Alpha Bella

RyZan Sun Racing LLC and Madaket Stables LLC's Mission of Joy (m, 5, Kitten's Joy--Smart Mission, by Smart Strike), whose last graded win was two years ago, moved west this summer to Phil D'Amato's barn and must like the weather and the firm turf that's a hallmark of California grass racing. In her third Golden State start, she captured Saturday's GII Rodeo Drive Stakes at Santa Anita, a 'Win and You're In' for the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Del Mar in four weeks. It was a...

Grade I winner Tenma (Nyquist), Alpha Bella (Justify)--who was scratched from last Saturday's GII Buena Vista on turf in favor of this weekend's GI B. Wayne Hughes Beholder Mile on dirt--and royally-bred Eagles Flight (Curlin) were among several notable workers Sunday at Santa Anita. Tenma worked five furlongs in 1:02.60 for trainer Bob Baffert. Most recently, the filly won the GIII Fasig-Tipton Las Virgenes Stakes on Feb. 2. She is being pointed to the GII Santa Anita Oaks on Apr. 5. Winner of last season's GIII La Prevoyante at Gulfstream,...

Keeneland's lawn debuted during the 1985 Fall meet in an era when American turf courses were just coming into vogue. According to a back issue of the track's media guide, through 2016 they had two names for their grass course. The Keeneland Course referred to the one with rail up, while the normal configuration with it down was called the Haggin Course. Named for Louis Lee Haggin II, who was not only Keeneland's President from 1940-1956, but the decade before had purchased the 550-acre Sycamore Farm in Woodford County. Serving...

Trainer Todd Pletcher has unsaddled the winner of the GIII Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby a record five times--no one else has more than two to their credit--and he stands a fair chance to make it a half-dozen Saturday afternoon when he sends out the two favorites on the morning line. Pegged at odds of 8-5 is Whisper Hill Farm's 'TDN Rising Star' Tapit Trice (Tapit), who will attempt to provide his sire with a fourth winner of the race since in its last 10 runnings (Ring Weekend, 2014; the...