three-quarters of… Continue reading

Virginia-Bred Rose Brier Wins Grade 3 Stakes At Gulfstream, But Was DQ’d And Placed Second

Having amassed 17 victories and $1.4 million in earnings during a 50-race career, Lubash was the most experienced and accomplished horse that went to post Nov. 26 for the 100,000 Tropical Turf Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Gulfstream Park WestWatch Video

A veteran of seven racing seasons, winning races has become old hat for Aliyu Ben J Stables’ 9-year-old turf star, but the son of Freud   actually experienced something new in Saturday’s 1 1/16 turf event.… Continue reading

Nose, Nose, Head, Head, Neck, Neck. Virginia-Bred Mid-November Victories Have Been Nail Biters!

Virginia-bred River Date won for the third time in four starts this year in a $27,000 claiming race this past Friday at Aqueduct. Unusual? Not at all. Given the margin of victory other Virginia-breds had in their respective mid-November winning efforts, it was quite unusual.
 
The 4 year old son of Pioneerof the Nile romped to a 10 1/2 length, gate-to-wire victory. Every other Virginia-bred score was of the nail biting variety —… Continue reading

Here is Your Thanksgiving Week Stakes Lineup; 3 Virginia-Breds Set To Compete

Thanksgiving weekend traditionally has meant lots of stakes races from tracks around the country to watch and wager, and this year is no exception plus, you can bet the 2017 Kentucky  months in advance! And to top it off, the new Off Track Betting (OTB) Center in Richmond is now open and accepts wagers every day including the Thanksgiving holiday itself.

Here’s your lineup to an exciting week:

Wednesday Nov. 23 – Zia Park has 6… Continue reading

William Backer Bred Horses On A Hot Streak

William Backer Commonwealth-bred horses have been a roll in the past several weeks, having earned victories at five different tracks around North America. Chorus Line scored in a $58,000 starter race at Aqueduct, Fur Lined won a claimer at Mountaineer, Alone Again was triumphant in a Mahoning Valley claimer, Rare Art connected at Keeneland, and Rock River earned a maiden claiming win at Woodbine.

Chorus Line dominated in an upset win November 4th at Aqueduct. She has won 2 straight at the NYRA circuit in 2 weeks. Photo by Adam Coglianese.

Chorus Line dominated in an upset win November 4th at Aqueduct. She has won… Continue reading

Virginia-Bred Sticksstatelydude Captures Grade 3 Discovery Stakes At Aqueduct November 12th

(Reprinted from bloodhorse.com on November 12th).

Sticksstatelydude has raced at seven different racetracks and in four different states, but does his best in one—the Empire State.

It’s not that the 3-year-old First Dude   colt runs poorly other places—he finished second in the Oklahoma Derby (gr. III) Sept. 25 at Remington Park—but he pushed his record to a perfect three-for-three in New York Nov. 12 in the $150,000 Discovery Handicap (gr. III) at Aqueduct RacetrackWatch… Continue reading

Sticksstatelydude In Graded Stakes Action Saturday; Here’s Your Weekend Preview For November 12, 13

Virginia-bred Sticksstatelydude is back in graded stakes action Saturday at Aqueduct! The 3 year old son of First Dude has entered the $150,000 Discovery Stakes (Gr. 3) and is 6-1 early in the field of 11.
Bred by Canyon Lake Thoroughbreds, he is fresh off a runner-up finish in the Oklahoma Derby (Gr. 3) September 25th at Remington, and a 4th in the Smarty Jones Stakes September 5th at Parx. Joel Rosario is in the irons Saturday for trainer Kiaran… Continue reading

It’s Time For the Breeders’ Cup, And Virginia Again Is Well Represented

It’s time at last — Thoroughbred racing’s Breeders’ Cup World Championships will be held this Friday & Saturday, November 4th & 5th at Santa Anita!

Virginia interests again are well represented in races both Friday & Saturday including Virginia-bred Stellar Wind, who will face Beholder for the third straight race along with powerful 6-5 early favorite Songbird in the $2 million Distaff. The clash takes place Friday at 7:35 PM.

Stellar Wind and Victor Espinoza, left, hold off Beholder and Gary Stevens to win the Grade I $300,000 Zenyatta Stakes Saturday, Oct. 1, 2016 at Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, CA. ©Benoit Photo

Stellar Wind and… Continue reading

Virginia Equine Alliance’s First OTB Opens In Richmond!

What a great opening day at the first Virginia Equine Alliance Off Track Betting Center in Richmond!

A giant video wall at Breakers displays signals from 10 different tracks around the country in the afternoon and another 10 in the evening.

A giant video wall at Breakers displays signals from 10 different tracks around the country in the afternoon and another 10 in the evening.

Horseplayers can wager from 12 Noon until 11 PM seven days a week at Breakers Sports Grille at 9127 W. Broad St. in the TJ Maxx Shopping Center.

Virginia Bets is the name of the Virginia Equine Alliance's network of Off Track Betting Centers.

Virginia Bets is the name of the Virginia Equine Alliance’s… Continue reading