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8/7/2008 - Giant Wrecker turned in a giant effort in his second start since returning to the races. The chestnut son of Giant's Causeway held the lead entering the stretch, only to lose it. He battle back gamely and determinedly Sunday to finish second by a neck to the eventual winner, Silver Tree, who captured the 1 1/16-mile Grade 3 Oceanport Stakes at Monmouth Park.

The horse races in the silks of Spring Hill Farm, and was broken and trained by Legacy Stable's Ron Stevens. He spent some time in Aiken this past winter and fall, and there was talk about retiring the graded stakes winner to stud duty.

"We originally had him here in Aiken, where we broke him and trained him," said Stevens, who believes the 6-year-old still has some graded stakes races left in him, based on the way he trained in Aiken, and his performance last Sunday. "He stayed at the racetrack for three years without a break. He came back to Aiken to lay-up. He also had some wind issues. He had a good race."

It was the second start for the Spring Hill homebred while under the care of trainer Anthony Dutrow. Giant Wrecker had previously been in the barn of trainer Mark Hennig. The chestnut horse turned in a winning performance in capturing the Grade 3 Canadian Turf Handicap by a head at Gulfstream park on Feb. 3, 2006, while under the charge of Hennig. Giant Wrecker has made his past 21 starts on the turf. He broke his maiden in his second start during his sophomore campaign over an off track at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 15, 2005. He also set a track record for a 1 1/16 on the turf in an allowance race at Monmouth Park on June 30, 2006, while under Hennig's care, covering the distance in 1:40:41.

"We couldn't be more proud; he impressed me with his performance," said Dutrow, in a phone interview Wednesday afternoon. "We're happy to have the horse. He did very well when he was with Mark (Hennig). I haven't made a decision on where I'll point him next, I just wanted to watch him for a few days, and see how he comes away from a big effort. He likes the turf course at Monmouth Park."

Giant Wrecker, whose dam Homewrecker was euthanized on July 1, is a half brother to graded stakes winners Cat's At Home, Prenup and Honor the Hero and stakes winner Capitalimprovement.

From 25 lifetime starts, Giant Wrecker has six wins, placed second three times and finished third three times, en route to bankrolling $332,355.

8/3/2008 - Aiken played host recently to a celebrity who was taking a brief respite from the races to prepare for his upcoming fall campaign. Robert and Janice McNair's graded stakes winner Cowboy Cal, who ran ninth in the 134th edition of the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum Brands!, was in Aiken training under the care of Stonerside Stable's trainer Tim Jones. The stakes winner is hoping to bounce back to his old form in his next start.

The 3-year-old dark bay colt by multiple Champion Giant's Causeway has won stakes races during both his juvenile and sophomore campaign, and has performed consistently well against the best horses of his generation.

Cowboy Cal will be leaving this morning to return to Saratoga, Springs, N.Y., to the barn of Eclipse Award winning Trainer Todd Pletcher.

"We were glad to see him, and we're glad that he's going to continue his career," said Jones. Cowboy Cal's professional demeanor demonstrates the colts' maturity. His precocity as a 2-year-old carried over well into his 3-year-old year, as he has won or placed in three stakes races in 2008. "He came in really good, and he's leaving really good," said Jones. "Mentally and physically, he seems very sound. I think they wanted to give him the break because he's had a hard campaign." The dark bay colt began his respite at Stonerside's farm in Paris, Ky., before going back into training in Aiken, said Jones.

The Todd Pletcher charge has demonstrated his versatility by performing well on both the dirt and the turf, but all three of his wins have been on the grass. He has made seven career starts at different racetracks. His stakes wins came in the Laurel Futurity as a 2-year-old, and in the Grade 3 Tropical Derby as a 3-year-old.

In Cowboy Cal's seven lifetime starts, he has won three races and has placed second twice (in the Hallandale Beach Stakes and Grade 1 Bluegrass Stakes), en route to bankrolling $314,708.

7/31/2008 - He was fast as lightning Sunday afternoon in a 1 1/8 miles allowance race at Colonial Downs. Spring Hill Farm's homebred Pleasant Strike ran a torrid final fraction, opening up by daylight to win by 10 lengths and establish a new track record, covering the distance in 1:48:40 seconds eclipsing the former mark set by Our Toby of 1:48:95 seconds on Oct. 4, 1997.

It was the fourth win of Pleasant Strike's career. The Grade 3 winner's last victory came during his sophomore campaign in the 1 1/16-mile Arlington Classic at Arlington Park on June 23, 2007, over a turf course listed as firm. He is trained by Eclipse Award-winning trainer Todd Pletcher.

The 4-year-old dark bay son of Grade 1 winner Smart Strike is out of the Pleasant Colony broodmare Colonella. Pleasant Strike broke his maiden in his fourth start in a 1 1/8 mile race on the turf at Gulfstream Park by eight lengths on Jan. 13, 2007. Pleasant Strike was broken and trained in Aiken by Legacy Stable's Ron Stevens.

"He came here toward the end of September. We broke him and sent him back home for the winter, and he came back in March," said Stevens. "We always liked the colt. He was a big, strong, uncomplicated horse and certainly looked like he'd be a two-turn grass horse. He has a grass pedigree, out of a Pleasant Colony mare, his second dam is a Minstrel mare. He's run some very nice races, winning a stakes race at Arlington. He's finished first, second or third 10 times. So he's a nice, useful horse to have around."

Pleasant Strike has four wins from 17 career starts, has placed secon four times and third twice en route to bankrolling $246,190.

Dogwood Stable's Atoned will face dual Classic winner Big Brown in this Sunday's Grade 1 Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park. Atoned won the Continental Mile at Monmouth Park on Aug. 18, 2007. Edgar Prado will ride the Florida-bred son of Repent. Atoned finished second, beaten by only a head, in his last start, which was at Monmouth Park in the Long Branch Stakes. The 3-year-old is trained by Todd Pletcher.

"He is training well and is ready to face Big Brown on his home track," said Cot Campbell, Dogwood Stable president, in a press release.

Dogwood Stable's stakes winner Street Sass has drawn the No. 3 hole for the six-furlong Arctic Queen Handicap at Finger Lakes on Saturday.

Stonerside Stable's Raven's Pass placed second in his last start the Group One Abu Dhabi Sorouh Prix Jean Prat at Chantilly, France on July 13. The chestnut son of Elusive Quality has now earned $445,946.

7/27/2008 - Spring Hill Farm's Grade 3 winner Pleasant Strike struck down the competition, burying the field by daylight winning by 10 lengths in a 1 1/8-mile allowance race Sunday at Colonial Downs. The Todd Pletcher charge is by Grade 1 winner Smart Strike, and was broken and trained in Aiken by Legacy Stable's Ron Stevens.

Stonerside Stable's Smiling dictated the pace throughout the race and drew clear of the field to win a 5½-furlong allowance race Saturday at Lone Star Park by 3 3/4 lengths under confident handling by jockey Jose Figueroa. The 3-year-old Florida-bred filly is by multiple graded stakes winner Successful Appeal and is trained by Mike Stidham. She was broken and trained in Aiken by Stonerside Stable's trainer Tim Jones.

Theartofcompromise did anything but that in breaking his maiden in a 1 1/2- mile race on opening day at Saratoga, winning by 11 1/2 lengths. The 3-year-old New York-bred son of Broken Vow is campaigned by Carl Lizza's Flying Zee Stable's and conditioned by Phil Serpe. The bay colt was trained at W.C. and Iris Freeman's Chime Bell Farm.

Great Kate Above negotiated her way through the field Saturday afternoon at Delaware Park, and made a emphatic move in the stretch collaring the leader to win by a neck to break her maiden in a 1 1/16-mile race on the turf. The 4-year-old daughter of the 1994 Horse of the Year Holy Bull is conditioned by Danny Furr, and was broken and trained in Aiken by the trainer.

Hermen Greenberg's Colonel Rutledge showed who was in command Saturday at Ellis Park, breaking his maiden in a 5 ½ furlong race on the turf. The son of the 2002 Eclipse Award winning Sprinter Orientate is trained by Kenny McPeek, and was broken and trained in Aiken by Legacy Stable's Ron Stevens.

Aiken Trials alumnus Golden Ballad won a 6-furlong race Tuesday by 2 + lengths at Prairie Meadows. The 3-year-old gelded chestnut son of Grade 1 winner El Corredor races in the silks of Helen Andrews, and was trained by Annie Mitchell Pezzano.

Clovelly Farms' Sirmione won the 1-mile HBPA Handicap on the turf Saturday at Ellis Park. The 4-year-old filly is trained by Aiken resident Steve Penrod.

7/21/2008 - The 2008 Aiken Trials has been a launching pad for producing juvenile winners. A septet of horses who competed in the races that serve as an educational prep each March have broken their maidens.

Stonerside Stable's homebred Citizen won impressively, setting the pace and never looked back to wire the field, winning a five-furlong contest Friday night at Ellis Park by a 4 1/2-length margin. The bay son of Grade 1 winner City Zip is trained by Bernie Flint. Citizen ran in The Coward Trophy. The 2-year-old colt was trained in Aiken by Stonerside Stable's trainer Tim Jones.

Another Stonerside Stable runner broke his maiden Sunday at Woodbine in a six-furlong race. Oconee took command near the top of the stretch and won with authority clearing the field by 4+ lengths. The Sovereign Award winning combination of trainer Mark Casse and jockey Patrick Husbands found themselves in the winner's circle. The bay colt is by Congaree, the 2002 Aiken Trained Horse of the Year. Oconee ran in this year's edition of the Post Trophy and was broken and trained in Aiken by Tim Jones. Citizen and Oconee join graded stakes winner Screen Your Friend, stakes winner Dagnabit, stakes placed Truly Lucky and winners Ocean Colors and Kickapoo as 2-year-olds who have participated in the 2008 Aiken Trials and who have broken their maidens.

Spring Hill Farm's Fever's Gone overcame a bump at the start of the race and wore down the leader in the stretch with a blistering move to break her maiden in a 1 1/16-mile race on the turf by three-quarters of a length Wednesday at Monmouth Park. The Gone West filly is conditioned by Todd Pletcher and was broken and trained in Aiken by Ron Stevens.

Daniel Geitner's Roseland closed late for a dramatic finish to win a one-mile race on the turf by a neck Friday at Colonial Downs. The 5-year-old daughter of Skywalker, the 1985 Breeders' Cup Classic winner, is trained by David Washer.

Aiken resident Kyle Register's Brindle Bug ran second in the 1 1/16-mile First Approach Stakes Friday at Presque Isle Downs.

7/18/2008 - Longtime Aiken resident and prominent Thoroughbred trainer, the late Virgil "Buddy" Raines, was among the 2008 Delaware Park Wall of Fame inductees, according to the Thoroughbred Times.

Dance Hall Days' powerful turn of foot kicked in late as she collared the lead in the stretch of the 1-mile-and 70-yards Serena's Song Stakes Sunday at Monmouth Park. The 3-year-old daughter of Seeking Daylight races in the silks of Spring Hill Farm. Anthony Dutrow conditions the Virginia-bred filly. Dance Hall Days was broken and trained in Aiken by Legacy Stable's Ron Stevens.

"What a terrific effort and performance," said Dutrow, in a phone interview Monday morning. "She's really turned the corner being at Monmouth Park, and she likes the racetrack there. We're going to keep her at Monmouth, and we're looking at the Monmouth Oaks, which is in about a month. It's something we're going to pay attention to." Dogwood Stable's Atoned placed second in the 1-1/16-mile Long Branch Stakes Saturday at Monmouth Park. The Florida-bred son of Repent missed winning the race by a head. The Todd Pletcher charge was in front in the stretch before yielding the lead late.

Stonerside Stable enjoyed a successful week with four horses finding the winner's circle. Robert and Janice McNair's training facility is based in Aiken and is under the care of Stonerside Stable's trainer Tim Jones. Skylighter may have been off a step slow but ran close to the pace and then displayed some fireworks of her own, taking command entering the stretch and drawing off to win by 1-3/4 lengths in a 1-1/16-mile allowance race at Belmont Park. The 3-year-old Sky Mesa filly is trained by Hall of Fame conditioner Bobby Frankel.

Stonerside Stable and Heiligbrodt Racing Stable's Clean Up lived up to his billing by dispatching the competition in breaking his maiden in a 1-mile Maiden Special Weight race Wednesday at Evangeline Downs. The bay son of Grade 1 winner El Corredor was sent off as the race favorite and closed without urging to win the race by three-quarters of a length. The colt is trained by Steve Asmussen.

Stonerside Stable's City Style broke his maiden in impressive fashion, winning a 5½-furlong race Saturday at Lone Star Park. The precocious City Zip gelding won by 3-1/2 lengths after closing furiously before assuming command. Cheryl Asmussen conditioned the winner.

Arthur Hancock III's and Stonerside Stable's Cap It set the early fractions and never looked back in winning a 6-furlong race Friday at Presque Isle Downs. The dark bay gelding is conditioned by David Banks.

Carl Lizza's Flying Zee Farm's Offhand Remark won by daylight Sunday in a 1-1/8-mile race on the inner turf course at Belmont Park. The 3-year-old daughter of Western Expression was 9-3/4 lengths clear of the field. The chestnut filly spent time at W.C. and Iris Freeman's Chime Bell Farm. The New York-bred is trained by Phil Serpe.

