Happy Easter!

Happy Easter, everyone!  This has always been one of my favorite holidays, probably because it falls during such a beautiful time of the year ... and the Derby is right around the corner.

Went out to Philadelphia Park this morning to see my 3-year-old filly train.  Of course, it was misty and overcast up until the track closed at 10 a.m., then the weather cleared up nicely.  But I got some decent pictures, and here she is:

She is still about a month away from her first workout, and when that day comes I will reveal her name and breeding.  Suffice it to say right now she is a Pennsylvania-bred, and her dam is a half-sister to a Gr. 1-placed runner of nearly $1 million.

Some news and notes from the breeding and racing world of the Keystone State:

* Fox Tale Stud in Coopersburg, Pa. announced that the first foal by Capitano, a multiple stakes-winning son of Belong to Me, was foaled on March 2.  The foal, a filly out of Suzy's Mandate, a daughter of Full Mandate, is owned by Vicken & Suzy Meguerditchian, who campaigned Capitano.

* Trainer Phil Aristone dropped a claim slip for $7,500 in late February at Philadelphia Park for the multiple stakes winner Speechifying, a 7-year-old daughter of Pennsylvania sire Activist.  It was a sweet reunion for Aristone, who trained "Speechy" to her greatest win, that in the $250,000 My Juliet Stakes at Philadelphia Park in 2007.  That year, she was named the Pa. Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association's Horse of the Year.  Lifetime, Speechifying has won eight of 31 starts, and more than $428,000.  Aristone sold Speechifying late in 2007 to trainer Steve Klesaris, and she eventually was claimed by Dominic Galluscio at Saratoga last August for $16,000.  After changing hands again twice more, Aristone finally found the right opportunity to claim her back.  He doesn't plan on making her a broodmare, at least not yet, he said, and she'll start for him in the upcoming weeks.  Speechifying's dam, Apprized (by Prized), was bred to Wildcat Heir this season.

* The first foal of Breeders' Cup Classic winner Cat Thief to hit the ground in Pennsylvania was born on February 20 at Mike Jester's Penn Ridge Farm in Harrisburg, Pa.  The foal, a chestnut colt, is out of Black Tie Countess, a daughter of Black Tie Affair (IRE), and is a half-brother to stakes-placed Count the Gold.  The colt is owned by Dian Goss of New Jersey.