Top Fortitude, a full brother to G2 winner Uh Oh Bango, joined the ranks of graded stakes winners by winning the G3 Lazaro Barrera at Santa Anita on May 10. An impressive maiden winner at 2, Top Fortitude had disappointed in his 3-year-old debut but rebounded with style to win the seven-furlong Lazaro Barrera in his third lifetime start, holding off Puerto Rican star Tonito M. by a length and a half in 1:22.98. Race favorite Kobe’s Back loomed large at the top of the stretch but faded to fourth at odds on. Top Fortitude was overlooked at 30-1 in the seven-horse field.

Owned and bred by Triple AAA Ranch, Top Fortitude is a son of Top Hit and remarkable broodmare French Debutante, and therefore a full brother not just to Uh Oh Bango but also to stakes winners French Hit and Top Debutante, and a half-brother to $500,000 winner EZ Dreamer. The colt is trained by Kory Owens and was ridden by Kayla Stra.

On May 5, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer signed Senate Bill 1282, while opting to line-item veto a $1.2 million appropriation for the Arizona Breeders’ Award Fund and County Fair Racing Fund. SB 1282 adds advanced deposit wagering for horse and dog racing. Letter from Gov. Brewer

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Brookerson led home a parade of stablemates to win the $52,826 ATBA Spring Sales Stakes at Turf Paradise on closing day, Sunday, May 4. After getting to the front shortly after the break, the Henny Hughes colt led the rest of the way, holding off the odds-on favorite Aggressive Beauty to win by a length […]

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The weanling filly donated to benefit injured jockey Anne von Rosen is now named “Running for Annie.” The run-away winner of the naming contest, where horsemen and breeders voted with their wallets for one of three name choices, was approved by The Jockey Club. Running for Annie, a daughter of Arizona’s perennial leading sire Margie’s […]

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ATBA vice president Dennis Miller, head of Canter in Arizona, is expanding his work with retired racehorses to start a “Saratoga War Horse” organization here in Arizona. For more information: Military hands guide t’bred to aid veterans (Off-Track Thoroughbreds blog)

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The $50,000 Gene Fleming Breeders’ Derby was settled by inches with favored J P Rocker just holding off the late surge of G Faikir, one of the longest-priced horses in the nine-horse field. Deadly Black Eagle bounded to an early lead in the mile and a sixteenth event and led the field until giving way […]

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Hopes dim for a 2014 meet at the Prescott Valley track. See the full story here: Yavapai Downs Horse track won’t open for 4th year (The Daily Courier)

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Two events to benefit Anne Von Rosen, severely injured in a riding accident at Turf Paradise on March 11, have been organized. On Wednesday, March 26, there will be a benefit raffle barbecue to be held at Finishline Bar, which is located at 1724 West Bell. The event will be begin around 6 pm. On […]

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