 Weekend Update
Updated - 4/19/2013
|
|
This weekend is a potentially lucrative one for the Mike Stidham stable, with a number of horses entered in stakes spanning no less then three different states.
Running in the Grade III Illinois Derby at Hawthorne is the exciting Ground Transport, who ran such a fine race in defeat in the Grade II Louisiana Derby last time out. Given a marginally easier time of it this go around, Ground Transport is one of the more fancied ...
|
Lovely Liz’s lasts gasp win
Updated - 4/15/2013
|
|
Liz Pendens just held on for a last gasp win Saturday night to break her maiden at Keeneland for trainer Mike Stidham. Always to the fore, Lovely Liz went to the front before the half and surged even further clear through the second turn. In the straight, however, the mid-race maneuver began to show. With legs full of Smuckers jelly, she tired rapidly - prevailing by a dimishing nose on the line.
That was Liz's first ...
|
Curtain closing on Fair Grounds
Updated - 4/6/2013
|
|
The 2012-2013 Fair Grounds meeting is winding rapidly to a close and the racetrack stable area is a hive of activity as trainers hitch up the wagons and ship their stables elsewhere around the country in pursuit of the glittering summer prizes. One of these trainers is Mike Stidham, who, in an annual pilgrimage, will relocate his main string to Arlington.
However, Stidham is sending about sixteen horses to Churchill this year, to be overseen by ...
|
Ground Transport on the road to a bright future.
Updated - 4/1/2013
|
|
So the darts may have just missed the bulls-eye over the weekend for trainer Mike Stidham, but there were still plenty of commendable performances from horses running in ultra-competitive races.
Adopting his customary position as stable flag-bearer, Willcox Inn ran a barn-stormer to finish second in the Grade II Mervin H. Junior Stakes. No less than three wide the whole trip, Willcox Inn swooped down the straight only to fail by a half length at the ...
|
Weekend update
Updated - 3/28/2013
|
|
After a relative lull last weekend, it looks like being all systems go for the Mike Stidham barn this weekend. A total of seven horses are entered over the two days with no less than three major stakes races targeted.
Flying the stable flag is barn stalwart Willcox Inn who contests the Grade II Mervin H. Muniz Jr. Handicap - a one mile and one eighth turf race. As usual, it's not going to be easy ...
|
Weekend Extravaganza
Updated - 3/19/2013
|
|
Extravaganza proved the aptly named winner of Saturday's Happy Ticket Stakes at Fair Grounds when putting on quite the show to grind out a hard-fought and determined win. Trainer Mike Stidham's six-year-old filly by Elusive Quality was winning her first stake race and was made to pull out all the stops in doing so, chasing the eventual runner-up all the way down the stretch before prevailing by a nose at the wire.
Including Saturday's purse of ...
|
Weekend update
Updated - 3/15/2013
|
|
Mike Stidham bids for more big race glory this weekend with runners in stake races at Fair Grounds and Sam Houston.
Stidham's hoping that he holds the golden ticket for the Happy Ticket Stakes - a $75,000 sprint over five and a half furlongs at his back yard track. Both of his runners, Cat Lore and Extravanganze, are coming off wins, and look to have strong chances in an open looking contest.
Stidham sends two fillies to ...
|
Knocking on the door
Updated - 3/11/2013
|
|
While trainer Mike Stidham failed to nail down a win over the weekend, he took home the consolation prize on no fewer than four occassions - frustrating, yes, but what it does illustrate is the wellbeing of his horses.
Making her American racing debut and having her first start in a little over a year, Seeking Luck ran a barn stormer to finish a half-length second. Sent to the lead the top of the stretch, she ...
|
Weekend news
Updated - 3/7/2013
|
|
The weekend may be light on stakes runners for the Mike Stidham barn but there's still plenty to look forward to with four entered at Fair Grounds Saturday and another two Sunday. Perhaps the most interesting runner of Stidham's Saturday quartet is Seeking Luck - an Irish import making her North American debut. This nicely bred filly failed to make the cut last weekend when on the AE list in a $75,000 stake. Another making ...
|
Bella just beautiful
Updated - 3/6/2013
|
|
Bella Figlia--a three year old filly by J Be K--notched a sizzling three-timer for trainer Mike Stidham when running her rivals ragged at Sam Houston Monday. Positively bolting from the gates, she showed enough early speed to make Usain Bolt look like one of Jenny Craig's toughest challenges. The closest runner-up Bilirrubina ever got to Stidham's charge was at the wire - not that the result ever loked in doubt. Tough, willing and still lightly ...
|
Weekend news
Updated - 3/1/2013
|
|
Saturday is all about quality, not quantity for trainer Mike Stidham as he unleashes a small but select possible quartet of runners between Fair Grounds and Sam Houston.
Stidham's double-fisting in the Maxxam Gold Cup Handicap at Sam Houston - a $100,000 stake over one and one eight miles. His main contender appears to be Hurricane Ike who ran an honorable third in the Louisiana Handicap last time out. Tougher than grandma's old beef jerky, Hurricane ...
|
Ground Transport successfully deployed
Updated - 2/25/2013
|
|
Saturday proved to be another productive day for the Mike Stidham stable with an across the card double that took in Fair Grounds and Sam Houston, and the rest of his other five runners faring no worse than fourth.
Day-Lewis, Lawrence, Affleck et al may have brought home the bacon oscar's night, but Ground Transport showed that it shouldn't be long before he starts filling the mantlepiece with his own golden trophies after registering his second ...
|
Weekend update
Updated - 2/22/2013
|
|
Saturday looks like being another busy day for the Mike Stidham stable with no less than seven runners spread between Fair Grounds and Sam Houston. Leading the cavalry charge is stable favorite Willcox Inn who faces eleven rivals in the grade III Fair Grounds Handicap over a mile and an eighth on the turf. Jose Lezcano takes the mount.
Also at Fair Grounds, three-year-old filly Every Way bids for her first stakes win in the Grade ...
|
Magic Mike’s magnificent Monday
Updated - 2/18/2013
|
|
For most people, Mondays are approached with the same enthusiasm as enemas and root canals. The same can't be said for trainer Mike Stidham - not in light of his magnificent across the card three timer this past Monday. First up was Hopelands who delivered the goods in impressive style at Sam Houston. Always pressing the pace, Hopelands drew clear in the straight to win by 4 1/2 lengths.
Back at Fair Grounds, it was Cat ...
|
Dreaming Blue leaves Stidham tickled pink
Updated - 2/15/2013
|
|
Dreaming Blue gave trainer Michael Stidham another winner Tuesday when prevailing by a hard fought neck in an optional claiming allowance at Fair Grounds. Settled just off the pace, Dreaming Blue came five wide in the final turn to out-battle a handful of runners, not least of all the admirable Macho Bull, in a pulsating finish. That was the ultra-consistent Dreaming Blue's third win for Stidham. While he may not be vying for top honors ...
|
Three pronged attack on the Battle of New Orleans Stakes
Updated - 2/2/2013
|
|
In honor of the new "women in combat" bill that was recently passed, Mike Stidham sends three young girls to the frontline in Saturday's Battle of New Orleans Stakes - a five and a half furlong sprint on the turf for three year-old fillies. All three are looking for their first taste of a stakes victory. Truly Marie has mixed it in better company before, with a fine third in the Breeder's Cup Juvenile Filly ...
|
The winners keep coming
Updated - 1/29/2013
|
|
Another weekend and another winner for the Mike Stidham barn when Kenny's Lake did the honors on Sunday. Jumping out smartly from the gates, he toyed with the opposition as a cat would a mouse before surging clear in the stretch for a comfortable 2 length success in the maiden claimer.
Elsewhere over the weekend, Willcox Inn ran his usual honest race in finishing third in the Grade III John B. Connally Turf Cup Stakes at ...
|
Ground Transport on the road to a step up in class
Updated - 1/23/2013
|
|
Ground Transport, one of Mike Stidham's more promising three year olds has quickly shaken the monkey from his back by winning convincingly on only his second career start. Despite racing three or four wide for much of the trip, Ground Transport surged clear in the stretch to win by a "more comfortable than it looks" 1 1/2 lengths in a Fair Grounds maiden that is sure to contain a card full of future winners. It ...
|
Stidham Poised for Another Big Year in 2013
Updated - 1/16/2013
|
|
Conditioner Mike Stidham huddles in his office on a grey, damp and drizzly day at Fairgrounds, early January, his mind torn between the notable achievements of last year and the possibility of an even more decorated one in 2013.
“We’re starting off the year with a full barn here at Fairgrounds,” Stidham says, the office door ajar so that he can watch the steaming horses from the previous set cool down after their morning exercise. “And ...
|
STIDHAM SCORES ARLINGTON’S 1ST TRAINING TRIPLE OF 2012 WEDNESDAY
Updated - 10/21/2012
|
|
Arlington-based conditioner Mike Stidham became the first horseman at the local oval's 2012 session to saddle three winners on a single program Wednesday and that training triple moved him into a tie for the lead in the trainer standings entering Friday's racing program.
In spite of that three-win afternoon and his newfound status as Arlington's co-leading conditioner, Stidham downplayed his chances of earning the first training championship of his career at the end of the season.
"(A ...
|
Ruthville takes Lady Canterbury by a length
Updated - 8/16/2012
|
|
Trainer Michael Stidham has taken a liking to Canterbury Park's new purse structure, capping a sweep of the two major stakes of the season with the victory of Ruthville in the $100,000 Lady Canterbury Stakes.
Locally stabled Rare Sunset shot off to a big early lead under jockey Geovanni Franco and blistered through fractions of 23.06 and 46.62 seconds. With her lead as much as seven lengths down the backstretch, Stidham assistant Chris Davis wasn't concerned.
"If ...
|
Hammers Terror survives inquiry to win Mystic Lake Derby
Updated - 8/5/2012
|
|
Hammers Terror had to survive a stewards’ inquiry and an objection from second-place Delegation’s jockey, Jermaine Bridgmohan, to ultimately became the first winner of the $161,250 Mystic Lake Derby in front of 10,127 on Saturday at Canterbury Park.
