The 3-year-old son of POSSE rated off the pace down the backstretch and when called upon at the top of the stretch, he responded with a burst of speed, blew through a hole between horses and fought tooth and nail to the wire, missing the win by a scant half-length.

AUTHENICAT, the 3-year-old daughter of D'WILDCAT was making her seasonal debut. She prompted the early pace, took the lead in the stretch but got a little tired and was caught late in the stretch by the eventual winner, who was making her fourth start of the season. AUTHENICAT finished a length back at the wire. The stakes winning filly takes her lifetime bankroll to $220,300.

WONDERFUL LUCK, the 3-year-old daughter of TRUST N LUCK, trailed the field for the first half-mile. She launched a solid bid through the stretch and got up to grab third money. A stakes winner at two, she takes her lifetime earnings to $117,128.

LANTANA MOB drew the rail and let the speed go on after a clean break. Drawing closer with an outside run around the final turn, he took aim on the leader at the top of the stretch. The colt in front was not stopping and fought back when LANTANA MOB drew even inside the eighth pole. The Vinery colorbearer got the best of his frontrunning foe nearing the wire and a one length victory was his.

LANTANA MOB has a career record of four wins, one second and one third in eight starts and he has earned $249,048. Bred in Kentucky by Thomas, Burleson and Visagie, he is out of the Copelan mare, Lantana.

KODIAK KOWBOY looked the picture in the post parade and he certainly ran to his looks. Breaking alertly, he galloped along effortlessly while tracking the pace down the backstretch and around the turn. Moving out to the three path for the stretch drive, he gained the lead three sixteenths from home and drew away while being geared down to win by six lengths.

"We just wanted to get him back going, try to get him in a rhythm, "trying to find a prep for the Lafayette at Keeneland," winning trainer Steve Asmussen told the Daily Racing Form, He's won on synthetic, and timing-wise, I just wanted to get a race in him before then."

KODIAK KOWBOY has won five times and placed twice in eight career starts and he has earned $566,425. Bred in Kentucky by Hartwell Farm, he is out of the Coronado's Quest mare, Kokadrie.

The 3-year-old Grand Slam filly was off a step slowly, but quickly found her stride and she was up to engage in the early pace. Running the first challengers into submission, she drew away at the top of the stretch and dug in when the closers came calling. Responding when asked by Cornelio Velasquez, she kept on strongly to the finish to win by two and one-quarter lengths.

GRAND BREEZE is trained by Michael Matz. Bred in Kentucky by Nita Brooks, Taylor Made Farm, Inc., Pat Payne, Eduardo Terrazas,, et al, she is out of the multiple stakes-producing It's Freezing mare, Breeze Lass.

KODIAK KOWBOY is one of seven stakes winners from the first crop of our Leading Freshman Sire POSSE and his first champion!

More later!!

CALL THE POSSE was away sharply from her outside post and she settled into a tracking position, never letting the leaders get too away. Closing the gap around turn, the lead was hers at the top of the stretch. She quickened when jockey David Clark asked and she opened up a three length lead passing the eighth pole. She maintained her advantage to the wire and galloped on in under a hand ride.

CALL THE POSSE is trained by Josie Carroll and she has earned $75,001.

Racing off the pace for th first six furlongs, he found room up the inside and he closed well through the stretch to earn his black-type.

WILD POSSE was away towards the back of the pack. Not an early speed type, he began to make up ground around the turn. Widest of all, he closed strongly through the stretch, taking over inside the sixteenth pole and drawing away to win by nearly two lengths.

WILD POSSE is trained by Steve Asmussen. Bred in Kentucky by Woods Edge Farm, LLC, he is out of the Wild Gale mare, Imp's Wild.

The bay colt has had a stellar first season. He has four wins, one second and one third in seven starts and he has earned $544,825. He won the Grade 2 Saratoga Special, the Grade 3 Bashford Manor and he was second in the Grade 2 Futurity Stakes in his most previous start.

