L.A. Times - Horse Racing

Rail Trip turns into a golden oldie

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

His solid run as a 4-year-old continues with a three-length victory in the Hollywood Gold Cup.

It turns out, there is life after the Kentucky Derby, after all.

Laffit Pincay's win on Affirmed in Hollywood Gold Cup still glitters

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Thirty years ago, in an era when race horses still raced, the Triple Crown winner and the legendary jockey combined for a thrilling victory at Hollywood Park.

As horse racing struggles to define its present, it is of value to recall some of its glorious past.

Hollywood Gold Cup not just a boys' club

Thu, 9 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Second choice Life Is Sweet will test her mettle in a large field at Hollywood Park, and story lines abound.

If this is, indeed, the year of the female in horse racing, as Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta have been showing, then Life Is Sweet could further that premise Saturday in the 70th Hollywood Gold Cup.

Gozzip Girl lets them know in victory

Mon, 6 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

The 3-year-old pulls away for an impressive win among 14 horses in the American Oaks at Hollywood Park.

It has become clear that the females have taken over as the stars in thoroughbred racing this year, and the latest to strut her stuff is Gozzip Girl, a 3-year-old daughter of Dynaformer who overwhelmed a 14-horse international field in the Grade I $700,000 American Oaks on Sunday at Hollywood Park.

Mrs Kipling to test Grade I skills in American Oaks

Sun, 5 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

The 3-year-old filly owned by celebrity chef Bobby Flay and trained by Neil Drysdale won the Grade III Senorita Stakes in May but has never raced longer than one mile.

One of the most intriguing 3-year-old fillies running in today's Grade I $700,000 American Oaks at Hollywood Park is the Irish-bred Mrs Kipling, owned by celebrity chef Bobby Flay and trained by renowned turf specialist Neil Drysdale.

Zenyatta, Rachel Alexandra win impressively

Sun, 28 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Top horses continue streaks and Zenyatta's trainer hopes that they will eventually get together.

Unbeaten Zenyatta and Preakness Stakes winner Rachel Alexandra thrilled racing fans on different coasts Saturday with memorable performances in Grade I stakes that only enhanced their reputations as the best horses in training.

Zenyatta, Rachel Alexandra race on opposite coasts

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700

It's unlikely that two of the top horses in the country will meet in a match race.

Separated by nearly 2,500 miles and three time zones, the nation's top two female horses, unbeaten Zenyatta and Preakness Stakes winner Rachel Alexandra, will race today at the identical distance of 1 1/8 miles in Grade I stakes, giving fans an opportunity to compare, contrast and admire racing's two brightest stars.

Rachel Alexandra to avoid Breeders' Cup

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700

There was shock and disbelief in the offices at Santa Anita on Wednesday when officials learned that the owner of Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra said in a conference call that the filly would not run in this year's Breeders' Cup at the Arcadia track.

Thorn Song wins Shoemaker Mile at Hollywood Park

Tue, 26 May 2009 00:00:00 -0700

The horse, ridden by jockey Mike Smith, was a 9-1 longshot.

Two days after cruising to victory aboard unbeaten Zenyatta in the Milady Handicap, jockey Mike Smith had to work a little harder, but he was able to coax pacesetter Thorn Song to victory by a head in a furious three-horse stretch duel in the $314,500 Grade I Shoemaker Mile on the turf Monday at Hollywood Park.

Pioneerof The Nile has his way in Santa Anita Derby

Sun, 5 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0700

However, the scratch of The Pamplemousse takes some of the luster from the Kentucky Derby prep.

The old-timers just shrug. That's horse racing, they say.