Hammers Terror took the lead exiting the first turn in the one-mile turf race and never relinquished it. Delegation, stumbling badly at the start, recovered enough heading into the first turn to take a brief lead before surrendering ...
|
Willcox Inn will try a graded stakes next
Updated - 7/28/2012
|
|
Options remain open for the second start of Willcox Inn’s 2012 campaign, trainer Mike Stidham said Tuesday, but what’s certain is that Willcox Inn will step back into graded turf stakes competition in his next run. And from the appearance of his comeback race this past Sunday at Arlington, his progress should be worth following.
Making his first start since late November, Willcox Inn won a high-level allowance race by a half-length, but it was the ...
|
Upperline high weight in Modesty
Updated - 7/24/2012
|
|
Upperline, a two-time stakes winner this year, has been pegged as the 121-pound highweight for the $200,000 Modesty Handicap (gr. IIIT) July 14 at Arlington Park. The Modesty is one of four graded stakes on the card, billed as “Million Preview Day.”
The Modesty, which has a post of 3:41 p.m. CDT, is a prep for the Beverly D. Stakes (gr. IT) which will go on the undercard of the Aug. 18 Arlington Million (gr. IT).
The ...
|
Hammers Terror shines in Charlie Barley
Updated - 7/12/2012
|
|
Arlington shipper Hammers Terror outran favored Excaper and four other 3-year-olds to take the $103,600 Charlie Barley Stakes at Woodbine on Saturday.
Hammers Terror stalked the dueling leaders on the backstretch in the one-mile turf route, before moving into serious contention exiting the turn. He drew away in the final furlong to prevail by 3 3/4 lengths over Excaper, who came wide from farther back than usual to end up second in his first start in ...
|
Upperline looks for Trillium repeat
Updated - 7/6/2012
|
|
Shippers should be very prominent in both the My Dear and the Trillium, the two stakes that are coming in well under the radar on Woodbine’s Queen’s Plate Day program.
Upperline, based at Arlington Park with trainer Michael Stidham, will be looking for a local repeat after romping when making her Woodbine debut in last year’s $100,000 Trillium, a 1 1/8-mile overnight stakes for fillies and mares that attracted a field of eight.
The 5-year-old used last ...
|
Upperline displays different style, same results in Matron
Updated - 6/15/2012
|
|
Upperline displays different style, same results in Matron Every winter, Upperline spends about two months kicking back at Arthur Hancock’s Stone Farm in Kentucky, and every year, Upperline comes back into training a happy, healthy horse. She is on her third straight year of high-class racing, and on Saturday she won for the eighth time in 20 starts, dominating the Grade 3, $150,000 Arlington Matron with a four-length win over Hooh Why.
“Look at her,” trainer ...
|
Upperline Looks to Double Luck at Arlington
Updated - 5/26/2012
|
|
Esther Marr, The BloodHorse
A competitive field of older fillies and mares, including previous Arlington Park graded stakes winner Upperline, grade I winner Hooh Why, and 2011 Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) contender Kathmanblu, comprise the lineup for the May 26 Arlington Matron Stakes (gr. III) at Arlington Park.
The $150,000, 1 1/8-mile contest is slated for 4:16 p.m. and will be run over Arlington’s Polytrack surface.
Stone Farm, John Adger, Oakcrest Farm, and Mike Stidham's Upperline, who won ...
|
Stidham off to another good start
Updated - 5/26/2012
|
|
The weather across the Eastern States has been unseasonably warm this winter, but at Fair Grounds Mike Stidham is off to his usual hot start. The meet has been highly successful for Stidham the last few seasons.
With 20 wins since the meet opened in November, Stidham stands 7th in the Fair Grounds standings. He also has 65 in the money finishes, a rate of 48%, and earnings of $662,666.
The Hawthorne meet is not yet a month old but ...
|
Keeneland: Upperline downed seven others to win the Grey Goose Bewitch Stakes
Updated - 5/25/2012
|
|
bettor.com
The 5-year-old daughter of Maria’s Mon, Upperline, finally made it right in the Grade 3 Grey Goose Bewitch Stakes over at Keeneland’s turf course, going over a distance of 1 ½ miles, Upperline grabbed the winner with a late stretch run under jockey James Graham.
The mare, Upperline, failed to post a winner in her last two appearances, in which one was the second place finish in the Rood and Riddle Dowager also at Keeneland turf ...
|
Keeneland: Flash Mash gets up just before wire in Giant’s Causeway
Updated - 5/25/2012
|
|
Flash Mash was up in the final jumps Saturday to pull a mild upset at 7-1 in the 16th running of the $100,000 Giant’s Causeway Stakes on the Keeneland turf.
With Brian Hernandez Jr. aboard for trainer Mike Stidham, Flash Mash was notching her first stakes victory in the Giant’s Causeway, a 5 1/2-furlong race that directly preceded the Coolmore Lexington Stakes on a cold and drizzly spring afternoon. The winner nailed Well Deserved in the ...
|
Keeneland: Upperline the one to catch in Bewitch Stakes
Updated - 4/27/2012
|
|
Until finishing second in the Dowager Stakes on the Keeneland turf last fall, Upperline had never raced as far as 1 1/2 miles. But given that encouraging effort, along with her advancing age and pedigree, trainer Mike Stidham laid her up this winter with the thought of aiming for more turf marathons this year.
With one tightener under her belt, Upperline returns to Keeneland as the horse to catch and beat in the Thursday feature, the ...
|
Right One and Comedero vie in Keeneland’s Grade 2 Commonwealth Stakes
Updated - 4/23/2012
|
|
by Jessie Oswald. louisville.com
A field of seven will compete for $175,000 in Keeneland’s Grade 2 Commonwealth Stakes. The 7-furlong race is the 9th on Keeneland’s Saturday card and the second of four scheduled graded stakes.
The 9-5 morning-line favorite is the Christophe Clement trained runner Right One. The grandson of Danzig won the Grade 3 Jaipur Stakes at seven furlongs on the Belmont turf last July. He finished a neck behind Turallure who finished second by a ...
|
Comedero gets audition in Hot Springs
Updated - 4/14/2012
|
|
Comedero is one of the best horses ever bred in Arkansas, and with the right kind of effort Saturday in the $75,000 Hot Springs at Oaklawn, he could get a shot at his home state’s biggest sprint race, the Grade 3, $250,000 Count Fleet Handicap.
The Hot Springs, at six furlongs, has drawn a field of 11. The group includes Riley Tucker, winner of the $50,000 King Cotton at Oaklawn in January; Silver Magnus, runner-up in ...
|
Comedero still king of the Arkansas-breds
Updated - 3/23/2012
|
|
By Mary Rampellini, DRF
Comedero made a triumphant return to the races Saturday at Oaklawn Park, when he won the $50,000 Nodouble in hand in his first start since battling back from a severe infection. He withstood pace pressure in the six furlong race for Arkansas-breds, shook his rival, then cruised home in 1:10.52.
“He’s a racehorse,” said Cliff Berry, who was aboard Comedero for Peter Redekop and trainer Michael Stidham.
The Nodouble was one of two stakes ...
|
Comedero recovers in time to defend Nodouble Breeders’ title
Updated - 2/26/2012
|
|
Comedero put on a show in the Nodouble Breeders’ Stakes a year ago at Oaklawn Park, when he won the Arkansas-bred sprint by 10 lengths with a Beyer Figure of 100. He’s back to defend his title Saturday, but late last year his appearance in the six-furlong race was in doubt. Comedero was hit with a severe infection in what became a two-month ordeal for the graded stakes winner, who has earned more than $600,000.
“We’re ...
|
Willcox Inn Shakes Loose in Hawthorne Derby
Updated - 2/5/2012
|
|
Jack Shinar, The BloodHorse
Heavy choice Willcox Inn cut the final corner expertly for jockey Robby Albarado and sprinted away from his rivals in the stretch to win the $200,000 Hawthorne Derby Sponsored by TVG (gr. IIIT) by 4 1/2 lengths Oct. 15 at Hawthorne Racecourse.
Willcox Inn, dropping in company off of a fourth-place finish in the Secretariat Stakes (gr. IT) Aug. 13 at Arlington Park, picked up his third win in six starts this year ...
|
Upperline looks to rebound in Dowager Stakes
Updated - 10/25/2011
|
|
Who was that bay filly masquerading as Upperline at Turfway Park? Surely not the real thing as far as trainer Mike Stidham is concerned.
“I’ve never seen her run a race like that before,” said Stidham, referring to a dreadful last-place finish as the even-money favorite four weeks ago in the Kentucky Cup Distaff. “She just never got a hold of the Polytrack at all.”
Duly regrouped, Upperline will try to return to the form that led ...
|
Willcox Inn figures tough on soft turf in Kent Stakes
Updated - 10/23/2011
|
|
Mother Nature could very well dictate whether Saturday’s Grade 3 Kent Stakes for 3-year-olds remains on Delaware Park’s grass course or gets moved to the main track.
Showers throughout the week and a forecast calling for the possibility of heavy rain on race day almost assuredly mean the $250,000, 1 1/8-mile Kent will either be contested on soft turf or mud.
Non-firm turf shouldn’t bother morning-line favorite Willcox Inn, who won the $100,000 Arlington Classic over yielding ...
|
Willcox Inn cruises in American Derby
Updated - 9/24/2011
|
|
Marcus Hersh, DRF
Willcox Inn is two-thirds of the way to a sweep of Arlington's Mid-America Triple, and leg 2, Saturday's American Derby, was no contest.
Sweeping to the front more than a half-mile from home, Willcox Inn held a four-length lead at the stretch call and a four-length lead at the finish, easily holding clear the stretch run of second-place Suntracer. Derby Kitten finished third, Chalice fourth. Willcox Inn, who paid $6.20 to win as the ...
|
Lady Canterbury: A She’s Adorable captures track’s signature race
Updated - 9/24/2011
|
|
On a hot, humid day set aside by Canterbury Park to celebrate the strength of breast cancer survivors, a mare with a survival story of her own, A She’s Adorable, captured the signature stakes race of the meet, the $75,000 Lady Canterbury Stakes.