AUTHENICAT proved she's the real deal with a runaway victory in Wednesday's $125,000 Victorian Queen Stakes at Woodbine.

Owned by Vinery Stables and Fog City Stables Inc., the two-year-old filly slipped through an opening along the fence near the five-sixteenths pole, seized command by the quarter pole and widened her advantage all the way to the wire, where she was 5 3/4 lengths in front of D'WILD LADY.

LADY D'WILDCAT closed late to finish third, capping off a triactor sweep for stallion D'WILDCAT. Authenticat traveled six furlongs in a 1:09.81.

The victory, which increased her earnings to $161,000, was the second straight open-length victory for the Ontario-bred chestnut, who captured a 6 1/2-furlong first-level allowance dash on September 6.

Jockey Patrick Husbands, who celebrated his 20th stakes win of the season, said the key to the filly's improved form has been a willingness to relax.

"In the last six weeks, this horse has really turned it around and relaxed. That was one of the biggest problems this filly had. When you breeze her, all she wanted to do was go, go, go and then she burned herself out," said Husbands. "She showed she was a class filly."

Winning trainer Josie Carroll said her team has spent many a morning trying to help AUTHENICAT, who is now 3-for-5, harness her ability.

"The credit for that has to go to my exercise people. They worked very, very hard at getting this filly to relax. She did the job," said Carroll. "She's a beautiful moving filly. We've thought that from the beginning. I'd certainly hope she would go around two turns, the way she did that today."

The Victorian Queen is an added-money event for Ontario-sired fillies.

AUTHENICAT returned $7.90, $6.20. $3.60, combining with D'WILD LADY ($11, $6.30) for a $75.70 exactor. LADY D'WILDCAT ($3.60) rounded out a $290.80 triactor.

Michael Burns photo

The 2-year-old filly, who is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Pussycat Doll, had finished third in her debut at Saratoga last month. Breaking from the outside post, BLOWING KISSES sat three lengths away from the leading pair down the backstretch and going into the turn. She closed the gap, took the lead at the top of the stretch and would not let anyone by, winning by a half-length.

BLOWING KISSES was bred by Rolling Knoll Farms, LLC and she is trained by Michael Matz. Produced by the Grade 1-winning Citidander mare, Hookedonthefeelin, she is a daughter of Vindication.

The 2-year-old daughter of D'WILDCAT broke crisply for the gate and went straight to the lead. Pressured down the backstretch, she disposed of the rival and began to open up around the turn. She took a two length lead into the stretch and as the closers came calling she increase her margin to three lengths at the wire.

AUTHENICAT has now has two wins and a second in four starts and she has earned $81,239. Trained by Josie Carroll, she was bred in Ontario by Gail Wood. She is out of the stakes-producing Alydeed mare, Authenic Deed.

LANTANA MOB, who won the Tyro Stakes earlier this season, validated that form at Monmouth Park Sunday as he captured the $150,000 Sapling Stakes (G3) in convincing fashion before a closing day crowd of 16,184, third largest of the 2007 summer season.

LANTANA MOB, trained by Steve Asmussen, became the third winner of the day for jockey Stewart Elliott as he gunned the POSSE colt through the stretch to finish three and a quarter lengths in front of Preachin Man. Z Humor, the even-money favorite who trailed for most of the six-furlong race, rallied to be third in the field of seven 2-year-olds, three lengths farther back.

The winner, off as second choice, paid $8.60, $5.60 and $2.60 across the board after stepping the distance in 1:09 4/5. Preachin Man, a 10-1 shot, completed the $60.80 exacta and paid $9.20 to place and $3.40 to show. Z Humor paid $2.40 to show.

This was the third lifetime score in five starts for LANTANA MOB, who broke his maiden at Churchill Downs in June, and then won the Tyro Stakes here in July. He earned a prize of $90,000 for owners Vinery Stables & Tom Ludt, bringing his career bankroll to $171,548.