"I thought she ran a very impressive race," said Serpe. "I've liked the filly for quite a long time. She's bred for the grass being by Western Expression. She showed us she has quite a lot of talent. We gave her a race on the dirt the first time out, so she would be educated when she made her first start on the turf."

Spring Hill Farm's Light Sentence closed the door on the field, getting up for the win in the final strides in a 6-furlong allowance race Saturday at Delaware Park. The dark bay colt is by the 2002 Eclipse Award 2-year-old colt Vindication and out of the multiple Grade 1 winner Lite Light. Anthony Dutrow trains the dark bay colt that was broken and trained in Aiken by Ron Stevens.

Camelia Casby's Law Enforcement enacted some good old-fashioned justice, seizing the lead when entering the stretch and winning a 6-1/2 furlong allowance race Saturday at Belmont Park. The Mark Hennig charge won by 2-1/4 lengths. The 3-year-old colt was broken and trained in Aiken by Legacy Stable's Ron Stevens.

Smart Enuf displayed his brilliance by breaking his maiden by 1-3/4 lengths in a 1-mile allowance race on the turf Saturday at Belmont Park. The son of multiple Grade 2 winner E Dubai was sent off as the race favorite. The chestnut gelding in campaigned by Michael and Patricia Palenscar and is conditioned by David Donk. Suzy Haslup broke and trained the 3-year-old in Aiken.

Literary Lion Farm's Solvent won a 1-mile race on the turf in dramatic fashion, getting up to score the victory by a nose on the final jump Thursday at Belmont Park. The 4-year-old New York-bred gelding is conditioned by George Weaver and was broken and trained in Aiken by Ron Stevens.

Hangingbyathread did just that to the spectators and wagering public getting up in the final strides to win a 1-mile race on the turf Thursday afternoon at Belmont Park by a neck. The 4-year-old New York-bred son of Giant's Causeway races in the silks of Flying Zee Stable's and is trained by Carlos Martin. Hangingbyathread is trained at W.C. and Iris Freeman's Chime Bell Farm.

7/17/2008 - James and Debbie Miller's Miss Brooklyn B didn't have to take Interborough Rapid Transit to the winner's circle. The daughter of Mazel Trick returned to racing after a seven-month layoff and took command with authority, winning by 1+ lengths under urging from jockey Victor Lebron to win a six-furlong allowance race Wednesday at Ellis Park. The 4-year-old filly is conditioned by Elwood McCann Sr. The Millers are Aiken residents and have hunted with the Belle Meade Hounds. It was the 16th career start for the filly who had been bred in Kentucky by Brereton Jones.

The Millers purchased Miss Brooklyn B from the Keeneland 2005 September Yearling Sale for $15,000. The filly had been on the shelf since her last start on Dec. 1, 2007, a one-mile contest at Turfway Park, where she yielded the lead late in the race to finish second. She had been conditioned in Aiken by Kelly Tucker during her time away from the races.

"I think the time off is always good," said Tucker. "I think the thing that was most significant was that the horse rated (in the race), and that had been a problem in the past. We worked very hard on that over the winter to get her to relax and wear the bridle better, so the jockey could do something with her when she ran. I think that bore out enough to show in that race."

Miss Brooklyn B is out of the Irish Tower broodmare Libby Lloyd. The filly has proven to be a consistent performer and an excellent sprinter. She has placed in six of her last seven starts and broke her maiden in her sixth career start by a nose at Turfway Park on Feb. 24, 2007.

"Jim let me take my time and bring her back when she was ready," said Tucker. "We tried to keep her from losing too much fitness when she was here. She's just a nice filly. She was going to run to the best of her ability because she's just a nice horse. She really tries hard."

The bay filly was fit and well conditioned when she arrived in Aiken from R.B. and Deborah McCutchen's McCutchen Training Center in Kingstree, said Ron Stevens. Initially, Stevens trained Miss Brooklyn B in Aiken.

"She was a professional filly, she trained well and did everything right," said Stevens. "He did a good job in breaking her. We didn't have any problems with her; we just had to finish up her gate work and get her in company with some other horses. She took to it very well."

In 16 lifetime starts, Miss Brooklyn B has two wins, seven second-place finishes and two third-place finishes and has bankrolled $68,472.

7/17/2008 - t's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. The Virginia Thoroughbred Association named Spring Hill Farm's Christmas Kid its 2007 Horse of the Year. Legacy Stable's Ron Stevens broke and trained the Grade 1 winner. The bay filly becomes the second horse to train over the Aiken Training Track to win State honors in 2007 as Naughty New Yorker was named the New York Thoroughbred Breeders' Horse of the Year. Naughty New Yorker was conditioned in Aiken by Sally Cluff.

Christmas Kid won three stakes during her sophomore campaign including the Grade 1 Ashland Stakes, the Grade 2 Davona Dale Stakes and the Tropical Park Oaks.

She also placed second in the Grade 2 Bonnie Miss Stakes en route to bankrolling $554,500 as a 3-year-old. "Christmas Kid was one of those professional horses that did everything right," said Stevens. "We never had any problems with her physically or mentally. She was just a nice horse in the stall and the racetrack and developed into a very useful, nice horse. We're just happy to be associated with her."

The filly has won all four of her races at different tracks, Belmont Park, Calder Race Course, Gulfstream Park and Keeneland.

"All the horses who train here, especially the fillies, you often get attached to them," said Stevens. "You feel like they're part of your family. We're extremely proud of her. We hoped she would develop and become one of the top racemares. She's accomplished a lot. She's a very nice filly."

Christmas Kid's dam, Christmas Gift, was also broken and trained in Aiken by Stevens, and is an Aiken Trials alumnus. Christmas Kid is by the 1999 Belmont and Travers Stakes' winner Lemon Drop Kid (who won the 2000 Eclipse Award as top Older Male).

"You're always proud to see horses you've trained run well," said Stevens. "I know I'm getting old now, because not only do I have daughters of horses I've trained running, but also granddaughters. We remember the mother well, and she was a little on the hyper side. It was nice to see that she demonstrated some ability and passed that on to her offspring."

Christmas Kid has made 12 career starts, won four times, placed second once and has finished third three times for lifetime earnings of $596,877.

7/11/2008 - Dogwood Stable will soon be headed north for the summer to the Spa with a strong contingent. The Aiken-based operation has enjoyed great success at the Saratoga race meet as leading owner in 1994 and has finished second on three occasions in 1996, 1998 and 2006.

"Our battle cry is 'Saratoga.' We are bringing every horse to Saratoga that seems to have any business there," said Dogwood President Cot Campbell. "Though our top 2-year-olds are late this year, we hope to ring the bell with a couple of youngsters. But Saratoga is tough as hell!" Among the stable's stars who will be entered in races at the upstate New York racetrack is Grade 3 winner Drum Major, who is graded stakes placed at Saratoga. The 6-year-old son of Dynaformer is conditioned by George Weaver and placed second in the 2007 edition of the Grade 2 Fourstardave Handicap and third in the 2 Bernard Baruch. The turf star is being pointed toward an allowance race on July 27. Drum Major has bankrolled $405,658.

Prince Rahy, an allowance winner his last time out on June 25, may see his next start in the Grade 2 Fourstardave Handicap on Aug. 3. The Frank Alexander charge has hit the board 17 times in 27 lifetime starts.

A winner of The Coward Trophy in the 2008 Aiken Trials, Kickapoo set a track record on May 18 at Monmouth Park for 4¬½ furlongs. The son of Grade 1 winner Indian Charlie is trained by Todd Pletcher and is slated to return in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special on Aug. 14. Dogwood Stable won the 1989 Saratoga Special with Summer Squall, before going onto capture the 1990 Preakness. Two other very prominent Aiken-trained horses are among the impressive list of Saratoga Special winners, dual Classic winner and 1984 Eclipse Award winning 3-year-old male, the ill-fated Swale, who won in 1983, and the 1982 Horse of the Year, Classic winner and Florida-bred Conquistador Cielo, who won the race in 1981.

Stakes winning filly Street Sass, a 4-year-old daughter of Street Cry (IRE), has several options and may make her next start in the Fleet Indian Stakes on July 30.

Dogwood Stakes winner Atoned will start in tomorrow's 1miles Long Branch Stakes at Monmouth Park. The Florida-bred son of Repent has a win over the Oceanport, N.J., track, winning the Continental Mile last Aug. 18.

The 2008 winner of the Dogwood Dominion Award is Vincent "Vinnie" Garibaldi of Ocala, Fla.

07/1/2008 - He had the competition uttering his name under their breath; Lansdon Robbins III and Thomas Hansen's Dagnabit drew alongside the leader Regardlesofoutcome with 70 yards left and passed the tiring frontrunner to win the 5½-furlong Tremont Stakes Sunday at Belmont Park by half of a length. The 2-year-old is conditioned by Richard Dutrow Jr. and was sent off as the second choice in the wagering in the field of five juveniles and failed to disappoint. Cornelio Velasquez rode the son of Freud to victory.

The bay colt won The Post Trophy in this year's Aiken Trials and was broken and trained in Aiken by Legacy Stable's Ron Stevens. He faced a competitive field in his first stakes effort.

"I spoke to Lansdon and he was all excited," said Stevens. "Dagnabit is a full brother to Bad Boy Rising, who was named after an article that appeared in The Blood-Horse about Richard Dutrow Jr. He trained great. When we got him in, I told Mr. Robbins that he was a better horse than his brother. I thought he might be in a bit over his head in the Tremont. I was wrong, and I'm glad I was."

The New York-bred colt broke his maiden at first asking winning his debut on June 15 in a five-furlong race at Belmont Park clear of the second place finisher by 1½ lengths. He's made both of his starts without the anti-bleeding medication Lasix, according to the New York Racing Association.

Dagnabit has won both of his starts and has bankrolled $92,580.

6/30/2008 - Dogwood Stable enjoyed a productive week as Prince Rahy's regal manner left the field in awe as he collared the lead in the stretch to win a 1 1/16-mile allowance race on the turf by one length Wednesday at Belmont Park. The 6-year-old gelded son of Rahy is conditioned by Frank Alexander and was broken and trained in Aiken by Legacy Stable's Ron Stevens.

"Prince Rahy is a great example of those steady, reliable geldings who are not going to be superstars but they sure deliver the goods day in and day out," said Dogwood President Cot Campbell, in a press release. "The Prince Rahys of the game are a great boon to the sport and we need more of them."

Dogwood Stable's Hanna Banana peeled the competition back with a furious kick in the stretch making up 10 lengths to win a six-furlong race Sunday at Monmouth Park. The daughter of Grade 1 winner Officer is trained by Frank Alexander and was broken and trained in Aiken by Ron Stevens. Vettriano (IRE) who established a track record on the turf last year at Presque Isle Downs, won a 1 1/16-mile allowance race at Monmouth Park Sunday by a neck on the grass. The 8-year-old gelding is conditioned by John Morrison and races in the silks of Jeffrey Tucker. Vettriano (IRE) trained at W.C. and Iris Freeman's Chime Bell Farm.

Dance Hall Days set the pace and waltzed to a 5 plus-length victory in a six-furlong allowance race Saturday at Monmouth Park. The Spring Hill Farm homebred is conditioned by Anthony Dutrow and was broken and trained in Aiken by Ron Stevens.

Marc Keller's Bribon (FR) crushed the field Wednesday at Belmont Park, taking command at the quarter pole and drew off to win convincingly by 9 plus lengths. The 5-year-old gelding is trained by Robert Ribaudo and trained at W.C. and Iris Freeman's Chime Bell Farm.

Stonerside Stable and Arthur Hancock's Cap It put a lid on the competition collaring the leader in the stretch and drew off to win by 2 plus lengths, breaking his maiden in a six-furlong race Saturday at Presque Isle Downs.

James Hackman's Peggy's Hope won a five-furlong race by 1-1/2 lengths Thursday at Monmouth Park. The 2-year-old filly is conditioned by Glen Thompson and was broken and trained in Aiken by the trainer.

Hubert Vester's True Exchange showed his grit battling back determinedly in the stretch Wednesday at Delaware Park to break his maiden in a six-furlong race by three-quarters of a length. The 3-year-old gelding is trained by Scott Bailes and was trained in Aiken by Ron Stevens. Peter Schiff's Fogcutter cut to the chase and broke his maiden in a 2 plus-mile hurdle race Sunday at Colonial Downs taking the lead at the 16th pole and holding off Brigadoon Stable's Pop the Pirate (NZ).

Kim Williams and Harold Fishman's Indian Ink placed second in the 1 1/6-miles Cincinnatian Stakes Sunday at River Downs. Indian Ink was broken and trained by Kelly Tucker.

Legacy Stable's Ron Stevens broke and trained the second- and third-place finishers in the 1 1/16-miles Daniel Van Clief Stakes. The race was held Saturday on the turf course at Colonial Downs, with Spring Hill Farm's Pleasant Strike finishing second and Rutledge Farm's Researcher placing third.

6/23/2008 - Prairie Blues sang a captivating tune racing close to the early pace and then erupted as the daughter of multiple Group winner and Champion Rossini uncoiled a powerful turn of foot, drawing off to break her maiden in a 4 1/2-furlong race Friday evening at Prairie Meadows by 8 3/4 lengths.

The precocious Iowa-bred filly races in the silks of Helen Andrews and was broken and trained in Aiken and is conditioned by Anne Mitchell Pezzano.