Jockey James Graham kept A She’s Adorable off honest early fractions set by longshot Rare Sunset in the one-mile turf race.
“I didn’t want the pace to be too slow,” said Graham. “But ...
|
Stidham optimistic Willcox Inn has right stuff for Secretariat
Updated - 8/6/2011
|
|
Marcus Hersh, DRF
Mike Stidham has sent out the winner in four of Arlington’s last five turf stakes for 3-year-olds. Workin for Hops won the Arlington Classic and the American Derby in 2010, a feat his stablemate Willcox Inn has duplicated in 2011, but this year, Stidham hopes he capture the big prize, the $400,000 Secretariat.
Workin for Hops turned in a fine performance in the 2010 Secretariat, finishing third behind Paddy O’Prado and Wigmore Hall, but ...
|
Willcox Inn Likely Choice in American Derby
Updated - 7/11/2011
|
|
Jack Shinar, The BloodHorse
Willcox Inn, winner of the Arlington Classic, which kicked off the Mid-America Triple May 28 at Arlington Park, returns in pursuit of the $200,000 American Derby (gr. IIT), the second leg of the series July 9.
The American Derby will be run at 1 3/16 miles over Arlington's turf course. It is the final local prep for the Secretariat Stakes (gr. IT), which will be held at Arlington Aug. 13.
The race is part ...
|
Upperline finishes fast to win Trillium
Updated - 7/7/2011
|
|
Upperline, under a rousing rider by Emme-Jayne Wilson, took over through the final furlong and prevailed by a 3 1/2 lengths in Saturday’s $103,400 Trillium. The Trillium was one of four stakes run at Woodbine on a card topped by the Grade 2 Kingh Edward Stakes.
Bubble Gum, making her seasonal bow, moved up to engage the front-running Oil Painting after a half-mile had been run in the 1 1/8-mile Trillium and appeared to be headed ...
|
Loranger Native heads BC Derby noms
Updated - 7/7/2011
|
|
Early nominations to the premier race at Hastings, the Grade 3, $200,000, British Columbia Derby, closed with 56 nominations. The derby heads six stakes races that are scheduled for Sept. 11.
If the race was held in the next couple of weeks, owner Peter Redekop would probably have the favorite. He owns the current leader of the local 3-year-old division, Inhisglory, and also nominated a couple of other horses with strong credentials, Diamond Geezah and Loranger Native.
Loranger Native ...
|
Wilcox Inn takes the Arlington Classic
Updated - 6/26/2011
|
|
Marcus Hersh, DRF
The stakes races Saturday at Arlington, the Arlington Matron and the Arlington Classic, were of the Grade 3 and listed variety, but the winner of each may be ready for bigger game.
Pachattack was especially impressive winning the Grade 3, $100,000 Matron by six lengths, while Willcox Inn appeared to handily outclass the opposition in the $100,000 Arlington Classic, winning by 2 1/2 lengths.
After watching Upperline fail to show her best in the ...
|
Workin For Hops Brews up Hanshin Cup win
Updated - 6/1/2011
|
|
The BloodHorse
Slight choice Workin for Hops shook free from the leaders in upper stretch and drew away to a three-length victory in the $100,000 Hanshin Cup Handicap (gr. III) at Arlington Park May 21.
James Graham piloted the 4-year-old City Zip gelding to victory for owner Estrorace and trainer Mike Stidham. Workin for Hops, sent off at odds of 2-1, completed the one-mile test on Arlington's Polytrack in a solid 1:34.55.
Workin for Hops won for the ...
|
Arlington: Willcox Inn starts Triple bid
Updated - 6/1/2011
|
|
Willcox Inn, trainer Mike Stidham's starter in Saturday's $100,000 Arlington Classic, remains eligible for a first-level allowance race, though his lone victory came in his career debut last summer at Arlington, where he beat eventual Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom. Willcox Inn confirmed his quality with a third in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity and a third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, and he has yet to get a truly fair shake in 2011. ...
|
Arlington: Upperline leads Stidham’s stakes pair
Updated - 6/1/2011
|
|
Trainer Mike Stidham compiled a record of 6-3-2 from 15 stakes starters during the 2010 Arlington Park meet, and, in Arlington’s 15 graded races, Stidham’s stable went 4-2-3 with 11 runners. Already at Arlington 2011, Stidham is at it again. His barn won last Saturday’s Hanshin, the season’s first graded race, with Workin for Hops, and it has two more apparently live runners in a pair of open stakes Saturday, Willcox Inn for the $100,000 ...
|
Willcox Inn likely for American Derby
Updated - 6/1/2011
|
|
The addition of blinkers and a return to grass racing got Willcox Inn back on track Saturday, when he won the Arlington Classic by more than two lengths, and trainer Mike Stidham hopes Willcox Inn can make all three races in Arlington’s Mid-America Triple. That loosely linked series of 3-year-old grass stakes continues with the July 9 American Derby and concludes with the $400,000 Secretariat on Aug. 13.
Willcox Inn, who beat Animal Kingdom in their ...
|
Comedero gets up late in Moscarelli
Updated - 5/22/2011
|
|
By Joseph Swavy, DRF
Comedero improved his record to 10 wins in 14 starts and a perfect 2 for 2 in 2011 with a half-length win in Saturday’s $79,050 Vincent A. Moscarelli Memorial Stakes at Delaware Park.
Comedero, ridden by jockey Cliff Berry, got off to a quick start but was content to sit in third just off pacesetter Nathan’s H.Q. and Sneaking Uponyou through early splits of 22.39 and 44.59 seconds in the six-furlong dash. Comedero ...
|
Loranger Native wins the Blue and Gold Stakes
Updated - 5/8/2011
|
|
In the Blue and Gold Stakes, a seven-furlong event, Loranger Native came from the back of the pack to overtake Diski Dance and Gators Choice down the homestretch in a five-horse field to claim the $100,000 purse for 3-year-olds.
Trained by Michael Stidham and owned by Peter Redekop B.C. Ltd., Loranger Native with John Velazquez aboard, was a 1-2 race-time favorite and finished with a time of 1:25.72. Gators Choice led from the gate and into ...
|
Kentucky Derby may soon have its first female winner
Updated - 5/7/2011
|
|
Getting an early start on a career always helps.
Rosie Napravnik couldn't have begun any younger:
Her mother rode show horses - and she didn't stop after learning she was pregnant.
"I was riding in the womb," Napravnik said, "and ever since."
Bouncing around in the saddle before birth didn't produce her uncanny sense of pace, but it couldn't have hurt. At 2, the redheaded farm girl from New Jersey was on a pony. At 7, after her first ...
|
Willcox Inn drills for Blue Grass
Updated - 4/19/2011
|
|
SANTIVA and WILLCOX INN, the respective second- and third-place finishers from the Breeders' Futurity (G1) at Keeneland last fall, each posted works on Saturday in advance of their rematch in the 87th running of the Blue Grass S. (G1) on April 16.
Over Keeneland's Polytrack, Willcox Inn worked six furlongs in 1:12 2/5 in company with stablemate Lumberyard Jack (Bellamy Road), who went in 1:13.
With jockey Rosie Napravnik up, Willcox Inn started off a length ...
|
Oaklawn: Comedero hardly looks rusty winning comeback in Nodouble
Updated - 4/19/2011
|
|
By Mary Rampellini, DRF
Comedero established himself as a 3-year-old sprinter of note last year when he won five stakes, including the Grade 3 Chick Lang at Pimlico. Saturday, he looked as good as ever when he made his first start in six months in the $50,000 Nodouble at Oaklawn Park.
Comedero, returning to the Arkansas-bred ranks to start his season, set quick fractions and won in hand, cruising home by 10 ¾ lengths over Toga’s Storm. ...
|
Comedero to return in Nodouble
Updated - 4/6/2011
|
|
Comedero, the Arkansas-bred sprinter who won five stakes in 2010, is to make his first start of the year Saturday in the $50,000 Nodouble at Oaklawn, trainer Michael Stidham said. The six-furlong race is one of four weekend stakes restricted to horses bred in Arkansas.
Robby Albarado has the mount, Stidham said.
Comedero, who last raced in October, will be honored Saturday night as the 2010 Arkansas-bred horse of the year. His connections will be recognized during ...
|
Upperline wins the LaCombe
Updated - 3/30/2011
|
|
Oakcrest et al.’s Upperline pressed the early pace, gained the advantage in the lane and drew clear late for a one-length win in Saturday’s fourth running of the $60,000 Allen LaCombe Memorial Handicap for older fillies and mares over Fair Grounds’ Stall-Wilson turf course.
Trained by Mike Stidham, who is also one of the owners, Upperline was winning her first race over grass but the fourth race of her career in 10 lifetime starts. The daughter ...
|
Stidham Pair Looks Tough in FG Handicap
Updated - 3/4/2011
|
|
By Jason Shandler, The BloodHorse
The top three finishers of the Colonel E. R. Bradley Handicap (gr. IIIT) including the winner, Gran Estreno, will face off once again in the $125,000 Fair Grounds Handicap (gr. IIIT) Feb. 19.
Eight-year-old Gran Estreno scored by 1 1/4 lengths in the Bradley by will face formidable challengers in the Fair Grounds Handicap that include grade I winner Telling, stablemate Workin For Hops, and Loup Breton, who makes his first start for Todd Pletcher. The 1 ...
|
Gran Estreno victorious at Fair Grounds
Updated - 2/15/2011
|
|
By Ron Parker, Thoroughbred Times
Feel The Thunder Stable’s Gran Estreno (Arg) commenced his winning bid turning for home and rallied furiously through the stretch before edging clear late for a 1 ¼-length victory in the $99,000 Colonel E. R. Bradley Handicap (G3) at Fair Grounds.
Ridden by Rosie Napravnik, the eight-year-old Lucky Roberto horse showed age was not an issue as he opened his seventh racing campaign with his 14th visit to the winner’s circle.
