Chicago Sun-Times

Rivals believe Orb has Triple Crown potential

Sat, 18 May 2013 02:10:52 -0500

BALTIMORE — Everything’s a go for Orb. The Kentucky Derby winner was in a playful mood the day before the Preakness, making faces for photographers between nibbles of grass outside his stall at Pimlico Race Course. “He’s really settled in well. He seems to be energetic about what he’s doing so I couldn’t be more pleased,” trainer Shug McGaughey said on a warm and sunny Friday morning. “We’re excited about giving him a whirl to see if we can get it done and go on to the next step.” Getting it done would mean defeating eight rivals in the 13/16-mile …

Long-shot Oxbow upsets Orb in Preakness

Sun, 19 May 2013 02:41:53 -0500

BALTIMORE — Right from the start, a horse trained by one not so over-the-hill Hall of Famer and ridden by another took control of the Preakness. The result: A huge upset and the end of any hopes for a Triple Crown attempt at the Belmont Stakes. Thanks to Oxbow’s wire-to-wire win Saturday over Kentucky Derby winner Orb, trainer D. Wayne Lukas and jockey Gary Stevens have themselves another classic to add to their stellar resumes. “I get paid to spoil dreams,” the 77-year-old Lukas said after his record 14th victory in a Triple Crown race. “Unfortunately we go over here …

2013 Kentucky Derby

Mon, 06 May 2013 09:44:00 -0500

Some of the lasting images of the 139th running of the Kentucky Derby won by Orb.

Orb shrugs off Churchill slop to uncork winning rally in Kentucky Derby

Sun, 05 May 2013 02:41:49 -0500

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Way back in the pack heading into the final turn, Orb was calm even if his jockey wasn’t. Then trainer Shug McGaughey’s bay colt picked up speed, churning through a sloppy track that resembled creamy peanut butter, and blew past rivals one-by-one. By that time, jockey Joel Rosario knew he was aboard the Kentucky Derby winner. Orb powered to a 21/2-length victory Saturday at Churchill Downs, giving McGaughey and Rosario their first Derby wins. “I was so far behind,” Rosario said. “He was very relaxed, it’s exactly what I wanted.” Rosario had Orb in the clear on …

Orb wins Kentucky Derby

Sat, 04 May 2013 18:24:46 -0500

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Orb splashed through the slop to win the Kentucky Derby, coming from far back in the pack and giving Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey his first victory in the 3-year-old classic. When the field turned for home on the cool, overcast Saturday afternoon at Churchill Downs, Normandy Invasion grabbed the lead while Orb was gearing up. But in the deep stretch, Orb prevailed, carrying Joel Rosario to his first Derby win. Long shot Golden Soul was second with Revolutionary third. Normandy Invasion faded to fourth. Orb, the 5-1 favorite, ran the 1º miles in 2:02.89 Orb …

So many angles make this one dizzy Derby

Sat, 04 May 2013 02:11:58 -0500

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A trainer flooding the field with five horses. A black jockey trying to make history, and a woman rider, too. Louisville coach Rick Pitino seeking a double — champions in racing and basketball. He’s sure in the right place. The 19-horse field for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby is balanced, with no definitive favorite. Orb is the pre-race choice, just barely. Nearly overshadowed is his trainer, Shug McGaughey, who really, really wants this race. Doug O’Neill is trying to win back-to-back. And then there’s the threat of rain, which has done in some of the best-laid plans on race …

Black Onyx scratched from Kentucky Derby

Fri, 03 May 2013 11:56:00 -0500

Long shot Black Onyx is a late scratch for the Kentucky Derby, leaving 19 horses to vie for the roses.

Co-owner Rick Pitino goes for Kentucky Derby win

Thu, 02 May 2013 13:50:00 -0500

Rick Pitino became a Hall of Famer and an NCAA champion on the same day. Now the Louisville basketball coach is positioned to become a Kentucky Derby-winning owner if Goldencents wins on Saturday.