"He broke sharp and relaxed very well," Elliott said. "We were able to sit just off the pace and behind a couple of horses. Once I eased him out, he knew exactly what to do and just took off."

Bill Denver/Equi-Photo

WILD LOGIC tracked the early pacesetters and was full of run around the turn, but had nowhere to run. A seam opened along the rail at the top of the stretch and WILD LOGIC made her move. Taking over inside the eighth pole, she kept on going to win by one length.

WILD LOGIC is trained by Steve Asmussen. Bred in Ontario by Anthony B. and Leslie L. Russo, she is the fourth foal from the stakes-producing Lord Avie mare, Logical Reasoning.

WONDERFUL LUCK has earned $97,846.

KODIAK KOWBOY broke sharply from post one, but jockey Shaun Bridgmohan chose not to have him engage in the early pace battle. Sitting just off the leaders down the back stretch and around the turn, KODIAK KOWBOY was full of run, but with another colt alongside, he was boxed in. A seam opened between the two pacesetters at the top of the stretch and KODIAK KOWBOY didn't hesitate to split his rivals with a powerful move. Clearing the field, he took off for home and galloped on to win by three lengths. He stopped the clock in 1:15 4/5, which equaled the stakes record.

“He ran well,” said trainer Steve Asmussen. “The concern today was the inside. He had such a beautiful stalking trip in all three of his victories; (in those races) he was in a three-wide stalking position."

“Today, he overcame a little bit," continued Asmussen. "What I love was that, down in between horses, he was looking for somewhere to go, and when it opened up, he punched through nicely. I think the final time was excellent for a two-year-old.”

“I saw the hole turning for home, and he was willing,” Bridgmohan said. “He did everything I wanted and was very gutsy today. He got a lot out of this race. He was professional in doing it. He broke smartly, and he rated himself a little bit. The horses were going pretty good up front, and he sat in behind them pretty nicely and it opened up right at the top of the stretch. When I pointed him, he was just willing and just shot right through there. Then, he went about his business. It was pretty professional for a two-year-old. I had a comfortable lead, and I knew The Roundhouse would be coming, but I knew I had enough to hang on.”

KODIAK KOWBOY races for the partnership of Vinery Stables and Fox Hill Farm. He has won four straight races and four of his five lifetime starts and he has earned $294,825.

Adam Coglianese photo

More to come...

Jeff Coady photo

LANTANA MOB, trained by Steve Asmussen and ridden by Stewart Elliott, captured the Tyro as the 6-5 favorite and is now a candidate for the $150,000 Sapling Stakes (G3) to be run here on Sept. 2.

The winner, a son of POSSE, broke loose from the pack around the turn and asserted himself in the stretch as he went on to a length and a half victory over Spanky Fishbein. Run Sully Run was third in the field of seven 2-year-olds, five lengths farther back.

LANTANA MOB raced the five and a half furlongs in 1:03 4/5, and paid $4.40, $2.60 and $2.20 across the board. He topped an $11 exacta with Spanky Fishbein, the second choice at 2-1.

The colt, who broke his maiden at Churchill Downs in June, was coming off a fourth in the Tremont Stakes at Belmont Park.

Bill Denver/Equi-Photo

by: John Asher

KODIAK KOWBOY completed a memorable day for trainer Steve Asmussen as he rallied from third to pull away under jockey Corey Lanerie to a comfortable 2 ¾-length victory in Saturday’s 106th running of the $165,150 Bashford Manor Stakes (Grade III) for 2-year-olds at Churchill Downs.

A son of the hot first-year sire POSSE, KODIAK KOWBOY covered six furlongs over a “fast” track in 1:09.15 and paid $5.80, $3.40 and $2.40. Dr. Nick rallied from last in the six-horse field under Mark Guidry to grab the runner-up spot and paid $5.20 and $3.60. Crackalackin, ridden by Jamie Theriot and one of three horses in the field trained by Asmussen, paid $3.80.

