Virginia Breeding
BackTracks: Mandy’s Gold “showed up”
Versatile and talented, the Virginia-bred Mandy’s Gold tangled with the best en route to becoming the best horse Michael Gorham has trained.
Gigante carries on Backer breeding legacy
Virginia-bred Secretariat Stakes winner Gigante is the product of multiple generations of Bill and Ann Backer’s breeding operation over more than 30 years.
BackTracks: The mighty Mill Reef
In a new BackTracks: Virginia-bred Mill Reef raced in Europe – and how he raced – becoming the best turf horse in the world at the height of his career.
Amy Moore and the lifeboats that led to Forte
Virginia races contested in Maryland played a significant role in the career of Va-bred Queen Caroline, who became the dam of Kentucky Derby favorite Forte.
Midlantic exacta as Doppelganger upsets Carter
Laurel-based Doppelganger and Parx-based Repo Rocks ran one-two in Saturday’s Grade 1 Carter Handicap at the Big A.
For Amy Moore, “amazing journey with Forte”
Forte’s rise to Kentucky Derby favorite has been a special journey for his breeder, Virginia-based Amy Moore, owner of dam Queen Caroline.
First graded win for Repo Rocks, jockey Wolfsont
Va-bred Repo Rocks dominated the field in Saturday’s Grade 3 Toboggan at Aqueduct, earning his and rider Andrew Wolfsont’s first graded win.
BackTracks: Fort Marcy’s trip from reject to record-setter
Fort Marcy went on to become the first turfer to win Horse of the Year – after owner-breeder Paul Mellon tried to sell him.
Report of mares bred shows Midlantic declines
While the just-released report of of mares bred showed essentially flat national numbers, the MId-Atlantic saw a 15% drop.
Six Midlantic-breds among Triple Crown noms
Stakes winners Hello Hot Rod and Pickin’ Time are among six horses bred in the Mid-Atlantic who have been nominated to the Triple Crown.
Virginia-bred stakes top Laurel Friday card
With the cancellation of the Colonial Downs race meet, five stakes for Virginia-bred or -sired horses will take place Friday at Laurel Park.
Pleasant Colony: Dozing to greatness
Nearly 40 years ago, the unheralded Virginia-bred Pleasant Colony burst on the Triple Crown scene with late-running wins in the Derby and Preakness.
Just like mom, Fionnbharr breaks maiden in second start
Second-timer Fionnbharr scored a 19-1 upset today at Laurel Park, following in the footsteps of her dam, multiple stake winner Embarr.
River Gal “carries family forward” with Jamestown win
River Gal won the Jamestown Stakes today at Laurel Park, the latest in an equine family that’s been very good to Morgan’s Ford Farm.
Altamura vanned off after Oakley victory
Three-year-old Altamura won her fourth consecutive race in the Oakley Stakes but was vanned off after taking a bad step in the gallop-out.
Lookback: No turf, no problem in Virginia-bred stakes
Four Virginia-bred stakes were taken off the turf at Laurel last Saturday – but owners, trainers, and jocks were undeterred and the show went on.
Edward Evans Stakes: Sticksstatelydude bred — sort of — by Bud
Glenn Eickhoff, breeder of Evans Stakes winner Sticksstatelydude, got his start with a different horse breed: the Budweiser Clydesdales.
Gilpin Stakes: Altamura gives trainer Stephens first stakes win
John Stephens broke the great Barbaro, that being his main business, but had never trained a stakes winner until Altamura scored today at Laurel Park.
Two Notch Road, 11, gunning for White Oak Farm win
Two Notch Road, now 11 years old and having earned over $500,000, heads the field for Saturday’s White Oak Farm Stakes at Laurel Park for Virginia-breds.
Greyvitos: From fire to surgery and back to racing
Three-year-old Greyvitos survived the San Luis Rey fire and later had to undergo surgery. Back on track, he’ll tackle the Pat Day Mile at Churchill Saturday.