Stonerside Stable's Single Blossum took control early and never looked back Thursday afternoon in winning a 5 1/2-furlong race by 4 1/4 lengths at Lone Star Park. The 2-year-old dark bay colt by Valid Expectations is trained by Mike Stidham and was broken and trained in Aiken by Stonerside Stable's Tim Jones.

Way with Words waited until the stretch to unleash her vocabulary and won a 6-furlong race with an emphatic statement Sunday at Monmouth Park, drawing off to win by 4 1/2 lengths. The 4-year-old daughter of Sefapiano is a homebred of George Schwartz and is conditioned by Mary Eppler. The bay filly trained at W.C. and Iris Freeman's Chime Bell Farm.

Dogwood Plantation's Lumina broke her maiden by a comfortable 3 1/4 lengths in a 1/16-mile race on the turf Sunday at Delaware Park. The daughter of Dixieland Band is trained by Leigh Delacour and was broken and trained in Aiken by Brookridge Stable's Gene and Kelly Tucker.

Rough Water found it was smooth sailing wiring the field in a 1 mile and 70 yards allowance race Saturday at Philadelphia Park winning by a head. The dark bay daughter of Grade 3 winner Stormin Fever is campaigned by Spring Hill Farm, conditioned by Anthony Dutrow and was broken and trained in Aiken by Legacy Stable's Ron Stevens.

Nekia Farm's Loosends tied up the winner's circle Saturday at Philadelphia Park winning a 1 mile and 70 yards race on the turf by 3 1/4 lengths. The daughter of Broken Vow is conditioned by Steve Epley Jr.

6/19/2008 - It was a daily double for Dogwood Stable on Wednesday afternoon as Tribolet held on determinedly to capture a one-mile race at Monmouth by a nose.

The dark bay colt is by multiple graded stakes winner Hook and Ladder. The Todd Pletcher charge had jockey David Cohen in the irons. Legacy Stable's Ron Stevens broke and trained the 3-year-old colt.

Hall of Famer lived up to his name by uncoiling a powerful turn of foot entering the stretch in a six-furlong turf race at Belmont Park and drew off to win by two lengths. The Grand Slam colt is conditioned by Todd Pletcher; Ron Stevens broke and trained the bay 3-year-old colt.

Stonerside Stable's Group 3 winner Raven's Pass increased his bankroll to $301,589, with an impressive second-place finish Tuesday at Royal Ascot in the Group 1 St. James Palace Stakes. The son of multiple graded stakes winner Elusive Quality is trained by John Gosden.

Peter Schiff's Yield Bogey saved ground early in the race before making a emphatic move, angling out and, under hand urging from jockey Jean-Luc Samyn, got up to place second in a six-furlong race Saturday on the inner turf course at Belmont Park. Pat Kelly trains the son of Sovereign Award winner Langfuhr. Yield Bogey was broken and trained in Aiken by Sally Cluff.

Nekia Farm's Super Nekia pressed the pace early in a six-furlong race last Wednesday at Delaware Park challenging the winner Cape Town throughout the contest and was easily second best. Steve Epley Jr. conditions the son of Distorted Humor.

Alice Knowles' Bagger Vance held the lead in the stretch eventually yielding to his foe Mickees Mecke, missing by a nose in a one-mile race on the turf Saturday at Colonial Downs. The 4-year-old son of Langfuhr is conditioned by the owner and was broken and trained in Aiken by Jeff Minton.

Spring Hill Farm's Fever's Gone placed second Wednesday in a one-mile race on the turf at Monmouth Park. The filly was broken and trained in Aiken by Ron Stevens.

Dogwood Stable's Hanna Banana overcame a bump at the start of the race and closed strongly to finish second in a six-furlong affair last Thursday at Belmont Park. The daughter of Officer is trained by Frank Alexander. Stonerside Stable's Gentle Gale finished second Sunday at Hollywood Park in a six-furlong race on the turf. The daughter of Storm Cat is trained by Hall of Fame conditioner Bobby Frankel and was broken and trained in Aiken by Stonerside Stable's Tim Jones.

Misty Daylight, a daughter of Grade 2 winner Seeking Daylight, placed second Wednesday in a seven-furlong race at Belmont Park. The gray filly is campaigned by Spring Hill Farm and trained by James Jerkens. Misty Daylight was broken and trained by Ron Stevens.

6/17/2008 - Spring Hill Farm's Ghost Dancing drew off in deep stretch to win the five-and-a-half furlong Oakley Stakes on the turf Sunday at Colonial Downs. The 4-year-old daughter of Silver Ending is conditioned by Anthony Dutrow and was broken and trained in Aiken by Legacy Stable's Ron Stevens.

Dogwood Stable's Atoned just missed returning to the winner's circle on Saturday in the 1-mile, 70-yard Spend a Buck Stakes at Monmouth Park, finishing a neck behind Cool Coal Man. The son of Repent won the Continental Mile at Monmouth Park last August.

Ocean Colors demonstrated her precocity and proved that daughter is very much like mother in breaking her maiden by five-and-a-quarter lengths in a five-furlong race Friday at Churchill Downs.

The gray filly evoked images of her mother the 1988 Kentucky Derby winner Winning Colors, wiring the field and covering the distance in 57.08 seconds, 1/5 of a second off the track record.

The 2-year-old filly races in the silks of Gainesway Farm and is trained by Steve Asmussen, and was broken and trained in Aiken by Ron Stevens. Ocean Colors ran in this year's The Gaver Trophy at the Aiken Trials.

"There seems to be something about fate with a stallion who goes to Japan or dies; he seems to have great offspring. Winning Colors was a great race mare, but her offspring haven't done much," said Stevens. "She (Winning Colors) passed away this spring. And now her daughter looks like she could be something special. We liked her all winter long. I ran her in the trials, and she didn't break very well and got in some trouble going a quarter mile. We knew she had class and speed."

Stakes winner Amazing Tale returned to the winner's circle deadheating for the win with Princess Bianconi in a six-furlong allowance race Tuesday at Prairie Meadows. The daughter of Tale of the Cat is out of stakes-winning broodmare Svea Dahl and is campaigned by Helen Andrews. Amazing Tale is trained by Anne Mitchell Pezzano.

Stonerside Stable's Congaree sired his first winner, For All Who Conga, Sunday at Calder Race Course. Dagnabit, who won this year's The Post Trophy, broke his maiden Sunday at Belmont Park by one-and-a-quarter lengths in a five-furlong race. The son of Freud races in the silks of Landson Robbins III and Tom Hansen and was broken and trained in Aiken by Ron Stevens.

Gainesway Farm's Sunny Morning won by five-and-a-quarter lengths Thursday at Woodbine. The Steve Asmussen conditioned filly is by Tale of the Cat and was broken and trained in Aiken by Ron Stevens. Rutledge Farm's Mollie's Bluff broke her maiden in a six-and-a-half furlong race Thursday night at Charles Town. The filly was broken and trained in Aiken by Ron Stevens.

Stonerside Stable's Smiling won a six-furlong race at Lone Star Park Friday by two-and-a-quarter lengths. The 3-year-old daughter of Successful Appeal was broken and trained in Aiken by Stonerside Stable's Tim Jones.

6/04/2008 - Eight Belles will be interred at the Kentucky Derby Museum, near the grave sites of four Kentucky Derby winners.

The 3-year-old filly broke two ankles after finishing second to Big Brown in the Kentucky Derby on May 3. She was euthanized on the track.

The track said Tuesday it will plant a tree in honor of Eight Belles and her remains will be buried at its base. The memorial is planned for the museum's courtyard, with the date still to be set. Churchill Downs will rename the $150,000-added La Troienne in honor of Eight Belles. The Grade III stakes race for 3-year-old fillies will continue to be run on the Kentucky Derby day undercard. The track also plans a ceremony on Derby day in 2009 in the filly's memory.

Steve Sexton, executive vice president of Churchill Downs Inc., said the track's foundation will contribute $25,000 to the Eight Belles Memorial Fund. The fund, established by Thoroughbred Charities of America, is aimed at researching racehorse injuries and retraining retired thoroughbreds. The contribution will be matched by Eight Belles owner Rick Porter.

6/03/2008 - It was a good weekend for Woodbine-based conditioner Mike Keogh. The trainer, whose winter base is in Aiken, won a six-furlong maiden special weight race on the turf Saturday by one length with Zarroc, a chestnut 3-year-old gelding by Sovereign Award-winning sprinter Langfuhr. Zarroc races in the silks of longtime area resident Gustav Schickedanz.

"We're going to look for a nonwinners of two (allowance) race at the same distance on the turf for Zarroc," said Keogh, in a phone interview Monday afternoon.

Another Schickedanz horse who bears watching is D. Flutie, a dark bay son of Langfuhr (campaigned by Schickedanz and trained by Keogh) who finished third Sunday. He was beaten less than a length in a 1 1/8-mile maiden special weight race at Woodbine.

The 3-year-old colt is being pointed toward the Grade 1 Queen's Plate on June 22. Keogh and Schickedanz teamed together twice to take the first jewel of the Canadian Triple Crown, with Woodcarver in 1999 and they won the Canadian Triple Crown in 2003 with Wando.

"I was very happy with his (D. Flutie's) performance; I thought he ran a huge race," said Keogh. Spring Hill Farm's Colonial Kid proved he was the horse to beat by winning a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight race on the turf last Monday at Belmont Park by a neck. The 3-year-old gelded son of the 1999 Belmont Stakes winner Lemon Drop Kid is conditioned by James Jerkens and was broken and trained in Aiken by Legacy Stable's Ron Stevens.

Black Wolf broke his maiden as a 5-year-old last Monday at Hollywood Park. The son of Grade 3 winner Stormin Fever drew clear after gaining the lead entering the stretch to win a six-furlong race by three and a half lengths. The Bruce Headley charge was ridden to victory by Alex Solis. Black Wolf was broken and trained in Aiken by Ron Stevens.

Peter Schiff's homebred Tasteyville won a 11âÑ16-mile allowance race Saturday by two and three-quarters lengths at Belmont Park. The 5-year-old gray gelded son of 1989 Canadian Triple Crown winner With Approval is conditioned by Pat Kelly. Sally Cluff trained Tasteyville in Aiken.

The Richard Duchossois homebred Must Trust won a 11âÑ16-miles allowance race Thursday at Arlington Park. The Illinois-bred gelded son of Langfuhr is trained by Chris Block and was broken and trained in Aiken by Brookridge Stable's Gene and Kelly Tucker.

Dogwood Stable's Winged Warrior broke his maiden by two and three-quarters lengths Monday at Delaware Park in a 1-mile race. The gelded son of the 2000 Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus is trained by Leigh Delacour and was broken and trained in Aiken by Ron Stevens.

5/27/2008 - Lansdon Robbins III's Looky Yonder raced off the pace early, but was able to collar tiring leader Dream Rush in deep stretch to win the 6 1/2-furlong Grade 2 Vagrancy Handicap Sunday at Belmont Park by 1 length. The 4-year-old dark bay filly is by Johannesburg, the 2001 Champion 2-Year-Old in North America, England, Ireland and France.

The Richard Dutrow, Jr. charge was broken and trained in Aiken by Legacy Stable's Ron Stevens. Stonerside Stable's Truly Lucky, who won The Gaver Trophy at the 2008 Aiken Trials, broke her maiden in her second lifetime start as she won a 5-furlong race Thursday at Lone Star Park.

The daughter of Grade 3 winner Truluck wired the field winning by 4 and 1/4 lengths. The Mike Stidham charge was broken and trained in Aiken by Stonerside Stable's trainer Tim Jones. Bruce Lunsford and Lansdon Robbins III's Rue de Vie won a 1 1/16-mile race Saturday at Churchill Downs. The 3-year-old daughter of multiple grades stakes winner E Dubai nearly wired the field as she took control of the race early and failed to yield ground to her rivals.

The Ken McPeek charge was broken and trained in Aiken by Stevens. Wilderness Trace dug in determinedly and won a stretch duel with the hard charging Scenery Drive in a 1-mile race on the turf to break her maiden Saturday by a neck at Pimlico.

The 4-year-old daughter of Mt. Livermore was more than game in the victory. The dark bay filly is conditioned by John Fisher and is owned by Cambus-Kenneth Farm. Wilderness Trace trained at W.C. and Iris Freeman's Chime Bell Farm.

Dogwood Stable's Kickapoo, who set a track record for 4 1/2 furlongs at Monmouth Park, will run next at Belmont Park according to Dogwood Stable president Cot Campbell.

"We were very excited he established the track record," said Campbell in a phone interview Friday afternoon. "We'll start him next in the Tremont Stakes on June 29 at Belmont Park."

Marc Keller's Bribon (FR) placed second in a 7-furlong allowance race Friday at Belmont Park. The 5-year-old gelding is trained by Robert Ribaudo and trained at W.C. and Iris Freeman's Chime Bell Farm. Dogwood Stable's Arcaro placed second in a 6-furlong race Friday at Churchill Downs. The 3-year-old colt is trained by David Carroll, and was broken and trained in Aiken by Stevens.

Spring Hill Farm's Mine For Gold was second in a 7-furlong race Saturday at Arlington Park. The 3-year-old colt is trained by Todd Pletcher and was broken and trained in Aiken by Stevens.

Richard Duchossois' Applesolutely Wild placed second in a 6-furlong maiden special weight race Sunday at Arlington Park. The 4-year-old gelding is conditioned by Chris Block and was broken and trained in Aiken by Gene Tucker.