Grade 3 ...
|
Rivals Battle in Col. Bradley Handicap
Updated - 1/23/2011
|
|
By Jason Shandler, The Bloodhorse
Strike Again and Gran Estreno, separated by less than a length last month in the Buddy Diliberto Memorial Handicap at Fair Grounds, are among the top choices for the $100,000 Colonel E. R. Bradley Handicap (gr. IIIT) Jan. 22 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.
A field of nine older horses that will travel 1 1/16 miles on turf were drawn for the Bradley Handicap, which shares top billing with the grade ...
|
Gran Estreno, 8, Wins Col. Bradley Handicap
Updated - 1/23/2011
|
Gran Estreno has always been a consistent horse, his lifetime record proves that. But the former claimer, who turned 8 earlier this month, seems to be getting better with age.
With Anna Napravnik aboard for Michael Stidham, Gran Estreno made a bold move on the final turn and pulled away from a good field in the stretch to win the $100,000 Colonel E. R. Bradley Handicap (gr. IIIT) by 1 1/4 lengths Jan. 22 at Fair Grounds. It was the fourth group/graded stakes win for the Argentinean-bred horse and his third victory in his last four starts. The son of Lucky Roberto runs for Feel The Thunder Stable.
Not far off the early pace set by favored Red Strike, Gran Estreno kicked into another gear when Napranvik sent him five-wide around the final turn. He came onto even terms with Red Strike nearing the quarter pole and took a narrow advantage at the top of the lane. Dubious Miss was one of several horses that gave chase in the final furlong, but the chestnut was clear midway through the stretch en route to his convincing score.
The final time for 1 1/16 miles on the yielding turf course was 1:46.04. Dubious Miss and Corey Lanerie settled for second one length in front of Joinem, who rallied from far back to get third in the field of eight.
Red Strike, who tired to finish fourth, set fractions of :25.04, :50.93, and 1:16.19.
Gran Estreno began his career in Argentina, winning twice in nine starts including the group I Jockey Club Stakes. After being shipped to the United States he eventually wound up in the claiming ranks, where he was twice plucked for $20,000. The second of those came in May, 2009, by Feel The Thunder Stable.
He has won nine times for his current connections including the 2009 Claiming Crown Emerald and the last two editions of the Washington Park Handicap (gr. III) at Arlington Park. Gran Estreno entered the Bradley off two solid efforts at Fair Grounds, running second in the Buddy Dilberto Memorial Handicap and scoring in an optional claimer, both in December. He has hit the board in his last nine starts.
Overall, Gran Estreno has produced a 14-5-7 record from 35 starts for earnings of $543,175. He was bred by Eduardo Carlos Luther and is out of the Senor Pete mare Great Stampa.
The winner paid $8.20, $4.40, and $3.20. The exacta returned $51.40 and the trifecta (2-6-4) was worth $205.
|
Flash Mash Eyes Delta Riches
Updated - 1/19/2011
|
|
Just For Fun Stable’s Decisive Moment and Prime Equestrian S.A.R.L.’s Flash Mash could be the respective favorites when the fields for the Jean Lafitte Stakes and My Trusty Cat Stakes go to post Jan. 14 at Delta Downs Racetrack & Casino.
In the My Trusty Cat, the speedy Flash Mash, trained by Mike Stidham and to be ridden by Anna Napravnik, will try two turns for the first time. The Kentucky-bred filly by Smarty Jones is ...
|
Successful claim May One has improved on turf
Updated - 1/13/2011
|
|
May One is a $5,000 claim turned golden. The winner of three of four starts since being haltered in August, she is one of the top contenders Friday in a $40,000 optional claiming race for fillies and mares that tops the card at Fair Grounds.
The turf race will be run at about a mile and a sixteenth has a purse of $51,000. It is the richest offering on a program that also includes a first-level ...
|
Stidham Racing back at Fairgrounds with a bang
Updated - 1/7/2011
|
|
2010 was a great year for Stidham Racing, and it all started with a great Fair Grounds meet. The new meet is also off to a hot start with 4 wins to date.
Gran Estreno continued his winning ways with a score in an allowance race before Christmas. A model of consistency, he ran a winning race to just get caught at the wire in the Buddy Diliberto Memorial Handicap.
Last years stable stalwarts Workin For Hops, ...
|
Stewards restore Grade 3 win to Upperline
Updated - 1/7/2011
|
|
Marcus Hersh, DRF
Stewards at Hawthorne issued a new ruling Friday in the case of a medication positive called on Upperline after she won the Arlington Oaks on July 3, restoring the purse to her owners and the Grade 3 win to Upperline’s record, while voiding a fine imposed on her trainer, Mike Stidham, and reducing Stidham’s suspension from 15 days to the 10 he already served in December.
A minute trace of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, ...
|
Gran Estreno Repeats in Washington Park
Updated - 12/26/2010
|
|
Blocked in the stretch, Gran Estreno exploited an unexpected opening at the rail to win the $120,000 Washington Park Handicap (gr. III) for the second year in a row at Arlington Park Sept. 4.
Just five, after two were scratched, contested this "Breeders' Cup Challenge" race for the $5 million Classic (gr. I) Nov. 6 at Churchill Downs. Gran Estreno prevailed by a half-length over favored Giant Oak and pacesetter Mad Flatter, who missed the runner-up ...
|
Rough Sailing - A Farewell Tribute
Updated - 11/18/2010
|
|
Rough Sailing had the heart of a winner. And proved as much just months before sustaining a life-ending injury at the [Breeder’s Cup] last weekend.
On Aug. 8, the two-year-old left the gate at [Arlington Park Race Track], and was quickly stuck in the back. It didn’t look good.
When he started to make his move, a wall of horses blocked him at the 3/16th pole. “He was completely shut off,” says trainer Michael Stidham, adding, “He ...
|
BREEDERS’ FUTURITY (G1) - Rough Sailing
Updated - 10/9/2010
|
|
Eleven juveniles will try their luck over the Polytrack at Keeneland on Saturday in the $400,000 Breeders' Futurity (G1), and the group appears to be evenly matched.
ROUGH SAILING (Mizzen Mast) is also exiting the Arlington-Washington Futurity, running second following a ground-saving trip on the rail. The chestnut colt ran to the inside of Major Gain and stayed on the rail as his rival changed paths to the outside in the stretch. The Michael Stidham charge ...
|
Interactif, Workin for Hops square off in Kent
Updated - 9/26/2010
|
|
Paddy O’Prado, with three consecutive graded stakes wins to his credit, right now is the best 3-year-old turf horse in the country. Interactif and Workin for Hops, however, aren’t far behind.
Interactif and Workin for Hops, both of whom have finished second to Paddy O’Prado within the last two months and have a Grade 2 victory on their resumes, meet for the first time in Saturday’s Grade 3, $250,000 Kent Breeders’ Cup at Delaware Park.
Run at ...
|
Alluvial scores first winner with Royal Alluvial
Updated - 9/20/2010
|
|
Royal Alluvial broke sharp and led at every point of call in the seventh race Sunday at Arlington Park in his debut to become the first winner for freshman sire Alluvial.
Trained by Michael Stidham for Arapaho LLC, Royal Alluvial won by four lengths and covered 5½ furlongs on the synthetic Polytrack surface in 1:05.48 under jockey Michael Baze. The filly is one of three winners from seven starters out of the unraced Stalwart mare Princess ...
|
ARLINGTON-WASHINGTON FUTURITY (G3)
Updated - 9/12/2010
|
|
The Arlington-Washington Futurity (G3) became wide-open when Sherriff Cogburn (Vindication) was removed from consideration this week. Only one member of the eight-horse field has experience against winners, and we'll tab a turf debut scorer, ROUGH SAILING (Mizzen Mast), for top honors in the one-mile Polytrack event.
Trained by Michael Stidham, Rough Sailing made his lone start in a one-mile turf event at Arlington Park on August 8 and appeared to lose all chance when being cut ...
|
STIDHAM HOPING ROUGH SAILING GETS SMOOTH SEAS SATURDAY
Updated - 9/12/2010
|
|
Jack Smith Thoroughbreds’ Rough Sailing encountered nothing but rough sailing when he broke his maiden over Arlington’s world-famous turf course in his career debut Aug. 8, and will go into Saturday’s Grade III Arlington-Washington Futurity as an interesting third choice in the morning line where he has been pegged at 4-1.
“I would say he had a whole lot of trouble in that last race,” said trainer Mike Stidham Thursday morning while previewing Rough Sailing’s chances ...
|
Rough Sailing tries Polytrack in Arlington-Washington Futurity
Updated - 9/12/2010
|
|
Jack Smith Thoroughbreds’ Rough Sailing lived up to his name in his career debut at Arlington Park on August 8 and also hinted at major ability.
The Mizzen Mast colt, trained by Michael Stidham, is one of eight two-year-old colts and geldings who will be put to the test in the $100,000 Arlington-Washington Futurity (G3) at Arlington Park on Saturday.
After hopping at the start and checking back along the rail in his debut going one mile on ...
|
GRAN ESTRENO SEEKS REPEAT IN ARLINGTON’S WASHINGTON PARK ‘CAP
Updated - 9/6/2010
|
|
Gran Estreno means “grand debut” in Spanish, and that’s what the Argentine-bred horse owned by Feel The Thunder Stable did by winning last year’s Grade III Washington Park Handicap at Arlington Park in his first attempt.
On Saturday, the Mike Stidham trainee will try to become the fourth horse in history to win back-to-back renewals of this Labor Day weekend’s 77th running of the Washington Park ‘Cap, now run at a mile and three-sixteenths over Arlington’s ...
|
Comedero stretches out in Smarty Jones
Updated - 9/6/2010
|
|
Just about everything connected with Comedero indicates that the 3-year-old colt is strictly a sprinter.
He’s 8 for 10 lifetime, including seven stakes victories, but in his lone try beyond seven furlongs, Comedero faded to 11th, beaten 23 lengths, last fall in an experiment going one mile at Remington Park.
Pedigree-wise, Comedero is cut out to be a pure sprinter. His dam, Pawnee Path, was 7 for 15 in her career – all dirt sprints. His sire, ...
|
Gran Estreno continues to pay huge dividends for Stidham
Updated - 9/6/2010
|
|
Gran Estreno became the fifth horse to win two editions of the Washington Park Handicap, and fourth to win the 77-year-old race two years in a row with a half-length victory over Giant Oak on Saturday at Arlington Park.
