12/26/2008 -Darley at Stonerside is enjoying a successful week.

Kiawah Cat deadheated to break her maiden Sunday afternoon at Calder Race Course in a 1-mile maiden special weight race on the turf. The bay juvenile daughter of the 1999 Belmont Stakes winner and the 2000 Eclipse Award-winning Older Male Horse Lemon Drop Kid is out of the Storm Cat broodmare Thunder Kitten.

Kiawah Cat is a half-sister to graded stakes placed Thunder Mission. The Bill Mott-charge lost the lead in deep stretch but battled back to finish even with her rival Beso Del Sur. Kiawah Cat was broken and trained in Aiken by Tim Jones.

Another daughter of Lemon Drop Kid broke her maiden the next day at the Fair Grounds in a 5¬½-furlong contest on the turf. Sweet Lemonade took command entering the stretch and drew off to win by three lengths under confident handling by jockey Miguel Mena. The W. Bret Calhoun charge was broken and trained by Tim Jones in Aiken.

Graded stakes winner Sea Chanter, who finished second in the 2007 Aiken Trials The Gaver Trophy, worked a half mile Monday at Palm Meadows Training Center in 49 3/10 seconds.

The 2007 Aiken Trained Horse of the Year Country Star worked 5 furlongs in 1:01 1/5 seconds at Santa Anita Park on Christmas Day.

12/22/2008 - The Thoroughbred Times announced their Newsmaker of the Year in the Dec. 20, 2008 issue, "Death of Eight Belles leads racing industry to change."

The Blood-Horse's Lenny Shulman wrote a feature article on Darley at Stonerside consultant John Adger in the Dec. 8 issue of the publication. Darley's Tizaquuena won a 1-mile allowance race Friday at the Fair Grounds by a length. The 3-year-old filly is conditioned by Mike Stidham and was broken and trained in Aiken by Tim Jones.

A pair of Aiken Trials Alumnus that were both trained by Bernard Flint, Graded Stakes winner Screen Your Friend and stakes winner Citizen both ran Saturday in the 6-furlong Sugar Bowl Stakes at the Fair Grounds. Citizen, owned by L.T.B. Inc. and Naveed Chowran, was broken and trained in Aiken by Jones and placed fourth. William Carl's Screen Your Friend, who won the Grade 3 Bashford Manor this summer, broke down in deep stretch and was vanned off. Screen Your Friend was trained in Aiken by Legacy Stable's Ron Stevens.

The 2007 Aiken Trained Horse of the Year, Darley's Country Star, turned in the fastest work at 6 furlongs Thursday at Santa Anita Park, covering three quarters of a mile in 1:11 and 2/5 seconds.

Magnolia Racing Stable's Cowboy Cal, who placed second in his last start the Hollywood Derby on Nov. 30, worked a half-mile Sunday in 48 and 1/5 seconds at Santa Anita Park. Both Country Star and Cowboy Cal were broken and trained in Aiken by Jones.

Jay Em Ess' multiple graded stakes winner Arson Squad worked 5 furlongs in 1:01 and 3/5 seconds Saturday at Gulfstream Park. The Richard Dutrow Jr.-charge was broken and trained by Stevens.

Maggi Moss' Gold Ember had the fastest work of the day at 4 furlongs Saturday at Hawthorne. Bred by Stonerside Stable, the Chris Richard-charge worked a half-mile in 47 and 4/5 seconds. The son of Mutakddim was trained in Aiken by Kelly Tucker.

12/14/2008 - The numbers three and four would seem to be variables in the equation for Rutledge Farm's Researcher's winning formula, as the Jeff Runco charge won its fourth consecutive race, winning those races at four different race tracks.

The 4-year-old gelded son of Two Smart won his third consecutive stakes race and his first graded stakes race, the Grade 3 Queens County Handicap on Saturday at Aqueduct.

Researcher won the 1 1/16-mile race over the inner track at the Jamaica, N.Y., oval, collaring the pacesetter Brilliant Son in deep stretch and drew off to win by a half length, with Michael Luzzi in the irons. The bay gelding was broken and trained in Aiken by Legacy Stable's Ron Stevens.

Stevens, a veteran conditioner, is taking great satisfaction in seeing the $2,200 sales purchase succeed. Researcher won the HBPA Governor's Cup Handicap at Charles Town Races and Slots on Oct. 17 and the Mountaineer Mile Handicap at Mountaineer Casino Racetrack and Resort on Nov. 8.

"He doesn't know who his daddy or momma are or what he sold for," said Stevens. "He runs and keeps on going. He competes and succeeds. He's a nice race horse, and I'm tickled to death."

Researcher has won eight races in 14 career starts and has bankrolled $289,870.

Godolphin's Midshipman worked Saturday at Keeneland, breezing four furlongs in 48 3/5 seconds. The Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner leaves today for Dubai. Midshipman was broken and trained in Aiken by Tim Jones.

The first Palomino Thoroughbred ever to be offered at a Keeneland sale has been consigned to the Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale on Jan. 12 through 17. The filly was bred by Kevin Lay and Tom Bentley, who had trained horses previously at the Aiken Training Track.

12/7/2008 - South Carolina Thoroughbred Owners' and Breeders' Association president Lee Christian's St. John's Gospel uncoiled a powerful turn of foot to run down the competition in the 7-furlong Pennsylvania Nursery Stakes Saturday at Philadelphia Park, collaring the leader Officer Ipod in the stretch to win by 2 lengths. The juvenile son of Activist is conditioned by Andrea Gonzalez.

Spring Hill Farm's Light Sentence won a 6 ½-furlong race Tuesday at Philadelphia Park by 6 lengths. The Anthony Dutrow-charge is by the 2002 Eclipse Award-winning Juvenile colt Vindication and is out of the multiple Grade 1 winner Lite Light. Light Sentence was broken and trained by Ron Stevens.

New York Breeders' Futurity winner Legal Consent placed third in the 1-mile-and-70-yard Damon Runyon Stakes Saturday at Aqueduct. The 2-year-old stakes winning son of Officer is trained by Carlos Martin and races in the silks of Lansdon Robbins III. Legal Consent was broken and trained in Aiken by Stevens. Gustav Schickedanz's multiple stakes winner Marlang has been nominated for two Sovereign Awards, for top 3-year-old Male and Turf Male. Marlang was broken and trained in Aiken by Mike Keogh.

Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Midshipman worked four furlongs in 49 seconds Saturday at Keeneland.

The 2007 Aiken Trained Horse of the Year Country Star worked five furlongs in 1:02 3/5 seconds Wednesday at Santa Anita Park.

12/4/2008 - Multiple stakes winner Cowboy Cal placed second in Sunday's Grade 1 1¼ miles Hollywood Derby at Hollywood Park on the turf and in doing so, crossed the half-million dollar mark in earnings.

The dark bay son of Giant's Causeway races in the silks of Robert and Janice McNair's Magnolia Racing Stable. Todd Pletcher conditions Cowboy Cal, who had jockey John Velasquez in the irons, who has ridden the colt in eight of his nine starts.

"We're real proud of him," said John Adger, Magnolia Racing Stable bloodstock and racing manager in a phone interview Wednesday afternoon. "He ran very well and came out of the race in good shape. We have a chance to have a big year with him next year."

Cowboy Cal has enjoyed an outstanding sophomore campaign, winning the Grade 3 Tropical Park Derby on New Year's Day and the Bryan Station Stakes via disqualification at Keeneland in his last start on Oct. 12. He'll probably make his next start in one of the Strub series races at Santa Anita Park going two turns on the synthetic surface, said Adger.

"He's a very nice colt, he's starting to come around, he's settling down and eating well," said Adger. "Todd (Pletcher) and his team are doing a great job with him."

The 3-year-old colt in 2008 has also placed second in the Hallandale Beach Stakes on the turf, and second in the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes on the Polytrack. Cowboy Cal won the 1 1/16 miles Laurel Futurity on the turf on Nov. 24, 2007 during his juvenile campaign. All four of his victories have come on the turf, with the wins coming at four different tracks, Belmont, Laurel, Calder and Keeneland.

Cowboy Cal from nine starts has four wins including three stakes victories and has placed second three times, amassing earnings of $507,708.

12/01/2008 - Another Aiken Trials alumnus has returned to the winner's circle. Truly Lucky, the juvenile filly who won The Gaver Trophy and is stakes placed in 2008, won a 1-mile allowance race by a half of a length Saturday at the Fair Grounds.

Truly Lucky races in the silks of Darley Stable and is conditioned by Mike Stidham. The bay filly is by Truluck, who is the sire of Aiken trained multiple stakes winner General Charley. Truly Lucky was broken and trained in Aiken by Tim Jones.

Quality Road lived up to his name, wiring the field and breaking his maiden by 2 lengths Saturday in a 6½-furlong race at Aqueduct. The bay son of multiple graded stakes winner Elusive Quality is trained by James Jerkens and is campaigned by Spring Hill Farm. Quality Road was broken and trained in Aiken by Legacy Stable's Ron Stevens.

Daniel Geitner's Roseland caught the leader after clearing the final fence to break her maiden Saturday by 1 lengths in a 2 mile race over hurdles at the Palm Beach Polo Club. The Dave Washer-charge had Matt McCarron in the irons.

Spring Hill Farm's Tap Man broke his maiden by 3 lengths in a 1-mile and 70-yard race Friday at Philadephia Park. The juvenile colt is trained by Anthony Dutrow and was broken and trained in Aiken by Stevens.

Another Spring Hill charge broke her maiden Friday at Philadelphia Park in a 6½-furlong race. Ocean Moon went to the front early, and the juvenile filly stayed steady throughout, winning by one length. The Anthony Dutrow-charge was broken and trained in Aiken by Stevens.

Seeking Flight and Rap Tale were also winners Sunday at Philadelphia Park. Both horses were broken and trained in Aiken by Ron Stevens.

Marc Keller's Bribon (FR) finished third in the Grade 1 Hill 'N' Dale Cigar Mile at Aqueduct Saturday. The 5-year-old son of Mark of Esteem trained at Chime Bell Farm.

Darley Stable's Grade 2 winner Skylighter finished second Friday in the Grade 2 Falls City Handicap at Churchill Downs. Skylighter was broken and trained by Tim Jones.

Spring Hill Farm's American Dance placed third Saturday in the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct. The gray 2-year-old colt is a half-brother to the 2005 Horse of the Year Saint Liam and was broken and trained in Aiken by Stevens.

Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Midshipman worked three furlongs Saturday at Keeneland.

11/27/2008 - It's been a strong year for juvenile runners who've trained over the Aiken Training Track. A total of seven 2-year-olds have gone on to win stakes races, which includes two graded stakes winners.

Godolphin's Midshipman, who won the Grade 1, $2 million Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita Park on Oct. 25 and the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity on Sept. 3 at Del Mar, has stamped himself as the early favorite for the 2009 Kentucky Derby presented by Yum Brands! Midshipman was broken and trained in Aiken by Tim Jones. The Kentucky-bred chestnut colt was bred by Stonerside Stable.

Aiken Trials alumnus Screen Your Friend, who races in the silks of William Carl, won the Grade 3 Bashford Manor on July 5. The 2-year-old chestnut colt was the first winner and stakes winner for Grade 1 winner Friends Lake, and jockey Calvin Borel, who rode the winner, won his 4,500th race aboard the colt. Bernie Flint conditions the homebred, and the juvenile stakes winner was broken and trained by Legacy Stable's Ron Stevens.

Lansdon Robbins III and Thomas Hansen's Dagnabit, who won The Post Trophy during the 2008 Aiken Trials, is a multiple stakes winner this year, capturing the Tremont Stakes on June 29 and the Aspirant Stakes on Sept. 1. The New York-bred son of Freud is conditioned by Richard Dutrow Jr., and was broken and trained in Aiken by Legacy Stable's Ron Stevens.

Prairie Blues won the Iowa Sorority Stakes at Prairie Meadows on Aug. 23. The Iowa-bred bay filly is campaigned by Helen Andrews and is conditioned by Anne Mitchell Pezzano. The daughter of Rossini is currently taking some time off in Lexington, Ky., and should ship to Oaklawn the first week of December, said Pezzano.

Pezzano's stable will now include Jim Miller's Miss Brooklyn B. and Pleasantly Campbell. She'll also have Prairie Blues, Amazing Tale and More Rules for Helen Andrews at the Hot Springs, Ark., track.

Legal Consent, a dark bay non-altered son of Grade 1 winner Officer, won the New York Breeders' Futurity. The Landson Robbins III, charge is conditioned by Richard Dutrow Jr.

Hermen Greenberg's Colonel Rutledge won the James C. Ellis Stakes on Aug. 16. The son of the 2002 Eclipse Award winning Sprint champion Orientate is conditioned by Ken McPeek and was broken and trained by Legacy Stable's Ron Stevens.

Citizen, who was bred by Stonerside, won the Meadowlake Stakes at Hawthorne on Oct. 25. The Bernard Flint-charge is owned by L.T.B. Stables Inc. and Naveed Chowhan and was broken and trained in Aiken by Tim Jones.

11/25/2008 - Bob Zahl’s Linda’s Lace dusted off 11 rivals and drove clear in the stretch to win the $100,000 1 1/16 miles Frances Slocum Stakes Saturday at Hoosier Park. The 5 year old Indiana-bred mare is by Marshall Lamb’s stallion Is Sveikatas who stands at his Outaways Farm in Aiken. The dark bay mare was broken and trained by Zahl in Aiken.

Fox Ridge Farm’s Yield Bogey found the green to his liking dead heating with Blues Street in a 1 mile allowance race on the turf Sunday at Aqueduct. The 4 year-old bay gelding by Langfuhr is conditioned by Pat Kelly and was broken and trained in Aiken by Sally Cluff.

Robert Adams’ Red Rival was sent off as the favorite and failed to disappoint breaking his maiden in a 1 1/16 miles race Sunday at Woodbine. The gelded chestnut son of Albert the Great is conditioned by Mike Keogh. The 3 year old Ontario-bred placed second in his last race, said Keogh, in a phone interview Monday morning.

