Richard Mandella

Several prospects targeting the GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby April 8 worked Sunday including the top three finishers of the GII San Felipe--Practical Move (Practical Joke), Geaux Rocket Ride (Candy Ride {Arg}) and Skinner (Curlin). Practical Move, out of Tim Yakteen's barn, worked five furlongs in :59 seconds. "Straightforward drill, looked good," Yakteen said. "He was just cruising like he always does. It makes my job easier." Geaux Rocket Ride worked six furlongs for Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella, completing the move in 1:12.20. "The rockets are ready to...

Last year, we conducted a popular Q and A series called 'Smaller But Still Super,' where we featured veteran trainers who have built a competitive racing stable with relatively small numbers (click here to view the archive). This year, we will highlight trainers who have already cut their teeth as novice trainers, but now have a few years of experience under their belt and are looking to make a name for themselves as they grow their stable. We'll talk about the challenges that come with hanging out your single, advice...

10th-Santa Anita, $68,000, Msw, 3-17, 3yo, f, 1m (off turf), 1:37.95, ft, 16 1/2 lengths. WINDOW SHOPPING (f, 3, American Pharoah--Delightful Joy {GSW, $179,200}, by Tapit), last seen sandwiched at the start and bravely making up ground to take sixth in her Nov. 13 juvenile unveiling at Del Mar--a race yielding SW Broadway Girls (Army Mule), showed a new dimension here in this off-turf contest. Leaving the blocks at 3-5 and stalking from cover early in fourth, she moved up to press the leaders at the half-way point and dueled...

For owner/breeder Bruce Chandler, patience was a virtue rewarded when his eye-catching Spirit of Makena captured the GIII San Carlos S. in just his four career start. A head shy from perfection in his spaced-out career, Spirit of Makena debuted late in his 4-year-old season; not seen until an Aug. 5 maiden special at Del Mar last season. He was hounded every step of the way on his step up to allowance optional company Sept. 11 in his first trip at the mile and just couldn't hold off Holden the...

5th-Santa Anita, $69,000, Msw, 2-12, 3yo, f, 6fT, 1:09.42, fm, 1 1/4 lengths. TEENA ELLA (f, 3, War Front--Beholder {Ch. 3-year-old Filly, 2x Ch. Older Mare, Ch. 2-year-old Filly, MGISW, $6,156,600}, by Henny Hughes), the third foal out of Beholder, became the champion's first winner while making her turf debut at Santa Anita Sunday. The 2-1 favorite broke alertly and was keen while in tight quarters between rivals battling for the lead in the early strides. She settled back just off the dueling leaders behind fractions of :22.76 and :45.71....

How apt that one of Burt Bacharach's very first hits was The Story Of My Life. Because reading the tributes prompted by his loss a couple of days ago, it turns out that his music was pretty well a soundtrack to the lives of millions who--especially in the Sixties, an era of profound societal tension between materialism and idealism--wanted assurance that the essential bonds of humanity still united them all. He transcended those divisions much as he did musical genres, knowing that the middle-aged hosts of suburban cocktail parties and...

Burt Bacharach, a famed music composer and songwriter and a Grade I winning horse owner, passed away Wednesday at his home in Los Angeles. He was 94. The Associated Press reported that he died of natural causes. When not in a music studio, Bacharach could often be found at the racetrack, enjoying a sport he called "exhilarating." According to a 1994 feature in the Los Angeles Times, Bacharach, who was born in Kansas City, became a racing fan while growing up in Queens. He said he would make "mind bets"...

Finally out from under And Tell Me Nolies's (Arrogate) shadow, ICE DANCING (Frosted) broke through for her first graded-stakes win in two prior tries and earned 10 points on the road to the Kentucky Oaks with a 3 1/4-length closing performance in the rescheduled GIII Santa Ynez S. Third behind the daughter of Arrogate when debuted at Del Mar Aug. 14, she rebounded with another third second-time out in the GI TVG Del Mar Debutante S. but had to settle for fourth in her first try at the Great Race...

The red-and-white colors of Rick Porter's Fox Hill Farms will not be seen on the racetrack again. Eighteen months after Porter passed away after a long battle with cancer, the final horse still owned by Fox Hill, Royal Ship (Brz) (Midshipman), has been acquired by Porter's son, Scott, and will race under the name of Fox Hollow Farm. Siena Farm LLC has retained its minority interest in the horse. "We could have kept him running in Fox Hill silks, but, accounting-wise, it made sense to put an end to that...

There are but five weeks remaining between now and the Breeders' Cup at Keeneland Nov. 4 and 5, and many of horse racing's biggest names will take in their final prep races over the course of the next couple of weekends. Better than 40 graded stakes, the majority of which have championship weekend implications, are set to take place from sea to shining sea, including 21 'Win and You're In' events offering the winners an all-expenses paid trip to the Bluegrass. Santa Anita stages one of the four Breeders' Cup...

MyRacehorse and Spendthrift Farm's Forbidden Kingdom (American Pharoah), a powerful wire-to-wire winner of the GII San Vicente S. Jan. 29 and GII San Felipe S. Mar. 5, could return to action against older horses in the GII Santa Anita Sprint Championship S. Oct. 1. Knocked off the Triple Crown trail after finishing last of six as the favorite after setting a fast pace in the GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby Apr. 9, the chestnut has posted three breezes since returning to the worktab in August, most recently firing a four-furlong...

Bo Derek, an actress, model, and humanitarian, has joined the MyRacehorse owner community as its first-ever celebrity ambassador. Derek sits on the Executive Board for the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, is an Ambassador for the Breeders' Cup World Championships and is now an owner on I'm a Looker '20, a 2-year-old colt by Pioneerof the Nile, who will be trained by Richard Mandella; with whom she has an over 20 year friendship. "I am so excited to be a horse owner with MyRacehorse," Derek said of her new venture. "I've...