Unbeaten Frankel stakes claim as best race horse in the world

Another race, another Group I victory for unbeaten Frankel, who's nine for nine in his career after a four-length win Saturday in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot in England.

There's talk of Frankel being one of the greatest race horses of all-time.

Watch and see for yourself.

-- Eric Sondheimer

Jockey Tyler Baze suspended

Jockey Tyler Baze has been suspended by the Del Mar stewards pending a formal hearing after refusing to take a breathalizer test as agreed to in a previous signed testing agreement with the California Horse Racing Board, according to a Del Mar track spokesman.

Baze was taken off his mounts Thursday at Del Mar.

--Eric Sondheimer

Photo: Tyler Baze. Credit: Associated Press.

Goldikova wins another Group I stakes

Goldikova, the three-time winner of the Breeders' Cup Mile and 2010 European Horse of the Year, won her 14th top-level stakes victory on Sunday in taking the Prix Rothschild in France.

The 6-year-old mare won by a neck.

While the U.S. has Zenyatta, Goldikova continues to stamp herself as one of the greatest race horses in history.

Here's video of her latest triumph.

-- Eric Sondheimer

Claiming horses is red hot at Del Mar

With the highest purses in the nation, Del Mar has become the place to claim horses this summer and try to make money. On Thursday, there were 19 claims submitted for a single horse, Via Verde, who won the fifth race. Trainer Mike Pender won the competition to pay $20,000 for the 4-year-old gelding.

But the best claim of the day might have been pulled off by trainer John Sadler. In the eighth race, the 2-year-old Stoney Fleece made his debut, breaking slow in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden race, getting steadied and racing in last place in the 11-horse field before rallying with a memorable stretch run under jockey Joe Talamo to win by a neck.

Sadler claimed Stoney Fleece, a son of Decarchy, for $40,000 from trainer Mike Puype. The previous owner had paid $1,200 for Stoney Fleece, according to Puype. Stoney Fleece earned $18,600 for the win. The final time of 1:06.01 wasn't particularly good, but the way Stoney Fleece finished was impressive.

As for losing Stoney Fleece in a claim, Puype said, "It is what it is. We'll know how it turns out down the road."

-- Eric Sondheimer