Jack Steel and Jack Smith’s Zigawatt gained the lead entering the stretch to win a 1 1/16 miles race Saturday at Churchill Downs. The 3 year-old colt is by the 1988 Eclipse Award winning Sprinter Gulch and is conditioned by Bobby Barnett. Zigawatt was bred by Stonerside Stable and broken and trained in Aiken by Tim Jones.

Aiken Trials alumnus and Graded stakes winner Screen Your Friend closed strongly to finish third in the 5 ½ furlong Old Hickory Stakes Saturday at the Fair Grounds. The juvenile son of Friends Lake races in the silks of William Carl, is trained by Bernard Flint and was broken and trained in Aiken by Legacy Stable’s Ron Stevens.

11/22/2008 - The 67th edition of the Aiken Trials is less than four months away, and preparations are being made to make this year's event the best ever. The races are scheduled for March 14 and will feature a fun day of excitement and thrills for spectators and horsemen.

Juvenile stakes winners Screen Your Friend, Dagnabit and Citizen competed in the 2007 edition of the Aiken Trials.

The festivities will get under way Thursday, March 12, with a party featuring the band Anybody's Guess. On the day of the trials, Southern Nights, a jazz ensemble, will be preforming at the Tent Party, said Bernadette Clayton, Aiken Training Track treasurer.

There are a number of sponsorship and advertising opportunities available.

"Those businesses and organizations that want to participate can contact the Aiken Training Track," said Clayton.

The charities for the 2009 Aiken Trials will be the Aiken Jaycees, the Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum and the Aiken Land Conservancy.

"It's a perfect union," said Clayton. "For horses, you need land, the Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum archives all of our history and the Jaycees are a community organization."

For more information, call 648-463 or email the office at info@theaikentrainingtrack.com.

11/18/2008 - Michal Furr’s Great Kate Above, a 4 year-old filly by the 1994 Horse of the Year Holy Bull, won a 1 1/16 miles allowance race at Charles Town Thursday by 1 ¼ lengths. The Danny Furr charge made a powerful move in deep stretch and collared the leader Laptop Notebook , dusting off her rival to score the victory. Great Kate Above was broken and trained in Aiken by Danny Furr.

James Hackman’s Z to K Fever maintained a fast pace throughout the race to score a 1 ¾ length victory in a 6 furlong race at the the Meadowlands last Tuesday. The 3 year-old Virginia-bred daughter of graded stakes winner Stormin Fever is conditioned by Glenn Thompson.

Rutledge Farm’s Mr. Orientate gained the lead in the stretch and won a 1 1/16 miles race Wednesday at Charles Town by 1 length. The 3 year old son of the 2002 Eclipse Award winning Sprinter Orientate, is conditioned by Jeff Runco, and was broken and trained in Aiken by Legacy Stable’s Ron Stevens.

Way With Words, a 4 year-old daughter of Seafapiano, finished 3rd in the 6 ½ furlong Meadow Star Stakes Wednesday at Aqueduct. Way With Words races in the silks of George and Margaret Schwartz and is conditioned by Mary Eppler. The bay filly trained at W.C. and Iris Freeman’s Chime Bell Farm.

11/11/2008 - Darley Stable's Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Midshipman will be transferred to Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin operation in Dubai and will now be in the barn of trainer Saeed bin Suroor, according to the Thoroughbred Times. The son of Unbridled's Song had previously been in the barn of Bob Baffert. Midshipman was bred by Robert and Janice McNair's Stonerside Stable and was broken and trained in Aiken by Tim Jones.

Breeders' Cup Classic winner Raven's Pass, who is owned by Sheikh Mohammed and Princess Haya of Jordan, has been retired and will now be part of the stallion roster at Sheikh Mohammed's Kildangan Stud in County Kildare, Ireland, according to The Blood-Horse. Raven's Pass was bred by Stonerside.

The McNairs and Stonerside should receive consideration for an Eclipse Award for Outstanding Breeder, in addition to the two Breeders Cup winners, they've also bred 2008 graded stakes winners Cowboy Cal and Skylighter and stakes winners City Style, General Charley and Citizen. Citizen, an Aiken Trials alumnus, became the seventh juvenile stakes winner to come off of the Aiken Training Track in 2008. The son of City Zip won the 6-furlong Meadowlake Stakes on Oct. 25 at Hawthorne. The Bernie Flint-charge races in the silks of L.T.B. and Naveed Chowhan. Bred by Stonerside, Citizen was broken and trained in Aiken by Tim Jones.

Herman Greenberg's Researcher collared the pacesetter Ravalo in deep stretch and won the 1-mile Mountainer Mile Handicap Saturday at Mountaineer Park by three-quarters of a length. The son of Two Strike was sent off as the favorite in the wagering. The 4-year-old gelding is conditioned by Jeff Runco and was broken and trained in Aiken by Legacy Stable's Ron Stevens.

Spring Hill Farm's Spritely wired the field, winning the 1 1/16-mile Honey Bee Handicap by three lengths Saturday night at the Meadowlands. The 3-year-old daughter of the 1997 Belmont Stakes winner Touch Gold is conditioned by Todd Pletcher and was broken and trained in Aiken by Stevens. Dogwood Stable's Coal Baron burned the competition, taking command entering the stretch and drew off to break his maiden by 3 lengths at Churchill Downs on Nov. 5. The juvenile son of the 2003 Horse of the Year Mineshaft paid 52.20 to win. The bay colt is conditioned by David Carroll and was broken and trained in Aiken by Stevens.

Bribon (FR) drew off to a 5 length win Friday at Aqueduct in a 1-mile allowance race. The 5-year-old chestnut gelding is trained by Robert Ribaudo and races in the silks of Marc Keller. Bribon (FR) trained at W.C. and Iris Freeman's Chime Bell Farm.

Edward Evans' American Dance broke his maiden by a half-length last Wednesday at Aqueduct. The son of the 1992 Horse of the Year A.P. Indy was sent off as the race favorite, is conditioned by Todd Pletcher and was broken and trained in Aiken by Stevens.

Spring Hill Farm's Steady Play broke her maiden by 3 lengths in a 1-mile and 70-yard race Sunday at Delaware Park. The chestnut filly by Aldebaran is conditioned by Anthony Dutrow and was broken and trained in Aiken by Stevens.

11/03/2008 - Although no official announcement has been made, it’s possible that Aiken trained and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Midshipman may be headed to Dubai and will race there this winter, according to the Daily Racing Form. In the event Midshipman does leave Bob Baffert’s barn, the DRF said, he will be transferred from Sheikh Mohammed’s Darley Stable to his Godolphin operation and would be under the care of trainer Saeed bin Suroor.

Spring Hill Farm’s Storm Play kept his record unblemished and chalked up his first stakes victory as the chalk, winning the Best of Luck Stakes Wednesday at 1 1/8 miles by 6 ¼ lengths at Aqueduct. The son of Grade 1 winner Smart Strike is now a perfect 3-3, and is conditioned by James Jerkens. Storm Play was broken and trained in Aiken by Legacy Stable’s Ron Stevens.

There wasn’t any financial crisis Friday as Spring Hill Farm’s Subprime was clearly the best breaking her maiden by 4 lengths in a 1 mile race at Aqueduct. The juvenile daughter of High Yield is conditioned by James Jerkens, and was broken and trained in Aiken by Legacy Stable’s Ron Stevens.

Michele the Great returned to the winner’s circle Thursday winning a 1 mile and 70 yards allowance race at Finger Lakes. The Chris Englehart charge is campaigned by Michael and Patricia Palenscar, and was broken and trained in Aiken by Suzy Haslup.

“Michael (Palenscar) was at the race, and was real pleased, she seemed relaxed and happy,” said Haslup.

Dogwood Stable’s Lime Rickey broke his maiden by a nose Saturday in a 1 1/16 miles race on the turf at Aqueduct. The son of Classic winner and Eclipse Award winner Lemon Drop Kid is conditioned by Todd Pletcher and was broken and trained in Aiken by Ron Stevens.

Dogwood Stable’s Atoned, who won last Friday’s Grade 3 Pegasus Stakes, will go to Palm Meadows in Boynton Beach, Fla., and will be pointed toward the Sunshine Millions Classic on Jan. 24 at Gulfstream Park.

Gold Ember, a chestnut gelding bred by Stonerside Stable, and trained in Aiken by Kelly Tucker, broke his maiden by 3 lengths in a 6 furlong race at Hawthorne. The Chris Richard charge is campaigned by Maggi Moss.

James Hackman’s Shannon H rallied to take the lead in the stretch and win a 1 mile race at the Meadowlands. The 3 year old filly is conditioned and was broken and trained in Aiken by Glenn Thompson.

10/27/2008 - Dogwood Stable's Slambino just missed winning the 1 1/16-mile John's Gold Stakes on the turf Thursday at Belmont Park, placing second to winner Wishful Tomcat, losing by only a nose.

The son of Grand Slam made a strong move and closed furiously in the stretch before just missing at the wire. Slambino is conditioned by Frank Alexander and was broken and trained in Aiken by Legacy Stables' Ron Stevens. Slambino increased his lifetime earnings to $151,262.

Linda's Lace placed third in the 6-furlong Merrillville Stakes at Hoosier Park. The 5-year-old bay mare is conditioned by Bob Zahl, and was broken and trained in Aiken by Zahl. Linda's Lace was bred in Indiana, and is by Marshall Lamb's stallion Is Sveikatas, who stands at Lamb's Outaways Farm in Aiken.

10/26/2008 - Darley Stable's Midshipman has now been stamped as the best of his generation, is the favorite to win the Eclipse Award as the 2-Year-Old Male champion and is the prerace favorite for the 2009 Kentucky Derby.

Midshipman was bred and raised by Robert and Janice McNair's Stonerside Stable, broken and trained in Aiken by Tim Jones and is the son of the 1995 Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Unbridled's Song.

He not only won the $2 Million Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile on Saturday but also established a new stakes record for the 1 1/16-mile race covering the distance in 1:40:94, over the all-weather surface at Santa Anita Park.

Bob Baffert conditions the multiple Grade 1 winner, who will more than likely be the 39th champion to have trained over the Aiken Training Track and the first Eclipse Award winner since Dogwood Stable's Storm Song was recognized as the outstanding 2-Year-Old Filly for 1996.

"It feels wonderful," said Jones. "Not only am I thrilled for (His Highness) Sheikh Mohammed (Bin Rashid Al Maktoum). I'm happy for the McNairs, as well. This is really awesome."

In four lifetime starts, Midshipman has never finished worse than second, and the chestnut colt was only beaten by three-quarters of a length in his last start the Grade 1 Norfolk Stakes on Sept. 28 at Santa Anita Park.

The Kentucky-bred colt won the 7-furlong Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity on Sept. 3. Midshipman had been ridden by Tyler Baze in his three previous starts but was replaced by Garrett Gomez for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Midshipman received his early schooling at the Aiken Training Track.

"He was very good, and we all liked him from the start," said Jones. "He was very cooperative, and I don't recall him giving us any problems. He was very professional. We thought he would be a nice horse."

Midshipman, who was the second choice in the wagering, was up close early, stalking the pacesetter Square Eddie, and took command midway down the backstretch, resolutely turning back the challenge of his rival and race favorite (Square Eddie), before drawing off under urging from the rider to win by 1 1/4 lengths.

"When he turned for home, he launched into another gear," said Jones.

Midshipman broke his maiden, winning a 5¬½-furlong race at Del Mar by 1¬º lengths on Aug. 17. The chestnut colt has three wins and one second-place finish, while earning $1,380,200.

10/26/2008 - A late rally and a powerful turn of foot uncoiled by Dogwood Stable's Atoned enabled the son of Repent to collar the leader Coal Play entering the stretch, but the dark bay colt had to dig in resolutely to hold off a fast-closing Ready Set to win the Grade 3 Pegasus Stakes Friday night at the Meadowlands.

The Todd Pletcher-charge had jockey Chris DeCarlo in the irons. Atoned's last stakes win came in the Continental Mile Stakes on Aug. 18, 2007, at Monmouth Park.

"He's been a hard luck horse; he's been second in five stakes by less than a length cumulatively," said Campbell. "He deserved to win one, and we're pointing him to the $1 Million Sunshine Millions Classic at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 24. That will be his next objective. Then he'll come to Aiken for a little R and R."

The dark bay colt had finished second in the Whirling Ash Stakes and the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes during his juvenile campaign. The Florida-bred runner has placed second in three stakes during his sophomore campaign including the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby, the Spend A Buck Stakes and the Long Branch Stakes.

Atoned, with his win in the Pegasus Stakes increased his lifetime earnings to $436,257.

10/22/2008 - Darley's Midshipman has been pre-entered in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. The Grade 1 winner of the Del Mar Futurity was bred by Stonerside Stable and was broken and trained in Aiken by Tim Jones. Darley stakes winner City Style has been pre-entered in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, and Her Royal Highness Princess Haya of Jordan's Raven's Pass has been cross entered in the Breeders' Cup Classic and Breeders' Cup Mile. Both City Style and Raven's Pass were bred by Stonerside.

Hermen Greenberg's Researcher stayed close to the early pace and then erupted in the stretch drawing off to win the 1 1/8 miles HBPA Governor's Cup Handicap Friday by 14 lengths at Charles Town. The 4-year-old bay gelding is conditioned by Jeff Runco, and was broken and trained in Aiken by Legacy Stable's Ron Stevens.

Ice Cool Kitty turned on the heat uncoiling a powerful turn of foot after coming from way off the pace to seize the lead in a determined and resolute fashion from front runner By the Light in the stretch to win the 7-furlong Iroquois Handicap Saturday by one length at Belmont Park. The multiple stakes winning chestnut mare races in the silks of Lansdon Robbins III and Kevin Callahan, and is conditioned by Richard Dutrow, Jr. The 5-year-old New York-bred mare was broken and trained in Aiken by Legacy Stable's Ron Stevens.

Brigadoon Stable's Erin Go Bragh (NZ) won the New Jersey Hunt Cup Stakes at 3 ¼ miles On the Timber by ¾ lengths, Saturday at Far Hills. The 9-year-old gelded son of Desert Sun (GB) is conditioned by Doug Fout, and was ridden to victory by Paddy Young.

