Kentucky Derby News

Heading further into January, we’ve seen one of the Kentucky Oaks contenders who took a nice, long break after that race looking better than ever into her four-year-old year.  There is also a Kentucky Derby contender from 2020 who found a tough spot for…

Jan 10, 2022

If Courvoisier can run up to his exquisite pedigree by winning the Kentucky Derby (G1), he would fill a gap on the resume of top sire Tapit, and make history for his dam, Take Charge Brandi. She would become the first champion two-year-old filly of the modern…

Jan 9, 2022

Sent off as the 9-10 favorite off a sharp maiden win, Under the Stars posted a gutsy, front-running score in Saturday’s $200,500 Santa Ynez (G2) at Santa Anita. The three-quarter sister to 2012 Kentucky Derby (G1) runner-up Bodemeister did him proud by flashing…

Jan 9, 2022

Saturday’s $200,000 Santa Ynez (G2) has attracted a field of six potential Kentucky Oaks (G1) candidates, competing for points on the 10-4-2-1 scale at Santa Anita. Awake at Midnyte, a daughter of 2016 Kentucky Derby (G1) hero Nyquist, represents the same connections…

Jan 6, 2022

Newgrange impressed while making all the running in the $100,000 Sham S. (G3) at Santa Anita, winning his stakes debut by an easy 2 3/4-length margin. The $125,000 yearling remained unbeaten from two career starts for Golconda Stable, Madaket Stables, SF…

Jan 2, 2022

A track-and-distance winner in his debut on Dec. 5, Dash Attack made it two in a row over Oaklawn Park's one-mile trip Saturday in the $250,000 Smarty Jones S. Sent off at 7-1 in a field of 13 newly-turned three-year-olds, Dash Attack broke from post…

Jan 1, 2022

With a pedigree as rich as his cognac namesake, Courvoisier splashed into the Kentucky Derby (G1) picture in Saturday’s $150,000 Jerome S. at Aqueduct. The son of Tapit and champion Take Charge Brandi tracked the pace and drove clear in the slop to earn 10…

Jan 1, 2022

Billy Turner, who trained Seattle Slew to a win the Kentucky Derby (G1) and to a Triple Crown sweep in 1977, died on Dec. 31 in his Reddick, Florida, home at the age of 81. Turner, who had suffered from prostate cancer for several years, had entered hospice…

Jan 1, 2022

By J. Keeler JohnsonAqueduct's Road to the Kentucky Derby continues on New Year's Day with the $150,000 Jerome S. The historic one-mile race has drawn a field of eight promising three-year-olds, all vying for the 17 Kentucky Derby qualification points awarded…

Dec 30, 2021

By J. Keeler JohnsonBetween January and April, Santa Anita Park will host a quartet of important Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifiers. The first is Saturday's $100,000 Sham S. (G3), a one-mile event awarding 10 qualification points to the eligible winner.…

Dec 30, 2021

Saturday’s trio of Kentucky Derby (G1) points races begins with the $150,000 Jerome S. at Aqueduct. Eight aspiring sophomores have entered the one-mile affair set for 3:50 p.m. (ET). Like the ensuing scoring events on New Year’s Day – the Smarty Jones S. at…

Dec 30, 2021

A full field of 14 newly turned three-year-olds will travel one mile in Saturday’s $250,000 Smarty Jones S. at Oaklawn Park. The 2022 Road to the Kentucky Derby series event will reward the top four finishers with qualifying points on a 10-4-2-1 structure.…

Dec 30, 2021

Oaklawn Park is celebrating New Year's Day in a big way. The Arkansas racetrack is hosting the $250,000 Smarty Jones S., a one-mile Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier awarding 17 Kentucky Derby qualifications points to the top four finishers on a 10-4-2-1…

Dec 30, 2021

A multiple stakes winner on turf, and a fast-closing third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1), Mackinnon will move to the main track for Saturday’s $100,000 Sham S. (G3) at Santa Anita.Five runners are set for the two-turn mile test, a Road to the…

Dec 29, 2021

Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Epicenter picked up 10 points on the 2022 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series following his 6 1/2-length romp in the $98,000 Gun Runner S. at Fair Grounds on December 26. The winner clocked 1 1/16 miles on the fast dirt surface…

Dec 29, 2021

The Road to the Kentucky Derby series makes the first of four stops at Oaklawn Park on Saturday, as a field of 14 will compete for 17 points (10-4-2-1 scale) in the $250,000 Smarty Jones S. Contested over a two-turn mile, the Smarty Jones will mark the…

Dec 29, 2021

What can Horse of the Year Gun Runner do to follow up his record-setting season as a freshman sire? After rocketing to the top of the juvenile sire charts with more than $4 million in progeny earnings – a North American record for a first crop – he has prominent…

Jan 14, 2022

The highly-regarded Not This Time was retired with an injury before getting an opportunity to shine on the 2017 Triple Crown trail, but the well-bred stallion is making his presence felt on the 2022 Road to the Kentucky Derby. Epicenter became the first…

Jan 11, 2022

If Courvoisier can run up to his exquisite pedigree by winning the Kentucky Derby (G1), he would fill a gap on the resume of top sire Tapit, and make history for his dam, Take Charge Brandi. She would become the first champion two-year-old filly of the modern…

Jan 9, 2022

Twelve years after Super Saver turned the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2)/Kentucky Derby (G1) double at Churchill Downs, his grandson Smile Happy hopes to follow in his hoofsteps. Smile Happy, who burst onto the Derby trail with a 3 1/4-length victory in the Nov.…

Dec 14, 2021

Unbeaten Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) favorite Jack Christopher brings high speed and flashy looks, but not the stoutest pedigree as he stretches out to 1 1/16 miles at Del Mar. Several of his rivals sport stronger bloodlines that should come into play as the…

Nov 4, 2021

If Classic Causeway can stay unbeaten in Saturday’s Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland, he would become a record-equaling third winner sired by Giant’s Causeway. Nicknamed the “Iron Horse,” Giant’s Causeway is responsible for back-to-back Breeders’ Futurity scorers…

Oct 9, 2021