Horse Racing News

For all the terrific performances by 2-year-olds so far at the Churchill Downs fall meet, none was more eye-catching than the maiden victory by an Indian Charlie colt named Ever So Lucky on Nov. 11.

After conceding the early advantage to even-money favorite All Due Respect, Barry Schwartz's Lovely Lil reasserted her superiority down the backside and went on to post a 15-1 upset of Friday's Grade 2, $150,000 Go for Wand Handicap at Aqueduct.

Irish-bred filly Oregon Lady split horses in deep stretch and passed Trip for A. J. a few strides before the wire to claim her first graded stakes win in the $100,000 My Charmer Handicap on Thanksgiving at Calder Casino & Race Course.

In a battle of impressive debut winners, So Brilliant shined and Empire Way never fired in the Grade 3, $100,000 Hollywood Prevue on Thursday at Hollywood Park.

It's hard to believe that Bill Mott sent out 12 losers from his first 19 starters at the Churchill Downs fall meet, because it seems like every time the spotlight came on, the Hall of Fame trainer had the winner.

Second in his return to racing following a 20-month layoff, grade I winner Bob Black Jack will make his turf debut for trainer James Kasparoff in the $250,000 Citation Handicap at Hollywood Park Nov. 26.

Unbeaten champion Awesome Feather puts her seven-race winning streak on the line against nine opponents in the $250,000 Gazelle Stakes at Aqueduct Nov. 26.

Bill Mott won the Breeders' Cup Classic with Drosselmeyer, who was considered the lesser regarded of the two horses the Hall of Fame trainer ran in that race three weeks ago at Churchill Downs.

This year's Breeders' Cup may be a memory, but no fewer than five horses that competed in the 2011 World Championships are back at Churchill Downs for the Grade 1, $500,000 Clark Handicap Nov. 25.

Empire Way, a full brother to 2011 Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic winner Royal Delta, makes his stakes debut in the $100,000 Hollywood Prevue Stakes on Thanksgiving Day at Hollywood Park Nov. 24.