George Schwartz's Way with Words was in front in the stretch Friday of a 1 1/16 mile allowance race on the turf at the Meadowlands, when the filly was bumped by rival Lookalike. The daughter of Seafapiano was awarded the victory, after a claim of foul had been lodged against the winner by the jockey, in addition to a steward's inquiry in reference to same the incident. The 4-year-old New Jersey-bred filly is trained by Mary Eppler, and trained at W.C. and Iris Freeman's Chime Bell Farm.

Dogwood Stable's Song of Charm sang a winning tune into the winner's circle last Friday in a 1 1/16 miles race at Keeneland, collaring the leader in deep stretch to break her maiden by a neck. The 2-year-old daughter of Unbridled's Song is conditioned by David Carroll, and was trained in Aiken by Ron Stevens.

James Hackman's Peggy's Hope won a 6 furlong race last Tuesday at the Meadowlands by a neck. The 2-year-old daughter of Partner's Hero paid 24.20 to win. Peggy's Hope is conditioned by, and was broken and trained in Aiken by Glen Thompson.

10/15/2008 - Robert and Janice McNair's Stonerside Stable's Cowboy Cal returned to the winner circle after more than a five-month layoff, that included a respite in Aiken winning the Grade 3 Bryan Station Stakes Saturday at Keeneland on the turf via disqualification.

It was the son of Giant Causeway's first start since his ninth place finish in the Kentucky Derby, and his second graded stakes win of the year on the turf. Cowboy Cal captured the Grade 3 Tropical Park Derby on New Year's Day. The Todd Pletcher charge also won the Laurel Futurity on the turf during his juvenile campaign. Cowboy Cal was broken and trained in Aiken by Tim Jones.

Cowboy Cal broke alertly, and than settled in mid-pack , and would take the lead entering the stretch before being collared by Seapeak, and then was bumped by his rival in the stretch, finishing second. After a stewards' inquiry, Seaspeak's number was taken down and Cowboy Cal was awarded the victory. His bankroll now stands at $407,708. He's now being pointed toward the Hollywood Derby at Hollywood Park, said John Adger.

"I thought he ran extremely well, he was bothered quite a bit in the stretch," said John Adger, Stonerside racing and bloodstock manager in a phone interview Monday afternoon. " Seaspeak beat him a head, but he (Cowboy Cal) was bothered enough that it kept him from winning."

Aiken Trials alumnus and Grade 3 winner Sea Chanter returned to the winners circle at Belmont Park Friday in an allowance race, and River Fancy, a daughter of Congaree, broke her maiden recently at the Meadowlands. Both horses race in the silks of Darley Stud Management, are Stonerside homebreds, are conditioned by Todd Pletcher and were broken and trained by Tim Jones.

Glenn Thompson conditioned a pair of winners at the Meadowlands this past week. Tom Cook's Oula Moola broke his maiden in a six-furlong contest on Oct. 6, and James Hackman's Social Quest won a one-mile race last Friday.

W.C. Freeman's Miss Dolan's Rose broke her maiden in a six-furlong race on the turf at Belmont Park Saturday. The dark bay filly is conditioned by Glenn DiSanto.

Sam Kassin and Eli Gindi's Fast Tigress broke her maiden Sunday at Belmont Park. The juvenile filly is conditioned by John Kimmel, and was broken and trained in Aiken by Ron Stevens. Fox Hill Farm's Basket Stitch won a one mile and 70 yards race Oct. 6 at Delaware Park. The Larry Jones charge was broken and trained in Aiken by Ron Stevens.

10/10/2008 - A precocious group of juveniles have the nation's eyes turned toward Aiken, thanks to the 2008 2-year-old stakes winners who've trained over the Aiken Training Track. The number reached six this past weekend when Lansdon Robbins III's Legal Consent laid down the law and drew off to win the 46th edition of the New York Breeders' Futurity by three lengths last Saturday at Finger Lakes over Aiken Trials winner and Tremont Stakes winner Dagnabit.

The New York-bred son of Grade 1 winner Officer closed in the stretch to collar the lead from his stablemate Dagnabit and gained the lead under urging from jockey Dennis Carr. Legal Consent is conditioned by Carlos Martin and was broken and trained in Aiken by Legacy Stable's Ron Stevens. The dark bay colt has now earned $200,315.

"He was a nice big colt, very attractive and a well balanced horse, we thought he would be nice," said Stevens.

In addition to Dagnabit, Legal Consent joins Stonerside Stable's Grade 1 winner Midshipman, William Carl's Grade 3 winner and Aiken Trials starter Screen Your Friend, Rutledge Farm's Colonel Rutledge who won the James C. Ellis Juvenile Stakes and Helen Andrews' filly Prairie Blues, who won the Iowa Sorority Stakes. Colonel Rutledge and Screen Your Friend were both broken and trained in Aiken by Stevens. Midshipman was broken and trained in Aiken by Stonerside Stable's Tim Jones and Prairie Blues was broken and trained by Anne Mitchell Pezzano.

"Aiken has done well, they're a strong group of juveniles who've trained over the track," said Stevens.

10/6/2008 - Local horses won two graded stakes over the weekend. Jay Em Ess' Arson Squad returned to racing on the dirt and to the winner's circle in the Grade 2 Meadowlands Cup Friday night, and Stonerside Stable's Skylighter lit up Hoosier Park in capturing the Grade 2 Indiana Oaks Friday.

Arson Squad, who had made his seven previous starts on synthetic surfaces in California and failed to hit the board after winning the Grade 2 Swaps Stakes during his sophomore campaign and the Grade 1 Strub Stakes as a 4-year-old, added to his Graded Stakes victories by winning the 1 1/8-mile Meadowlands Cup by 2 ¬½ lengths. The gelding was moved from the barn of Bruce Headley to Richard Dutrow Jr., and was making his first start for his new conditioner. With the victory, Arson Squad increased his lifetime earnings to $846,850. He was broken and trained in Aiken by Legacy Stable's Ron Stevens.

Stonerside Stable's homebred, Skylighter, took a respite from the races, but the layoff was just what the doctor ordered for the 3-year-old filly as the daughter of Sky Mesa drew off to win her third consecutive race, besting the field in the 1 1/16 miles Indiana Oaks by three lengths. The Bobby Frankel charge won at odds of 14-1. Skylighter was broken and trained in Aiken by Stonerside Stable's trainer Tim Jones.

Stormalory stormed to the front in the deep stretch in a 1 1/16 mile race at Keeneland Sunday to break his maiden by a neck. The juvenile son of Storm Cat is conditioned by Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. The Stonerside homebred was broken and trained in Aiken by Tim Jones.

Carl Lizza's Hangingbyathread hung the rest of the field out to dry in a 1 1/16 mile allowance race on the turf at Belmont Park on Sunday winning by 5 ¾ lengths. The chestnut gelding is trained by Carlos Martin, owned by Carl Lizza and trained at W.C. and Iris Freeman's Chime Bell Farm.

Multidude broke his maiden by ¾ lengths Friday in a six-furlong race at Belmont Park. The 3-year-old gelded son of the 2000 Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus is conditioned by Carlos Martin and trained at W.C. and Iris Freeman's Chime Bell Farm.

Spring Hill Farm's Weekend Strike waited until last Tuesday to break her maiden by 5 ¾ lengths. The 2-year-old daughter of Smart Strike won a 1-mile and 70-yards race on the turf at the Meadowlands. The Todd Pletcher charge was broken and trained in Aiken by Legacy Stable's Ron Stevens.

Richard Duchossois' Applesolutely Wild won by daylight breaking his maiden last Thursday by 7 ¼ lengths in a six -furlong contest at Hawthorne. The dark bay gelding is trained by Chris Block and was broken and trained in Aiken by Brook Ridge Stables.

W.C. Freeman's Warrior Hill raced way off the pace, made up a tremendous amount of ground nearing the top of the stretch and spit foes at mid-stretch before drawing off to win to break her maiden by a commanding 5 1/4 -lengths Wednesday at Belmont Park. The Glenn DiSanto charge won at odds of 61-1.

Aiken Trials winner Dagnabit placed second in the New York Breeders' Futurity Saturday at Finger Lakes. Dagnabit was broken and trained in Aiken by Ron Stevens.

Michael and Patricia Palenscar's Michele the Great dead heated for third in the Proud Puppy Handicap Saturday at Finger Lakes. Michele the Great was broken and trained in Aiken by Suzy Haslup.

9/30/2008 - Stonerside Stable's Raven's Pass won the 1-mile Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Royal Ascot Saturday on the turf. The chestnut colt by Elusive Quality increased his lifetime bankroll to $959,812.

Midshipman, who also races in the silks of Stonerside Stable, ran second in the Grade 1 Norfolk Stakes Sunday at Santa Anita. The Bob Baffert charge won the Del Mar Futurity earlier in the month, and the juvenile colt increased his lifetime earnings to $230,000. Midshipman was broken and trained in Aiken by Stonerside Stable's trainer Tim Jones.

Tybalt just missed winning by a neck in the Grade 1 Oak Tree Mile Sunday at Santa Anita. The 4-year-old filly is conditioned by Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel and is campaigned by Stonerside Stable.

Mike Keogh and Emile Ramsammy teamed up to win a pair of races last Friday at Woodbine for Gustav Schickedanz. The recently altered D. Flutie broke his maiden in a seven-furlong contest taking command in deep stretch to win by 2 lengths. Half Sister set the early pace in a seven-furlong race on the turf and turned back her rivals in the stretch to win by a length. The 5-year-old mare is by More than Ready.

"I think having him (D. Flutie) gelded seemed to help," said Keogh. "We'll be pointing him back in allowance, non-winners of two. He finally showed up."

James Hackman's Forensic Edge won a 1-mile and 70-yard race Saturday at Monmouth Park by a nose. The 4-year-old son of Boundary is conditioned by Glen Thompson and was broken and trained in Aiken by Thompson. "We had a real nice week, things have been going pretty well this summer," said Thompson. "I'm looking forward to the meet at the Meadowlands."

Nekia Farm's Super Nekia set a strong pace and drew off to win a five-furlong race on the turf by 1¼ lengths last Tuesday at Delaware Park. The 4-year-old gelded son of Distorted Humor is conditioned by Steve Epley Jr. Rutledge Farm's Rutledge Classic broke his maiden by one length in a 1-mile contest Friday at Charles Town. The bay colt is conditioned by Jeff Runco and was broken and trained in Aiken by Legacy Stable's Ron Stevens.

Confined broke her maiden Saturday in a 2-mile race over hurdles at Shawan Downs by 15 lengths. The 4-year-old filly was bred by Warren Dempsey and Jonathan Sheppard and is trained by Sheppard.

9/23/2008 - City Style won in grand style Saturday capturing the 1 1/16-mile Sunday Silence Stakes on the turf Saturday at Louisiana Downs.

Campaigned by Stonerside Stable, the chestnut gelding turned into high gear entering the stretch and drew off to win by two lengths. City Style is the second Stonerside juvenile to win a stakes race in September. Midshipman won the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity earlier this month.

City Style, by Grade 1 winner City Zip, is conditioned by Cheryl Asmussen and was broken and trained in Aiken by Stonerside Stable's Tim Jones.

Way with Words let her turn of foot do the talking as the 4-year-old filly seized the lead entering the stretch and won the six-furlong Eleven North Handicap at Monmouth Park by 2 lengths on Saturday. The bay filly by Sefappiano is owned by George Schwartz and trained by Mary Eppler. Way with Words was trained at W.C. and Iris Freeman's Chime Bell Farm.

Toxaway broke from the extreme outside post made the lead and wired the field, leaving the competition in her wake by scoring a 5½-length victory and breaking her maiden in a six-furlong race Friday at Remington Park.

The 2-year-old filly races in the silks of Stonerside Stable and is by the 2002 Aiken Trained Horse of the Year Congaree. The Brett Calhoun-charge was broken and trained In Aiken by Tim Jones.

Stonerside Stable's Brushed Gold came far from off the pace and rallied when entering the stretch to win by four lengths in a 1 1/16-mile allowance race on the turf Sunday at Delaware Park. The homebred son of the 1997 Belmont Stakes winner Touch Gold, Brushed Gold is trained by four-time Eclipse Award winning trainer Todd Pletcher and was broken and trained in Aiken by Tim Jones.

Dogwood Stable's Hanna Banana won easily after gaining the lead in midstretch to win a one-mile race at Monmouth Park Thursday. The 3-year-old filly is conditioned by Frank Alexander and won by 3 lengths.

Rick Porter's Fox Hill Farm's Bronze Medal went for the gold Saturday, winning a six-furlong allowance race at Philadelphia Park by 2 lengths. The 3-year-old son of Dixieland Band was bred by Adena Springs and is trained by Larry Jones. Legacy Stable's Ron Stevens broke and trained Bronze Medal in Aiken.

Spring Hill Farm's Storm Play led from gate to wire winning a 1 1/16-mile allowance race by 2½ lengths Saturday at Belmont Park. The homebred son of Grade 1 winner Smart Strike is trained by James Jerkens and was broken and trained in Aiken by Ron Stevens.

9/16/2008 - Rutledge Farm's Researcher nearly wired the field drawing off to win by daylight in winning a 1-mile allowance race by 4 lengths Wednesday at Laurel Park. The Jeff Runco charge was broken and trained in Aiken by Legacy Stable's Ron Stevens.

Stonerside Stable's Free and Ready broke her maiden by a nose wearing down My First Time at the top of the stretch Friday night in a 7½-furlong race on the turf at Retama Park.

The juvenile filly is a daughter of Grade 1 winning millionaire More than Ready. Free and Ready is conditioned by Cheryl Asmmussen and was broken and trained in Aiken by Stonerside Stable's Tim Jones.

Dogwood Stable's Talentino collared the lead entering the stretch before shifting into another gear to break his maiden by 2 lengths in a 1-mile race Saturday at Turfway Park. The son of multiple Grade 1 winner Aptitude is trained by Elwood McCann Sr.