Gran Estreno, a 7-year-old Argentine-bred horse, is a claim that just keeps on giving. The Chicago ownership group named Feel the Thunder Stable and trainer Mike Stidham haltered Gran Estreno for a $20,000 price tag on ...
|
Gran Estreno Defends Washington Park Title
Updated - 9/2/2010
|
|
By Jack Shinar, The BloodHorse
Gran Estreno, who posted a mild upset when winning the 2009 edition of the Washington Park Handicap (gr. III), returns in search of a repeat as part of a seven-horse field in the $150,000 race Sept. 4 at Arlington Park.
The 1 3/16-mile Polytrack event offers its winner an automatic berth into the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I) at Churchill Downs Nov. 6. The Washington Park Handicap is the eighth race on ...
|
American Derby: Workin for Hops cruises
Updated - 9/1/2010
|
|
If one heard an announcement saying a rider was off a mount and one heard the name Cisco Torres mentioned in the same breath, one would naturally think Torres had gotten into some sort of trouble again. Torres has battled drink and, at times, drugs, during a long career that has stopped and started several times.
Saturday at Arlington Park, Torres found himself in a different part of the equation.
With a travel problem preventing ...
|
King’s Bishop field still in flux, Comedero still possible
Updated - 8/25/2010
|
|
The status of two 3-year-olds nominated to Saturday's Grade 1 King's Bishop remained uncertain on Tuesday as both Mike Maker, who trains the Brazilian import Uareoutlaw, and Mike Stidham, who campaigns Grade 3 winner Comedero, were still up in the air regarding their status for the seven-furlong fixture.
Stidham said a final decision regarding the King's Bishop for Comedero would be made shortly before entries are drawn on Wednesday.
"The other possibility is to go to Philadelphia ...
|
WORKING TOWARD SECRETARIAT STAKES SATURDAY: WORKIN FOR HOPS
Updated - 8/9/2010
|
|
With wins in the first two thirds of Arlington’s Mid-America Triple behind him, Estrorace LLC’s Workin for Hops breezed five furlongs in 1:01.60 Saturday morning in preparation for the Grade I Secretariat Stakes Aug. 21.
With a victory in the $400,000 Secretariat, one of three Grade I races along with the Arlington Million and the $750,000 Beverly D. on the third Saturday in August, Workin for Hops would become the first horse to sweep the Mid-America ...
|
Oaklawn Park Report - Comedero set to run
Updated - 8/9/2010
|
|
One of the hottest Arkansas-breds in training returns to action today.
Crack sprinter Comedero is among five horses entered in the $100,000 Select Stakes for 3-year-olds at Monmouth Park in New Jersey.
Comedero is coming off an easy victory in the $400,000 Red Legend Stakes on June 19 at Charles Town Race Course in West Virginia.
It was the gelding’s fifth consecutive victory and eighth in nine lifetime starts.
Trainer Mike Stidham chose the Select over Monday’s $150,000 Grade II ...
|
American Derby
Updated - 7/21/2010
|
|
Trainer Michael Stidham saddled his fifth stakes of the summer when owner Amy Bondon's Workin for Hops came home a convincing 21/4-length winner in the Grade II $200,000 event.
If all goes well, the Arlington Classic champion is slated to try and become the first Mid-America Triple champ since Honor Glide in 1997 when he runs in the Aug. 21 Grade I 11/4-mile Secretariat.
Stidham had to make a late riding change when jockey Robby Albarado encountered ...
|
A She’s Adorable has home turf advantage
Updated - 7/18/2010
|
|
Trainer Michael Stidham is hopeful A She's Adorable's proven affinity for Delaware Park's turf course can offset the class advantage of New York shippers Treat Gently and Gozzip Girl in Saturday's Grade 3, $200,000 Robert Dick Memorial Stakes.
The 1 3/8-mile Dick and the $100,000 R.R.M. Carpenter are the supporting stakes on a 12-race card highlighted by the 73rd running of the Delaware Handicap.
The 4-year-old A She's Adorable was second in her career debut on Delaware's ...
|
Workin for Hops Jumps Into American Derby
Updated - 7/18/2010
|
|
Workin for Hops, second to Paddy O'Prado in last month's Colonial Turf Cup (gr. IIT), aims for his first graded stakes win in the $200,000 American Derby (gr. IIT) on the Million Preview program at Arlington Park July 17.
Owned by Estrorace and trained by Michael Stidham, the 3-year-old City Zip gelding is among a nine-horse field of sophomores that includes recent Jefferson Cup (gr. IIIT) winner Gleam of Hope. The 1 3/16-mile American Derby is ...
|
Upperline extends Stidhams hot hand
Updated - 7/16/2010
|
|
Upperline made a favorable impression as a 2-year-old last summer at Arlington. She was even better Saturday evening, winning the Arlington Oaks by almost five lengths, and giving trainer Michael Stidham his fourth stakes win of an Arlington season not even at the halfway mark.
Always close to the pace under E.T. Baird, Upperline came off the rail turning for home, turned back a challenge from favored Snow Top Mountain in upper stretch, and drew clear ...
|
Next spot uncertain for Upperline
Updated - 7/8/2010
|
|
Upperline came out of her win Saturday in the Arlington Oaks in "very good" condition, trainer Mike Stidham said, but only a longer-term goal for Upperline, the Grade 3 Pucker Up on Sept. 6, has been set.
"We're pointing to the Pucker Up, but I'm not sure that will be her next start," Stidham said. "We're just starting to look around for what else might be possible."
Upperline won for the first time this year in emphatically ...
|
ARLINGTON OAKS WINNER PROBABLY PREPARING FOR PUCKER UP STAKES
Updated - 7/7/2010
|
|
In the history of Arlington Park, only two 3-year-old fillies have won the Grade III Arlington Oaks over the main track and come back to win the Grade III Pucker Up Stakes over Arlington's world famous turf course.
However, as of Sunday, the day after Stone Farm, John Adger, Oak Crest Farm and Michael Stidham's Upperline won the 2010 Arlington Oaks, it appears she will try to join Dan Agnew's Top Corsage in 1986 and ...
|
For Workin for Hops wins 2010 Arlington Classic
Updated - 7/6/2010
|
|
For Workin for Hops, the third start off the layoff was the charm in the Classic as Estrorace’s 3-year-old gelding had an easy time of it on the front end, winning the 1 1/16-mile event as the favorite in 1:45.43 by 2 1/4 lengths over Alfarabi.
Workin for Hops was an easy winner of the minor Grindstone Stakes at Fair Grounds March 27, then was a hard-luck fifth on Kentucky Oaks Day in the American Turf ...
|
Tizaqueena Rules in Arlington Matron
Updated - 7/6/2010
|
|
Front-running favorite Tizaqueena, craftily ridden by E.T. Baird, drew away in the stretch and held sway for a two-length victory in the $150,000 Arlington Matron Handicap (gr. III) May 29 at Arlington Park.
In her first start on a synthetic track, Darley Stable's Tizaqueena rebounded from an uncharacteristic fifth-place finish in the Distaff Turf Mile (gr. IIT) at Churchill Downs May 1. Michael Stidham trains the multiple stakes winner who captured Churchill's Distaff Turf Mile in ...
|
Ready to Sing wins Belmont feature
Updated - 6/24/2010
|
|
SI.com
Ready to Sing beat Royal Fortune by 1 1/4 lengths Wednesday in the $52,000 allowance feature for fillies and mares at Belmont Park.
John Velazquez was aboard for trainer Michael Stidham as the 3-year-old ran the six furlongs on the firm turf in 1:08.44. Ready to Sing improved to 2 for 5, paying $6.50, $3.40 and $3.10 as the 2-1 favorite.
|
A She’s Adorable up to win Rooney Memorial
Updated - 6/22/2010
|
|
A She's Adorable picked up her first stakes victory Saturday at Delaware Park, coming from off the pace to win the $76,050 John Rooney Memorial Stakes by 1 1/4 lengths.
As Ainamaa led the field through a half-mile in 50.31 seconds, with Trensa right behind in the 1 1/16-mile turf stakes, A She's Adorable sat back in third with Anna Napravnik aboard. After six furlongs in 1:14.06, A She's Adorable made her move outside the leaders ...
|
Comedero continues assault on three-year-old division
Updated - 6/22/2010
|
|
By Mike Curry, Thoroughbred Times
Another race, another dominant victory for talented three-year-old Comedero.
The Posse gelding controlled the pace in the $400,000 Red Legend Stakes on Saturday night at Charles Town Races, opened a commanding seven-length advantage near the eighth pole, and coasted to victory under Robby Albarado. Comedero won by 2 1/4 lengths as the 1-to-5 favorite and completed the seven-furlong race for three-year-olds in 1:25.57 on a track rated as fast.
“He had it won, so ...
|
Claim pays off for Stidham
Updated - 6/22/2010
|
|
Trainer Mike Stidham became owner Mike Stidham when he claimed Secret Kin for $62,000 on May 30. The 6-year-old mare generated quick returns when she earned the $51,158 winner's share of an $87,900 purse in the Isaac Murphy Stakes.
Rallying wide under Jesus Castanon, Secret Kin ($11.40) collared pace-setting Kip Berries in the final furlong, and drew clear to win by 1 1/4 lengths, running six furlongs in 1:11.32. Kip Berries held second over late-running Ripe ...
|
STIDHAM’S SATURDAY MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR
Updated - 6/22/2010
|
|
Trainer Mike Stidham, based at ArlingtonPark throughout the summer season, was able to celebrate one of his more satisfying local victories when Secret Kin proved clearly best in Saturday’s $87,900 Isaac Murphy Handicap – a six-furlong sprint contested on the Polytrack as part of Arlington’s Prairie State Festival Day
“That was a big effort,” said Stidham on Sunday morning. He had claimed Secret Kin from owner-breeder Team Block for $62,500 out of his last start ...
|
Comedero much the best in Lang
Updated - 6/20/2010
|
|
Comedero furthered his stature in the 3-year-old sprint ranks with a thoroughly dominating victory Saturday in the Grade 3, $100,000 Chick Lang Stakes going six furlongs at Pimlico.
