Connections Archives - Page 2 of 39 - Horse Racing News | Paulick Report

Breeders’ Cup Presents Connections: Hard Work Is Paying Off For Olver

Maddy Olver has spent most of her adult life beating the sunrise to the backstretch. To the young horsewoman in the pre-dawn twilight, it all felt necessary. Some dreams were worth sacrificing for, and becoming an apprentice jockey this winter made it all worthwhile. “At the beginning, I wasn’t sure what it would look like, […]

Breeders’ Cup Presents Connections: ‘I Don’t Think Anybody Would Do What He Did’

Fans tuning in to Sunday’s Sunland Park Derby card may be surprised by the appearance of jockey Felipe Valdez’ name in the program. With a mount in seven of the day’s 11 races, the 43-year-old Valdez is in the midst of a comeback he truly never saw coming. Plagued by injuries throughout his career, including […]

Breeders’ Cup Presents Connections: ‘Educated Risk’ Proves A Practical Move

Leslie Amestoy walked away from the OBS auction ring when bidding rose above $180,000. That was the budget she and her husband, Pierre, had considered for the son of Practical Joke, after all. Minutes later, Pierre Amestoy returned to the table and showed his wife the sales ticket: he’d bought the colt for a final […]

Breeders’ Cup Presents Connections: Having Pennsylvania-Bred On Road To The Classics Is ‘Why We’re In The Game’

It was a perfect “circle of life” moment: breeder Christian Black watched Angel of Empire upset the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds from the foaling office at Blackstone Farm in Pennsylvania, patiently awaiting the birth of the next generation. “I believe I ran out and jumped up and down like a 20-year-old […]

Breeders’ Cup Presents Connections: ‘More In The Pipeline’ After Monomoy Girl

Near the conclusion of two-time Eclipse Award winner Monomoy Girl’s career, the following suggestion was made to breeder Brendan Gallagher: “You want to enjoy it while it’s happening, because it’s never going to happen again.” “Well, I said to that person, ‘If I really thought it would never happen again, I’m not so sure I’d […]

Breeders’ Cup Presents Connections: Kirstenbosch No Garden Variety Homebred For Keith Abrahams

Owner/breeder Keith Abrahams was quietly confident in Kirstenbosch ahead of last weekend’s Grade 3 La Canada Stakes at Santa Anita. The filly, named for a famous botanical garden in Abrahams’ native South Africa, proved his confidence was not misplaced when she won by a nose.  Kirstenbosch became the second homebred graded stakes winner to race […]

Breeders’ Cup Presents Connections: Hampton, 20, Balances Studies With New Role As Jockey Agent

Kyle Hampton, a 20-year-old Louisville native and full-time college student, is currently mastering the act of balancing homework and a new career as a jockey agent for British newcomer Tyler Heard. The two celebrated Heard’s first stateside win the night of Jan. 12 in the sixth race at Charles Town in West Virginia aboard Baytown […]

Breeders’ Cup Presents Connections: More Derby Dreams Take Root In New Mexico, Iowa

Thirteen and a half years ago, the diminutive bay gelding named Mine That Bird was hauled over 1,000 miles from New Mexico to Churchill Downs by his trainer, Chip Woolley. His 50-1 upset will forever remain a legend in the history of the Kentucky Derby. This year, another trainer from New Mexico could be poised […]

Breeders’ Cup Presents Connections: Cash’s Commitment To Racing Is Through The Roof

Trainer Norman L. “Lynn” Cash won his first graded stakes race in the Oct. 29 Kelso (G2) with 42-1 longshot Double Crown, but it is a starter allowance horse who has really put his fledgling stable on the map.  “I tell people that if I hadn’t claimed Beverly Park, nobody would know who I am,” […]