The Mike Keogh conditioned Pure Passion kept himself in perfect position throughout the race, taking command entering the stretch and drew clear to break his maiden by 3 lengths Thursday in a 7-furlong contest at Woodbine. The juvenile gelding is by the stallion Porto Foricos.

James Hackman's Forensic Edge left the rest of the field at the scene of the crime collaring the leader Southcote Road entering the stretch and drew off to win a 1-mile race on Friday at Monmouth Park by 3 lengths. The 4-year-old dark bay filly by Boundary, is conditioned by Glenn Thompson and was broken and trained by Thompson in Aiken.

Peter Schiff's Weekwee commandeered the lead in deep stretch moving past her foe Indy's Forum to win a 6-furlong race Sunday at Belmont Park. The 3-year-old filly is trained by Pat Kelly and was broken and trained in Aiken by Sally Cluff.

Dogwood Stable's Slambino finished third in the Allied Forces Stakes Saturday at Belmont Park.

9/8/2008 - Robert Zahl's Linda's Lace collared the leader Brean Can in upper stretch and drew off to win a 6-furlong allowance race Saturday at Hoosier Park by 2-½ lengths.

The 5-year-old dark bay mare won her fifth race, and the Indiana-bred has seven second-place finishes to her credit. Linda's Lace is by Marshall Lamb's Outaways Farm's stallion Is Sveikatas.

Dogwood Stable's stakes winner Street Sass showed her attitude and closed with a powerful turn off foot to finish second in the 6-furlong Schenectady Handicap on Sunday at Belmont Park. The New York-bred filly by Street Cry (IRE) is conditioned by George Weaver and was trained in Aiken by Ron Stevens. Street Sass has now bankrolled $162,126.

Stonerside Stable's Anna Bella broke her maiden in a 6-furlong contest at Fort Erie last Monday. The dark bay filly led for most of the race and went on to win by 1-½ lengths. The Nicholas Gonzales charge was broken and trained in Aiken by Stonerside Stable's trainer Tim Jones.

Tight Line Stable's Snuckintheforest found his way to the winner's circle winning by one length in a 6-furlong race last Monday at Delaware Park. The 3-year-old Florida-bred bay gelding is by Grade 3 winner Snuck In and was trained by Danny Furr, who broke and conditioned Snuckintheforest in Aiken.

Stonerside Stable's homebred Conga Gold won easily after gaining the lead entering the stretch, opening up by daylight to break her maiden Wednesday at Delaware Park by five lengths. Conga Gold is by the 2002 Aiken Trained Horse of the Year Congaree and was conditioned by Graham Motion. Conga Gold was broken and trained in Aiken by Tim Jones.

Fox Hill Farm's Trumpet Call sounded the alarm by wiring the field and breaking her maiden Wednesday in 6-furlong race at Delaware Park. The 3-year-old filly by Vindication was broken and trained in Aiken by Legacy Stable's Ron Stevens.

9/5/2008 - Stonerside Stable's Midshipman graduated with honors, winning the 7-furlong Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity by a nose on Wednesday at Del Mar. The juvenile son of Grade 1 winner Unbridled's Song rallied in deep stretch to catch Darley Stable's Coronet of a Baron to seize the victory. Midshipman was sent off as the fifth choice in the field of 11.

The chestnut colt is a half-brother to Grade 2 winner Fast Cookie and is conditioned by Bob Baffert. Midshipman was broken and trained in Aiken by Tim Jones.

"We're very proud of Midshipman," said Jones.

Midshipman's record remains unblemished, with two wins in two starts. He has now bankrolled $180,000.

9/3/2008 - Dagnabit chalked up his second consecutive stakes win in the 34th running of the six-furlong Aspirant Stakes at Finger Lakes on Monday. The 1-to-2 favorite had no problem in setting the early fractions and then cruised to a 5 ¬½-length victory, prevailing with Rudy Rodriguez in the irons. The holiday crowd watched a field of seven entries in the New York State-bred restricted stakes race.

The Lansdon Robbins III and Thomas Hansen homebred has yet to disappoint his owners, and the juvenile has yet to have a blemish on his record, scoring three wins in three starts. The bay colt is by Freud, out of the Silver Ghost broodmare Cool Ghoul. He broke his maiden June 15 at Belmont Park and followed that victory with a win in the Tremont Stakes at Belmont Park on June 29. Dagnabit won the Aiken Trials Post Trophy in March. Richard Dutrow Jr. conditions Dagnabit at the racetrack.

"He looked really good against open company (Tremont Stakes)," said Ron Stevens, Legacy Stables, who broke and trained the colt. "He just played with the New York-breds."

Dagnabit has bankrolled $179,108.

9/02/2008 - Aiken's Thoroughbred racing community now has a strong international presence. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, crown prince of Dubai, and the owner of Darley at Jonabell in Lexington, Ky., purchased Robert and Janice McNair's Stonerside Stable on Monday.

The purchase included Stonerside's 2,000-acre farm in Paris, Ky., the training facility in Aiken, 80 horses in training, 170 broodmares, yearlings and weanlings, according to The Blood-Horse. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Cowboy Cal, the winner of the Grade 3 Tropical Derby and Laurel Futurity, will continue to race in the silks of the McNairs. In addition to keeping Cowboy Cal, the McNairs have retained ownership in their stallions, the 2002 Aiken Trained Horse of the Year Congaree, the 2006 Aiken Trained Horse of the Year Bob and John, Stonesider, as well as their other stallion interests.

The McNairs, who own the National Football League's Houston Texans, cited their commitment to the team, which hasn't allowed them sufficient time to direct their energies to their Thoroughbred operation as the reason for their decision to sell Stonerside.

"Janice and I have loved every minute of owning Stonerside, but I have a duty to the Houston Texans, and it has become increasingly difficult to focus on both ventures," said McNair, in a press release. "We decided to sell to Darley, and an important aspect of the deal to us is that the Stonerside staff, who have worked so hard for the family and contributed so much to our success, have been assured that their futures are secure."

Plans call for no changes in the immediate future, said John Ferguson, Darley spokesman.

"John Adger, Bobby Spaulding, David Sorrell and Tim Jones, along with the Stonerside team, have done a great job, and Darley looks forward to working with them," said Ferguson, in a press release.

9/01/2008 - Marlang continued his winning ways by capturing the 1 1/16 miles Grade 3 Saranac Stakes on the turf Sunday at Saratoga.

The 3-year-old son of Sovereign Award winning Sprinter Langfuhr won by 13/4-lengths, nearly wiring the field for owner Gustav Schickedanz. The Deborah England charge was broken and trained in Aiken by Mike Keogh. Marlang has victories in the Charley Barley Stakes and the Breeders' Stakes in 2008.

Fox Ridge Farm's Yield Bogey split rivals late and drew off to win a 5 ½-furlong race on the turf Wednesday at Saratoga. The 4-year-old gelding is conditioned by Pat Kelly and was broken and trained by Sally Cluff.

Northern Report closed strongly and dug in determinedly to win by a nose in a 6 ½-furlong race Saturday at Woodbine. The 4-year-old son of Snow Ridge is campaigned by Steven Diiorio and is trained by Mike Keogh.

Spring Hill Farm's Seeking Flight raced close to the early pace and held on to win a 5 ½-furlong race last Monday at Philadelphia Park. The 3-year-old gelding is conditioned by Anthony Dutrow and was broken and trained in Aiken by Ron Stevens.

Spring Hill and Dutrow teamed again to win another 5 ½-furlong race on Sunday at Philadelphia Park. Union City broke her maiden by wiring the field, winning by 2 1/4 lengths. The juvenile filly was broken and trained in Aiken by Ron Stevens.

Analise broke her maiden Wednesday in a 1-mile race at Monmouth Park. The 3-year-old Virginia-bred filly is campaigned by James Hackman and is trained by Glenn Thompson.

Spring Hill Farm's Giant Wrecker placed third in the Grade 3 Red Bank Stakes at Monmouth Park on Saturday, and Lansdon Robbins III's and Kevin Callahan's Ice Cool Kitty was third last Monday in the Saratoga Dew Stakes at Saratoga.

8/27/2008 - Dogwood Stable's Atoned returns to the races on Labor Day to contest the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby at Philadelphia Park. The stakes winning son of multiple-graded stakes winner and millionaire Repent will have Jose Lezcano in the irons.

The Aiken-based stable has a strong history in the Pennsylvania Derby with Classic winner and millionaire Summer Squall taking the race in 1990 and Grade 1-winning millionaire Wallenda capturing the 1993 edition of the contest.

"Jose rode Atoned quite well in the Long Branch Stakes at Monmouth Park on July 12, when he was narrowly beaten by Truth Rules," said Cot Campbell, Dogwood Stable president in a press release. "Atoned is training well. Obviously he will not wear blinkers-the culprit in his uneven and uncharacteristic race in the Haskell. Otherwise, we expect to see the same old Atoned: talented, consistent and game."

Atoned won the Continental Mile Stakes and placed second in the Dover Stakes, the Whirling Ash Stakes and Remsen Stakes during his juvenile campaign. He has also placed second in the Tampa Bay Derby and Long Branch Stakes during his sophomore year. The Todd Pletcher charge has two wins and has placed second seven times in 13 career starts, and has earned $280,157.

8/26/2008 - Prairie Blues gave the competition the blues Saturday at Prairie Meadows in winning the six-furlong Iowa Sorority Stakes by 2+ lengths. The Iowa-bred is a daughter of Rossini the 2000 champion 3-year-old colt in Ireland. The filly is now 2-for-2 during her juvenile campaign and races in the silks of Helen Andrews. The bay filly was broken and trained in Aiken by Anne Mitchell Pezzano.

"It was a great race, very exciting," said Bill Pezzano. "We're going to keep her with Iowa-breds. She'll come home to Aiken this winter and get freshened up."

The filly prompted the pace and entered the stretch with the lead, before drawing off to win easily.

"She was very game, and in drawing the inside post, Alex (Birzer, the jockey) had to use her and preserve her," said Anne Mitchell Pezzano. "He (Birzer) said she was great and did everything professionally."

Spring Hill Farm's homebred Storm Play blew by Tiz It in mid-stretch to break his maiden by three lengths in a seven-furlong race Saturday at Saratoga. The James Jerkens charge is by Grade 1 winner Smart Strike and was broken and trained in Aiken by Legacy Stable's Ron Stevens.

Dogwood Stable's Slambino came from off the pace and closed with a powerful turn of foot to win a 1 1/16 miles allowance race on the turf at Saratoga on Saturday by a head. The 3-year-old son of Grand Slam paid $179 to win. The dark bay colt is conditioned by Frank Alexander.

It was another Dogwood runner who started off the week on a winning note at the Spa. Big Wig lived up to his name winning a 1-mile race on the turf last Monday by a half length. The gelded chestnut son of A.P. Indy is trained by Todd Pletcher.

Our Big Sister set the early fractions and never looked back, opening up a six-length lead at the quarter pole and went on to win by daylight breaking her maiden by 11¾ lengths in a six-furlong race Thursday at Ellis Park. The 5-year-old daughter of Frisk Me Now was bred in Alabama and is campaigned by Thomas Leavell. The bay mare is conditioned by Carl Bowman and was broken and trained in Aiken by Kelly Tucker.

Stonerside Stable and Aiken Trials Alumnus Oconee placed second Saturday at Woodbine in the 6 ½- furlong Silver Deputy Stakes. The Mark Casse charge was broken and trained in Aiken by Stonerside Stable's trainer Tim Jones.

8/22/2008 - Robert and Janice McNair's Stonerside Stable's multiple Grade 1 winner Country Star bounced back impressively in winning a 1-mile allowance race on the turf Monday at Saratoga.

The dark bay filly, whose last start was in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks, collared the lead in the stretch and repulsed the bid of Marie Rossa (GB) to win by half of a length. The filly is conditioned by Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel and was broken and trained in Aiken by Stonerside Stable's Tim Jones.

"Country Star came out of the race in good shape," said John Adger, Stonerside bloodstock and racing manager. "We may send her next in the Gazelle Handicap at Belmont Park on Sept. 13. Bobby Frankel may decide to put her back in a grass race."

Midshipman stalked the early pacesetters before making his move in the stretch to break his maiden in his debut in a 5 1/2 furlong contest on the All Weather surface at Del Mar. The son of the 1995 Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Unbridled's Song won by 1+ lengths.

"We were also very pleased with Midshipman, who's trained by Bob Baffert and who won his first time out this past Sunday at Del Mar," said Adger. "He'll make his next start in the Del Mar Futurity."

Stonerside's multiple stakes winner Sea Chanter will make the second start of her sophomore campaign within the next month at Belmont Park, said Adger. The daughter of the 2000 Breeders' Cup Mile winner War Chant won the Grade 3 Miesque Stakes on the turf and the Epitome Stakes on the turf during her juvenile campaign.

Graded stakes winner Cowboy Cal, who spent part of the summer training in Aiken, will return to the races during the latter part of the October, said Adger.

8/18/08 - It was an Aiken triple in the seven-furlong James C. Ellis Juvenile Stakes on Saturday at Ellis Park as a triumvirate of runners who trained at the Aiken Training Track dominated the contest.

Hermen Greenberg's Colonel Rutledge collared the pacesetter Ready Racer in the stretch and drew off to win by three-quarters of a length under jockey Victor Lebron. The juvenile son of the 2002 Eclipse Award winning Sprinter Orientate is conditioned by Kenny McPeek and was broken and trained in Aiken by Legacy Stable's Ron Stevens. Colonel Rutledge was coming off a win in his debut at 5 ½ furlongs at Ellis Park on July 26. He had a bullet work for five furlongs at Churchill Downs on Aug. 9.

"He ran a super race; he laid off the pace," said McPeek. "Mr. Greenberg bred the horse. We'll stretch him out next time. We may run him back in the Cradle Stakes at River Downs."

Stonerside Stable's Ready Racer placed second after setting the pace for most of the race. The Bernard Flint charge broke his maiden in his last start. The son of More Than Ready was broken and trained in Aiken by Stonerside Stable's trainer Tim Jones. Aiken Trials alumnus Citizen placed third after breaking his maiden his last time out at Ellis Park on July 18. The Stonerside homebred is trained by Bernie Flint and was broken and trained in Aiken by Tim Jones.