Always in front with Robby Albarado aboard, Comedero won by 3 3/4 lengths and returned $3.40 as the favorite in a field of six. Latigo Shore rallied late to take second, another 2 1/2 lengths before Quiet Invader, who had given closest chase to Comedero for most ...
|
Comedero highlights Red Legend Stakes at Charles Town
Updated - 6/18/2010
|
|
Thoroughbred Times
Peter Redekop’s Grade 3 winner Comedero will try for his eighth win from nine career starts on Saturday in the $400,000 Red Legend Stakes at Charles Town Races.
Comedero, trained by Mike Stidham, is one of seven three-year-olds entered in the seven-furlong race. He enters off a 3¾-length romp in the Chick Lang Stakes Presented by Apple Ford (G3) on May 15 at Pimlico Race Course. Prior to that, Comedero rolled to a nine-length score ...
|
Workin for Hops draws attention in the Colonial Turf Cup
Updated - 6/18/2010
|
|
A field of seven horses, including Kentucky Derby runners Paddy O'Prado and Dean's Kitten, are set to go to post for the 6th running of the $500,000 Colonial Turf Cup (gr. II) on Saturday, June 19th at Colonial Downs.
In the second post is Workin For Hops, a City Zip colt trained by Michael Stidham who broke his maiden by an impressive seven lengths on first asking. While he encountered trouble in his first graded stakes ...
|
Stidham well equipped for summer stakes
Updated - 6/2/2010
|
|
Marcus Hersh, DRF
Trainer Mike Stidham has won 4 of 32 races so far this Arlington Park meet, but his stable's win percentage is a study in misrepresentation.
Seventeen other Stidham-trained horses have finished second or third at Arlington for a 21-of-32 top-three strike rate. The Stidham barn also is 2-1-1 in five stakes races and 1-1-1 in three graded stakes races here this spring.
Stidham has been going strong in stakes throughout 2010: Already this year he ...
|
STIDHAM SITTING PRETTY FOLLOWING SATURDAY’S STAKES
Updated - 6/2/2010
|
|
Darley Stable's Tizaqueena tiptoed to a two-length tally in Saturday's Grade III Arlington Matron, and Darley's Tybalt came running late to clearly gain the place in Saturday's Grade III Hanshin Cup, a one-two punch that must have added to the ruler of Dubai's five decade-long love affair with the sport of Thoroughbred racing.
But if Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum was pleased, his Arlington-based trainer Mike Stidham had even more reason to smile, for in ...
|
Tizaqueena goes all the way in Matron
Updated - 5/31/2010
|
|
Marcus Hersh, DRF
Probably no human has spent more time on the back of the mare Tizaqueena than Hilary Pridham, assistant to trainer Mike Stidham. Five-year-old Tizaqueena came onto the racetrack late in 2007, and Pridham has been riding her during morning exercise - not galloping every single day, but always aboard for workouts - ever since. Tizaqueena is Pridham's favorite horse in the stable, and it is not hard to see why. With a two-length ...
|
Tizaqueena Rules in Arlington Matron
Updated - 5/30/2010
|
|
Jack Shinar, The BloodHorse
Front-running favorite Tizaqueena, craftily ridden by E.T. Baird, drew away in the stretch and held sway for a two-length victory in the $150,000 Arlington Matron Handicap (gr. III) May 29 at Arlington Park.
In her first start on a synthetic track, Darley Stable's Tizaqueena rebounded from an uncharacteristic fifth-place finish in the Distaff Turf Mile (gr. IIT) at Churchill Downs May 1. Michael Stidham trains the multiple stakes winner who captured Churchill's Distaff ...
|
Stidham runners Tybalt and Gran Estreno just beat in the Hanshin Cup
Updated - 5/30/2010
|
|
Jim Tafel's homebred Country Flavor, making his stakes debut for trainer Greg Geier, scored a 21-1 stunner in the $100,000 Hanshin Cup Handicap (gr. III) at Arlington Park May 29. The 4-year-old son of Empire Maker proved resolute to the wire, holding off the late-charging Tybalt by three-quarters of a length.
Tybalt edged his Michael Stidham-trained stablemate Gran Estreno, the slight 3-1 favorite in the field of nine, by one length for second, with Victory ...
|
Next stop unclear for Workin for Hops
Updated - 5/26/2010
|
|
Workin for Hops seized the early advantage, opened up a big lead into the homestretch, and won Saturday's $100,000 Arlington Classic by more than two lengths. And now Workin for Hops will move on to the . . . on to the . . . on to the who-knows-what.
The Arlington Classic is the first leg of Arlington's Mid-America
Triple for 3-year-old grass horses, but this year the second leg, the Grade 2, $300,000 American Derby, doesn't ...
|
ARLINGTON CLASSIC HERO POSSIBLE FOR AMERICAN DERBY
Updated - 5/25/2010
|
|
Following his impressive front-running tally by two and a quarter lengths in Saturday’s 75th renewal of the Arlington Classic, Workin for Hops, owned and bred by Estrorace LLC’s Amy Bondon, became Chicago’s only hope to sweep this summer’s Mid-America Triple, a feat which has not been accomplished in 13 years
Robert Schaedle III’s Honor Glide won the Arlington Classic in the spring of 1997, came back to take the Grade II American Derby that July and ...
|
Stidham off to a hot start in 2010
Updated - 5/23/2010
|
|
New Orleans was a buzz this winter with the Saints victory in the Super Bowl. Things were also buzzing around Michael Stidhams barn at Fair Grounds in New Orleans this winter.
Stidham completed the meet with 26 wins, 20 seconds and 15 third place finishes. The barn complied earnings of $824,665, finishing fourth overall in the Trainer standings.
The win total included 4 stake victories. Tizaqueena solidified her role as Fair Ground's turf queen with wins in the Allen Lacombe and the Bayou Breeders ...
|
Comedero dominant in Chick Lang Stakes
Updated - 5/16/2010
|
|
by Pete Denk, Thoroughbred Times
Comedero showed he could be a force to be reckoned with in the sprint division during the second half of 2010 with a 3 ¾-length victory in the $100,000 Chick Lang Stakes Presented by Apple Ford (G3) on Saturday at Pimlico Race Course.
The three-year-old Posse gelding has never lost in six tries at sprint distances. Trainer Mike Stidham said the $400,000 Red Legend Stakes, a seven-furlong race at Charles Town Races on ...
|
Comedero much the best in Chick Lang
Updated - 5/16/2010
|
|
By Marty McGee, DRF
Comedero furthered his stature in the 3-year-old sprint ranks with a thoroughly dominating victory Saturday in the Grade 3, $100,000 Chick Lang Stakes going six furlongs at Pimlico.
Always in front with Robby Albarado aboard, Comedero won by 3 3/4 lengths and returned $3.40 as the favorite in a field of six. Latigo Shore rallied late to take second, another 2 1/2 lengths before Quiet Invader, who had given closest chase to Comedero ...
|
Workin for Hops looks to threaten in the American Turf
Updated - 4/29/2010
|
|
The BloodHorse
Setsuko, whose runner-up effort in the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) didn't earn him enough in graded stakes company to allow the Pleasantly Perfect colt to make the May 1 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), instead will contest the American Turf Stakes (gr. IIT) for 3-year-olds at Churchill Downs the day before the Run for the Roses. The race will be run at 1 1/16 miles.
Setsuko, a homebred for Wertheimer and Sons, ...
|
Comedero takes the Blue and Gold Stakes
Updated - 4/20/2010
|
|
Comedero stalked the pace in Saturday's $100,000 Blue and Gold Stakes for 3-year-olds, easily surged to the lead around the turn and drew off smartly to win by 9 lengths over Toboggan Slide. Plantation was third with a late run. Comedero, an Arkansas-bred Posse gelding, finished 7 furlongs in 1:23.45. Robby Albarado rode for trainer Michael Stidham.
|
Secret Getaway looks fine off his last
Updated - 4/6/2010
|
|
How fitting would it be if a son of Skip Away were to win the $125,000 Skip Away Stakes on Saturday at Gulfstream Park? That possibility is a strong one, with Fair Grounds invader Secret Getaway among the favorites for the Grade 3 fixture, which is the final graded stakes on the 2010 Gulstream stakes schedule.
Trainer Michael Stidham decided to send in Secret Getaway for a variety of reasons. Not the least of which is ...
|
Stidham trainees finish one two in the Bayou Handicap
Updated - 3/28/2010
|
|
Tizaqueena ($3.40) retained her title as queen of the local turf by beating her Michael Stidham-trained stablemate, A She's Adorable, in the $100,000 Bayou Handicap for older fillies and mares on turf. Tizaqueena, 5, has won all three of her starts on the Fair Grounds turf course, and is 7 for 13 overall. She was challenged in the final sixteenth, but stuck her neck out and prevailed. Never Retreat was third. Shaun Bridgmohan was aboard ...
|
Comedero stands out in Rainbow
Updated - 3/28/2010
|
|
Comedero is a standout Sunday in the $50,000 Rainbow, one of two stakes on the card restricted to horses bred in Arkansas. Ain't He a Pistol will defend his title in the $50,000 Nodouble Breeders' for older horses at six furlongs.
The Rainbow is for 3-year-olds, and Comedero has already won a stakes at the meet for the division. He took the $50,000 Mountain Valley against open company in dominant fashion in his last start, Feb. ...
|
Tizaqueena favourite for The Bayou Handicap
Updated - 3/23/2010
|
|
Three undercard stakes have been scheduled for Friday, and TIZAQUEENA (Tiznow) is the strong 9-5 favorite for the $100,000 Bayou Handicap. The Michael Stidham trainee captured the Distaff Turf Mile (G2) on Kentucky Derby Day last spring and most recently was seen adding the Allen Lacombe Memorial H. to her line on February 27. Leading rider Shaun Bridgmohan will handle the reins on the five-year-old mare in the about nine-furlong test over the Stall-Wilson turf ...
|
Pace may benefit Four Gifts
Updated - 3/3/2010
|
|
Four Gifts could get a beautiful pace setup Thursday when she makes her first start in more than six months in the ninth race at Oaklawn Park.