Spring Hill Farm's multiple stakes winner Mini Sermon finished third Saturday in the 6 1/2-furlong Fit for a Queen Stakes at Arlington Park. The Pletcher-trained filly was broken and trained in Aiken by Stevens. Dogwood Stable's Blackberry Road placed third in a 1 1/8-mile allowance race Friday at Churchill Downs. The son of Gone West was broken and trained in Aiken by Stevens and is conditioned by David Carroll. Michael Furr's Great Kate Above placed third in a 6-furlong maiden special weight race at Delaware Park. The filly was broken, trained and is conditioned by Danny Furr.

5/17/2008 - He's won stakes races at ages 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 and Fox Ridge Farm's Naughty New Yorker has distinguished himself as the top older New York-bred horse and added to his resume by being selected as the 2007 New York Thoroughbred Breeders' Horse of the Year and Champion Older Male on May 12. Naughty New Yorker is conditioned by Pat Kelly and was trained in Aiken by Sally Cluff.

The 6-year-old son of Grade 1 winner Quiet American is quickly closing in on the $1million earnings mark with $974,594. In 43 starts, he has won 12 races including 11 stakes races, placed second six times and finished third seven times. His dam, the Known Fact broodmare Naughty Natisha, was named the Broodmare of the Year. She has also produced the stakes winner Pupil.

"We were hoping he would be named Older Male of the Year, but being named Horse of the Year was a surprise," said Kelly, in a phone interview Thursday morning. "He's doing fine. We're pointing him toward a race between Memorial Day and Belmont Stakes day. There's a New York bred overnight stakes on Memorial Day, or we'll point him toward a race sometime in between Memorial Day at Belmont Stakes day."

Naughty New Yorker won the 1-mile, 70-yard Master Digby Stakes in February by 12 1/4 lengths at Aqueduct for the 11th stakes victory of his career.

"It would be great to hit a milestone like the $1 million mark," said Kelly.

In addition to winning the 2008 Master Digby Stakes, Naughty New Yorker won the 2007 General Douglas MacArthur Handicap, Alex M. Robb Handicap, Saratoga Sunrise Stakes, the 2006 Grade 3 Red Smith Handicap, General Douglas MacArthur Handicap, Noble Nashua Stakes, the 2005 Albany Stakes, the Mike Lee Stakes and the 2004 Damon Runyon Stakes.

"I think he's a really nice horse, and he's made a lot of money," said Cluff. "He's sound and I hope he keep's going for a while."

Fox Ridge Farm's Homerette who was retired earlier this year and was winner of the 2006 Flat Fleet Feet Stakes will be bred to multiple graded stakes winner Posse. Homerette was broken and trained in Aiken by Cluff.

Harold Fishman and Kimpton Williams' Indian Ink broke her maiden last Saturday in a six-furlong maiden special weight race by 1 1/4 lengths at River Downs. The 3-year-old daughter of Gold Market lost the lead in the stretch but battled back determinedly, drawing off to win. The dark bay filly is conditioned by Mike Rone and was broken and trained in Aiken by Kelly Tucker.

Acorn Hill Farm's Protege's Jade placed second last Sunday in a 5 1/2 furlong allowance race at Delaware Park. The John Fisher charge was broken and trained in Aiken by Legacy Stable's Ron Stevens.

Spring Hill Farm's Grade 1 winner Christmas Kid worked five furlongs Monday at Belmont Park. The 4-year-old daughter of Lemon Drop Kid was broken and trained in Aiken by Stevens.

5/13/2008 - The story of Eight Belles took a tragic turn after her strong second place finish in the 134th edition of the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands. The ill-fated filly's performance marred the day, but she was remembered by the people who knew her best as a filly with class, courage and heart.

The daughter of Grade 1 winner Unbridled's Song was out of the Dixieland broodmare Away, who was a durable campaigner, making 24 starts and racing from ages 2 through 6. She won the Minaret Stakes and placed in four other stakes during her career. Eight Belles was her second foal.

The gray filly was bred in Kentucky by Robert Clay's Three Chimney's Farm and Richard Nip's Serengeti Stable. She was purchased for $375,000 as a yearling at the 2006 Keeneland September Yearling Sale from the consignment of Three Chimneys Agent by Fox Hill Farm's Rick Porter.

Eight Belles' odyssey then took her to the Palmetto State, where she arrived at the Holly Hill Training Center on Sept. 23, 2006. She was broken and trained by Jane Dunn, who said she breezed through the training program. She departed Holly Hill for Aiken on March 26, 2007.

"She was a big, leggy filly, who needed a little time to catch up with her body," said Dunn, in a phone interview Monday afternoon. "I thought she was the nicest of the four horses we had for Rick Porter. She was easy to deal with. She had no soundness problems and was never sick. Sometimes you have children that make things look easy."

The gray filly was under the care of Legacy Stable's Ron Stevens for two and a half months. She trained brilliantly during her stay in Aiken.

"Everyone who got on her thought she had class," said Stevens. "The day she arrived in Aiken we knew she was a class filly. She never did anything wrong. She was a great mover with a great mind, and she never did anything that caused us to change our mind about her. She was a high class filly with a big stride, a good mover - the kind you like to have."

Kristi Delasauries, Billy Bernard and Sarah Hansel had the opportunity to ride Eight Belles while she was in Aiken. Bernard galloped the multiple graded stakes winner and breezed her once. Eight Belles was the kind of horse that made people want to get up at 4:30 in the morning and go to the barn when it was 18 to 20 degrees, he said.

"Sarah Hansel was pretty much her regular rider," said Bernard.

"I told her owner and trainer that she wouldn't be ready for the April Keeneland meet, but she would be ready for the next year's (2008) Kentucky Oaks, she was that good. I've had the opportunity to sit on some great horses including Personal Ensign. Eight Belles deserved to be there. I had the opportunity to be part of something great for a little while. I enjoyed the ride."

She was a paragon of perfection and those who had the opportunity to work with her recognized her talent and greatness. "She loved her job," said Bernard. "She was meant to be a racehorse. She never showed any signs of having a lameness issue. She was 100 percent sound."

Eight Belles won three stakes during her sophomore campaign including the Martha Washington Stakes by 13 1/4, the Grade 3 Honeybee Stakes and Grade 2 Fantasy Stakes all at Oaklawn Park. She won or placed in nine of her 10 starts en route to bankrolling $708,650.

5/11/2008 - Stonerside Stable enjoyed a productive week with horses scoring victories on both coasts. Tybalt, a 4-year-old son of Storm Cat who won at ages 2 and 3 in England while in the barn of John Gosden, is now conditioned by Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel in North America. Tybalt's dam is Grade 1 winner Tuzla (FR). The bay colt won a 1-mile allowance race on the turf by 2 1/2 lengths Saturday at Hollywood Park.

Another Frankel charge broke her maiden Sunday in a 1 1 /16-mile race at Belmont Park. Skylighter collared the lead in the deep stretch to win by a neck. The bay 3-year-old daughter of Grade 1 winner Sky Mesa was broken and trained in Aiken by Stonerside Stable's Tim Jones.

Lynn Carlisle and Darlene Anderson's Hark broke her maiden impressively by 1 1/4 lengths in a 6 1/2-furlong race Saturday at Churchill Downs. The John Ward charge was bred by Carlisle, and the 4-year-old filly by Street Cry (IRE) was coming off two impressive performances during her sophomore campaign. Hark spent the winter under the care of Jill Thomas at W.C. and Iris Freeman's Chime Bell Farm.

If you were trying to find your way into the winner's circle Friday at Belmont Park, Looky Yonder set the pace and won a 6-furlong allowance race under the urging of jockey Garrett Gomez by 1 length. Richard Dutrow Jr. trains Lansdon Robbins III's dark bay filly, who is by the 2001 Champion 2-Year-Old Colt in England, Ireland, France and North America, Johannesburg. Looky Yonder was broken and trained in Aiken by Legacy Stable's Ron Stevens.

Daniel Geitner's Parker's Dream won easily Wednesday evening at Charles Town coasting to a 3 1/4-length victory in a 6 1/2-furlong contest. The 3-year-old West Virginia-bred was saddled by Kenneth Gray.

Spring Hill Farm's Rap Tale won a 1-mile race Wednesday at Belmont Park by 4 1/4 lengths. The Todd Pletcher charge was broken and trained in Aiken by Stevens.

Helen Andrews' Forest Retreat followed her 2008 winning debut with a strong second Saturday in a 1-mile and 70-yards allowance race at Prairie Meadows. The daughter of Forest Camp won her first race this year by 5 1/2 lengths, and is conditioned by Anne Mitchell Pezzano.

Dogwood Stable's Slambino dead heated for second in a 1 1/16 miles race Friday at Belmont Park. The Frank Alexander charge was broken and trained in Aiken by Stevens.

Rutledge Farm's Mollie's Brush placed second in a 1 mile race on the turf Thursday at Pimlico. The Jeff Runco charge was also broken and trained by Stevens.

5/05/2008 - Ling Ling Qi returned to the winner's circle last Tuesday winning a 6-furlong allowance contest by 2 3/4 lengths at Churchill Downs. The stakes-placed son of Grade 1 winner Yonaguska races in the silks of Lansdon Robbins III and is trained by Ken McPeek. The half-brother to multiple stakes winner My Great Love was broken and trained in Aiken by Legacy Stable's Ron Stevens. From eight starts, has three wins, has placed second once and third once, and has earned $95,534.

Jeffrey Tucker's Vettriano (IRE), who set a track record last September at Presque Isle Downs for 1 mile and 70 yards, returned to the winner's circle Thursday at Atlantic City Racecourse. The 8-year-old gelding is trained by John Morrison and has spent the last several winters at W.C. and Iris Freeman's Chime Bell Farm.

Dogwood Stable's Hepcat won a 1-mile allowance on the turf by three lengths Friday afternoon at Belmont Park. The 3-year-old son of Tale of the Cat is trained by Mark Hennig and was broken and trained by Stevens.

Brass Polish shined Sunday afternoon, breaking his maiden in a 1 1/16-mile race at Philadelphia Park by a neck. The 3-year-old gelded son of Polish Miner is trained by John Fisher and owned by Katrina Becker.

Nekia Farm's Cyberflash, who has won the last two consecutive editions of The City of Aiken Trophy at the Aiken Trials, finished second in a five-furlong allowance race Friday at Atlantic City Racecourse, missing by only a neck. The 8-year-old son of Cyberspace is trained by Steve Epley Jr.

Rutledge Farm's Researcher finished second in a 1 1/8-mile Handicap Saturday at Charles Town. The Jeff Runco charge is by Two Smart and was broken and trained by Stevens.

Stonerside Stable's Spark Plug finished second in a 7-furlong allowance race Thursday evening at Lone Star Park. The Valid Expectations colt is conditioned by Mike Stidham and was broken and trained in Aiken by Stonerside Stable's Tim Jones.

Spring Hill Farm's Elusive Gift placed second Wednesday in a 7-furlong maiden special weight race on the turf at Belmont Park. The James Jerkens charge was broken and trained by Stevens.

5/04/2008 - A tearful Larry Jones said Eight Belles, who broke down in the gallop-out after finishing second in the Run for the Roses, said there would be no second-guessing in what he called an “unfortunate” outcome that couldn’t be foreseen.

Eight Belles, owned by Rick Porter, ran a spectacular race in the May 3 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) at Churchill Downs to finish 4 ¾ lengths behind the monstrous Big Brown and well ahead of the 18 other colts in the 20-horse field. But the Unbridled’s Song filly broke both ankles near the 6 ½-furlong pole about a quarter-mile after the finish.

“She had her ears up as she crossed the wire,” Jones said during a meeting with the press about two hours after the race. “We were high-fiving. I told everyone if we run fourth, fifth, or sixth, we’ve had a great weekend as long as she comes back to the barn good.”

Jones trains Proud Spell, who the day before won the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) for owner Brereton Jones. And Eight Belles certainly ran a winning race in the Derby.

“It was a quarter-mile after the race,” Jones said in disbelief. “(Breakdowns) just don’t happen there. There’s always a reason things happen, but right now I see no reason for this. She ran the race of her life; she put it out there.”

Dr. Larry Bramlage agreed. "She appeared to be galloping out fine," he said. "I haven't seen this before."

Jones said the injuries were so severe there was no way Eight Belles could be saved. He also said he saw no problem with the racing surface at Churchill, and had no reservations running the filly against colts given the way she had trained for the race.

Jones said Porter is “taking it pretty rough. Somebody will come up with the idea the filly shouldn’t have been in there. He’s going to second-guess himself. But I told him it wasn’t that—she finished a mile-and-a-quarter pretty well.”

Jones acknowledged injuries occur in all sports, and said he hopes some good comes out of the situation similar to the aftermath of Barbaro’s breakdown in the 2006 Preakness Stakes (gr. I).

“She went out in a glory,” Jones said. “She went out a champion to us. She was our family. I saw my son yesterday and my daughter today, but I saw Eight Belles every day. She had been with us for a year.

“Losing animals like this isn’t fun. We’re heartbroken. We’re going to miss her.”

Eight Belles had five wins, three seconds, and a third in 10 career starts for earnings of $708,650.

Click here for more Derby news from The Blood Horse.