Gustav Schickedanz's Cheers Mate broke his maiden last Monday at Fort Erie in a 1-1/16-mile contest. The Mike Keogh charge set the early fractions and repulsed the challenge of a rival on the turn to cruise to a 2-1/2 length victory. The 3-year-old gelding is by Sovereign Award winning Sprinter Langfuhr.

The connections of James Hackman and Glenn Thompson enjoyed a successful week at Monmouth Park. They won a six-furlong race Wednesday with Red Warning. The 5-year-old New Jersey-bred mare rallied in deep stretch and won by half of a length. Social Quest captured a 1+-mile race on Friday, wiring the field and winning with ease, pulling away to win by 5+ lengths. The 3-year-old gelding is by the 1991 Horse of the Year Black Tie Affair (IRE).

Camelia Casby's stakes winner Law Enforcement placed second by a neck in the seven-furlong Van Raalte Stakes Thursday at Saratoga. Law Enforcement was broken and trained in Aiken by Ron Stevens.

Jim Miller's Miss Brooklyn B held the lead for much of the race and battled determinedly before giving way late to the winner, finishing second in a six-furlong allowance race Thursday at Ellis Park. The Elwood McCann Sr. charge was trained in Aiken most recently by Kelly Tucker.

Spring Hill Farm's Rough Water finished second in a 1-1/16 mile allowance race at Delaware Park last Monday. Rough Water was broken and trained in Aiken by Ron Stevens.

Fox Ridge Farm's Weekwee placed second Wednesday in a 5-1/2 furlong race at Saratoga. The filly was broken and trained in Aiken by Sally Cluff.

The 2007 Aiken Trained Horse of the Year Country Star returns today in a 1 mile allowance race on the turf at Saratoga.

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.

Christmas Kid

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.

Drum Major will be on the track in New York later this summer.

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.

Ghost Dancing takes the win in the Oakley Stakes - Photo Jeff Coady

Ghost Dancing Floats to Oakley Stakes Win
By Ben Baugh

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.

AP file photo: Eight Belles, broken and trained in Aiken, will be buried at Churchill Downs.

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.

The Mike Keogh charge D. Flutie is being pointed toward the Queen's Plate later this month.

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.

Eight Belles

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.

Eight Belles and Big Brown in the 2008 Kentuck Derby

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.

Aiken's Derby Duo

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.

Country Star

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.

Eight Belles - AP Photo

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.”

Cowboy Cal Winning the Tropical Park Derby

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.

Dogwood Stables Atoned

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.

Monba gets a neck in front of Cowboy Cal in the 2008 Toyota Bluegrass Stakes Photo by Anne Eberhardt

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.

Abagail Fuller-Catalano and Denise Boudrot Hopkins with Cleve Kadiddlehopper

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.

Eight Belles and jockey Ramon Dominguez won Oaklawn's Honeybee (gr. III) with deceptive ease. Photo: Coady Photography

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.

Big Truck, front, ridden by Eibar Coa, wins the Tampa Bay Derby ahead of Atoned and jockey John Valezquez. Photo By Tom Cooley, Tampa Bay Downs

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.

Down the stretch at the 2008 Trials Click for 2008 Trials Results (PDF)

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.”

Stonerside Bloodstock Manager John Adger

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."

Trainer Suzy Haslup answers questions at the 2008 Breakfast at the Gallops

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 includes a luncheon buffet, served from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. There will be an open bar and Julliard Jazz will perform while lunch is served. Tickets are $90 each and are on sale at the Aiken Training Track office, AllStar Rents and www.tixonline.com.

The gates are scheduled to open at 10 a.m., with concessions opening at 11 a.m. and the carriage parade beginning at 1 p.m.

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 two for $75; outfield row three for $70 and camper/outfield tickets for $70. General admission tickets are $10 in advance and $15 on race day. General admission parking is $10 in advance and $15 on race day. Tickets can be purchased online through www.tixonline.com or by calling 278-4849.

3/04/2008 - Trainer Mike Keogh is certainly no stranger to success. He's trained a number of stakes winners over the years for Gustav Schickedanz's powerful stable, including the 2003 Canadian Triple Crown winner and Sovereign Award winning Horse of the Year, Wando; the 1999 Queens Plate winner, Woodcarver; multiple Grade 1 winner and the 1996 Sovereign Award winning Sprinter Langfuhr; Glanmire, who won the 1997 Sovereign Award as top Sprinter and Grade 2 winner Last Answer, who won last year's Nijinsky Stakes on the turf at Woodbine.

The latest charge of Keogh's who bears watching is D. Flutie, who was named after the star CFL, NFL and USFL quarterback Doug Flutie. The dark bay colt is by Langfuhr, out of the Woodman broodmare Forest Flute. The Gustav Schickedanz homebred made his lone start on Oct. 26 in a 6-furlong race at Woodbine.

"He's out of a mare who's never raced, who's a full sister to Woodcarver, who won the Queens Plate," said Keogh. "He's had one start and that was in October. We have some high hopes for him. He's a grand mover. He has a huge stride." Keogh's stable will relocate from Aiken to Woodbine and will be ready for the track's opening day on April 5. "There's quite a few races we can run in early," said Keogh.

Langfuhr and Wando, the 2003 Aiken Trained Horse of the Year, are among the horses Keogh has conditioned who've trained over the Aiken Training Track.

"The horses are all doing well. It's a great place to bring the babies," said Keogh. "They get a nice introduction. It's busy, but it's not too busy."

3/04/2008 - Lansdon Robbins III's Looky Yonder won a 7-furlong allowance race Wednesday at Gulfstream Park by 3 1/4 lengths. The 4-year-old filly is by Johannesburg, the 2001 2-year-old champion in Europe and is out of the Vice Regent broodmare Victorian Angel. The dark bay filly was broken and trained in Aiken by Legacy Stable's Ron Stevens.

Rutledge Farm's Katrina Blue won a 6 1/2-furlong race at Charles Town by 1 1/2 lengths. The 3-year-old dark bay filly is by the 1990 and 1991 Eclipse Award-winning Sprinter Housebuster and is out of the Electric Blue broodmare Lamina Blue. Katrina Blue is conditioned by Jeff Runco and was broken and trained by Stevens.

Fox Hill Farm's Truly Yours, a 3-year-old, Florida-bred colt trained by Steve Klesaris, finished second Feb. 26 in a 1 1/16 miles race at Philadelphia Park. Stevens broke and trained Truly Yours.

Dogwood Stable's Song of Songs placed second in a 1-mile race Sunday at Turfway Park. The daughter of Grade 1 winner Song and a Prayer was purchased for $95,000 from the consignment of Nick de Meric at the 2007 Ocala Breeders' Sales Company February Select 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale. Song of Songs is conditioned by Elwood McCann Sr. and was trained by Stevens.

Spring Hill Farm's homebred Serious Fever was second in a 6-furlong allowance race Friday at Aqueduct. The 4-year-old colt is conditioned by Anthony Dutrow and was broken and trained by Stevens.

Dogwood Stable's Hackensack was second in a 1-mile race Wednesday at Turfway Park. The 3-year-old chestnut filly is conditioned by Elwood McCann Sr. and was broken and trained by Stevens.

3/01/2008 - The 66th edition of the Aiken Trials is scheduled for March 15 at the Aiken Training Track, but it's much more than just the six flat races.

"Everything has been going well; ticket sales have been great," said Bernadette Clayton, Aiken Training Track treasurer. "The railside spaces have been sold out."

Tickets are still available to the Tent Party on race day and the Starting Gate Party on March 13, said Clayton. In addition to Denise Boudrot Hopkins' Reluctant Racehorse Cleve Kadiddlehopper, the 66th edition of the Aiken Trials marks the return of the pony races and several conditioners, including Ron Stevens, Tim Jones and Suzy Haslup, have entered ponies in the contest, said Clayton.

"The Pony Race has been great fun; we've done it in the past," said Clayton.

The "Singing Jockey" Bill Bernard will perform the national anthem prior to the start of this year's event, said Clayton.

The Aiken Driving Club will also have a carriage parade prior to the start of this year's first race. "Joan Winslow and the Aiken Driving Club have been terrific," said Clayton.

Tickets to the Aiken Trials can be purchased online through www.tixonline.com or by calling (803) 278-4TIX.

General admission tickets are available at the H. Odell Weeks Activities Center, Southern Saddlery, Aiken Saddlery and Equine Divine.

General admission tickets are $10 in advance and $15 race day.

The gates open at 10:30 a.m., and post time is 2 p.m.

2/29/2008 - They've had seven Derby starters and a Preakness winner, and now Dogwood Stable is making news with a talented triumvirate of Classic prospects. Atoned, Blackberry Road and Aiken Trials alumnus Holidaze have been recognized as three of the nation's outstanding 3-year-old colts.

"It's extraordinary to have three, considering the foal crop of 2005 was 37,200 foals," said Cot Campbell, Dogwood Stable president. "Two years later we bought 27 of them, and now, a year after that, according to Steve Haskin of the Blood-Horse, who is a respected authority on Thoroughbred racing and Derby hopefuls, three of our horses in his opinion are legitimate Derby candidates.

"That's very exciting. It's hard to come up with one horse who's being recognized and considered as a Derby starter, and with three horses, we'll get there with one. We'd love to get there with all three of them. Common sense tells you that's probably not going to happen."

Holidaze, who was impressive in winning his last start, an allowance race at Aqueduct on Feb. 16, Continental Mile Stakes winner Atoned and stakes placed Blackberry Road are scheduled to make their next starts within the next two weeks. "A couple of the horses are going to take a step toward that on March 8. We have new riders for all of the horses, Robby Albarado on Blackberry Road in New Orleans, Mike Luzzi on Holidaze in the Gotham in New York, and John Velasquez on Atoned on March 15 in the Tampa Bay Derby," said Campbell. "We'll face War Pass in the Tampa Bay Derby. The race is a 1 1/16-miles; it's an ideal distance for him, and that's where we'll run."

Dogwood was also active at the recent Fasig-Tipton Calder Selected 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale on Feb. 26 at Calder Race Course and purchased a Lion Heart filly, Elusive Quality colt and a Chapel Royal colt.

"The horses all have some pedigree behind them and are by interesting sires and have had decent works," said Campbell. "We'll go to the April Keeneland Sale and buy another three or four horses."

2/25/2008 - Cot Campbell's tome "Memoirs of a Longshot...A Riproarious Life" was selected as one of 10 semifinalists in the Castleton Lyons-Thoroughbred Times Book Award contest.

In other racing news, Michael and Patricia Palenscar's Salt City Miss broke her maiden in a 6-furlong race Sunday at Aqueduct by 4 lengths. The 3-year-old New York-bred filly by Salt Lake is conditioned by David Donk and was broken and trained in Aiken by Oakwood Farm's Suzy Haslup.

Fox Hill Farm's Eagle's Song soared to victory Saturday at the Fair Grounds winning a 1-mile allowance race by 1 3/4-lengths. The 3-year-old daughter of Proud Citizen is trained by Larry Jones and was broken and trained in Aiken by Legacy Stable's Ron Stevens. Stonerside Stable's Conchita made a powerful move in the stretch to break her maiden in a 1-mile race on the turf Wednesday at Tampa Bay Downs. The 3-year-old filly by the 1985 Breeders' Cup Mile winner Cozzene is conditioned by Patrick Byrne and was broken and trained in Aiken by Stonerside Stable's Tim Jones.

Katrina Becker's Lutz won a 5 1/2-furlong race by two lengths Thursday at Laurel Park. John Fisher conditioned the 4-year-old daughter of Two Punch.

Fox Ridge Farm's Waymint and Weekwee each placed second in their respective 6-furlong races Thursday at Aqueduct. Pat Kelly conditions both horses at the track and both were broken and trained in Aiken by Sally Cluff.

Spring Hill Farm's Sumptuous placed second Thursday in a 6-furlong allowance race at Laurel Park. The Todd Pletcher charge was broken and trained in Aiken by Stevens.

Stonerside Stable's Smiling placed second Saturday in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden race at Sam Houston Park. Mike Stidham conditions the Florida-bred horse, who was broken and trained in Aiken by Tim Jones.

Marc Keller's Bribon (FR) placed second Thursday in a 6-furlong allowance race at Gulfstream. The Robert Ribaudo charge spent time at W.C. and Iris Freeman's Chime Bell Farm.

Michele The Great

2/23/2008 - She's a versatile runner, who won at the ages of 2 and 3, and hopes to replicate the same type of success during her 4-year-old campaign. Michele the Great is a chestnut filly, owned and bred by Michael and Patricia Palenscar and conditioned this winter by Oakwood Farm's Suzy Haslup.

The 4-year-old New York-bred filly is by multiple graded stakes winner Distorted Humor, out of the Smarten broodmare Smartullah. David Donk conditions Michele the Great at the racetrack.

"She's training very well; she'll ship out the beginning of March," said Haslup. "She'll probably run within a couple of weeks out of being in Aiken on the inner track at Aqueduct. She's very versatile. She can run on the grass and dirt. She's gritty and she always tries. When she's feeling good, she always tries."

The chestnut filly hit the board in her first six starts, breaking her maiden in her fourth start, and winning a one-mile allowance race (her sixth start) at Aqueduct on Feb. 22, 2007, by an impressive 10 lengths.

Michele is taking a brief respite in Aiken after starting eight times during her sophomore campaign. "The owners always do right by their horses," said Haslup.

Michele's younger brother, Call Michael (a 2-year-old), who's by the stallion Runaway Groom, is also training in Aiken this winter, said Haslup. Smartullah just produced a Pleasant Tap Filly, she said.

Michele the Great placed in eight of her first nine starts.

"She deserved a break; she ran hard last winter," said Donk in a phone interview Thursday afternoon. "She's interesting; she's run well on both the grass and the dirt. I'll think we'll set her back in allowance conditions, and see if she's improved from age 3 to 4. We'll see how well she does. There are a number of New York-bred stakes throughout the year."

Michele the Great from 12 starts has wins, placed second twice and finished third three times and has bankrolled $111,311.