KODIAK KOWBOY , who is owned by Vinery Stable, won his third straight race following a loss in a two-furlong race in his career debut at Canada’s Woodbine on April 29. He nearly doubled his career earnings as the winner’s share of $101,373 raised his bankroll to $204,825. He had returned to Woodbine to win the $125,000 Victoria Stakes in his previous start. It was the second victory in the Bashford Manor for Asmussen, who won the race with Lunarpal in 2004. He saddled KODIAK KOWBOY's sire, POSSE, to a runner-up finish behind Lone Star Sky in its 2004 renewal.

Hargill broke alertly at the opening bell and battled with Motovato for the lead while leading the field through brisk fractions of :21.60 for the quarter mile and :45.19 for the half-mile. KODIAK KOWBOY and Lanerie patiently tracked the leaders three-wide in third, just ahead of Crackalackin, and Blackberry Road and Dr. Nick were at the back of compact field. Lanerie sent KODIAK KOWBOY after the leaders on the far turn, assumed the lead at the head of the stretch as the field of six spread across the track and drew away through the stretch. Dr. Nick was forced six-wide in the stretch as he rallied from last to gain second, while Crackalackin and Blackberry Road rallied for third and fourth, respectively. Motovato faded to fifth, while early pacesetter Hargill finished last.

“He broke sharp, and I could see that other horse (Hargill) up there pressing the three, so I wasn’t too worried about the three horse (Motovato)" said Lanerie. "My horse was a little more speedier than him. From there, I started to ask my horse; he had every opportunity to win. Those two hooking up in the middle of the turn, and my horse was just waiting for the call. I tapped him on the shoulder and he about jerked me out of the saddle. From there I just kept him busy. I was just a passenger.

“Steve and his team did a great job with this horse,” said Lanerie. “They threw everything at him that he might face today. He was well-seasoned, well-trained and ready to go. I was just a passenger and hung on to him.”

Asmussen would not speculate on where KODIAK KOWBOY might race next, but indicated that he had faith that the colt would thrive at longer distances.

“We’re very comfortable about him wanting to go further,” he said. “He definitely surprised us by that. When we first had him, he showed us some speed. I ran him a quarter of a mile and got him beat, but in every one of his races he was strongest at the end.”

When asked about his debut at two furlongs, Asmussen said, “A nice pot with a nice little horse that I thought could win. He’s got a great disposition, and he’s the kind of horse I thought could take it. He was outfooted that day and ended up fourth, but galloped out good, and Emma who rode him for us that day contacted us and said, “Don’t worry about him. There’s plenty in him. His laid-back attitude got him that day. I’ve been aggressive with some of the Posses, and I think they’re standing up to it. I liked a lot of them when we first started running at the beginning of the season, and I think I went 0-for-11 for them, first-time starters. I think about eight or nine of them won their second or third start, and he’s one of them. He has a very good disposition, and I thought he stayed on to the wire in nine flat – a lot of quality about him.”

Reed Palmer photo

AUTHENICAT was out of the gate with the field and was just off the leaders in the race down the backstretch. She moved to challenge on the outside going into the final turn. She came off the turn the clear leader, opened up and had enough left to hold off the closers and win by a neck.

AUTHENICAT is trained by Josie Carroll and she was ridden to victory by Patrick Husbands. Bred in Ontario by Gail Woods, she is out of the stakes-producing Alydeed mare, Authenic Deed.

The 2-year-old colt began his career in a two furlong maiden special weight at Woodbine. Finishing fourth, he won a maiden special weight going four and one-half furlongs at Churchill Downs on May 26. Breaking from post eight in the field of ten, KODIAK KOWBOY was two lengths off the pace during the opening quarter. Closing three wide around the turn, he battled with the leader and drew away gamely inside the eighth pole to win by two lengths.