5/01/2008 - The Kentucky Derby will be run tomorrow at Churchill Downs in Lexington, Ky., and there will be a definite Aiken flavor to the race.

Two horses with ties to Aiken will be in the Run for the Roses, the first of the three Triple Crown of Racing events for 3-year-old thoroughbreds. Cowboy Cal and Eight Belles will go to the starting gate tomorrow being watched by millions around the world. Their early training however, came under the watchful eyes of a few professionals in Aiken. Cowboy Cal is a Stonerside Stable horse that was broken and trained in Aiken by Tim Jones. He is now being trained by Todd Pletchers.

Eight Belles, a filly, was trained for 2 1/2 months in Aiken by Ron Stevens. He is now being trained by J. Larry Jones.

It is always a treat for Aiken County residents to have a horse to cheer for in the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes. To have a pair of horses to choose from in the field of 20 makes it even more fun for local watchers.

The performances to date by Aiken horses Eight Belles and Cowboy Cal are impressive and show that Aiken remains an important training facility in thoroughbred racing. Here's hoping that when the most exciting two minutes in sport is completed late Saturday afternoon that a blanket of roses will be placed across one of Aiken's own.

5/01/2008 - Robert and Janice McNair's Stonerside Stable's Country Star, the 2007 Aiken Trained Horse of the Year, is among the favorites for today's 1 1/8-miles Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks. The 3-year-old daughter of the 2003 Belmont Stakes winner Empire Maker was the 4-1 second choice in the morning line.

The filly broke her maiden in the two turn 1 1/16-mile Grade 1 Darley Alcibiades Stakes on Oct. 5, 2007, and followed that victory with a win in the 1 1/16-mile Hollywood Starlet Stakes on Dec. 15, 2007, en route to finishing second in the Eclipse Award voting for the outstanding 2-year-old filly.

Country Star's dam is Grade 1 winner Rings a Chime. The filly was broken and trained in Aiken by Stonerside Stable's trainer Tim Jones.

"She's just been phenomenal," said Jones. "She started three times as a 2-year-old, had a second and two Grade 1 wins."

The dark bay filly finished fifth in her last start, the Grade 1 Ashland Stakes at Keeneland on April 5. And even though Country Star finished off the board in her last race, Jones believes she benefited from her last start, after being off for almost four months. She drew the sixth post for today's race, and the Bobby Frankel charge will have Rafael Bejarano in the irons.

"A race is always better than a work," said Jones. "There's some very nice fillies in the Oaks that she's going to have to beat, but I think she's capable of doing that. I think she definitely has the credentials to be in the race. She's won two Grade 1 races out of four lifetime starts."

Jones has broken and trained three Kentucky Derby starters for Stonerside during his eight years in Aiken. Congaree, Bob and John and now Cowboy Cal.

"I feel very honored, even though a horse might not win the Derby, just that he's able to participate is very special," said Jones. "There are 37,000 to 38,000 horses born each year, and there are only 20 starters in that elite race. I think the Derby is one of those races where you don't have to be the best horse to win. You have to have racing luck, the best trip and the timing has to be right."

Dogwood Stable's Blackberry Road has been installed as co-sixth choice in the 1 1/16-mile Grade 3 Crown Royal American Turf Classic. It will be the first start on the turf for the dark bay colt.

The son of Gone West has made his last eight starts in graded stakes company and has drawn the seventh hole for the race. The David Carroll charge will have Julien Leparoux in the irons.

Palmetto Power

Kip Elser's Camden-based Kirkwood Stables will be well represented in the 134th Kentucky Derby; Smooth Air and Cool Coal Man will be part of this year's field, joining Aiken trained starters Eight Belles and Cowboy Cal as South Carolina conditioned horses in Saturday's race.

04/29/2008 Louisville, Ky. - The Kentucky Derby is loaded with tradition, part of which dictates that usually only colts run in America’s greatest race.

The fillies have their own showcase on Derby eve, the Kentucky Oaks. But Larry Jones, Kentucky born and bred, doesn’t give a hoot about that particular ritual.

So expect to see filly Eight Belles, broken and trained in Aiken by Legacy Stable’s Ron Stevens, in the starting gate for Saturday’s 134th Derby, surrounded by 19 boys, including Stonerside Stable’s Cowboy Cal, broken and trained in Aiken by Tim Jones.

“The best way to get me to do something is usually to tell me I can’t do it,” Larry Jones said Sunday. “My wife does that all the time.”

The 51-year-old trainer plans to enter the gray filly in the Oaks as a backup, but said, “We intend to run Eight Belles in the Derby.” And why not?

The filly with the four-race winning streak turned in Sunday’s second-fastest workout, running 5 furlongs in 58.20 on the dirt at Churchill Downs. Santa Anita Derby winner Colonel John was timed in 57.80, fastest of 62 workouts at the same distance. “She’s run as fast as they have,” Jones said.

“I feel better with her at a mile-anda-quarter than I did with Hard Spun. You have to pull on her in the morning to get her to stop. With Hard Spun, you’d tell him to stop and he’d say, ‘OK.”’ Hard Spun finished second behind Street Sense in last year’s Derby.

A filly hasn’t won the garland of roses since Winning Colors in 1988, and none has started since 1999.

“If a guy wants to take a shot, it’s his right,” Colonel John’s trainer Eoin Harty said about pitting a girl against the boys.

Eight Belles is half of the girl power in Jones’ barn. His other filly, Proud Spell, will run only in the Oaks.

“The owners are trying to help me by keeping these fillies apart,” he said. “We feel good about both spots.”

If more than 20 horses are entered in the 1 1/4-mile Derby, then the list of graded stakes earnings decides the 20 starters. Proud Spell could easily get in the Derby field; her $880,000 total is second to Pyro. Eight Belles ranks 16th with $210,000.

Proud Spell is owned and bred by former Kentucky Gov. Brereton Jones, no relation to his trainer.

“If the other filly were not involved, we’d be more inclined to consider the Derby,” the former governor said. “Either one of these fillies would have a good shot at winning the Derby. You can’t win them both (Oaks and Derby) until the two fillies are spread out.”

The former governor said he would consider Proud Spell for the Preakness if she does well in Friday’s Oaks.

Colonel John’s sizzling workout Sunday was his last major one before the Derby, when the California colt will race on dirt for the first time.

“It wasn’t my intention to go that fast, but it wasn’t my intention the track was going to be this fast,” trainer Eoin Harty said. “I think it’s more the track conditions than my horse doing a little too much.”

The big question at the start of Derby week was how Colonel John would handle a dirt surface because he has raced and trained almost exclusively on the newer synthetic surfaces in California since beginning his career at Del Mar last summer.

“I thought he handled it very well. It looks like he hasn’t changed his style or his motion,” Harty said, pointing out that Colonel John trained on dirt as a 2-year-old before coming to his stable. Harty originally scheduled Colonel John’s workout for Monday, but the forecast calls for rain so he moved it up.

Also going ahead of schedule were trainer Bill Mott’s duo of Court Vision and Z Humor. Both went 5 furlongs, with Court Vision timed in 1:00.80 and Z Humor in 1:01.20

. Colonel John likely will be the second favorite behind Big Brown when post positions are drawn Wednesday.

Colonel John has won 4 of 6 career starts and wasn’t worse than second in his two losses. He’s a son of Tiznow, the two-time Breeders’ Cup Classic champion who won those races on dirt, including once at Churchill Downs. “I look for every positive sign,” Harty said. “It certainly can’t hurt.”

Big Brown galloped once around the Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida and was scheduled to arrive in Louisville on Monday evening. He will work out Thursday.

Trainer Todd Pletcher’s trio of Behindatthebar, Cowboy Cal and Monba went out on Keeneland’s synthetic surface in Lexington.

Behindatthebar galloped 1 1/2 miles, while the other two walked after working out Saturday.

The trio will arrive in Louisville on Wednesday.

Bennie Stutts Jr. was feeling relieved Sunday after checking in on his colt Smooth Air, who has had a low-grade fever. The colt jogged just more than a mile in his first workout since last Thursday. “I didn’t sleep well last night, but I will tonight,” the 70-year old trainer said. “I came in this morning and saw that empty feed tub and knew he was all right.” On Smooth Air’s way to and from the barn, a black cat crossed his path. “If I hadn’t seen it, I wouldn’t have believed it,” owner Brian Burns said. “Maybe two black cats mean good luck.”

4/29/2008 - Robert and Janice McNair's Stonerside Stable's Cowboy Cal will make his next start in the Run for the Roses, the 134th Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands.

The 3-year-old dark bay colt by champion and multiple Group 1 winner Giant's Causeway is out of the Seeking the Gold broodmare Texas Tammy.

The Kentucky-bred colt was broken and trained in Aiken by Stonerside Stable's trainer Tim Jones.

The 3-year-old colt distinguished himself during his sophomore campaign by winning the 1 1/16-mile Laurel Futurity on the turf by 6 1/4 lengths on Nov. 24 at Laurel Park. He followed that win with a victory in the 1 1/8-mile Grade 3 Tropical Park Derby on the turf at Calder Race Course on New Year's Day.

Cowboy Cal placed second in his last two starts both in stakes company, first in the 1 1/16-mile Hallandale Beach Stakes at Gulfstream Park on the turf on Feb. 16 and he followed that effort with a second-place finish in the 1 1/8-mile Toyota Bluegrass Stakes at Keeneland on the all-weather surface Polytrack on April 12, beaten only a neck by stablemate Monba.

Cowboy Cal's start on the dirt this Saturday at Churchill Downs will be his first start on the surface since his racing debut on Aug. 25 at Saratoga.

He broke his maiden going a mile on the turf on Sept. 26 at Belmont Park.

Cowboy Cal had a strong work at Keeneland on Saturday, covering the five furlongs in 1 minute flat.

"We thought he was probably the nicest colt we had," said Jones. "He separated himself out early. Todd (Pletcher) came to Aiken and looked at him, and obviously he liked the horse. There's always a few horses that demonstrate their talent and ability early. Country Star was the other horse that we thought would do well."

4/29/2008 - It was a great opening week for Helen Andrews Racing, Annie Mitchell Pezzano and Bill Pezzano at Prairie Meadows in Altoona, Iowa. Forest Retreat was sent off as the fourth choice in the wagering in the field of 10 last Tuesday in a 6-furlong allowance contest, but the 3-year-old dark bay filly by Forest Camp won by daylight, taking command in the stretch and winning convincingly by 5 1/2 lengths.

“It was the first race off of a layoff,” said Mitchell Pezzano, in a phone interview Friday afternoon. “All of the horses are doing well. John Hamilton is here with us and galloping the horses. Forest Retreat demolished the field. We’re going to try her two turns in her next start, which will be in an allowance race next month.”

Stakes winner Amazing Tale placed second by a neck in the 6-furlong Gold Finch Stakes at Prairie Meadows. The daughter of Tale of the Cat won the 2007 Prairie Gold Lassie Stakes at Prairie Meadows. “She made the lead in front by a length and looked good,” said Mitchell Pezzano, in an interview Monday morning.

“She was in the lead, and she’s a little filly. The winner had to work to get by her. It was bump and grind in the stretch. I’m so proud of her; she didn’t have the smoothest winter.”

Lansdon Robbins III and Bruce Lunsford’s Drilling for Oil placed second in Friday’s 1 1/2-miles Grade 2 Elkhorn Stakes at Keeneland. The son of Giant’s Causeway was broken and trained in Aiken by Legacy Stable’s Ron Stevens. The horse’s next start may come in a race he won in 2007. “We’re looking to point him to the Louisville Handicap on May 24,” said Ken McPeek, in a phone interview Monday morning. “He always runs hard.”

Spring Hill Farm’s Quiet Now broke her maiden by a neck in a 1 1/8-miles race Friday on the turf at Aqueduct. The 3-year-old daughter of Tiznow was broken and trained in Aiken by Stevens.

Spring Hill Farm’s Ghost Dancing won a 6-furlong allowance race at Delaware Park last Tuesday. The 4- year-old Silver Ghost filly is conditioned by Anthony Dutrow and was broken and trained by Stevens.

Richard Duchossois’ Must Trust won a 1 1/16-miles race by 1 1/2 lengths at Hawthone. The Langfuhr gelding was broken and trained by Gene and Kelly Tucker’s Brookridge Stable and is conditioned at the track by Chris Block.

4/20/2008 - Peter Schiff's Fox Ridge Farm's Planets Aligned won the second jewel of the Steeplechase Racing's Triple Crown for Novice Hurdlers in Middleburg, Va., at the Middleburg Spring Races capturing the Grade Two Temple Gwathmey. Last year's NSA novice champion and Eclipse Award finalist is trained by Tom Voss and was broken and trained in Aiken by Sally Cluff.

Aiken-based jockey Michael Traurig won the Cannon Harmon Memorial at the Block House races in Tryon, N.C., Saturday with the Michael Berryman conditioned Dromineer. The 7-year-old gelding is owned by Homer Osborne. Daniel Geitner's Roseland finished third.

"It was a big day," said Traurig. "He annihilated the field. Berryman said to go ahead and stretch him out. It was the first win for the owners."

Traurig also finished third on the Berryman trained and Manown Kisor Jr.-owned Gather No Moss in a 2 3/8-mile race.