2/22/2008 - Dogwood Stable’s Anne Campbell was pictured with trainer Michelle Nihei, in the Feb. 16 edition of the Thoroughbred Times. Nihei, who was featured in the publication, won her first race as a trainer in January at Tampa Bay Downs with Dogwood Stable’s Heartaches.

Naughty New Yorker lived up to his name by winning the 1-mile, 70-yard Master Digby Stakes at Aqueduct. Fox Ridge Farm’s 6-year-old horse opened a seven-length lead in the stretch and won by 12 1/4 lengths with Jean Luc-Samyn in the irons.

The Pat Kelly-trained charge won his 11th stakes race and, with the victory, increased his bankroll to $965,864. The New York-bred son of Quiet American won the Alex M. Robb Stakes in his last start on Dec. 30. Naughty New Yorker was trained in Aiken by Sally Cluff.

“We’ve been hanging around at home,” said Kelly, in a phone interview Tuesday afternoon. “We wanted him to get a race here; he needed a little freshening. It was a little surprising he won so easily. We didn’t figure there would be much pace. He’s been training well; he doesn’t show much mercy against New York-breds. The race Monday set him up for the spring and summer. We may run him in April in the Excelsior Breeders’ Cup at Aqueduct.”

Eight Belles crushed the field in the second division of the 1-mile Martha Washington Stakes Sunday at Oaklawn Park, winning by daylight, scoring a 13 1/2-length victory.

The 3-year-old daughter of Unbridled’s Song won her last start by 15 lengths for owner Fox Hill Farms and trainer Larry Jones. Eight Belles was broken and trained in Aiken by Legacy Stable’s Ron Stevens.

“We loved this filly from the get-go, and it took a little while to figure things out, but these last two races have been super impressive,” said Stevens. “I’d say she’s on the trail of the (Kentucky) Oaks. She’s a nice filly.”

The 1988 Kentucky Derby winner Winning Colors was euthanized Sunday following complications from colic, according to the Thoroughbred Times. The next-to-last foal produced by Winning Colors, owned by Gainesway Farm, is being trained in Aiken by Legacy Stable’s Ron Stevens.

“This will be the first horse I’ve ever trained that’s the offspring of a Kentucky Derby winning female; I’ve had a lot horses by colts who’ve won the Kentucky Derby,” said Stevens. “This is a very attractive filly; she’s by Orientate. She’s a well balanced filly, very muscular and looks speedy. She’s trained very well. I think she can be a nice horse.”

2/18/2008 - Spring Hill Farm's Nite Light was the best in the 1 1/8-miles John B. Campbell Handicap Saturday at Laurel Park. The co-highweight in the race collared the lead in the deep stretch and drew off to win comfortably by 1 3/4-lengths under the confident handling of Michael Luzzi. A 4-year-old son of dual Classic winner Thunder Gulch, Nite Light, who won the 1 5/8-miles Gallant Fox Handicap in late December at Aqueduct, is conditioned by Todd Pletcher and was broken and trained in Aiken by Legacy Stable's Ron Stevens.

Aiken Trials alumnus, Dogwood Stable's Holidaze (finished second in the 2007 The Post Trophy), was checked hard on the first turn, but changed course to take command in the stretch to win a one-mile-and-70-yards allowance race Saturday at Aqueduct. The Pletcher charge was also broken and trained by Stevens.

Spring Hill Farm's Rap Tale nearly wired the field, setting the pace for much of the race and then opening up to win by 8 1/4-lengths to break her maiden in a 1 1/16-miles race Saturday at Laurel Park. The Pletcher charge is by Tale of the Cat out of the Pleasant Tap broodmare Rap and Dance. The 3-year-old filly was broken and trained by Stevens.

Stonerside Stable's Cowboy Cal placed second in the 1 1/16-miles Hallandale Beach Stakes on the turf Saturday at Gulfstream Park. The race favorite is trained by Pletcher, and was broken and trained in Aiken by Stonerside Stable's trainer Tim Jones. Dogwood Stable's Soaring By placed second in a 1 1/8-miles allowance race last Monday at Gulfstream Park. Mark Hennig trains the 4-year-old dark bay colt, who was broken and trained by Stevens.

Dogwood Stable's Blackberry Road will make his next start on March 8, in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby, and will have a new jockey with Robby Albarado replacing Calvin Borel.

2/12/2008 - It was a great year in 2007 for Robert and Janice McNair's Stonerside Stable's homebreds.

Stonerside Stable was recognized by the Thoroughbred Times as one of North America's leading breeders in 2007. The Paris, Ky.-based operation, whose training operation is in Aiken, was ranked first by percentage of stakes winners from starters, with an astounding 15.9 percent.

Stonerside Stable bred 14 stakes winners, including seven graded stakes winners, who earned 3,526,790, according to the Thoroughbred Times.

"We try to keep the broodmare band number around 80," said John Adger, Stonerside racing and bloodstock manager, in a phone interview Monday afternoon. "We're excited about it. We have a great team, everyone from the McNairs on down. We're trying constantly to improve. We have great people at the farm in Kentucky, and we have a great crew in Aiken getting the horses ready. We're fortunate to be able to send our horses to some of the best trainers in North America."

Horses bred by Stonerside Stable who won stakes races in 2007, include the 2007 Aiken Trained Horse of the Year Country Star, Barcola, 2006 Aiken Trained Horse of the Year Bob and John, Bold Angel, Catalissa, Chatain, Cowboy Cal, General Charley, Karen's Caper, Moon Kid, Raven's Pass, Sahara Heat, Sea Chanter, Speedway and Texas Fever.

"We're really delighted to be recognized as one of the top breeders," said Tim Jones, Stonerside Stable's trainer. "It's a great honor. It's been a huge year for us."

Cowboy Cal, who has won his last three starts impressively, including the Grade 3 Tropical Park Derby at Calder Race Course on New Year's Day, will run in Saturday's 1 1/16-miles Hallandale Beach Stakes on the turf at Gulfstream Park. The dark bay son of Giant's Causeway also won the Laurel Futurity last November.

"I talked with Todd Pletcher (Cowboy Cal's trainer) this morning (Monday), and he came out of the work great," said Adger. "He's in great shape and is scheduled to run. If he does well, Todd plans to run him in the Bluegrass Stakes. We're hopeful he'll run a big race."

2/11/2008 - Dogwood Stable's Blackberry Road finished fifth in Saturday's 1 1/16-mile Grade 3 Risen Star Stakes. The son of Gone West made up tremendous ground with his patented late finishing kick, and closed in the stretch to finish 3 1/4-lengths behind the eventual winner of the race Pyro.

"He finished full of run and was frustrated," said Cot Campbell, Dogwood Stable president, in a phone interview Saturday evening. "Calvin couldn't go with him. He was beaten by only 3 1/4 lengths. Blackberry Road should have been second. I don't know if we'd have beaten the winner today. The winner (Pyro) was very impressive. We're going to change riders. The Louisiana Derby is a possibility, or his next start may be in Kentucky or Florida."

Fox Hill Farm' s Bronze Medal broke his maiden by 6 1/2 lengths in a 6-furlong race Saturday at the Fair Grounds. The Larry Jones charge exploded in the stretch, drawing off to win handily. The 3-year-old son of Dixieland Band was broken and trained in Aiken by Legacy Stable's Ron Stevens.

Dogwood Stable's Hackensack broke his maiden by 4 1/2 lengths Saturday at Turfway Park. The 3-year-old ridgling is trained by Elwood McCann Sr., and the chestnut son of Hennessy was broken and trained by Stevens.

Stonerside Stable's and Oak Crest Farm's Sutra finished second Saturday in the 6-furlong Pan Zareta Stakes at the Fair Grounds. The 4-year-old daughter of Meadowlake is conditioned by Mike Stidham and was broken and trained in Aiken by Stonerside Stable's trainer Tim Jones.

2/07/2008 - Dogwood Stable's Blackberry Road is seeking his first stakes victory in Saturday's 1 1/16-miles Grade 3 Risen Star Stakes at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans, La. The David Carroll charge has placed in his last three starts, all graded stakes, including the Grade 3 LeComte Stakes at the Fair Grounds on Jan 12.

"I think he will benefit from the distance," said Cot Campbell, Dogwood Stable president, in a phone interview Tuesday afternoon. "I think he will benefit as the distances stretch out to 1 1/16 miles. We'll have full use of the Fair Grounds stretch."

The dark bay colt is a half-brother to the 2002 Eclipse Award winning 2-year-old male, Vindication, and to Scipion, who won the 2005 Risen Star Stakes. Blackberry Road drew the No. 2 post and has been made 5-1 in the morning line.

"He'll be ridden by Calvin Borel, who'll head for the rail, and when in position he'll take back on the rail, and save ground, and then come running," said Campbell. "I'll talk with Calvin on Saturday afternoon and tell Calvin to lay up a little closer. We're hoping for a brisk pace up front to ensure an honestly run race. Blackberry Road is a natural born stretch runner. I'll urge him not to pull the trigger too late, like he's done the last two times."

Dogwood Stable's Blackberry Road and Atoned were featured in Steve Haskin's of The Blood-Horse's Kentucky Derby analysis, Ky. Derby Trail: Of Thorns & Roses.

"It was very flattering," said Campbell. "I received a call from John Nerud (Hall of Fame conditioner) this morning."

Blackberry Road is being held at 20-1 in the opening Kentucky Derby wagering future book. Stonerside Stable's Cowboy Cal is also being held at 20-1. In the Kentucky Oaks future wager pool, Stonerside's Country Star and Sea Chanter are 20-1 and Tizaqueena is 50-1.

2/04/2008 - Lansdon Robbins III's Azalea Stable's homebred Ling Ling Qi won a 7-furlong allowance race by a neck Saturday at Gulfstream Park. The 3-year-old colt is conditioned by Ken McPeek. Ling Ling Qi is by Grade I winner Yonaguska and is out of the Holy Bull broodmare Holy Love. Ling Ling Qi was broken and trained in Aiken by Legacy Stable's Ron Stevens.

Hermen Greenberg's Rutledge Royalty finished in a dead heat to place second in a 1 1/8-mile race Saturday at Charles Town. The 4-year-old Virginia-bred filly is conditioned by Jeff Runco and was broken and trained by Stevens.

Rutledge Farm's Rutledge Storm held the lead into deep stretch, only to be beaten by a head in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight race Friday evening at Charles Town. The 3-year-old filly was bred by Overbrook Farm, is trained by Graham Motion and was broken and trained by Stevens.

Dogwood Stable's Hanna Banana finished second in a 1-mile race Wednesday at Gulfstream Park. The dark bay filly is trained by Frank Alexander and was conditioned by Stevens.

Stonerside Stable's and Blazing Meadows Farm's El Poco Diablo placed second in a 6-furlong allowance race at Gulfstream Park. The dark bay 4-year-old son of Menifee is the first foal produced by his dam No Little Angel. El Poco Diablo is conditioned by Tim Hamm (Blazing Meadows Farm) and was broken and trained in Aiken by Stonerside Stable's trainer Tim Jones.

Fox Ridge Farm's homebred Waymint placed second in a 6-furlong race Friday at Aqueduct. The 4-year-old filly is conditioned by Pat Kelly and was trained in Aiken Sally Cluff.

Stonerside Stable's Texas Wildcatter placed third in the 1 1/16-mile Whirlaway Stakes Saturday at Aqueduct. The 3-year-old gray colt is by Monarchos, out of the 2002 Astoria Stakes winner and Ocala Breeders' Sales Company graduate Mike's Wildcat. Texas Wildcatter is trained by Todd Pletcher and was broken and trained by Jones.

2/01/2008 - Robert and Janice McNair's Stonerside Stable made a definitive statement as one of the nation's premier breeders by placing four homebreds on the 2007 Jockey Club Experimental Free Handicap. The Paris, Ky.-based operation placed one more horse on the list than Eclipse Award winning breeder Adena Springs, Darley, Heiligbrodt Racing Stables and Wertheimer and Frere.

All four horses were broken and trained at Stonerside's training facility in Aiken by Tim Jones.

Stonerside Stable has only been involved with Thoroughbred racing since 1994 and has a broodmare band of 85 mares.

"We're pleased as can be to be a part of the success," said Jones.

Multiple Grade One winner Country Star who placed second in the Eclipse Award voting for outstanding 2-Year-Old Filly, was the second high weighted filly on the list at 121 pounds, only two pounds less than Eclipse Award winner Indian Blessing. Country Star captured the Grade One 1 1/16-milesDarley Alcibiades Stakes at Keeneland, and the Grade One 1 1/16-mile Hollywood Starlet Stakes at Hollywood Park, establishing a new record at that distance over the cushion track. The dark bay filly is trained by Hall of Fame conditioner Bobby Frankel.

Sea Chanter, the bay filly who placed second in last year's The Gaver Trophy during the Aiken Trials, went on to win the Grade 3 Miesque Stakes and the Epitome Stakes during her juvenile campaign and was weighted at 114 pounds. Sea Chanter is trained by Eclipse Award-winning Trainer Todd Pletcher.

There were also two Stonerside colts that placed on the 2007 Experimental Free Handicap, Texas Fever at 110 pounds and Cowboy Cal at 109 pounds. Texas Fever is the son of the 1998 Belmont Stakes winner Victory Gallop and a half-brother to Stonerside stakes winner and homebred Bold Angel and won the Grade 3 Kentucky Cup Juvenile Classic. Texas Fever is conditioned by Mike Stidham.

Cowboy Cal demonstrated his predilection for the turf, scoring a stakes win during his juvenile campaign, capturing the Laurel Futurity on the turf and following that victory with a win on New Year's Day with a two-length score in the 1 1/8-mile Grade 3 Tropical Park Derby at Calder Race Course on the turf. Cowboy Cal is trained by Pletcher.

1/31/2008 - A muscular bay filly with a deep chest may be a force to be reckoned with in 2008. Her name is Hark, and the 4-year-old daughter of Street Cry (IRE) made her presence known during her sophomore campaign with two impressive performances.