The field of six fillies and mares in the 1 1/16-mile allowance also includes Be Fair, who wired the field last summer in the Grade 3 Lake George at Saratoga, and Martin's Bay, who was a front-running winner of an optional claimer earlier this meet.
Those two horses could make ...
|
Tizaqueena wins Allen LaCombe Memorial Stakes
Updated - 3/3/2010
|
|
Shaun Bridgmohan used a confident ride aboard the favourite Tizaqueena to win the Allen LaCombe Memorial Stakes at Fair Grounds racetrack on Saturday afternoon.
Tizaqueena, a 3-to-5 favourite, won the US$60,000 mile and sixteenth event by three quarters of a length for trainer Michael Stidham and owner Darley Stable.
The five-year-old mare won ahead of the 19-1 bet No Use and clocked one minute, 45.99 seconds while giving Bridgmohan, the leading rider here, his third added-money win ...
|
Comedero charges home in Mountain Valley
Updated - 2/27/2010
|
|
Comedero gave his trainer, Michael Stidham, his second stakes win in less than a half-hour on Saturday, when he powered home by 4 1/2 lengths in the $60,000 Mountain Valley at Oaklawn Park. The win came on the heels of Tizaqueena's score at Fair Grounds in the $60,000 Allen Lacombe Memorial Handicap.
Comedero put on a show Saturday in what was his first start in his home state. He led a cavalry charge of rivals through ...
|
Secret Getaway tries the Fair Grounds Handicap
Updated - 2/17/2010
|
|
The Fair Grounds Handicap (GR.III) is one of six stakes (four graded) on the Fair Grounds program Saturday February 20.
Three-time stakes winner Secret Getaway will attempt to find the winner’s circle off a fourth place effort in the Lousiana Handicap behind Friesan Fire and General Quarters. Secret Getaway is owned by Sand and Cee Stables and trained by Michael Stidham.
|
Stidham proceeds slowly with Four Gifts
Updated - 2/3/2010
|
|
Multiple graded stakes winner Four Gifts has moved into trainer Michael Stidham's barn after being purchased at the Fasig-Tipton November sale for $310,000.
Previously trained by Steve Asmussen and owned by Heiligbrodt Stable, Four Gifts followed her victory in the Grade 3 Delta Princess at the end of 2008 with two Grade 3 victories last year, the Eight Belles in May at Churchill, and the Charles Town Oaks in August.
She has been off since that victory, ...
|
Stidham makes plans for stakes talent
Updated - 1/16/2010
|
|
Trainer Mike Stidham is firming up plans for his old and new talent - the graded stakes winner Tizaqueena and the 3-year-old Workin for Hops.
Off since finishing 10th in the Las Palmas Handicap on the Breeders Cup' undercard last November, Tizaqueena is being pointed toward the Marie Krantz Memorial Handicap here on Jan. 30, Stidham said.
Tizaqueena worked five furlongs Wednesday in 1:01.80, the eighth fastest of 70 at the distance.
"She is training nicely," said Stidham. ...
|
Workin for Hops Wins Monday Feature
Updated - 12/29/2009
|
|
Estrorace LLC’s Workin for Hops, away alertly and quickly in command, relinquished the lead in the run down the backstretch but rallied strongly in the lane to capture Monday’s $45,000 optional claiming grass feature for 2-year-olds by 4 1/2-lengths.
The winner, trained by Michael Stidham and ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr., paid $12, $4.60 and $3.20, accomplished the about one mile distance over the Stall-Wilson turf course in 1:41.63 and increased his career earnings to $45,400 ...
|
Stidham still has his barn’s biggest guns yet to go
Updated - 12/18/2009
|
|
Trainer Michael Stidham is off to his customary hot start at the Fair Grounds, and has yet to let his veterans loose on the oval.
Entering the weekend with 5 wins from 34 starts, Stidham looks poised to turn in another strong meet. He plans to send Secret Getaway, one of his stable's top horses, out to defend his crown in the Tenacious Handicap on Dec. 20.
Off since a disappointing fifth in the Grade 2 Cornhusker ...
|
Unbeaten Comedero gets 2-turn test
Updated - 12/12/2009
|
|
The undefeated Comedero has answered every question put before him, from winning his debut, to taking a statebred stakes, to defeating open stakes rivals. Sunday, there's more new territory for him to chart. Comedero will make his first start around two turns in the $200,000 Springboard Mile at Remington Park.
"This will tell us a lot about his future, what direction we go in," said his trainer, Michael Stidham.
The Springboard, which last year was ...
|
UPPERLINE READY FOR TEST RUN AT CHURCHILL DOWNS
Updated - 12/3/2009
|
|
Upperline could have stayed in Louisiana to make her initial start on a dirt after launching her career with three outings on Polytrack. Instead, she traveled to Churchill Downs for Saturday’s 66th running of the Golden Rod Stakes (GII).
“There is not a lot for 2-year-old fillies down there right now,” said Joe Sharp, assistant to trainer and part owner Mike Stidham.
But what about the $500,000 Delta Princess (GIII) next Friday at Delta Downs?
“She was nominated ...
|
Comedero wins the Old Hickory Stakes at Fair Grounds
Updated - 11/24/2009
|
|
In Saturday’s co-featured 32nd running of the $60,000 Old Hickory Stakes, Peter Redekop B.C. Ltd.’s Comedero posted a wire-to-wire tally, winning the 2-year-old fixture by 1 3/4–lengths under jockey James Graham to remain undefeated in three career starts while boosting his lifetime earnings to $80,700.
“I worked him at Keeneland, so I knew he was quick but he relaxes so well” said Graham. “I just let him get into his rhythm. He’ll do the work you ...
|
Comedero impresses in Old Hickory
Updated - 11/24/2009
|
|
The girls in the Pontalba Stakes and the boys in the Old Hickory went close to the same pace in their opening quarter-mile, and the leader in the two races at Fair Grounds hit the half-mile just .10 of a second apart. But from the half-mile home, it was the gelding Comedero that stood out. He finished strongly after setting the pace in the Old Hickory, turning in a fine six-furlong time of 1:10.13, almost ...
|
ONE MILE LAS PALMAS IDEAL FOR TIZAQUEENA ON FRIDAY
Updated - 11/9/2009
|
|
Discretion being the better part of valor, trainer Michael Stidham entered Darley Stable’s Tizaqueena in Friday’s Grade II $200,000 Las Palmas Handicap at one mile on turf, rather than a race worth 10 times as much, the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Fillies & Mare Turf at 1 1/4 miles the same day.
“She’s been running against some stiff competition, and the only reason we didn’t run her in the Filly & Mare Turf was the mile ...
|
Keeneland Barn Notes - October 13
Updated - 10/15/2009
|
|
Trainer Michael Stidham said that Darley Stable’s Tizaqueena, runner-up to Diamondrella (GB) in Saturday’s First Lady (G1), may be headed to California next month.
“She came out of the race good and there is a Grade 2 race on the Breeders’ Cup undercard (on November 6), the Las Palmas, at a mile on the turf. We will nominate her to that,” said Stidham, who had indicated Saturday that Tizaqueena likely would not go to the Emirates ...
|
FIRST LADY MILE MAY BE RIGHT UP TIZAQUEENA’S ALLEY
Updated - 10/11/2009
|
|
Of all the impressive stats that form the past performance data for Darley Stable’s Tizaqueena, the one that stands out with regard to Saturday’s 12th running of the $400,000 First Lady (G1) is this: Going a flat mile, the 4-year-old daughter of Tiznow has won four of five starts with one second.
“I feel like the mile is her best distance,” trainer Michael Stidham said. “She can sit off the speed, while going longer she winds ...
|
Abby’s Angel wins the Indian Maid Handicap
Updated - 10/5/2009
|
|
Even-money favorite Abby's Angel, from the barn of Michael Stidham, bobbled a bit at the start but wasted little time getting to an unchallenged lead and quickly drew away from the field in Saturday's co-featured Indian Maid Handicap.
The Indian Maid, with a purse of $113,100, was originally scheduled for the turf but moved to the main track, rated muddy, after steady rain through much of Friday and early Saturday.
For Darley Stable's Abby's Angel, who had ...
|
Gran Estreno Eyes 7th Straight in Durham Cup
Updated - 10/3/2009
|
|
Jason Shandler, The BloodHorse
Gran Estreno, claimed for $20,000 on two different occasions this year, was installed as the 2-1 morning-line favorite for the $150,000 Durham Cup (Can-III) Oct. 4 at Woodbine.
A 6-year-old son of Lucky Roberto—Great Stampa, by Senor Pete, Gran Estreno has reeled off six consecutive wins, five of them for his new connections. His latest victory came in the Washington Park Handicap (gr. III) Sept. 5 at Arlington Park when he went wire-to-wire to win ...
|
Abby’s Angel wires Indian Maid
Updated - 10/3/2009
|
|
Marcus Hersh, Daily Racing Form
The Indian Maid Handicap was rained off turf and onto dirt -- and that was just fine for Abby's Angel. Abby's Angel was set to make her grass debut in the Indian Maid, but instead, she wound up the controlling speed from the rail in a field that scratched down to six horses. Abby's Angel made a clear lead under Jon Court, backed up the pace, and easily won the $113,100 ...
|
Gran Estreno wires Washington Park
Updated - 9/9/2009
|
|
In the same way you know Calvin Borel is coming up the fence if he can, you just know that jockey E.T. Baird is going to the lead if at all reasonable. Yet Baird still put them all to sleep Saturday at Arlington Park, guiding Gran Estreno to a front-running victory in the Grade 3, $200,000 Washington Park Handicap.
Gran Estreno was the last to load in the Washington Park, and a split second after the ...
|
Gran Estrano earns spot in the BC Classic
Updated - 9/8/2009
|
|
Winning the meeting's premier Polytrack race, the Grade III $200,000 Washington Park Handicap, on Saturday earned Gran Estreno an automatic starting position in America's richest race, the $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic, on Nov. 7 at Santa Anita.
