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Derby Hopefuls

Eight Belles

Trainer: J. Larry Jones
Jockey: Gabriel Saez
Owner: Fox Hill Farms
Breeder: Robert N. Clay & Serengeti Stable

Eight Belles will attempt to become the fourth filly in to win the Derby, and the first since Winning Colors won twenty years ago. She is certainly coming into the race the right way, riding a four-race winning streak. Her winning margins have decreased as the competition has gotten tougher, but she was well in hand in both the Honeybee (gr. III) and the Fantasy (gr. II). Her speed figures have been comparable to the colts, which went a long way in prompting her connections to try the Derby instead of the Oaks. Trainer Larry Jones also has the top-class filly Proud Spell, meaning he could pull off an Oaks-Derby double, a feat that hasn't been accomplished since Ben Jones did it in 1952.

Auction History

Year Sale Price
2006 Keeneland September Yearling Sale $375,000

Racing History

Date Race Name Distance Finish Earnings
04/06/08 Fantasy (gr. II) 8.5 f 1 $150,000
03/16/08 Honeybee (gr. III) 8.5 f 1 $60,000
02/17/08 Martha Washington 8 f 1 $30,000
01/21/08 Allowance @ Fair Grounds 8 f 40 yds 1 $24,000
12/23/07 Allowance @ Fair Grounds 8.5 f 2 $8,000
11/30/07 Allowance @ Fair Grounds 8 f 7 $250
10/30/07 Maiden @ Delaware 8 f 70 yds 1 $24,000
10/15/07 Maiden @ Delaware 8.5 f 3 $4,400
09/16/07 Maiden @ Delaware 5.5 f 2 $8,000
Record: 9 Starts, 5-2-1 | Total Earnings: $308,650
Race Records provided by equineline.com

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Joneses Hope Buddy Is Lucky Derby Charm

Trainer Larry Jones and his wife and assistant, Cindy, may have found a lucky charm for one of racing's biggest weeks. It's a nine-month-old African grey parrot named Buddy.

Eight Belles, Proud Spell Both Work

Fox Hill Farms' Eight Belles and Brereton Jones' Proud Spell, two fillies who have either the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) or the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) in their immediate futures, each worked a half-mile April 20 in their final moves at Keeneland before they are shipped to Churchill Downs April 25.

'Day-to-Day' on Eight Belles Decision

Trainer Larry Jones said it is still up in the air whether his filly Eight Belles will challenge the boys in the May 3 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) or if she will battle the fillies the day before in the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I).

Eight Belles Could Run in Derby

Owner Rick Porter has always known Eight Belles is a solid contender -- but he's thinking about putting the 3-year-old filly's class and stamina to the ultimate test May 3. Porter said April 13, if all goes well, the daughter of Unbridled's Song will be entered in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).

Zanjero, Grasshopper, Kip Deville Work

Winchell Thoroughbreds graded stakes winner Zanjero worked five furlongs at Keeneland in 1:00.60 for trainer Steve Asmussen, Monday, April 7

Fantasy: Eight Belles Scores Another Win

Eight Belles continued her quest to become the best 3-year-old filly in the nation, as the daughter of Unbridled's Song overcame a poor start to win by three-quarters of a length in the $250,000 Fantasy Stakes (gr. II) April 6 at Oaklawn Park, her third consecutive stakes triumph.

Eight Belles Faces Three in Fantasy

Though Larry Jones was tempted to run his ultra-talented 3-year-old filly Eight Belles against the boys in the $1-million Arkansas Derby (gr. II) April 12, the trainer has decided to take the safer route, and instead will line up the daughter of Unbridled's Song in the $250,000 Fantasy Stakes (gr. II) April 6 at Oaklawn Park.

Fillies Among Late 'Crown' Nominees

The fillies Eight Belles and Proud Spell are among the late nominees for this year's Triple Crown

Eight Belles Has Easy Time in Honeybee

In the $100,000 Honeybee Stakes (gr. III) March 16 at Oaklawn Park, the streaking 3-year-old filly proved she could handle graded stakes competition, as she scored by 1 1/4 lengths after coasting to the wire with ease under a confident Ramon Dominguez. She defeated five rivals.

Eight Belles Unbridled's Song Unbridled
Trolley Song
Away Dixieland Band
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