Hark is owned by Aiken resident Lynn Carlisle as well as Darlene Anderson, childhood friends of trainer John Ward, who conditioned the 2001 Kentucky Derby winner Monarchos. Hark is out of the Seattle Slew broodmare Bal Boree and is from Street Cry's first crop, which also included Street Sense, winner of the 2007 Kentucky Derby. Hark is currently training at W.C. and Iris Freeman's Chime Bell Farm.

"At the time we initially bought her, Reiley McDonald, one of the principles at Eaton Sales (along with Tom Van Meter), thought the mating of Bal Boree to Street Cry would be the right cross," said Carlisle. "Street Cry had the physical attributes we were looking for and he had grit. The mare was very correct looking but didn't have grit."

The strong, muscular filly made her debut over the Polytrack in a 6 1/2-furlong contest at Turfway Park on Sept. 14 and placed second in a field of 10. She then contested a 1 1/8 maiden special weight race over the Polytrack at Keeneland on Oct. 13, and she once again placed second over the synthetic surface.

"She's bred to be a distance horse," said Carlisle. "She's run in sprints up to this point. John Ward is very high on Hark, and that makes me feel good. She'll be at Chime Bell until mid to late February. I believe this will be her career year. John's looking for a maiden special weight race at Keeneland in April. He wants to run her only the Polytrack or the turf."

Hark came to Aiken on Nov. 24, and for six weeks she took a brief respite before going back into training under the watchful eye of Chime Bell Farm's lay-up manager Jill Thomas. John Dabney, a former Ward assistant and another childhood friend of Ward's and Carlisle, was also impressed with the filly.

"Jill and Todd (Turner), Chime Bell's trainer, have been very encouraging," said Carlisle. "John Ward is the consummate horseman. He didn't want to take her to Florida. He wanted her to have the opportunity to have a career. We're so fortunate to have her with John. We never have to worry."

Hark's professionalism has made an immediate impression, said Thomas.

"She has the best mind for racing because she does everything right the first time," said Thomas. "She's been a natural from the first day she walked on the farm. I think everyone who's been around her thinks she's going to be something special."

Photo © Ginny Southworth

1/31/2008 - March may symbolize the beginning of spring, but in Aiken it means something more, the time honored tradition of the Aiken Triple Crown. The triumvirate of jewels composing the Triple Crown are three of the community's most eagerly anticipated events. The Aiken Trials (Flat racing) at the Aiken Training Track are scheduled for March 15, the 42nd edition of the Aiken Spring Steeplechase (Aiken's most well attended one-day sports event) at Ford Conger Field on March 22 and Pacers and Polo at Powderhouse Field on March 29.

The 66th renewal of the Aiken Trials will feature six races, showcasing the stars of tomorrow, and a number of veteran performers.

The annual Starting Gate Party featuring a country barbecue is scheduled for March 13. Tickets are $50. The band Anybody's Guess will return to perform at this year's event, and Billy and Vicki Bernard's Equicizer will be part of the festivities, giving those in attendance an opportunity to feel what it's like to ride in a race.

There will be a tent party on race day and a band performing. The tickets to the tent party are $90 per person.

There will also be a Parade of Carriages prior to the day's first race. Denise Boudrot Hopkins and her trick horse Cleve Kadiddlehopper will also be performing at the trials.

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

The Aiken Spring Steeplechase is the first sanctioned meet on the National Steeplechase Association calendar.

The gates are scheduled to open at 9:30 a.m., the Village of Shops will open at 10 a.m., and the Guarantor Party will start at 11 a.m. Post time for the six-race meet's first race is scheduled for 1 p.m., and a carriage parade will follow the first race at 1:15 p.m.

The Guarantor Tent Party tickets are $100 for adults, and $50 for children 6-12. Subscriber tickets are $15 and general admission tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the gate. Children 6 and under are free. The Imperial Cup will be sponsored by Southern Bank & Trust, and the race as of now has once again been upgraded to stakes status.

The Mad Hatter's Ball will be held March 21, and tickets for the event will be $125. The proceeds will benefit the Cumbee Center. Tickets to the Mad Hatter's Ball, the Guarantor Tent party and general admission tickets will go on sale Feb. 5.

For more information, call 648-9641 or visit www.aikensteepelchaseassociation.com. The third jewel of the Aiken Triple Crown is Pacers and Polo match scheduled for March 29 at the Powderhouse Polo Fields. The gates will open at 11 a.m., with game time scheduled for 1:30 p.m. The event benefits the USC Aiken athletics department and is the largest fundraiser the Pacer Club is involved with, said Randy Warrick, athletic director.

The game will feature six chukkers, and there will be a 20-minute intermission at the half.

Once again this year's event will feature a VIP Hospitality Tent, and tickets are $60 per person and will be available after March 2 on a limited basis. Parking is included in the cost of the VIP Hospitality Tent tickets. For more information about the VIP Hospitality Tent tickets, call 641-3630.

Reserved first row parking tickets are $100 and the price includes four tickets and parking. For more information, call 641-3331.

For more information about Pacers and Polo, visit www.pacersports.com or call the USCA Athletic Department at 641-3486.

1/27/08 - Fox Hill Farms' Eight Belles won a one-mile-and-40-yards allowance race last Monday by daylight at the Fair Grounds, winning by 15 lengths with Gabriel Baez in the irons. The 3-year-old gray filly by the 1995 Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Unbridled's Song is conditioned by Larry Jones, and was broken and trained in Aiken by Legacy Stable's Ron Stevens.

Rutledge Farm's Tryst Miss broke her maiden by 6 1/4-lengths Sunday in a 6 1/2-furlong contest at Charles Town. The 3-year-old daughter of dual Eclipse Award-winning Sprinter Housebuster is trained by Jeff Runco, and was also broken and trained by Stevens.

Hermen Greenberg's Mr. Orientate broke his maiden by 5-lengths Saturday in a 1 1/8-mile maiden special weight race at Charles Town. The 3-year-old gelding is by the 2002 Eclipse Award-winning Sprinter Orientate and conditioned by Jeff Runco. Mr. Orientate was broken and trained by Stevens.

Stonerside Stable's Vivacious Vivian broke her maiden via disqualification in a one-mile maiden special weight race Saturday at the Fair Grounds. The 3-year-old daughter of Distorted Humor is out of the Grade 1 winning daughter of Panoramic (GB), Tuzla (FR), who is also the dam of Tybalt. Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott trains the bay filly. Vivacious Vivian was broken and trained in Aiken by Stonerside Stable's trainer Tim Jones.

Stonerside Stable's Bold Angel, who won the Sam Houston Oaks last March, placed second in the 1 1/16-miles Sam Houston Distaff Stakes Saturday night at Sam Houston Park. A 4-year-old half-sister to Stonerside Stable's stakes winner Texas Fever, Bold Angel is trained by Mike Stidham, and was broken and trained by Jones.

Fox Hill Farm's Zipped placed second in a one-mile maiden special weight race last Monday at Oaklawn Park. The 3-year-old colt is conditioned by Larry Jones, and was broken and trained in by Stevens.

Another Fox Hill runner, 3-year-old filly Very Blessed placed second in a 7-furlong race Saturday at Philadelphia Park. Very Blessed was also broken and trained by Stevens.

Steve Epley, Jr.'s Taber's Tiger was named the SCTOBA Co-Older Male Horse of the Year. In addition to owning the horse, Epley, Jr. breeds and trains the gelding

1/24/2008 - Taber's Tiger may be his daughter's horse, but the 6-year-old bay gelding was bred, owned and trained by Steve Epley Jr. The son of Play Both Ends is out of the Kokand broodmare Ella Claire and, in addition to being named the 2007 South Carolina Thoroughbred Owners' and Breeders' Association Co-Older Male Horse of the Year, was named after Epley's daughter, Taber.

"She came into see him (Tuesday), and sat on his back. He's sweet; he's a pet," said Epley. Aiken seems to be agreeing with the son of Play Both Ends, as the 6-year-old continues to fill out and put on muscle.

"He's so good on the turf; we should be able to get through several of his allowance conditions. When he goes 5/8s on the turf, he has blistering speed," said Epley. "He's a big stout horse."

The South Carolina-bred gelding has a lot of speed. Epley decided on a 4 1/2-furlong maiden claiming race for Tabor Tiger's debut at Charles Town on Jan. 12, 2007.

Epley chose a claiming race for his first start for several reasons – Taber's Tiger was a South Carolina-bred and wasn't by a fashionable sire. He expected the horse to go off at fairly long odds, based on the fact that he had several easy works at Keeneland and probably would not receive much consideration by the wagering public.

"We knew before he started he was really fast," said Epley. "We thought we would enter him in a claiming race because we didn't think anyone would claim him.

"The purses at Charles Town are good. We planned to start him in Kentucky and Delaware after the race. We expected him to be 20 or 30-1, and as I was walking to the paddock, I looked up at the board and he was 1-5, so I almost turned around and led him back to the barn.

"I told the jockey (Dale Whittaker) that he was going to win the race and not to hit him." Taber's Tiger won the race easily and was claimed by trainer Jeff Runco for Diablo Stable. He made his next start at Charles Town on March 11, and was once again victorious; he was claimed back by Epley. The gelding has overcome physical challenges, recovering from a fractured cannon bone, and returned to the races after five and a half months.

Taber's Tiger returned to the winner's circle on Sept. 29 in a 6 1/2-furlong allowance race on the turf at Philadelphia Park.

He placed second in his next start, a 6 1/2-furlong allowance race on the turf at Delaware Park on Oct. 7. Taber's Tiger has three wins, placed second once and finished third once from seven lifetime starts.

S.C. Native Jan Rushton Speaks at SCTOBA Awards Ceremony

Jan Rushton

By Ben Baugh

1/21/2008, CAMDEN - She's one of Thoroughbred racing's most recognizable television analysts, and is often referred to as the Hat Lady, but South Carolina native Jan Rushton has played an integral role in the development of a number of outstanding Thoroughbreds. She was the guest speaker Saturday at the 2007 South Carolina Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association Breeder Awards.

A graduate of Easley High School and Clemson University — graduating with a degree in Animal Science — Rushton wasn't sure what she wanted to do with her life, but knew she loved horses. She had shown hunter/jumpers and had taught horseback riding every summer from 11th grade through college at a camp in Hendersonville, N.C.

"I had heard that people were getting paid to ride horses in Aiken and Camden, so I went to Camden, and that's when I felt like my education really began," said Rushton. "I had never broken a horse or galloped a race horse, so there was a learning curve there for a while. When I started I didn't know anything about this game."

Rushton worked for Sandy DuBose and Joe Cantey, who were training for Loblolly Farm and Tanrackin Farm, before shifting her tack to Belmont Park. However, every winter she would come back to South Carolina. The next year she went to Aiken and got a job working for the Phipps family. "Over the next seven years, I was going back and forth between New York and South Carolina — Aiken, mostly," said Rushton.

The future television analyst then obtained a position working for future Hall of Fame conditioner Claude "Shug" McGaughey in 1988.

One of the horses she rode during her tenure with McGaughey was the 1988 2-year-old champion, Classic winner and Hall of Fame member, Easy Goer.

In 1989, one of Rushton's regular mounts was the 1989 Eclipse Award winning 2-year-old colt Rhythm. She also went with My Boy Adam to the Japan Cup.

"It was an amazing shedrow," said Rushton, who was also the regular rider for Emory Hamilton's Champion Handicap Female Queena, Grade 1 winner Versailles Treaty and the outstanding filly Preach, who is the dam of multiple graded stakes winner and leading sire Pulpit.

"I had seen Narrate, Preach's mother, years ago when I was in Aiken. Steve Penrod trained her, and they used to take her out late because she was so high strung," said Rushton. "I liked Preach. I took a lot of time with her. I wound up being really good with nervous fillies. Preach won the Frizette in her second start."

During that time, while she was in Florida, Rushton began working in the press box and doing research for a television show called "Post Time" that aired on Sports Channel.

"I was going to Keeneland with some horses — including Preach, who won the Bourbonette — and they said 'You should stay,' and I said, 'You're crazy, I'm getting on really good horses.' And then they said, 'What will it take to make you to stay?' and I said, 'You'll have to put me on camera and pay me more money.' And they said, 'We'll do it.' I worked for the show for a year-and a-half, until the show ran out of money."

She went back to work for McGaughey, where she galloped Eclipse Award winners Heavenly Prize and Inside Information. She was also the regular rider of Grade 1 winner My Flag. Rushton started working for the New York Racing Association in 1995. Since then, she has accumulated a collection of about 300 hats.

"They hired me to be the paddock person (for the television brodcasts)," said Rushton. "I was working on the show in the afternoons, and I was galloping horses in the mornings. I went straight from galloping horses and cleaning tack to the televsion show. They let me change in the women's jocks room and, to save time — so I wouldn't have to do my hair everyday because I had helmet hair — I would wear a big hat. The way I look at it, I went to graduate school for 15 years (galloping horses) to be able to do what I do now. I learned the game from the best."

1/13/2008 - Dogwood Stable's Blackberry Road once again demonstrated his late closing kick, making up a tremendous amount of ground in the stretch to place second Saturday in the one-mile Grade 3 LeComte Stakes at the Fair Grounds.

"He ran a good race," said Cot Campbell, Dogwood Stable president, in a phone interview Saturday evening. "He ran off the pace, and came flying late about 6 horses wide. He was the only horse closing. We would have liked to have won the race. He ran awfully well. We're most encouraged. His jockey, Calvin Borel, was 8 or 9 lengths off the pace, and he wasn't going to get through on the rail. It was a good experience. He was very composed in the paddock. He was a trifle rank for the first 40 yards of the race. Assuming he comes out of the race OK, we'll point him to the Risen Star Stakes, and hopefully after that the Louisiana Derby."

Stonerside Stable and Oak Crest Farm's Sutra captured a 6-furlong allowance race Sunday at the Fairgrounds. The dark bay 4-year-old daughter of Meadowlake is conditioned by Mike Stidham and was broken and trained in Aiken by Stonerside Stable's Tim Jones.