There's only one problem -- Gran Estreno was bred in Argentina and his father, Lucky Roberto, isn't a Breeders' Cup nominee, which means owner Martin Nixon would have to shell out a $540,000 supplementary fee to take advantage ...
|
Super Claim Gran Estreno Wins Washington Park
Updated - 9/5/2009
|
|
Jack Shinar, The BloodHorse
Claimed twice for $20,000 this year, Gran Estreno earned a starting berth in the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) when he led all the way to win the $200,000 Washington Park Handicap (gr. III) at Arlington Park Sept.5.
The victory was the sixth in a row for the Argentina-bred Gran Estreno and his first graded stakes score. Jockey E.T. Baird milked glacier-like fractions in the 1 3/16-mile Polytrack event and Gran Estreno turned it ...
|
Tizaqueena Holds Up in Distaff Turf Mile
Updated - 8/22/2009
|
|
By Jason Shandler, The BloodHorse
Darley Stable's Tizaqueena, chased by a wall of horses during a contentious stretch drive, was up to the challenge under Jamie Theriot, hanging on for a three-quarters length victory in the $238,600 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (gr. IIT) (VIDEO) May 2 at Churchill Downs.
A 4-year-old daughter of Tiznow , Tizaqueena scored for trainer Michael Stidham at odds of nearly 9-1 in her graded stakes debut. It was her fourth consecutive victory and ...
|
Tizaqueena looks ready for big step up
Updated - 8/22/2009
|
|
A once-started maiden winner seems likely to be favored to win the Tiffany Lass Stakes on Saturday at Fair Grounds, but if you happened to catch Tizaqueena's career debut, that makes sense.
Tizaqueena debuted in a one-mile dirt race, relaxed into an easy stride behind a runaway pacesetter, took control of the race coming off the far turn, and ran alone through the stretch to win by more than five lengths. A couple of days later, ...
|
Tizaqueen runs fourth in the Beverly D
Updated - 8/20/2009
|
|
A talented group of eight fillies faced off in this years edition of the Beverly D Stakes at Arlington Park. The $750,000 race ran over 1 3/16th miles over a soft turf course.
Tizaqueena, a 20-1 longshot from the Michael Stidham barn, set all the fractions, including a 50.3 half.
When push came to shove, Dynaforce had plenty in reserve to pass the front-runner and hold off late bids of Alnadana and Pure Clan, who rallied five wide.
Dynaforce, ...
|
$100,000 Bremer Bank Claiming Crown Emerald
Updated - 8/19/2009
|
|
Gran Estreno (ARG) benefited by a masterful ride by his regular Chicago-based partner E.T. Baird to score a 1 ¼-length win in the Emerald for trainer Michael Stidham. Gran Estreno (ARG), sat in an unencumbered third position behind pacesetter Divine Master, then swung out around the turn to get first run on the leaders and had enough left to hold off Hard Top who closed powerfully while wide around the final turn.
“Today it had a ...
|
On the Course joins Herculated as barn’s rising turf stars
Updated - 11/5/2004
|
|
By Marcus Hersh, April 5, 2004
STICKNEY, Ill. - Herculated, one of the more promising middle-distance turf horses around, has laid low since he narrowly missed winning the Grade 2, $500,000 Mervin Muniz Handicap at the end of the Fair Grounds meet. But it has not been idle time. While stabled at Keeneland with trainer Mike Stidham, Herculated breezed twice, and has worked once at Arlington , with another breeze scheduled this weekend. Then it is ...
|
Sea o’Erin boils down to just two horses
Updated - 8/6/2004
|
|
By Marcus Hersh, August 6, 2004
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - There are 11 horses entered in the Sea o'Erin Breeders' Cup Mile Handicap on Saturday at Arlington Park, but if form holds, the race boils down to just two: multiple stakes winner Warleigh and rising young turf horse Herculated .
Time to take sides.
Their trainers, Mike Stidham and Steve Asmussen, are somewhat friendly rivals. The horses are divergent. If consistency and established class is your dish, try ...
|
MIKE STIDHAM’S ’TRAINER OF THE MONTH’ AWARD SHARED BY FAMILY
Updated - 7/13/2004
|
|
ArlingtonParck.com July 13, 2004
ARLINGTON PARK - Conditioner Mike Stidham's Trainer of the Month Award for June at Arlington Park was presented on America's Birthday weekend, and visiting members of Stidham's family were on hand to share in the winner's circle ceremonies.
"These are my daughters in from California for a few weeks," said Stidham when introducing the young ladies that accompanied him to the winner's circle for the award presentation. "They make this extra special. ...
|
Capable despite class rise
Updated - 6/1/2004
|
|
By Marcus Hersh June 1, 2004
CHICAGO - On the Course has handled about everything they've thrown at him so far. Two racing surfaces, three different racetracks - he has been there and done that. The only stumble so far was a much-better-than-average second-level allowance race April 3 at Keeneland. Even then On the Course finished a good third, and he easily cleared that allowance condition in his next race, this time at Hawthorne .
So yes, ...
|
Herculated has shot at price
Updated - 5/13/2004
|
|
By David Grening, May 13, 2004
BALTIMORE - For those who believe there is little value to be had betting on the Preakness, may we suggest taking a hard look at Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 Argent Dixie Handicap.
A field of 12 was entered for the Dixie , a nine-furlong race run on the turf. Wando , Canada 's Triple Crown winner, is the morning-line favorite at 3-1, but he is stuck in the outside post.
While horses ...
|
Toughest test for Herculated
Updated - 3/21/2004
|
|
By Marcus Hersh, March 21, 2004
NEW ORLEANS - Herculated earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 104 in his last start. Great. Seen standing tied to the back of his stall Friday morning, Herculated looked the picture - gleaming coat, sleek musculature, ears alert. Wonderful.
For all the things that have gone right for him this winter, and for all the obvious talent Herculated has displayed in his young career, nobody, not even those closest to him, ...
|
Stakes next step for Herculated
Updated - 2/1/2004
|
|
By Marcus Hersh Sunday, February 1, 2004
NEW ORLEANS - Herculated, who on Thursday won his second straight race since returning from a layoff, will make his next start in stakes competition. Trainer Mike Stidham said Herculated would be nominated to the Mardi Gras Handicap here Feb. 24 but also said his schedule wasn't firmly set.
Herculated's win Thursday at Fair Grounds looked stakes-worthy. In his comeback race Dec. 27, Herculated ran along close to solid early ...
|
Stidham runner likes oval
Updated - 1/4/2004
|
|
By Marcus Hersh Sunday, January 4, 2004
NEW ORLEANS - It has been on-again, off-again for Ifyouprefersilver, who has mixed brilliance with disappointment in a nine-start career. Except at Fair Grounds. Racing on the main track here, Ifyouprefersilver has gone 3 for 3, including a blowout win last year in the $150,000 Chou Croute Handicap, and on Sunday, she appears perfectly spotted in the $60,000 Truly Bound Handicap.
Fair Grounds route stakes for older fillies and mares ...
|
Stidham has two good shots
Updated - 12/5/2003
|
|
By Marcus Hersh
Friday December 5, 2003
New Orleans - Trainer Mike Stidham does awfully well winning entry-level allowance races. Especially on turf and especially at Fair Grounds. Thursday, he takes two swings under those conditions.
The Stidham barn, which won an entry-level sprint allowance opening weekend with Cabo Sunrise, has a Gary Bisantz-owned horse for both divisions of a first-level grass allowance. American Son is no worse than second choice in the seventh race; ...
|
I’m a Majek Girl likely sidelined for months
Updated - 5/5/2003
|
|
By Marcus Hersh Friday December 5, 2003
CHICAGO - There were two overnight stakes races for 2-year-olds last week at Arlington. Korbyn Gold looked good winning the Spectacular Bid on Saturday, and I'm a Majek Girl looked even better winning the Top Flight on Friday. But it is possible that those races will have no impact on Arlington's major 2-year-old races on Sept. 27.
What's certain is that I'm a Majek Girl, a 7 1/2-length winner of ...
|
Stidham runs Affirm Miss vs. history
Updated - 5/17/2002
|
|
By Marty McGee
Lexington, Ky. - In the 67 years that Keeneland has been conducting horse races, on only a handful of occasions has a trainer won the same stakes race as many as three years in a row.
Harry Trotsek was the only trainer to pull off such a feat twice, winning the Ben Ali Handicap four consecutive times and the Phoenix Handicap three times in a row, both streaks coming in the 1950's. Only two ...
|
Keeneland: Stidham stays hot
Updated - 4/12/2000
|
|
By Marty McGee
Lexington, Ky - It looks like the sensational meet Mike Stidham enjoyed at Fair Grounds is spilling over. Stidham won the $113,300 Appalachian Stakes on Sunday at Keeneland with Impending Bear, who got a great inside trip under Pat Day to prevail by 2 1/2 lengths.
The victory was the third in as many career starts for Impending Bear, who was making her stakes and grass debut after winning two dirt sprints in New ...
|
Stidham an overnight success - yeah, right
Updated - 3/19/2000
|
|
By Marty McGee
Mike Stidham does not plan to give up the Fair Grounds training title without a fight.
"I've never been leading trainer anywhere," Stidham said. "Never even come close. I've never really had the numbers until this year."
Until Tom Amoss saddled two winners Monday to grab a one-win lead, Stidham and his 45-hrse stable had led most of the way since the New Orleans track began the 1999-2000 meet Nov. 25. Stidham, 42, would like ...
|
Stidham covets training title
Updated - 2/24/2000
|
|
By Marty McGee
Mike Stidham does not plan to give up the Fair Grounds training title without a fight.
"I've never been leading trainer anywhere," Stidham said. "Never even come close. I've never really had the numbers until this year."
Until Tom Amoss saddled two winners Monday to grab a one-win lead, Stidham and his 45-hrse stable had led most of the way since the New Orleans track began the 1999-2000 meet Nov. 25. Stidham, 42, would like ...
|
| Return to Home |
Arlington off to a flyer
As a reflection of the current economic climate we have changed our year round racing circuit. 