Kentucky Derby will have full field of 20 horses

Wed, 01 May 2013 12:16:00 -0500

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Twenty-one horses have been entered for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby, one more than the maximum field of 20. The entry box closed Wednesday morning, with the draw to determine post positions set for later in the afternoon. The field is limited to the top 20 horses based on points earned in designated prep races. Leading the way is undefeated Verrazano, winner of the Wood Memorial. He’s one of five colts trained by Todd Pletcher. Pletcher also will saddle Overanalyze, Revolutionary, Palace Malice, and Charming Kitten. Oxbow and Will Take Charge will be the record 46th and 47th Derby …

Kentucky Derby: Top 10 picks

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 12:52:20 -0500

Doug O’Neill is gearing up for a Kentucky Derby repeat. A year after winning the Derby with I’ll Have Another, the trainer is going for another — this time with Goldencents.

Departing wins Illinois Derby

Sat, 20 Apr 2013 21:20:01 -0500

Race favorite Departing came on strong at the head of the stretch to win the Grade III $750,000 Illinois Derby by 3º lengths Saturday at Hawthorne Race Course. Ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr., Departing ran 1 1/8 miles race in 1:50.78 on the fast track. Fordubai edged Siete de Oros by a neck for second place, and Abraham finished fourth. “Once he got down the backside, I thought I was on the best horse,” Hernandez said. “He was just kind of cruising and going really easy today. He looks like he’s getting better with distance.” Departing, the Son of War …

Equine virus resurfaces at Hawthorne Race Course

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 13:26:19 -0500

An equine virus that has caused the deaths of at least four horses and forced a quarantine at Hawthorne Race Course might have claimed another horse last weekend. The latest case comes several weeks after the virus appeared to have run its course after manifesting itself in October. Racing officials were awaiting the results of a necropsy on a 2-year-old filly that had to be euthanized last weekend after exhibiting symptoms of equine herpesvirus, an airborne virus that isn’t always fatal but has no vaccine. The virus isn’t uncommon in equine environments, but it hadn’t been a problem at Hawthorne …

Fort Larned’s Classic stunner tops upset-filled weekend in Breeders’ Cup

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 06:51:51 -0500

ARCADIA, Calif. — Bob Baffert got beat again in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic. Bill Mott settled for half of a repeat sweep in the weekend’s two biggest races. The Hall of Fame trainers could only wince as 9-1 long shot Fort Larned won North America’s richest race on Saturday night, capping a weekend of upsets in the world championships at Santa Anita. Fort Larned ran the race of his life, leading all the way to win by a half-length over Mucho Macho Man. The highly anticipated Classic was strictly a two-horse race to the finish. Game On Dude, …

Bill Mott juiced about potential double double in Classic races

Mon, 03 Dec 2012 06:48:35 -0500

ARCADIA, Calif. — Bill Mott is in position to duplicate the ultimate daily double. The Hall of Fame trainer swept the $2 million Ladies’ Classic and $5 million Classic at last year’s Breeders’ Cup. He could do it again this weekend, with Royal Delta defending her Ladies’ title and three of his horses running in the big race. The Breeders’ Cup has been dominated by females in recent years, led by Zenyatta, Rachel Alexandra and Havre de Grace, whose body of work garnered Horse of the Year honors for each. It could happen again starting Friday, when Royal Delta heads …

Going wire-to-wire, Little Mike captures the Arlington Million for the Vaccarezzas

Thu, 20 Sep 2012 10:30:49 -0500

Priscilla Vaccarezza was born in Chicago, grew up in Carol Stream and attended Glenbard North High School. But she never had been to Arlington Park until Saturday, when her horse Little Mike won the 30th running of the Arlington Million over British invader Afsare in front of 34,022. Little Mike, who went off at 7-2 and was one of three co-favorites, won the 1¼-mile turf race by 1½ lengths in 2:02.44 with Ramon Dominguez aboard. The Florida-bred 5-year-old trained by Dale Romans paid $9.80 to win in his first Million appearance. “I’ve never been to Arlington, and my aunt, who …

Local hope Helicopter takes aim at $400,000 American St. Leger

Tue, 18 Sep 2012 06:20:58 -0500

When the 12-race International Festival of Racing begins Saturday at Arlington Park, it won’t just be about who will win the three Grade I stakes races: the $500,000 Secretariat Stakes, the $750,000 Beverly D. and Arlington Million. This year, the festival features the inaugural running of the $400,000 American St. Leger, the longest race of the day at 111/16 miles on the turf for 3-year-olds and up. For one local trainer, Larry Rivelli of Lake in the Hills, the St. Leger will be a test for his horse, Helicopter. ‘‘It’s kind of a step up for him, and he’s earned …