Barn Notes

By Ed Golden —- • GIANT EXPECTATIONS IN ‘TERRIFIC’ DRILL FOR PEGASUS • OHIO-BRED MARE IN GRADE III LAS CIENEGAS STAKES • CHROME’S BROTHER FAVERSHAM EYES CAL CUP DERBY • CALIFORNIA-BREDS ON CENTER STAGE NEXT SATURDAY • SHIP & STAY PROGRAM PAYS DIVIDENDS TO HORSEMEN •...

By Mike Henry —- OLDSMAR, FL. – After a runaway victory last June in the Tremont Stakes at Belmont, the then-2-year-old colt He Hate Me spiked a temperature, forcing trainer Horacio De Paz to send him to the sidelines. A subsequent loss of weight caused De Paz and the...

By Ryan Martin —- • Wonder Gadot, Heavenly Love To Meet Again In Rachel Alexandra • Three-Year-Olds Clash In Salty Saturday Allowance Event • Familiar Foes Face Off In Saturday’s Sixth Race WONDER GADOT, HEAVENLY LOVE TO MEET AGAIN IN RACHEL ALEXANDRA Trainer Mark Casse’s...

By Jennifer Hoyt —- Young Guns Make Big Splash Opening Weekend Twenty-somethings have made a huge splash in the rider standings through the first week of racing at Oaklawn. Newcomers C.J. McMahon and David Cabrera – both represented by agent Joe Santos – are among a...

By Jennifer Hoyt —- Mourinho Give Baffert First Smarty Jones Victory Bob Baffert called Mourinho a fast horse leading up to his two-turn debut in the $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes for 3-year-olds Monday at Oaklawn. The Hall of Fame trainer was right. Mourinho was sent...

By Mike Henry —- OLDSMAR, FL. – Occasionally, when time allows, trainer Kathleen O’Connell reflects on the swift passage of years since she arrived at Tampa Bay Downs (then Florida Downs) from Michigan in 1976 to gallop horses. She says it feels “unreal” that more than 40...