Sunday, November 7, 2010
Contact: Jenny Kellner
Blame's thrilling win over previously undefeated Zenyatta in the Classic was the culmination of a carefully planned campaign that based him during the summer at Saratoga Race Course, where he scored his second Grade 1 victory of the year in the 1 1/8-mile Whitney. The Arch colt then returned to
Trained by Al Stall, Jr. for Adele Dilschneider and Claiborne Farm, Blame compiled a 4-1-0 record from five starts in 2010 with earnings of more than $3.7 million.
The undefeated
Owned by
More Than Real, owned by celebrity chef Bobby Flay, also launched her career at the Spa, winning her debut on August 14 in a 1 1/16-mile maiden race on the turf. Subsequently second as the favorite in the Natalma Stakes at Woodbine, the More Than Ready filly held safe even-money favorite and Grade 3 Miss Grillo winner Winter Memories in the Juvenile Fillies Turf for a two-length victory.
Team Valor International's Pluck, who made the first two starts of his career at Belmont Park, breaking his maiden on July 11 in a six-furlong turf race, charged from last to first to take the one-mile Juvenile Turf by a length over Grade 3 With Anticipation winner Soldat.
Unrivaled Belle, second as the beaten favorite in three Grade 1 starts prior to the Ladies' Classic – the Beldame at Belmont Park, the Ruffian at Saratoga Race Course and the Ogden Phipps at Belmont Park – returned to her winning ways with an emphatic 1 ¾-length victory over Grade 1 Alabama winner Blind Luck under the lights at Churchill Downs.
Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott for Peter Vegso, the gray daughter of Unbridled's Song is 3-3-0 from seven starts this year, including a win over 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra in the La Troienne at Churchill Downs in April.
Other Breeders' Cup champions who raced this year on The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) circuit were Big Drama, runner-up in the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt and the Grade 1 Forego at Saratoga prior to his 1 ½-length victory in the Sprint; Marathon winner Eldaafer, who won a starter allowance at Belmont in May and subsequently was third as he attempted to defend his title in the Grade 2 Brooklyn, and Filly & Mare Turf winner Shared Account, who in two starts in New York finished second by a head in the Grade 1 Diana at Saratoga and fifth in the Grade 1 Flower Bowl Invitational at Belmont Park.
Founded in 1955, and franchised to run thoroughbred racing at
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