Brigadoon Stable's Gliding (NZ) finished ninth in the Nakayama Grand Jump in Japan, the world's richest steeplechase race with a $1.6 Million purse, according to The Steeplechase and Eventing Times. Hermen Greenberg's Rutledge Humor broke his maiden in a 7-furlong race Sunday at Charles Town. The 3-year-old son of Distorted Humor is trained by Jeff Runco and was broken and trained in Aiken by Ron Stevens. Spring Hill Farm's homebred Light Sentence broke his maiden Sunday at Delaware Park in a 5 1/2-furlong race. The 3-year-old son of Vindication was broken and trained by Stevens.

4/15/2008 - Dogwood Stable's Atoned still has an opportunity to make the Kentucky Derby field and join Stonerside Stable's Cowboy Cal, who has already qualified for racing's most popular event.

Atoned, a Todd Pletcher charge, is being pointed toward the 1 1/16-miles Grade 2 Lexington Stakes this Saturday with the intent of adding to his graded stakes earnings, said Cot Campbell, Dogwood Stable president. The stakes-winning son of Repent finished fourth in the Grade 2 Illinois Derby on April 5.

"Atoned worked (Sunday morning) on the Polytrack at Keeneland. He had a splendid work; it was unusually good," said Campbell. "It was so good, it kind of makes you want to try him back. He came back off that race in Illinois in good shape. It wasn't very tiring. He's bounced back and is enthusiastic. We're going to try him. We have (John) Velasquez riding him."

Rick Porter's Fox Hill Farms has nominated Aiken-trained Eight Belles to both the May 2 Kentucky Oaks and the May 3 Kentucky Derby. The 3-year-old filly has won her last four starts, the final three being stakes wins. The Larry Jones charge is the daughter of Grade One winner Unbridled's Song, and was broken and trained in Aiken by Legacy Stable's Ron Stevens.

Stevens is the new president of the Aiken Training Track, while the new vice president is Stonerside Stable's Tim Jones. Bernadette Clayton and William Tucker remain in their respective positions as treasurer and secretary. Hermen Greenberg's White Diamond broke his maiden by 7 3/4-lengths in a 1 1/16 miles race Wednesday at Charles Town. The gray son of Johannesburg (the 2001 champion 2 -ear-old colt in North America, England, Ireland and France) is conditioned by Jeff Runco, and was broken and trained by Stevens.

Gustav Schickedanz's homebred D. Flutie held the lead into the stretch only to be beaten by a neck Sunday in a 7-furlong maiden special weight race at Woodbine. The 3-year-old son of Langfuhr is conditioned by Mike Keogh. Brigadoon Stable's Erin Go Bragh (NZ) placed second Saturday in the 3-mile My Lady's Manor Timber Stakes in Monkton, Md. The 9-year-old gelding is conditioned by Doug Fout.

Fox Hill Farm's Eagle's Song finished third Saturday in the 1-mile Instant Racing Stakes Saturday at Oaklawn Park. The 3-year-old filly is trained by Larry Jones and was broken and trained by Stevens.

4/14/2008 - He’s a 4 year-old colt who seems to adapt well to change. The versatile French Transition has raced at 8 different tracks, won races on both the dirt and turf, and has been ridden to victory by four different jockeys.

The dark bay son of Giant’s Causeway, the 3 year old champion in England and Ireland in 2000, is out of the Hawkster broodmare French Manicure.

French Transition has proven to be a durable campaigner making 13 starts during his sophomore campaign, and 2 more starts as a 4 year-old in 2008. He recently arrived at W.C. and Iris Freeman’s Chime Bell Farm. The New York-bred colt races in the silks of Carl Lizza’s Flying Zee Stables, and is in Aiken for a respite from the races, said Jill Thomas, Chime Bell Farm lay-up manager.

French Transition has been at the racetrack the past two years, and has been in the barn of both Patrick Biancone and Hall of Fame trainer Frank “Pancho” Martin, said Thomas.

Giant’s Causeway is the sire of several prominent Aiken trained graded stakes winners including Cowboy Cal, Giant Wrecker and Drilling for Oil.

“I like their (the Giant Causeways) minds they seem to be sensible horses,” said Thomas.

The colt broke his maiden on the turf in a 1 1/8-miles race at Santa Anita on Feb. 1, 2007. His success would continue at Belmont Park on June 13 winning a one mile allowance race. He would win another allowance race during the summer a 1 1/8-miles contest at Saratoga by 6 1/4-lengths on Sept. 2, and post another score over a track listed as good in a 1 mile allowance tilt at Aqueduct on Nov. 22. He also placed in the 1 1/16-miles Sherpa Guide Stakes at Belmont Park on Sept. 26.

French Transition has won four races, placed second twice from 18 starts, and has won $169,631.

4/13/2008 - Stonerside Stable's Cowboy Cal will be greeted with the chorus of "My Old Kentucky Home" on the first Saturday in May.

The Aiken-trained horse overcame a rough start, held the lead into the stretch of the Grade One 1 1/8-mile Bluegrass Stakes at Keeneland before being collared by the eventual winner Monba, who held on to win by a desperate neck. Both horses are trained by Todd Pletcher.

Cowboy Cal is a 3-year-old son of Giant's Causeway, who was broken and trained in Aiken by Stonerside Stable's Tim Jones. He increased his graded stakes earnings to $207,660 while earning a trip to Louisville, Ky. and the Kentucky Derby.

"He ran well especially for being on the lead; he always wants it (to be out front)," said Jones. "He's pretty much a speed horse. John (Velasquez) did a very good job of rating him."

Cowboy Cal won the Grade 3 Tropical Park Derby at Calder Race Course New Year's Day. All three of his victories have come on the turf, and his second-place finish in the Bluegrass came on a synthetic surface, Polytrack. However, he's proven he can handle the dirt, and the surface at Churchill Downs shouldn't be a problem, said Jones. "He trained very well on the dirt while he was in Aiken," said Jones. "We don't see the change in surfaces impacting him at all. He performed very well in an environment with a lot of excitement and energy. He's a solid all around horse."

Dogwood Stable's Blackberry Road finished in a dead heat for seventh Saturday in the Grade 2 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park.

"He finished in the middle of the pack," said Cot Campbell, Dogwood Stable president. "Calvin (Borel, the horse's jockey) said the race set up nicely for him, but when he kicked he wasn't able to advance much. He didn't come close at all. We'll go back home to Churchill Downs and regroup and try to find a spot that's less ambitious. He's a pretty good horse. We'll have to go back to the drawing board."

4/12/2008 - Dogwood Stable’s Blackberry Road will learn if the Kentucky Derby is in his future in today’s Grade Two 1 1/8-miles Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs Arkansas.

The David Carroll charge will break from the 8 hole and will have jockey Calvin Borel in the irons.

“He’s a horse in our opinion who should have already won enough graded stakes earnings to qualify for the Kentucky Derby,” said Cot Campbell, Dogwood Stable president. “We think the 1 1/4-miles in the Kentucky Derby will suit him perfectly with his breeding.

The Arkansas Derby is a $1 million race. It’s his last chance to put some more earnings by his name. He might have enough already to get to the Kentucky Derby, if he places in the Arkansas Derby and runs a good race than he surely will.”

The son of Gone West is a half brother to the 2002 Eclipse Award winning 2 Year-Old Colt Vindication and is also a half brother to graded stakes winner Scipion.

Blackberry Road is 28th in graded stakes earnings with $123,417. The field for the 134th Kentucky Derby will be composed of the top 20 horses (3 year-olds) based on their graded stakes earnings.

“He’s been a hard luck horse,” said Campbell. “He couldn’t get through this time, he couldn’t get through on the rail. There’s always been something as often as there is in horse racing. I don’t know why he couldn’t win this race. The post position is good. We’re going to tell Calvin Borel to do whatever he decides to do. It’s inevitable, he’s a stretch runner and he’s going to have to drop back to make his run, and that means he’s going to have to come through a bunch of horses which is problematic, but we’re not going to change his running style which we tried to do earlier in the Louisiana Derby, and it did not work.”

Blackberry Road has placed 3 times in graded stakes company.

“He’s game and consistent,” said Campbell. “He’s in great shape. He’s going to school in the paddock today (Friday). He walked in their yesterday (Thursday) with a rider on him. Today, they’re going to take him over between races and school him. We’re anxious to go. We hope he wins the Arkansas Derby and if he doesn’t, we hope he shows enough where we can wheel him back in the Kentucky Derby.”

Stonerside Stable’s Cowboy Cal drew post 3 in the 1 1/16-miles Grade One Bluegrass Stakes at Keeneland today. The Todd Pletcher charge will have John Velasquez in the irons.

4/07/2008 - Fox Hill Farm's Eight Belles overcame a difficult start to win the 1 1/16-miles Grade 2 Fantasy Stakes by 3/4 of a length Sunday at Oaklawn Park.

The gray filly by Grade 1 winner Unbridled's Song won her third-consecutive stakes race. The filly had previously won the Martha Washington Stakes and the Grade 3 Honeybee Stakes at Oaklawn in her last two starts. Eight Belles would appear to be the likely favorite for the Kentucky Oaks, but the 3-year-old filly has also been nominated to the Triple Crown races.

Eight Belles was broken and trained in Aiken by Legacy Stable's Ron Stevens.

Steven Diiorio's Northern Report won a 5-furlong allowance race by 2 1/4-lengths Sunday at Woodbine. The chestnut colt by Snow Ridge is out of the Corporate Report broodmare Annasan. The 4-year-old Ontario-bred is conditioned by Mike Keogh.

Bruce Lunsford and Lansdon Robbins III's Drilling for Oil finished second in the 1 1/2-mile Grade 3 Pan American Handicap at Gulfstream Park Saturday. The 5-year-old horse by Giant's Causeway is conditioned by Kenny McPeek and was broken and trained in Aiken by Stevens.

Spring Hill Farm's Nite Light placed second in the 1 1/8-miles Grade 3 Excelsior Breeders' Cup Handicap Saturday at Aqueduct. A recent winner of the Gallant Fox and John B. Campbell Handicaps, Nite Light was sent off as the race favorite. The Todd Pletcher charge was broken and trained by Stevens.

Suits and Ties, conditioned by Aiken's Ted Gregory and ridden by Aiken's Michael Traurig, finished third Saturday at Stoneybrook Steeplechase in Raeford, N.C., in a 2 1/8-mile race over National Fences.

Fox Ridge Farm's Planets Aligned finished second in a 1 1/4-mile training flat Saturday at Stoneybrook Steeplechase. The Tom Voss charge was broken and trained in Aiken by Sally Cluff.

4/4/2008 - His illustrious career as a trainer spans nearly six decades. Thoroughbred trainer Willard Clark "Mike" Freeman trained one of the greatest fillies of all time, Shuvee, and chose to base his winter operation in Aiken. An exhibit honoring the renowned conditioner will be held at the Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum from April 13 through May 11. There will be an opening reception on Sunday, April 13, starting at 1:30 p.m. The public is invited to attend.

The native of Rhode Island has always been interested in horses and was a steeplechase jockey in Pennsylvania before turning his attention toward training. He took out his trainer's license in 1950 and conditioned his first winner Little Whim at Narragansett Park in 1952.

"One of the big breaks in my career was training for Mr. (Alfred) Vanderbilt, another was training for John Phipps," said Freeman. "The first stakes winner I trained was Parnassus for Mr. Phipps. What happened to me was the luckiest thing that could have happened to a human being. I stabled in Aiken one winter because Allaire duPont (owner of Kelso) was my next door neighbor up north where I lived in Middletown, N.Y., and she talked me into coming to Aiken. I lived at the Green Boundary."

Freeman has a close relationship with Hall of Fame trainer Mack Miller, who was a longtime Aiken resident. "Mack Miller has been a good friend of mine for a long time," said Freeman. "He's one of the reasons I'm in Aiken. We talk about every two weeks."

Hall of Fame horse Shuvee, regarded by many as one of the greatest fillies of all time, won stakes races from ages 2 through 5. Shuvee won the 1969 New York Racing Association Triple Tiara (the series consists of the Acorn Stakes, the Mother Goose and the Coaching Club American Oaks), and beat male horses in consecutive years (1970-1971) in the two-mile Jockey Club Gold Cup.

"The Daily Racing Form rated her as one of the top fillies of the past 100 years," said Freeman. "Training her was one of the great highlights of my career."

Another Freeman trained runner was Hostage, who captured the 1982 Grade 1 Arkansas Derby.

One of the horses Freeman trained for Vanderbilt was Cold Comfort, who won the 1969 Matron and the 1970 Hempstead Handicap.

Freeman also bred and raced multiple stakes winner Beech Island.

Buckhar, who stands in Aiken at Chasin' Farm, won the 1993 Grade 1 D.C. International at Laurel Park after a 10-month layoff.

"He was a good horse," said Freeman. "I have a few young horses by him too."

Among the other stakes winners trained by Freeman include Grade 1 winner Hodges Bay, Grade 2 winner Hoolie, multiple graded stakes winner Modred and Grade 3 winners Closing Bid and Spy Flag.

The Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum is located in Hopelands Gardens at Whiskey Road and Dupree Place and is open September through May, Tuesdays through Sundays, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 642-7631.

4/01/2008 - Spring Hill Farm’s Edward Evans was the leading breeder in Virginia by earnings in 2007, according to the Thoroughbred Times. Among the stakes winners campaigned last year by Evans were Christmas Kid, Dorm Fever, Intentional Fever, Mini Sermon, Nite Light and Pleasant Strike. Spring Hill Farm’s horses are broken and trained in Aiken by Legacy Stable’s Ron Stevens.