"We had a great trip, a nice outside stalking trip,” noted winning rider Emma-Jayne Wilson “When we were in tight, he had his ears pinned and he was really game. I figured it would take some running to get by him today." "He gave me the feeling that a little further would help him out,” said Wilson, who rode KODIAK KOWBOY in his debut. “Two furlongs is a specialist distance. He was getting there and he wanted it really bad when we went the two furlongs. He just needed more ground. When we galloped out, he galloped out strong."

KODIAK KOWBOY, who is trained by Steve Asmussen, has now earned $103,452. Bred in Kentucky by Hartwell Farm. He is the second foal from the Coronado's Quest mare, Kokadrie.

WEG/Michael Burns photo

Making is racing debut, T.J.'S POSSE was next to last out of the gate, but jockey Shaun Bridgmohan allowed him to settle into stride. Moving between horses going into the turn and then out to the five path for clear sailing around the turn, the bay colt had three lengths to make up at the top of the stretch. The leader was not backing up, but T. J.'S POSSE caught him passing the eighth pole and was going best late to gain the one length victory.

T. J.'S POSSE is trained by Steve Asmussen. Bred in Virginia by Larry Johnson, he is out of the stakes winning Meadowlake mare, T. J.'s Turn.

Part of the mad dash after the break, LANTANA MOB was taken back to let the early runners slug it in out. He improved his position around the turn and was ready to take on the leaders at the top fo the stretch. He hooked-up with the pacesetter, took over passing the eighth pole and kept right on going to the wire, finishing nearly four lengths best.

LANTANA MOB is trained by Steve Asmussen. Bred in Kentucky by Thomas/Burleson/Visagie, he is out of the Copelan mare, Lantana.

Vinery Stables' WONDERFUL LUCK, overcoming a slow start, showed her class in rallying for an easy 2 ¾-length victory under jockey David Flores in Sunday's $77,775 Cinderella Stakes at Hollywood Park.

WONDERFUL LUCK, the 3-5 betting favorite, moved into contention on the far outside nearing the quarter pole and made the lead inside the sixteenth pole with little urging, covering 5 ½ furlongs on Cushion Track in 1:06.48.

"At the three-eighths pole, she was moving on her own...very comfortable," Flores said. "She was just cruising. I took her to the outside because there was nobody out there. I knew the ones inside her were done. It was pretty easy. So far, she really looks like she knows what she's doing. She's running like a pro. She's a small filly, but she's got a big heart."

"She was wide all the way around the track, but David said he had a lot of confidence in her turning for home," said local horseman Carl O'Callaghan, who saddled the filly for Asmussen. "When she switched leads, she just took off. This filly has a lot of class and when you have that it's easy to win races. She did a great job."

WONDERFUL LUCK was winning for the second time in three starts. The winner's share of $46,665 raised her earnings to $86,736.

Benoit photo

KODIAK KOWBOY was bred in Kentucky by Hartwell Farm. He is the second foal from the Coronado's Quest mare, Kokadrie, who is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner, West by West.

The Vinery Stables colorbearer drew post four in the field of eleven 2-year-old fillies going four and one-half furlongs over the Polytrack in the first race of the day. Away cleanly, the chestnut filly with the white blaze did not have the flat out speed of the early pacesetters and was five lengths off the leader after the first quarter. Getting closer as she was saving ground inside around the turn, jockey Garrett Gomez moved her off the rail and out to the middle of the track for the stretch run. She rallied strongly, gobbling up ground with each and every stride. She blew past the leaders and even though running greenly and never changing leads, WONDERFUL LUCK opened up to win by three lengths in a very impressive performance. He final time for the distance was a swift :50 2/5.

WONDERFUL LUCK was purchased by Vinery for $75,000 as a weanling at the 2005 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. Raised at Vinery in Kentucky, she received her early training from Ian Brennan at our Vinery Stables training center in Summerfield, Florida. She races out of the barn of Steve Asmussen. Bred in Kentucky by Gullbram Shamrock Stables, LLC, she is the first foal from the winning Capote mare, No Small Wonder.

Matt Goins photo