Two other Stonerside Stable 3-year-old fillies broke their maidens this week. Abby's Angel won a one-mile race Friday at the Fairgrounds, and Smiling won a 5 1/2-furlong race Saturday evening at Sam Houston Park. Abby's Angel and Smiling are both trained by Mike Stidham, and were broken and trained in Aiken by Tim Jones.

Stonerside Stable's Tizaqueena placed second in the one-mile Tiffany Lass Stakes Saturday at the Fair Grounds. The 3-year-old daughter of Tiznow is trained by Mike Stidham.

Spring Hill Farm's Rough Water broke her maiden in a one-mile 70 yards race Sunday at Aqueduct. The 3-year-old daughter of Stormin Fever is conditioned by Anthony Dutrow and was broken and trained in Aiken by Legacy Stable's Ron Stevens.

Salt City Miss placed second in a 6-furlong maiden special weight race Sunday at Aqueduct. The David Donk charge is owned by Michael and Patricia Palenscar, and was broken and trained in Aiken by Suzy Haslup. The horse had spent some time in Kentucky prior to going to Donk in New York, said Haslup.

"We had her here last winter," said Haslup. "David's only had her about three weeks."

Spring Hill Farm's Sumptuous placed third in the one-mile and 70 yards Busanda Stakes Sunday at Aqueduct. Sumptuous was broken and trained by Stevens.

1/12/2008 - The first jewel of Aiken's Triple Crown is only nine weeks away. The 67th edition of the Aiken Trials will be held March 15 and will once again feature six races.

The event continues to generate regional and nationwide interest as the Aiken Trials was named one of the Top 20 Events for the month of March 2008 by the Southeast Tourism Society.

Stonerside Stable's Sea Chanter, who placed second in last year's The Gaver Trophy, went on to capture the Grade 3 Miesque Stakes and the Epitome Stakes during her juvenile campaign.

The sponsors for this year's Aiken Trials include Atlantic Broadband, Boots, Bridles and Britches, Meybohm Realtors and the Aiken Jaycees, said Bernadette Clayton, Aiken Training Track treasurer. "We're also honoring Stonerside Stables as an event sponsor," said Clayton. "We're looking forward to another successful trials. The Parade of Carriages will be prior to the first race."

Augusta Dodge and Sundowner of Aiken will sponsor a race, said Clayton.

And once again, the Starting Gate Party will be held the Thursday evening, March 13, prior to the trials. The theme for the function will be a country barbecue, and Anybody's Guess, who played at last year's event, will once again be performing, said Clayton.

There will be a tent party the day of the trials with the same format as last year, said Clayton. The price per ticket to the country barbecue is $50 and $90 for the tent party the day of the races.

1/11/2008 - Red Zipper is like a fine wine -- he seems to be getting better with age.

The 5-year-old chestnut gelding has returned for a brief respite to Chime Bell Farm to prepare for his 2008 campaign.

The son of Grade 1 winner City Zip will receive strong consideration for the New York-bred Male Turf horse of the year. Owned by Jeffrey Tucker, Red Zipper is trained by John Morrison.

Red Zipper was bred in New York by Nancy Harris and John Allen, and is by the stallion City Zip out of the Red Attack broodmare Lady in Red.

"He's gotten better every year, and it seems as if the best is yet to come," said Morrison in a phone interview Friday morning. "We're targeting the Fort Marcy or the Kingston Handicap again. We'll have him tell us when he's ready. He'll go back to Belmont Park in mid-March."

Both of Red Zipper's wins during his 4-year-old campaign came over turf courses listed as good. The gelding won the Kingston Handicap at 1 1/16-miles by a half-length at Belmont Park on May 13, and won the 1 1/16-mile New York Stallion Cormorant Stakes at Aqueduct on Nov. 11. He also placed second in the West Point Handicap at Saratoga on Aug. 12.

"This is the second year he's been here," said Chime Bell Farm's lay-up manager Jill Thomas. "He's probably one of the best natural athletes I've had. He's so incredible when he moves. He's just effortless. He has a huge, big stride."

Red Zipper also won the New York Stallion Cormorant Stakes during his sophomore campaign.

"He's very consistent," said Rachel Hill, who gallops the red gelding that was purchased for 40,000 at the Ocala Breeders' Sales company 2005 Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. "He's really improved and is more focused. He was terrific last year."

From 11 starts, Red Zipper has five wins, two second-place finishes, and has career earnings of 274,360.

Country Star

1/11/2008 - Stonerside Stable's Country Star, who stamped herself in 2007 as one of the best of her generation with consecutive victories in the Grade 1 Darley Alcibiades Stakes and the Grade 1 Hollywood Starlet Stakes during her juvenile campaign, was named the 2007 Aiken Trained Horse of the Year by the Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum.

Country Star will be honored with a ceremony at the Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum on March 16 at 12:30 p.m., with a reception to follow. The public is invited to attend. The filly joins 2002 Aiken Trained Horse of the Year Congaree and 2006 Horse of the Year Bob and John as Stonerside horses who have been recognized with the honor. Country Star is also a finalist for the Eclipse Award for outstanding 2-year-old filly.

"We're very honored," said John Adger, Stonerside Racing and Bloodstock manager in a phone interview Thursday evening. "We were fortunate to have Bob and John honored as the 2006 Aiken Trained Horse of the Year. We're tickled to death with the honor. There were a lot of good horses who won stakes races in 2007 who came out of Aiken, including Dogwood Stable's Cotton Blossom."

Country Star is by the 1993 Belmont Stakes winner Empire Maker, out of the Metfield broodmare Rings A Chime. Rings A Chime won the Grade 1 Ashland Stakes during her 3-year-old campaign, and retired with earnings of $606,315, second most for a Washington-state bred filly.

A dark bay filly, Country Star placed second in her debut, a 1 1/16-miles maiden special weight race on the turf at Belmont Park on Sept. 20. She followed that race with a one-length victory in the 1 1/16-miles Grade 1 Darley Acibiades Stakes on Oct. 5 at Keeneland, winning decisively on the Polytrack. Her third and final start of 2007 would see her establish a new track record over the cushion track at Hollywood Park in the Grade 1 Hollywood Starlet Stakes on Dec. 15, winning impressively by 2 3/4-lengths. Country Star is campaigned by Hall of Fame conditioner Bobby Frankel, who also trained the filly's sire Empire Maker. Frankel is a five time Eclipse Award winning trainer.

Country Star was broken and trained in Aiken by Stonerside Stable's trainer Tim Jones.

"We're very pleased," said Jones. "Her record speaks for itself. We're very honored she was selected as the Horse of the Year."

From three lifetime starts, Country Star has two wins and has placed second once en route to bankrolling $575,900.

1/10/2008 - It will be round two for Dogwood Stable's Blackberry Road and Stonerside Stable's Texas Fever as the two 3-year-old colts will meet again in Saturday's one-mile Grade 3 LeComte Stakes at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans.

In their previous meeting at the Grade 3 Kentucky Cup Juvenile Stakes at Turfway Park on Sept. 29, Texas Fever held on to win by a neck. The late charging Blackberry Road finished a close third in the 1 1/16-miles race, coming from way off the pace to close within three lengths of the winner. Blackberry Road has been installed as the morning line favorite at odds of 7-2. The dark bay son of Gone West finished second in his last start at the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs on Nov. 24. The colt is conditioned by David Carroll.

"The LeComte is a good spot for Blackberry Road," said Cot Campbell, Dogwood Stable president, in a phone interview Wednesday. "The horse has worked well coming into the race. Calvin (Borel, Blackberry Road's jockey) has been on vacation for the past month or two. He rode at Gulfstream Park last Saturday; he's waiting for Oaklawn Park to open. He doesn't have another mount on the day's card. He's a veteran jockey and knows the track very well. The horse schooled in the gate this (Wednesday) morning. He will school in the paddock tomorrow (Thursday) after the first race. He can get a little steamed – he did when he went to Chicago – but he has a lot of class."

In addition to Texas Fever starting in the LeComte Stakes, Stonerside Stable's Tizaqueena will make her stakes debut in the one-mile Tiffany Lass Stakes at the Fair Grounds. Tizaqueena broke her maiden impressively in her first start at one-mile on Dec. 2 at the Fair Grounds, winning by 5 1/4-lengths. Texas Fever drew post position one and will be returning to the track after finishing sixth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf on Oct. 26 at Monmouth Park. The 3-year-old son of the 1998 Belmont Stakes winner Victory Gallop is conditioned by Mike Stidham.

"I'm looking forward to both races," said John Adger, Stonerside Stable racing and bloodstock manager, Wednesday in a phone interview.

"We gave Texas Fever a little time off at the farm, a little break after the Breeders' Cup Juvenile turf. He ran well. He finished sixth, but he was bumped hard in the stretch. It will be a challenge for him on the regular dirt surface, but I think he'll run well and move forward. We're very excited. Aiken plays a big part in our success racing. Tizaqueena was very impressive in breaking her maiden. "We're looking forward to a big race out of her."

1/06/2008 - Dogwood Stable's Heartaches broke his maiden in a 6 1/2-furlong race Sunday at Tampa Bay Downs.

The 3-year-old gelded son of Broken Vow was conditioned by Michelle Nihei, and was trained in Aiken by Legacy Stable's Ron Stevens.

Sigh You won a 1-mile, 70-yard allowance race Sunday at Aqueduct by a nose and paid 44 to win.

The 5-year-old gelded son of Good and Tough is owned by Fox Ridge Farm and spent three months in Aiken with Sally Cluff. Sigh You is trained by Pat Kelly.

"He came to Aiken last winter for some (rest and relaxation), and was a nice horse," said Cluff.

Stonerside Stable's Conchita placed second in a 1 1/16-mile race on the turf at Tampa Bay Downs.

The 3-year-old filly is conditioned by Patrick Byrne and was broken and trained in Aiken by Stonerside trainer Tim Jones.

Another Stonerside homebred finished second in a 1-mile maiden special weight race Saturday evening at Sam Houston Park. Summer Ballad, a 3-year-old Texas-bred colt held on for the place position. Summer Ballad was broken and trained in Aiken by Jones.

Fox Hill Farm's Very Blessed finished second in a 6 1/2-furlong race Thursday at Charles Town.

The 3-year-old filly is conditioned by Steve Klesaris, and was broken and trained in Aiken by Stevens.

Spring Hill Farm's Mini Sermon placed third in the Grade 3 Sabin Handicap Sunday at Gulfstream Park.

The 4-year-old filly won the Grade 2 Top Flight Handicap, the Sweetest Chant Stakes and Marking Time Stakes in 2007. Mini Sermon was broken and trained in Aiken by Stevens.

Daniel Geitner's Parker's Dream finished third in a 4 1/2-furlong maiden special weight race Friday at Charles Town.

The 3-year-old filly was bred by Michael Furr and is trained by Patty Burns.

1/03/2008 - There's definitely no place like home, at least not for Fox Ridge Farm's Naughty New Yorker, whose 3/4-length victory Sunday at Aqueduct in the 1 1/16-mile state-restricted Alex M. Robb Handicap was the 10th stakes victory of his career.

The durable campaigner has made 39 of his 40 career starts in New York and has won or placed 24 times.

"It was nice to win," said Pat Kelly, Naughty New Yorker's trainer in a phone interview Wednesday morning. "Hopefully, the win solidified his credentials as the older male New York-bred horse of the year."

It was the second consecutive victory for Naughty New Yorker in the Robb as the 5-year-old horse captured the 2006 edition. Jean Luc-Samyn, who Americanized his riding style in Aiken, has ridden the son of Quiet American 31 times. The bay horse won the Grade 3 Red Smith Handicap in 2006.

"Samyn has ridden him a lot and knows him well," said Kelly. "He did his usual good job. We're going to freshen him up; he's run a bunch of times. I had mentioned the Aqueduct Handicap as a possibility the other day; Evening Attire will probably start in that race. The Aqueduct Handicap is a little quick off of his race in the Robb, and they've dropped the grading in that race. There's a Breeders' Cup race, and there may be a race in Maryland President's weekend. One of my missions is to have him win a Grade 2 before he retires to stand at stud. We're going to freshen him up. He had a good 2007; he ran hard all year."

Naughty New Yorker has stakes wins in 2007 in the General Douglas MacArthur Handicap and Saratoga Sunrise Stakes. The now 6-year-old horse was purchased for $145,000 at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company 2004 Select Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. In 40 lifetime starts, he has 11 wins, six second-place finishes, seven third-place finishes, and has bankrolled $925,664.

"He came to Aiken from a 2 year-old sale, we gave him a week off, and put him to work," said Sally Cluff, who trained Naughty New Yorker in Aiken. "He was a nice colt, he was nice to work with and to ride. We got him ready to run. He brings a check home just about every time."

1/01/2008 - The new year started off the same way 2007 left off for horses who've trained over the Aiken Training Track. Spring Hill Farm's Nite Light captured the Gallant Fox Handicap Saturday at Aqueduct, and Stonerside Stable's Cowboy Cal rang in the New Year Tuesday afternoon at Calder Race Course with a 2-length victory in the 1 1/8-miles Grade 3 Tropical Park Derby on the turf.

It was the second consecutive stakes win for the son of Giant's Causeway, who captured the 1 1/16-miles Laurel Futurity on the turf last month in decisive style winning by a 6 1/4-length margin.

The dark bay 3 year-old colt was close to the pace throughout much of the race before collaring the lead entering the top of the stretch and drawing clear to prevail under a masterly ride by John Velasquez. It was the third time Velasquez had ridden Cowboy Cal. Edgar Prado had ridden the son of Giant's Causeway in his Laurel Futurity victory.

Cowboy Cal had a bullet work on Dec. 26 at Palm Beach Downs, covering 4-furlongs in :48 1/5. The dark bay colt was bred by Stonerside Farm in Kentucky. The 3 year-old is conditioned by Todd Pletcher and was broken and trained in Aiken by Stonerside Stable's Tim Jones.

From four lifetime starts, Cowboy Cal has three wins and has bankrolled 149,708.

Stonerside Stable's Skylighter placed second in a 1 1/16-miles maiden special weight race Monday at Santa Anita Park.

The 2 year-old daughter of Grade 1 winner Sky Mesa is conditioned by Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel, and was broken and trained in Aiken by Tim Jones.