Edward Evans’ Sumptuous won a 6-furlong allowance race by a half-length at Aqueduct on Friday. The 3-year-old filly was a $400,000 sales purchase at the 2006 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. The Todd Pletcher charge in seven starts has never finished off the board, winning two times, placing second twice and finishing third three times, en route to earning $87,095. Sumptuous was broken and trained by Stevens.

Manchester Farm’s Mike Rutherford Sr. and Gwen and Don Mullins’ Fall Shuffle broke her maiden in a one-mile race by 1 3/4 lengths Sunday at Turfway Park. The 3-year-old filly by Grand Slam is conditioned by Frank Brothers and was broken and trained by Stevens.

Hermen Greenberg’s Mr. Orientate won a 1 1/8 mile allowance race Friday at Charles Town by a half-length. The gelded son of the 2002 Eclipse Award winning sprinter Orientate is trained at the track by Jeff Runc, and was broken and trained by Stevens.

Stonerside Stable and Oak Crest Farm’s Sutra finished second in the 6-furlong Carousel Stakes Saturday at Oaklawn Park.

There’s a new feature on the Dogwood Stable website called Ask Cot (Campbell). Thoroughbred racing enthusiasts will have an opportunity to submit questions to be answered by the Dogwood Stable president or by Anne Campbell.

3/28/2008 - Dogwood Stable’s Kentucky Derby prospects are being pointed toward a pair of stakes races in the coming weeks.

Atoned is scheduled to make his next start in the Grade 2 Illinois Derby at Hawthorne on April 5 with Joe Bravo in the irons. Calvin Borel will be reunited with Blackberry Road, whose next scheduled start is the Grade 2 Arkansas Derby on April 12 at Oaklawn Park.

“Obviously we want to keep the horses separated while we seek a final prep for each in our quest to add graded stakes earnings for Kentucky Derby participation,” said Cot Campbell, Dogwood Stable president, in a press release. “These are exceedingly busy days for top riders, and we’re quite pleased to have these two jockeys for our horses. In a perfect world these two races — both at a mile and an eighth — are our targets. The Derby Trail is shifting and unpredictable, however, and we will be ready to adjust our plans.”

The 2007 Aiken Trained Horse of the Year and multiple Grade 1 winner, Stonerside Stable’s Country Star, is being pointed toward next week’s Grade 1 Ashland Stakes on April 5 at Keeneland, said John Adger, Stonerside Stable’s racing and bloodstock manager in a phone interview Thursday afternoon.

“She had a good workout the other day. Our plan is to run her in the Ashland if everything is OK,” said Adger. “She’s in California and will be in Kentucky the first of the week. If she’s OK we’ll take a run at them.”

Stonerside’s Graded Stakes winner Sea Chanter, who’s also an Aiken Trials alumnus, is taking a brief respite from the races and should be ready for Saratoga, said Adger.

Stonerside’s two Derby possibilities will be pointed toward stakes races in the next few weeks. Texas Wildcatter (another Aiken Trials alumnus) is being pointed toward the April 5 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct and Cowboy Cal toward the Bluegrass Stakes April 12 at Keeneland.

Texas Fever, who finished third in the Grindstone Stakes last Saturday, will be headed to Arlington Park for the summer, said Adger.

“He ran very well; we’re very pleased with him,” said Adger. “We’re going to keep him on the grass.”

All the Stonerside horses were broken and trained in Aiken by Stonerside Stable’s Tim Jones.

Jeffrey Tucker’s stakes winner Red Zipper, who trained at W.C. and Iris Freeman’s Chime Bell Farm, will make his next start in stakes company, said his trainer John Morrison. “He’s doing fine. We’re going to point him to either the Fort Marcy at the end of April or the Kingston at Belmont,” said Morrison in a phone interview Thursday afternoon. Michael and Patricia Palenscar’s Salt City Miss won a one-mile allowance race at Aqueduct Wednesday. The 3-year-old filly is a half sister to My Dear Annie. Both Salt City Miss and My Dear Annie are conditioned by David Donk, and both were broken and trained in Aiken by Oakwood Farm’s Suzy Haslup.

Fox Ridge Farm’s Naughty New Yorker, who’s conditioned by Pat Kelly and was trained in Aiken by Sally Cluff, will make his next start in April. The son of Quiet American has earned $965,864.

“Naughty New Yorker worked today, and we’re keeping an eye on the Excelsior (Breeders’ Cup Handicap, April 5 at Aqueduct),” said Kelly, in a phone interview Thursday afternoon. “He was second in last year’s Excelsior to Magna Graduate.”

Fox Ridge’s Homerette also conditioned by Kelly and Cluff has been officially retired. Fox Hill Farm’s Grade 3 stakes winning filly Eight Belles has been nominated to the Arkansas Derby. Eight Belles was broken and trained in Aiken by Legacy Stables’ Ron Stevens.

3/25/2008 - Her career spanned two decades. Abigail Fuller Catalano succeeded in a profession dominated by men. As a jockey on the New England circuit, she managed to win nearly 600 races during her career. Fuller Catalano was in Aiken at the Aiken Trials assisting Denise Boudrot Hopkins and Cleve Kadiddlehopper. She is married to trainer Mike Catalano. “I rode my first race in 1982 and didn’t get to win until 1983,” said Fuller Catalano.

“They made me earn my first win. I won my first race at Suffolk Downs. New England was a great place to ride; we had the circuit all year.” According to the Jockey Club Information Systems statistics, Fuller Catalano had 4,282 mounts, rode 579 winners, placed second 551 times and finished third 530 times and earned purse money of $5,320,999.

Fuller Catalano was also the regular rider of National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame inductee Mom’s Command, who captured the 1985 Triple Tiara, winning the Acorn Stakes, the Mother Goose Stakes and the Coaching Club American Oaks. The daughter of Top Command won the 1985 Eclipse Award as the outstanding 3-year-old filly and bankrolled $902,972. The chestnut filly won five Grade 1 stakes and 11 stakes during her career. Mom’s Command was bred and owned by Peter Fuller, Fuller Catalano’s father, and was trained by Edward Allard.

“We knew she was a good filly,” said Fuller Catalano. “She won her first race at Rockingham in a little stake (the Faneuil Miss Stakes on July 17, 1984.); she didn’t break out of the gate and zoom by everybody. She only raced in stakes during her career; she won a couple of stakes during her 2-year-old campaign. She would get a little tense in the gate and wouldn’t break well. She was a speed demon girl. Woody Stephens loved her; he said she was amazing.”

It was once Mom’s Command learned how to relax in the gate that she became a superstar, said Fuller Catalano. Bob Duncan, who at the time was working on the gate crew in New York and eventually became the starter, played an integral role in helping the filly to remain calm, said Fuller Catalano.

The mother of two broke her neck in 1992 but did return to riding.

In addition to Mom’s Command, other stakes winners ridden by Fuller Catalano, include Molly Bolt, Jacuzzi Boogie, Winthrop Arms, Ambi’s Bro, Fuller’s Folly, Scrambies, Special Achiever, Fast Eddie T., Daring Assault, Isadorable, Shananie, Donna’s Time, Dis Hi Fi, Greida, Harlan County, Cousin Kelly and Royal Resource.

3/19/2008 - Fox Hill Farms’ Eight Belles continued her winning ways Sunday, scoring her second consecutive stakes victory and first win in graded stakes company by winning the 1 1/16-miles Grade 3 Honeybee Stakes at Oaklawn Park by one and a quarter lengths.

The roan daughter of Grade 1 winner Unbridled’s Song was installed as the race favorite, and she didn’t disappoint. The 3-year-old filly was coming off a pair of impressive wins prior to her start in the Honeybee, winning her last two races by a combined 28 1/2 lengths, including the Martha Washington Stakes (also at Oaklawn) last month by 13 1/2 lengths.

The Larry Jones charge was ridden to victory by Ramon Dominguez. Eight Belles was broken and trained in Aiken by Legacy Stable’s Ron Stevens. “We felt from the beginning that she was going to be stakes caliber,” said Stevens.

“Everyone who was associated with her – the grooms, the exercise riders, the people watching her – thought she was special. She has all the ingredients. She exudes class.”

From eight starts, Eight Belles has four wins, placed second twice and finished third once, en route to bankrolling $158,650.

3/17/2008 - Dogwood Stable's Atoned took the lead entering the stretch in the Grade 3 1 1/16-miles Tampa Bay Derby Saturday but was hooked and collared by the son of Hook and Ladder in the deep stretch by eventual victor Big Truck, who went on to win by a neck under confident handling by jockey Eibar Coa. The winner is trained by Barclay Tagg (who conditioned dual Classic winner Funny Cide).

It was the 2008 debut for Atoned, a dark bay 3-year-old son of Repent, who has finished second in his last four starts, with his last win coming in the Continental Mile Stakes at Delaware Park on Aug. 18, 2007.

Atoned was purchased for $165,000 at the 2007 Ocala Breeders' Sales February 2-Year-Old Select Sale from the consignment of Niall Brennan. The colt is conditioned by Todd Pletcher, and trained in Aiken by Legacy Stable's Ron Stevens.

"Atoned ran great," said Brennan in a phone interview Sunday afternoon. "We also sold the winner (Big Truck was purchased by Eric Fein for $90,000 from Brennan at the Fasig-Tipton Timonium May 2-Year-Olds-in-Training Sale). Atoned was very impressive, he came off the bench; it was his first start since November. Tampa Bay Downs is a tough racetrack. It's a good surface, but a sandy surface. Atoned ran an excellent race. He's a good sized horse, and he'll fill out into his frame. He'll probably have another race before the (Kentucky) Derby. He'll be right and fresh coming into the Derby." Atoned, from eight starts, has two wins and has placed five times, bankrolling $196,757.

3/16/2008 - Questions about the weather for the 66th running of the Aiken Trials at the Aiken Training Track were answered emphatically by the horses outstanding performances on Saturday, and for the seventh time in eight years, Nekia Farm won the City of Aiken Trophy.

Three strong entries composed the field for the Sixth Trial, and for the second consecutive year, Nekia Farm’s Cyberflash won in impressive style, wiring the field, increasing his lead with each stride to win by a devastating eight lengths. Steve Epley Jr. conditions the 8-year-old son of Cyberspace. Ricardo Chiappe was in the irons on the bay gelding.

“He’ll be going back to Delaware Park, and we’ll run him on the turf,” said Epley Jr. “He has a lot of class. He’s only had a couple of breezes since we took him out of training. He needed a break, which he never really had. The break did him a world of good, He looks better than he ever has.”

At first glance Stonerside Stable’s Truly Lucky looked like the horse to beat in the day’s First Trial, the 1/4-mile Gaver Trophy, and the bay filly failed to disappoint, drawing away, and than courageously fighting off the challenge of W.C. Freeman’s Buck Sign, a locally bred, foaled, broken and trained horse in the day’s first race.

A full sister to Stonerside Stable’s multiple stakes winner General Charley, the juvenile filly was broken and is trained in Aiken by Tim Jones. Jockey Jason Caudle was up for the victory. The winner’s sire Truluck is a Grade 3 winner, having captured the 1999 Salvator Mile. The accredited Texas-bred will be going to the barn of Mike Stidham, said John Adger, Stonerside Stable bloodstock and racing manager.

“We’re just pleased to win a trial down here, it’s been difficult to win one, we haven’t won one in a while,” said Adger. “We’re pleased with Truly Lucky, whose sire Truluck stands at Lane’s End Texas. Truluck is named after one of Janice McNair’s (owner of Stonerside Stable) dearest friends, who’s from Truluck, South Carolina. We’re excited.”

The day’s Second Trial, The Coward Trophy proved to be a confidence boost for Dogwood Stable’s Kickapoo as the son of Grade One winner Indian Charlie held off the late move of Scooter Rat to capture the second trial. The Ron Stevens charge was handled confidently by Jessica Schultz.

“When we broke Kickapoo last year, he was probably the spookiest horse in the barn, and I would’ve never have guessed he would be running in the trials,” said Stevens. “He’s headed to Keeneland, and will go to Todd Pletcher. He has good breeding, being sired by Indian Charlie, and we think he’s a nice horse. He showed quickness, and courage holding off the horse Scooter Rat, who will be going to Anthony Dutrow. Screen Your Friend is a real nice horse, he’s going to be good going two turns for sure, maybe 7/8’s (of a mile). I really liked him a lot. He’s a really big horse, and I thought it was a good performance for going a quarter of a mile.”

A strong pace paid dividends for New York-bred colt Dagnabit, a son of Freud, who collared front runner Wrightster to win the Third Trial, The Post Trophy, by a nose. The Lansdon Robbins, III homebred made a powerful move to take an appreciable lead away from the front runner and prevail at the wire. Dagnabit was conditioned by Brad Stauffer and had jockey Victor Sambrano in the irons. Robbins’ Azalea Stable’s graded stakes winner Drilling For Oil, who was broken and trained in Aiken by Ron Stevens, will race with another Stevens’ broken and trained horse, Pleasant Strike in the Grade 2 Mac Diarmida Handicap today at Gulfstream Park.

“I brought the mare (Cool Ghoul) in 2000, this is her second foal, her first foal won over $100,000, he’s a full brother to Bad Boy Rising, who was named for (trainer) Rick Dutrow. Rick’s going to get this horse to, and he’s about twice the size of Bad Boy Rising, so, hopefully his size will carry a little bit more, and we’ll have some fun with him.”

Jammin Syd survived a five-way battle coming from off the pace to secure the victory in the 3-furlong Stable Pony Race, The Iselin Hall of Fame Trophy. The son of multiple Grade I winner Siphon (BRZ), was ridden to victory by Alejandro Campos. The 7 year-old gelding held off the ferocious late charge of Cowboy, a 5 year-old chestnut gelding by Rodeo, with Stonerside Stable’s Tim Jones in the irons.

Suzy Haslup on Stephen Jones and Ron Stevens up on Duke set the early fractions in the heated contest.“He’s a nice horse, the race was a lot of fun for the riders and the trainers,” said Campos.

Nekia Farms’ Perfect Nekia overcame a slow start to open up to win by daylight in capturing the Fifth Trial, The Von Stade Trophy, winning by three lengths under confident handling by jockey Ricardo Chiappe. The Steve Epley, Jr. charge is by Perfect Mandate and is being pointed toward his next start which will be at Delaware Park, said Bruce Snipes Nekia Farms’ owner.

“He’s ready to go,” said Snipes. “We knew he’d be doing his running late. He’s not the fastest out of the gate, but when he gets in gear. He’s got a great dam (Nifty Slew), she’s produced two open stakes winners, including Hostility. She’s got a nice baby by More Than Ready.”

3/16/2008 - Robert and Janice McNair's Stonerside Stable's Country Star captured the nation's imagination last fall scoring successive Grade 1 victories. The daughter of the 2003 Belmont Stakes winner Empire Maker finished second in the 2007 Eclipse Award voting in the 2-Year-Old Filly Division, and Sunday she was recognized as the 2007 Aiken Trained Horse of the Year at a ceremony at the Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum.

Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum board member Warren Dempsey introduced Stonerside Stable's racing and bloodstock manager John Adger, and Dempsey presented Adger with Country Star's award. The filly is conditioned by Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel, and was broken and trained in Aiken by Tim Jones. "We've been here since 1995, and I always want to give credit to Ron (Stevens) and Cot (Campbell) for not only persuading us to come to Aiken, but for orchestrating Stonerside's purchase of Mack Miller's residence and training facility. We're tremendous supporters of Aiken. We love the tradition and the significance of what this place means to Thoroughbred racing."

Country Star distinguished herself during her juvenile campaign, winning the Darley Alciabiades Stakes and the Hollywood Starlet Stakes.

"We always thought she was a special filly," said Adger, who said Country Star is being pointed toward the Ashland Stakes at Keeneland on April 5.

Mayor Fred Cavanaugh stressed the significance the equine industry plays in Aiken County and its impact on the community during his opening remarks.

Dogwood Stable president W. Cothran "Cot" Campbell served as Sunday's Master of Ceremonies.

"We're here to talk about Country Star," said Campbell, when addressing the crowd. "Aiken, in my mind, is one of the greatest places in the world to train a Thoroughbred racehorse. Aiken is a marvelous place to live and a marvelous place to train a racehorse and to be in the racehorse business."

Campbell during his opening statement recognized Joan Tower for her visionary idea to establish the Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum.

Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum board member Warren Dempsey thanked the board, but made the point of recognizing Suzy Howard, Jeannie Groat and Lisa Hall for their work. Woody Millen, the president of the Aiken Training Track, was also recognized by Dempsey.

"We're proud of our museum, and hope it will grow," said Dempsey, who recognized Stonerside Stable's Tim Jones and Legacy Stable's Ron Stevens. "The foundation for so many great racehorses has been laid here. This was a tough one because there was a horse named Cotton Blossom, she was a Dogwood horse. Cot and Anne (Campbell) and all the Dogwood people deserve a round of applause. Two of the classiest organizations in Thoroughbred racing are here, Dogwood and Stonerside."

3/14/2008 -The community had an opportunity to enjoy great food while watching Thoroughbred racehorses breeze during Breakfast at the Gallops Thursday morning at the Aiken Training Track. The event was sponsored by the Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum, in conjunction with Meybohm Realtors and presenting sponsors David Stinson, Deirdre Stoker and Suzy Haslup, all Meybohm Realtors. New Moon Cafe provided the coffee and Holley Tractor the food.

Thoroughbred trainers Haslup, Ron Stevens and Tim Jones discussed their training methods and answered questions. Nicho Meredith was the Master of Ceremonies for the event.

"I'm very pleased. It's the second year, and it's another success," said Lisa Hall, Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum program supervisor. "It's a beautiful day, good food and great trainers. It would be wonderful to have more events like this to demonstrate to the community what our horses do before they go onto their professional careers. It will create more interest for the sport of Thoroughbred racing in general. The foundation for all of Thoroughbred racing are the training centers. It's very important for people to support the training centers."

Dogwood Stable's president Cot Campbell was also a featured speaker at the event. Dogwood Stable's stakes winner Atoned will be running tomorrow in the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby.

"It's very heartening to see such a nice turnout and to see this many people who are interested in what's going on with the Aiken Trials," said Campbell, while addressing the crowd at Breakfast at the Gallops. "It's an exciting time, it's a good time to educate the babies before they go to the racetrack. ... The Trials are the day where they encounter 6,000 or 7,000 people, it gives them a little education, and they're not quite as country when they go to the races. Dogwood Stable is going to run in two races; we have to run the ones that are precocious."

The 1990 Preakness winner Summer Squall, who was undefeated during his juvenile campaign, ran in the 1989 Aiken Trials.

"The best horse we ever had ran in the Aiken Trials, and his name was Summer Squall," said Campbell. "He went on to be one of the greatest horses of his time. The only time he was defeated as a 2-year-old was in the Aiken Trials. He went on to run at every major racetrack in America and in every big race, and he knocked them dead."

This year's trials will feature six races. A carriage parade will be held prior to the start of the first race, which has a post time of 2 p.m. Following the third race, there will be a trick horse demonstration featuring former jockey Denise Boudrot Hopkins and Cleve Kadiddlehopper, The Reluctant Race Horse.

The gates are scheduled to open at 10 a.m., concessions open at 11 a.m., and the carriage parade starts at 1 p.m. There are still tickets available to the VIP Tent Party tomorrow; tickets are $90 each. A luncheon buffet will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. There will be an open bar and Juilliard Jazz will be performing while lunch is being served. Reserved parking tickets include one vehicle pass and five admission tickets. There are still infield rail tickets available for $100; infield row two for $75; outfield row three for $70 and camper outfield only for $70.

The gates open at 10:30 a.m., and post time is 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 on race day. Tickets can be purchased online through www.tixonline.com or by calling (803) 278-4TIX. For more information, visit www.theaikentrainingtrack.com.

3/13/2008 - It's an opportunity to see the stars of tomorrow and a number of battle-tested veterans in Saturday's 66th running of the Aiken Trials at the Aiken Training Track.

Among the 34 entries in Saturday's races will be Steve Epley's South Carolina-bred Taber's Tiger, who will run in the Sixth Trial, The City of Aiken Trophy. Taber's Tiger was the top South Carolina-bred earner in 2007, according to the Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred.

The festivities start this morning at the Aiken Training Track, with Breakfast at the Gallops. The event is sponsored by the Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame, in conjunction with Meybohm Realtors and presenting sponsors David Stinson, Diedre Stoker and Suzy Haslup - all Meybohm Realtors. The program will run from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. New Moon Cafe will provide the coffee and Holley Tractor will provide the food for the event. Tickets are $20 the day of the event.

The Starting Gate Party will be held tonight at the Aiken Training Track. The event will feature barbecue, casual dress and the band Anybody's Guess. The cost per ticket to the Starting Gate party is $50.

This year's trials will feature six races. A carriage parade will be held prior to the start of the first race, which has a post time of 2 p.m. Following the third race, there will be a trick horse demonstration featuring former jockey Denise Boudrot Hopkins and Cleve Kadiddlehopper, The Reluctant Race Horse.

The gates are scheduled to open at 10 a.m., concessions open at 11 a.m., and the carriage parade starts at 1 p.m. There are still tickets available to the VIP Tent Party on Saturday; tickets are $90 each.

A luncheon buffet will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. There will be an open bar and Juilliard Jazz will be performing while lunch is being served.

Reserved parking tickets include one vehicle pass and five admission tickets. There are still infield rail tickets available for $100; infield row two for $75; outfield row three for $70 and camper outfield only for $70.

The gates open at 10:30 a.m., and post time is 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 on race day. Tickets can be purchased online through www.tixonline.com or by calling (803) 278-4TIX. For more information, visit www.theaikentrainingtrack.com.

3/12/2008 - The 66th edition of the Aiken Trials will feature a total of 34 entries for the six-race card on Saturday afternoon. Several horses racing Saturday have distinguished themselvesin previous runnings of the Aiken Trials.

Bruce and Rita Snipes’ Nekia Farm will try to win their seventh The City of Aiken Trophy in eight years, during the running of the sixth trial, as they send out the powerful entry of last year’s winner Cyberflash (who matched the track record) and the 2007 South Carolina Thoroughbred Owners’ and Breeders’ Association Co-Older Male Horse of the Year, Taber’sTiger.

The Nekia Farm entry will be joined by Helen Andrews’ Golden Ballad, Dogwood Stable’s Blotto, who ran second in the 2005 The Coward Trophy, and W.C. Freeman’s Defrizz, who was second in the 2006 The Iselin Hall of Fame Trophy and placed third in the 2007 The City of Aiken Trophy.

The day’s first race is The Gaver Trophy, a quarter-mile race for 2-year-old fillies, is being sponsored by AllStarRents, Inc. and The Ridge at Chukker Creek. Six fillies have been entered in the race, including the next to last foal produced by the 1988 Kentucky Derby winner Winning Colors (only one of three fillies to win the Kentucky Derby), Buck Sign, a filly bred, foaled, broken and trained in Aiken.

Gainesway has a two-horse entry in the first race and will send out a Pulpit filly, in addition to the Orientate filly out of Winning Colors; the Stonerside Stable entry, featuring a filly from the first crop to race by the 2002 Aiken trained Horse of the Year Congaree named Karanka and another filly by Truluck; W.C. Freeman’s Buck Sign and Bill Carl’s Whistlin’ Along, a filly by 2003 Horse of the Year, Mineshaft.

The second trial is The Coward Trophy, a quarter-mile race for 2-year-old colts, sponsored by Sundowner Trailers of Aiken and Business Link/Thomson Chrysler, Dodge Jeep. There will be six horses in Saturday’s field, including Bill Carl’s Screen Your Friend, Dogwood Stable’s Kickapoo, the Stonerside Stable entry of Citizen and Becky’s Express and the Lansdon Robbins III entry of Institutionalized and Scooter Rat.

The Third Trial, The Post Trophy, for 2-year-old maidens open to fillies, colts and geldings, features a field of six horses in the quarter-mile race, sponsored by Atlantic Broadband. Lansdon Robbins III will send out the entry of Special Detail and Dagnabit; Stonerside Stable’s Oconee (another Congaree colt) will break from the 4 hole; Nekia Farm’s Wrightster will start from the far outside post; Eli Gindi’s Hold That Tiger filly drew the rail; and Amanda Krogstad Mud Dog drew post 3.

The Fourth Trial, The Iselin Hall of Fame Trophy, a three furlong race with a standing start and sponsored by Stonerside Stable, is the day’s Stable Pony Race and is composed of five entries – Oakwood Farm’s Suzy Haslup’s Stephen Jones, Legacy Stable’s Duke, Tim Jones’ Cowboy, Equestrian Farm’s Jammin Syd and Campania Stud’s Chotzir.

The Fifth Trial, for 3-year-olds and up who have never won a race, The Von Stade Trophy, a 4 1/2-furlong contest sponsored by Meybohm Realtors, features Tom Bentley’s Palomino colt, Goldhaven, Roger Brown’s Wolf Warrior, W.C. Freeman’s Miss Dolan’s Rose, Nekia Farm’s Perfect Nekia, Mike Rutherford Sr.’s Manchester Farm’s Free Agency and Stonerside Stable’s Bob’s Star.

3/10/2008 - The 66th running of the Aiken Trials is scheduled for this Saturday at the Aiken Training Track. A total of 38 champions have trained over the hallowed surface on Two Notch Road, and in 2007 more than 30 stakes winners, who at one time during their career trained in Aiken, won stakes races.

This year's trials will feature six races. A carriage parade will be held prior to the start of the first race, which has a post time of 2 p.m. Following the third race, there will be a trick horse demonstration featuring former jockey Denise Boudrot Hopkins and Cleve Kadiddlehopper, The Reluctant Race Horse. The day will also feature a pony race.

The week's festivities start Thursday morning as The Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame, in conjunction with Meybohm Realtors and presenting sponsors David Stinson, Deidre Stoker and Suzy Haslup, present Breakfast at the Gallops at the Aiken Training Track from 8 to 10 a.m. The New Moon Cafe will provide coffee, and Holley Tractor will provide food for the event.

The tickets for Breakfast at the Gallops are $15 in advance or $20 the day of the event and may be purchased at the H. Odell Weeks Activities Center or the Aiken Training Track Office. Admission for children under 6 years of age is free. For more information, call 642-7631.

The Starting Gate Party will be held Thursday night. The casual-dress event will feature barbecue, and the band Anybody's Guess will perform. Tickets to the party are $50 each.

The VIP Tent Party on Trials day in